Great Wilderness Demon Lord

"...This humble general Xiao Yunlan bows a hundred times before the banners of Deputy Commander Han and Her Highness the Princess at Zhenhuang Pass: The siege of Wangbei Fort in Shuofeng Plain has been lifted."

The Black Claw tribe's detachment commander, Wugu, and his two hundred elite troops were ambushed and annihilated at Wind-Eroded Rock by this humble general.

Their main camp on the north bank was also breached, and a quantity of grain, fodder, and weapons were captured.

The flank supply route of the main force of the Wolf Barbarians heading south, from "Luan Shi Gorge" to "Ao Kou Transfer Point," has been continuously harassed by the centaur tribes in coordination with me, making its operation extremely difficult...

"...According to the confessions of captured wolf barbarians and my own observations, the Black Claw tribe's winter food reserves were already meager, and they relied on plundering and transportation from the rear."

With the supply lines now unstable and the Wugu tribe suffering heavy losses, their army is expending enormous amounts of resources daily. I fear that within a month, their food supplies will be severely depleted.

Their morale is already wavering; yesterday's attack was less effective than before..."

"...This humble general has led fifty-four brave cavalrymen under his command to sneak out of the pass and is now lying in ambush in the hilly and rocky area northeast of the enemy camp."

However, if ordered to do so, or if an opportunity arises, they can provide support to those within the pass, harass enemy rear areas, and create chaos at any time…

At the end of the letter were Xiao Yunlan's signature and a simple seal of the Tuoxin Colonel.

The room was quiet for a moment, with only the occasional crackling of charcoal popping in the brazier.

"Excellent!" Li Xuan suddenly clapped her hands in praise, her voice clear and melodious, filled with undisguised admiration. "Well done, Xiao Yunlan! Well done, Captain Tuoxin!"

She stood up, walked to the window, and gazed in the direction of the Wolf Rong camp outside the pass, a smug smile on her lips: "I knew long ago that this boy was no ordinary person, but I never expected that he could do so much!"

Not only did they defend the isolated city and annihilate the besieging enemy, but they also took the initiative to attack, contact the horsemen, and cut off the enemy's supply lines!

Now they are even more audacious, personally leading dozens of riders to sneak right under Hechi's nose!

This courage, this resourcefulness, this ability to find a way out of a desperate situation, and even to turn the tables...

Han Zhong, could you have done that at his age?

Han Zhong pondered for a moment, then shook his head frankly: "Although I once boasted of my bravery, it is uncertain whether I could have broken through the predicament like him in the Shuofeng Plain. This young man certainly has the makings of a great general."

"He is more than just a general!" Li Xuan turned around, his eyes gleaming. "This is a divine gift to our Great Yong, a sharp sword and a surprise weapon to turn the tide of the northern war in this time of crisis!"

His letter stated that the Lang Rong were running out of supplies and their morale was wavering, which vaguely coincided with the observations and judgments made by the Emperor and Vice Commander Han in recent days.

Although the Wolf Rong's offensive yesterday was fierce, it lacked staying power, and their retreat was less orderly than before. If their claim about the supply lines is true, Hechi is in serious trouble!

She walked back to the desk and pointed her finger at the thin silk: "His letter came at just the right time! It not only confirmed our guesses, but also pointed out the fatal weakness of the Wolf Rong, and brought a surprise force that can cooperate from the inside and outside and move flexibly!"

This achievement is of paramount importance and should be considered the greatest contribution to the defense of Zhenhuang Pass! Once the war has subsided, I will certainly submit a memorial to the court to request that he be rewarded handsomely and richly!

Li Xuan's tone was resolute, carrying the decisiveness of someone long accustomed to a position of power.

She truly admired Xiao Yunlan, appreciating his talent and courage in the face of adversity.

In her view, such talents are exactly the kind of fresh blood that the increasingly stagnant and entrenched court and army of the Dayong Dynasty desperately need.

However, at this moment, Gu Yan, who had been silent all along, coughed lightly, stepped forward half a step, bowed and said, "Your Highness is wise. Commander Xiao has made such a great contribution and should be richly rewarded to show the court's benevolence and encourage soldiers to fight bravely."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming cautious and low: "However, has Your Highness considered that Xiao Yunlan is ultimately surnamed Xiao and is a member of the Xiao family of Zhongzhou?"

The Xiao family is a powerful clan with a thousand-year history and deep roots, wielding immense influence in the court and local areas. The only thing they lack is a strong army under their direct control.

The current conflict in the north presents an excellent opportunity for him to infiltrate military power.

Gu Yan raised his eyes, his gaze calm yet profound: "If Xiao Yunlan can use this military achievement to be granted a powerful military position in the Northern Border and control the troops, then the Xiao family will have a true representative and foundation in the Northern Border army."

Given time, this situation may become too powerful to control, which would be neither a blessing for the court nor beneficial for Your Highness in managing the military affairs of the northern border. I urge Your Highness to reconsider.”

The temperature inside the tent seemed to drop a few degrees because of Gu Yan's words.

Han Chong frowned slightly, looking at Gu Yan, then at Li Xuan.

Although he disliked the excessive interference of aristocratic families in military affairs, he also acknowledged that Gu Yan's words were not unfounded.

As the deputy commander, he was naturally well aware of the Xiao family's influence.

Li Xuan's smile faded slightly. She sat down again, picked up a cup of tea that had long since cooled, took a small sip, and her gaze lingered on Gu Yan's face for a moment before she slowly spoke: "Mr. Gu's concerns are those of a wise and experienced strategist; how could I not know them?"

She set down her teacup, her voice steady and clear: "However, sir, do you know what kind of situation Xiao Yunlan is in the Xiao family?"

Before Gu Yan could answer, Li Xuan continued, "I have already investigated. His mother came from a humble background, and he himself was just an illegitimate child with a marginal status. In fact, because of his background, he was quite ostracized by the legitimate descendants."

His success today is not due to the Xiao family's careful cultivation, but rather to his own ruthless determination, gambling his life against the Xiao family's matriarch, Madam Liu, who was in charge of managing the household affairs!

"Why did the Liu family allow him? It was only because they saw that he had some bravery and that the northern border needed people. So they went with the flow and used him as a stepping stone, a dispensable pawn, and threw him into this desolate place called Shuofeng Plain!"

"Aren't you aware of the fierce infighting within the Xiao family? And how could Liu's branch of the family be considered a united front against the other branches?"

A sharp insight into the ways of the world flashed in Li Xuan's eyes: "Xiao Yunlan may have blood ties to the Xiao family, but as for how much sense of belonging or loyalty he has, I doubt it."

Everything he has today is the result of his own hard work and fighting through mountains of corpses and seas of blood; his success has little to do with the help of the Xiao family.

Such a person is less a tentacle of the Xiao family extending into the military, and more a lone wolf who, through his own abilities, broke free from some of the constraints imposed by the aristocratic family.

She stood up, walked to the charcoal brazier, stretched out her hand to feel the warmth, and said with confidence, "Such a person, what he thinks about is nothing more than making achievements, proving his own value, and obtaining the status and power he deserves."

Who could give him these things? Was it the Xiao family, who had abandoned him and whose internal relationships were so complicated?

Or is it the court that can clearly distinguish merit from demerit and is generous in rewarding, or the eldest princess who can allow him to fully display his talents and take charge of the northern border military affairs?

Li Xuan turned around, her gaze fixed intently on Gu Yan and Han Zhong: "I intend to cultivate him and give him important responsibilities. I will publicize his achievements throughout the land, reward him handsomely, and even... make him my right-hand man in the future."

He needed the court's approval and the support of a platform; the court needed a spirited general like him to break the stagnation and consolidate the northern frontier. This was a mutually beneficial arrangement.