“I know.” Chen Dachang pulled her into his embrace. “That’s why he deserved to die!”
She had rarely seen Chen Dachang so filled with murderous intent. Yu Haizhen buried her delicate face in his chest and after a while finally said, “Act-actually…”
“Hmm?”
She stammered, saying softly, “He didn’t succeed.”
“I know,” Chen Dachang’s voice came from above her head. “Hu Tian arrived just in time and ruined his plan.”
Yu Haizhen asked in surprise, “You know?”
“Yes, I asked Hu Tian about it.” He said it as if it were perfectly natural.
“…” That loose-lipped monkey, when did he sell her out? “I had no idea!”
“I paid him hush money,” Chen Dachang declared righteously. “Two baskets of columnar bananas from the Western Yao Kingdom.”
No wonder that dead monkey had been eating bananas all the time during that period! After calming herself, she said, “If Hu Tian hadn’t saved me that day, would you… would you mind…”
“You are Yu Haizhen, and that’s enough.” Chen Dachang lifted her chin, his gaze clear. “My feelings for you would never change in the slightest.”
Yu Haizhen suddenly pounced on him and fiercely bit his neck.
Chen Dachang winced in pain but didn’t dare dodge, only saying softly, “Don’t use your teeth. I still have to attend the morning court assembly tomorrow.”
The last time he had to ask for leave, wasn’t it because she had left several bite marks on his face and neck?
She paid no heed, making her small pearly teeth grind audibly. Chen Dachang lightly brushed his fingers against her waist twice, causing her to giggle and release her bite.
After their playful tussle, the atmosphere in the room gradually changed again. Yu Haizhen flipped over, straddling his abdomen, and said from her dominant position, “You’ve kept so many things from me. Do you know how to atone for your sins?”
If he wanted her to cool down, he would have to work harder!
On the Wei Kingdom battlefield, the situation changed rapidly.
After the Battle of Tianmen Gorge, the Yan army was severely weakened, and morale was wavering. Additionally, with Wei’s State Preceptor Yun Ya regaining control of his elemental powers and commanding cultivators to join the battle, the Yan army’s invasion of the central region suffered serious setbacks.
The Wei army stabilized their position, gradually reversing their disadvantage and forcing their opponents to retreat step by step.
At this point, the timely aid provided by New Xia proved invaluable, helping the southwestern Wei forces endure the most difficult period. Together with the royal troops, they attacked from both sides, successfully reclaiming much of the lost territory.
In the eyes of the great leaders, the King of Yan and Yun Ya had been playing chess on the territory of Wei for a full eight months. The latter finally secured victories in two crucial battles, successfully driving the Yan army back to the south.
The war had lasted over three years by now, and the armies on both sides were exhausted, especially the Yan forces, which had suffered consecutive defeats. Their soldiers no longer possessed their former elite vigor.
Someone had calculated that Yan had lost over four hundred thousand troops in Wei territory.
Those were all men in their prime.
Wei’s ability to endure and grow stronger in battle was not only due to Xiao Yan’s and Yun Ya’s effective deployment but also related to the border trade they had initiated—
Within eight months, Wei had purchased strategic supplies from New Xia three times, and each transaction was substantial.
New Xia’s food, equipment, and medical supplies were of high quality, a fact that Wei had already recognized during their previous land purchase. The Royal Court Minister of War had calculated that setting aside the shortages and price increases caused by years of warfare, Wei’s southern and central regions had been devastated to the point where nothing could be squeezed from them. Only the western and northern areas could still gather war supplies. However, the cost of transporting these materials to the front lines would be far higher than purchasing them directly from New Xia.
It was well known that the Great Plains, where Dong Qiao was located, was exceptionally fertile. Grain harvested there could be transported directly across the border to Wei, with minimal losses during transport.
War is about mobilizing every possible resource, and Xiao Yan clearly understood the importance of the conflict between Wei and Yan. At this critical juncture, he was willing to exchange large amounts of silver with New Xia for supplies.
Although he knew that New Xia’s Queen was asking for an exorbitant price this time.
That woman was even more ruthless than a blood-sucking drought demon!
In less than eight months, New Xia had earned 23 million taels of silver, equivalent to an entire year’s fiscal revenue for the country.
Of course, part of this was in the form of IOUs from Wei, as the national treasury couldn’t immediately provide so much silver due to war and transportation reasons. Both parties agreed that the principal and interest would be repaid within ten years after the war.
New Xia transformed into Wei’s largest creditor.
Their opponents weren’t faring nearly as well.
Yan’s home front had developed problems. The worst issue wasn’t the lack of supplies but the internal conflicts within Yan.
Fighting on foreign soil, Yan consumed at least three times as many resources as their opponent. To support the war effort, they repeatedly increased taxes at home. Combined with severe shortages causing prices to soar, the common people suffered tremendously—according to the latest intelligence report on the Queen’s desk, the price of rice in the Yan capital had already tripled compared to pre-war levels.
War ordinances also requisitioned large amounts of money and materials from the wealthy and privileged, causing the nobility to complain bitterly.
For the first time, anti-war sentiment among commoners and nobles reached unprecedented unity. The attitude of passive resistance spread to the front lines, and defeat came like an avalanche.
Soon, even the Canglan Plains would be indefensible. Initially, Yan had expended enormous effort to capture this fertile plain. Once it was lost, the Yan army would lose its most important stronghold and no longer have the strength to march north.
If they failed this time, their ambition to annex Wei would be postponed indefinitely.
Therefore, when his generals advised retreat, the King of Yan flew into a rage and executed a general on the spot!
Intimidated by his authority, everyone was angry but dared not speak out.
Over the past decade, the sovereign’s temper had grown increasingly violent, a fact well known to all officials, who attributed it to his advanced age. When people grow old, they tend to become stubborn and confused.
Only Feng Miaojun and Yun Ya understood that the King of Yan’s time was growing increasingly short, while the hope of accomplishing his goal became more remote. Despite his supreme cultivation, he now felt the terror of impending death.
The source of his anger was fear.
When a person dies, all their cultivation and lifelong reputation turn to nothing.
When communicating with Feng Miaojun, Yun Ya repeatedly warned her: “The King of Yan will never give up easily. If he cannot defeat Wei, he will certainly seek another path to survival.”
Recalling how the King of Yan had previously sent Nu Ba to infiltrate Wuser City to negotiate with her, Feng Miaojun knew Yun Ya’s concerns were justified.
In the spring of this year, Wei finally drove the Yan army out of the southern border, reclaiming all lost territory.
The entire country celebrated, and the Wei court hosted grand banquets for three days.
Feng Miaojun naturally received this good news immediately, and the entire New Xia royal court likewise heaved a collective sigh of relief.
Yan’s withdrawal was excellent news. The threat to New Xia was temporarily lifted as well.
The entire city of Wuser was as jubilant and festive as if celebrating a holiday.
When Chen Dachang came to see her, he asked, “In Your Majesty’s opinion, what will the King of Wei plan to do next?”
Feng Miaojun was sitting on a small island in the middle of the lake, drinking peach blossom wine while gazing at the spring waters: “If I were Xiao Yan, I would quit while ahead.”