Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 217 Your Excellency, please withdraw your troops!

Huang Tong knew better than anyone where the 10,000-strong army came from.

It was because he had arranged to be stationed in Yu territory to ambush Song Shi'an's "bandits".

But he knew even better that this number of people didn't warrant the effort of 10,000 to eliminate them.

This Yu army is using this situation to exert pressure!
"Didn't you say that the Yu Kingdom would never send troops for Song Shi'an?" Lu Chao questioned directly.

“How could it be troops mobilized for Song Shi’an?” Huang Tong’s face darkened for a moment before he argued, “Who can take responsibility for this unauthorized troop deployment?”

"Then tell me, is the State of Yu going to war?" Lu Chao questioned.

"If he's not going to fight, what's the point of him sending a large army to the border?" Huang Tong retorted.

This immediately amused Lu Chao, who sealed the victory with a single sentence: "Is the Emperor of Yu completely incompetent? If he wants to wage war, why did he send an envoy? He hasn't even gone on the mission yet, so why start a war?"

So, it's like the left and right hemispheres fighting each other, right?
Huang Tong was speechless.

Indeed, he couldn't argue with the other person.

Since they were going to go on a diplomatic mission anyway, they must have made war their final preparation for a failed mission.

How could someone create conflict between the two countries before even entering Yan?
"I don't know what he's thinking. Is the emperor of Yu Kingdom stubborn and indecisive?" Huang Tong simply avoided the topic and said, "As a military officer, I am ordered to guard Cangliao Pass. If the enemy invades, I have the responsibility to defend it."

"Can you, a mere individual, bear the responsibility of starting a war between two countries?"

"Of course we can't afford it!" Huang Tong stood up and said firmly, "So I reported to Lord Qin immediately, and the army will arrive soon to protect the defense line."

There is a road connecting the fortress and the pass, which is not far apart. We can get there quickly before the Yu army arrives.

“Alright, this is your responsibility,” Lu Chao decided directly. “I will go on a mission to the Yu army.”

"No way." Upon hearing this, Huang Tong, whose body was full of flaws, instinctively objected, even briefly forgetting the concept of superiors and subordinates.

"How dare you!" Lu Chao rebuked him directly, "Who do you think you are? I am the king's appointed envoy, ordered to receive other envoys. Do I need your permission?"

Lu Chao had no idea what they had done to get Song Shi'an to bring his army over.

But they must have been caught red-handed for something.

Therefore, it was deliberately magnified.

Those were warlords from afar who took it upon themselves to do some dirty work.

This pool of water is too murky!
Of course, he was given a strict order: Song Shi'an must be brought into Yan.

It's true that the King doesn't want to see Song Shi'an. However, he can't bury his head in the sand; he should face the problem.

Moreover, he could not completely lose control of the country and let the feudal lords push him around.

If Duke Qin didn't want Song Shi'an to come in, he could simply keep him outside. Would the King of Yan have any power left?
"..." Huang Tong realized he had misspoke, so he quickly explained, "My lord, please don't be angry. That's not what I meant. I meant that it would be too dangerous for you to go there now, given the battle between the two armies."

"Then do you know what it means to not kill envoys in a war between two armies?" he retorted.

"But their envoy was just..." Huang Tong almost got himself into a trap halfway through his sentence, and quickly said, "He was just killed by bandits, and they're blaming us for it. It's not the right time for you to go, sir."

"That's none of your concern," Lu Chao snorted.

"But the city gates must not be opened during wartime, so I cannot let you out."

"Put down the bamboo basket, and I'll come down from the city wall, okay?" Lu Chao glared at him.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Huang Tong's forehead, and his back felt hot and prickly, like it was being pricked by needles. His face turned red...

“No, that’s not good,” he stammered. “Leaving the city is extremely dangerous.”

"Danger?" Lu Chao laughed, staring at his guilty eyes, and asked, "Could it be that my meeting with Song Shi'an would put General Huang in a difficult position?"

"Of course not, I have no connection with Song Shi'an whatsoever!" Huang Tong said firmly.

"It's best if not." Lu Chao turned around with a domineering flick of his sleeve. "Down the city, on my mission!"

……

"Lord Qin!" A cavalryman rode up from outside the general's barracks, knelt on one knee, and reported with his fists clenched, "The Yu army, numbering about ten thousand, is heading towards Cangliao Pass and is less than twenty li away!"

When Yuan, the clerk, who was discussing matters with Qin Gong, heard this, he was dumbfounded and asked in astonishment, "Qin Gong, could it be that Huang Tong did something stupid and provoked the south to send troops?"

"No, don't panic." Duke Qin stood up and walked to the map. "You, come here."

"Yes."

The cavalrymen went over and stood beside the map.

"Where is it located?" Duke Qin asked.

“General, here.” He pointed and whispered, “General Huang said that their army first marched this way, and then, following the trend, turned this way again.”

After looking at the map, Yuan, the chief clerk, became somewhat sensitive.

Because that was where Song Shi'an was ambushed.

"Did Song Shi'an accompany the army?"

"Reporting to Lord Qin, we haven't found anything about that," the cavalryman said. "But we have intelligence that Song Shi'an arrived at Xiang Ping's camp yesterday."

"Then they've come along too." After a moment's thought, Duke Qin ordered, "Send Hu Xianjun with four thousand troops to Cangliao Pass to take full control. Then, send a message to the other officers on the border to strengthen defenses. Also, have all the county magistrates along the way mobilize laborers to transport supplies and keep them on high alert at all times."

"Yes!" A guard at the door went to relay the order.

"You go back too, and tell your General Huang to keep the city gates tightly shut," Qin Gongdao said. "Yes!"

And so the cavalry departed.

Only the two of them remained.

Yuan, the clerk, couldn't help but ask, "If a war really breaks out, won't His Majesty be furious?"

"Think about it," Duke Qin smiled. "Song Shi'an is going on this mission even under these circumstances to ensure that the military farms are not disturbed. So how could he possibly instigate this war?"

Yes, that's unreasonable.

"Then his actions this time are..." After careful consideration, Yuan Zhubu was terrified.

Huang Tong is doomed!

Duke Qin knew that this war would not break out.

Song Shi'an also knew that this battle should not be fought.

Then his deterrent effect is useless.
No, it's very useful.

In the eyes of those in power, it was a situation where troops were arrayed on both sides, ready to clash at any moment, and the entire nation of Great Yan was in grave danger.

The King of Yan would certainly not hold a grudge and would immediately initiate peace talks.

If Song Shi'an is allowed in, the Qi-Yan alliance may not necessarily end.

But given the king's personality, he certainly wouldn't want to completely antagonize the Great Yu.

The murder of the Yu envoy must be explained.

"Let's see," Qin Gong sighed. "Let's see if Huang Tong can withstand Lu Chao and keep Song Shi'an out."

He now only has one chance left to save himself...

Yuan, the registrar, was terrified.

Huang Tong was thus sold out, becoming a victim of the political maneuvering of powerful figures.

Who can guarantee that they won't be the next Huang Tong...?

……

The midday sun hung overhead, its blazing white light melting into the edge of the desolate plain. Song Shi'an rode a magnificent Liangzhou horse, its hooves wrapped in tanned cowhide, kicking up only two muffled plumes of red dust with each stomp. In his left hand he held a three-section bamboo talisman, beside him stood the young girl Xin Yue, a sword at her waist, her expression grim, cold, and defiant.

Behind the two, ten thousand elite soldiers stretched out in a continuous line. Under the sunlight, the flashes of their spear tips connected to form a vast, boundless galaxy, vying with the sun for brilliance.

The army was less than five miles from Cangliao Pass.

Just as they were about to continue forward, a minister carrying an imperial tally staggered toward them, already drenched in sweat despite it being less than May...

"Wait, wait, wait!" Upon seeing Song Shi'an, he raised his hand, panting, to stop the army's advance.

"My lord, please catch your breath first." Song Shi'an leaned forward slightly, lowered his head, and said jokingly with a smile.

"Are you Lord Song?" He stood up after adjusting himself slightly and asked.

"Yes, I am Song Shi'an."

"Oh dear, I've been waiting for you for a long time." He introduced himself, "Lu Chao, envoy of the Northern Yan Kingdom, here to receive your esteemed envoy."

"Oh?" Song Shi'an asked suspiciously.

"His Majesty sent me." He looked at the large army behind him and said in utter dismay, "My lord, you've come, but why did you bring an army with you? Who goes on a mission with a large army?"

“I didn’t bring these,” Song Shi’an explained. “General Xiang Ping discovered a large group of bandits loitering nearby, suspected to be the same people who killed our Great Yu envoy earlier.”

"Did they catch them?" Lu Chao asked tentatively.

"They've gone to your Yan Kingdom!" Song Shi'an laughed. "We're just about to go and capture them."

“Since this has happened, Yan will certainly take it seriously!” Lu Chao said. “Immediately, His Majesty will conduct a nationwide search to find those bandits, and then send someone personally to deliver their heads to Sheng’an of Da Yu!”

You think I'm stupid, right?

Song Shi'an stared at him and asked in a solemn tone.

"..." Lu Chao was taken aback, then rubbed his forehead. After a while, he raised his head and said, "No matter who it is, once we find out who it is, my king will give the deceased Yu envoy justice. But these things should not affect the friendly relations between our two countries, right?"

He had just gone along with the "bandits" thing, but after being snorted at, he stopped with all that nonsense.

Those who habitually treat people like fools are the real fools.

“Of course, General Xiang didn’t come to attack. He’s here to escort me on my mission to the Yan Kingdom,” Song Shi’an said with a smile. “There are a lot of bandits around lately, and he’s worried about my safety.”

"General's consideration is wise." Lu Chao nodded repeatedly. "Now that everyone has arrived, please withdraw your troops. Let's not damage the friendship between our two countries."

“I haven’t even entered the customs area yet,” Song Shi’an said, staring at him.

“Then I will go and inform them,” Lu Chao said. “We will get a reply soon, in less than two days. After all, we need to make arrangements along the way so that we can properly receive your esteemed envoy.”

"If even entering the pass is this complicated, when will we ever catch the bandits?"

Song Shi'an didn't speak, but looked at him coldly and said, "Why don't we catch them ourselves?"

(End of this chapter)