I am invincible, that's why I lie down. You're using your entire clan to rebel?

The wind in Tianlang City is even more biting than that in Qingshi Ferry.

The winter in the Northern Wilderness is a cruel place.

The sky was overcast, and the distant snow-capped mountains stretched endlessly, like a natural barrier separating this land from the Central Plains.

However, after today...

The fate of this land has quietly changed.

The old Khan has passed away.

Huyan Lie succeeded to the throne.

The Wuhuan became the Left Chancellor.

This result was unexpected by everyone.

But nobody knows.

Behind this outcome, the person who truly drove everything was neither Huyan Lie nor the Wuhuan.

Instead, it was the man sitting in the side hall, drinking tea and watching the changing winds of the Northern Wilderness.

Qin Mu.

……

Inside the side hall.

Charcoal is burning.

The warmth dispelled the chill outside.

Jiang Zhaoyue sat next to Qin Mu, looking at the map of Northern Mang on the table.

"Young master."

"Now Huyan Lie has become the Khan."

"The Wuhuan also controlled internal affairs."

"Is Northern Mang now completely under your control?"

Qin Mu leaned back in his chair.

My fingers tapped lightly on the table.

He shook his head upon hearing Jiang Zhaoyue's words.

"No."

Jiang Zhaoyue was taken aback.

"No?"

Qin Mu picked up a chess piece from the table.

It was placed in the location of the Northern Mang royal court.

"A country cannot be controlled by just one emperor."

"The Northern Mang is different from the Great Qin."

"The Qin Dynasty lasted for three hundred years and had a complete system and a stable bureaucratic system."

"But the Northern Barbarians are different."

As he spoke, he picked up a few more chess pieces.

They were placed in the locations of several tribes.

"here."

"here."

"And here too."

"These large tribes are the real forces influencing Northern Mang."

Jiang Zhaoyue looked at the chess pieces.

Thoughtful.

"So even though Huyan Lie became Khan, many people were still dissatisfied?"

Qin Mu nodded.

"good."

"Especially those old tribes that have followed the old Khan in his campaigns for many years."

"What they recognize is power."

"Not by bloodline."

Jiang Zhaoyue frowned slightly.

"So, what does the young master intend to do?"

Qin Mu smiled.

"Let's see them jump out on their own."

Jiang Zhaoyue was helpless.

She had gotten used to Qin Mu's way of doing things.

Others handle the problem.

They prefer to take the initiative.

And Qin Mu.

I prefer sitting there.

Watching the enemy walk onto the chessboard on their own.

"Young master."

"Did you already guess this would happen?"

Qin Mu did not deny it.

"almost."

"Although Huyan Lie has military power, he needs an opportunity to become the true Khan."

"The death of the old Khan is the opportunity."

"And those who disagree also need a reason."

Jiang Zhaoyue blinked.

"So you deliberately gave them hope?"

Qin Mu smiled.

"It wasn't intentional."

"It's about giving them a choice."

"Some people choose to submit."

"Some people choose to resist."

Different choices lead to different outcomes.

……

Just as the two were talking.

Footsteps could be heard outside.

Yunluan walked in.

"His Majesty."

"Huyan Lie requests an audience."

Qin Mu put down the chess piece.

"Let him in."

After a while.

Huyan Lie entered the side hall.

Compared to a few days ago.

At this moment, he exuded a true kingly aura.

But Qin Mu could tell.

This change is not due to power.

It's because of responsibility.

Huyan Lie came to Qin Mu.

They did not perform the Northern Mang ceremony.

Instead, they simply clasped their hands in a fist salute.

"His Majesty."

Qin Mu looked at him.

"Now I should call you Khan."

Hu Yanlie smiled bitterly.

"This location is heavier than I imagined."

Qin Mu smiled.

"Before sitting there, everyone felt that position represented honor."

"Only after sitting on it did I realize it represented pressure."

Huyan Lie remained silent.

He then said:

"His Majesty."

There is something I must tell you.

Qin Mu looked at him.

"explain."

Huyanlie took a deep breath.

"There are several tribes in the Northern Wilderness that do not recognize me."

They believe that I inherited the Khanate because of the support of the Qin Dynasty.

"Some people have even started secretly mobilizing troops."

Qin Mu was not surprised.

"Who?"

Huyan Lie said in a deep voice:

"The Black Wolf Tribe of Northern Wilderness".

"as well as……"

He paused.

"The Tuoba tribe, which the Old Khan trusted most."

Upon hearing the name Tuoba.

The atmosphere inside the tent shifted slightly.

Although Tuoba Jun had already been imprisoned.

However, the Tuoba clan was deeply rooted in Northern Mang.

Qin Mu picked up his teacup.

"What do they want to do?"

Huyan Lie said:

"Forcing me to abdicate."

"Support a new Khan."

Qin Mu smiled.

"It seems they haven't figured it out yet."

Hu Yanlie looked at Qin Mu.

Qin Mu said calmly:

"The Northern Mang can replace the Khan."

"But we can't let things get chaotic."

"Who wants chaos in the Northern Wilderness?"

"Whoever is my enemy."

this sentence.

There was no murderous intent whatsoever.

But this gave Hu Yanlie a jolt.

he knows.

When Qin Mu was truly enraged.

Instead, it won't show.

……

That night.

Outside Sirius City.

An army is quietly approaching.

A total of 30,000 people.

No torches were lit.

They did not raise any banners.

They were like a pack of wolves in the night.

They slowly approached the royal city.

The leader.

It was the leader of the Black Wolf tribe.

Helian Mountain.

He was riding a horse.

Looking at Sirius City in the distance.

His eyes held a coldness.

"Huyan Lie".

"A person who rose to power thanks to the support of the emperor of the Central Plains."

"Does he even deserve to be the Khan of Northern Mang?"

The general beside him whispered:

"leader."

"The Emperor of Qin is still inside the city."

Helian Shan sneered.

"So what if he was the Emperor of Qin?"

"This is Northern Wilderness."

"Not his Central Plains."

"The swords of the Northern Barbarians obey only the commands of the Northern Barbarians."

however.

Just as he finished saying that.

A voice suddenly came from afar.

"Well said."

"The swords of the Northern Barbarians should indeed obey their commands."

Helian Shan's expression changed drastically.

He suddenly turned his head.

All that could be seen was a desolate wasteland.

A figure slowly walked over.

He was dressed in gray.

He had no weapon in his hand.

A faint smile played on his lips.

It was Qin Mu.

Helian Shan's pupils contracted.

"Who are you?"

Qin Mu stopped in his tracks.

"A passerby."

Helian Shan sneered.

"A passerby?"

"Appearing before my 30,000-strong army in the dead of night."

Do you think I'd believe that?

Qin Mu smiled.

"Do you believe it or not?"

"It doesn't matter."

Helian Shan drew his long sword.

"Kill him!"

next moment.

Three cavalrymen charged out.

The glint of a blade pierced the night.

however.

next moment.

Everyone stopped.

Because of those three people.

It has already fallen.

No one saw how Qin Mu made his move.

No one even saw the sword light.

In the blink of an eye.

Three elite Northern Barbarian warriors have lost their ability to fight.

Helian Shan's expression finally changed.

he knows.

I've met a true master.

"Who exactly are you?"

Qin Mu looked at him.

He said softly:

"The Emperor of Qin"

Just five words.

Let the entire wasteland fall silent.

Helian Shan's hand trembled slightly.

He finally understood.

Why was Huyan Lie so compliant?

Why did the Wuhuan choose to submit?

Because of the man in front of me.

They were simply no match for them.

……

Day two.

Outside Sirius City.

The Black Wolf tribe's 30,000-strong army retreated completely.

Helian Shan personally came to the palace to apologize.

All the tribal leaders of the Northern Wilderness were shocked.

They finally realized it.

That Qin emperor they thought relied solely on cunning.

A truly terrifying place.

It wasn't his strategy.

It's not his ability, but his strength.

Royal Palace Hall.

Looking down at the subjugated tribal chief.

My heart is filled with countless emotions.

A few days ago.

Nobody here is willing to acknowledge him.

now.

Everyone lowered their heads.

But he knew.

What truly made them bow down was...

It wasn't me.

It was the man standing beside her.

Qin Mu.

……

night.

Above the royal palace.

Qin Mu stood alone on the high platform.

Looking at the vast land of the Northern Wilderness.

Yunluan walked up behind him.

"His Majesty."

"The situation in Northern Mang has stabilized."

"Should we return to Daqin?"

Qin Mu did not answer.

Instead, they looked south.

There.

It is the Qin Dynasty.

It is also in the North.

"We can't leave yet."

Yunluan remained silent.

she knows.

What is Qin Mu waiting for?

Xu Longxiang.

That prince of the North who once commanded 300,000 iron cavalry.

Finally, we've reached the last step.

Qin Mu said softly:

"He should be making his move soon."

"This scene."

"It's time to end this."

The wind blows through Sirius City.

The banners of the Northern Barbarians fluttered in the wind.

In the far north.

A war that could change the landscape of the Nine Provinces.

It is quietly beginning.

north.

Zhenbei Palace.

It was already very late at night.

The north wind blew past the city walls, carrying the chill unique to the north, and struck the flagpoles on the city tower, making a rustling sound.

Inside Zhenyue Hall.

The lights were still on.

Xu Longxiang sat in the main seat.

He has been in this position for a long time.

The military reports on the desk were piled up like a mountain, but he didn't open a single one.

Because at that moment, there was only one name on his mind.

Qin Mu.

The person he wished he could kill with his own hands.

The one who stole Empress Zhao Qingxue from Liyang, causing him to lose face in the Northern Territory.

He was also the Qin emperor who had now annexed Liyang, changing the entire world's situation.

Xu Longxiang slowly picked up the wine glass on the table.

But he didn't drink it.

His gaze fell on the window.

"Fan Li".

"Your subordinate is here."

A voice sounded from behind.

Fan Li emerged from the shadows.

He was still wearing a blue robe, and holding the folding fan he never parted with.

It's just compared to before.

Fan Li now looks tired.

Because he knew.

The North is now at its most dangerous point.

Xu Longxiang still outwardly controls 300,000 iron cavalry.

But in reality...

The things he can rely on are dwindling little by little.

Liyang is gone.

Qin Mu infiltrated the Moon Goddess Cult.

The situation in the Northern Wilderness also began to become strange.

And most importantly.

That Qin emperor always loomed over everyone like an insurmountable mountain.

"Any news from the Northern Barbarians?"

Xu Longxiang asked.

Fan Li paused for a moment.

"have."

"explain."

Xu Longxiang put down his wine glass.

Fan Li walked to the desk and placed a secret letter on it.

"This was just delivered."

"Back at the Northern Mang royal court, the old Khan's condition is getting worse and worse."

"The struggle between the princes has reached a fever pitch."

Xu Longxiang sneered.

"As expected."

"None of the three princes of Northern Mang are willing to concede."

"As long as they continue to fight, Northern Mang will become increasingly chaotic."

As he spoke, he tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"Opportunities only arise in times of chaos."

Fan Li did not respond.

He just looked at Xu Longxiang.

after awhile.

He said slowly:

"Your Highness."

"There's one thing that might not be what we expected."

Xu Longxiang frowned slightly.

"What do you mean?"

Fan Li took a deep breath.

"News from the Northern Barbarians."

"Recently, the eldest prince, Huyan Lie, has been acting very strangely."

Xu Longxiang's eyes flickered slightly.

"Huyan Lie?"

"Wasn't he always suppressed by the Second Prince and the Third Prince?"

"That was indeed the case before."

Fan Li nodded.

"But recently, he suddenly began to consolidate his tribes."

"Moreover, some of his veteran players have returned to his side."

Xu Longxiang remained silent.

A moment later.

He said:

"This is a good thing."

"If Huyan Lie can keep the other two princes in check, it will be easier for Northern Mang to cooperate."

Fan Li did not respond immediately.

His expression was somewhat solemn.

"That's the problem."

"It's going too smoothly."

Xu Longxiang looked at him.

"Too smooth?"

Fan Li nodded.

"Your Highness, you should know."

"The internal struggles within Northern Mang have lasted for so many years."

"Although Huyan Lie had military merits, his two younger brothers were not simple characters either."

"Especially the Third Prince, Wuhuan."

"This person appears to be unassuming, but is actually extremely shrewd."

"He also had an advisor from the Western Regions by his side."

"The fact that the Wuhuan people have been able to survive under the oppression of their two elder brothers all these years is by no means a matter of luck."

Xu Longxiang frowned.

"you mean?"

Fan Li looked at the map on the table.

"I suspect that something has changed within the Northern Barbarian Kingdom."

Xu Longxiang paused for a moment.

"What variables?"

Fan Li did not answer directly.

Instead, he slowly said:

"Qin Mu".

Two words.

The atmosphere in the entire Zhenyue Hall became heavy.

Xu Longxiang's eyes instantly turned cold.

"You suspect him of interfering in Northern Mang?"

Fan Li nodded.

"It's not a doubt."

"It's highly likely."

Xu Longxiang stood up.

"Shouldn't he be in the Qin Imperial Palace right now?"

Fan Li shook his head.

"Your Highness."

Do you still think Qin Mu is someone who enjoys a life of ease and comfort?

Xu Longxiang remained silent.

Fan Li continued:

"It all started when he took Empress Li Yang away."

"Until the destruction of the Moon Cult."

"Then there's the Han Zhong incident."

"Everything seems to be a coincidence."

"But in the end, they all became his advantages."

"That kind of person..."

Fan Li paused for a moment.

"We will not allow a chessboard like Northern Mang to exist."

Xu Longxiang's expression grew increasingly grim.

He walked up to the map.

His gaze fell on the location of Northern Mang.

"If he really went to Northern Mang."

What is his goal?

Fan Li said in a deep voice:

"Not the Northern Barbarians."

Xu Longxiang turned his head.

"What do you mean?"

Fan Li pointed to the map.

"The Northern Wilderness was just a phase."

"What Qin Mu truly desires is the entire world."

Xu Longxiang remained silent.

But his hands were already clenched.

Because of this answer.

He was no stranger to him.

It started when Qin Mu annexed Liyang.

He already understood.

That man's ambition was far greater than anyone imagined.

"So what exactly is the situation in Northern Mang now?"

Xu Longxiang asked.

Fan Li said in a low voice:

"Breaking news."

"Qin Mu's men have already appeared on the border of Northern Mang."

Xu Longxiang's pupils contracted.

"Sure?"

"Sure."

Fan Li nodded.

"However, their identities are unknown."

"Some people say it was a young man in a gray shirt."

"A female swordsman was with him."

Xu Longxiang's expression changed instantly.

A young man in gray.

A female swordsman.

These two pieces of information.

It reminded him of someone.

Zhao San.

There's also Yunluan.

That man who dominated all the prodigies at the Northern Martial Arts Tournament.

That person he couldn't see through.

Xu Longxiang said slowly:

"Zhao San..."

Fan Li looked at him.

"Did the Crown Prince think of that too?"

Xu Longxiang did not answer.

But his complexion grew increasingly grim.

Because after the martial arts tournament ended.

He once considered trying to win over Zhao San.

She even considered turning him into a knife in her hand.

But looking back now...

Many details about that man were eerie.

Too composed.

Too calm.

It was as if everything was under his control.

"Could it be...?"

Xu Longxiang said in a low voice:

"impossible."

After he finished speaking, it was as if he was trying to convince himself.

"impossible."

"How could Qin Mu possibly go to Northern Mang in person?"

Fan Li did not refute.

Because he knew.

Xu Longxiang had already guessed some of the answers himself.

He just didn't want to admit it.

Just then.

Hurried footsteps could be heard outside.

A scout dressed in black strode in.

"Your Highness!"

"Urgent report from Northern Mang!"

Xu Longxiang suddenly turned around.

"explain!"

The scout knelt down.

News has come from the direction of Qing Shi Ferry in Northern Mang.

"The Third Prince Wuhuan convened a meeting in his tent."

"Announce……"

The scout paused for a moment.

It seems I don't know how to say it.

Xu Longxiang said coldly:

"continue."

The scout gritted his teeth.

"Announcing our willingness to serve the Emperor of Great Qin as our master."

The entire Zhenyue Hall.

Silence fell instantly.

Even the sound of the candle burning could be heard clearly.

Xu Longxiang stood there.

He remained silent for a long time.

Fan Li's expression changed completely for the first time.

"Wuhuan..."

He murmured softly.

"How could this be...?"

Xu Longxiang suddenly grabbed the corner of the table.

"Is he crazy?"

"The Northern Mang royal family actually bowed down to Qin Mu?"

Fan Li remained silent.

he knows.

Things have gone beyond their expectations.

Xu Longxiang slowly sat back down in his chair.

His eyes held anger, resentment, and a hint of undisguised shock.

"Fan Li".

"What do we do now?"

Fan Li looked at his lord.

Much later.

He said:

"Your Highness."

"We must reassess Qin Mu."

Xu Longxiang looked up.

Fan Li continued:

"We used to think he was just a powerful emperor."

"Now it seems..."

"He's no longer fighting us for a city."

"He is playing the whole game of chess, controlling the entire world."

Xu Longxiang clenched his fist.

"And what about me?"

Fan Li remained silent.

Xu Longxiang smiled.

His smile, however, was tinged with bitterness.

"I've worked so hard for so many years."

"Contact Liyang."

"United Moon Goddess Cult".

"Search for opportunities in the Northern Wilderness."

"result……"

He looked out the window.

"But he had already gotten ahead of everyone else."

Fan Li said in a low voice:

"Your Highness."

"It's not over yet."

Xu Longxiang looked at him.

Fan Li said:

"As long as the 300,000 iron cavalry in the North remain."

"We still have a chance."

Xu Longxiang remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he stood up.

His eyes regained their coldness.

"Pass on the order."

"Strengthen security in the north."

"in addition……"

He paused.

"Send someone to investigate."

"The identity of that young man in gray."

Fan Li nodded.

"Yes."

Xu Longxiang looked north.

That place is the Northern Wilderness.

That's also the direction Qin Mu is currently heading.

It was the first time he had felt that way.

It didn't feel like I was chasing an enemy.

Instead, they were chasing someone who had already reached the finish line.

In the darkness of night.

The flags of the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion still flutter in the wind.

Just this once.

That banner that represents the glory of the North.

They seemed to sense the approaching storm as well.