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

Just as Zhou Wenyuan was terrified upon receiving that "gift," a procession consisting of more than a dozen carriages and hundreds of guards was traveling in a grand procession on the official road leading to the northern grasslands.

In the middle of the procession, in the most comfortably decorated carriage, Zhang Zhao, the Minister of Personnel, and Sun Kejian, the Minister of Revenue, sat facing each other, leisurely sipping tea.

"Brother Zhang, what kind of scene do you think we'll see when we arrive on the grasslands?"

Sun Kejian put down his teacup, a sardonic smile playing on his thin face. "I bet Xiao Jingchen is in a complete mess right now, like a cat on a hot tin roof. The Yuezhi's 100,000-strong army is at the city gates, and we've cut off their supplies. His 200,000 troops are probably starving right now, aren't they?"

"Hehe, Brother Sun is absolutely right." Zhang Zhao stroked his beard, looking quite smug. "I've heard that in the northern frontier, water freezes instantly in winter. Xiao Jingchen's troops have no cotton-padded clothes and no food. Let alone fighting, it's hard to say whether they can even survive this winter."

"So," Sun Kejian sneered, "our trip is ostensibly to 'assist,' but in reality, it's to 'take over.' Once we arrive, Xiao Jingchen will have to obediently hand over control of the grasslands to the officials we sent, and then kneel down and beg us to provide him with provisions and military pay."

"At that time, whether we give it to him or not, and how much we give, will all depend on our word."

"Hahaha, brilliant! The Grand Secretary's 'cutting off the fuel supply' tactic is truly masterful!" Zhang Zhao clapped his hands and laughed. "Once we completely control the affairs of the grasslands, Xiao Jingchen will be a general without any troops. His soldiers will be starving and freezing, their morale will collapse, and what will he use to fight us?"

"That's exactly right." Sun Kejian nodded. "Once we've settled things on the grasslands, the next step is to make him give back the military power he's swallowed up."

The two men inside the carriage chatted excitedly, their conversation growing more and more animated, as if they could already see Xiao Jingchen kneeling before them, begging for mercy.

This time, they were acting on Zhou Wenyuan's orders, personally leading the team to escort the first batch of officials "assisting" with grassland administration to their new posts.

In their view, it was a relaxing and enjoyable peach-picking trip.

However, what they didn't know was that they were about to step into not a famine-stricken mess, but the lair of a behemoth that had just devoured an army of 100,000 and an entire kingdom.

They traveled for several more days.

When their convoy finally passed through Yumen Pass and entered the vast grassland, everyone was stunned by the sight before them.

The imagined scene of a frozen wasteland and utter desolation did not appear; instead, a bustling and lively scene unfolded.

On the vast grassland, caravans of horses come and go everywhere.

Some of the Great Yan soldiers were driving thousands of cattle and sheep toward a single direction.

Some grassland herders, under the direction of some officials, set up new tents and established temporary settlements.

Further away, there was even a huge military camp that was beginning to take shape.

Smoke curled from the cooking fires in the military camp, which was bustling with activity, and the loud shouts of soldiers practicing drills could be heard from time to time.

Where was there even a hint of lack of food and clothing, or low morale among the troops?

This is clearly a well-trained and highly motivated army that has been through countless battles!

"What... what's going on?"

Sun Kejian lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the scene outside, completely dumbfounded. "Where...where did they get so many cattle and sheep? Where did they get so many supplies?"

Zhang Zhao also looked astonished and puzzled: "Something's not right, very not right. Brother Sun, look at those soldiers, they're all ruddy-faced and full of energy, do they look like they're starving?"

"And those herders, look at them, even though they're working, there's no resentment on their faces from being forced, on the contrary... on the contrary, they seem quite motivated?"

Everything before their eyes completely overturned their understanding.

The officials they brought, who were prepared to "show their skills," also peeked out, looking at each other in bewilderment, wondering what had happened.

Just as they were filled with doubt and uncertainty, a group of cavalrymen dressed in black iron armor noticed them.

The leading general spurred his horse forward and, from a distance of a dozen paces, shouted, "Who goes there! Why do you trespass on my Northern Liang army's camp!"

The murderous aura emanating from the carnage sent a chill down the spines of both Zhang Zhao and Sun Kejian.

Zhang Zhao composed himself, forcibly adopting the air of an official of the Minister of Personnel, and stepped down from the carriage, proclaiming loudly, "I am Zhang Zhao, Minister of Personnel! This is Sun Kejian, Minister of Revenue! We have come to the grasslands on the orders of the Grand Secretary to assist the Prince of Zhenbei in handling state affairs!"

He had assumed that once he revealed his identity, the other party would immediately dismount and bow in trepidation.

To his surprise, the general merely glanced at him up and down, showing no respect whatsoever, but instead revealing a strange smile.

The smile held a mixture of pity and mockery, which sent chills down Zhang Zhao's spine.

"Oh? So it's the Minister from the capital." The general nodded and said in a calm tone, "His Highness has been waiting for quite some time. Please."

As he spoke, he made a "please" gesture and then turned his horse around to lead the way.

Zhang Zhao and Sun Kejian exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of unease in each other's eyes.

Things seem to be completely different from what they expected.

But since things had come to this, they had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow.

The convoy was led to the front of the huge military camp.

At the camp gate, Xiao Jingchen stood with his hands behind his back.

He wasn't wearing armor, just ordinary black clothes, but standing there, he exuded a calm and composed demeanor.

Behind him stood Lei Lie, Chen Jing, and a group of high-ranking generals including Hadan and Bayin, all with cold expressions and sharp eyes.

Zhang Zhao and Sun Kejian got off the carriage and looked at the imposing scene before them, their legs felt a little weak.

Especially when their gazes met Xiao Jingchen's calm, unwavering eyes, which seemed to see right through people, they felt inexplicably guilty.

"Your humble servant, Zhang Zhao (Sun Kejian), greets Your Highness."

The two men forced themselves to stand up and stepped forward to bow.

"My lords, you must be tired from your journey."

Xiao Jingchen wore a faint smile, appearing very amiable. "I had long heard that the court was going to send a capable general to assist me. Seeing him today, I can see that his reputation is indeed well-deserved."

His tone was very polite, but Zhang Zhao and Sun Kejian always felt that there seemed to be another meaning behind his words.

"Your Highness is too kind," Zhang Zhao quickly replied. "We were merely acting under orders to share Your Highness's burdens. I wonder... I wonder how the situation is in the northern frontier now? Have the Yuezhi army retreated?"

He was still unwilling to give up and wanted to confirm the situation.

"Oh? You mean the Yuezhi?"

Xiao Jingchen smiled, his smile becoming somewhat meaningful. "They have indeed withdrawn."

"They withdrew?" Zhang Zhao and Sun Kejian were overjoyed upon hearing this.

Could it be that they couldn't hold out any longer and retreated?

That's really good!

However, Xiao Jingchen's next words sent a chill down their spines.

"They have all retreated to the graves I dug for them."

Xiao Jingchen's tone remained calm. "Prime Minister Wu Chan and his 100,000-strong army were completely annihilated by me in Eagle Sorrow Valley ten days ago."

"Now, the entire Yuezhi Kingdom has been incorporated into the territory of our Great Yan."

"My lords, the land you stand on is no longer the northern grasslands."

"This is the newly established territory of my Great Yan Dynasty—"

"Anxi Protectorate!"