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

"Sister Xu has her own path."

Su Chuang interrupted her, "I have my own path."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the swirling snow outside.

"Ru Xue, do you know what my biggest wish is?"

"What is it?"

"Let's have a lively and festive New Year here with our brothers," Su Chuang said.

"There was meat to eat, wine to drink, a bonfire, and laughter."

"When spring comes, with our strong and well-equipped army, we'll march back to Yumen Pass and crush that bitch Ye Qingyue under our feet."

He turned around and looked at Lin Ruxue: "Then, go to the capital to pick up Sister Xu."

Lin Ruxue's heart skipped a beat.

She walked over and gently wrapped her arms around Su Chuang's waist: "Brother Chuang, I'll stay with you."

Su Chuang's throat moved, but he didn't speak. He just raised his hand and ruffled her hair.

On the fourth day, the snow stopped.

The world was a vast expanse of white, and all the roads were blocked.

The Wangbeitai area was even more lively.

Yue Fei organized a training exercise in the snow, where the Mo Dao Guards practiced their formations with great enthusiasm.

Zhao Yun led his White Horse Cavalry on a border patrol, their horses galloping through the snow, their silver spears like dragons.

Li Cunxiao was chopping firewood in an open space. With one stroke, the frozen, hard wood cracked instantly.

Good news came from Jia Xu's side: the gunpowder experiments had made progress.

Although it's not very powerful, at least it made a sound.

Su Chuang squatted at the test site on the back mountain, watching the craftsman stuff a packet of dark powder into a bamboo tube and light the fuse.

"Hiss hiss hiss—"

The lead wire burned out.

"Bang!"

With a muffled thud, the bamboo tube exploded, billowing black smoke.

It's not very powerful, but it's quite loud.

"It's done!" the craftsman shouted excitedly.

Su Chuang grinned: "A reward! Ten taels of silver each!"

He turned to Jia Xu and said, "Intensify the experiments and strive to produce a usable 'Heavenly Thunder' before spring."

"Yes." Jia Xu nodded.

On the fifth day, it was just getting light.

Outside the Wangbeitai, 1,400 troops had assembled.

The Mo Dao Guards wore black armor and wielded black swords, the Flying Tiger Army carried red-tasseled silver spears, and the White Horse Cavalry rode white horses and carried silver spears. Although the recruits' clothes were in disarray, their eyes shone brightly.

Su Chuang rode on his cloud-riding horse, wearing light leather armor and a sable cloak.

He glanced at the line, grinned, and said, "Brothers, let's do something big today!"

"Let's rob the Xiongnu of their winter supplies, and then we'll celebrate the New Year in style!"

Laughter erupted from below: "The Duke is mighty!"

"Set off!"

Horses hooves pounded the snow, and 1,400 men and horses surged out of Wangbeitai like a black torrent, heading straight for Heifengdao.

Su Chuang took the lead, with Li Cunxiao carrying a giant blade on his left and Zhao Yun on his right.

Lin Ruxue also came, dressed in a plain-colored outfit, her long hair tied in a ponytail, looking very heroic.

She rode behind Su Chuang on horseback, the poisoned dagger in her sleeve gleaming with a ghostly blue light in the snow.

Black Wind Road is eighty li from Wangbeitai. If you ride at full speed, you can arrive in an hour.

Yue Fei led his Mo Dao Guards to ambush at the crossroads, forming a defensive formation to hold their ground.

Zhao Yun led his White Horse Cavalry around to the end of the road and blocked their retreat.

Su Chuang personally led the Flying Tigers and new recruits to climb up the cliffs on both sides.

The ambush was carried out silently in the snow.

After waiting for about half an hour, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar.

A long convoy came into view.

Leading the way were five hundred Xiongnu cavalrymen, their armor gleaming and their swords and bows fully equipped.

In the middle were hundreds of large trucks, piled with goods covered with tarpaulins, their ruts sinking deep into the snow.

Five hundred cavalrymen brought up the rear.

The leader was a burly man with a red face, none other than Red Wolf.

He rode a chestnut horse, carrying a spiked club, his eyes scanning his surroundings with a wary expression.

"General, the roads are slippery in this snowy weather, and we're moving slowly. Should we let the men rest?"

The lieutenant leaned over and asked.

Red Wolf glared at him:

"What rest? The prince has ordered that this shipment must be delivered to the Blackwater Tribe within five days!"

"If we're late, we'll both lose our heads!"

The lieutenant shrank back, not daring to speak.

The convoy slowly entered Black Wind Road.

The road is narrow, allowing only three vehicles to pass side by side.

The Xiongnu cavalry split into two groups, one in front and one behind, to protect the caravan in the middle.

The convoy was already halfway through.

Su Chuang moved on the cliff.

He raised his right hand and swung it down violently!

"put!"

On both sides of the cliff, the prepared rolling stones and logs crashed down with a thunderous roar!

"Enemy attack—!" Red Wolf roared.

However, it was too late.

Stones and logs crashed into the convoy, causing people and horses to fall and screams to fill the air.

Even more terrifying, countless burning grass balls were thrown down from the cliff.

It contained sulfur and saltpeter, and when burned, it emitted billowing black smoke that made it impossible to open one's eyes.

"Form ranks! Form ranks!" Red Wolf brandished his spiked club, attempting to organize a counterattack.

The path is too narrow; it cannot be unfolded at all.

Just then, a deafening roar came from the direction of the crossing.

Yue Fei led three hundred Mo Dao Guards forward like a wall, their black armor and black swords striking the ground with unwavering silence.

From the direction of Daowei, Zhao Yun led three hundred White Horse Cavalrymen to attack, their silver spears like dragons, invincible in their path.

A pincer attack from both sides!

Red Wolf's eyes turned bloodshot: "Break through! Head east—"

Before he could finish speaking, a figure descended from the sky!

It's Li Cunxiao!

The massive blade, as wide as a door panel, cleaved down with immense force!

Red Wolf hurriedly raised his spiked club to block.

"clang--!!!"

Sparks flew everywhere.

The red wolf's tiger's mouth split open, and its spiked club flew out of its hand.

Li Cunxiao swung his knife backhand, the blade slicing across the Red Wolf's neck.

Blood spurted three feet high.

[Military Merit +1 (Enemy General, Bonus Reward)]

With their commander dead, the Xiongnu army was thrown into complete chaos.

Enemies were all around, and there were cliffs on both sides; there was nowhere to escape.

The battle started quickly and ended even faster.

Within half an hour, all one thousand Xiongnu guards were wiped out.

The convoy was intact.

Su Chuang slid down the cliff, rubbed his hands together, walked to a large truck, and lifted the tarpaulin.

Below are neatly stacked sacks of grain.

Another vehicle was opened, revealing bundled furs.

Opening another cart revealed medicinal herbs, salt, tea...

"I'm rich! I'm rich!" Su Chuang was overjoyed.

Yue Fei led his men to survey the battlefield, while Zhao Yun was in charge of taking prisoners, though few survived.

Even those who survived were secretly stabbed to death.

Jia Xu appeared out of nowhere, his gray robe stained with snow, and he held an account book in his hand.

"My lord, the inventory is complete."

"Five thousand shi of grain, three thousand head of cattle and sheep, two thousand hides and furs, five hundred jin of medicinal herbs, three hundred jin of salt, and one hundred jin of tea."

"There are also 50,000 taels of silver and 10,000 taels of gold."

Su Chuang's eyes lit up: "Gold? Red Wolf is carrying gold?"

"Yes." Jia Xu nodded. "It should be a 'gift' from Wanyan Honglie to the Blackwater Tribe."

"Now it's ours."

Su Chuang grinned. "According to the plan, half of it will be sent to Zhang Liao's camp."

"Here you are."

Jia Xu turned around to make arrangements.

Su Chuang then looked at Lin Ruxue: "Ruxue, when are you going to administer that medicine?"

Lin Ruxue took out the small porcelain bottle from her bosom: "Now you can."

She paused, then said, "But, Brother Chuang, are you really planning to completely destroy Wanyan Honglie?"

"Otherwise what?" Su Chuang raised an eyebrow. "Keep him around for the New Year?"

"But his internal situation is unstable right now, with the Blackwater Tribe eyeing him covetously. If we add fuel to the fire, he might collapse completely."

"It's better if he collapses." Su Chuang sneered. "If he collapses, the Xiongnu will be in even more chaos, and that will give us a chance."

Lin Ruxue understood.

She said no more, but simply handed the porcelain bottle to Jia Xu:

"Mr. Wenhe, this medicine dissolves instantly in water; it is colorless and odorless."

"The water source in Langjuxu Mountain is enough to drink for five thousand people for three days."

Jia Xu took the porcelain bottle and carefully put it away: "Princess, rest assured, I will make the arrangements."

With everything arranged, Su Chuang mounted his horse.

"withdraw!"

Fourteen hundred men, escorting over a hundred large carts, returned in a grand procession to Wangbeitai.

Deep tire tracks were left in the snow, and... several bodies were "accidentally" left behind.

The corpse had Ye Qingyue's General's Mansion token tucked into its bosom.

Night fell.

Ten miles outside Yumen Pass lies Zhang Liao's camp.

Zhang Liao sat in his military tent, staring at the secret letter on the table, his face terribly grim.

The letter was delivered by a woodcutter this evening.

There is only one line of text at the top:

"General Ye colluded with the Xiongnu and embezzled military pay."

"This batch of supplies was a bribe from the Xiongnu. We intercepted it and are now giving it to General Zhang to comfort the soldiers who are hungry and cold."

Along with the letter came fifty carts of grain, one hundred sheep, and thirty carts of medicinal herbs.

And... five thousand taels of silver.

Zhang Liao's hands were trembling.

He is not a fool.

The letter and the supplies arrived too suspiciously.

The problem is... those brothers outside the camp, their eyes practically glowing with hunger, are cheering around the grain carts.

They haven't received their full pay for three months, and there's always not enough food.

Suddenly, so much food is being delivered to our door...

"General."

The lieutenant walked in, his voice trembling.

The brothers asked... "Is this food really safe to eat?"

Zhang Liao looked up at his deputy's sallow face, which was sallow from malnutrition.

He suddenly remembered that three days ago, a veteran had secretly saved his rations and brought them to his sick mother at home.

As a result, he fainted from hunger on the patrol route.

He also recalled that last month, Ye Qingyue sent someone to deliver a batch of "new-style military equipment," but it turned out to be nothing but scrap metal.

Meanwhile, Yue Xinyang was indulging in lavish meals every day...

Zhang Liao closed his eyes.

When I opened my eyes again, they were already ice-cold.

"Eat," he gritted his teeth. "Tell the brothers to eat their fill."

"And this letter..."

"Burn it."

Zhang Liao threw the letter into the brazier, saying, "Just pretend... I never received it."

The deputy general accepted the order and left.

Zhang Liao sat alone in his military tent, watching the flames leaping in the brazier.

The letter was quickly burned to ashes.

But some things can't be burned.

For example, those grains, that silver, and... the doubts weighing on my heart.

Cheers from the soldiers and the aroma of mutton being cooked could be heard outside the tent.

Zhang Liao stood up, walked to the tent, and lifted the curtain.

The campfire blazed brightly, and the soldiers gathered around a large pot, their faces beaming with long-lost smiles.

A young soldier ran up to Zhang Liao, carrying a bowl of hot soup: "General, please have a bowl too!"

Zhang Liao took the bowl; the soup was very hot, and steam hit his face.

He lowered his head and took a sip; it was very fresh.

But in my heart, it was as bitter as gall.

"General."

The lieutenant leaned closer and whispered, "The person who delivered the grain... left a message."

"What did you say?"

"They say... the gates of Wangbeitai are always open for you."

Zhang Liao's hand trembled, and the soup in the bowl spilled out, scalding the back of his hand until it turned red.

He abruptly looked up at his deputy: "Who else knows this?"

"I...I overheard it..."

"Pass down the order."

Zhang Liao gritted his teeth, "No one is to be allowed to tell anyone about tonight's extra meal. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

"Here you go!"

The deputy general stepped down.

Zhang Liao stood alone outside the tent, looking at the lights of Yumen Pass in the distance.

The lights flickered, like Ye Qingyue's eyes, which always seemed to be gleaming with calculation.

He suddenly laughed.

His smile looked worse than his tears.

"Ye Qingyue..." he murmured softly.

"You forced me to do it."

The night was darker.

Looking north from the terrace, inside the earthen house.

Su Chuang was counting gold with his legs crossed, beaming with joy.

Lin Ruxue was sewing a new fur coat next to her, using the fox pelts she had captured that day.

"Brother Chuang," she said softly, "Zhang Liao should have received the grain by now."

"Hmm." Su Chuang didn't even look up. "If he accepts it, our plan is half complete."

"And what about the other half?"

"My other half..."

Su Chuang grinned, "Let's see when that old fox Jia Xu will put the medicine into the water source of Langjuxu Mountain."

Just then, footsteps came from outside the door.

Lu Bing appeared silently and knelt on one knee: "My lord, an urgent report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"explain."

Two things.

Lu Bing's voice is flat.

"First, Mr. Jia Xu has already succeeded."

"The bewitching powder was poured into three water sources in Langjuxu Mountain, enough for five thousand people to drink."

"Secondly, Zhang Liao's camp will have an extra meal tonight, and the whole army will celebrate."

"But Zhang Liao himself... has been standing outside the tent for half the night and hasn't slept yet."

Su Chuang put down the gold and narrowed his eyes.

"Got it." He waved his hand. "Keep an eye on it."

"Here you are."

Lu Bing disappeared.

Su Chuang stretched and walked to the window, looking at the vast expanse of white snow outside.

"It'll be soon," he whispered. "Zhang Liao, that big fish, is about to take the bait."

Lin Ruxue walked over and stood beside him: "Brother Chuang, if Zhang Liao really comes to surrender, what are your plans for him?"

"Arrange it however you need to arrange it."

Su Chuang grinned, "If he's capable, I'll give him soldiers to lead. If he's loyal, I'll treat him like a brother."

"Aren't you afraid he'll feign surrender?"

"Afraid."

Su Chuang nodded. "So we have to give it a try."

"How do I try?"

Su Chuang turned around, looked at her, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes:

"Let him go and kill Ye Qingyue."