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

The ruins are still smoking.

Su Ming squatted beside Temujin's corpse, expressionlessly rummaging through the spoils of war. There was a token engraved with a wolf's head, three gold ingots, and a booklet bound in animal hide.

Upon opening it, I found it was entirely written in the script of the Northern Barbarians.

"General Murong, do you recognize this?" Su Ming waved the booklet.

Murong Yan leaned closer, her brows furrowed: "This is the Northern Barbarians' military merit book. The battle achievements of every centurion under Temujin are recorded in it... Wait, there's also the Red Wolf King's private seal here?"

She looked up abruptly, shock flashing in her eyes: "If we bring this back, it'll be enough for the Military Intelligence Bureau to uncover all the Northern Barbarians' spies on the border!"

Su Ming shoved the booklet into his arms: "Then take it back."

Scarface dragged several heavy sacks out of the ruins. When he opened them, they were full of gleaming silver ingots.

"Boss, we've struck it rich! There's at least five thousand taels here!"

Su Ming glanced at it: "It's divided. Five hundred taels each for resettlement expenses, and the rest will be used as military funds."

The prisoners were stunned.

"Boss, this...this is really for us?" The tall, thin man's voice trembled.

"Nonsense, you're all working for me, I can't let you starve." Su Ming stood up, dusted off his hands, "But let me make this clear first, once you take this money, you're my men. Anyone who dares to desert, I'll be the first to shoot him."

The scarred man knelt on one knee: "I am willing to give my life for Master Su!"

The other nine men knelt down in unison: "We are willing to give our lives for Master Su!"

[Ding! Subordinate loyalty has been detected to meet the standard; the Dao Soldier System has been activated!]

[Current number of Dao soldiers: 10, average loyalty: 95, can be strengthened and trained by consuming resources.]

A dark glint flashed in Su Ming's eyes.

That's more like it. With the Dao Soldier System, he can truly build his own elite force.

"Stop dawdling, pack your things and get ready to leave," Murong Yan urged. "The main force at Black Mountain Pass will arrive in half an hour at most."

The voice just fell.

The sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar.

Everyone's expression changed.

Su Ming climbed to the highest point of the ruins and squinted at the view.

A dark mass of cavalry was surging in from the north, their torches forming a continuous line; there were at least three thousand of them.

"They've come so quickly." Su Ming licked his lips. "It seems Temujin holds a high position in the Northern Barbarians. The Red Wolf King is here to take revenge personally."

Murong Yan drew her twin swords: "I'll cover your retreat, you all go first!"

"Don't be silly." Su Ming jumped down, took out an oil paper packet from his spatial storage, and threw it to Scarface. "Sprinkle this stuff along the path we came from, a handful every fifty steps."

"What is this?"

"Poison," Su Ming said calmly. "It's a sleeping powder produced in the space. Horses will go mad if they smell it, and people will faint if they inhale it."

Murong Yan's eyes widened: "You carry poison with you?"

"Otherwise what?" Su Ming said matter-of-factly, "When you're out and about, if you don't bring some life-saving gear, you won't even know how you died."

Ten minutes later.

The group rode the fast northern barbarian horses they had stolen from the post station, galloping wildly along the canyon.

Behind them, the pursuers were getting closer and closer.

"Su Ming! You can't escape!" A deep voice boomed through the night sky. "You killed my beloved general, destroyed my granary, today I will take your dog's head!"

Su Ming looked back.

At the forefront of the pursuers, a middle-aged man dressed in black wolf skin and riding a snow-white warhorse was staring intently at him.

The look in his eyes was as if he wanted to devour him alive.

"The Red Wolf King personally took action?" Su Ming raised an eyebrow. "What have I done to deserve this?"

Murong Yan's face turned ashen: "He's a seventh-rank martial artist; he can project his internal energy outwards. We can't beat him!"

"If you can't beat them, just run away." Su Ming drew three armor-piercing arrows from his quiver and turned around to fire a volley.

"Bang bang bang!"

Three Northern Barbarian cavalrymen at the forefront fell from their horses.

The Red Wolf King roared, unleashing a burst of gray energy that actually blocked Su Ming's fourth arrow.

"A seventh-grade protective aura?" Su Ming narrowed his eyes. "Interesting."

Just then.

The sections of road ahead that had been doused with sleeping powder began to take effect.

The pursuers' warhorses suddenly went berserk, neighing wildly. Some spun around in place, while others threw their riders off.

The entire pursuing force's formation was thrown into chaos instantly.

"We've fallen for their trap!" The Red Wolf King's face turned ashen. "Everyone dismount and walk!"

But it was too late.

Su Ming and his group had already rushed out of the canyon and disappeared into the vast snowfield.

……

three days later.

Jing'an Army Camp.

When Su Ming appeared at the gate with ten men and a cart full of spoils, the entire camp erupted in excitement.

"Holy crap, they're really back?"

"Aren't they just cannon fodder sent to their deaths at Black Mountain Pass?"

"Look at those carts, they're full of Northern barbarian armor and weapons!"

The guard at the gate was dumbfounded and stammered, "You...which unit are you from?"

Su Ming dismounted and threw the token engraved with a wolf's head over.

"Temujin, the deputy commander of the Black Mountain Cavalry Regiment, is on the vehicle. Please inform him that Su Ming has returned to report the order."

The guard's hands trembled as he took the token.

Half an hour later.

Inside the commander's tent.

Zhang Meng stared intently at the pile of spoils on the table, his throat bobbing several times.

Maps, military merit books, tokens, and Temujin's head, which was soaking in a wine jar.

"Su Ming, you son of a bitch..." Zhang Meng held back for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter, "You son of a bitch, you're a real talent!"

He slammed his hand on the table, turned to his deputy, and roared, "Pass down the order: tonight the entire camp will have a feast, with pigs and sheep slaughtered! Also, give Su Mingji credit for the greatest contribution, a reward of a thousand taels of silver, and a promotion..."

He paused, then gritted his teeth: "Promote him to captain, commanding five hundred men!"

Upon hearing this, all the generals in the tent gasped in shock.

From recruit to captain, it's only been half a month!

Su Ming shook his head: "Sir, there's no rush for promotion. I have something I'd like to ask you to decide."

"explain."

Su Ming pulled out the bloodstained account book from his pocket, along with several secret letters he had found from Miss Liu.

"This is evidence that Liu Cang colluded with the northern barbarians and secretly communicated with enemy countries."

Su Ming said, enunciating each word clearly, "I request that you, sir, report this to the imperial court and thoroughly investigate the garrison command!"

The command tent fell into a deathly silence.

Zhang Meng's expression changed several times before he finally sighed, "Su Ming, do you know what you're saying? Liu Cang is the garrison general of Jing'an City, a second-rank military officer, and he has people from the Ministry of War behind him..."

"I know." Su Ming raised his head, his eyes as cold as knives. "But a soldier's duty is to defend the country, not to be a dog for the enemy. If this evidence is covered up and not reported, I won't be able to get over this."

Zhang Meng stared at Su Ming for a long time, then suddenly laughed.

"Alright, I'll go crazy with you this once." He picked up the account book. "I'll personally deliver this to the capital and hand it over to the Censorate. But before that, you'd better be prepared; Liu Cang definitely won't let this go easily."

Su Ming grinned: "I couldn't be happier to get this bid."

Just then.

Suddenly a commotion arose outside the tent.

"Where's Su Ming? Where is Su Ming?" a shrill voice rang out.