Isolated town in northern border region

Zhou Xun straightened his chest, recalling his conversation with Xiao Lie in the thatched hut in the northern frontier, and couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth.

He stood up and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to travel to the three kingdoms to negotiate peace."

His words silenced the entire hall for a moment, and some people looked at Zhou Xun with a hint of surprise.

Although Zhou Xun was Xiao Lie's confidant, he was still young and inexperienced, and it was rather childish for him to stand up in this situation.

Someone asked their colleague in a low voice.

"Can he do it?"

His colleague gestured towards Xiao Lie with his lip and replied sarcastically.

"He's the Northern Frontier King's confidant; he manages all the affairs, big and small, in the Northern Frontier..."

Zhou Xun ignored the stares and continued speaking.

"My plan is very simple..."

"To form an alliance with one of the three kingdoms by offering substantial benefits, and then dismantle that alliance."

"Then the troops from the northern frontier will launch the main attack, defeating one of the countries, while the other two will hold their ground."

"After securing victories along the way, we can join forces to defeat another state, thus resolving Chu's predicament."

The hall was quiet for a moment before someone reacted first, a glint of light flashing in their eyes.

"That's a good idea... If any one of the three kingdoms turns against us, this game can be turned around."

Several military officers nodded, one of them whispering.

"The troops in the northern frontier are capable of fighting tough battles; the key is time."

"If we can hold off the other two countries and free up resources to defeat them one by one, it is indeed better than fighting on three fronts at the same time."

Gradually, some sounds came from inside the hall, like finding a glimmer of light in the pitch-black night.

"I believe we should form an alliance with the State of Yan."

Someone responded.

"The State of Yan is to the east, and it shares the longest border with us. If it turns against us, the eastern front can be secured."

Another said.

"Shu is also an option. The western front is strategically important. If we form an alliance with Shu, we will have no worries about the western front."

"Only the State of Chen slaughtered my people and destroyed my villages and towns. It is already an act of mercy from our Great Chu not to destroy the country. And you want an alliance? What rubbish!"

Zhou Xun shook his head.

"No. I suggest forming an alliance with the State of Chen."

The entire hall erupted in uproar.

One of the military officers almost jumped up.

"Zhou Xun! Have you gone mad? The Chen Kingdom massacred my people, and you actually want to ally with them?"

Another civil official also frowned.

"This doesn't make sense!"

"The State of Chen is tyrannical; the people of our Great Chu wish they could devour its flesh! Forming an alliance with them will surely alienate the people!"

Zhou Xun waited until the noise subsided before speaking.

"It is precisely because the State of Chen is tyrannical that we should form an alliance with it!"

"The fact that the Yan and Shu states restrained their troops after attacking the city shows that these two states were rational. They knew that the Chu state could not be swallowed up in one bite, so they wanted to deal with it gradually."

"That is precisely why they fear our Great Chu. Once the Northern Frontier army arrives, both countries will very likely withdraw their troops!"

"This is the best outcome for our Great Chu."

"The state of Chen is greedy and cruel, and its official documents make no attempt to conceal its greed!"

"But this makes it even easier to keep them hooked by offering incentives!"

"As long as he feels he has gotten a great deal, he will never give it up easily."

He paused.

"I know that forming an alliance with Chen will alienate the people..."

"Therefore, I am willing to bear this infamy!"

"Your Highness, once the situation stabilizes, just my head will quell public anger!"

The hall fell silent once more.

The military officers lowered their heads, and the civil officials opened their mouths but then closed them again; no one dared to refute them.

Those who were just cursing him fell silent.

Everyone had a new opinion of Zhou Xun – Zhou Xun, a national hero!

Xiao Lie shook his head.

"No!"

"No negotiations! At least... there can't be any real negotiations!"

He looked at Zhou Xun, his gaze calm but carrying an undeniable determination.

"A single punch can ward off a hundred more!"

"Once this door is opened, anyone can come and try to extort money from my Great Chu!"

"This time it's just the three kingdoms of Yan, Shu, and Chen. What about next time?"

"What if the State of Jing also sends troops? Are they really going to hand over the entire State of Chu?!"

Zhou Xun lowered his head.

"Your Highness, this is the only way."

Xiao Lie looked at him.

"That's not a solution!"

He stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and glanced at all the civil and military officials present.

"Zhou Xun, you have two things to do."

"First, set off immediately to negotiate peace with the Yan and Shu kingdoms."

"To show my sincerity, I am willing to temporarily cede Liangzhou and Xuzhou."

"But there's one condition..."

He paused for a moment.

"All the people of Great Chu must be evacuated before the handover!"

"If you save people but lose land, you can save both; if you save land but lose people, you can lose both!"

"As long as the people are here, I can conquer any amount of land!"

Zhou Xun raised his head and looked at the overwhelming fighting spirit in Xiao Lie's eyes, and immediately understood.

"How long will it take, Your Highness?"

Xiao Lie's voice trailed off.

"Three months!"

"Within three months, I will lead the elite troops of the northern frontier south to destroy the Chen Kingdom!"

The entire hall erupted in uproar.

Some people thought they had misheard.

"Destroy...destroy the country? In three months?"

Xiao Lie did not explain.

"Zhou Xun, feign peace talks with Yan and Shu to stall them."

"It will take at least three months!"

"After I lead my troops south and destroy the State of Chen, I will turn back to deal with the States of Yan and Shu."

"If you slip up within three months, or if I haven't finished fighting on my side..."

He looked at Zhou Xun.

"You... should prioritize your own survival; even if you surrender to Yan or Shu, it's fine."

"After I've dealt with the Chen Kingdom, I will personally come to fetch you home!"

Zhou Xun chuckled.

"Your Highness, ever since the day I met you, I've only had half a life left."

"Since Your Highness desires to achieve victory in this battle, how can our Great Chu tolerate traitors?"

He cupped his hands in greeting.

"Don't worry, you can continue!"

"I will risk my life to delay them for at least three months in Shu!"

"If the plan fails, I, a mere scholar, may also try to spill blood... If it succeeds, it can buy some time for my Great Chu."

Xiao Lie looked at Zhou Xun's smiling face and curled his lip.

"I'll make sure you come back alive!"

"This is a military order!"

"Bring Mu Yun along. She's a woman, she won't attract attention, and she'll be able to protect you."

Xiao Lie patted Zhou Xun heavily on the shoulder.

"Remember, if things turn bad, run away quickly, don't try to hold on."

After the court session ended, Zhou Xun did not return to his residence, but rode out of the city directly.

Tie Muyun was already waiting outside the East Gate, dressed in an inconspicuous cloth outfit with a short knife hidden at his waist, looking like a bodyguard.

Zhou Xun reined in his horse, glanced at her, and gave her a gentle smile.

"Thank you for your help along the way, Iron Girl."

Tie Muyun nodded and took out a letter from his pocket. The envelope was signed by Xiao Lie.

"His Highness has ordered that if you do anything foolish, I will have you tied up and taken back!"

Zhou Xun shook his head with a wry smile.

"Your Highness... is just a bandit!"

Tie Muyun also laughed out loud.

"You're not bad either, a mere scholar, yet you dream of bloodshed five steps away."

"On the way, I'll teach you how to use a knife."

The horses' hooves trod the official road, heading east towards the state of Yan.

Zhou Xun sat on his horse without turning his head, as if he had already placed the heavy weight of that decision on his shoulders.

Hold back the Yan and Shu kingdoms for at least... three months!

In a side hall of Chengtian Hall, Xiao Lie unfolded a huge map and traced his finger from the capital all the way to the border of the Chen Kingdom in the south.

Luo Daniu, Xiao Xiong, and Shen Chongyuan sat around the table, while Bi Su placed a pot of tea in the corner without making a sound to disturb them.

Xiao Lie's finger stopped at the southern end of the map.

"The Chen state slaughtered my people; this grudge must be avenged!"

"Since they want to fight, I'll show them what's what in Northern Xinjiang!"

He raised his head.

"The elite troops of the Northern Frontier are all deployed, including the Trapped Camp and the Azure Wolf Cavalry, all of whom will follow me on this expedition."

"Shen Chongyuan stayed in the capital to stabilize the various prefectures."

"Luo Daniu and Xiao Xiong, follow me south."

"Also, notify the northern frontier to load all the artillery onto trains, escorted by Chen Hu, and transport them directly to the southern front!"

Luo Daniu grinned.

"I can't wait any longer!"

Xiao Xiong didn't speak, but just grinned and drew his curved sword from his waist.

Shen Chongyuan clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"This humble general will reinforce the defenses of Kyoto once more, awaiting Your Highness's return."

Xiao Lie rolled up the map and put it in his sleeve. When he reached the door, he looked back at the side hall, which was now mostly empty.

"Brothers, Old Zhou's life is in our hands."

"If we're too slow, that idiot might really go crazy!"

"Destroy the Chen Kingdom within three months!"