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

"It works." Su Ming didn't explain further.

Although Wei Lang was puzzled, he still did as instructed.

Half an hour later, Wu Yong arrived at Black Wind Valley with trepidation. When he saw the horrific scene at the bottom of the valley, he was completely dumbfounded.

"This, this..."

"Lord Wu, don't be afraid." Su Ming walked over with a smile. "I've called you here because I have some good news to tell you."

"Good, good news?" Wu Yong swallowed.

"Yes, that's good news." Su Ming patted him on the shoulder. "Haven't you always wanted to make a name for yourself? Now your chance has come."

"What opportunity?"

"Go to the barbarian army camp and deliver a letter to Tuoba Hong."

Wu Yong's face turned deathly pale instantly. "M-Sir, are you sending me to my death?!"

"Don't worry, you won't die." Su Ming took out a letter from his pocket and stuffed it into Wu Yong's hand. "Just say that I asked you to deliver this. Tuoba Hong won't kill you."

"But...but..."

"No buts." Su Ming's smile vanished, his eyes turning icy. "Go, or not?"

Wu Yong shuddered. "Go, go, go! I'll go right now!"

Watching Wu Yong run off in a panic, Wei Lang approached and asked, "Sir, what happened?"

"Fishing," Su Ming said calmly. "Tuoba Hong must be furious right now. I need to add fuel to the fire and make him completely lose his mind."

"What did you write in your letter?"

"It's nothing, I just sent my greetings to his whole family and casually told him that I want all 45,000 of his people."

Wei Lang gasped. This wasn't fishing; it was rubbing salt into someone's wound!

……

In the Northern Barbarian camp, Tuoba Hong lay in his command tent, his face as pale as paper.

In that battle just now, he not only lost five thousand elite troops, but he was also seriously injured himself.

"Your Highness, the Prefect of Jing'an City requests an audience," the lieutenant announced as he entered.

"Prefect?" Tuoba Hong frowned. "Let him in."

Wu Yong walked into the tent with trepidation, his legs trembling. "Warrior of the grasslands, I am Wu Yong, the prefect of Jing'an City. I have been sent by General Su to deliver a message to you."

"Su Ming?" A hint of murderous intent flashed in Tuoba Hong's eyes. "What message did he ask you to deliver?"

Wu Yong quickly handed the letter over.

Tuoba Hong took the letter, unfolded it, and read it.

The next second, he flew into a rage, smashing the table next to him to pieces with a single blow, his roar echoing throughout the entire camp.

"Su Ming! I want you dead!"

Wu Yong was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, his crotch soaked.

Tuoba Hong took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressing his anger, and looked at Wu Yong, "Go back and tell Su Ming that in three days, I will personally raze Jing'an City to the ground and tear him to pieces!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Wu Yong scrambled out of the room.

After he left, the lieutenant cautiously asked, "Your Highness, what did the letter say?"

Tuoba Hong didn't say anything, he just threw the letter at him.

The lieutenant took a look and his expression changed.

The letter contained only a few cold lines of text—

"Your Highness Tuoba, I heard that your brother died a terrible death, his head blown off by an arrow, leaving no whole body behind. Your five thousand elite troops were also quite good, roasted to a crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, very fragrant."

"Oh, right, I'll take your remaining 45,000 men too. See you at Black Wind Valley in three days—Su Ming."

After reading it, the lieutenant gasped.

This isn't provocation, it's insulting your ancestors for eighteen generations!

"Your Highness, this man is far too arrogant. Perhaps we should..."

"Shut up!" Tuoba Hong suddenly stood up, his chest wound reopening and blood seeping into his robes, but he ignored the pain, his eyes filled with a crazed killing intent.

"Send the order: the entire army will break camp and raze Jing'an City to the ground in three days!"

"But Your Highness, we are running low on supplies, and your injuries..."

"I said, we will send troops in three days!" Tuoba Hong slapped his deputy general on the shoulder, who grunted and knelt on one knee.

"Anyone who dares to offer further advice will be court-martialed!"

The lieutenant dared not say anything more and could only accept the order and leave.

Once he was alone in the tent, Tuoba Hong clutched his chest and sat back down in his chair, his face pale.

He pulled out the demonic cult token from his pocket, a shadowy glint in his eyes.

"The high priest is dead; the crown prince must have received the news by now."

"If I'm not mistaken, he'll be next..."

Before the words were finished, a report came from outside the tent.

"Your Highness, someone from the capital has arrived."

Tuoba Hong's eyes narrowed. "Let him in."

A man in a black cloak entered the tent, removed his hood, and revealed an effeminate face.

"Li Wenyuan?"

Tuoba Hong frowned. "Weren't you driven out of Jing'an City by Su Ming? Why are you back?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Li Wenyuan's face, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince asked me to convey a message to you."

"What did you say?"

"Su Ming has a letter in his hand, written by the High Priest to the Crown Prince, which records all the details of your cooperation."

Tuoba Hong's expression changed.

"What did you say?"

"If that letter falls into the emperor's hands, the crown prince will be deposed, and you will become a wanted criminal of the Great Zhou."

Li Wenyuan paused for a moment, then said, "So His Highness the Crown Prince means that, no matter what, Su Ming must be killed within three days and that letter must be retrieved."

Tuoba Hong remained silent for a moment, then sneered, "I would have killed Su Ming even without him saying so."

"That's good." Li Wenyuan took out a black porcelain bottle from his pocket. "This was brought by the Crown Prince. After taking it, you can recover from your injuries in a short time, and even break through to the peak of the fifth rank."

"And the price?"

Tuoba Hong stared at the porcelain bottle. "There's no way something like this can happen without a price."

"The price is..."

Li Wenyuan smiled and said, "After the effects of the medicine wear off, you will be weak for three months, during which time your cultivation level will drop to the sixth rank."

Tuoba Hong's eyes flickered, but he ultimately accepted the porcelain bottle. "Tell the Crown Prince that I have remembered this favor."

"Then I wish Your Highness a resounding victory." Li Wenyuan bowed and turned to leave.

After he left, Tuoba Hong stared at the porcelain bottle in his hand, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"Su Ming, in three days, I will show you what despair is."

……

Jing'an City, the garrison of the Shenji Battalion.

Su Ming stood in front of the sand table, holding a wooden stick in his hand, gesturing on the map.

"Wei Lang, have all the landmines been planted in Black Wind Valley?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, five hundred have already been buried, all covered with withered grass and loose soil, ensuring they cannot be detected."

"very good."

Su Ming marked several locations on the map. "Reinforce these places further. When the barbarian army enters the valley, just detonate them."

"yes!"

"Murong Yan".

"exist."

Murong Yan stepped forward, her expression serious.

"Take a hundred men and ambush them on both sides of the valley entrance. Once the barbarian army enters the valley, immediately block their retreat."

"clear."

"In addition..." Su Ming paused, "have the craftsmen rush to produce another batch of muskets. This time, increase the amount of gunpowder used, and the range should be at least two hundred paces."

"Two hundred paces?" Wei Lang was taken aback. "Sir, if too much gunpowder is used, the musket will explode."

"Go ahead and explode it, it's only for one use anyway," Su Ming said calmly. "What I need is power, not durability."