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

Murong Yan stood there, stunned, watching Su Ming's back, a strange and inexplicable emotion welling up inside her.

[Ding! The affinity of the bonded character Murong Yan has increased to 60 (approved)!]

[Unlock Special Storyline: The Lieutenant's Feelings!]

Su Ming didn't notice the system notification; his mind was completely occupied with the Northern Barbarian High Priest.

A sixth-grade ferocious beast is not something that can be tamed easily.

That old guy is definitely suspicious.

Just then, a soldier ran up, panting, "Sir! People from the capital have arrived!"

"The capital?" Su Ming frowned. "Who?"

"They are His Highness the Crown Prince's people."

Su Ming's eyes instantly turned cold.

Prince?

Coming at this time is definitely not a good thing.

The Prefectural Governor's Residence of Jing'an City.

A middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe sat in the main seat, holding a teacup in his hand, with a formulaic smile on his face.

"Commander Su, I have long admired your name."

Su Ming stood below the hall, sizing up the man.

He was in his forties, well-maintained, with no calluses on his hands, clearly a civil official who had never handled weapons.

"May I ask who this gentleman is?"

"I am Li Wenyuan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, here on the orders of His Highness the Crown Prince to extend my condolences to the Jing'an Army." Li Wenyuan put down his teacup, his smile unchanged. "Captain Su has rendered meritorious service in defending the city, and His Highness the Crown Prince has specially sent me to deliver a reward."

He clapped his hands, and two guards carried in a box.

The box was opened, and inside were gleaming gold.

"A thousand taels of gold, just to express my sentiments," Li Wenyuan said with a smile.

Su Ming glanced at the box but didn't touch it.

"Lord Li, you've come all this way just to deliver these?"

"Of course not." Li Wenyuan's smile faded. "His Highness the Crown Prince was very pleased to hear that Lieutenant Su had displayed great prowess in Jing'an City, and specifically asked me to convey a message."

"What did you say?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince said that Lieutenant Su is young and promising with a bright future. If he is willing to serve the Crown Prince, he will surely be given an important position in the future."

Su Ming sneered.

The Crown Prince is trying to recruit him!

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but I am merely a military man and know nothing of court affairs." Su Ming cupped his hands in greeting. "I cannot accept this gold."

Li Wenyuan's face darkened. "Captain Su, are you sure you want to refuse His Highness the Crown Prince's kind offer?"

"I am certain. I am loyal only to His Majesty, and not to anyone else." Su Ming's voice was calm.

"Good, very good." Li Wenyuan stood up. "Captain Su, let me give you a piece of advice: those who know when to yield are the wise ones. His Highness the Crown Prince will surely ascend the throne in the future. If you refuse now, it will be too late to regret it later."

"Then we'll talk about it in the future." Su Ming turned and left.

"Halt!" Li Wenyuan roared. "Su Ming, do you know the consequences of refusing His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Su Ming stopped and turned to look at him.

"Consequences?" he sneered. "Lord Li, are you threatening me?"

"I am merely stating the facts," Li Wenyuan said coldly. "Although Jing'an City has been defended, the Northern Barbarian army is still outside the city. How long do you think you can hold out?"

"How long I stay is my business; Lord Li need not worry about it."

"Ha, stubborn as a mule." Li Wenyuan sneered. "Since Commandant Su doesn't know what's good for him, I won't force him. However, I have another imperial edict to read."

He took out a scroll of imperial edict from his pocket and unfolded it.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The battle at Jing'an City is critical. Li Wenyuan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, is hereby ordered to oversee the supply of provisions and military equipment. All generals of the Jing'an Army must obey the orders of Li Wenyuan. Those who disobey will be punished according to military law. This is the imperial decree."

Su Ming's eyes turned cold.

What a brilliant move! The Crown Prince is trying to sideline him and seize command of the Jing'an Army.

"Lord Li, is this imperial edict genuine?" Su Ming asked.

"Of course it's true." Li Wenyuan smiled smugly. "Captain Su, from now on, your Shenji Battalion will also be under my command."

"Is that so?" Su Ming suddenly laughed. "Then how does Lord Li plan to deploy them?"

"It's very simple." Li Wenyuan walked up to Su Ming and lowered his voice, "Tomorrow the Northern Barbarians will attack the city, and you will lead the Divine Machine Battalion to the front."

Su Ming's eyes instantly turned dangerous.

"Lord Li, are you sending me to my death?"

"Sending yourself to your death?" Li Wenyuan sneered. "Wasn't Captain Su supposed to be a formidable fighter? What, scared now?"

"I'm not afraid of dying," Su Ming stared at him, "but I'm afraid of dying without knowing why."

"What do you mean?"

"Lord Li, do you think I can't see through you?" Su Ming sneered. "The Crown Prince sent you here not to defend the city, but to use the Northern Barbarians' sword to kill me."

Li Wenyuan's expression changed. "What nonsense are you spouting!"

"Nonsense?" Su Ming pulled a letter from his pocket and threw it on the table. "Then how do you explain this letter?"

Li Wenyuan picked up the letter, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.

This is a secret letter written by the Crown Prince to the High Priest of the Northern Barbarians, instructing them to cooperate in eliminating Su Ming.

"Where...where did you get it?" Li Wenyuan asked, trembling.

"That's none of your concern," Su Ming sneered. "Lord Li, tell me, what do you think the Crown Prince will do if I hand this letter over to His Majesty?"

Cold sweat broke out on Li Wenyuan's forehead.

"What do you want?"

"It's simple." Su Ming walked up to him. "Get out of Jing'an City and go back to tell the Crown Prince that I won't fall for his little tricks."

"How dare you!" Li Wenyuan roared. "This is defying an imperial decree!"

"Disobeying an imperial decree?" Su Ming sneered. "Lord Li, is your imperial decree genuine?"

Li Wenyuan's face instantly darkened. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, His Highness the Crown Prince hasn't even ascended the throne yet, what right does he have to issue an imperial edict?" Su Ming said, enunciating each word clearly. "This imperial edict, isn't it fake?"

Li Wenyuan panicked completely.

"How...how did you know?"

"Because I just met His Majesty yesterday." Su Ming sneered. "His Majesty said that the Divine Machine Battalion only obeys my orders and is not subject to anyone else's control."

Li Wenyuan slumped into a chair, his face deathly pale.

It's over, it's over.

"Su Ming, you...you can't do this to me..."

"How have I treated you?" Su Ming sneered. "I just told you to get lost."

He turned and walked to the door, glancing back at Li Wenyuan.

"By the way, Lord Li, go back and tell the Crown Prince that if he wants to kill me next time, he'd better come in person, not send a piece of trash like you."

After saying that, he left without looking back.

Li Wenyuan sat in the chair, trembling all over.

He knew that when he returned this time, the Crown Prince would definitely not let him off the hook.

But he knew even more that Su Ming absolutely could not be allowed to live.

"Someone!" Li Wenyuan gritted his teeth. "Go and inform the High Priest of the Northern Barbarians that the plan has been moved up, and Su Ming must be killed tomorrow!"

"Yes."

Night falls.

Su Ming stood on the city wall, looking at the barbarian army camp in the distance, his brows furrowed.

"My lord, Li Wenyuan has left." Wei Lang walked over. "However, before he left, he sent someone to the barbarian army camp."

"I know," Su Ming sneered. "He's trying to use someone else to do his dirty work."

"So what do we do?"

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it." Su Ming turned around and said, "Pass down the word: no one is allowed to sleep tonight. Keep a close watch on the city walls. The Northern Barbarians could launch a night attack at any time."