No title, no marriage? Do you think I'm some kind of lapdog?

As Xu Mengran's red dress disappeared from sight.

Su Chuang remained standing there, his fingers rubbing together until they turned white.

Lin Ruxue silently walked to his side, without saying a word, but simply reached out and gently took his hand.

My palms are warm.

Su Chuang turned to look at her.

Today, the girl changed into a plain cotton robe, and her long hair was simply tied back.

Her face was clean and free of makeup, but her eyes shone like tempered glass.

"Brother Chuang," she whispered, "Sister Xu will come back."

Su Chuang grinned, forcing an awkward smile: "I know."

He took a deep breath, suppressed the bitterness, and turned to walk towards the beacon tower.

The injury on my leg has healed completely, and I walk with a brisk pace.

Lin Ruxue followed beside him, her steps light and quick, like a cat.

It's going to snow.

Su Chuang looked up at the sky.

The gray clouds hung low, and the wind, carrying moisture, felt cool against my face.

Winter in northern Xinjiang can arrive suddenly.

"At most three days."

Lin Ruxue also looked up.

"When the first snow falls, the trade routes will be cut off, and the Xiongnu people will have to retreat to their dens for the winter."

Su Chuang paused, turned to look at her, and asked, "You know about this?"

Lin Ruxue smiled, pursing her lips:

"The palace library has a book on the customs and products of the northern frontier, which I read until it was worn out when I was ten years old."

Su Chuang was delighted.

This girl is definitely not as simple as she seems.

The two returned to the earthen house, and Su Chuang plopped down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), rubbing his hands together:

"Ru Xue, call everyone in for a meeting."

Lin Ruxue nodded and turned to leave.

A short while later, Yue Fei, Zhao Yun, Jia Xu, and Li Cunxiao entered one after another.

Yue Fei's black armor was still covered in morning dew, clearly indicating that he had just finished training.

Zhao Yun's silver armor was spotless, and his gleaming silver spear was held upside down behind him.

Jia Xu had a few specks of mud on his gray cloth shirt, but his face was clean, and his eyes were half-closed, as if he hadn't woken up yet.

Li Cunxiao was the most cunning; he carried a door-sized knife on his shoulder, with half a piece of firewood hanging from it.

"My lord." The crowd clasped their hands in greeting.

Su Chuang waved his hand, signaling everyone to sit down.

The mud house was small, and the five people squeezed onto the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and a broken stool, making it seem a bit cramped.

Lin Ruxue didn't sit down. She walked to the stove, picked up the kettle, poured a bowl of hot water for everyone, and then stood quietly behind Su Chuang.

"Is everyone here?" Su Chuang asked.

"All done."

Yue Fei said.

"Zilong has brought back three hundred White Horse Cavalrymen, and they are encamped outside the camp."

Su Chuang's eyes lit up: "How is it?"

Zhao Yun stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "My lord, the White Horse Cavalry is indeed an elite force."

"Three hundred men, each riding a white horse and wielding a silver spear, skilled in archery and horsemanship, especially adept at mounted archery and guerrilla warfare."

"The leader is called Gongsun Yu, who claims to be a descendant of Gongsun Zan, the White Horse General of the previous dynasty."

"Our ancestors were stranded in the northern frontier and made a living as cavalrymen."

Su Chuang grinned: "A descendant of Gongsun Zan? That's interesting."

He rubbed his fingers together: "Where is he?"

"Wait outside the camp."

Zhao Yun said.

"I have verified their identities, and they are undoubtedly genuine. They are willing to serve our lord, but there is only one condition."

"What are the conditions?"

"We need to fight a war, and we need to eat meat."

Su Chuang laughed: "These conditions are really good, I like them."

He turned to Jia Xu and asked, "Wenhe, how much grain do we have stored up now?"

Jia Xu didn't even lift his eyelids: "Twelve thousand shi of fine rice, fifteen hundred cattle and sheep, nine hundred warhorses, and a certain amount of cured meat and dried vegetables."

"Eat sparingly, there's enough for the 1,500 of us to last until spring."

"But if snow closes the mountain passes and the trade routes are cut off, then the supply lines will be cut off."

Su Chuang nodded.

This is where the problem lies.

Wangbeitai is such a lousy place; it's freezing cold in winter. As soon as it snows, the roads are blocked, making it impossible for people to get in or out.

To have a peaceful and safe New Year, you need to prepare enough winter supplies before the snow falls.

"so."

Su Chuang tapped the table. "We need to pull off something big before the snow comes down."

Yue Fei's eyes lit up: "Whom does our lord intend to attack?"

"Who are we going to attack?" Su Chuang grinned. "The fattest sheep, of course."

He looked at Jia Xu: "Wenhe, are there any easy targets for Wanyan Honglie lately?"

Jia Xu pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke:

"My lord, Wanyan Honglie has integrated three tribes and now commands countless cattle, sheep, and horses."

"But his internal situation is unstable, and other tribes are envious and have long wanted a share of the pie."

"According to the news sent back by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Wanyan Honglie is preparing to send a batch of winter supplies to several small tribes in the north in order to appease the various tribes."

"Five thousand bushels of grain, three thousand head of cattle and sheep, and a quantity of hides, furs, and medicinal herbs."

Su Chuang's eyes lit up: "When will the luck come? Which route?"

"We will set off in five days, taking the 'Black Wind Path' north of Wolf Valley."

Jia Xu paused for a moment, then said, "The escort force consists of about a thousand cavalrymen, led by Wanyan Honglie's confidant, who is called 'Red Wolf'."

"A thousand cavalry..." Su Chuang stroked his chin. "How many men can we mobilize right now?"

Yue Fei immediately replied, "Three hundred Mo Dao Guards, three hundred Flying Tiger Army soldiers, three hundred White Horse Cavalry, and five hundred new recruits—a total of fourteen hundred men."

"If we launch a surprise attack, we can defeat two thousand cavalry."

Su Chuang shook his head: "We can't confront them head-on."

He looked at Jia Xu: "Wenhe, what are your thoughts?"

Jia Xu's half-closed eyes finally opened fully, the candlelight reflecting in them, giving them a cold gleam:

"My lord, Wanyan Honglie's delivery trip presents an opportunity."

"It's not just an opportunity to seize supplies, but also... an opportunity to win over Zhang Liao."

Su Chuang raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"

Jia Xu leaned forward and lowered his voice:

"Zhang Liao was a loyal, upright, and sentimental man."

"His dissatisfaction with Ye Qingyue stems from three main points:"

"First, he disapproved of Ye Qingyue's affair with Yue Xinyang;"

Second, his soldiers' pay and provisions were being withheld, leaving them hungry.

"Third, Ye Qingyue was in cahoots with the Xiongnu, and as a border general, he was ashamed to associate with her."

Su Chuang nodded: "And then?"

"We can give him a 'big gift'."

A faint smile appeared on Jia Xu's lips.

"After we seize Wanyan Honglie's supplies, we will secretly send half of them to Zhang Liao's camp."

"Attach another letter, which reads, 'General Ye is colluding with the Xiongnu and embezzling military pay.'"

"This batch of supplies was a bribe from the Xiongnu. We intercepted it and are now giving it to General Zhang to comfort the soldiers who are hungry and cold."

Su Chuang chuckled: "You're really pushing Zhang Liao to the brink of despair."

Jia Xu shook his head: "It's not about forcing him, it's about giving him a choice."

"If Zhang Liao accepts these supplies, it will be tantamount to colluding with the enemy; if he doesn't, his soldiers will go hungry, and who will follow him then?"

"At that time, he will only have two options: either turn against Ye Qingyue, or... seek refuge with us."

Su Chuang rubbed his hands together: "This plan is insidious, I like it."

He paused, then asked, "So, how exactly is the operation to seize the supplies carried out?"

Jia Xu dipped his finger in tea and drew a simple diagram on the table:

"The Black Wind Road is a strategically important location, with steep cliffs on both sides and a narrow path in the middle, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack."

"We can proceed in three steps."

"First, Zilong led the White Horse Cavalry to ambush at the exit of the Black Wind Road, and cut off the Xiongnu caravan's retreat once it was halfway through."

"Secondly, Pengju led the Mo Dao Guards to block the entrance, forming a defensive formation to prevent the Xiongnu vanguard from turning back to provide support."

"Third, the Flying Tigers and new recruits threw rocks and logs down from the cliffs on both sides to create chaos."

He paused for a moment, then said, "As for the lord... he can personally lead the troops to attack the central army and capture and kill the Red Wolf."

Su Chuang grinned: "Using me as bait again?"

"Only by having our lord personally take action can we demonstrate our sincerity."

Jia Xu bowed, "Moreover, with General Li by our side, our lord's safety is assured."

Li Cunxiao, who was yawning nearby, immediately straightened up upon hearing this:

"Rest assured, my lord, I will protect you. No one can harm you!"

Su Chuang smiled.

He looked at everyone: "Did you all understand?"

"Understood!" everyone replied in unison.

"Then it's settled."

Su Chuang slammed his hand on the table. "Five days from now, Black Wind Road, let's pull off a big heist!"

The meeting ended, and everyone gradually dispersed.

Only Su Chuang and Lin Ruxue remained in the earthen house.

Su Chuang leaned against the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), closed his eyes, and his mind raced with calculations.

Grain, livestock, winter supplies...

There's also Zhang Liao.

If this person could be turned around, Yumen Pass would be half-ruined.

At that time, wouldn't Ye Qingyue be completely at his mercy?

Just then, footsteps came from outside the door.

Lu Bing appeared silently at the door and knelt on one knee: "My lord, an urgent report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"explain."

Two things.

Lu Bing's voice was flat and even. "First, there's trouble within the Xiongnu."

"Wanyan Honglie has been frequently sending troops south recently, leaving his stronghold in the north, 'Langjuxu Mountain,' with a weak military presence."

"Another tribe, the Blackwater Tribe, is eyeing his territory and is gathering troops, seemingly intending to take advantage of the situation."

Su Chuang's eyes lit up: "Blackwater Division? How many people?"

"At least five thousand cavalry."

Lu Bingdao said, "But Wanyan Honglie seems to be completely unaware of this. He is currently outside Yumen Pass, arguing with Ye Qingyue."

"A verbal fight?"

"Yes."

Lu Bing paused for a moment, then said, "Wanyan Honglie sent an envoy to question Ye Qingyue about why she went back on her word and launched a sneak attack on his cavalry."

Ye Qingyue vehemently denied it, and the two argued all day, eventually parting on bad terms.

Su Chuang was so happy that his shoulders were shaking.

Jia Xu's tactic of using someone else to do his dirty work was indeed effective.

Wanyan Honglie must now think that Ye Qingyue is cheating him, taking his money and then trying to swindle his people.

Ye Qingyue was speechless with anger, and was probably about to explode with rage.

"And the second thing?" Su Chuang asked.

Lu Bing looked up: "There's been some movement from Zhang Liao's side."

"Last night, Zhang Liao left Yumen Pass alone and sat for half the night at 'Soul-Breaking Slope,' which is ten miles outside the pass."

When he returned, he looked terrible, clutching a jade pendant in his hand, which he crushed to pieces.

Su Chuang raised an eyebrow: "Jade pendant? Whose is it?"

"According to our informant, that jade pendant... belongs to Ye Qingyue."

Su Chuang was taken aback for a moment, then grinned.

interesting.

Zhang Liao was a proud and arrogant man who valued his reputation above all else.

He had long disapproved of Ye Qingyue's messy affair with Yue Xinyang.

Now it has been discovered that Ye Qingyue is colluding with the Xiongnu and withholding military pay...

This person's heart has probably turned cold.

"Keep an eye on it," Su Chuang waved his hand. "Report to me immediately if there's any movement."

"Here." Lu Bing disappeared as silently as he had come.

The earthen house fell silent again.

Lin Ruxue walked to Su Chuang's side and asked softly, "Brother Chuang, will Zhang Liao... really rebel?"

Su Chuang opened his eyes and looked at her: "What do you think?"

Lin Ruxue pondered for a moment, then slowly said:

"Zhang Liao was a military general who valued loyalty and righteousness, but also his reputation."

"What Ye Qingyue is doing now has crossed his bottom line."

"If he finds out that Ye Qingyue might still be involved in the events at Luofeng Slope back then..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.

Su Chuang stared at her for three breaths, then suddenly smiled:

"Ru Xue, your brain is just as sharp as Wen He's."

Lin Ruxue smiled, her smile gentle, but a glint of cunning flashed in her eyes:

"Brother Chuang, I grew up in the palace and have seen a lot of dirty things."

"I can see right through Ye Qingyue."

Su Chuang reached out and ruffled her hair: "So, what do you suggest we do next?"

Lin Ruxue tilted her head and thought for a moment:

"First, seize supplies and stockpile enough food for the winter."

"Secondly, we should try to win over Zhang Liao, thus crippling Ye Qingyue."

"third……"

She paused, then said, "While the Blackwater tribe is attacking Wanyan Honglie's stronghold, let's add fuel to the fire."

Su Chuang's eyes lit up: "How do we add it?"

Lin Ruxue took a small porcelain bottle out of her sleeve and handed it to Su Chuang:

"This is a secret 'bewitching powder' made in the palace. It is colorless and odorless, and dissolves instantly in water."

"After drinking it, people will become delirious and hallucinate, mistaking everything for an enemy."

Su Chuang took the porcelain bottle and weighed it in his hand: "You want Wanyan Honglie's troops to kill each other?"

Lin Ruxue nodded: "If the Blackwater Tribe attacks Langjuxu Mountain, Wanyan Honglie will definitely come to its aid."

"We can poison his water source beforehand, and when his army arrives and drinks the water, chaos will naturally ensue."

Su Chuang stared at Lin Ruxue for a full five breaths.

This girl...

She usually looks gentle and harmless.

But when he really gets ruthless, he can be even more vicious than Jia Xu.

"Ru Xue," Su Chuang grinned, "how many more tricks do you have up your sleeve to hide from me?"

Lin Ruxue blushed and lowered her head: "Brother Chuang, I... I just wanted to help you."