knife

Chapter 96 Great minds think alike

Outside the cave, the cold wind howled, carrying snowflakes that pelted against the wooden gate with a pattering sound.

The weather suddenly turned terrible. Even if Li Dachui and Xiao Changche were unharmed, they would have to think twice before going out in such wind and snow, let alone now that one has a broken leg and the other is seriously injured.

Human effort is sometimes insignificant in the face of nature.

Li Dachui was actually a very meticulous person. Before dark, he brought back a large bundle of thatch and thickly wrapped the simple wooden door.

When he and Xiao Changche were unharmed, this bit of wind, snow and frost naturally couldn't harm them, but now Xiao Changche is weak and vulnerable, which is when he is most susceptible to wind-related ailments, so the door must not be allowed to let in any more drafts.

With no wind coming in, the heated kang bed in the cave was kept warm so that Xiao Changche could feel more comfortable.

One of them lay on the heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed), and the other lay on a blanket by the fire.

"How badly is Xiaobai injured?"

"The situation isn't good; all four of its hooves are broken!" Li Dachui shook his head and said, "I built a straw shed for it and Xiao Hei, and I bandaged up Xiao Bai's four legs. But even if it recovers, I'm afraid it won't be able to go to the battlefield again. What a pity!"

"If it's not going to go, then it's not going. I'll take it home and raise it properly. Little White has accompanied me on countless battles in the past. Now that it's no longer able to fight, I'll naturally take good care of it!" Xiao Changdao said.

“I think so too!” Li Dachui laughed. “Little White is an excellent warhorse. Even if it can’t go to the battlefield, it’s good for breeding. Xiao Changche, we have an agreement, okay? Little Black and Little White have been together all this time. If they have a foal, we’ll split it in half. You can’t keep it all to yourself!”

Xiao Changche remained silent, while Li Dachui tapped the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed): "Don't play dumb. We need to discuss this beforehand. The offspring they get through their collaboration is absolutely one of the best steeds in the world!"

"Alright!" Xiao Changche said helplessly, "It's not necessarily true that I'll get pregnant."

"I believe in my little black dog!" Li Dachui laughed smugly. "But what color will their offspring be, one white and one black? I hope they don't have a black and white stripe, or they'll look like zebras! Hahaha!"

Xiao Changche glared at him. Li Dachui's ideas were always so unconventional that he couldn't keep up. What was a zebra? What was so funny about that?

"This time we really tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead. We didn't kill the Tiele, but we also made a blood feud!" Xiao Changche was a little annoyed: "I'm afraid Yuan'an will have to face their revenge next."

“It is indeed possible that we will face retaliation.” Li Dachui nodded and said, “However, the Tiele people may still have a chance to turn things around! I plan to go and talk to them when I have the chance.”

"Do you want to die?" Xiao Changche was taken aback. "The two of us were really going to kill him this time. We were just a hair's breadth away from it. If you go to see him, it would be strange if he didn't torture you to death!"

"That's not necessarily true!" Li Dachui said. "Tiele shouldn't be that short-sighted. Of course, if he really is, I can teach him a lesson to broaden his horizons and help him learn something!"

"You're incredibly arrogant!" Xiao Changche said irritably. "Keep bragging, it won't hurt you to drop a hair."

"I'm not exaggerating!" Li Dachui said seriously, "Tiele was seriously injured this time and it's impossible for him to command troops on the front line in the short term. He will definitely need to be replaced. Who do you think will be replaced?"

“The Northern Yuan has stationed tens of thousands of troops on the border with the Great Qin. The Tiele are seriously injured. If a replacement is needed, it will most likely be Jebe! Akdun is not known for his military leadership.” Xiao Changche pondered, “Jebe is skilled in military strategy and has achieved many military exploits in the past two years in the war against the Hu tribes. His momentum is strong. It is more reasonable for him to guard this area!”

"Then tell me, would either the Tiele or Akdun be willing for Jebe to win again in the confrontation with the Qin?" Li Dachui asked with a smile. "If Jebe wins again, in the Northern Yuan, a country where the strong rule, will the Tiele and Akdun still have a chance?"

Xiao Changche's eyes lit up. "You mean, the Tiele or Akdun will come and cause trouble!"

Li Dachui nodded. "This is our opportunity. Both Tiele and Akdun have an incentive to help us defeat Jebe. This will highlight the hardships Tiele has faced these past few years, thus at least bringing them back to a level playing field!"

“Your analysis makes a lot of sense, but would the Tiele really trade away matters of state?” Xiao Changche asked with some doubt.

Li Dachui laughed: "For someone like Tiele, the outcome of the battles on the front lines serves his interests. When he needs the front lines to fail, then they must suffer a crushing defeat. Compared to ensuring he doesn't fall behind in the battle for the throne, what do a few defeats and deaths on the front lines matter!"

“If Tiele really has such intentions, then it is indeed easy. He has commanded troops on the frontier for many years and has many trusted confidants in the army. Jebe is new to the area, and if he wants to attack us, he is very likely to be assassinated by him. What if Akdun comes instead?”

Li Dachui shook his head and said, "Akhdon is a very cunning person. Under these circumstances, I estimate that he would never take over. Even if he wins, he still can't suppress Jebe. If he loses, he will be completely demoralized. Under these circumstances, he would definitely prefer to defeat the one who is currently the most popular."

“But the risk of you going to see Tiele is too great. Send someone else instead! There’s no need for you to take this risk!” Xiao Changche shook his head.

"So concerned about me!" Li Dachui chuckled. "If I, your creditor, really kick the bucket, that's fantastic news for you—you won't have to pay back the debt!" "Li Dachui, can you be serious?" Xiao Changche snapped. "We're talking business!"

"I have to go!" Li Dachui said, "These things can't be explained by just one person. If the coordination is not good, accidents can easily happen. Don't worry, even if Tiele wants to skin me alive, he will still treat me warmly this time."

Of course, Li Dachui wouldn't say that he and this Tiele were actually cousins, or relatives!

Of course, the more important reason is that Tiele was an ambitious fellow.

Such a person would never act based on their own likes or dislikes.

Although we are enemies, we now need to band together to protect our own interests.

This is something I can see myself, and the Tiele people must have thought of it too.

So this trip is absolutely necessary.

Thinking of this, he was genuinely worried. It wasn't because going to find Tiele was life-threatening, but because Tiele must now know his identity, and also Xiao Changche's background. If they really wanted to do business, they would definitely use this to extort him, and what would he use to fight back?
Whether her true identity was the posthumous child of the former crown prince of Qin, or that the dignified third-rank chariot general was a woman, it was all earth-shattering news enough to devastate the area beyond the Great Wall.

It would be strange not to make good use of a political animal like Tiele!
“Xiao Changche, tell me your story. How did you become the Xiao Changche you are today?” Li Dachui asked.

After a long silence, Xiao Changche closed his eyes slightly, a look of pain on his face.

Seeing Xiao Changche's expression, Li Dachui felt a little sorry for him. "Fine, if you don't want to talk about it, then you don't have to!"

“There’s nothing I can’t say!” Xiao Changche opened his eyes and said, “My story is just like the rumors outside: my clan was wiped out by the Northern Yuan, and I was one of the lucky survivors. The only difference is that from that time on, I became a man. I gathered some of the Xiao clan members who had managed to escape and began a military career. Over the years, those clan members have almost all perished in their quest for revenge and to protect me. Xiao Dongwei is one of the few survivors!”

"Driving a long chariot, breaking through the Helan Mountain pass, is that why you're called Xiao Changche?" Li Dachui asked. "May I know your original name?"

“Xiao Ningyu.” Xiao Changchedao.

"With a unique grace like that of someone who has weathered the rain, chaste and unyielding!" Li Dachui said, "Is your name derived from this poem?"

"I didn't expect you to have read a few books!" Xiao Changche said.

"Don't forget, my teacher is Master Yu!" Li Dachui laughed. "No matter who teaches you, compared to my teacher, they're definitely weak!"

“The man who taught me to read was my father!” Xiao Changche’s voice lowered. “He’s dead. He wanted me to be a gentle woman who was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but I’ve always preferred martial arts since I was little, and in the end, I’ve become the ruthless butcher I am today!”

"You killed only bad people, evil people!"

Xiao Changche shook his head: "That's not necessarily true. When I led my troops into the territory of the Northern Yuan, I killed people without blinking an eye, sparing neither the old, weak, sick, disabled, nor children! So someone like me will surely go to hell after death!"

"There's nothing to worry about!" Li Dachui comforted him. "Conflicts between nations and struggles between ethnic groups for living space are neither about justice nor good or bad. When war breaks out, no one is innocent. We were born into this conflict, and we've used every means to fight for victory for our people. No one can blame us. If we really want to be kind, let's wait until we achieve final victory before we try to comfort the defeated. Then, as the victors, we can naturally be more tolerant of the losers."

"You certainly know how to comfort people!" Xiao Changche grinned, as if all the pent-up frustration he had felt for so long had finally been released.

Xiao Changche, now devoid of his former sharpness, lay on the bed, revealing his frail and delicate appearance. His smile seemed to illuminate the entire cave, leaving Li Dachui momentarily stunned.

"Xiao Changche, you'd better stop laughing!" Turning around, Li Dachui said, "It's getting a little unbearable!"

"Li Dachui, do you want to die again?" Xiao Changche's embarrassed and angry voice came from behind.

Li Dachui nodded repeatedly: "That's right, this is Xiao Changche!"

Behind me, I heard deep breaths in and out.

Li Dachui certainly knew how to provoke Xiao Changche.

(End of this chapter)