The imperial court is ceding territory from our northern border? Then we'll rebel!

When Liu Changqing returned to the Imperial Guard camp outside the South Gate carrying Wei Yong's head, it was already dark.

Princess Chang Le, Li Qingluan, waited anxiously in her tent.

When she saw Liu Changqing walk in carrying that blood-stained wooden box, her stomach churned, and she almost vomited.

She suppressed her discomfort and waved away those around her.

"The matter...is it done?" Her voice trembled slightly.

"I have fulfilled my mission." Liu Changqing placed the wooden box on the table and opened it.

Wei Yong's terrified and distorted face suddenly appeared before my eyes.

Li Qingluan glanced at it once and turned pale with fright, quickly turning her head away.

"Ashina Sun... agreed?"

"He has agreed." Liu Changqing closed the box and answered respectfully, "He has agreed to send troops into the city through the east gate at midnight three days from now, to cooperate with us from the inside and take Xiao Jingchen's head."

"Good! Good!" A hint of joy finally appeared on Li Qingluan's face. "Liu Changqing, you've done a great service this time!"

"As long as you can eliminate Xiao Jingchen, this major threat, you will be a hero of our Great Yan!"

"I will serve Your Highness the Princess faithfully." Liu Changqing bowed again.

"Go and rest now," Li Qingluan waved her hand. "These next few days, you must keep a close eye on the city's movements to ensure that the plan three days from now goes perfectly."

"Yes."

Liu Changqing carried the wooden box and left the tent.

As soon as he stepped out of the tent, the cold wind outside instantly erased the respect and humility from his face, replacing it with a cold indifference.

He carried the wooden box and, instead of returning to his own tent, went around to an inconspicuous corner at the back of the camp.

There, a man dressed as a cook was already waiting for him.

"Where's the stuff?" the cook asked in a low voice.

Liu Changqing handed over the wooden box.

"As planned, send it into the city and hand it over to the Marquis."

"clear."

The cook took the wooden box and quickly disappeared into the night.

Liu Changqing straightened his clothes, regained his loyal demeanor, and walked towards his tent.

……

The Marquis of Zhenbei's residence.

In the study, Xiao Jingchen was reading a secret report from the Eastern Frontier.

That was the first message brought back by Black Crow.

Black Crow's operation went smoothly. He had successfully made contact with a nearly 10,000-strong defeated army from the Eastern Frontier. The general of this army was Chen Jing, a fierce general under Wei Yong. He was loyal and brave, and had fought his way out of the encirclement at the Battle of Broken Soul Valley.

They are now like a pack of lone wolves, waging guerrilla warfare against the allied forces of the three tribes in the deep mountains and forests of the eastern frontier.

Black Crow had already conveyed Xiao Jingchen's intentions to Chen Jing, who stated that he would fight to the death to fight the barbarians and was willing to obey Lord Xiao's orders.

After reading the secret report, Xiao Jingchen's lips curled up slightly.

Chen Jing has now been driven in as a thorn in our side.

With him harassing behind enemy lines, the allied forces of the three races will never have peace.

Just then, Lei Lie burst in.

"My lord! The goods have been delivered!"

In his hand, he carried the wooden box containing Wei Yong's head.

Xiao Jingchen glanced at it, his face expressionless.

"Any movement from the princess's side?"

"Just as you predicted!" Lei Lie said excitedly. "Manager Liu sent word that the young woman has already made contact with Ashina Sun! They've agreed to open the east gate in three days, let the barbarians into the city, and coordinate with them to kill you!"

"Hahahaha! These idiots, they really think we're fools!" Lei Lie laughed until tears almost streamed down his face. "My lord, your 'using one tiger to devour another' tactic is truly brilliant!"

"It's not about using one tiger to devour another," Xiao Jingchen corrected, "it's about using someone else to do the dirty work."

"Huh?" Lei Lie was taken aback. "Whose knife did you borrow? Whose people did you kill?"

"Borrowing the imperial court's sword to kill the wolves of three clans." A cold and sharp light flashed in Xiao Jingchen's eyes.

"Do you think that the person I sent Liu Changqing to see was only Ashina Sun?"

Lei Lie was completely dumbfounded.

He felt that his mind couldn't keep up with the Marquis's train of thought at all.

Xiao Jingchen didn't explain. He picked up another pre-written secret letter from the table and handed it to Lei Lie.

"You personally lead a group to deliver this letter, along with Wei Yong's head, to the Eastern Frontier as quickly as possible, and hand it over to Chen Jing."

Lei Lie took the letter, looking puzzled. "My lord, what... what's this for?"

"Send a message," Xiao Jingchen said slowly, "a gift that will make those people in the imperial court so angry they'll vomit blood."

"When you arrive in the Eastern Frontier and meet Chen Jing, have him do this and that..."

Xiao Jingchen leaned close to Lei Lie's ear and whispered a few instructions.

As Lei Lie listened, his eyes widened and his mouth opened so wide it could fit an egg.

"Lord...Lord...you...you are going to..." He stammered, too shocked to speak.

"Go," Xiao Jingchen patted his shoulder. "Remember, be quick. You must put on this show for the whole world before the three-race allied forces attack the city."

"Yes!" Lei Lie straightened his back abruptly, his eyes filled with fervent excitement.

He finally understood what the Marquis wanted to do.

This is no longer a simple conspiracy or trickery.

This is an open conspiracy!

It's a blatant conspiracy to tear a hole in the sky!

He took the letter and the wooden box, turned around, and strode out without even saying goodbye.

Watching his hurried figure, Xiao Jingchen slowly walked to the window.

Outside the window, the wind and snow intensified.

Three days later.

A good show is about to unfold in Shuobei City.

It was a trap he had meticulously prepared for the three-tribe allied forces, for Princess Chang Le, and for the empress in the capital.

He was really looking forward to it.

I look forward to seeing their expressions when they realize they've fallen into a trap.

He reached out and caught a falling snowflake.

Icy cold, bone-chilling.

Winter in northern Xinjiang is almost over.

He muttered to himself.

"But the harsh winter in the capital has only just begun."

……

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

For the past three days, Shuobei City appeared calm on the surface.

The allied forces of the three races outside the city also unusually remained inactive, seemingly licking their wounds and gathering strength.

The Imperial Guard camp outside the South Gate was eerily quiet.

Everyone seemed to be waiting for something.

The third day, night, midnight.

The east gate of Shuobei City.

This is a relatively weak point in the city's defenses, and the garrison is smaller than at other city gates.

The captain in charge of guarding the city tonight is one of those people on the Imperial City Guard's list.

He stood on the city wall, his palms sweaty, constantly looking out towards the city.

As agreed, the elite troops of the three-race allied forces will soon be at the city gates.

All he had to do was open the city gates and let them in.

He knew this was treason.

But he had no choice; his wife, children, and elderly parents were all in the capital.

He could only gamble, gamble that the princess and the three-tribe coalition would win.

"They're here!"

One of his trusted confidants pointed to the snow-covered plains in the distance and lowered his voice.

On the distant horizon, a wriggling black shadow appeared.

There were no torches, and no sound.

Only the heavy thud of horses' hooves on the snow could be heard.

They are barbarian cavalry!

They really came!

The captain's heart was in his throat.

He took a deep breath and, with trembling hands, gave the order to his trusted confidants.

"Prepare...to open the city gates!"