In this chaotic world of vying for power, I can become stronger by marrying a wife.

After that flash of azure light, the personal space that was originally only half an acre has now expanded to a full three acres. Beside the spirit spring pool, a dark stone building has appeared out of nowhere, with two ancient characters hanging above the lintel: Military Industry.

With a thought, Su Ming sent the entire cartload of pig iron to the arsenal.

[Ding! 2000 jin of iron material detected. Can be forged into: 50 standard horizontal swords, 500 armor-piercing arrows, 20 chainmails...]

[Current Armory Level: Level 1, Forging Speed: 1 hour/piece, can be accelerated by consuming Spirit Spring Water.]

A look of wild joy flashed in Su Ming's eyes.

That's the real magic touch.

With the arsenal, he no longer needed to rely on those dilapidated standard equipment and could fully arm his ten men to the teeth.

"First, make ten sets of chainmail and fifty armor-piercing arrows."

Su Ming gave the order, and the clanging of forging instantly filled the armory.

Exiting the space, Su Ming stood up and glanced at the luxurious carriage.

Inside the carriage, Miss Liu was huddled in a corner, hugging her knees, watching the "bandits" outside dividing their loot with terrified eyes.

Su Ming lifted the curtain and went inside.

The atmosphere inside the cramped carriage instantly froze.

"What...what do you want to do?" Miss Liu shrank back instinctively, her voice trembling.

Su Ming didn't speak, he just stared at her quietly.

That look in his eyes carried no desire, only a cold scrutiny, as if he were looking at a piece of merchandise awaiting valuation.

"I'll ask, you answer." Su Ming took the jade pendant out of his pocket and waved it in front of her. "Where did this come from?"

Miss Liu bit her lip, her eyes flickering.

"I...I don't know..."

"Smack!"

Su Ming slapped him across the face.

The force wasn't strong, but it was enough to sober one up.

"I'm impatient and I don't like listening to nonsense." Su Ming leaned down, his face almost touching her nose. His voice was soft, but it carried a chilling murderous intent. "You have two choices: one, confess honestly and I'll spare your life; two, continue to play dumb and I'll throw you to my ten brothers. They haven't touched a woman in three months."

Miss Liu trembled, and tears welled up instantly.

"I'll talk! I'll talk!"

She wiped away her tears and choked out, "This jade pendant was given to me by the garrison commander... He said it's the key to 'that place'... As long as the Liu family helps him deliver this batch of iron to Black Mountain Pass, after it's done, the Liu family will get 20% of the spoils plundered by the Northern Barbarians..."

Su Ming's pupils contracted slightly.

"That place? What place?"

"I...I don't know either...I only heard the garrison commander say that it's a relic left over from the previous dynasty, containing a secret treasure that can help people break through their martial arts bottlenecks..." Miss Liu's voice trailed off. "The garrison commander and the Red Wolf King of the Northern Barbarians made a pact to open that relic together after the Northern Barbarian army breaks through the barrier..."

Countless clues instantly flashed through Su Ming's mind.

Liu Cang's collusion with the northern barbarians was not only for wealth, but also for a secret treasure hidden in the ruins of a previous dynasty.

And this jade pendant is part of the key.

"Where was this batch of iron originally supposed to be delivered to in Heishankou?" Su Ming continued to ask.

"Thirty miles north of Black Mountain Pass, there's an abandoned post station. It's a secret supply point for the Northern Barbarians..." Miss Liu raised her head, a glint of survival in her eyes. "I've already told you, can you let me go? The Liu family can give you money, lots and lots of money..."

Su Ming stood up, patted her cheek, and smiled brightly.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you."

A glimmer of hope appeared in Miss Liu's eyes.

"But you have to continue being the young lady of the Liu family, leading our 'caravan' to the post station at Black Mountain Pass." Su Ming's smile vanished instantly, his eyes turning as cold as knives. "If you mess this up, you know the consequences."

Miss Liu froze, and closed her eyes in despair.

……

Half an hour later.

The bodies in the canyon had been dragged into the ravine and buried, and the bloodstains were covered by thick snow.

Su Ming's ten men had all changed into the attire of Northern Barbarian cavalry.

Scarface was wearing a suit of leather armor inlaid with copper, a curved sword hanging at his waist, and a felt hat on his head. At first glance, he really looked like a real man.

"Boss, are we really going to dress up as barbarians?" the tall, thin man asked nervously.

"What are you afraid of?" Su Ming mounted his horse and pointed to the dozen or so wagons loaded with iron. "We're a transport team delivering military supplies to the Northern Barbarians. We're going to do this openly and honestly."

He turned to look at Miss Liu inside the carriage, his tone playful: "Miss Liu, it's your turn to perform. Remember, if you encounter any Northern Barbarian sentries along the way, just say they are Red Wolf King's goods. If anyone dares to stop you, just mention the garrison commander's name."

Miss Liu bit her lip and nodded.

"Set off."

The convoy started moving slowly.

Su Ming rode at the very front, his gaze sweeping across the vast snowfield to the faintly visible black mountain range in the distance.

Black Mountain Pass.

The gathering place of the Northern Barbarian army is also the target of this "death mission".

What others see as a den of dragons and tigers, he sees as nothing more than a treasure trove of experience and equipment.

……

Three days later.

North of Heishankou, an abandoned post station.

This place was originally a supply point for the Great Northern Army, but it has now been occupied by the Northern Barbarians and transformed into a secret warehouse.

Outside the post station, a dozen northern barbarian sentries were roasting meat around a campfire, the air filled with the smell of mutton and strong liquor.

"Whoa—"

Su Ming reined in the convoy, and the caravan stopped at the entrance of the post station.

A northern barbarian squad leader with a full beard walked over, a skewer of meat in his mouth, and looked the "caravan" up and down with a suspicious look in his eyes.

"Which unit are you from? Password!"

Su Ming didn't speak, but simply turned slightly to let the carriage curtain be lifted a corner.

Miss Liu poked her head out and said coldly, "The Red Wolf King's goods were personally arranged by the garrison commander. Say another word, or you'll lose your head."

Upon hearing the titles "Red Wolf King" and "Guardian," the bearded man's expression changed, and he immediately put on a smile.

"So it's Miss Liu! My apologies for not recognizing you!" He turned and waved to his men. "What are you all standing there for? Open the door!"

The heavy wooden door was pushed open.

The convoy slowly drove into the rest station.

Su Ming glanced around the courtyard out of the corner of his eye, quickly making a mental calculation.

There were about fifty Northern Barbarian soldiers, three warehouses, and several elite guards in iron armor inside the post station.

They are quite strong.

but……

Su Ming's lips curled into a cold smile.

What he wanted was never a head-on confrontation.

"Miss Liu, where is the cargo unloaded?" the bearded man asked solicitously.

"Warehouse number three." Following Su Ming's previous instructions, Miss Liu pointed expressionlessly to the innermost warehouse.

Alright!

A group of northern barbarian soldiers began unloading the goods.

Su Ming dismounted and seemingly strolled casually around the courtyard, but in reality, he was observing the terrain and the guard arrangements.

Just then.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the post station.

"Report! Scouts report that a small force of the Great Zhou army has been spotted thirty miles south of Black Mountain Pass, suspected to be reconnaissance troops!"

The bearded man's expression changed, and he immediately shouted, "Pass down the order to strengthen vigilance! Also, send two more teams to search the mountain!"