“Miss!” Le Song called nervously: “His Majesty specifically ordered that you must stay in camp and wait for His Majesty’s return.”

“No,” Qing Xia shook her head and said very firmly, unwilling to waste any more time on this topic. She said in a deep voice: “After I leave, you must do as I’ve told you. If there’s even the slightest deviation, Southern Chu will surely fall into chaos. Do you understand?”

In just a few short days, Qing Xia had already established tremendous authority among the black-clad guards. Although Le Song had followed Chu Li for many years and had extensive qualifications, he still greatly respected Qing Xia. Seeing her serious expression, he nodded and agreed with a sound.

“We’re going!” Qing Xia turned back to call to the black-clad guard soldiers and rode off with a whoosh.

At this time, the situation below Cangmu Mountain was in complete chaos. Chu Li looked carefully and saw voices and commotion from both the east and west sides of the drought lands, with formations in disorder. Imperial guard Qi Lang led men charging to his front first, saying angrily: “Your Majesty, there are unknown large armies guarding the east side, less than a hundred li from the drought lands. Inside are large numbers of archers and White Wolf cavalry. It looks like forces organized by the Southern Border White Wolf tribe and the Ludan people. I never expected the Southern Border people to ally with the White Wolf tribe. They come with ill intentions – we must plan early!”

Xu Quan led a group of panicked heads of the great families from the west side to his front as well, saying in a deep voice: “The west extends for thousands of li, all filled with crazed Southern Border wild beasts. It seems someone is secretly controlling them. Although these beast herds appear individually weak, with thousands upon thousands surging forward like this, if we confront them head-on, we’ll definitely be trampled into meat paste. They’re really difficult to deal with.”

Chu Li was startled, his eyes flashing with a trace of cold sharpness, then his lips curved in a faint smile. Indeed, his prediction was correct – that person had painstakingly designed and planned all this, so how could he let others reap the benefits? He just hadn’t expected the White Wolf group to be drawn into it as well. The Southern Border White Wolf tribe was skilled at beast taming, had the most fierce customs, came and went like the wind, and had never been under Southern Chu’s control. They were also incompatible with the Southern Border Council of Elders. This time, he hadn’t expected that person to be able to move the White Wolf tribe’s warriors. It seemed that dealing with these people would require considerable effort.

South had high mountains blocking the way, north had the Red Water obstructing the road, east had enemies of unknown origin but formidable strength, and west had countless fierce beast legions. This was definitely the most dangerous moment he had ever encountered. At this time, looking at the heads of various families around him – usually domineering and arrogant – now staring at him expectantly, Chu Li couldn’t help but smile coldly.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind – who would win or lose was still too early to say.

He immediately commanded: “The Southern Border is called Southern Chu’s military horse breeding ground, possessing enough war horses to equip the entire imperial legion. The White Wolf tribe is even more troublesome. They’re waiting at ease for us to walk into their trap, and they’ve completely surrounded the drought lands, leaving us no escape route. They want a large-scale hunt. Rather than let them chase us all over the mountains, we might as well turn around and charge through them, scattering them completely.”

The Xilin family was led by the eldest son, Xi Linyu. After hearing Chu Li’s words, he pondered silently for a while, then said calmly and coolly: “Although Your Highness’s plan is risky, it’s not without merit as an unexpected method. Fierce beasts are, after all, just animals – once they suffer setbacks, they’ll automatically disperse. This is better than staying in place to serve as living targets for them.”

Everyone looked at each other, having never had such bold ideas before. To directly clash with crazed beast herds – this seemed like seeking death to ordinary people. At first, they thought Chu Li was joking, but now seeing his serious expression, they couldn’t help but think seriously about it.

“Your Majesty, this subject believes it’s inappropriate!”

The first Lu under Madam Zhu Lan’s seat from Liyuan said: “The White Wolf tribe is skilled at beast taming. Openly charging the beast herds is too dangerous. It would be better to hold a standoff with the Southern General and wait for reinforcements from the main army.”

As soon as he finished speaking, others also voiced agreement. No normal person wanted to charge crazed beast herds, especially when the northern camp’s main army was stationed just eighty li away – as long as they could hold out for half a day, they could buy buffer time.

“However, someone must go hold back the beast herds, otherwise when the beast herds attack from behind later, there won’t be half a chance of survival,” Chu Li frowned slightly and said in a deep voice.

As soon as he finished speaking, it immediately became quiet below. Everyone lowered their heads, afraid of being assigned by Chu Li to serve as a suicide squad, not even daring to breathe heavily.

A trace of cold laughter flashed across Chu Li’s face, but he quickly concealed his expression, sighed, and said in a deep voice: “If that’s the case, then please, family heads, go hold a standoff with the Southern General. I’ll lead the black-clad guards to hold back the beast herds’ advance, hoping to buy time and wait for reinforcements from the main army, fighting for a thread of survival.”

“How can this be?” The other great family heads were obviously relieved but still shouted hypocritically: “How can we let Your Majesty take risks?”

“My mind is made up – everyone need not say more,” Chu Li said with furrowed brows: “You are all Li’s elders. Since I first ascended the throne, I’ve relied entirely on everyone’s support and guidance. Southern Chu can only contend with the other three kingdoms with support from numerous vassal states. Let’s decide it this way.”

Just as he was about to ride away, the Xilin family’s eldest son suddenly rushed forward, frowning as he said: “Your Highness, Yu is willing to accompany Your Majesty to the west to face the beasts. My Xilin family also knows something about beast taming. Please grant Your Majesty’s permission.”

Chu Li was startled, then nodded: “Very well, then you follow me.”

After speaking, he led the black-clad guards and Xilin family troops toward the vast western region.

The family heads all wiped away sweat, secretly exclaiming how dangerous that was. Each turned their horses around and leisurely charged toward the Southern Border army. Each of them led their family’s elite forces – even if they couldn’t win, they could hold out for a day or two. By then, the northern camp’s forces would have long arrived. Watching Chu Li’s figure gradually disappear to the west, they smiled darkly in their hearts. Threads of desire for power were also quietly rising – the Chu family had sat on the throne too long, and that piece of fat meat on the royal seat in the capital had been coveted by everyone for a long time.

At this time, far to the east, a general in green armor and clothing had just heard a scout’s report. Hearing that Chu Li had charged directly toward the west, he nodded slowly with understanding.

An old man beside him said respectfully: “This young Southern Chu Great Emperor is truly brilliantly talented. Your Highness predicted correctly – he has indeed seen through everything, but still willingly fell into the trap.”

The general wore full armor with a green great cloak draped behind him. His eyebrows were long and his face plain, his complexion slightly pale, but his spine was perfectly straight. His deep eyes gazed into the distance as he said slowly: “He and I have long had tacit understanding. The Southern Border Ludan people blame me for refusing to open the border passes and want to defect to Xichuan’s Yan Hui. How could I go along with their wishes? The Southern Border army’s fate is sealed – it’s time to find someone to clean them up. I need someone to deal with this Southern Border menace, and he needs to reclaim scattered royal power and eliminate the main forces of the great families. Such a mutually beneficial deal – how could he refuse? I’ve planned this for so long, so it’s only right that he exert some effort now. Grand Tutor, how far are the Southern Border forces from here now?”

“Less than thirty li.”

“Good,” the light-armored man nodded. “Lead them here, then we’ll sit on the mountain and watch tigers fight, letting the Southern Border barbarians and Southern Chu’s seven great families’ elites fight each other to the death.”

“Yes!” The old man nodded and turned to give orders.

“Grand Tutor,” the man suddenly turned around. After pondering silently for a long while, he still asked calmly: “Has it been confirmed that Miss Zhuang is in the Southern Chu camp?”

“Yes!” The old man said in a deep voice: “It’s been confirmed. Three days ago, Miss Zhuang defeated Miss Yuqiao from the Xilin family on the arena platform. Recently she’s become Chu Li’s personal guard, managing the black-clad guards’ security responsibilities. She’s greatly trusted by Emperor Chu and appears frequently. Otherwise, our scouts couldn’t have investigated so easily.”

“Can someone like Chu Li actually trust others?” The man pondered for a long while, finally smiling bitterly: “After all, they are husband and wife.”

On the horizon, large masses of clouds were accumulating layer upon layer, growing thicker and denser. The man in green clothing rode on his warhorse, gazing from afar at the southern sky, and said softly: “If that’s the case, then notify Lian Teng not to attack the Southern Chu northern camp. After the Southern Border army arrives in a while, let’s go west together to take advantage of the situation and attack Chu Li when he just escapes from the beast herds.”

“As you command.”

At this moment, Chu Li led Xu Quan, Qi Lang, and other trusted subordinates, standing around the foot of Cangmu Mountain, discussing in low voices.

“Your Majesty, will the Qin army really attack the great family heads?” Xu Quan asked with furrowed brows, puzzled.

Chu Li looked at the topographical map spread on the ground and said in a deep voice: “Of course not.”

Qi Lang had followed Chu Li the longest – he had been Chu Li’s personal soldier when Chu Li was sent to Eastern Qi as a hostage. With his straightforward personality, he heard this and shouted loudly: “Then aren’t we wasting our efforts?”

“The Qin army won’t go back, but the Southern Border army definitely will.”

“What? The Southern Border army is really in the drought lands?”

“Mm,” Chu Li nodded, pointing at the Red Water area with his finger and saying in a deep voice: “The Ludan people’s leader was killed by Qin Zhiyan. The Eastern Qi people defected to my side at the crucial moment. A few days ago, they were also heavily defeated by me in the West Black Wasteland. With the Southern Border coastline blocked and weather growing cold, they have nowhere to go. Now their only way out is to seek refuge with Xichuan.”

Xu Quan shook his head and said: “Would Xichuan dare accept Southern Border rebels? I don’t think the Xichuan Great Emperor has that kind of courage.”

“The Xichuan Great Emperor doesn’t have that courage, but Yan Hui does.” Chu Li sneered and said: “Qin Zhiyan has planned this for so long – how could he let Xichuan reap this benefit? So he will definitely act to eliminate this Southern Border rebel force with formidable strength, and the best candidate is us Southern Chu soldiers. I also need to deal with the seven great families who’ve grown too powerful to control. If I’m not mistaken, the Southern Border army absolutely cannot be thirty li away now. Qin Zhiyan is the Great Qin God of War – he naturally has the ability to make both sides fight. Very well, let them fight like dogs.”

“But why keep the northern camp army stationed in place at camp? Wouldn’t it be better to have them come support us?”