No title, no marriage? Do you think I'm some kind of lapdog?

Looking north from the platform!

A three-zhang-high earthen wall surrounded the area, with sharpened wooden stakes driven into the top, gleaming pale in the sunlight.

There were six watchtowers, one each in the east, west, south, and north, with an additional one each in the northeast and southwest. There were always figures on the towers, their eyes scanning the surrounding area like eagles.

The trenches were dug deep, and the iron caltrops buried underneath were forged overnight by blacksmiths at Jia Xu's behest, by Su Chuang. There weren't many, but they were enough—specifically for piercing horses' legs.

"My lord, the group from 'Bald Eagle's Beak' thirty miles to the east came to surrender this morning. There are forty-seven of them, and their leader is called Liu Laohei. They said they are willing to work for you."

Chen Dashuan, leaning on a wooden stick, limped into the earthen house, his face beaming with joy.

He was genuinely happy.

In the past two weeks, people have been coming to seek refuge in us in waves, and we've taken in nearly three hundred young and strong men alone.

Including the original men, Wangbeitai now has a full 1,200 men who can carry guns.

This doesn't even include the elderly, women, and children.

There were nearly two hundred people working as cooks, menders, and horse handlers.

Su Chuang was lying on the kang table counting silver.

Ye Qingyue's 100,000 taels of gold were melted down and cast into gold ingots, each ingot weighing ten taels, and neatly stacked in wooden boxes, totaling one hundred boxes.

Three hundred thousand taels of silver, divided into sixty boxes.

Eight thousand bushels of refined rice, one thousand two hundred head of cattle and sheep, and six hundred warhorses...

"Liu Laohei?"

Su Chuang didn't even look up, twirling the gold ingot between his fingers. "What's its origin?"

"I used to be a hunter, but later my family's land was seized by local gentry, and we couldn't make a living, so I took a few young men from the village and went up the mountain."

Chen Dashuan paused.

"I have never done anything immoral or heinous. I have only robbed wealthy but heartless merchant caravans, and occasionally I have helped the poor people in the neighborhood."

Su Chuang said "Oh," and threw the gold ingot back into the box.

"Take them in. You decide how to arrange their placement. They'll be assigned to the auxiliary troops first, and Pengju can train them."

"Yes!" Chen Dashuan responded and turned to leave.

"etc."

Su Chuang called out to him.

"Tell Liu Laohei to work hard. He will be assessed in three months. Those who pass will be promoted to the Flying Tiger Army or the Mo Dao Guard—and their pay will be doubled."

Chen Dashuan's eyes lit up: "Lord Duke, is that really true?"

"When have I ever lied?"

Su Chuang grinned and took out two silver ingots from the box, throwing them over.

"Take this and give some clothes to the new brothers; it's getting colder and colder."

Chen Dashuan took the silver, his hand trembling slightly: "Your Excellency, this...this is unacceptable..."

"Take it if I tell you to."

Su Chuang waved his hand, "If you work for me, I can't guarantee anything else, but you'll have plenty of food and clothing, and your salary will be plentiful."

Chen Dashuan's eyes reddened, he nodded heavily, and left with the silver.

The earthen house fell silent again.

Su Chuang continued counting the money, and as he counted, he suddenly laughed.

"Sister Xu, guess how much wealth we have now?"

He turned his head and looked at Xu Mengran, who was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) wiping her sword.

Xu Mengran didn't even look up:

"One hundred thousand taels of gold, three hundred thousand taels of silver, enough grain to last for half a year, six hundred warhorses, and a number of armor and weapons."

"You've asked this eight times."

"Oh, I'm just happy."

Su Chuang rubbed his hands together and leaned closer. "Tell me, with so much money, we could spend it for several lifetimes and still not finish it, right?"

"Can't spend it all?"

Xu Mengran glanced at him.

"You have to support more than a thousand people, and you need to consume twenty bushels of grain every day. You also need to feed the warhorses, repair the weapons, and maintain the armor."

"This amount of money is barely enough to last a year."

Su Chuang was taken aback for a moment, then grinned and said, "What's there to be afraid of? Money can be earned back."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the bustling training ground.

Yue Fei was training new recruits, his roars shaking the heavens.

Zhao Yun stood guard on the watchtower, his bright silver spear gleaming in the sunlight.

Li Cunxiao was chopping firewood in the open space, carrying a knife as wide as a door panel.

They split it into piles, and after splitting it, they piled it up to the side, saying they would keep it to heat the kang (a traditional heated bed) in winter.

Jia Xu appeared out of nowhere, his gray cloth shirt swaying in the wind, holding an account book in his hand, and was giving instructions to several managers.

Lin Ruxue sat in the shade of a corner of the beacon tower, holding a needle and thread, mending a torn piece of leather armor.

Sunlight shone on her profile, making her look gentle and quiet, like a typical young wife.

But Su Chuang knew that the girl always carried a poisoned dagger in her sleeve.

"Break through."

Xu Mengran walked over and stood beside him. "There's been some movement from Wanyan Honglie's side."

Su Chuang raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard reported that Wanyan Honglie has been busy for the past two weeks, integrating three tribes and now has more than 8,000 cavalry at his disposal."

Xu Mengran paused for a moment, then added, "Moreover, he now has a Han Chinese advisor by his side."

"Han Chinese?" Su Chuang narrowed his eyes. "What are they called?"

"I don't know, I only know that his surname is Zhou, he is in his forties, and he has a goatee. It is said that Wanyan Honglie trusts him a lot."

Su Chuang rubbed his fingers together.

Did Han Chinese strategists defect to the Xiongnu?

Either they're desperate, or... they have ulterior motives.

"besides."

Xu Mengran lowered her voice.

"Ye Qingyue is also restless. After returning to Yumen Pass, she closed her doors to visitors for three days, and on the fourth day, she began to frequently send messages to the capital."

"You're accusing me of something?" Su Chuang grinned.

"more than."

Xu Mengran shook her head.

"She also sent people to contact several major clans in the northern frontier. It's unclear what they discussed, but she certainly didn't have good intentions."

Su Chuang clicked his tongue.

That woman is like a persistent ghost.

Just then, Jia Xu walked in silently, holding a secret letter in his hand.

"My lord, an urgent report from our spies at Yumen Pass."

Su Chuang took the letter, opened it, glanced at it, and his expression gradually darkened.

The letter was very simple:

Wanyan Honglie has been frequently meeting with various bandit leaders in the northern frontier, spending lavishly on them, sending them money, grain, and women.

It is suspected that they are consolidating the remaining bandit forces.

"He also met Ye Qingyue."

Jia Xu added, "Although it was only a brief meeting, the two talked for at least the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

Su Chuang threw the letter on the table and laughed.

"Giving money, grain, and women... Wanyan Honglie is quite generous."

Xu Mengran frowned: "What is he trying to do? To win over the bandits to fight against us?"

"more than."

Su Chuang looked at Jia Xu, "Wenhe, what do you think?"

Jia Xu pondered for a moment before slowly speaking: "My lord, Wanyan Honglie's actions are for two reasons: first, Princess Lin Ruxue, and second, that golden knife."

"Lin Ruxue is his nominal fiancée. She was snatched away by the lord in public, and he lost all face. He will definitely avenge this."

"The golden knife is a symbol of the Xiongnu royal court. Its falling into the hands of our lord is like a thorn in his side."

He paused for a moment, then said, "As for winning over the bandits and Ye Qingyue... it's simple, he doesn't want a head-on confrontation."

"Wangbeitai is now impregnable. Even if we manage to take it by force, we will lose more than half of his eight thousand cavalry."

"So, he wants to create chaos within us from the inside out with minimal cost."

Su Chuang nodded: "That's what I thought too."

He walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and sat down, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.

"Bandits are easy to deal with; they're a motley crew that can be bought off with a little money, but they can also turn against you for a little money."

"Ye Qingyue is a bit difficult to deal with. This woman holds grudges and is cunning. Cooperating with her is like asking a tiger for its skin."

"but……"

Su Chuang grinned, "That Han Chinese strategist by Wanyan Honglie's side is someone worth considering."

Jia Xu's eyes lit up: "Does our lord intend to sow discord?"

"No rush," Su Chuang waved his hand. "Let's see how they make their moves first."

He stood up, patted his backside, and said, "Come on, let's go for a walk."

Three miles outside Wangbeitai, a new wooden sign has been erected with three large characters engraved on it: Recruitment Office.

There was a broken table under the sign. Chen Dashuan sat behind the table, with two Mo Dao guards standing next to him.

Armored in black and wielding black swords, their mere presence exudes an imposing aura.

There was a long queue in front of the table, at least fifty or sixty young men, some dressed in rags, some pale and thin, but all with bright eyes.

"Name? Age? Where do you live? What skills do you have?"

Chen Dashuan, holding a calligraphy brush, asked each person one by one.

"Wang Tiezhu, eighteen years old, lives in Beihe Village, and knows how to forge iron..."

"Li Erniu, nineteen years old, used to be a hunter, knows how to shoot arrows..."

"Zhao Xiaohu, seventeen years old, attended a private school for two years, and can read..."

Chen Dashuan wrote everything down, then took out a wooden box from under the table, opened it, and inside were gleaming silver ingots.

"Here you go, the resettlement allowance is five taels per person."

He handed them out one by one, saying, "Take these home and report back to your family first thing tomorrow morning."

The young men's hands trembled as they took the silver.

Five taels of silver is enough to feed a family for half a year.

"The Duke said that if you follow him, he will provide you with food and lodging, a monthly salary of one tael of silver, rewards for meritorious service, compensation for injuries, and if you die in battle... he will take care of your family."

As Chen Dashuan spoke, his eyes were a little red.

"I, this old man, can vouch for that. The Duke is a good man; he truly treats us like human beings."

Someone in the group whispered, "Uncle Chen, is the Duke... really as rumored, greedy and lustful?"

Chen Dashuan was taken aback for a moment, then laughed.

"Greedy? Yes, the Duke loves money, but he spends it all on us brothers."

"Lustful?"

He lowered his voice.

"With beauties like General Xu and Miss Lin right in front of you every day, have you seen the Duke ever harbor any wicked thoughts?"

The young men looked at each other, as if... that was the case.

Su Chuang stood on a distant earthen slope, watching this scene, and grinned.

"See? That's how word-of-mouth is built."

He turned to Xu Mengran and said, "Give them money, food, and a promising future, and their hearts will naturally be won over."

Xu Mengran rolled her eyes at him: "Just keep showing off."

"So what if I'm showing off?" Su Chuang rubbed his hands together. "I'm paying for my own enjoyment."

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar.

A fast horse galloped from the east, the rider covered in blood. He rushed to the recruitment area, tumbled from his saddle, and cried out:

"Uncle Chen! Something's happened!"

Chen Dashuan quickly stood up: "Take your time, what's wrong?"

"Black Stone Village...those bastards from Black Stone Village have rebelled!"

The knight was panting heavily.

"They took money from the Xiongnu and last night attacked our grain convoy heading to Yumen Pass, killing seventeen brothers and stealing three hundred shi of grain!"

Chen Dashuan's expression changed drastically.

Su Chuang narrowed his eyes.

coming.

Wanyan Honglie's first move.

"Black Stone Village..."

He muttered to himself.

"Liu Laohei had just come to surrender, and they immediately turned against him. This was a show for the other bandits."

Xu Mengran gripped the sword hilt tightly: "What should we do?"

"What to do?" Su Chuang grinned, his smile icy. "I just happen to need a target to establish my authority."

He waved his hand: "Pengju! muster the troops!"

Yumen Pass, General's Mansion.

Ye Qingyue sat in the study, holding a letter in her hand, her face so gloomy it could drip water.

The letter was sent by Wanyan Honglie, inviting her to "discuss important matters" outside Wild Wolf Valley in three days.

The letter didn't say it explicitly, but the meaning was clear: join forces to deal with Su Chuang.

"General, you cannot go."

Yue Xinyang, standing to the side, said urgently, "Wanyan Honglie is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Cooperating with him is tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house!"

Ye Qingyue remained silent.

How could she not know?

But does she have any other choice now?

Su Chuang held her confession in his hand, a knife hanging over his head.

Back in the capital, my father wrote that Yue Zhanpeng was being impeached repeatedly in court, and the situation was not good.

She needs credit, she needs a resounding victory, to solidify her position.

Su Chuang's head was the best reward.

"Prepare the horses."

Ye Qingyue stood up. "I will go to see Wanyan Honglie in three days."

Yue Xinyang wanted to persuade her further, but Ye Qingyue glared at him and shut him up.

"in addition."

Ye Qingyue paused.

"Send a message to the capital, saying that Su Chuang is holding military power in the northern frontier, is secretly colluding with the Xiongnu, has kidnapped a princess, and intends to rebel."

Yue Xinyang's eyes lit up: "General, you're brilliant!"

Ye Qingyue sneered.

Su Chuang, let's see how you die this time.