[Fantasy] My World (Complete) - 22

Chapter 3 *Exchange of Interests*
To my surprise, in the afternoon, Yuliangha and Heshu arrived together.
I learned from them that the leaders of both tribes had been gathered at the Glo tribe's chieftain's camp, discussing important secrets.
Yuliangha, missing his left arm, immediately gave me a bear hug, grinning as if he had never cared about me cutting off his arm. Such a person is either a fool or a cunning schemer; I doubted Yuliangha was the former.
Hearing them discuss secrets, I couldn't help but laugh: "Isn't it just about how to attack the southern desert tribes, reclaim our losses, and get revenge?"
The two were startled and quickly asked where I had heard that.
"Don't ask where you heard that. That's why I'm here today."
I waved my hand. "Our Xiliang City and the Northern Desert tribes share a deep and unbreakable friendship. We should carry forward this glorious tradition..."
Even the two elders, who considered themselves impervious to the harsh winds of the grasslands, couldn't help but shudder: 'Heavens, this kid is shameless!' Fortunately, I didn't say much. After praising them for a while, I suddenly asked seriously, "Gentlemen, would you like some weapons?"
"Huh?"
The two hadn't yet recovered from the sycophantic flattery. Upon hearing this, they were stunned for a moment, then their expressions became incredibly interesting.
"How many?"
"What weapons?"
The two asked in quick succession, their eyes filled with uncontrollable urgency.
What is most lacking on the grasslands?
If you ask ordinary women, they will say they lack food, silks, and cosmetics.
But if you ask the men of the grasslands, they will definitely say they lack weapons, armor, and siege equipment.
Because of these things, they could plunder even more. Why should they risk everything and rely on the whims of fate to obtain what they could plunder from the heart of the continent?
The steppe cavalry were indeed ferocious, but this was limited to direct combat. They possessed both courage and strength, but were severely lacking in equipment. Their bows and arrows were made from inferior materials, and their swords and spears were of low quality, often putting them at a disadvantage. They
could plunder skilled craftsmen, but due to the severe lack of minerals on the steppes—iron, copper, gold, silver, and everything else—even a skilled cook cannot cook without ingredients, let alone skilled craftsmen. No matter how much intimidation, insults, bribery, or tribute they received, the steppe cavalry always obtained weapons far inferior to those of the inland kingdoms.
To obtain them from the battlefield was a pipe dream.
The weapons left behind by the soldiers of the Three Kingdoms on the battlefield were generally the result of fierce fighting, many of them partially damaged. Even the better ones were significantly less durable and long-lasting, often breaking down after three to five battles. This was part of the cunning of the three inland kingdoms; they didn't manufacture particularly robust weapons. They simply took the damaged ones back to the armory for repair or melted them down for remaking. The empire had plenty of manpower and materials.
It can be said that for hundreds of years, the steppe armies had never truly threatened the inland regions, and while weaponry might not be the biggest factor, it was certainly one of the main reasons.
Now, let's return to the northern desert overlords, the Geluo and Guligan tribes.
These two tribes suffered heavy losses this time. Aside from the 100,000 troops of their subordinate tribes, they lost 200,000 of their own core forces. The loss of 100,000 tribes wasn't just of elite steppe warriors, but also their equipment, weapons, and horses, all of which were swallowed up by the six southern desert tribes.
The replenishment of horses was manageable; the grasslands had nothing but horses, cattle, and sheep. Even the poorest families could afford three or five horses, not to mention that each large tribe had dedicated personnel to feed thousands upon thousands of fine horses. What truly pained the Geluo and Guligan tribes was the loss of their warriors' weapons. Even after losing over a hundred thousand men on the battlefield, they would still collect their comrades' weapons and store them in their packs. Now, all of them had fallen into the hands of those beasts in Mo Nan!
The leaders of the two tribes were filled with shame and rage at the thought. "Damn it
! You were the ones who tipped us off, saying that Xiliang City was unusually vulnerable after the great battle with you. Then we encountered those ruthless bastards from the Wang family, and that monstrous super-strongman, Lanting Gong, resulting in the loss of over a hundred thousand men.
But that was bad enough; in the end, we managed to gain many benefits through the clever scheme of the Youliangha Harmony Technique and the exchange of hostages. But we never expected our biggest enemy to be these traitors who stabbed us in the back! They slaughtered us so badly!"
The current situation is that they want revenge, but they are hampered by insufficient elite warriors and a severe lack of weaponry, preventing them from gaining an overwhelming advantage. They also fear that the Chahar tribes might reap the benefits, hence the prolonged delay – they can only negotiate, not fight.
Therefore, Yuliangha Heshu was so excited when I said I could provide weapons.
They too are burdened with immense pressure; this colossal defeat, resulting in the loss of 200,000 men, is enough to forever brand them with shame, ensuring they will never gain the forgiveness of the Steppe God. If they weren't the absolute confidants of the two chieftains, they would have been sent to the Immortal Realm long ago to personally explain themselves to the Steppe God.
Eager to atone for their crimes, these two important figures, knowing full well that such haste would lead to a severe beating, didn't bother to hide their urgency. They exclaimed in unison, "Your Highness, how much do you have? We'll take as much as you have!"
"Don't rush, don't rush."
I gestured behind me, and Little Turtle nodded and went out. A moment later, he returned carrying two large leather bags, slamming them onto the clove-wood tea table with a "bang."
"Crash..."
The fragrant wood tea table, worth hundreds of gold coins, shattered upon impact. Yuliangha and Heshu, however, were not angry but delighted. They pounced, turning the leather pouch upside down, and "crash, crash," dumped its contents.
After a series of clanging sounds, two broadswords, a fine bow, a pair of arrows, and a disassembled set of armor lay on the ground.
Yuliangha didn't hesitate. He picked up a broadsword and swung it a few times, the blade sweeping across the ground before finally striking a piece of broken fragrant wood. The wood snapped cleanly in two.
"Haha, a fine sword, a fine sword!"
Yuliangha exclaimed approvingly. The broadsword was several levels inferior to the precious sword he had bought from the inland, but if such a sword were widely used by the army, it would be considered excellent—at least twice as good as what they had used before.
Heshu, without any hesitation, picked up a piece of breastplate. The moment he held it, its weight made him smile slightly. Looking at the craftsmanship, he squeezed and mashed it a few times, leaving it riddled with holes. But in the end, his smile became as joyful as Yuliangha's. I slowly ate the delicious roast meat provided by Havel, and seeing this, I smiled coldly. Damn, this is the first time I've discovered that Heshu actually knows martial arts, and is quite skilled at it. The old man has been hiding his abilities quite well!
Next, Heshu naturally tested the remaining bow and arrows, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face as well.
"Your Highness, I won't say anything more. How many of these are you getting?"
Heshu asked, barely suppressing his excitement.
To me, his and Yuliangha's expressions meant one thing: We love these weapons so much, come and fleece us! We have no regrets!
That's true. If this war doesn't break out, what use are gold coins and wealth if we don't even have a home by next year?
"We brought two hundred sets of armor, broadswords, spears, and bows and arrows. You can compare the quality first,"
Little Turtle said with a sly smile. "Only two hundred sets?"
The two couldn't help but feel disappointed.
"No, this is just a sample. It depends on how much you can consume,"
I smiled. "As long as you can offer something of comparable value, I can sell it to you for the number you want."
"Really?"
"Of course!"
"Cunning!"
You Liangha laughed loudly. "Your Highness, we need 200,000 sets, what do you think?"
"Pfft..."
Little Bird immediately spat out the milk tea he had just drunk, choking and turning his face red. "Okay."
My answer surprised Little Turtle and Little Bird, but their long-term cooperation made them know that I definitely had a backup plan, so they didn't show any worry or anxiety.
"However, for one set of such equipment, I need three fine horses: a two-year-old stallion, a one-year-old foal, and a three-year-old mare."
Now it was He Shu and the others' turn to have interesting expressions. This price wasn't just overcharging, it was outright robbery. Even if a set of equipment was of the finest quality, it wouldn't be worth that much. It was purely making things difficult for their side.
"Ahem."
Heshu looked at me earnestly. "Your Highness, we are very sincere. Please name a reasonable amount."
Youliangha chimed in, "Your Highness, I, Youliangha, am a rough man, but I know a bit about the market. Your set of equipment is worth at most five gold coins, but a single warhorse from our grasslands is worth ten gold coins. Isn't this a bit too harsh? I think a three-year-old steed would be enough for a set of equipment, wouldn't it?"
"Not harsh at all."
Little Turtle shook his head seriously. "Compared to those who kidnap our people and then use them to extort money from us, this kind of legitimate business is much more suitable."
"How can you say that?"
Little Bird slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "If you don't attack now, what use will the steeds be when they come next year? Won't they just benefit the six tribes of the Southern Desert? Oh, and your women too, they'll all be their playthings!"
"But by giving you so many fine horses, aren't we just creating another enemy for ourselves? Even if we defeat those beasts in the southern desert when your hundreds of thousands of troops attack, won't we still fall into your hands?"
Youliangha retorted sharply.
"Nonsense! What business is without risk? If you have a guaranteed profit, please introduce it to me,"
Little Bird said dismissively. "Selling us horses is risky for you, but isn't it risky for us to give up hundreds of thousands of sets of weapons and equipment? When you attack us later, you'll use our weapons too, won't you?"
The four of them argued back and forth, each firmly holding their ground and refusing to budge.
After a while, the two, who hadn't gained any advantage from the little turtle and the little bird, stopped arguing and looked at me. "Your Highness, please say something! Such harsh conditions, isn't there any room for negotiation?"
"No."
I decisively put down the lamb bone I had just finished eating. "This is the price. Buy it or leave... If you can't make the decision, then have someone who can come and talk to me."
I had no reason to be polite to them. Today, I, Liu Rilai, was here to make a killing; otherwise, I would be letting down the people they had kidnapped.
Youliangha was panting heavily, wanting to say something harsh but forcing himself to hold back. A fierce glint flashed in Heshu's eyes as countless thoughts raced through his mind. "Alright, Your Highness, this matter is truly of great importance. Could you please come to our clan chief's camp? The clan chief and elders are all there, so we can discuss and make a decision."
With Youliangha's invitation, we ended this unsuccessful negotiation and headed towards the Gro clan chief's camp, hundreds of miles away.
The Gro tribe truly lived up to its reputation as one of the most powerful tribes in the northern desert. Chief Kuowa, who commanded the strongest military force, led a camp stretching for dozens of miles, with a direct population of at least several hundred thousand. According to Wang Miao'er's intelligence, the Gro and Guligan tribes each had a population of around one million, with Kuowa's line making up one-fifth of their population. The Guligan tribe's chief, Zanzhang, had the same number, with two hundred thousand people.
The structure of each tribe on the grasslands consisted of a chieftain and a council of elders. In reality, it was a matter of individual strength; the strongest naturally became the chieftain. If someone became incapable, they would be dethroned by a stronger successor.
If one day another elder or junior chieftain had two hundred thousand people, either war or a split would occur; there was no possibility of a third.
Having heard from the messenger that I needed to provide weapons and equipment, a large group of richly dressed people stood at the entrance of the camp, seemingly there to welcome me.
Although they stood together, there was still a slight division among them; they stood close but not closely behind two elders.
Through the twilight sun, I could see that on the left was a tall man dressed in traditional grassland attire with piercing eyes; this was Kuowa, the chief of the Geluo tribe. On his right was a slightly plump man with a kind smile on his face, dressed more aristocratically than the nobles of the capital; this was Zanzhang, the chief of the Guligan tribe, who had always admired the culture of Liufeng Kingdom.
"Your Highness Lanting, welcome to the grasslands!"
The two chieftains greeted me with smiles and embraces, revealing nothing of their true feelings. "It's a rare treat for you to visit the grasslands. Although it's not as prosperous as Liufeng Kingdom, the vast and desolate scenery of the grasslands is quite unique. Why not stay a few more days?" " I
appreciate the chieftains' kindness,"
I replied with a smile. "However, winter is approaching, and I need to prepare for the winter for my men. I really don't have the time!"
"Your Highness Lanting, I am Nie Jiewen of the Geluo tribe."
As I spoke, a burly man appeared from behind, his eyes fierce as he extended his hand. "I've long heard of Your Highness Lanting's unparalleled martial arts skills. I'd very much like to spar with Your Highness."
I turned to Kuowa: "And this is…?"
Kuowa smiled slightly: "This brute always likes to use brute force. After hearing of Your Highness Lanting's feat of throwing a horse with superhuman strength at the gates of Xiliang City, he's been eager to witness it. If…"
"Get out of my way!"
Before Khova could finish speaking, I coldly interrupted him, staring at Nie Jiewen. "I'm talking to your leader. What right does a lowly lackey have to interrupt? Didn't your master teach you manners?"
Khova's smile instantly froze, and Nie Jiewen's face flushed red, his eyes seeming to spit fire and burn me to ashes. He's not a beauty, why would I stare at him?
Without even looking at Nie Jiewen, I smiled again: "If we want to talk business, let's go inside. If anyone deliberately causes trouble or spouts nonsense, I don't think there's any need to talk."
"You... ah!"
Before Nie Jiewen could finish his angry curse, I slapped him across the face, knocking the nearly two-meter-tall man to the ground. Blood gushed from his mouth, and anyone could see that Nie Jiewen's body was trembling violently. Spitting blood was just an unconscious reaction; he had already passed out. "Fuck you! I've finally managed to act all civilized for a few days, and you're forcing me to fight back! Fuck your mother!"
I took two steps forward and stomped on him hard, but this time I didn't use my inner energy. "You stupid bastard, I'll kick you to death!"
Little Turtle and Little Bird have always been my good helpers in fights. Back in the day, we'd go out in the street with wooden sticks and start brawls, and this time would be no exception. Seeing this, the two of them rushed forward without saying a word and started kicking Nie Jiewen relentlessly.
Jing Gongcai was also eager to try, but Jing Gongmei subtly glared at her, dispelling the little girl's violent thoughts. The two tribal leaders standing nearby were dumbfounded.
Good heavens, is this...is this the Duke of Liufeng Kingdom?
He looks more like a street thug from Liufeng Kingdom, cursing dozens of times without repeating a single word...clearly, he's used to doing this kind of thing.
"Your Highness, Your Highness..."
He Shu, standing behind me, quickly came up to pull me away, "Please let him go, if you hit him again he'll die..."
He Shu's words set the stage, and the people around reacted. Several higher-ranking individuals immediately rushed forward and separated us. Some of the experts among them had considered coming to my rescue, but firstly, they were wary of my status, and secondly, they absolutely did not believe they could defeat a super expert who could throw a horse more than ten meters with divine strength—still didn't believe it? Look at that slap on Nie Jiewen, Nie Jiewen is an external martial arts expert, and one slap knocked him unconscious, is that something an ordinary person could do?
Looking at Nie Jiewen lying on the ground, he was covered in footprints and mud, no longer convulsing, barely clinging to life.
"Sigh, why bother?"
After Heshu released me, I patted off non-existent dust, spread my hands, and looked at everyone innocently. "I've always been a civilized person. You all saw it, he forced me to do this."
Someone wanted to say something, but was silenced by the glares of Kuowa and Zanzhang, who had turned around in time.
"Hehe, it's nothing, nothing. Thank you, Your Highness, for helping to teach this brute a lesson. He deserved it long ago."
Kuowa hid his dissatisfaction deep inside, smiling and raising his hand. "Your Highness, please. I've prepared mare's milk wine and butter tea for you. Later, there will be our Gro tribe's most famous roasted lamb feast. Your Highness will enjoy it."
"Please!"
I knew when to stop and when to quit while I was ahead. With a hearty laugh, I led the Jinggong sisters, Little Turtle, and Little Bird, following them towards the golden-roofed tent in the center.
Someone carried Nie Jiewen out for treatment.
His injuries weren't actually serious. If it weren't for the business negotiations later, and the thought that killing Nie Jiewen, this fierce general, would reduce their chances of winning the battle against the six tribes of Mo Nan, I would have already used my Heavenly Demon True Qi to sever all his meridians. After

inspecting
the two hundred sets of armor, broadswords, and other items we brought, the grim expressions on everyone's faces finally changed.
They had never had the opportunity to acquire such fine weapons in decades.
A grand banquet was inevitable; banquets on the grasslands were far more lively than those in the inland three kingdoms. The sight of hundreds of young men and women dancing made my two servants beside me uneasy, their eyes constantly drifting towards the girls' breasts and buttocks. Besides eating large chunks of meat, how could they miss out on drinking heavily?
During the banquet, the high-ranking figures at our few tables alone consumed dozens of kilograms of wine. As for me, aside from a few polite sips with the two clan leaders, I didn't drink much. Fortunately, the elders had witnessed my ability to turn on them quickly, so they shifted their focus to Little Turtle and Little Bird, indirectly delaying their plans to woo the women.
Speaking of the most attention-grabbing people at the entire banquet, besides myself, it had to be the two twin beauties behind me.
Actually, since the slave trade is not prohibited on the Sea Mi Continent, wealthy and powerful people like to buy beautiful female slaves for their own enjoyment.
As mentioned before, among all the beauties traded, twin sisters are the second most popular type, second only to mother-daughter sisters. Although the Northern Desert isn't particularly wealthy, the clan leaders and elders are still very rich, enjoying various luxuries that are no less than those of the wealthy on the mainland. Their tents also house many beauties, including twin sisters.
However, compared to ordinary twin beauties, the Jinggong sisters were not only sweet and charming in appearance, but more importantly, their elegant and noble temperament as princesses was incomparable to those beautiful slave girls. Therefore, it was no surprise that they received the most attention.
On the grasslands, the strong are respected, and sometimes coveting another man's woman is the beginning of a war.
If it weren't for my terrifying background, and the fact that they dared not offend me now, someone would probably have already come to challenge me to a bet—the bet being the Jinggong sisters, of course.
After the banquet ended, the chieftains of the two tribes, along with a dozen elders and our group, sat down again in Khova's golden-roofed tent.
Cups of Jiangnan Maofeng green tea were served, along with steaming towels. After a flurry of activity, the most important negotiation of the evening was just beginning.
Seeing my calm and composed demeanor, Khova and Zanzhang exchanged a wry smile.
They had originally planned to get me drunk at the banquet, then take the opportunity to negotiate, making me unable to resist and sell them weapons at the lowest price. Now it seemed that this tactic would not work.
"Your Highness Lanting, we have learned from Youliangha and Heshu that you have decided to provide us with weapons to punish the unjust. Our two tribes deeply admire your righteous act!"
The two tribal chiefs started off with a bold statement, their words filled with heroic spirit, before simultaneously rising to bow respectfully to me, as if I were a saint.
I didn't mince words, patting my chest and saying, "Don't worry, Lanting, I love to stand up for the weak. Those demons of the Southern Desert have been so treacherous, harming their own people; even I, an outsider, can't stand by and watch. Fight! Fight them fiercely! Don't worry about supplies; as long as you have fine horses, everything will be fine!"
"Yes, Lord Lanting is right. We know that transporting so many weapons is a difficult task, and the danger you've faced must be immense. But…"
Kuowa sighed heavily. Your Highness, you don't know how poor we grassland people are! "In recent years, natural disasters have been constant, and the breeding of fine horses has been unable to improve. Adding to this, this defeat not only cost us 300,000 brave men, but also 300,000 well-trained horses. Now we have to counterattack those beasts, and we have very few horses left to spare."
I sighed along with him, "Chief Kuowa, you don't know how bad things are in our Xiliang City. After one major battle after another, not only are we short of soldiers, but we're also desperately short of weapons. This time, I only managed to squeeze some out through connections in the capital, and they charged me exorbitant prices. With shipping costs and fees at each level, if I didn't sell them for fifty gold coins a set, I'd be forced to retreat to the capital immediately."
Heshu exclaimed in shock, "Fifty gold coins? That's the price of five fine horses! Your Highness, you just said thirty gold coins!"
I shrugged, looking at him apologetically. "If you only want a thousand sets, I can sell them for ten gold coins. If it's ten thousand sets, I can sell them for twenty gold coins. But if it's over a hundred thousand sets, getting caught means the confiscation of our property and the extermination of our entire clan. How can I justify taking such a risk if I don't sell them at a higher price?"
I paused, then added, "Of course, I have plenty of money. I don't want gold coins, I just want warhorses."
The crowd was both ashamed and furious. They'd seen people raise prices after the fact, but they'd never seen anyone raise prices so blatantly and take advantage of a crisis like this.
As for gold coins, they had originally extorted fifty million from me, but that had already been stolen by the southern tribes during the ambush. Their tribe didn't have many gold coins left.
Now, after what I said, even if they still had that intention, they lost interest.
Youliangha bluntly exposed me: "Your Highness, please don't joke around. Empress Ren is your aunt; surely it wouldn't be your turn to have your family's property confiscated and your clan exterminated? Wouldn't that mean even Emperor Kangzong would be wiped out?"
"General, you don't understand. Of course, I wouldn't. The confiscation of property and extermination of the clan refers to my brothers who followed me. After this commotion, my lifelong official prestige will come to an end. If you were in my shoes, would you be willing to accept that?"
I countered his question.
Yuliangha remained silent. Even the most shameless grassland bigwigs present couldn't possibly say, "Brother, for the sake of loyalty, why don't you just do this job and then come to us?" Most people wouldn't be willing to give up their lives in the interior and come to this grassland to endure the wind and sun, let alone a dignified duke.
"I know doing business is about making money, but your price is too high. We need at least 200,000 sets of weapons and equipment. That means we'd need a million fine horses for you. The entire Northern Desert grasslands combined don't even have that many,"
Zan Zhang said with a bitter face. "Your Highness, how about this? One fine horse for one set of weapons and equipment. As for the rest, just name your price."
Zan Zhang's words were half true and half false. The number of fine horses on the Northern Desert grasslands was something these bigwigs always kept in mind. Currently, the Northern Desert grasslands had a total of 2.58 million fine horses. After deducting stallions, young horses, old horses, and inferior horses that could only carry loads slowly, there were 1.8 million horses available for the battlefield.
1.8 million fine horses seemed like a lot at first glance, but only 300,000 belonged to the two tribes. The rest were owned by individual households or nobles, especially the poor herders. Asking them to pay such a high price for weapons and equipment was clearly unrealistic.
As the lowest-ranking herders, they didn't really need to worry about which tribe they belonged to, unless they were exceptionally ruthless and would be purged after the war. The rest of them would at most suffer a little, but they wouldn't be killed by the victors from other grassland tribes. Therefore, sending them to war and equipping them with weapons and gear was the business of the high-ranking nobles and chieftains. Those
who truly worried about being purged after defeat were naturally the nobles of the northern grasslands, including Khowa and Zanzhang. If ordinary people had any chance of survival, they had none. Neither the southern nor eastern tribes would spare them—just as they had done to the defeated nobles in the past.
I understood this very well. Faced with imminent danger, everyone knows how to choose between life and wealth.
Therefore, I took the initiative, not they.
"What is there about your grasslands that I find appealing?"
I smiled faintly. "Wealth? Power? Or beautiful women?"
Zanzhang glanced at the stunning twin sisters standing behind me and fell silent.
An awkward silence fell.
After much deliberation, Khova came up with a compromise: "Your Highness, your demands are too high. How about we discuss it tonight and give you an answer tomorrow?"
I shook my head repeatedly: "Gentlemen, can't you have some guts? Winter is almost here, and you're still not in a hurry? The ones who are not in a hurry are those guys from the Southern Desert, aren't they? If you keep dragging this out like this, I think by this time next year, I'll only be able to come to your graves and burn some paper money for you as my final gift."
My words were exceptionally vicious, but they knew that this was indeed going to happen.
Next year, the six major tribes of the Southern Desert, whose strength had greatly increased, would first target the Northern Desert tribes that had oppressed them for hundreds of years. Wars on the grasslands were often more brutal than those in the Three Kingdoms of the interior, and the slaughter of the defeated leader was even more ruthless.
In any case, for my own wealth and glory, and for the lives of dozens or hundreds of people in my family, I, Liu Ri, had decided to take their bait today.
Many of the powerful figures, far from glaring at my vicious words, even nodded unconsciously and began discussing among themselves in small groups.
They were speaking the common language of the grasslands, which none of us understood. While observing their expressions, I also regretted not bringing Wang Miao'er along.
Zanzhang and Kuowa were clearly arguing, speaking very loudly. Later, several powerful elders joined in, siding with Kuowa, but they couldn't outmaneuver Zanzhang, who resembled a cunning merchant from the inland. Zanzhang's momentum grew stronger, his voice louder, and Heshu and the others gradually supported him. In the end, Kuowa and the others had no choice but to nod in agreement with regret.
"Your Highness Lanting, you're absolutely right. We have no other choice but to fight to the death."
Zan Zhang made the final decision. "We need 200,000 sets of weapons and equipment, 300,000 would be best. For 200,000 sets, we're willing to pay you the price of two fine horses; for 300,000 sets, we can add one fine horse to each set. This is our final decision, and it fully represents our sincerity. If you're still not willing, there's nothing we can do."
"300,000 sets? Don't even think about it. You don't think all the weapon workshops in Liufeng Kingdom are at your service, do you? Where would Xiliang City get 300,000 extra sets of equipment for you?"
I smiled. "Since you've already shown your sincerity, then I'll state my bottom line: 100,000 sets, calculated at your price of two fine horses; 200,000 sets, each set must have one fine horse. I can ask for fewer mares, just 50,000."
"No, no, you're asking for too much. We really can't afford it,"
Khova said decisively before Zanzhang could answer. "To tell you the truth, the tribe's public property only has 200,000 horses. The rest are all privately contributed by us here. That's all the horses we have; not a single more!"
He spoke with great conviction, but that wasn't actually what they had discussed earlier.
First, the public property consisted of 300,000 horses. Then, they would mandate that every warrior who received a set of weapons had to exchange it for a horse. The entire set of weapons would then belong to the herders. So, according to their calculations, if it were 200,000 sets, the nobles wouldn't have to pay out of their own pockets.
If I had known their scheme now, I would have to give them a thumbs up and praise the nobles for being so clever, still thinking about preserving their wealth even at this point.
However, even if I didn't know what these greedy nobles were thinking, I was still confident I could outmaneuver them.
"Before coming here, I heard that there are many horses on the grasslands that are not suitable for combat. If you don't have enough fine horses, you can use these horses instead,"
I suggested. "I allow you to use three inferior horses as one fine horse. Is that alright?"
Khova and Zanzhang couldn't help but show their joy.
The inferior horses on the grasslands usually bear heavy loads and are used for transportation. Even sensible children don't ride them, so they are like chicken bones—tasteless to eat, but a pity to throw away. Now that someone is willing to take in half-useless horses, why wouldn't they be happy?
"Two inferior horses for one fine horse."
After some discussion, Khova stated their bottom line, "We want 200,000 sets of weapons and equipment."
"Okay, but the number cannot exceed 200,000 horses."
I also conceded a step.
"Alright! Deal!"
Khova and Zanzhang laughed heartily, finally settling the matter.
They couldn't wait any longer. After a few words, we decided to hold the trade on October 18th, ten days later, in a place called Keyan Yiqi, located in the westernmost part of the desert, between Xiliang City and the northern grasslands.
Keyan Yiqi is 1,800 li from Xiliang City and nearly 2,000 li from here, so it's convenient for both sides to avoid traveling that far. Counting the time, there are still two months before winter arrives. Half a month for the trade, another half a month for training, leaving about ten or twenty days, which is more than enough for them to fight several battles and wipe out many tribes in southern desert.
After the arduous negotiations, the leaders of the Geluo and Guligan tribes immediately relaxed, and roasted meat and wine were served again.
This time, the laughter and chatter were much more genuine than before. Little Turtle and Little Bird, displaying their divine prowess, quickly got a large group of people drunk, aided by the Heavenly Demon's True Qi. The first to fall was Youliangha, who had lost on the battlefield and wanted to regain his honor at the drinking party.
"Your Highness," Zan Zhang, with his keen business sense, said, taking advantage of his drunken state, "do you think we can still make a deal?"
"Last time, those beasts in Mo Nan slaughtered and plundered hundreds of thousands of people around you. Don't you want revenge?"
"Yes, Your Highness, we can join forces,"
Kuo Wa echoed him. "We can guarantee that we're only seeking revenge. Except for the territory you can't take, you can take everything else. The spoils are incredibly rich!"
"My two chieftains, I really want revenge,"
I said, troubled. But the Emperor has issued a strict order for me to settle Xiliang City first and not to rashly go to war. "Furthermore, as you all know, the 'Qi Yin Hu Legion' was almost completely wiped out, and the Northwest Royal Family's 50,000 cavalry were reduced to only 2,000 or 3,000 due to the last misunderstanding. Where would I get the troops to launch an attack?"
Kuowa and Zanzhang were also smart men. They wouldn't do such a risky suggestion themselves, nor did they expect to fool me. So when they saw my firm refusal, they didn't care much.
After all, in the struggle for supremacy on the grasslands, if you ask outsiders for help, even if you win, you will be despised by everyone. Besides, they were also a little afraid that I would wipe them all out, which would be terrible.
"Hehe, I do have a cooperative proposal." Heshu, who
was not far away, interjected, "Your Highness, you have a lot of refugees to settle, right? And I heard that recently many poor people from your Liufeng Kingdom have settled near Xiliang City. Is that true?"
Even with my good temper, I couldn't help but want to smash the wine cup in my hand.
Damn it, settle refugees? Aren't all the people who lost their homes and families caused by you bastards?
However, I still had some self-restraint: "Si, Xiliang City is indeed quite busy lately, with everything in disarray."
"Since so many people are coming to Xiliang City, there must be a lot of food needed, right?"
He Shu said leisurely, "What we have in abundance on the grasslands are cattle and sheep, even more than horses. Should we buy some? The roads from Xiliang City to the northwest hinterland are very difficult to travel in winter, so it's good to make some preparations in advance."
I chuckled to myself; this guy really knew the situation in Xiliang City.
His suggestion was very valuable. Indeed, Chi Changyun had already told me that due to the cold winter, the amount of food needed was far greater than in spring, summer, and autumn, especially this year. Before the people had even produced their own food, we had to take good care of them. Only in this way could they be self-sufficient in the future; otherwise, they wouldn't even be able to survive this winter. In other words, as the head of Xiliang City, my responsibility extends beyond the army and the city itself. The people within a radius of hundreds of miles around Xiliang City are also my concern. If I were to abandon them and they were to starve or freeze to death, it would severely damage my reputation.
After hearing Chi Changyun's words, I instructed him to coordinate the purchase of grain. A large quantity of grain has already been purchased from the south and the capital, with more on its way.
Grain is a tricky thing. Back in Wushuang County, my father loved to hoard grain, filling the vast basement of the county government office with various kinds of food. Even the "Beautiful Girl Sex Slaves Group," comprised of women from impoverished families, stored enough rice to feed ten thousand people for three years at the Sun Moon Cult headquarters on Wuhua Mountain. My father greatly admired this action of his daughters-in-law. My master once said that as long as people have food to eat, they won't rebel—a concept I wholeheartedly agree with.
Therefore, even though I had prepared enough food, I couldn't resist the temptation: in the Northwest, the method of preserving meat was very simple—just rub salt on the meat and hang it on the stove wall to air dry, or make it into sausages and cured meat, enough to last for half a year or a year.
Having made up my mind, I pondered and asked, "How much?"
Heshu's spirits suddenly lifted, and the people drinking nearby also pricked up their ears, listening to our conversation.
Every year, the grasslands experience extremely cold weather. The vast grasslands, with no shelter, see countless livestock freeze to death every winter, and people's consumption of meat simply cannot keep up. Therefore, every year, hundreds of thousands, even millions, of livestock are buried in various parts of the grasslands with tears in their eyes.
They also wanted to sell to inland countries, but unfortunately, due to years of war and hatred, almost no one was willing to buy their goods, especially consumables like these: if they did buy, merchants preferred herbs, ginseng, safflower, and so on; of course, conversely, if merchants wanted to buy warhorses, a small amount was possible, but buying large quantities was almost impossible.
If I hadn't seized the best opportunity this time, I would never have been able to obtain so many warhorses. This year, the situation on the northern grasslands is even more severe.
With 300,000 young laborers missing, and with the impending series of wars, even more men will be lost. The women and children in their families will be even less able to care for the livestock, and without care, even more livestock will die this year. A few days ago, during discussions, Heshu heard from logistics officials that the two tribes, along with their affiliated small tribes, would freeze to death at least one million cattle and sheep this year.
Rather than let the livestock freeze to death, it's better to take advantage of this opportunity to sell them.
Seeing the approving looks from the two tribal chiefs, Heshu felt reassured. After a moment's thought, he said seriously, "Two fat sheep for one gold coin, one fat cow for two gold coins. Ideally, we'd trade weapons and equipment, at a price of twenty gold coins per set. We'll sell you as many as you want."
Although I didn't know why they were so cunning, I understood that they must have a need to offer this trade. Without thinking, I refused: "No, this price is the same as in the Northwest. There are plenty of cattle in the Northwest. If I pay them, they'll only support me more."
Heshu said gently, "Your Highness, what price do you think is appropriate?"
"Half price!"
What? Impossible! Are you doing business? That's too ruthless! Ninety percent! "Fifty and a half percent, is that appropriate? If it's this price, I'll ask for more."
"A little more is not possible, at least eighty percent. We've already given you a great discount. In the past, when others came to buy, we charged double this price." "
One sheep, one gold coin; one cow, one gold coin. Weapons and equipment will be priced according to your terms. I'll offer fifty thousand sets of weapons and equipment."
Seeing that he wasn't willing to back down, I directly threw out the bait. "Fifty thousand sets?"
Kuowa and Zanzhang were alright, their eyes just shining, but the other elders had already swallowed hard, looking at Heshu with eager anticipation, thinking: Boss Qi, just agree! Seeing their expressions, Heshu shook his head with a wry smile. They were still not suited for business; their eagerness was obvious, so how could they negotiate?
Heshu was also clever and directly handed the decision-making power to the two leaders: "Chieftains, what do you think..."
Kuowa and Zanzhang naturally wouldn't object: "Alright, since this is our first time doing business, let's set the price as His Highness said."
"Great!"
I laughed loudly and raised my glass for the first time. "Come, let's drink to our sincere cooperation!"
"Cheers!"
The excited cheers carried far and wide from the golden-topped tent...

Chapter 5 * Final Decision
In the 42nd year of Ieyasu's reign, on October 12th, we, who had been traveling all the way, returned to Xiliang City in one day less than before.
Long after we finalized the agreement, I used carrier pigeons to notify Chi Changyun, Zhou Jing, and others, instructing them to begin preparing 250,000 sets of weapons and equipment.
They were simply following my orders and didn't know what I intended to do with them, so the first thing I did upon returning was to persuade them.
This time, Emperor Kangzong sent a large amount of military equipment to Xiliang City through the surrounding eight prefectures. Since preparations began before the major battle, I had been receiving carrier pigeons transporting the troops and knew their whereabouts.
In fact, on the day I arrived at the golden-topped tents of the Geluo tribe in the northern grasslands, the first batch of weapons and equipment from the three northwestern prefectures had already arrived, totaling 150,000 sets of strategic reserves. Each set, besides the types I sold to the northern grasslands, also included spears, crossbows, and so on.
I wouldn't be so cunning as to sell them our Liufeng Kingdom's standard equipment; I'd save money wherever possible.
The meeting hall was filled with representatives from both the military and political sides of Xiliang City. The three generals of the "Silver Tiger Legion" were all present, as were Chi Changyun and Lang Youxin from the political side. Sitting next to me was the respected Wang Miao'er.
Wang Miao'er is now the second most popular person in Xiliang City after me. This respect comes from Wang Guowei fighting alongside me, and even more so from her personally leading her troops in battle against the enemy. Even the veteran soldiers of the "Silver Tiger Legion" give a thumbs up when they talk about this second young lady of the Wang family, saying, "Great! Your Highness, why did you call us here so urgently? Has something big happened in the north again?"
Feng Wei was the most anxious and asked, "Should we prepare for battle?"
At this time, the two beauties had already returned to the garden to bathe and rest. Only Little Turtle and Little Bird were standing beside me. Although I had changed my clothes and showered, I was still covered in dust.
"It's not that,"
I said gently. "There is a business deal that concerns the future of Xiliang City, and I want to talk to everyone about it."
Gao Qimeng, the smartest soldier in the "Silver Tiger Legion" among us, noticed that I said "talk about it" instead of "discuss it," which meant that I had already made a decision.
"Please speak, Your Highness,"
everyone said.
I nodded and said, "I plan to do business with the tribes of the northern desert and buy their fine horses." "Buy fine horses?"
Feng Wei's heart skipped a beat, unable to hide his joy. "Are they willing? How many are there?"
"Your Highness, absolutely not..."
Only one step behind him were everyone else except him and Wang Miao'er.
Wang Miao'er didn't concern herself with military affairs, and Feng Wei hadn't even considered that possibility.
But Chi Changyun and the others immediately understood why I had asked them to prepare to load 250,000 sets of weapons and equipment.
"Your Highness, selling military supplies without authorization is a capital offense! Even with His Majesty and the Empress protecting you, you cannot escape having your property confiscated and being imprisoned. You cannot do this!"
Chi Changyun was so frightened that he immediately knelt down. "Your Highness, I know you have suffered great injustice. You have made so many great contributions, yet you have not only received no reward but have also been repeatedly suppressed. But... Your Highness, please rescind your order, or else kill Changyun."
Chi Changyun truly admired this Lord Lanting. When he first saw me, so young, he was somewhat apprehensive. If it weren't for the precedent of Chen Fuyue, he probably wouldn't have dared to have even the slightest expectation.
Later events proved that his observation was very correct. Lord Lanting was not only incredibly brave but also very good at recognizing and utilizing talent. Under his management, everything in Xiliang City was in good order. In the most recent and most dangerous resistance against the invasion, Lord Lanting further demonstrated his military talent, winning with fewer troops and against stronger forces. In the end, he even used a brilliant plan to make the Northern and Southern Deserts fight each other, a truly ingenious feat.
However, due to infighting, the court refused to acknowledge Lan Ting Gong's contributions, and several princes even joined forces to suppress him, escalating the ransom incident into a major crisis. Chi Changyun was indignant and had always stood up for me.
Unexpectedly, the impetuous young Lan Ting Gong had inexplicably taken up such a dangerous business. Chi Changyun felt it necessary to stop him and prevent him from suffering disaster. Chen Fuyue had told me that Chi Changyun was a man of great integrity, which was why he had held his position in Xiliang City for so long without being usurped.
Now, it seemed that although his support for me was somewhat unintentional, it was at least largely due to my significant contributions to Xiliang City; otherwise, the previous deputy city magistrate had been both gentle and distant. Since
Chi Changyun had done this, Lang Youxin behind him immediately knelt down. "I rarely have such an opportunity to spend money like this. Would another master trust me so much? Lan Ting Gong cannot fall!"
The soldiers' thinking was even simpler: the "Silver Tiger Legion" was on the verge of annihilation, and they had finally found such a wise, powerful, and well-connected commander. Under his leadership, the "Silver Tiger Legion" would only grow stronger, and their own futures would be bright. Could they just watch him suffer?
So, the three generals immediately knelt and pleaded for their lives. Feng Wei was pulled to his knees by two others, but he quickly realized the implications and his face turned pale with fright.
Wang Miao'er was a very clever girl; she quickly understood the situation.
After figuring it out, the innocent girl couldn't help but roll her eyes at me.
After fighting side-by-side, Wang Miao'er clearly felt that our relationship had become much closer. The slight awkwardness of the past had turned into casualness. For example, last time I invited her to drink with me, but she glared at me and said, "I'm a lady, can I drink with you?"
"Lan Ting..."
the girl called me by my name. At my insistence, she changed her tune after a long time: "Selling a small amount of weapons is acceptable; I've heard many generals do it. But if you make a big fuss, the Ministry of War and the Emperor won't allow it… By the way, how big of a deal are you planning?" I said calmly, "Not much .
Two hundred and fifty thousand sets of broadswords, bows and arrows, and armor, in exchange for four hundred thousand fine horses, four hundred thousand inferior steppe horses, plus three hundred thousand cattle and two million one hundred thousand sheep." Silence. A long silence. Accompanied by heavy breathing. Even Chi Changyun, the most vehemently opposed party, couldn't help but fantasize about the vast fields of cattle and sheep, the hundreds of thousands of well-trained imperial troops… No wonder Lord Lanting wanted to do this deal! Only a fool wouldn't! That was everyone's thought at that moment. "Why don't we appeal to the Emperor? His Majesty is wise and farsighted; he will surely approve such a beneficial deal." Gao Qimeng's mind worked quickly. "Besides, Your Highness's plan is brilliant. Selling them to the people of the Northern Desert will only lead them to fight to the death with the people of the Southern Desert; they won't pose any threat to us." "That's right. I've seen these weapons. Although the quality is good, it's not the best. They'll start to break down after six or seven uses, and at most twenty uses before they're ruined. They have so many wars on the grasslands; they won't even have a chance to attack us before they're worn out." Zhou Jing, in charge of logistics , quickly chimed in. "Furthermore, the six tribes of the Southern Desert have made great strides in strength after their last victory. Supporting the slightly weaker Northern Desert tribes will be a good way to restrain them and weaken their power." Feng Wei also quickly offered his opinion. Lang Youxin looked at his superior and said somewhat timidly, "Your Highness, this batch of cattle and sheep is a real lifesaver for our Xiliang City!" According to statistics, more than 100,000 people have already flocked to Xiliang City from other places, and many more are still migrating. It is estimated that the number will reach 300,000 by the end of December. Adding the 150,000 reserve troops to be phased out three times, the population burden is approximately 500,000!

"These people have almost no tools or food. We can ask the reserve legion to help build houses, but their daily consumption and the fact that farming can only begin after the harvest season is always a big problem. If we had 2.4 million cattle and sheep, then everything would be fine!" "
With food and cattle for farming, it would be easier to appease the displaced people, which would also strengthen their sense of belonging to Xiliang City and allow us to get rid of the predicament of needing external supplies sooner."
After thinking for a while, Chi Changyun said realistically, "If that's the case, Xiliang City will recover its vitality within a year and reach the scale and prosperity it had before May of this year within three years."
In the blink of an eye, all the officials of Xiliang City had put forward the benefits of this transaction, and Wang Miao'er, who remained silent, was the focus of everyone's attention.
Wang Miao'er's face lit up with reminiscence: "I once went to the grasslands with my father. The inferior horses there are compared to their first-class warhorses. If they were taken to the interior, they would be perfectly capable of running short distances of up to 100 li, and their carrying capacity would be quite good. If we took them to the interior, such as the capital or the central regions, we could definitely sell them for a good price."
Hearing their support and interest, I smiled. These were exactly the benefits I had thought of before. Compared to such great benefits, the dangers and difficulties were no longer so important or troublesome.
As the husband of Princess Yongyue of the Empire, I know far more secrets than they do.
In the border region of the three kingdoms, my Liufeng Kingdom has always been on the defensive. Even our Empire's number one "Golden Dragon Legion" can only occasionally venture out to fight against the Huayun Kingdom's super-powerful Demon Cavalry Regiment. They would never dare to engage in large-scale warfare. The only country we can occasionally bully is the more docile Dayuan Kingdom.
There are issues with the elite status of our soldiers, but more importantly, our Liufeng Kingdom's cavalry legions lack sufficient warhorses to form a significant force. Therefore, the mere 100,000 cavalry of the "Golden Dragon Legion" is utterly insignificant compared to the Huayun Kingdom's at least one million cavalry.
Liufeng Kingdom has four major legions: Golden Dragon, Silver Tiger, Bronze Leopard, and Iron Wolf. The Golden Dragon and Silver Tiger legions fight in the north, with the Golden Dragon in the northeast and the Silver Tiger in the northwest.
The "Golden Dragon Legion," facing the formidable Huayun Kingdom and being a favored nation, boasts 100,000 cavalry and 150,000 horses.
The "Silver Tiger Legion" had a 50,000-strong cavalry, but it was completely squandered by Chen Fuyue, that spendthrift son, during our last ambush, leaving me unable to even muster 20,000 cavalry.
The "Bronze Leopard Legion" has historically been stationed in the south. The south has few plains but many depressions and numerous waterways, making their navy very developed, but their cavalry is even more pitiful, numbering only 10,000.
The "Iron Wolf Legion" is similar; they only have five cavalry units of a thousand men each, rotating through the realm, with the rest being infantry.
In addition, of the 30,000 Royal Golden Armor Army, 15,000 elite cavalry are essential for guarding the capital, but they lack horses, having only around 20,000.
Although selling 250,000 sets of weapons and equipment to the steppe people was a very risky move, considering the reality that the northern and southern deserts are destined for continuous battles, the threat is automatically reduced considerably.
And 400,000 elite warhorses and 400,000 ordinary horses, wherever they are, would be a super-fat prize that would make the court officials drool.
Whichever bastard is satisfied, I'll throw him ten thousand fine horses, and he won't utter a single word, just beaming and praising, "Lord Lanting is truly a pillar of the state!"
As for the emperor's father-in-law, that's even simpler. The emperor, after all, has a bigger appetite. I'll give him two hundred thousand first-class horses and two hundred thousand ordinary horses, and even his biggest complaints will vanish into a broad smile upon seeing these horses covering the mountains and plains.
After I finished the business, the first person I sent a carrier pigeon to was him and Yunfu. A reply should arrive in the next few days. Anyone who misses this opportunity is a fool, and clearly, Yunfu's father is no fool.
Pulling my thoughts back, I saw the eager eyes of everyone. Everyone had realized that this was a huge opportunity for the leapfrog development of Xiliang City. The military and political sides of Xiliang City initially opposed it because they thought I was selling military equipment to the grassland people for my own selfish desires. But they never expected that I had no selfish motives at all, and what I received in return was such a massive quantity of warhorses and livestock!
The mere mention of warhorses was enough to silence everyone, not to mention Niu Feng, who was responsible for solving people's livelihood issues.
Without a word, Chi Changyun stood up solemnly and said, "Your Highness, Changyun is willing to co-sign this petition with Your Highness to the court regarding this business."
This is where a person's integrity is truly revealed. Having served as an official for so long, Chi Changyun couldn't possibly be unaware that this deal had both advantages and disadvantages. As a duke and the empress's nephew, no matter how much I misbehaved, as long as it wasn't treason, I wouldn't lose my life in the end. But it was different for him; even not signing his name could lead to his downfall, let alone signing it and potentially making him a scapegoat.
Even so, he stood up without hesitation to express his stance.
Although I dislike scholars, finding them hypocritical and scheming, it's undeniable that there are many scholars with integrity like Chi Changyun.
"I'm willing to sign!"
"Me too!"
"Count Gao Qimeng in!"
Following this, the three military leaders also expressed their opinions, leaving only the civilian heroine who couldn't sign, and the registrar who moved later.
Lang Youxin was sweating profusely, especially after everyone looked at him; the fat registrar seemed about to faint.
Gritting his teeth, Lang Youxin finally spoke: "This… Your Highness… if you're going to be beheaded… please inform me early… I'll definitely sleep with a few more beautiful virgins before going to the execution ground…"
"Hahaha… you beast!"
Feng Wei patted his shoulder, laughing loudly: "Don't worry, if that day really comes, there are plenty of courtesans in 'Fengming Tower,' Old Feng will go with you then, as many as you want!" "Good!" Lang
Youxin nodded emphatically, without a hint of joking; for him, this was the ultimate goal of his life.
I smiled slightly. "No need to make it sound so serious. I don't need you all to sign. Just do what you're supposed to do. If possible, start shipping tonight."
"Your Highness, you already told His Majesty?"
Gao Qimeng reacted the fastest. "His Majesty agreed?" "No, I acted first and reported later. This opportunity won't come again. If we delay any longer, how will we fight in winter? They won't trade with us then."
I said calmly. "Don't worry, I'll just go back to the capital. What you need to do is make the preparations as thoroughly as possible and not waste my efforts."
"Yes!"
After a long silence, the crowd didn't shout any slogans, but simply clasped their hands in a deep salute and strode out.
They all understood that when things reached this point, it was beyond their control. The only thing they could do was to make this deal as clean as possible, adding an extremely important bargaining chip to the game between Lord Lanting and the court officials. After Chi Changyun left, he immediately mobilized 50,000 laborers, all selected by Zhou Jing from the reserve army, with the requirement that they be able to take the field in the most critical moments.
Lang Youxin went directly to several large warehouses and had countless oxcarts begin loading the weapons of the traitors. The warehouses in Xiliang City already had reserves enough for 200,000 troops, plus those transported from the three prefectures. Lang Youxin and Zhou Jing had already selected 250,000 weapons of average quality as instructed, ready to be used for the trade.
The 50,000 soldiers were divided into dozens of small circles around the guides, familiarizing themselves with the place they were going to.
The cooks in the military camp received their orders and quickly prepared provisions and food, delivering them to the warehouse.
Feng Wei and Gao Qimeng were even busier. Not only were the entire core of the 50,000-strong "Silver Tiger Legion" mobilized, but the ten best 10,000-strong units from recent times also set off with the army. Adding to this the 50,000 reserve laborers, the total escort force reached 200,000. Such a powerful escort force was too much for the northern desert tribes to handle, and even more so for the southern desert tribes, but to thwart their unwarranted ambitions of annexation, such a force was necessary.
After they had all left, Wang Miao'er didn't rush off, but hesitated, as if she wanted to say something.
"What's wrong, Miao'er?"
I stretched and said, "We're good friends, just say what you want." "
Your Highness, do you think our Wang family can get some more of the fine horses we bought this time? We'll pay for them!"
Wang Miao'er said somewhat slyly.
"Didn't we already take 50,000? What, are we still short?"
I asked, surprised.
Wang Miao'er shook her head: "Alas, fifty thousand fine horses seem like a lot, but Father sent ten thousand to the governors of each prefecture, and the various families that depend on us are also eager to have cavalry, so they also sent out five thousand. Now we only have fifteen thousand left."
I frowned upon hearing this and cursed: "You bunch of idiots, why didn't you ask me for them?"
Wang Miao'er smiled bitterly: "How dare they ask you? In terms of status and position, none of them can compare to you... But our Wang family is different. This time, the three governors made a very earnest request and even attached many good conditions, so we had no choice but to give them up... The joint attack by the Guligan and Geluo tribes terrified them, otherwise they wouldn't have cavalry."
I said understandingly: "Is it cavalry to cover their escape?"
Apart from the rule that "the city must be inhabited while the people live, and the people must die when the city falls," the empire does not have much requirement for other cities. With several thousand cavalry protecting them, the governors of the three prefectures do not need to worry about their safety even in critical situations. "They've always been on good terms with the Wang family. If they fall, the Wang family's foundation in the Northwest will be shaken. Plus, we suffered too many losses this time, so Father thinks we can't afford any more changes."
Wang Miao'er was honest, explaining the Wang family's plans in detail. This was what Wang Guowei had instructed her before he left, saying that since they had already shared life and death with Lord Lanting, there was no need to hide many things; this would actually increase his trust.
Sure enough, Wang Miao'er looked at the young man before her and gave him a knowing smile.
"Cunning, they're lucky."
I thought for a moment and said, "Once the warhorses are back, I'll prioritize selling 20,000 first-class horses to the Wang family."
"Wouldn't 20,000 be a bit too few?"
Wang Miao'er asked eagerly.
"Miao'er, you've heard the story of 'possessing a treasure is a crime,' right? If you have any more, the Wang family will be coveted again, and when they come looking for more, you still won't be able to refuse. With this amount, you can refuse with a clear conscience."
"Hehe, right, how come I didn't think of that!"

Chapter Six * Two-Sided Strategy
I received Kangzong's secret decree on my way to Kotanchi. Yunfu drafted it again, adding a few more of her instructions at the end.
Kangzong wasn't a great ruler, but he still had some insight. He told me that this deal was done brilliantly, and after the transaction was completed, he would issue an imperial edict stating that he had appointed me to complete the transaction, and that we were selling rice and porcelain to the tribes of the northern grasslands.
Calling a deer a horse isn't a big deal; as long as you have the ability, others will say it's a horse. Kangzong was naturally that capable person. As the emperor of Liufeng Kingdom, if he said the transaction was for rice and porcelain, no one would dare say it was weapons.
I had just thought that this father-in-law still had some conscience when his true colors were revealed later. "Three hundred thousand first-class warhorses were to be transported to the capital by the 'Iron Wolf Legion' at top speed for other uses."
His exorbitant demands were unexpected; I thought he'd at least leave me half, but he snatched three-quarters of the best horses.
Yunfu finally told me that the "Golden Dragon Legion" was facing a very unfavorable situation in the Northeast, and these hundreds of thousands of horses could replenish their strength, which was why Kangzong agreed to the deal immediately.
However, considering Kangzong's rare willingness to take the blame for me, I had to give him face. Adding the previous 50,000 warhorses, I now had at least 150,000, the largest scale in the history of the "Silver Tiger Legion." Moreover,
Kangzong knew he was in the wrong; regarding the total of 2.4 million cattle and sheep and 400,000 ordinary horses, he said "Xiliang City can keep them for its own use." These cattle and sheep could save the lives of millions of people, so I was content.
After informing the generals of the contents of Kangzong's secret edict, Feng Wei and the others breathed a sigh of relief. This was expected, as Kangzong would never pass up such a good opportunity. However, before receiving a reply, they remained somewhat nervous, which was understandable.
We had traveled nearly two thousand li, rushing along the way, and finally arrived at Kotanchi at noon on October 18th.
Kotanchi was surrounded by barren wasteland, all sand and gravel, with open terrain stretching for dozens of li. Hundreds of scouts were already scattered across the area, so there was no fear of any sabotage from either side.
The Guligan tribe and the Geluo tribe had arrived a day earlier, led by Khova and Zanzhang themselves. At least one hundred thousand cavalrymen were arrayed in several large squares, forming a defensive yet offensive formation.
The horses and livestock covering the mountains and plains were enclosed in dozens of huge enclosures, creating an exceptionally imposing sight. Several generals beside me were so excited they almost wanted to rush over and kiss the horses.
Without much preamble, tens of thousands of logistics personnel, led by officials from both sides, immediately began inspection and inventory, taking a full three hours to complete.
Don't underestimate the inventory process; the pressure on them was immense.
For example, our inventory team consisted mostly of veterinarians, specially recruited by Chi Changyun. They needed to check the health of the horses and livestock, and conduct random checks for poisoning, otherwise, the animals would die upon return, which would be a great injustice.
The inventory personnel from the northern tribes weren't having an easy time either. They opened almost every cart, randomly pulling out a few broadswords, bows and arrows, and armor for inspection. They were also afraid we might try to pass off inferior or substandard weapons and equipment.
Fortunately, neither side found any problems, so we happily waved goodbye—you should know that even during the inspection, both sides were on high alert. Khova, Zanzhang, and others didn't dare come over to drink and eat with me, fearing I would detain them or double-cross them.
Less than a hundred miles from the trading place, several carrier pigeons flew out from the hands of Little Turtle and Little Bird, their destination the camps of the six tribal leaders in the Southern Desert Grasslands.
Each pigeon had identical information tied to its leg, listing the strength, route, and equipment of the Northern Desert Allied Army.
"Young Master, you're so ruthless!"
the two servants exclaimed, giving me a thumbs-up, though it was unclear whether they were praising me.
Wang Miao'er, now much more mature, glared at the two: "There's no need to be morally upright when dealing with bad people. Besides, Lan Ting only agreed to do business with them; he didn't say he wouldn't deal with them afterward!"
Little Bird shrugged, quickly raising her hands in surrender: "Miss Wang, I only said Young Master is ruthless, not that this kind of ruthlessness is bad."
Little Turtle shook his head beside him; it seemed another young lady was about to fall into the young master's arms.
If we could look down at the ground at this moment, we would see that almost simultaneously, several eagles also took flight from the Northern Grassland troops, heading in the exact same direction as the carrier pigeons.
Three hours later, the leaders of the six tribes, who had been together all this time, received intelligence from the Northern Grassland tribes, and the council tent was immediately packed with people again.
"Well, this is a big piece of meat!"
Mamda, the chief of the Chachin tribe, almost drooled as he looked at the markings already made on the map.
"A guard force of 100,000 men, including 50,000 from the 'Silver Tiger Legion B,' this bone is not easy to chew... but once we do, it will be a huge help to the development of our six tribes in the Southern Desert!"
Even the usually composed chief of the Dangxiang tribe, Kejiyun, said this, which shows the mentality of the six chiefs. "Well, Bilan?"
Yata, the chief of the Taiwu tribe, looked eagerly at the girl who was deep in thought while looking at the intelligence.
"I think it's a trap, we don't need to go."
Princess Bilan refused decisively.
"But even if it's a trap, who can we be afraid of on the grasslands?"
Chief Azhe of the Ciyi tribe said, "Bilan, we are the descendants of wolves. No matter how cunning the enemy is on the grasslands, victory will belong to us!" "Yes, they are still 1,500 or 1,600 li away from Xiliang City. With such a long distance, as long as we are patient, they will not be able to hold out for that long."
Chief Shuliang of the Baotu tribe also agreed.
Princess Bilan's tone remained calm: "Don't you find it strange that the Guligan and Geluo tribes are so kind as to reveal these secrets to us?"
"What's the big deal? It's just like Ren Lanting before, chasing away wolves and tigers," said
Doluban, the chieftain of the Liji tribe, Bilan's father, with a smile. "But with our current strength, even if we take this batch of supplies from Xiliang City, we'll suffer considerable losses, but they still won't be able to contend with us. Like I said, after this year, next year our warriors will have grown stronger, and our prisoners will be well-trained. It will be the end for those bastards in the Northern Desert!"
Princess Bilan nodded slightly: "You're missing something. If we really fight this battle, we'll gain not only a large amount of supplies and fine horses, but also eliminate Xiliang City's strength… Think about it, an army of 100,000, including the remnants of the Qi Yin Hu Legion B. After this battle, Xiliang City will only be able to defend itself to the death, and will absolutely be unable to stop us from rampaging through the Northwest!"
"That's right!"
The clan leaders exclaimed, their eyes widening. Wasn't this just like the two eagles?
But those who could become clan leaders weren't stupid; they immediately realized what was going on. Why did Princess Bilan, despite considering so many treacherous aspects, still resolutely refuse?
"Daughter, tell me, what exactly is wrong?"
Doluban urged, "You must tell us quickly so we can prepare in advance."
"No need to prepare, let's wait a bit,"
Princess Bilan said calmly. "If I'm not mistaken, Ren Lanting's message by carrier pigeon should arrive soon."
"He has one too?"
Mamda suddenly realized, "He's always been cunning and ruthless. When it comes to trading with the two major tribes of the Northern Desert, he certainly won't miss the opportunity to strike at the enemy."
"It's not just that. Bilan is definitely waiting to see what Ren Lanting will say. You know, Ren Lanting's eloquence and persuasive abilities are far superior to Guligan and Geluo's. 'I hope it's not what I think...' While everyone waited anxiously, Princess Bilan's expression remained calm, but she had a very bad premonition. A full 800,000 fine horses and 2.4 million head of livestock—what exactly did the Northern Desert Grasslands need to exchange for half of their wealth?
Especially under such tense circumstances, with war imminent, they had no reason to make any useless deals at this time.
Another hour passed, just now..." The six leaders, who had previously seemed eager to fight, sat on the ground, their faces ashen.
The only difference inside the tent was the addition of a large arrow pointing north on the map. They had read and reread the intelligence I sent, their minds filled with curses and fear.
Two hundred and fifty thousand sets of finely crafted equipment from the Liufeng Kingdom's army!
How could the allied forces on the southern steppes, armed only with simple leather armor and swords, possibly withstand cavalry equipped with such gear?
Steppe armies never need much training; they are born warriors.
Even if they were hastily assembled and couldn't match the previous three hundred thousand elite troops, this... Their strength was still limited, but their weaponry was far superior, enough to compensate for these minor shortcomings, making them even more terrifying than previous armies.
Just imagine: wielding sharp swords and bows made by the artisans of Liufeng Kingdom, their own side couldn't even pierce the enemy's armor after three strikes, while the enemy could cut through their leather armor with a single blow, killing them instantly. What a vast difference that was!
Everyone knew about the recent activities of the Northern Desert Bone Force tribe and the Ge Luo tribe, along with some of their affiliated tribes. They had exhausted all their resources to gather nearly 300,000 troops, practicing day and night, appearing ready to invade and seek revenge.
Princess Bilan was not afraid at all. In her calculations, these 300,000 men could at most wear down 100,000 of her own forces, but the numerous tribes of the Northern Desert would have to consider the terrifying consequences of losing their armies altogether.
But now, even the most foolish person knows that under the attack of such a well-equipped army of 250,000, the tribes of the Southern Desert, even if they could repel them, would suffer heavy casualties and mutual destruction.
At that point, both Xiliang City and the Chahar tribe could swallow up both the Northern and Southern Deserts in one fell swoop. All the hard work and sacrifice of the two families would benefit others; it's enough to make anyone want to cry.
Now, who would even think of robbing Xiliang City's supplies?
It's just a joke!
"Bilan, what exactly do you want? It's urgent! Tell me quickly!"
Yata asked in a panic.
"Our army has been gathering. Of the 300,000 troops, 200,000 can be mobilized immediately. Before they return, let's rush forward, kill them, and reclaim our weapons!"
Ke Jiyun clenched his fist. "With these 250,000 sets of weapons and equipment, we have nothing to fear!"
"Right!"
Shu Liang calculated for a moment. "Our six clans can mobilize another 100,000. Let's leave them to defend, and send the remaining 300,000! Bilan, this battle is entirely in your hands!"
"Please!"
Along with Duoluban, they naturally relinquished command. Under
everyone's expectant gazes, Princess Bilan remained silent, her eyes fixed on the map, unmoving. The six clan leaders knew she was deep in thought and dared not disturb her. "Clang!"
The girl suddenly stood up, knocking over a plate beside her, but she was completely unaware. "I'm going to see Ren Lanting!"
Princess Bilan said solemnly to them.
"Why?"
"Bilan, my dear niece, the situation is dire! Why would you go see that treacherous brat? Let's get rid of this major threat from the Northern Desert as soon as possible!"
Princess Bilan raised a hand to silence the commotion, both amused and exasperated: "I was just like you all before, deciding to go all out to snipe those people from the Northern Desert. I've thought things through more than you have. All 100,000 you mobilized will come with me, a total of 400,000 for this battle. As for this, add the 150,000 people aged 15 to 18 and 35 to 40, they can handle the defense."
"Hiss..."
The clan leaders gasped. When it came to going all in, they couldn't match this girl's decisiveness.
But why did she reject this audacious idea?
Princess Bilan quickly explained to them, "Because we've all fallen into a trap, a trap set for us by Ren Lanting. He revealed the routes of the Guligan and Geluo tribes, as well as the 250,000 sets of weapons and equipment they carried, but he omitted the most crucial detail."
"What is it?"
"How many people did the Northern Desert people send?"
"Does this... matter?"
"Of course it matters. To avoid being double-crossed, both sides will definitely bring equally matched forces. Otherwise, they'll definitely suffer losses."
Princess Bilan's eyes gleamed with wisdom. "Unfortunately, Ren Lanting didn't anticipate that he wasn't the only clever one this time. The Northern Desert people also revealed his information to us. Although the numbers aren't detailed, I estimate Ren Lanting's forces won't be less than 150,000, most likely 200,000." "So
what if there are 2.1 million?" "
Since Ren Lanting brought 200,000, would the Northern Desert have fewer than 200,000?"
The girl looked at them, thinking, "If the Northern Desert people immediately take out their weapons and equipment and put them on, what kind of elite cavalry will we be facing?" The crowd 's
faces drained of color instantly.
They had simply assumed the northern barbarians were escorting weapons back to the tribe, never imagining they would immediately don them and carry them!
In this instant, the cavalry legion they feared most had taken shape, no longer the second-rate force they could risk a sneak attack against!
Even if all 400,000 cavalry were deployed, given their overwhelming disadvantage in weaponry and equipment, what good would victory do? Surviving even 100,000 would be a miracle!
"Then... since a sneak attack didn't work, why bother with Ren Lanting?"
A Zhe Zhan said, "We should be preparing for war more diligently. We absolutely cannot afford to lose troops again because of greed for money."
"Shut your mouth, how could Bilan be dumber than you?"
His good friend Mamda laughed and scolded, then shamelessly said to Princess Bilan, "Niece, just tell me, stop keeping me in suspense." "I went to see Ren Lanting to buy weapons and equipment from him,"
Princess Bilan said calmly, "Since he can sell them to the people of Mobei, he can sell them to us too."
The six clan leaders looked at each other, thinking: 'This is no joke, is it? He sold them to the people of Mobei so that they would come to fight us, how could it strengthen our forces? Besides, we killed so many of their people before, and robbed countless women and children, how could they forget this grudge?' The girl naturally understood what they were thinking, and she smiled mysteriously: "Don't worry, he can't refuse the conditions I offer!"

Chapter Seven *
The people of the Southern Pearl Grassland are naturally more familiar with the grassland.
The evening after I sent out the carrier pigeons, just as we set up camp, Princess Bilan and her entourage caught up with us.
It wasn't that I didn't want to hurry back to Xiliang City, but both people and animals needed rest. Endless travel would only drain our energy, and we wouldn't be able to handle any unexpected events.
When Little Turtle reported her visit, I was genuinely taken aback.
"Please let her in!"
I released the two beauties I was holding. The twin girls, who had been whispering sweet nothings to me, stood behind me, pouting.
Less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a stunningly beautiful girl dressed in grassland attire gracefully entered.
The seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl had slightly dark skin, but it didn't detract from her beauty in the slightest. Such a lively and charming beauty would attract attention anywhere.
Truly worthy of the title "Pearl of the Southern Desert"!
"Sit!"
I waved my hand, looking distressed. "Princess Bilan, I kindly offered you information, why didn't you go and rob those carriages laden with weapons? What are you doing here?"
The girl smiled faintly. "I never imagined that the commander and executor of the invincible, devastatingly defeating army of powerful warriors from the northern deserts would be so young. Your Highness must be younger than Bilan, right?"
Bilan is eighteen this year, and I'm only sixteen, so what she said isn't wrong. Seeing her so composed, I couldn't guess her purpose for the moment, so I gestured to Jing Gongcai to bring her a cup of green tea. "Here, this is a famous tea from southern China, perfect for drinking after a long journey."
The girl gently sipped the tea, her posture similar to Yuan'er and the others—elegant and well-mannered. "The fine tea of Liufeng Kingdom is a luxury for us on the grasslands."
Looking at the delicate green tea floating in her teacup, the girl sighed, "What we can eat is the large tea cakes of the Miao people in the southwest, so hard you could use them to hit someone."
Large tea cakes are a specialty of the Miao people, mostly cheap and inexpensive. Because they travel from the southwestern Miao region, crossing mountains and valleys, and the weather is humid, they have to press the tea into cakes for easy transport.
If they used precious green tea, it would have molded by the time it reached the grasslands. Even the few well-preserved ones are extremely expensive. This disparity in living standards is one of the main reasons why the grassland people yearn to conquer the inland.
"You didn't come here just to lament about me, did you?"
I looked at her: "If you want to enjoy yourself, just tell me, or you can marry me and enjoy endless wealth and luxury."
"Dream on..."
Princess Bilan was still an unmarried girl of noble status; how could anyone treat her so lightly? A blush crept onto the girl's face.
Taking a deep breath, the girl asked, "Your Highness, do you know why I've come here?"
"I'd like to hear the details."
Princess Bilan took out a scroll of paper and gently tossed it in front of me.
I picked it up and saw it was intelligence written by the Geluo tribe for the six tribes of the Southern Desert, clearly marking our route and supplies.
A cold smile crept across my face, but my heart tightened. It seemed I had underestimated them; such a treacherous scheme wasn't something only I could devise.
Calmly placing the intelligence aside, I smiled and said, "Princess, haven't you decided yet which side you'd be attacking with the best chance of victory and more benefits, so you've come to gather intelligence?"
"Of course not."
Princess Bilan gently shook her head. "Your Highness, I've come to do business with you."
Oh? What kind of business could we do? "
I want what you sold them too!"
"Hahaha..."
I laughed loudly. "Princess Bilan, do you think I'd be so kind as to sell you weapons?"
"You would!"
"Give me a reason first. Your burning, killing, and looting have always been a formidable enemy of Xiliang City. Why should I strengthen your forces? Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?"
I stared at her intently, then pointed to the tent flap. "If that's what you came here with, then you can go back. We have nothing to discuss."
"You should hear my conditions first,"
Princess Bilan said with a composed smile. "I need 300,000 sets of the same weapons and equipment as a reward. I'll return all 150,000 women and children we abducted."
*Bang!*
My hand, which had just been on the coffee table, suddenly exploded with force, shattering the wooden table into pieces. Wood fragments flew everywhere, even tearing the thick leather tent flap.
"Young Master!"
The little turtle and bird, who were not far from the door, rushed in immediately, relieved to see I was unharmed.
"You bastard, are you forcing me?"
For the first time, I felt an urge to kill this stunning beauty. This girl was a beautiful snake!
"Your Highness, since you were willing to surrender on the battlefield and give so much money and goods to Guligan and Geluo for the sake of the captured civilians, why can't you trade with us?"
The girl ignored my murderous intent and said gently, "We are returning 150,000 people to you. Just think how much your prestige will be boosted when these people return to Xiliang City? In hundreds of years, there has almost never been such a victory in reclaiming captured people! Your emperor and ministers will definitely promote you and grant you titles and honors."
I asked, "What if I disagree?"
The girl looked at me without flinching, "You will definitely agree. If you say no, then I will spread the word of your ruthlessness in Xiliang City, throughout the entire Liufeng Kingdom in the Northwest."
"You dare!"
Little Turtle and Little Bird heard it clearly and drew their swords with a clang. "You vixen! You are truly vicious!"
Even the Jinggong sisters gripped their katanas tightly. Once I gave the order to capture and kill, they would strike with lightning speed and cut down this beautiful but vicious girl.
"For the survival of millions of people in our southern tribes, I have no choice but to do this,"
Princess Bilan said calmly. "Your Highness, whether to trade or not, I await your answer."
Apart from the sound of breathing, there was no other movement in the tent. I saw determination in Princess Bilan's eyes, a resolute resolve to fight to the death.
The demoness was indeed formidable.
Her conditions clearly exploited my weakness; she wasn't worried about me refusing.
Actually, the girl softened at the last moment. She had intended to threaten me, saying that besides spreading rumors, she would kill all 150,000 women and children before her tribe was wiped out, as revenge… but killing innocent people outside the battlefield—this eighteen-year-old girl couldn't bring herself to be so ruthless.
I breathed a sigh of relief: "Princess Bilan, 150,000 women and children, I'll give you at most 50,000 sets of weapons and equipment. Take it or leave it."
The girl also breathed a sigh of relief. Her biggest fear was that I was young, impetuous, and arrogant, unable to be threatened, leading to a mutually destructive outcome.
As long as this kid was willing to yield, that was fine.
Princess Bilan smiled. "Is a single person less valuable than a set of weapons? Your Highness, since you've shown sincerity in negotiating, I'll give you a bottom line. I need at least one set per person."
Bottom line my foot!
I looked at her blankly. I stopped playing these tricks when I was twelve or thirteen.
"Eighty thousand sets, no more."
"Fifteen thousand!"
"Little Turtle, Little Bird, show them out!"
I stood up and raised my hand.
Little Turtle and Little Bird, unable to contain their murderous intent, glared at her even more fiercely, as if trying to kill her spirit with their eyes. "Please!"
The girl didn't move. "Alright, one hundred and thirty thousand sets, Your Highness. If you lower it by even a little, I'll go back on my own without you having to say anything."
I smiled, ignoring her threats. "Witch, one hundred thousand sets. Come find me when you've made up your mind. I'll go straight back to Xiliang City tomorrow morning."
Princess Bilan was very good at observing people. We were looking at each other while we were talking, trying to find a flaw in each other's expressions. She realized that this was probably my bottom line.
However, the number of 100,000 sets of weapons and equipment was still far from what she wanted. As one thought after another passed through her mind, Princess Bilan put forward another condition: "I will give you another 400,000 cattle and 2 million sheep, and you give me another 50,000 sets."
This ratio of cattle and sheep was what Princess Bilan guessed from the exchange between me and the northern tribes, and although it was not entirely accurate, it was not far off.
"You've got a good idea,"
I immediately understood. "Add the 500,000 bolts of silk you stole, and that's 50 million gold coins, right?"
"I've never seen such a ruthless merchant,"
Princess Bilan sighed. "50 million gold coins, do you know how many sets of weapons like that can be bought?"
"I don't know. I only know that only I can sell to you right now, and only by buying from me will you have time to prepare,"
I said calmly. "Anyway, this is your windfall from robbery, so you won't be too heartbroken."
The girl understood what I meant, of course. People on the grasslands had bought weapons before, but merchants always sold them at exorbitant prices. A military broadsword cost at least ten gold coins, and a suit of armor cost fifty. Even so, the number they could smuggle out was very small, the most they could manage at one time was only a few hundred sets.
"Deal!"
After thinking for a moment, Princess Bilan slowly nodded. Her decisiveness and determination were no less than mine. She was willing to pay any price for her goal, a quality that made me deeply wary.
If it weren't for the fact that without her, the Southern Desert Allied Army would be no match for the Northern Desert Allied Army, I definitely wouldn't have let her go today.
Suddenly, I remembered the Northern Desert General Nie Jiewen, whom I had released a few days ago for the same reason...
I, Young Master Ri, am truly a person who cares about them!
Not only did I yield to the 150,000 hostages, but after receiving the report, Emperor Kangzong discussed it with the court officials and also agreed to this exchange.
The past few years in Liufeng Kingdom have not been easy; the harvests have been poor, and the people's morale has already wavered. If Princess Bilan were to publicly proclaim that we were heartless and refused to exchange our people, it would undoubtedly be a huge blow to the court's reputation.
Having obtained 150,000 sets of the same weapons, the six tribes of Southern Desert immediately began large-scale preparations for war, just like the tribes of Northern Desert.
Of course, as the messenger, I immediately informed the tribes of Northern Desert of my deal with the six tribes of Southern Desert. I was afraid they would suffer losses and fall into an ambush by the six tribes of Southern Desert, which would be no fun.
The northern and southern desert armies were locked in a fierce battle, determined to weaken both sides.
However, the ensuing series of battles took everyone by surprise.
On November 6th, the 300,000-strong southern and northern allied forces clashed on the grasslands. The battle raged for two days and three nights without a clear victor, as scouts from both sides surrounded the battlefield, allowing only distant views of the billowing smoke, shouts, and cries of pain.
On November 10th, the 200,000-strong Chahar tribe suddenly appeared on the battlefield, splitting into two groups and charging into the heart of the fighting. To their horror, upon reaching the front lines, they found two armies, five miles apart and lined up side-by-side, coldly watching them. Furthermore, not a single corpse could be seen on the battlefield.
The Chahar commander, realizing the dire situation, immediately ordered a retreat, but it was too late. Two well-prepared armies from the northern and southern deserts, their morale soaring, surrounded and divided the 200,000-strong army, annihilating them within half a day.
The Chahar cavalry had always been superior to the two tribes, but the well-planned allied forces were numerous, well-equipped, and well-rested, making a complete victory inevitable.
The northern and southern desert cavalry, having orchestrated a massive trap and deceived countless people, had not only aimed to kill the 200,000 Chahar soldiers. Led by their respective commanders, they advanced rapidly, tearing apart the unprepared Chahar tribal defenses, burning, killing, and looting indiscriminately, unleashing a reign of terror.
The Chahar tribe was the absolute overlord of the desert, possessing an exceptionally elite standing army of 600,000; in the past, 100,000 of them were often equivalent to 200,000 or even 300,000 from the northern and southern deserts. However, having received a large amount of weaponry from the Liufeng Kingdom, the southern and northern deserts, with their 600,000-strong army launching a full-
scale attack, coupled with the previous annihilation of 200,000 Chahar tribe troops, immediately gained the upper hand. Defensive warfare on the grasslands is far more difficult than offensive warfare. The Chahar tribe's army was heavily dispersed, allowing the northern and southern desert cavalry to seize opportunities and repeatedly defeat them piecemeal. By November 28th, nearing winter, the remaining 300,000 Chahar tribe members were forced to retreat to the remote and colder north. In effect, this once-powerful tribe that dominated the northern desert grasslands had become history.
After this battle, the northern desert allied forces gained grassland land equivalent to twice their original territory, capturing 700,000 people and countless horses, cattle, and sheep. The southern desert allied forces reaped even greater rewards, gaining grassland land three times their original area, capturing 1.1 million people, and again countless horses, cattle, and sheep.
My "Silver Tiger Legion" cavalry, along with the 20,000 cavalrymen cobbled together by the royal family, totaling 100,000 men, were also fully prepared for battle. Upon hearing that the two major tribal alliances were pursuing Chahar, I immediately made a decisive move, sending a massive army of 100,000 into the grasslands to begin my long-planned retaliatory massacre.
Even if they united, their strength was very limited; they could only take down one of Xiliang City or Chahar at most. It was now clear that they had chosen the more profitable Chahar, abandoning Xiliang City, which was defended by a formidable fortress.
The tribes of the Northern and Southern Deserts were mortal enemies, yet in the blink of an eye, they formed an alliance to fight side by side. I didn't know how they united, but I understood that their choice was absolutely correct. Attacking Xiliang City would only result in losses, and the gains would only be some people and wealth, offering little benefit to increasing their strength.
Attacking Chahar was different; not only would they gain people and wealth, but also a large amount of territory. Once digested, their strength would immediately leap several levels, making them a force capable of competing with the major overlords of the central grasslands.
I absolutely could not allow them to grow stronger, otherwise, the pressure on Xiliang City would be even greater.
Since the combined cavalry forces of Southern and Northern Mongolia dared to break out of their stronghold to pursue the Chahar tribe, they must have also taken defensive measures against Xiliang City. As
soon as they entered the grasslands, less than 800 li away, 100,000 grassland cavalry charged forward.
In the past, Xiliang City's army entering the grasslands would always encounter fierce interception, but this time was different. They didn't even approach, but instead harassed us from a distance, slowing our advance.
However, they overlooked one point: cavalry is very effective at harassing infantry, but this time, with a large number of first-class warhorses provided by them, we wouldn't be at their mercy due to speed and mobility.
As usual, we had many skilled warriors on our side, so the 100,000 cavalry were divided into ten 10,000-man regiments, each led by myself, Little Turtle, Little Bird, Wang Guowei, Wang Miao'er, Feng Wei, plus the four elders of the Wang family. We scattered and charged towards every corner of Southern and Northern Mongolia.
Our division of forces left the allied forces responsible for interception bewildered.
Their only orders were to hold us back and prevent us from wreaking havoc. They were initially confident, as the grasslands were their territory, and fighting on their home turf was practically like fighting on their own soil. But now they were divided into countless spearheads, and intercepting any one of them was futile.
Finally, after urgent consultations, they could only send ten 10,000-strong units to follow us, desperately trying to block our advance.
But destruction is always easier than construction, especially since this wasn't our territory. We didn't need to worry about anything; just burn and kill.
My orders to them were to kill all men between the ages of fifteen and forty, slaughter all cattle and sheep, and burn all tents… Women, children, and the elderly were to be spared.
War between two races is never about mercy. These grassland people have always been even more ruthless than us, their methods cruel and inhumane. Over the centuries, countless people of our Liufeng Kingdom have died at their hands.
Therefore, my mercy will not be shown to them.
Leaving behind women, children, and the elderly, and burning all their belongings, without able-bodied men, these people, unable to do much, became a burden to the various tribes, consuming vast amounts of food, hindering their labor, and delaying their development.
Yet, these were the people of each tribe; abandoning them would surely lead to the tribal chiefs and elders being scorned by the majority of the people. Therefore, the leaders had no choice but to take responsibility.
On the continent of Haimi, during this period, two battlefields emerged in the northwest, with the scale of the fighting already exceeding one million. The allied forces of the Northern and Southern Deserts were wreaking havoc on the Chahar tribe in the Eastern Desert, while we were also wreaking havoc. In just over ten days, flames raged across the grasslands of the Southern and Northern Deserts, and the cries of despair rivaled those from the Chahar tribe.
I truly admire Princess Bilan; she knew her stronghold had been raided, yet she continued the attack: five days after the 100,000 troops of the Northern Desert allied forces returned, she only allowed the 100,000 troops of the Southern Desert allied forces to return.
These five days of delay became the main reason for the disparity in spoils between the two sides.
While depleting the strength of the allied tribes, we also continuously fought against the pursuing cavalry.
Undeterred, we faced the enraged, bloodshot-eyed steppe cavalry, engaging in fierce battles that were initially evenly matched. From initial discomfort to later gaining the upper hand, in fifteen days, 120,000 cavalrymen lay dead on the grasslands. Of these, 30,000 were killed on our side, and 90,000 on the allied side—nearly total annihilation. When we retreated to Xiliang City before the enemy arrived, a rough estimate showed that we had killed a total of 210,000 able-bodied men from both northern and southern deserts, destroyed at least 5,000 large and small steppe settlements, and slaughtered countless horses, cattle, and sheep. Of course, upon our return, each of us carried at least three to five fine horses, our only spoils of war after half a month of bloodshed.
On the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, the day after the first snowfall, a thin layer of white covered the grasslands. With the return of the last 10,000 cavalry unit I led, the attack on Xiliang City was completely over.
Thus, I fulfilled my promise to avenge those ruthless bandits, and our triumphant return was met with a warm welcome from countless soldiers and civilians.
Ren Lanting's formidable reputation spread throughout the three northwestern prefectures and the grasslands!

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