Kill the enemy and get a wife? I'll single-handedly slaughter my way through the Northern Barba

As the leader of the nobility, Prime Minister Namuhan naturally had to protect the interests of the nobility.

He made a vague statement that greatly displeased Emperor Haishan.

Hai Shan's tiger-like eyes narrowed slightly, like a ferocious beast about to unleash its fury.

"Is it true or false, Prime Minister? Have you heard of it?"

"Since you've heard about it, why didn't you tell me?"

Prime Minister Namu was unusually upset, knowing that trying to smooth things over wouldn't work, so he had no choice but to admit his mistake.

"It was my oversight. The affairs of the two prefectures of Shuofeng are numerous and complex."

"I only heard someone mention it a few months ago, but I didn't take it to heart."

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, this old minister will definitely send someone to investigate."

Upon hearing this, Hai Shan waved his hand: "No need! It's winter now, and there's no farming in the two prefectures of Shuofeng. It's a good time to investigate."

"On their way back, Nanmuhe and the others will see for themselves."

Prime Minister Namuhan secretly groaned.

The practice of seizing land by horsemen was something that almost every noble family in the Northern Barbarians did.

By acquiring land through land grabbing, they could obtain anywhere from a few dozen acres to hundreds or even thousands of acres of fertile land.

Once Nanmuhe and others discover that this situation is widespread, the emperor will surely be furious.

At that time, countless members of the Northern Barbarian nobles will be punished.

Namuhan secretly planned to send a message to the two prefectures of Shuofeng in advance, so that the local northern barbarian nobles would restrain themselves.

Don't walk into the line of fire and become a target for the Northern Barbarian Emperor to establish rules.

He gave a wry smile and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise."

After saying that, Namuhan glanced behind the veil and thought to himself, "Witch."

Hai Shan cleared his throat and changed the subject.

"Now that our Northern Barbarians have made peace with the Great Qian Dynasty, we have gained a year to recuperate and rebuild our lives."

"However, a year later, my Great Qian still had to send troops to attack Zhenyuan City."

"A formidable city blocks our path; what can we do?"

Hai Shan was speaking to the Northern Barbarian National Preceptor.

After all, none of the four people present except her were confident in conquering Zhenyuan City.

The eldest prince, Zhenjin, said in a deep voice, "Father, I have heard that Zhang Liao, the garrison commander of Zhenyuan City, is injured and unable to continue guarding the city."

"If this person weren't in Zhenyuan City, wouldn't it be much easier for our Northern Barbarian army to conquer it?"

Emperor Haishan stroked his beard and laughed: "My son is right. Without Zhang Liao, Zhenyuan City is like a tiger without teeth."

"However, Zhenyuan City has high walls and strong defenses, and the Han people are prepared. They will definitely strengthen the city's defenses this year."

"If our northern barbarians attack again and try to capture Zhenyuan Pass, they will surely suffer heavy losses."

"If we cannot capture the strategic pass within two months, the subsequent battles will be very difficult."

Hai Shan paused, looked at the person behind the veil, and asked, "Grand Preceptor, you said you were confident of conquering Zhenyuan City, was that true?"

The fact that the Northern Barbarian National Preceptor was Emperor Haishan's strategist was known throughout the court.

It is common knowledge that the words of the Northern Barbarian National Preceptor will surely come true.

Many officials in the court both respected and feared this mysterious imperial advisor.

"really!"

The Imperial Advisor nodded slightly and said, "A year from now, when spring arrives and flowers bloom, it will only take two months to break through Zhenyuan City."

"good!"

Emperor Haishan of the Northern Barbarians smiled broadly and said, "One year from now, I await the Grand Preceptor's brilliant strategy to defeat the enemy!"

Prime Minister Namuhan's eyebrows twitched, and a hint of apprehension and wariness flashed in his eyes.

He praised with a smile: "The Imperial Advisor is wise and resourceful, and his plans are flawless."

"Since the Imperial Advisor says that Zhenyuan City can be captured, then it certainly can be captured."

"Your Majesty, this old minister offers his congratulations!"

Perhaps it was the Grand Preceptor's assurance that pleased Emperor Haishan of the Northern Barbarians, for Haishan did not linger as he always did during meetings, and the meeting ended quickly.

The eldest prince, Zhenjin, the prime minister, Namuhan, and the imperial advisor all took their leave.

Dusk falls on the Northern Barbarian Royal Palace.

The Northern Barbarian National Master, dressed in a Tai Chi robe, and his maid, Hongxiu, walked through the long corridor.

She wore a wide-sleeved crane-feather cloak with a front opening, the sleeves reaching her knees, and when she walked, it was like flowing clouds tumbling.

The inner lining is a pure white cross-collar undergarment, with the layered collar peeking out and revealing the slender curve of the neck.

The setting sun cast her shadow on the ground, making it stand out exceptionally.

As she walked through the palace with Hongxiu, it was as if a figure from a painting had come to life; every move she made was so beautiful it seemed unreal.

The Tai Chi robe inside the crane cloak was not pure black and pure white, but rather a mixture of moon white and ink.

From the right shoulder to the left waist, there is a huge, freehand ink-wash style "yin-yang fish" pattern.

The dividing line is not a straight line, but rather like ink spreading in water, with black and white seeping together.

The black areas are embroidered with faint silver lines depicting the trajectory of stars, while the white areas are embroidered with dark gray lines depicting the veins of mountains and rivers.

The Northern Barbarian National Preceptor and Hongxiu walked through the corridor and around the corner, where the space suddenly opened up.

A man in a blue robe stood with his back to this side in the setting sun.

Hearing the sound, he turned around, holding a rolled-up piece of Xuan paper in his hand.

"Yu Yao—"

The moment the eldest prince of the Northern Barbarians, Zhenjin, saw the Northern Barbarian National Preceptor, his eyes lit up, and a smile spread from the bottom of his heart to his eyes and face.

He rushed forward eagerly.

"Yuyao, why didn't you wear the jade belt I gave you last time?"

"Why are you still using your 'Yin-Yang Twin Fish Holding Pearls' ribbon?"

The Northern Barbarian National Preceptor wore a brocade pieced together in dark black and frosty white, about three fingers wide, around her slender waist.

The belt features a hollowed-out carving of two intertwined yin-yang fish in the center.

The fish are cast from black gold and silver, and both fish hold a pale blue luminous pearl in their mouths.

The bead hovered precisely at her lower abdomen, dantian, and glowed faintly with each breath, which was quite mysterious.

"As I have said, Your Highness need not send any more gifts."

The Northern Barbarian National Preceptor slightly raised her beautiful eyes and glanced at Zhenjin. Just one glance made Zhenjin's heart race and his mouth go dry.

"I have been in the Xuanji Palace for a long time and have no need for those fancy things."

"Furthermore, Your Highness's use of your maiden name when addressing me is inappropriate according to etiquette. Please be mindful of this!"

After speaking, the Northern Barbarian National Preceptor prepared to leave.

Upon seeing this, the eldest prince, Zhenjin, immediately reached out to block her path.

"Yu... Imperial Preceptor Luo, do you really hate me that much?"

Luo Yuyao, the national teacher of the Northern Barbarian Kingdom, had no choice but to stop and raise her hand to bow to Zhenjin.

Her arms emerged from the wide sleeves of her robe, revealing a section of her fair and delicate wrists.

On her slender wrists she wore a pair of wristbands woven from black jade and silver thread.

The wristband seems to conceal a hidden mechanism.

"Your Highness is the future ruler of the Northern Barbarians. I will not dislike Your Highness; I will only respect you."

"The sun is setting, and I must return to Xuanji Palace. Please take care, Your Highness."

After speaking, Luo Yuyao said no more, walked past Zhenjin and drifted away, leaving behind a peculiar fragrance.

A look of struggle and pain appeared on Zhenjin's face.

A moment later, he mustered his courage, caught up with her, and stuffed the Xuan paper in his hand into Hongxiu's hand.

"I wrote a poem for you; if you don't want to read it, then have Hongxiu burn it!"

"I don't want your respect; I'd rather you resent me and hate me!"

After saying that, Zhenjin ignored Luo Yuyao's reaction and the dumbfounded Hongxiu, and fled as if running away.

"Master, this..."

Hongxiu stood there, stunned, not knowing what to do.

Let's go!

Luo Yuyao's voice remained calm and even, so Hongxiu had no choice but to take the Xuan paper and leave the palace.

Inside the magnificent black and white carriage in front of the palace gate, Hongxiu unfolded the Xuan paper as soon as the carriage began to move.

Luo Yuyao closed her eyes and formed the "Three Pure Ones Seal" with her hands, her expression calm as if she were asleep.

"Your Highness is really something, sending things to Master every now and then."

"Last time I gave you a jade belt made of fine jade from the Western Regions, and the time before that I gave you snow fox fur from the Tianshan Mountains."

"Master, Hongxiu heard that even the princesses wanted that snow fox fur but couldn't get it!"

Seeing that Luo Yuyao remained silent, Hongxiu quietly unfolded the Xuan paper and glanced at it.

"I long for you, in Chang'an."

"The cricket chirps by the golden well railing in autumn, a light frost chills the mat."

"The lonely lamp burns dimly, my thoughts are filled with despair; I roll up the curtain, gaze at the moon, and sigh endlessly."

"A beauty as lovely as a flower beyond the clouds..."

Hongxiu's almond-shaped eyes gleamed slightly: "Your Highness Zhenjin writes excellent poetry. Longing, longing, the beauty is like a flower beyond the clouds."

"Master, is His Highness saddened that you are ignoring him?"

Luo Yuyao closed her eyes and sighed almost imperceptibly.

"Some things are simply impossible; it's better to give them false hope than to make them impossible."

"It would be better to nip his hopes in the bud from the start; it would be better for him, and better for the Northern Barbarians as well..."

Upon hearing this, the light in Hongxiu's eyes gradually dimmed.

"So... will the poems be stored in the storeroom like the gifts before?"

Luo Yuyao nodded slightly and said no more.

Only Hongxiu held the Xuan paper, lost in thought...