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

The message brought back by the messenger was not just about the legend of the "holy land".

The neutral tribes in the upper reaches of the Green Wolf River Valley underwent a very subtle change in attitude after receiving the exquisite silk, fine tea, and snow-white salt sent by Su Zhe.

These things are hard currency on the grasslands, symbols of status and position, and are far more appealing to tribal leaders than gold and silver.

Especially when they saw the "friendly" attitude of the Daqian army—they were only resting downstream and did not disturb their pastures, and even took the initiative to send gifts—their wariness began to waver in the face of the generous benefits.

The next day, they sent a return gift—hundreds of plump and healthy cattle and sheep, which filled the camp of the Daqian army.

At the same time, they also brought an important promise: to provide guidance to the Daqian army and direct them to the depths of the grasslands.

This news greatly boosted the morale of many generals in the military.

However, some people have raised concerns.

A seasoned and prudent general expressed his doubts in Su Zhe's command tent:

"Your Majesty, those who are not of our kind are sure to have different intentions. These grassland tribes have always been as cunning as foxes. Their current show of goodwill towards us may very well be a delaying tactic set up by the Northern Barbarian Royal Court. The guides they provide may very well lead us into a trap set by the Northern Barbarians."

These words expressed the sentiments of many people.

Trusting a group of foreigners who were just hostile to you is a very risky move in the art of war.

After listening, Su Zhe simply smiled faintly.

Instead of directly refuting him, he walked to the sand table and picked up a very detailed map of the surrounding area that had just been drawn by the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.

The map not only marked the mountains and rivers, but also clearly estimated the number of tents and the size of cattle and sheep in each tribe.

"They don't have the guts."

Su Zhe's voice was steady, powerful, and resolute.

"Because they fear the Northern Barbarian King's retaliation more than we do. They know better than we do the brutality of the Northern Barbarian King's court. If they lure us into a trap and cause our defeat, then what awaits them is a bloody purge by the Northern Barbarian King's court."

"Their current allegiance to us is a gamble with the fate of their entire tribe."

Su Zhe's finger touched the markers of those tribes on the map.

"We're betting on us; we can win."

Upon hearing this, the doubts on the faces of the generals inside the tent vanished.

This is no longer a simple military issue; it has escalated into a battle of human nature.

Su Zhe saw through the opportunistic mentality of those tribal leaders who were trying to survive in the cracks.

Therefore, Su Zhe gladly accepted the "goodwill" of these tribes.

He selected the most powerful tribe among them—the "Qingyang Tribe"—and invited its chieftain to his tent as his primary partner.

Facing the anxious chieftain of the Qingyang tribe, Su Zhe did not put on airs of an emperor, but instead offered him a seat and tea, treating him with great courtesy.

After some reassurance, Su Zhe presented the clan chief with a condition that he could not refuse.

"Chieftain, I know your concerns," Su Zhe said gently. "I can promise you that as long as you serve the Great Qian loyally, after I have pacified the Northern Barbarian King's Court, I will personally bestow upon you a title and support the Qingyang tribe to become the new master of this grassland."

The new masters of the grasslands!

These six words sent a jolt through the Qingyang tribe chief, his mind reeling.

He was breathing rapidly, his eyes wide open, unable to believe his ears.

Tribes on the grasslands would fight tooth and nail for a piece of fertile pasture.

And now, this powerful emperor from the south is actually promising to hand over the rule of the entire grassland to him?

This promise completely shattered his defenses, and his last concerns vanished.

He knelt down with a thud, his forehead pressed against the ground, his voice trembling:

"Great Emperor! The Qingyang tribe offers you everything! My longsword, my son, my people—all will be your most loyal servants!"

There is no more pretense or meandering.

The chieftain of the Qingyang tribe offered up everything he knew.

He not only produced a top-secret map that was more detailed than any previous map, passed down through generations of the tribe, but also sent his most outstanding and bravest son, Tuge, with one hundred of the tribe's most elite warriors to personally guide the Daqian army.

Most importantly, he also revealed intelligence that could determine the course of the battle.

"Your Majesty, the Northern Barbarian royal court is terrified after learning of the annihilation of their vanguard force. Huyan Lie, the younger brother of the Great Chanyu Huyan Ba, has already led the royal court on a secret relocation."

"Their new location is in a very secluded valley at the northern foot of Langjuxu Mountain. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides and has only one exit, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack."

With accurate intelligence and reliable guidance, the Daqian army was like a tiger with wings.

Su Zhe immediately ordered the entire army to break camp and set up camp.

Led by the warriors of the Qingyang tribe, the army of 100,000 began a large-scale, unpredictable maneuver across the vast grasslands.

They avoided all the areas fortified by the northern barbarians, bypassing one tribal territory after another that was loyal to the royal court.

They rested and concealed themselves during the day, and marched rapidly at night under the guidance of the stars.

The entire army transformed into a crimson blade, silently piercing the heart of the Northern Barbarian King's court under the cover of night.

Meanwhile, the Northern Barbarian royal court, hundreds of miles away, was completely unaware of this.

The newly appointed Great Chanyu, Huyan Lie, was completely blind to the movements of the Daqian army because he had lost the ability to detect scouts.

In the last intelligence report he received, Su Zhe's army was still troubled by the scorched-earth strategy in the Qinglang River Valley to the south.

He was even gloating over the success of his plan in slowing down the enemy.

Every day, he would gather his generals for drinking and merrymaking, discussing how to launch a thunderous attack when the southerners ran out of food and their troops were exhausted, annihilating them on the grasslands to avenge his dead brother and hundreds of thousands of warriors.

Information asymmetry creates the most fatal gap.

One side remained stagnant, smugly pleased with themselves.

On the other hand, their troops were already at the city gates.

This information gap—where "I'm already at your doorstep, but you don't even know I've left"—creates a strategic advantage that no amount of troop superiority can match.

After several days of rapid marching, the main force of the Daqian army finally arrived at the foot of Langjuxu Mountain at dawn.

This mountain range is a spiritual symbol of the nomadic peoples of the grasslands, and also a place of shame for the Great Qian Dynasty.

And today, the dragon flag of the Great Qian Dynasty will fly here once again.

The soldiers silently concealed themselves on the southern slopes of the mountain, making no sound whatsoever.

Su Zhe, accompanied by Chen Baipao and several other high-ranking generals, ascended to a high point at the mountain pass.

Through the gaps in the mountain pass, they could already see in the distance countless tents scattered across the vast valley at the northern foot of the mountain range, with flags painted with wolf heads fluttering in the morning breeze.

That place was the location of the Northern Barbarian King's Court.

Su Zhe raised the binoculars and placed the metal lens against his eye socket.

Through the telescope, distant scenes are brought closer and become exceptionally clear.

He could see the guards patrolling between the tents, the horses drinking water by the river, and even the most luxurious golden tent in the center of the royal court.

Everything seemed so calm and relaxed.

They know nothing yet.

Su Zhe sneered.

He lowered the telescope and spoke softly, in a voice only he could hear:

"I've found you."

The Northern Barbarian Royal Court, a mobile capital that had ravaged the grasslands for hundreds of years, was now completely exposed to the might of the Great Qian Dynasty without any defenses.

The ultimate battle that will determine the future of the entire grassland is about to begin.

The generals under his command were all eager to fight, their eyes burning with the flames of revenge.

They await His Majesty's command to charge forward and raze that wicked royal court to the ground.

But Su Zhe did not give the order. His gaze passed over the royal court and fell on the sand table, on the densely packed dots around the royal court.

He has other plans.