Li Qitian and Qin Huaiyuan discussed countermeasures but failed to reach any conclusion.

In the end, they could only work on the wording of the state letter – it couldn’t show fear of the Tatars and lose national prestige, yet it had to distance themselves from any connection to A’na Ri’s affair.

When the state letter reached the Tatars, it naturally provoked fury among Tatar officials.

Everyone requested to go to war, and Si Qin finally got his wish and began ordering people to allocate provisions and make preparations for war.

Within ten days, the provisions were ready. Si Qin didn’t make a grand announcement but instead arranged for a hundred-man squad to disguise themselves as merchants and transport large quantities of provisions to the front lines.

The Elite Tiger Guards sent by Pang Xiao to search for Qin Yining hadn’t yet found her whereabouts when they first received news that the Tatars were secretly deploying provisions.

After Pang Xiao received this news, he went to see Qin Huaiyuan with a grave expression.

“Father-in-law, my people obtained this information, but I still can’t be certain whether His Majesty also knows.”

Qin Huaiyuan frowned and pondered for a moment, then said: “You’re uncertain whether you should inform His Majesty of this matter?”

Li Qitian was watching Pang Xiao’s forces like a hawk. If he told Li Qitian now, wouldn’t that be equivalent to telling Li Qitian that he had deployed people to Tatar territory?

But if he didn’t speak up, as a Great Zhou citizen, knowing of Tatar abnormalities but not telling Li Qitian – if they lost the initiative in war due to inadequate preparation, what would be lost would be the lives of soldiers.

Pang Xiao thought for a moment, then said: “There’s nothing wrong with telling His Majesty these things. His Majesty has always known my stubborn temperament. Even if he’s not currently monitoring my actions, he probably expects that I would send people to find Yining.”

Qin Huaiyuan smiled: “So you plan to tell His Majesty directly?”

“What does father-in-law think? I don’t want to cause the border people and soldiers to lose their lives for nothing.”

Hearing this, Qin Huaiyuan patted Pang Xiao’s shoulder.

“You see things clearly. Actually, none of this matters. If we worry too much while navigating the political seas, we’ll easily lose our original intentions. When we first rose up against Northern Ji’s tyranny, wasn’t it for something other than personal success and fame?”

Pang Xiao was moved by these words and smiled: “Father-in-law is right. Father-in-law sees things clearly.”

Qin Huaiyuan smiled: “You’ve already done well enough. Right now His Majesty’s biggest concern is money – he’s most worried about not having enough silver if war breaks out, not whether war will happen. So telling His Majesty this news is also fulfilling our duty as ministers.”

How could Pang Xiao not understand the mockery in Qin Huaiyuan’s words?

He was ridiculing Li Qitian for speaking in high-sounding terms – all that talk about caring for the people was nonsense; what he really worried about was money!

Pang Xiao decided not to worry so much anymore, and his mood suddenly brightened.

“Father-in-law is right. I don’t want to be so hesitant anymore. Once war begins, I believe His Majesty will definitely appoint me to go to battle. Since His Majesty will still need to rely on me heavily, he probably won’t be too harsh about whether I sent people to Tatar territory.”

“Oh?” Qin Huaiyuan said with interest: “How are you so certain that His Majesty will definitely arrange for you to go to war?”

Pang Xiao smiled slightly: “Because His Majesty now trusts A’lan greatly, and A’lan currently controls the Huben Army that guards the capital area. He wouldn’t feel safe entrusting his security to anyone else – only to A’lan.”

Li Qitian no longer trusted Pang Xiao. After Pang Xiao defied over thirty imperial edicts for Qin Yining’s sake, that distrust had reached its peak. How could Li Qitian let someone he suspected guard his safety?

Qin Huaiyuan said: “Don’t think too much. His Majesty definitely won’t initiate war, but Wutejin Khan very likely will. During this time, first consider how you’ll need to coordinate with the Longxiang Army once war begins, and also tactics – Si Qin is an extremely cunning person, so getting advantages from him won’t be easy.”

“Father-in-law is right. I’ll think it through carefully. Then shall I first pass this information to His Majesty?” Pang Xiao respectfully confirmed again.

Qin Huaiyuan said: “Don’t be too nervous. Trust your own judgment.”

Pang Xiao had long recognized Qin Huaiyuan’s prophetic abilities. With Qin Huaiyuan’s nod, he felt more confident. After informing Li Qitian that the border had discovered the Tatars had begun collecting and deploying provisions, Li Qitian looked at him with a complex expression for a long while before waving him away.

At this time, Qin Yining’s group of eight hundred people was cautiously bypassing two Tatar checkpoints and finally approaching the Great Zhou border.

Everyone was jubilant.

However, just when everyone was celebrating, thinking they had taken another step toward success, scouts suddenly came rushing to report.

“A hundred-man squad has been spotted ahead, escorting many carts.”

A’erhan asked: “What kind of people are they?”

“They look like merchants, but I noticed their builds and habits don’t seem like merchants – they look more like… like a group of soldiers!”

This statement made everyone nervous.

If they really were soldiers, it meant Si Qin was very likely about to use military force!

When Lu Heng explained this to Qin Yining, she couldn’t help but turn pale with shock.

“This matter is extremely serious.” Qin Yining frowned: “When Si Qin acted that way before, I already suspected his ambitions. I didn’t expect to guess correctly – everything he’s done seems to be moving step by step in that direction.”

Qin Yining didn’t reveal that Si Qin had murdered A’na Ri.

Others might not understand, but Lu Heng did.

“Before troops move, provisions go first. If Wutejin Khan really deployed provisions, I’m afraid the Tatars and Great Zhou are about to go to war.”

While the two discussed in low voices, the other Minuo tribe members cheered.

“So much supplies! Whatever Wutejin Khan wants to do, we’re just short of food, clothes, and tents – let’s rob them first!”

“Rob them! Rob them!”

The tribe members were fired up with enthusiasm.

Lu Heng understood and couldn’t help but find it amusing. He covered his mouth and coughed twice, then said to Qin Yining: “It seems all my deep thinking was unnecessary.”

“What’s wrong?” Qin Yining could see the tribe members’ high spirits but didn’t understand what they had said.

Lu Heng said: “The truth is often the simplest and most direct. Just as the tribe members said – whatever Si Qin wants to do, we’re short of food and clothing anyway, so let’s rob them first. Remember, there are still so many tribe members in the rear waiting for us to support them!”

Uncle A’erhan, who had been listening to Lu Heng and Qin Yining’s conversation, couldn’t help but burst into laughter. He immediately turned to tell all the tribe members this news.

Chagan Bala and Ha’er Bala were both extremely excited and volunteered to rob this batch of provisions.

Seeing the tribe members so aggressive, Qin Yining couldn’t help but say: “If those really are provisions and supplies that Wutejin Khan prepared for war, if we rob them, we’ll probably face severe pursuit. We must be more cautious.”