The Tyrant of the Great Qian Dynasty: Not only will I refuse to arrange a marriage alliance, but I w

On the third day after the army entered the grasslands, the troubles caused by the Northern Barbarians' scorched-earth strategy began to fully manifest.

The sky was overcast, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of burnt vegetation.

Looking out, the earth was a depressing scorched black. The lush green grass that should have been undulating in the wind was now just black stubble and cracked soil.

There wasn't a single herdsman in sight, nor a single cow or sheep.

This vast expanse of land was eerily quiet, save for the monotonous clatter of armor as the hundred thousand troops marched, and the occasional snort of their warhorses.

The pressure of logistics is gradually weighing on everyone's shoulders over time.

Warhorses are the lifeblood of cavalrymen, and fodder is the lifeblood of warhorses.

Without ample fodder, these spirits that once roamed the battlefield would quickly degenerate into overburdened livestock.

The soldiers' fresh water supplies were also running low.

Water sources are already hard to find on the grasslands, and the northern barbarians have tampered with them everywhere. The lakes and rivers that the scouts found along the way were filled with rotting cattle and sheep carcasses, and the stench could be smelled from a distance, making them completely unusable.

The atmosphere inside the central command tent was somewhat somber.

A burly general, his face etched with worry, bowed and reported to Su Zhe behind his desk:

"Your Majesty, the fodder we carried, after being used up over the past few days, can only last for another ten days at most. If we cannot find new pastures within ten days, our tens of thousands of warhorses will face the risk of losing weight, at which point the cavalry's striking power and mobility will be greatly reduced."

His words expressed the sentiments of all the generals present.

The reason why the Daqian army was able to sweep away the vanguard of the Northern Barbarians was because of the power of its cavalry.

If the cavalry encounters any problems, the infantry phalanx will be at the mercy of the enemy on this boundless grassland.

The army's marching speed was thus greatly slowed down.

To save horses, the daily march was forced to be shortened, which was completely contrary to Su Zhe's initial strategy of "a thousand-mile raid to strike the royal court".

Faced with the generals' worries, Su Zhe remained calm and composed behind the scenes.

He ignored the general's report and immediately unfolded the huge map in front of him.

This map is a hundred times more detailed than the standard maps used in the military. It not only shows mountains and rivers, but also clearly marks many inconspicuous tribal migration routes and seasonal water sources with fine strokes.

This is a map of the grasslands that he ordered the Shadow Dragon Guards and border scouts to redraw after he ascended the throne, a map that took countless hours of effort to create.

Several locations on the map were circled with vermilion pen, making them particularly eye-catching.

Su Zhe's slender fingers lightly traced across the map, finally landing on a circled point.

He raised his head, glanced around at the generals in the tent, whose expressions varied, and spoke in a steady and powerful voice:

"Do the northern barbarians think that burning the grasslands will trap our warhorses?"

His words carried an air of all-knowing confidence.

"They forgot that besides grass, there are also rivers on the grasslands."

He pointed to the winding vermilion line on the map, an inland river that wouldn't even be marked on a regular map.

"By my order, the entire army shall turn and proceed to the 'Green Wolf River'."

Green Wolf River?

The name stunned the generals in the tent.

Chen Baipao stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I have heard of the Qinglang River. Although the river has abundant water, its banks are mostly hills and valleys, making the terrain complex and unsuitable for a large army like ours to deploy its formations. Moreover..."

He paused, then continued, "As far as I know, the area around the Green Wolf Valley is the traditional pastureland of several self-proclaimed 'neutral' grassland tribes. If our 100,000 troops rashly intrude, it will cause unnecessary conflict and may even push them toward the Northern Barbarian King's court."

Chen Baipao's concerns represented the thoughts of all the generals.

When fighting on enemy territory, the worst thing you can do is create unnecessary trouble and make enemies everywhere.

After listening, Su Zhe revealed an enigmatic smile.

"That's why the Northern Barbarian Royal Court doesn't think we'll take this path."

His explanation was like the sun breaking through the clouds, bringing clarity to the minds of the generals.

"They only burned the pastures along the main roads leading from the Great Wall passes to the royal court. In remote river valleys like the Qinglang River, they had limited manpower and simply didn't have the time or even the thought to burn them. I can assure you that the pastures there must be lush and abundant."

His finger moved from the Green Wolf River to the markers on the map that represented the tribes.

"As for those so-called 'neutral' tribes..."

Su Zhe's voice took on a cold tone.

"On the grasslands, there is never true neutrality. The fate of those who waver depends on which way the wind blows. When our 100,000-strong army appeared before them, the choice between remaining 'neutral' or choosing a new master who would allow them to live was not difficult."

The tent was completely silent.

All the generals were pondering Su Zhe's words, and the more they thought about them, the more admiring they became.

His Majesty's vision has long transcended the current predicament and extended to a much deeper level.

This is not just a simple military shift, but a precise move that will reshape the power structure of the steppe.

"This humble general obeys the order!"

The generals responded in unison, without a trace of doubt.

The order was quickly relayed.

The massive army, across the vast scorched earth, completed a dramatic turn, like a steel dragon changing direction and heading towards the unknown lands in the northwest.

Two days later.

When the vanguard of the army crossed a gentle hill, a clear view suddenly appeared before everyone's eyes.

A boundless green valley appears on the horizon.

A clear river, like a green ribbon, meanders through the middle of the valley.

The banks of the valley are covered with lush aquatic plants that grow vigorously, undulating like green waves in the wind.

The air was filled with the fragrance of grass and soil, a stark contrast to the burnt smell from before.

The warhorses began to get excited, pawing restlessly and neighing joyfully.

The problems of water and fodder were easily solved!

"Your Majesty's strategy is brilliant!"

"May Heaven bless the Great Qian!"

Shouts erupted from the troops, sweeping away the fatigue and gloom that had previously enveloped them, and boosting morale.

Su Zhe ordered the army to set up camp in the valley, allowing the warhorses to rest and graze freely on the lush grassland.

Just as the army's camp was being set up and wisps of smoke were rising from the chimneys, several small black dots appeared on the distant hills upstream in the valley.

They are the tribe's scouts.

They rode on horseback, observing the large, well-organized army below the valley from afar, their eyes filled with vigilance and undisguised hostility.

A general approached Su Zhe and asked, "Your Majesty, should we send troops to drive them away?"

"No need."

Su Zhe shook his head, gazing calmly at the scouts in the distance.

Instead of sending troops, he issued an order that surprised everyone.

"Send the order to have the cooks slaughter fifty cattle. Tonight, I will reward the entire army. Hold a bonfire party in the camp."

The generals were somewhat puzzled when the order was given.

With a major battle imminent, is such extravagance inappropriate?

Moreover, isn't this tantamount to showing off military power to those unknown tribes?

But no one dared to disobey Su Zhe's orders.

Soon, the campsite became lively.

Large cauldrons were set up, and the slaughtered fat cattle were cut into large pieces and thrown into the boiling water.

As evening fell, the rich aroma of meat, mixed with the crackling sound of firewood burning in the campfire, filled the campsite.

The wind on the grassland carried this domineering and alluring fragrance directly up to the upper reaches of the valley.

For grassland tribes struggling to find enough food, the rich aroma of stewed beef is an irresistible temptation.

After doing all this, Su Zhe summoned Chen Baipao to his side.

"Select a captain from the army who is eloquent and persuasive."

Su Zhe's voice was not loud, but his tone was firm and powerful.

"Let him take a gift and make a trip to the tribes upstream."

Chen Baipao bowed and accepted the order, but did not move. He knew that His Majesty had not yet finished speaking.

Su Zhe took out a list that he had prepared in advance from his pocket and handed it to Chen Baipao.

"Tell them that the Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty passed through this place and, having heard of the simple and honest customs of the people, has come to offer his greetings. These are gifts that I have presented to the tribal leaders."

Chen Baipao took the list, glanced at it, and his pupils twitched slightly.

The items on the list are three things more precious than gold on the grasslands, not ordinary gold and silver jewelry:

Tea, refined salt, and silk.

"Go ahead," Su Zhe waved his hand, "tell our envoy to be polite. After all, we are 'friendly' guests."

Chen Baipao put the list into his pocket, nodded emphatically, and turned to leave.

Su Zhe stood alone on the high ground, looking at the scouts' figures that were faintly visible in the twilight on the distant hills.

A battle for human hearts has quietly begun deep within this grassland.

Is it an attempt to win them over, or a show of force?

For Su Zhe, there has always been only one answer.

He wants them all.