knife

Chapter 455 is waiting for you.

Dunzhu stared dumbfounded at the endless military camps ahead, the scouts rushing back and forth, and the convoys driving into the camp one after another.

I originally thought it would take several more days to reach Baoping City, the capital of the Beiting Protectorate, but I never expected to see the Beiting Protectorate's army here.

This place is only fifty miles away from Bafang City.

If I hadn't arrived here today, by tomorrow, this massive army would probably have already advanced to the walls of Bafang City.

The Beiting Protectorate is preparing to attack the Yuan Dynasty.

This was Dondrup's first idea.

But then he remembered what his mission was this time.
Wasn't I ordered by the emperor to go to the Beiting Protectorate to borrow troops?

In fact, when Yandu discovered that Jebe's army had begun its attack, Akdun had already sent Dunzhu to the Beiting Protectorate.

In some ways, Aktun is not stupid.

How could he not see through the fact that the Beiting Protectorate was deliberately maintaining a balance among the three brothers?
Back when the Tiele had just split off and had not yet established a foothold in places like Zhengding and Dading, my army launched a campaign to completely defeat them. However, the Beiting Protectorate immediately sent troops to harass my border, forcing me to retreat.

Later, when the Tiele recovered their strength and began to attack him, whenever he suffered a loss, the troops of the Beiting Protectorate would send troops to attack the Tiele.

Over time, Akedun became quite familiar with Li Dachui and Xiao Changche's tactics.

By this year, Akdun had long lost interest in unifying the Yuan Dynasty. The Three Kings' Council had weakened the Yan capital regime, and he only wanted to maintain the status quo.

However, maintaining the status quo requires the assistance of the Beiting Protectorate.

"Let's go, Protector Xiao is waiting for you!" Qian Jia stroked his goatee and urged Dunzhu with a forced smile.

Qian Jia made no attempt to hide anything from Dunzhu, leading him directly through the gates and houses. As they traversed the endless military camps, Dunzhu even saw a large number of craftsmen working on something.

Seeing such a large number of carpenters and blacksmiths accompanying the army, Dunzhu was sweating profusely.

These people were not tourists accompanying the army; they were there to manufacture various weapons. The city of Bafang was just ahead. Were they planning to attack Bafang City?
Finally, we saw the central command tent.

Dunzhu stopped, straightened his clothes, brushed the dust off his body, took a deep breath, and then followed Qian Jia into the main tent.

Although he had never met Xiao Changche, her name was well-known throughout the Yuan Dynasty. Especially when the news that Xiao Changche was a woman spread throughout the Yuan Dynasty this year, Dunzhu, like everyone else, could not believe his ears.

All these years, have the warriors of their Great Yuan been beaten up by a woman like this?
I feel extremely ashamed when I think about it.

"His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Yuan Dynasty, His Majesty Dunzhu, greets Protector-General Xiao of the Northern Protectorate of the Great Qin!"

Stepping into the main tent, Dunzhu clasped his hands in a deep bow, straightened up, and looked towards the person at the head of the table. A chill ran down his spine. Behind the table, a man wearing a demon mask was staring at him.

He was stunned for a moment before he realized that this was Xiao Changche.

In the years before Xiao Changche went to war, he always wore a demon mask on his face.

"Sit down!" Xiao Changche pointed to a futon in front of the large table and said, "Did Akdun send you here because he wants us to send troops to rescue him?"

Dondrup felt somewhat ashamed, but the die was cast and he had no choice but to proceed. He had already come this far, what else could he do?

"Indeed, but I was unaware that the Protector-General's troops were already only a stone's throw away from the border of our Great Yuan!"

“If we had waited for you in Baoping City, then mobilized our troops, and then marched all the way to Yandu, I’m afraid your Emperor would have already had his head chopped off and hung on the city wall by Jebe!” Xiao Changche laughed loudly. “Dunzhu, I’m afraid we knew about Jebe’s attack earlier than you did, so we started mobilizing long ago, which is why you see the situation you are in today.”

Dunzhu forced a smile and said, "I just don't know what the Protector-General hopes to gain from this military campaign?"

"What can I get in return? Naturally, I hope your Yuan Kingdom remains in the same divided state as before!" Xiao Changche's words were full of malice, and he made no attempt to hide it. "Of course, Akdun should give me something this time. I think it would be the Eight Directions City, how about that?"

"His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Yuan Dynasty is willing to exchange money, mules, horses, cattle, and sheep for the Protector-General's military expedition this time!" Dunzhu said, "Bafang City is definitely not an option!"

"Dunzhu, do you think I lack cattle and sheep right now? In terms of wealth, I'm afraid our Beiting Protectorate is much stronger than yours, isn't it?" Xiao Changdao said, "Actually, whether you give it to me or not, I'm going to take Bafang City this time!"

Dondrup remained silent; any words would be superfluous at this moment.

"We will arrive at Bafang City tomorrow. It will probably take a few days to capture it!" Xiao Changdao said, "Dunzhu, how long do you think your emperor can hold out in Yandu?"

Dunzhu was taken aback: "Protector, Bafang City is in our hands. When I arrived here, an envoy had already gone to Bafang City to deliver an imperial edict to Wutu. Wutu will return to Yandu before you, Protector. When you arrive at Bafang City, there will only be a small number of soldiers maintaining order!"

Xiao Changche shook his head and said, "Dunzhu, what if I told you that Wutu would not return to Yandu at all, but would instead attack us here and prevent us from going north to aid Yandu?"

Dondrup suddenly stood up: "You mean Uduta..."

“That’s right, Wutu has betrayed us again!” Xiao Changche laughed. “He has sided with the Tiele and Jebe. So your colleagues who went to Bafang City are probably not going to make it.”

Dunzhu remained silent for a long time before saying, "The only troops we can rely on right now in Yandu City are the 30,000-strong garrison led by Shaliewen. The other tribal armies and private troops of high-ranking officials are probably all preoccupied with their own concerns. It would be enough if they didn't cause any trouble. We can't count on them."

"In that case, we'd better hurry, otherwise it would be pointless if we went all that way only to find Akdun dead." Xiao Changche said with a smile, "Dunzhu, do you still dare to go to Bafang City?"

"Does the Protector mean I should sneak into Bafang City to assist you in breaking through the city?" Dunzhu pondered for a moment: "When Wutu came to Bafang City, he only brought a few hundred personal guards. In more than a year, it is unlikely that he could subdue everyone. If someone benefits, someone will inevitably suffer. It is worth a try! I stayed in Bafang City for quite a while back then. I am very familiar with this place and have many friends there."

"If you can persuade some of them inside to become our spies, then I'm confident I can take down Bafang City in a very short time!" Xiao Changche laughed. "Then we can rush to Yandu to rescue your emperor as quickly as possible. Of course, if you can't persuade them, I have another way you can try!"

(End of this chapter)