knife

Chapter 52 Plan
Xiao Dongwei threw himself in front of the map, his one eye bulging as big as a copper bell as he carefully examined every detail on the map.

Any ambitious military commander would find it impossible to resist the fatal attraction of such a detailed map, one that would incur both divine and popular wrath.

"Where did it come from? Where did it come from?" Xiao Dongwei asked urgently.

"I got it from Li Dachui!" Xiao Changche said.

"any left?"

"do not know!"

Upon hearing Xiao Changche's reply, Xiao Dongwei sighed regretfully: "General, if he still has such a map, you must obtain it at all costs. With such a map, we will be invincible in future battles."

"Are his things so easy to take?"

Xiao Dongwei was taken aback, then nodded repeatedly, his gaze falling on the demon mask on Xiao Changche's side table: "Uh, General, what did you give him after receiving this map?"

Seeing Xiao Dongwei's somewhat meaningful look, Xiao Changche flew into a rage and kicked Xiao Dongwei, sending him tumbling over: "What kind of filthy thoughts are going through your head?"

Xiao Dongwei stumbled after being kicked by Xiao Changche, but he just chuckled and didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with being kicked by Xiao Changche.

“We’ve been out here for over ten years, yet you, General, still don’t have a single friend. Miss Luo Hua is a close call, but she can’t really be of much help. This Li Dachui, I think he’s quite good, at least he’s genuinely good to us!” Xiao Dongwei said, “General, no matter what his purpose or plans are, we can now consider him an ally.”

Xiao Changche sighed.

Xiao Dongwei is different from others.

When the Northern Yuan invaded, the Xiao family, except for Xiao Changche, perished. Xiao Changche led the remaining hundred or so family members to join the army, starting as a lowly captain. In just over ten years, he rose to prominence and became a pivotal figure in the army outside the Great Wall.

Of the more than one hundred soldiers from that time, fewer than ten, including Xiao Dongwei, survived the brutal battle more than ten years ago; the rest perished. In Xiao Changche's eyes, Xiao Dongwei was not only a loyal subordinate but also a reliable family member and a dependable kin. Many of his secrets were known only to Xiao Dongwei and Luo Hua.

"Li Dachui wants to team up with me to take over Baoping Prefecture and get rid of Yan Sheng!" Xiao Changche said in a low voice, pointing to Baoping Prefecture, which was marked in black on the map.

Xiao Dongwei jumped up immediately: "This, how is this possible? Yan Sheng is very strong. If we take a bite, we might not be able to eat him, but instead he might break one of our teeth."

“In the dead of winter, Yan Sheng’s navy has been reduced to infantry, and its combat power has decreased by at least half!” Xiao Changdao said.

“But even so, if we’re not absolutely certain we can crush him with one blow, then there will be endless troubles!” Xiao Dongwei said, “Then the commander-in-chief won’t let us off the hook. General, these past few years, the commander-in-chief has been trying to devour us and turn you into his lackey. If we fail, we won’t have many options left.”

“Look at our current situation!” Xiao Changdao said, “The situation inside the pass is becoming increasingly dangerous, and many forces outside the pass are changing their allegiance to the wind. The commander-in-chief’s strength is growing stronger and stronger. We still have a chance to be independent now, but if this continues, one day we will either become a vassal or be completely wiped out. Taking over Baoping Prefecture will allow us to become a truly independent force.”

"Li Dachui promised to give us Baoping Prefecture afterward?"

"He wants the navy, and at the same time, he wants the management rights of Baoping City!" Xiao Changche said, "Tai'an, Baoping, and Yuan'an are connected in a triangle and rely on each other. In the middle of these three points, both land and water transportation are very convenient, and there is also fertile land that is easy to cultivate. In Li Dachui's words, this is the foundation for achieving great things."

"Who is in charge and who is subordinate?" Xiao Dongwei pressed.

"Isn't it too early to talk about this now?" Xiao Changche chuckled. "Let's get it first. When the time comes, whoever has the stronger fist will be the master."

"That's good!" Xiao Dongwei nodded repeatedly: "General, you are a third-rank charioteer appointed by the imperial court. You have the title and the rank. Li Dachui is just a bandit. In terms of righteousness and status, there is no way he can compete with you for this position. As long as our strength is equal to yours, or even slightly weaker, it doesn't matter. This position still belongs to you."

"I think so too!" Xiao Changche smiled, and the whole room seemed to brighten up a bit.

Xiao Dongwei was stunned for a moment, then coughed heavily and said, "General, you'd better not laugh."

"Huh?" Xiao Changche was stunned for a moment, then kicked out again.

This time, however, Xiao Dongwei was prepared and dodged the attack. "General, now there's one last thing: how do we attack?" Xiao Dongwei said, "Although Baoping City isn't large, only two thousand paces east to west and one thousand two hundred paces north to south, with its docks and streets outside, its small size has made it exceptionally fortified. Not counting the naval forces stationed outside and the troops from various regions, Yan Sheng still has three thousand elite elite troops stationed within the city. To be honest, I really can't think of a way to break through this city. If we can't act quickly, we'll be at a disadvantage. In this freezing weather, our army outside can't hold out for long."

"Do you know what a wolf is?" Xiao Changche asked.

“Of course I know. There’s a band of bandits outside the Great Wall with a great reputation. They’re even more mysterious than Li Dachui. And it seems like they have a grudge against Yan Sheng. Whenever they show up, they’re always looking for trouble with Yan Sheng. In the past few years, several of Yan’s direct descendants have fallen into their hands, right?” Xiao Dongwei said.

"This wolf is one of Li Dachui's men!"

Xiao Dongwei jumped up in shock again: "It's him again? Just how many secrets does this Li Dachui have? Wild Wolf has been around for five years. Could it be that Li Dachui was plotting against Yan Sheng five years ago?"

“That’s roughly how it should be!” Xiao Changche sighed. “Five years ago, Li Dachui was already planning for today. Such foresight is truly astounding. The first step in this operation was the appearance of the Wild Wolves, who plundered rampantly in Baoping Prefecture, thus luring Yan Sheng’s army out to pursue and annihilate them.”

"Lure the snake out of its hole!" Xiao Dongwei said.

“It’s not that simple!” Xiao Changche continued, “Wild Wolf will have the Yan clan keep an eye on him. You know, the Yan clan wants to skin Wild Wolf alive. But in the process, the number of Wild Wolf bandits and their fighting power will shock the Yan clan, so they will mobilize more troops to encircle and annihilate him, until the Yan clan has committed all their forces to the battlefield.”

Xiao Changche clenched his fist: "When Yan Sheng's main force comes out, that will be our chance to step in. The two sides can join forces and annihilate Yan Sheng's main force in one fell swoop."

"If we can really do that, then Bao Ping Prefecture will be ours!" Xiao Dongwei's one eye gleamed: "General, we'll be rich!"

“You will command this battle! As for Li Dachui’s side, the one in charge should be Xia Zhi, the commander of his Human-shaped Battalion!” Xiao Changchedao said.

"Why is it her? Wait, that's not right, General. Aren't you going to command personally? I'm afraid I can't handle a battle like this!" Xiao Dongwei said, somewhat surprised.

"What's such a small scene to you?" Xiao Changche said. "Xia Zhi will also follow your orders. This is something I discussed with Li Dachui."

"Where are you going?" Xiao Dongwei asked, looking at Xiao Changche. There was something seriously wrong here. Such a crucial matter concerning the future of both families was being handled by the commanders of both sides, both of them absent.

Where are those two going?
“Let’s be a hunter!” Xiao Changche stretched out his palm, spread his five fingers, and then slowly closed them: “If we succeed in the hunt, the blow to the Northern Yuan will be greater than if we defeated their 100,000-strong army on the front lines!”

"Hunting? You and Li Dachui?" Xiao Dongwei subconsciously lowered his voice. "And the target?"

"Tiele!" Xiao Changche's eyes were resolute: "That bastard is dead."

"Are the Tiele in Baoping City?"

“That’s right. Yan Sheng has made contact with the Tiele. This traitor is already preparing to defect to the Northern Yuan. Given the key location and superior geographical conditions of Baoping Prefecture, if he defectes to the Northern Yuan, our lives will be really difficult. Otherwise, I would not have easily agreed to Li Dachui’s request to join forces with him to pull off this heist!”

"Damn it! How dare you betray your ancestors!" Xiao Dongwei cursed fiercely.

“Yan Sheng may not necessarily share the same ancestor as us!” Xiao Changche laughed. “Our Xiao family only established itself outside the Great Qin after the founding of the Great Qin Dynasty, while the Yan family’s history outside the Great Qin can be traced back hundreds of years. They are true natives of the Great Qin. Who knows, they might even have the blood of the Hu people flowing in their veins. Naturally, they are not so attached to Chinese clothing and customs!”

“Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts!” Xiao Dongwei said, “Our ancestor was absolutely right.”

“As long as we are strong enough, we can make all ambitious people grovel at our feet and become our henchmen. If you are weak, don’t blame others for shitting and pissing on your head!” Xiao Changdao said, “On this point, I share the same opinion as Li Dachui.”

"Then let's do it! This subordinate will go and begin preparations immediately!"

"Tell the soldiers of each battalion that this time we are going to raid the strongholds of several bandits. We will reveal the true purpose to everyone at the last minute before the operation."

"understand!"

(End of this chapter)