On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

While Lin Zhen and his grandfather Lin Zhenxian were strategizing with each other using a map in the Regent's Palace in Chang'an, the capital of the Great Qian Dynasty, thousands of miles away, in Longcheng, the location of the Northern Desert Royal Court, a massive white blizzard was raging.

The gale, whipping up snowflakes, howled across the vast wilderness, lashing against the undulating felt tents and low mud-brick houses outside Dragon City, producing a sound like the wailing of ghosts and wolves.

The temperature plummeted, and breath turned to ice. Even the most cold-resistant prairie wolves huddled deep in their dens to escape the bone-chilling cold.

However, in the heart of this desolate and cold land, seemingly abandoned by heaven and earth, the grandest palace in Dragon City, built of massive stones and hardwoods, presents a completely different scene.

Huge tallow candles were stuck in bronze candlesticks along the walls, crackling as they burned, illuminating the hall as bright as day and bringing a touch of warmth.

In several huge copper basins, fine dried cow dung and the roots of a heat-resistant shrub burned fiercely, dispelling the chill that seeped in through the cracks in the doors and windows and keeping the temperature inside the hall at a tolerable level.

The air was thick with the smells of milk, the gamey odor of beef and mutton, the scent of leather, and a repressive yet restless atmosphere that belonged to the center of power.

Uwei, the Great Khan of the Northern Desert, a powerful figure in his fifties who ruled over the vast grasslands, did not sit on his throne covered with a complete white tiger skin.

He wore a heavy wolfskin robe trimmed with sable fur, a gold belt around his waist, and fine chainmail could be vaguely seen beneath the robe. He stood in the center of the hall, before a huge, crude sand table.

This sand table roughly depicts the mountains, rivers, Gobi desert, and important passes and cities in the southern part of the northern grasslands and the northern border of the Great Qian Dynasty, using soil, sand, and grass stalks.

Compared to the exquisite maps Lin Zhen saw in Chang'an, this sand table appeared primitive and simple, but it was more in line with the intuitive and practical style of the nomadic people.

Uwe wasn't particularly tall, but he was extremely robust, with broad shoulders and thick limbs. His weathered face had high cheekbones and deep-set eyes, and his hawk-like eyes gleamed with shrewdness, ruthlessness, and ambition in the flickering candlelight.

He held a horsewhip in his hand, the tip of which occasionally tapped the wooden plaques on the sand table representing the important military towns of "Shuofang" and "Yunzhong" in the northern border of the Great Qian Dynasty. His brows were furrowed as he fell into deep thought.

Surrounding him were several trusted ministers and tribal chiefs. Among them was Attila, the burly king of Zuoguli with a full beard, who was Uvi's most valiant general.

Among them was the slender and sinister Right Wise King Huyan Zhuo, known for his wisdom and cunning; there were also several powerful tribal leaders, such as Hunxie King and Xiutu King, all of whom wore fur robes, carried curved swords at their waists, and had the fierceness and desire for war unique to steppe warriors on their faces.

"Great Khan," Attila the Left Guard King's voice boomed, tinged with impatience.

"How long is this awful weather going to last? The men's swords are practically rusting! In my opinion, as soon as this snowstorm stops, we should immediately gather our troops and head south to raid for supplies! I've heard that the south has had a mild winter this year, and their cities are overflowing with New Year's grain and cloth, as well as women so delicate they could be squeezed for moisture! Why waste our time here?"

The Right Wise King, Huyan Zhuo, chuckled sinisterly, his voice like that of a night owl:

"Attila, your bravery is like that of a lion on the grasslands, but sometimes, even a lion needs the wisdom of a fox. The Great Qian is not one of those small tribes that we can slaughter at will. Their city walls are high and their crossbows are sharp. If we attack rashly, even if we manage to capture one or two border cities, we will inevitably suffer heavy losses. Don't forget, Zheng Jiao, who guards the northern frontier, is not someone to be trifled with."

"Hmph! So what if it's Zheng Jiao?" Attila spat disdainfully. "Last autumn, didn't we wipe out his patrol? The Southerners only know how to hide behind the city walls. When it comes to riding horses and shooting arrows, they're not even worthy of shining our shoes!"

“Alright.” Uvi finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse, yet carrying an undeniable authority, immediately silencing the two arguing individuals.

His whip moved away from Shuofang City, slowly tracing the entire northern border, and finally landing on the area on the sand table representing the heartland of the Great Qian Dynasty.

"Attila's courage is the arrow in our hands; Huyanzhuo's prudence is the armor on our bodies. Neither can be lacking."

He raised his hawk-like eyes and swept them across everyone present:

"We are heading south, but not for some petty squabbles like seizing grain and women. What we want is that fertile land, that immeasurable wealth and population, to reclaim the glory of our ancestors and rule the Central Plains!" His voice rose, carrying a seductive power. "The new emperor of the Great Qian is a woman, recently enthroned, her rule unstable. The scholars in the court are constantly vying for power and scheming against each other. This is the best opportunity the Eternal Heaven has given us!"

Hu Yanzhuo chimed in at the opportune moment, his tone obsequious: "The Great Khan is wise! Moreover, we now have a good card in our hand."

He smiled meaningfully.

"That 'Sage's Son-in-Law,' Young Master Kong Zhiqian, is young, but his identity is special. If we use him properly, we can create chaos among the Southerners and shake the resolve of those who still cling to the previous dynasty and to Confucius. This might be more powerful than 100,000 iron cavalry."

Mentioning Kong Zhiqian, Uvi's face revealed a barely perceptible sneer. That timid and taciturn young man he had found in the dilapidated temple was nothing more than a pawn on his chessboard.

"Confucianism is certainly useful, but ultimately, the rules of the grasslands are decided by swords and arrows!"

He struck the edge of the sand table heavily with his riding crop.

"We can't wait until spring when the grass grows and the birds fly, by which time the southerners will be ready. If we're going to fight, we must catch them completely off guard!"

He bent down and traced a winding path on the sand table with his finger:

"This snowstorm is both an obstacle and a cover. The scouts of the Great Qian dare not venture far in this weather. We can take advantage of this and secretly assemble the most elite cavalry from each unit in advance in several hidden valleys near the border. As soon as the snowstorm stops, we will immediately split into three groups!"

His finger pointed in three directions:

"Attila, you will lead your 20,000 cavalry, plus 10,000 from the Hunxie tribe, to launch a major attack on Shuofang City! Shuofang City has high walls and deep moats, but the defending general is old, and his forces suffered some losses last year due to our harassment. I will equip you with the simple siege weapons that the craftsmen have been working hard to make. Do not launch a direct assault; focus on harassment and probing to draw Zheng Jiao's attention!"

"Huyan Zhuo, you will lead 15,000 elite cavalry, detour to the west, and infiltrate from the edge of the Gobi Desert. Your target is the military settlements and villages surrounding Yunzhong County! Burn! Loot! Kill! Create panic, destabilize their rear, and prevent Zheng Jiao from being able to defend both ends!"

“And me,” Uvi’s eyes flashed with a cold light as he pointed to a seemingly insignificant pass,

"I will personally lead the royal court's most elite 10,000 Golden Wolf Cavalry from here, breaking through the tiger's mouth and thrusting straight in! The defenses here are weak, the terrain is complex, and the Southerners will surely be lax in their defenses. Once we break through, we can be like a sharp knife, piercing the weakness of the Great Qian Dynasty and threatening its heartland! At that time, I want to see if that empress sitting on the phoenix throne can still sit there!"

This plan was bold and risky, especially the part where Uwe personally led a detachment in a surprise attack.

The tribal chiefs looked at each other, excited by the ruthlessness of the plan and the potential for huge profits, but also worried about the risks involved.

"Great Khan, you are personally taking this risk, is it...?" King Xiutu began hesitantly.

Uwe waved his hand, interrupting him, his tone resolute:

"No need for further words! Fortune favors the bold! This southern expedition concerns the fate of our Northern Kingdom! It must be personally controlled by me! All units, return immediately to prepare, select the bravest warriors, stock up on arrows and dried meat, and feed the warhorses! As soon as the snowstorm stops, proceed according to plan! Remember, be swift and ruthless! Like a pack of wolves, tear through the Southerners' defenses!"

"Yes, Great Khan!" the generals roared in response, their eyes burning with a thirst for wealth and slaughter. They seemed to already see the dazzling world of the Central Plains beckoning to them.

Uvi nodded in satisfaction as he looked at the excited expressions on his subordinates' faces.

He walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and the biting cold wind, mixed with snowflakes, rushed in instantly, invigorating him.

He gazed at the pitch-black night sky outside, where only the wind and snow howled, and murmured to himself, his voice so low that only he could hear it:

"The little girl from the Murong family, that boy from the Lin family... this game has only just begun. Are you ready? This vast Central Plains, I, Wuwei, am determined to take it!"

Just as he was about to close the window and turn around to continue with the details—

A sudden gust of wind slammed against the window outside the hall with a loud crash, and the strong airflow swept back into the hall, causing the candlelight to flicker violently and the flags near the window to flutter wildly!

Uwe was forced to turn slightly to the side by the sudden gust of wind, and used his hands to protect his face.

The hem of his heavy wolf-skin cloak was suddenly blown up by the wind, revealing the fine iron armor he wore underneath and the gold-inlaid scimitar at his waist.

The metallic scales of his armor reflected a cold luster in the candlelight, and the gems inlaid on the hilt of his scimitar shimmered with a dark light, mirroring the undisguised aggressive ambition in his eyes.

As the wind subsided slightly, he slammed the windows shut, keeping the blizzard out once again.