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

Northern Mang.

It was already completely light.

The snow that fell last night didn't stop; instead, it fell even more heavily with the morning wind.

Large snowflakes drifted down from the gray-white sky, landing on the tops of the tents, on the wooden stakes, and on the frozen riverbed in the distance.

The camp at Qingshidu was much quieter than yesterday.

The Northern Mang cavalry, who used to come and go constantly, have now mostly returned to their respective camps.

Those tribal chiefs who had just chosen to submit also left the main tent one after another.

They came with different intentions, and they left with different intentions.

Some people truly submitted.

Some people are only bowing their heads temporarily.

Some people, though they verbally agreed, were still secretly plotting how to break free from the control of the Qin Dynasty.

Qin Mu was certainly aware of these things.

So he didn't rush them to leave.

There was no rush to force them to pledge their loyalty.

For Qin Mu, what a person says is never important.

The important thing is how they will choose when faced with real benefits.

Inside the main tent, Qin Mu sat behind a long table, with several newly delivered military reports in front of him.

Jiang Zhaoyue stood beside him and unfolded one of the letters for him.

"This was sent by the Red Wolf Tribe," she said softly.

Qin Mu took the military report and glanced at it: "What do they want?"

Jiang Zhaoyue said, "Three thousand warhorses, fifty thousand shi of grain, and a batch of weapons."

Qin Mu chuckled: "You've got quite an appetite."

Han Xin'er, who was standing next to her, said softly, "They feel that they are the first tribe to stand up and support Hu Yanlie, so they want to take more now."

Qin Mu looked up at her: "Do you think we should give it to you?"

Han Xin'er was slightly taken aback and did not answer immediately.

After a moment's hesitation, she said, "I can give it to you."

"reason?"

"Give them a portion, but not all of it."

Han Xin'er looked at the military newspaper on the table.

"They were the first to step forward because they saw the situation and knew that continuing to oppose His Majesty would not bring them any benefit."

"This kind of submission is essentially driven by self-interest."

"If Your Majesty grants all their requests at once, they will only feel that it is what they deserve."

"Next time, they'll ask for even more."

Qin Mu smiled and said, "Not bad."

Han Xin'er lowered her head slightly.

Qin Mu picked up a vermilion pen and crossed out a few numbers on the military report.

"Give them a thousand warhorses, twenty thousand bushels of grain, and five hundred sets of weapons."

As he spoke, he handed the military report back: "Let them earn the rest themselves."

Han Xin'er took the military report: "How do we earn it?"

Qin Mu looked at her: "You'll guard the border for the Northern Barbarians."

"Whoever does the work, carries the loads."

"If you want to eat meat, go hunt for yourself."

Han Xin'er's eyes lit up slightly: "I understand."

Qin Mu did not speak again.

Jiang Zhaoyue whispered from the side, "In this way, if they want to get anything from His Majesty in the future, they will have to exchange it for military merits."

"Hmm." Qin Mu nodded. "What the Northern Wilderness lacks most right now is not food, but rules."

Jiang Zhaoyue looked at him.

Qin Mu put down the vermilion pen in his hand: "In the past, the rule in Northern Mang was that whoever had the bigger fist spoke."

"So every tribe wanted to become stronger. Once they became stronger, they would plunder, and once they plundered, they would become even stronger, eventually leading to the situation we see today."

He tapped the table lightly with his fingertip: "What I want is for them to know that they can have things they want in the future, but they have to earn them with their own abilities."

The tent fell silent.

Hu Yanlie stood not far away, and after listening to Qin Mu's words, his expression also became serious.

He finally understood that what Qin Mu really wanted to do was not simply to help him sit on the throne of Khan, nor simply to make Northern Mang submit to Great Qin.

Qin Mu wanted to re-establish a set of rules for the Northern Barbarians.

He himself was merely an enforcer of these rules.

Thinking of this, Huyan Lie stepped forward: "Your Majesty."

Qin Mu raised his eyes: "Speak."

Huyan Lie clasped his hands in a fist salute: "If, as Your Majesty wishes, all the tribes of Northern Mang must exchange military merits for food, warhorses, and weapons, then the fighting between the tribes should also be restricted."

"Otherwise, they might fight each other for military merit."

Qin Mu glanced at him: "How do you think we should restrict it?"

Huyan Lie pondered for a moment: "Establish an army directly under the Khan's court, responsible for border defense. Each tribe can only provide troops, and cannot mobilize them privately."

Qin Mu did not answer.

Huyan Lie continued, "As for disputes between tribes, a special adjudication center can be established. Anyone who dares to send troops without authorization will have their military merits deducted. In serious cases, their tribe may even be stripped of its military status."

At this point, Hu Yanlie paused, looking at Qin Mu: "However, doing this might infringe on the interests of some people."

Qin Mu smiled: "They have no other choice."

Huyan Lie was taken aback.

Qin Mu leaned back in his chair: "Whoever is unwilling to accept it, let him leave. Northern Mang is so big, there will always be someone willing to accept it."

Huyan Lie remained silent.

After a moment, he lowered his head and said, "Your subject understands."

Just then, footsteps suddenly came from outside the tent.

A soldier strode in: "Your Majesty."

Qin Mu looked up: "Speak."

The soldier clasped his hands in greeting: "Murong Xuan requests an audience."

Hu Yanlie's brows twitched slightly when he heard the name.

Qin Mu simply nodded: "Let him in."

Soon, the curtain was lifted, and Murong Xuan walked in.

His robe was covered in snow, indicating that he had been waiting outside for a while.

After entering, he first glanced at Huyan Lie, then bowed to Qin Mu: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Qin Mu pointed to the seat next to him: "Sit."

Murong Xuan didn't stand on ceremony. After sitting down, he looked at the military reports on the table and asked, "Has His Majesty begun to reorganize Northern Mang?"

"It's not me," Qin Mu said calmly. "It's Huyan Lie."

Huyan Lie raised his head.

Murong Xuan glanced at him, then smiled and said, "It seems Your Highness is getting used to this position."

Huyan Lie did not respond.

Murong Xuan continued, "However, I have not come here today for these matters."

Qin Mu looked at him: "Anything else?"

Murong Xuan took out a map from his sleeve and spread it on the table.

The map does not show the entire territory of Northern Mang, but rather the area around Qingshi Ferry.

He circled several places on it with ink.

"Here," Murong Xuan pointed northwest, "the White Wolf Tribe."

He then pointed to the east: "Black Mountain Camp."

Finally, his finger landed on the northernmost point: "And then there's the Snow Ridge region."

"These three places are where Huyan Lie is most dissatisfied right now."

Huyan Lie's expression darkened slightly: "The Snow Ridge Tribe? Didn't they already agree to submit?"

Murong Xuan shook his head: "He agreed verbally, but he didn't mean it."

Huyan Lie remained silent.

Qin Mu asked, "Why?"

"They felt that Northern Mang should not be ruled by a young Khan," Murong Xuan said, "and they were even less willing to bow down to the Great Qin."

"So although they haven't taken any action yet, they've been observing the situation."

Qin Mu looked at the map: "How many of them are there?"

"In total, there are approximately 17,000 cavalry."

Huyan Lie frowned.

Seventeen thousand cavalrymen may not seem like a lot, but in Northern Mang, they are a force to be reckoned with.

Especially since these three tribes are located in different places, if they were to rise up at the same time, the entire Northern Wilderness would be thrown into chaos again.

Huyan Lie was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, should we...?"

He didn't finish speaking.

Qin Mu already understood what he meant.

Kill him.

This is always the simplest way.

But Qin Mu shook his head: "No rush."

Huyan Lie was taken aback: "Your Majesty?"

Qin Mu looked at the map: "They're not rebelling now, so why kill them?"

Murong Xuan's eyes flickered slightly.

Qin Mu reached out and lightly tapped the map: "Since they're not satisfied, let them choose for themselves."

"What should we choose?" Murong Xuan asked.

Qin Mu looked up: "Which side should we choose?"

Murong Xuan remained silent.

After a moment, a complex look appeared in his eyes: "Your Majesty wants to give them a chance?"

"I will give them three days," Qin Mu said. "After three days, those who are willing to accept the new rules can stay. Those who are not, can leave Northern Mang."

Huyan Lie frowned: "What if they don't leave?"

Qin Mu glanced at him: "Then let's fight."

His voice was calm, without a trace of murderous intent.

But those two words instantly made the atmosphere in the tent heavy.

Murong Xuan looked at Qin Mu and suddenly felt that this man was different from all the emperors he had ever met before.

Because Qin Mu was willing to give him a chance, but only once.

If you disagree, fine.

You can choose that.

However, if you change your mind after making a choice, you will have to bear the consequences.

Just then, the curtain was lifted again.

Yin Sutang walked in and came to Qin Mu's side: "Your Majesty."

"explain."

"Lu Qingshuang has been settled."

Qin Mu nodded: "How is she?"

Yin Sutang hesitated for a moment: "I'm not in a good mood."

Qin Mu smiled and said, "That's normal."

After all, anyone would feel bad knowing that the master they serve is kept in the dark and they can't say anything.

Yin Sutang continued, "She refuses to eat."

Qin Mu looked up: "Why?"

She said she had not completed the tasks assigned by Xu Longxiang.

Qin Mu was silent for a moment, then said, "Tell her it's not that she didn't finish, but that she couldn't finish."

Yin Sutang nodded: "Yes."

"Also," Qin Mu called after her, "let Ruoyao go and keep her company."

Yin Sutang was taken aback, then nodded: "I understand."

the other side.

Behind the camp, in a small, makeshift courtyard.

Lu Qingshuang sat by the window.

Snowflakes fell on the wooden railing outside the window.

She had been sitting there for a long time.

The food on the table was untouched; the heat had long since dissipated, leaving only a few pieces of cold meat.

Lu Qingshuang looked down at her hands.

She thought about everything that had happened last night.

Qin Mu.

Emperor of the Great Qin Dynasty.

Zhao San.

And the moon goddess.

These names intertwined in her mind, and with each thought, her guilt grew heavier.

She did not take the message back.

Not only did they not take it back, but Qin Mu also kept it.

What's even more terrifying is that Xu Longxiang is still waiting for news from her, still believes in Zhao San, and still believes in the Moon Goddess.

Thinking of this, Lu Qingshuang closed her eyes and clenched her fingers tightly.

"Your Highness..." she murmured.

Just then, the door was pushed open.

Chen Ruoyao walked in.

She was holding a food box and glanced at the cold food on the table: "You really didn't eat."

Lu Qingshuang looked up at her but didn't say anything.

Chen Ruoyao put down the food box and took out a bowl of hot soup: "Have something to eat."

Lu Qingshuang didn't move: "I can't eat."

Chen Ruoyao sat down opposite her: "Why?"

"Because I didn't bring the message back."

Chen Ruoyao was silent for a moment: "You think this is your fault?"

Lu Qingshuang looked at her: "Isn't that right?"

"No," Chen Ruoyao shook her head, "You just met someone you couldn't beat."

Lu Qingshuang's expression changed slightly.

Chen Ruoyao continued, "You've already done your best."

"But I failed to complete the task assigned by His Highness."

"Mission failure is not the same as betrayal."

Lu Qingshuang remained silent.

She stared at the bowl of hot soup in front of her for a long time before finally reaching out to pick it up.

Just as she was about to drink, a voice suddenly came from outside: "Your Majesty!"

Chen Ruoyao looked up, and Lu Qingshuang also subconsciously looked towards the door.

A guard strode into the courtyard. He glanced at Chen Ruoyao first, then knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty."

"explain."

"News has come from the North."

Qin Mu stood outside the door: "Xu Longxiang is intensifying his investigation of Zhao San."

Lu Qingshuang's hand stopped, and she suddenly raised her head.

Chen Ruoyao also looked at Qin Mu.

The guard continued, "Zhenyue Hall has found several clues, and Xu Longxiang seems to have noticed that Zhao San's recent behavior has been somewhat unusual."

Qin Mu simply nodded: "Normal."

"Then Your Majesty..."

How should I reply?

Qin Mu didn't hesitate at all: "The same way."

Tell him that Zhao San is perfectly fine.

The guard nodded: "Yes."

Qin Mu added, "Tell him that the situation in Northern Mang has stabilized, and that he doesn't need to worry."

"clear."

The guard turned and left.

Lu Qingshuang, however, kept looking at Qin Mu.

She suddenly spoke up: "Why did you lie to him?"

Qin Mu looked at her: "Because now is not the time for him to know."

Lu Qingshuang gritted her teeth: "You're making fun of him by doing this."

Qin Mu did not deny it: "Yes."

Lu Qingshuang was taken aback; she hadn't expected Qin Mu to answer so decisively.

Qin Mu walked into the house, glanced at the food on the table, and said, "Let's eat."

Lu Qingshuang didn't move: "Don't you think this is cruel?"

Qin Mu looked at her: "Cruel?"

"He still believes in you, he's still waiting for Zhao San to give him news, but that Zhao San is actually you."

Lu Qingshuang's voice gradually rose: "Do you know how he would feel?"

Qin Mu was silent for a moment, then said, "I know."

"Then why..."

"Because of the war," Qin Mu interrupted her, his voice calm. "He wants to fight, and so do I. If I lose, it won't just be me who dies."

Lu Qingshuang was stunned.

Qin Mu looked at her: "I don't blame you for your loyalty to Xu Longxiang. But I am the Emperor of Great Qin, and I also have people I must protect."

Lu Qingshuang opened her mouth, but ultimately remained silent.

Qin Mu didn't press her further, but glanced at the bowl of soup: "Drink it all, it won't taste good when it gets cold."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Chen Ruoyao sat there, looking at Lu Qingshuang: "Do you understand now?"

Lu Qingshuang looked down at the soup bowl in her hand.

After a long silence, she whispered, "I think... I really can't go back."

Chen Ruoyao didn't answer, but simply picked up the spoon on the table and gently placed it beside her: "Then let's focus on surviving first, and we can talk about other things later."