We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

Zhang Fan was silent for a moment. When he raised his head again, there was a hint of confusion in his eyes: "The leader is very decisive."

Ci replied, "I have heard the rumors from the envoy. Wherever you went, the Mohe tribes flocked to you, and the Khitan envoys were all beheaded."

"This action of mine not only saves the envoy's efforts, but also demonstrates the Black Water Tribe's sincerity. Why not do it?"

Zhang Fan stared at Ci Da's eyes and asked slowly:

"The Black Water Tribe still has over 200,000 members, and they're quite powerful outside the Great Wall. I thought it would take some effort to convince the leader, but I didn't expect him to be so... wise."

Ci Da naturally heard the distrust in Zhang Fan's words, but he did not show any fear and said calmly:

"Your Majesty, please report that last year, the Fengtian army invaded Goryeo. My father, in a moment of folly, led the elite Black Water Tribe to attack the Fengtian army's rear, but was completely annihilated. In this battle, only one or two out of ten elite Black Water Tribe members survived, and my father was killed."

"I mention this matter with absolutely no intention of revenge. When my father was alive, my thoughts were contrary to his. I am well aware of the power of the Feng Kingdom. The Black Water Mohe couldn't withstand it even at its peak, let alone now that it is severely weakened. If we resolutely oppose the Feng Kingdom, we will only end up in an even more miserable end."

Zhang Fan asked again, "What about the Khitan? Yelu Dahe has sent envoys to meet with the leader many times. I'm sure he's offered a hefty price, right?"

Ci Da gave a bitter laugh: "It is true that Fengguo and Khitan are both huge monsters to us. However, Khitan is only Khitan, and behind Fengguo is Daqing!"

"Even if my Black Water Tribe aids the Khitan and manages to repel your army, can we still resist if His Majesty the Daqing Emperor sends troops again?"

Zhang Fan was also a little confused when he heard this.

Yes, Feng State was too powerful. It destroyed Goryeo, defeated Khitan, and fought back and forth with the powerful countries outside the Great Wall.

But they forgot that Fengguo was just a vassal state of Daqing.

Zhang Fan smiled slightly, stuck the staff in his hand into the soil, and then bowed in return:

"In that case, please swear a blood oath with me, my leader. I will report the Blackwater Tribe's sincerity to my king without fail."

"Of course."

The Heishui Mohe surrendered, and in the upcoming war between Feng State and Khitan, all Mohe tribes chose Feng State.

Although the war had not yet begun, Feng State had already gained the upper hand in victory.

Zhang Fan led an envoy to the Heishui Mohe to discuss matters after surrender. He also sent people back to Chaoyang City to report quickly.

Li Che was overjoyed when he received the report from Zhang Fan.

He immediately summoned three cabinet ministers and generals such as He Conglong and circulated the letter.

"Hahaha! Lord Zhang is truly a capable minister. With just his eloquence, he managed to convince the entire Mohe tribe to surrender. This is a big surprise for this king!"

Li Che walked around the hall with an excited look on his face, and Zhuge Zhe and others also looked surprised.

"With such a strategic strategy, one person can defeat an army of 100,000!"

Huo Duanxiao asked, "Lord Zhang asked Your Highness in his letter that now that the Mohe tribes have surrendered, he still wants to go deep into the heart of Khitan and persuade those Khitan tribes that are wavering to surrender. I wonder Your Highness..."

"Absolutely not!" Li Che interrupted, "The Khitan are no match for the Mohe. Yelu Dahe will never tolerate the envoys entering the country. As soon as the envoys arrive, the Khitan army will be here right after!"

"Then let Master Zhang come back?"

Li Che was silent for a moment and walked to the map.

"Zhang Qing has an army composed of several thousand Mohe cavalrymen from various ethnic groups under his command, and they already have considerable combat power."

"And they are located in the Black Water Tribe, right on the front lines of our battle against the Khitans. If we leave Zhang Qing here, we can use his power to reassure the various tribes, while also burying a knife in the Khitans' wake!"

After thinking for a moment, Li Che had an idea in his mind:

"Send a message to Zhang Qing. He has worked hard and made great contributions, and he deserves a generous reward. But now that war is imminent, I still need him to control the Mohe tribes for me."

"Order Zhang Fan's troops to set up camp on the spot. Let him form his own army, command his Mohe cavalry, and remain on standby."

"Here!"

Li Che smiled slightly. Although this Mohe coalition was formed by chance and due to the careful planning of a group of leaders.

But this army has great symbolic significance and must not be disbanded just like that.

Keeping them here would set a benchmark for all the Mohe people who surrendered to Fengtian, and would be the best example for all the Mohe tribes to unite under the banner of the Fengtian Army.

Zhuge Zhe looked ashamed. "Master Zhang has achieved remarkable feats, while we have not only achieved nothing, but we haven't even made all the necessary preparations for the expedition. I am truly ashamed."

Li Che smiled and shook his head, saying comfortingly, "This battle is huge in scale. The combined forces of both sides will exceed one million. How can it be so easy to mobilize them?"

"Ziyuan, please be at ease. Although our gathering speed is slow, the Khitan tribes are divided, and there is also a rampant animal plague, which slows us down even further!"

Ancient times were different from modern times. Marching and fighting were so complicated. Assembling troops and transporting food and grass were time-consuming and laborious.

It is normal for a war of this scale to drag on for a month or even several months before the war.

That’s why there is the saying “Speed ​​is the essence of war”, speed has become the most powerful magic weapon to win on the battlefield.

Zhuge Zhe nodded slightly, then asked, "Your Highness, will you personally visit the battlefield this time?"

Li Che nodded with a smile: "Of course! How could I miss such a great battle?"

. . . . . .

"Father Khan, please think twice! This battle is extremely dangerous. Your life is at stake for the safety of the country. Why would you personally lead the army?"

In the royal tent, Yelu Daha's eldest son Yelu Yuan knelt on the ground and tried to persuade him.

"Why not let me go to battle for you? You can stay in the rear and coordinate the overall situation, so that domestic stability can be maintained and the overall situation can be prevented!"

Yelu Daha opened his cloudy eyes and looked at his eldest son in front of him, his heart full of complicated feelings.

He was old. The lifespan of ancient people was not long, and people in their thirties or forties could already call themselves old men.

What's more, the Khitans were located in the north. Although the resources outside the Great Wall were abundant, the climate was cold and not suitable for supporting people.

After he turned fifty, Yelu Dahe felt that his body was rapidly aging. He used to be very brave and could shoot arrows with both hands, but gradually he couldn't even mount a horse.

He sighed deeply and placed a hand on Yelu Yuan's head. "I've urged them for so long, but the tribes are still refusing to send troops. I just received news today that the Black Water Mohe leader Ci Da has also sided with the Feng State."

"Yuan'er, I'm afraid that the Liao Kingdom is in danger of being overthrown in this war!"

"I never thought that the Liao Kingdom would perish in my hands. Who on earth is King Feng? How could he..."

Hearing the heavy phlegm sound in Yelu Daha's voice, Yelu Yuan bit his lips and his face turned pale.

But Yelu Dahe looked guilty and continued:

"It's my selfish desire. I'd rather die on the battlefield than linger on a sickbed. But it will only... cause you suffering."

"Yuan'er, if Father Khan is defeated and the Feng army approaches the city, how will you respond?"