xymnovel Chapter 744 1. Thieves Among Thieves, A Change in the Northern Frontier
Chapter 744 1. Thieves Among Thieves, A Change in the Northern Frontier
"Oh, so this is the 'secret weapon' that the Great Qian Dynasty is preparing to send to Wuzhou?"
Duanmu Yan's lips curled slightly, his tone full of sarcasm. He deliberately emphasized the words "secret weapon," seemingly trying to provoke Huang Chao.
"Young man, don't get so angry. Although I, Huang Chao, was once the leader of the Yellow Turban Army, it was only because of the circumstances that I was forced to do so in order to make a living."
"Now that we're in the same boat, why make things difficult for each other?"
Upon hearing this, Huang Chao simply smiled faintly. As a leader of the Yellow Turban Army, he naturally wouldn't get angry with such a young man.
"Same boat? Hmph, I have no intention of associating with you, you Yellow Turban rebels!"
"Once a Yellow Turban rebel, always a Yellow Turban rebel. Don't even think about washing away your sins!"
Duanmu Yan snorted coldly, her voice filled with intense hostility, perfectly portraying a young, impetuous, and inexperienced general.
These words were extremely harsh; if someone else had heard them, they would probably have been furious.
But Huang Chao simply shook his head slightly, a hint of barely perceptible pity flashing in his eyes.
"Young man, the sins you speak of are nothing but a misunderstanding of this chaotic world."
"Whether it's the Yellow Turban Rebellion or the Great Qian Dynasty, they are all just pieces on this chessboard."
"The truly guilty ones are those who manipulate the chessboard, causing countless deaths."
Huang Chao's sudden change to a profound tone startled Duanmu Yan.
He never imagined that someone he once regarded as a traitor would have such profound insights, and for a moment he was at a loss for words to refute him.
"Hmph, empty words are useless! What I, Duanmu Yan, hate most in this life are you bandits who wreak havoc on the world!"
Although Duanmu Yan's tone remained firm, the anger in her heart had subsided somewhat.
Seeing this, Huang Chao simply smiled. It seemed that although this young man was young and impetuous, he still had his own principles and convictions.
Therefore, he changed the subject and began to talk about serious matters.
"Alright, let's get back to the main topic. Although we're only allies in name only on this trip to Wuzhou, there's no need to be so tense, is there?"
"The Great Qian Dynasty sent you here hoping that I could revitalize the Yellow Turban Army in Wuzhou and fight against that Duke Zhenguo, Su Ye. You must also have your own mission. Why don't we each get what we need and complete the mission together?"
Huang Chao's words were somewhat sarcastic, but they also revealed a degree of sincerity in his willingness to cooperate.
Upon hearing this, Duanmu Yan, though still harboring prejudice against the Yellow Turban Army, temporarily acknowledged that Huang Chao's words made sense.
"Hmph, you're smart enough to know what's good for you. Although I, Duanmu Yan, can't stand you, I'll do my best since I've accepted the mission."
"But don't even think about trying any tricks, or my sword won't discriminate from now on!"
Duanmu Yan glared at Huang Chao and said, pretending to be fierce.
"Don't worry, young man. Although I, Huang Chao, was once a bandit, I am a man of my word."
Upon seeing this, Huang Chao burst into laughter. Duanmu Yan was someone sent by the Great Qian Dynasty to monitor and support him.
Therefore, he not only couldn't get angry, but he also had to soothe Duanmu Yan in a gentle and kind manner!
...
Meanwhile, outside Minglong Pass in the northern frontier, in that snow-covered land, the cold wind was still biting, but it seemed to carry a subtle, almost imperceptible change.
Night King Ye Wuhen, the overlord of the Northern Frontier, sat on a throne made of black iron in the city lord's mansion of Minglong Pass. His gaze pierced through the heavy tent and seemed to reach the distant south.
Before him was a huge map, marking the spheres of influence of the Great Qian, the Northern Frontier, and the surrounding countries.
At this moment, his gaze was firmly fixed on the Cang and Heng states within the Great Qian Dynasty. The power of Su Ye, the Duke of Zhenguo in Heng state, was at its zenith, and the flames of war in Wu state had pushed the situation of the Great Qian Dynasty to a new climax.
"Su Ye..."
"A junior member of the Yunwang Mansion has now become a major threat to the Great Qian Dynasty."
Ye Wuhen murmured the name, his voice carrying a hint of amusement and apprehension.
"Your Highness, Su Ye's ambition is now crystal clear. He not only wants to annex Wuzhou, but I'm afraid the entire Daqian is in his hands."
"If we continue to let him expand recklessly, we may find ourselves in an even more passive position in the future."
Zhao Fengyun, the brave general known as the "Wolf of the Northern Frontier," stood to Ye Wuhen's right, his eyes equally sharp, but after being thoroughly defeated by Wei Qing, he had become more composed.
"Feng Yun is absolutely right, but directly confronting Su Ye head-on is not the best strategy."
"Although our Northern Frontier Night Fiend Iron Cavalry is strong, it is still not as well-founded as the Great Qian Dynasty. In addition, that brat Su Ye is currently gaining momentum. In a head-on confrontation, the outcome is unpredictable."
Ye Wuhen waved his hand, saying that the Daqian Dynasty should be the first to be anxious, and it was not their turn yet.
"Ye Yun, what's your opinion?"
At this point, Ye Wuhen turned his gaze to Ye Yun, the strategist sitting on his left.
"Su Ye is indeed a formidable opponent, but his expansion has been too rapid, and logistical support and morale are both problems."
"More importantly, his ostentatious behavior has aroused the vigilance of the Great Qian Dynasty and given us an opportunity."
"Your Highness, the troubles of Su Ye are actually a sign of internal strife within the Great Qian Dynasty. Why don't we take this opportunity to reach some kind of tacit understanding with the Great Qian court, letting them weaken each other?"
"At the same time, we can turn our attention to the west. The Great Ling Dynasty in Xiling has recently weakened and is also experiencing rebellion and low morale within its borders. It has no time to attend to other matters, which is a good opportunity for us to expand."
Ye Yun gently stroked the feather fan in his hand, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
"Your Highness, I agree with Ye Yun's idea. We don't need to rush into a direct confrontation with Su Ye. Instead, we can use the Great Qian Dynasty to restrain his actions."
"At the same time, we should also look for new breakthroughs and expand our sphere of influence, instead of staying here at Minglong Pass and fighting to the death with the Great Qian Dynasty!"
Dressed in military uniform, the valiant female general Yan Qifeng stood up. She had always disagreed with using hundreds of thousands of Night Fiend cavalry to fight to the death at Minglong Pass.
The Great Ling Dynasty, with its vast, flat land to the west, should be the home ground for their Night Fury Cavalry!
What are your two opinions?
Ye Wuhen nodded, his gaze shifting to the brothers Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Guangyi below him, as the war progressed and time passed.
As for the quality of Zhao Kuangyin and the large number of talented people under his command, the two brothers gradually entered the core of the Night King's Mansion.
"Hmph, Su Ye may be strong, but what do my Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry have to fear? However, it would be even better if we could weaken his strength through the hands of others."
Zhao Guangyi, being straightforward, spoke first.
However, upon reflection, he realized that not long ago, they had been defeated by Wei Qing in northern Hengzhou with fewer troops, and he suddenly lost his bravado.