Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 855 The person who wronged you knows better than you do how wronged you are.
Overnight, Shanshan City seemed to have become a cultural holy land in the Western Regions, and the influence of that unique film screening was spreading outward at an astonishing speed.

After returning to the post station, the King of Kucha summoned his accompanying officials and painters that very night, attempting to capture the breathtaking scene of light and shadow with his brush, but all his efforts were in vain.

He sighed deeply at the flickering candlelight: "It is beyond human capability... The skills of the Wei people are close to the Dao. Rather than resisting them, we should go with the flow."

The foreign envoys also tossed and turned, the scenes of "roads opening and people becoming rich" in the film starkly contrasting with the barren Gobi Desert where they had lived for generations. A hidden longing, like spring grass, quietly sprouted in their hearts, making it impossible for them to let go.

The news naturally reached the Northern Han camp as well.

Although Liu Min did not go in person, the military advisor he sent returned and reported everything he saw and heard, especially describing the "moving figures and talking canvas" and the subtle changes in the attitudes of the leaders of various countries after watching the film.

"General, Xia Lin's blade is not only sharp, but his witchcraft and sorcery are also impossible to defend against!" the adjutant said worriedly. "If this continues, the hearts of the people of the Western Regions will fall into his hands, and we may have nowhere to stand!"

Liu Min's face was ashen, and his chest heaved violently. He felt as if he were trapped in a huge quagmire, surrounded by a net laid by Xia Lin.

Having witnessed the devastation of combat in the arena, he no longer had much confidence. As for cultural infiltration, he was utterly powerless to resist.

Now, even that woman, Li Tang, has sided with Xia Lin…

"Report!!!" A personal guard rushed into the tent, his voice filled with panic: "General! We just received a secret report from Hexi. The Wei army is spreading rumors that... that the assassination attempt on the Empress by the Anxi Protectorate was instigated by you! The Wei army's border defenses in Hexi and Longyou have been strengthened, and the caravans along the way are being checked very strictly. Several of our supplies have been seized!"

"What?!" Liu Min jumped to his feet, veins bulging on his forehead. "Xia Lin! You've gone too far!!!"

This mudslinging is back, and he won't be able to explain himself no matter how hard he tries! How will the Li Tang dynasty react? How will the Western Regions nations view this? This is clearly an attempt to drive him to his doom!
"General, the Wei people are framing us! We absolutely cannot admit to this!"

"Yes! Let's fight them!"

The generals under his command were filled with indignation, and their pent-up frustration and fear of the past few days seemed to find an outlet at this moment.

Liu Min's eyes were bloodshot, and he was panting heavily. He slammed his fist on the table, knocking cups and saucers to the floor.

"Give the order!" he practically roared, "Assemble the troops! Send someone to tell Xia Lin that I want to have a talk with him on the battlefield! If he doesn't dare to come, then he's cowardly!"

He couldn't just sit and wait to die any longer! Even if he couldn't win, he had to tear a piece of Xia Lin's flesh off! Otherwise, the backbone of the Northern Han soldiers would truly be broken!
Meanwhile, inside the Anxi Protectorate, Third Sister also received the "Northern Han assassination attempt" news deliberately released by Xia Lin. Looking at the secret report in her hand, she glanced at Xia Lin, who was leisurely sipping tea opposite her, and couldn't help but frown: "Your method of framing him is far too crude. Liu Min may be reckless, but he's not entirely brainless. Would he do something that would give someone a handle against him?"

Xia Lin put down his teacup and chuckled, "I know he didn't do it. But who told him to be the easiest to bully right now? Giving him something to do will keep him from scheming to annoy me all the time. Besides, if he gets carried away and does something irrational, then we'll have a reason to teach him a lesson."

Third Sister was speechless for a moment, but found it amusing.

"So how do you plan to respond to his pre-battle dialogue?"

“Go ahead, why not?” Xia Lin stood up and stretched his limbs. “It’s a good opportunity to see how angry this old guy is. Third Brother, are you interested in coming along to watch the show?” He turned to Xu Shiji, who was meditating to the side, and smiled.

Xu Shiji slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them: "That is exactly what I wish for."

The next day, the agreed location was a vast Gobi Desert at the border between the two military-controlled areas.

Under the blazing sun, the wind whipped up yellow sand.

The banners of the Northern Han army fluttered in the wind. Although they had suffered heavy losses of warhorses due to the plague, tens of thousands of cavalrymen still exuded the fierce spirit of a pack of steppe wolves. Liu Min, fully armored and holding a long sword, stood at the front of the formation, his face terribly gloomy. Even his close generals felt a chill run down their spines when they saw him.

On the opposite side, Xia Lin had only brought a guard of less than a thousand men, surrounding him and Xu Shiji, making them appear rather thin. He wasn't even wearing armor, just a neatly tailored military uniform with arrow-sleeved sleeves, and he sat on his horse, smiling as he looked at the heavily armed Northern Han army waiting in battle opposite him.

"General Liu, how have you been? You seem quite irritable. Did you eat too much mutton from the Western Regions and get a sore throat?" Xia Lin called out, his tone as relaxed as if he were greeting an old friend.

Seeing his appearance, Liu Min became even more furious. He spurred his horse forward a few steps, pointing the tip of his sword at Xia Lin: "Xia Lin! Stop playing dumb with me! What does the assassination attempt in Anxi have to do with my Northern Han? Why are you making false accusations and defaming my innocence?!"

"General Liu, are you getting anxious?" Xia Lin feigned surprise. "I didn't say it was you. It's just that the clues my men found vaguely point to the north. Besides, given the situation at the time, who else besides your Northern Han would have the motive or the ability to do this? Tibet? Could their reach be that far?"

His words, seemingly an explanation, actually reinforced the suspicions against the Northern Han. Liu Min trembled with rage, his eyelids twitching: "Bullshit! I've always acted with integrity! If you want to fight, then fight! What kind of hero uses such despicable methods?!"

"Hero?" Xia Lin scoffed. "General Liu, what era are we living in? Still talking about heroes? Only the winner is a hero. Look, I'm saying a few words to you now, and you have to come running out to explain yourself. Doesn't that feel pretty bad?"

Liu Min nearly choked on his words, his fingers gripping the hilt of his sword turning white from the force. The Northern Han generals behind him glared angrily, their warhorses pawing restlessly, a great battle imminent.

Just then, Xu Shiji, who had been silent all along, suddenly coughed lightly and urged his horse forward slowly.

His Taoist robe fluttered slightly in the wind, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance, completely out of place on this tense battlefield.

"General Liu, please calm down." Xu Shiji's voice was calm, yet carried a strange power, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present: "This humble Taoist priest, Xu Shiji, has something to say. I wonder if the general would be willing to listen?"

Liu Min was taken aback, his brows furrowed as he looked at the middle-aged Taoist priest who had suddenly appeared. He had naturally heard of Xu Shiji's name; the former leader of the Four Young Masters, he was exceptional in both strategy and martial arts, but he seemed to have disappeared later. He never expected that Xu Shiji would join Xia Lin's ranks.

"What advice does Master Xu have for me?" Liu Min's tone softened slightly; he dared not be too disrespectful to such a person.

Xu Shiji's gaze swept across the Northern Han army formation, then he looked at Xia Lin, who stood calmly opposite him, and slowly said, "General, your anger is for the sake of your innocence, and also for the sake of your pride. However, has the general considered that if war breaks out today, how many of these tens of thousands of northern soldiers will be able to return safely to the grasslands? What will become of their parents, wives, and children?"

Liu Min's expression shifted slightly, but he remained silent.

Xu Shiji continued, "The assassination attempt is shrouded in mystery. Commander Xia may have used drastic methods, but his aim is nothing more than to stabilize the Western Regions and open up trade routes. There is a way for the General and Commander Xia, and even the Li Tang dynasty, to coexist. Why gamble the fate of the nation and countless lives for a moment of anger? I observe that the warhorses in the General's army still show signs of fatigue, and the soldiers look pale. This is not a good time for a decisive battle."

His words were like ice water poured over Liu Min's head, calming his feverish mind somewhat. How could he not know the current state of the army? Although the plague had passed, their strength had not yet recovered, and if a war were to break out, their chances of victory were slim.

Seeing that Liu Min was interested, Xu Shiji said, "I have a suggestion for you, General. The Northern Han is a powerful force on the grasslands, with unparalleled cavalry. Why not turn our attention further north or further west? There are vast lands and endless resources there, enough for the Northern Han to recuperate and grow stronger. Rather than competing with us for these petty gains in the Western Regions, why not find another way to secure a lasting foundation for the Northern Han?"

His words echoed Xia Lin's earlier words to San Niang about exploring the West, only the target was the Northern Han.

Liu Min's eyes flickered, his heart churning with inner turmoil. Xu Shiji's words had indeed struck a nerve, and pointed him towards a seemingly viable way out.

But if we back down now, what will become of our dignity? What will become of the morale of our troops?
Xia Lin watched from the sidelines, deeply admiring Xu Shiji. This maneuver, combining offense and defense, not only gave Liu Min a way out but also offered him a lucrative deal, while subtly sowing discord between Northern Han and the potential mastermind behind the scenes.

He spoke up at the opportune moment, his tone much gentler: "General Liu, what Master Xu said is also my opinion. Dividing the Western Regions into three parts is indeed a bit too crowded. If you are willing, General, we can sign a non-aggression pact, and we can even give Northern Han some convenience in trade. As for the assassination, I can promise to continue to investigate. If it is truly unrelated to Northern Han, I will clear your name."

Using both carrot and stick tactics, Liu Min would have to eat at least one of them. If he insisted on eating meat, then giving him a stick with meat in it wouldn't be a bad idea. Just give him some benefits, but he would probably feel a little nauseous after eating it, since most people can't stomach a stick made of meat.

Liu Min looked at the two people opposite him, who were singing in unison, and then looked back at his subordinates behind him, whose eyes were filled with a longing for stability mixed with resentment. He let out a long sigh.

The anger that had been fueling him seemed to dissipate instantly.

He knew that the battle wouldn't be fought today.

"Xia Lin, Xu Shiji... I have remembered what you said today!" Liu Min's voice was filled with weariness and helplessness: "A non-aggression pact can be discussed, and trade can also be negotiated! But you must give my Northern Han an explanation for the stigma of assassination as soon as possible! Otherwise, the men of Northern Han would rather die than live in dishonor!"

After saying that, he abruptly turned his horse around, no longer looking at Xia Lin and the others, and waved to his generals: "Withdraw the troops!"

The Northern Han army retreated slowly like the receding tide, and the heavy killing intent dissipated with it.

Watching Liu Min's departing figure, Xia Lin stroked his chin and smiled at Xu Shiji, "Third Brother, your mouth is worth ten thousand soldiers."

Xu Shiji smiled calmly: "It's not that my words were helpful, but rather that the situation dictated it. Liu Min assessed the situation and made the choice that was most advantageous to him."

“However, it seems he’s destined to take the blame for this assassination for now.” Xia Lin’s eyes still held a hint of mockery. “Perfect, we can focus our efforts on digging out the shadows hidden in Tibet or Chang’an.”

(End of this chapter)