Isolated town in northern border region

"Your Highness! The Northern Barbarian Khan, Timur, has personally led an army of 50,000 to the city gates!"

"They say the prince deliberately sabotaged the peace talks, and they've come to demand an explanation."

As soon as Xiao Lie stepped out of the thatched hut, Xiao Xiong rode up on horseback.

"statement?"

"That's utter nonsense!"

"Back then, there were at least 100,000 troops at the foot of Cangwu City. Now, there are only 50,000 cavalrymen, and they don't have any effective siege weapons. How dare they ask me for an explanation?"

"Let's go, let's play a trick on him!"

Xiao Lie climbed the city wall, where soldiers on guard were already standing on the walls of Youzhou.

Looking out of the city, Xiao Lie's lips curled into a smile.

"Look, back then, when you looked out over the city of Cangwu, there were at least ten tribes' totem battle flags in the Tartar army."

"Now, only Timur's Khan's wolf banner remains."

"His reign as Khan won't last long."

Xiao Xiong also burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Of course!"

"The people of the grasslands have the greatest faith in the strong. Your Highness first won a victory against overwhelming odds in Cangzhou, and now you have cleverly devised a plan to reclaim Youzhou."

"Those small tribes always take advantage and never suffer losses, so why would they follow Timur?"

"Moreover, Your Highness's act of crippling Timur's best successor has further humiliated the Khan!"

Xiao Lie was somewhat surprised and turned to look at Xiao Xiong.

"You mean that Tug?"

"It's just the loss of my right ear, how can that be considered a disability?"

Xiao Xiong chuckled and leaned close to Xiao Lie's ear.

"Your Highness, the people of the grasslands have a custom called 'ear-cutting ritual.' Whenever an elder passes away, they will cut a wound on their right ear as a sign of mourning."

"If Tug were just an ordinary herdsman, that would be one thing, but he's Timur's eldest son, and the undisputed next Khan!"

"Now that he's lost his right ear, Timur will never allow him to succeed him; otherwise, it would be a great disgrace to the steppe!"

Xiao Lie was taken aback when he heard this, then his eyes darted around rapidly as a crazy plan gradually took shape in his mind.

"Khan?"

"shame?"

Xiao Lie muttered a couple of things, then suddenly asked in a low voice.

"General Xiao, is there anyone who doesn't want to be Khan?"

Xiao Xiong was taken aback, but blurted it out without hesitation.

"How could that be? What son of the grasslands wouldn't want to be a Khan?"

"From birth, every son of the grasslands dreams of building his tribe into the most powerful tribe on the grasslands, unifying the grasslands, and becoming the Khan of the entire grasslands!"

Upon hearing this reply, Xiao Lie burst into laughter.

"That's fine!"

"Since Tug was injured by me, then this karmic debt must naturally be repaid!"

"Isn't he just the Khan? I'll lend him a hand and also gain some credit for supporting the new emperor!"

"Hahaha!"

Xiao Xiong was completely dumbfounded. He looked at Xiao Lie with a blank expression, wanting to ask for clarification, but his mind was a complete mess, and he didn't know where to begin.

"What a vicious thought!"

Just then, an incredulous voice rang out from the steps of the city gate tower.

Xiao Xiong instinctively drew his curved sword.

"Where did this madman come from! Take him down!"

Xiao Lie turned around and saw that it was none other than Zhou Xun.

"Alright! Let him come over. This kid's got a good head on his shoulders; I'm counting on him to get things done."

Xiao Lie waved his hand, and the two soldiers released Zhou Xun.

Zhou Xun took a deep breath and slowly walked up behind Xiao Lie.

"Does Your Highness intend to instigate Tug to kill his father and seize the throne?"

Xiao Lie's eye twitched, and he turned his head away with a look of disgust.

"How dare you call me vicious?"

"You're the one who's full of bad intentions!"

"However, it's a good idea—direct and deadly!"

"If it really works out, all I need to do is release the news and reveal the truth to the public, and it will be clear that Tugh's ascension to the throne was illegitimate!"

"At that time, the entire grassland will descend into endless slaughter!"

"After all, who wouldn't want to be a Khan?"

Zhou Xun straightened his expression and took over the conversation.

"Your Highness can also discuss with Tuge the possibility of putting on a show at the border, deliberately suffering a defeat to demonstrate sincerity, and then submitting a military report to the court requesting reinforcements after a major defeat."

"At that time, not only will the court's suspicions be dispelled, but the prince can also unite with the Northern Barbarians to completely control the five northern prefectures!"

"Shut up!"

Zhou Xun was speaking enthusiastically when Xiao Lie interrupted him without even looking up.

"If you continue, General Xiao might lose his temper and chop you down with his sword!"

really!

At this moment, Xiao Xiong's hand was already gripping the hilt of the knife, and the veins on the back of his hand were bulging, probably because he was suppressing his anger.

Xiao Lie gently patted Xiao Xiong's arm.

"Old Xiao, we're comrades who've shared life and death, don't you trust me?"

Xiao Xiong glared fiercely at Zhou Xun.

"This humble general dares not!"

"But this scholar is cunning and scheming; I fear he is not a good man!"

"How about I cut him down with my own blade?"

Xiao Lie turned around and gave Zhou Xun a look that said, "You've gotten yourself into trouble," shrugged, and then turned back to look at Xiao Xiong.

"That kid's just a cynical, arrogant scholar. Why should a great general like you bother arguing with him?"

After saying that, Xiao Lie reached out and grabbed Zhou Xun's shoulder, pulling him to his side, and pointed at Xiao Xiong, asking.

"Do you know why General Xiao wants to kill you?"

Without a second thought, Zhou Xun tilted his chin up and glanced at Xiao Xiong.

"How could I not know?"

"This General Xiao was originally a northern barbarian. He followed the late emperor before and is now following the prince. The grassland people have long regarded him as a traitor."

"If Your Highness wishes to join forces with Tug, General Xiao's head would be the best invitation to pledge allegiance!"

"By the Eternal Heaven above! How dare you insult me ​​to this extent!"

"Your Highness! I'll kill him with my own blade, then pay with my life!"

Zhou Xun's words completely enraged Xiao Xiong!

To be honest, it wasn't that Xiao Xiong was impatient; it was just that Zhou Xun's words completely negated most of Xiao Xiong's life.

Xiao Xiong was a simple man; all he wanted was to lead his people to a better life.

Having received great favor from the late emperor, who bestowed upon him the surname of the Great Chu state, Xiao Xiong's clansmen also began to live a good life. From then on, Xiao Xiong devoted himself wholeheartedly to following the late emperor, even leading a team to break through the enemy lines at the foot of Cangwu City to save Xiao Lie.

Now he is always by Xiao Lie's side. Such a loyal and brave man has become a cunning villain who has changed his mind many times in Zhou Xun's mouth!

For a pure warrior like Xiao Xiong, this was a great humiliation!

Xiao Xiong drew his curved sword and, without saying a word, slashed it down at Zhou Xun's neck!

"They really know how to make a scene!"

In the blink of an eye, Xiao Lie grabbed the curved blade!

The blade cut Xiao Lie's palm, and blood dripped down his arm onto the city wall.

"Ah! This humble general deserves death!"

Xiao Xiong suddenly withdrew his strength, released the curved blade, and knelt down with a thud to beg for forgiveness.

Xiao Lie let go, grabbed Zhou Xun from beside him, and used Zhou Xun's tattered hemp clothes to wipe the bloodstains off the scimitar. Then, he silently wiped the scimitar back into the scabbard at Xiao Xiong's waist.

"Damn! That really hurts!"

"Old Xiao! The battle hasn't even started yet, and you've already slashed me!"

"What bad luck!"

"You're forbidden from drinking alcohol for three days!"

Xiao Xiong looked up in complete bewilderment, utterly unable to believe his ears.

"Your Highness! I..."

Xiao Lie kicked Xiao Xiong in annoyance.

"What are you standing there for! Go and call the medic!"

"I'm in pain right now!"

Xiao Xiong only reacted after being yelled at by Xiao Lie, and immediately rushed down to the city walls.

Zhou Xun stared blankly at the scene for a moment, but his eyes quickly began to dart around again.

"Is Your Highness's move not only an act of kindness towards the generals, but also an attempt to win my loyalty?"

"With such cunning, why not use it in the imperial court instead of coming here...?"

"Snapped!"

Before Zhou Xun could finish speaking, Xiao Lie slapped him across the face.

"Will this ever end?"

"Just because I glanced at you, you think you're someone important?"

"I have no need for your strategies, intellect, or cunning!"

"Do you understand?"

Xiao Lie's words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing all of Zhou Xun's pride.

Zhou Xun's eyes dimmed completely, and he asked his final question in a daze.

"Then...Your Highness...why are you treating me like this?"

Xiao Lie glanced at the wound on his palm.

"Just because you're a citizen of my Great Chu! What's wrong with taking a knife for you?"

"You advised Old Zhou, wrote to Tuge, and urged me to retire. Wasn't it all for the sake of the people of the Northern Frontier so they could live a good life?"

"Why do you always look at people with the most malicious eyes when you are clearly full of compassion?"

Zhou Xun was speechless when asked the question, and after a long silence, he finally stammered out his answer.

"I...I...don't believe it."

Xiao Lie leaned against the arrow sack and continued to press for answers.

"Don't believe in what?"

Zhou Xun took a deep breath and sorted out his chaotic thoughts.

"I don't believe there are really good people in this world!"

"I've read many books and met many people, and gradually I've discovered that this world is full of scoundrels!"

"The world is bustling with activity, all for profit!"

"Before the Tartars arrived, officials and merchants colluded to drive up grain prices!"

"Wealthy households are lending money, forcing farmers to sell their children!"

"The Tartars are here! Even before leaving, the border troops defending the city are going to collect a city defense tax from the people!"

"And then? They abandoned the city and fled, the Tartars' scimitars causing countless deaths in the northern frontier!"

"Those people work hard their whole lives, never even getting a decent meal, why should they be forced to live like these scoundrels!"

"This world..."

Zhou Xun became more and more anxious as he spoke, and the last half of his sentence was a roar. But perhaps because he had been bullied so badly by the Tartars and had no food in his stomach, he had no strength to shout the second half of his sentence, and his whole body began to sway.

Xiao Lie reached out to support him, beckoned to a soldier nearby to take half a piece of dry rations, and handed it over while finishing the half-sentence that Zhou Xun had failed to shout.

"This world shouldn't be like this!"