Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"Duke Zhenguo, do you have any conscience at all? You should have seen it today, right?"

We really did our best in the attack, and we lost more than a hundred men in the process.

But who could have imagined that the Goguryeo people would be so tenacious, refusing to give up even after all this? That's why we were helpless.”

"Go to hell."

Unexpectedly, the usually calm Shen Lang actually swore after hearing Shatuo's explanation.

At the same time, he kicked him hard to the ground, showing no mercy whatsoever.

Shatuo was completely bewildered. Before he could react, Shen Lang grabbed him and dragged him outside the tent, pointing at the distant Rangzhou City and shouting loudly in his ear.

"Did I spend a fortune to call you here just to hear how you'll move me?"

"Listen to me, Shatuo! I don't care what excuses you have, the fact remains that Rangzhou City wasn't captured!"

"Our relationship is now one of employer and employee. I'm giving you all the people and wealth in the city, and you have to work for me!"

“I don’t care how many people die, even if your entire clan is wiped out, I won’t care, because Rangju City is still in the hands of the Goguryeo people.”

"I've repeatedly changed my demands to you, trying to be tolerant, because I thought you could successfully achieve my goal and take that city."

"But what the hell have you all done? You blasted such a huge breach open, and you still can't take it down?"

"You still have the nerve to make demands of me, including the entire wealth of Rangzhou City?"

As he spoke, Shen Lang pressed his head down and dragged him to the water vat beside him.

"Come on, take a look in the mirror. Do you think you're worthy?"

After saying that, Shen Lang let go of his hand, turned around and kicked him and the water jar to the ground.

Shatuo was completely consumed by self-doubt. Faced with Shen Lang's rage, he didn't dare utter a single word and simply scrambled to his feet.

"Duke Zhenguo, I am truly sorry that Shatuo has disappointed you, but please give me another chance. I will definitely be able to take Rangzhou City tomorrow!"

"roll!"

Shen Lang shouted angrily and kicked him over again.

"Tell me, what are your plans for tomorrow? Continue with the same strategy as today, charging forward with men and horses?"

"No! We were out of our minds today; we should have abandoned the horses!"

"hiss--"

Shen Lang took a deep breath, put his hands on his hips, and walked back into the tent.

Shatuo knelt respectfully outside the tent, his previous arrogance completely gone.

After a long silence, Shen Lang finally spoke slowly: "Rest now. I think your people and the remaining remnants of the Liaodong tribe should be terrified by now."

"I dare not launch another attack. Go back and appease them. As for when to attack again, await my orders."

"Yes."

Upon hearing this, Shatuo left the camp with a sense of relief.

"Humph."

As soon as Shatuo left, Shen Lang immediately put away the fierce look on his face, his eyes flashing with disdain and contempt.

Before long, Ban Dingyuan came into the tent and asked Shen Lang with a puzzled look, "Commander, I am dull-witted and there are still some things I don't understand."

Shen Lang gestured for him to sit down and then slowly said, "No need to ask, I know what you want to say."

Ban Dingyuan: "Commander, I just don't understand. If we had persisted with a strong attack today, Rangzhou City would surely have fallen."

If all the troops from the Taiji Kingdom were sent up, the city's defenders would definitely not be able to withstand them. So why would the commander give up such a good opportunity?

But they chose to call a truce at this crucial moment.

Shen Lang: "You're right. As long as we continue our strong attack, Rangzhou City will surely be captured smoothly."

But have you considered this: if Rangzhou City falls now, who will benefit the most?

Upon hearing this, Ban Dingyuan quickly calmed down and, after a moment's thought, began to analyze: "If Rangzhou City falls, it will be most advantageous for Northern Yan."

Goguryeo's main forces stationed at Anshi and Wandu on the front lines will certainly withdraw to reinforce them, thus greatly reducing the pressure on Northern Yan at the front.

This allows for the successful acquisition of numerous cities on the Goguryeo front and the rapid control of strategic locations.

Meanwhile, Rangju will face the main force of the Goguryeo army, which is marching back to the capital with all its might…

At this point, Ban Dingyuan suddenly thought of something terrifying.

"In other words, Northern Yan will completely control the entire Liaodong region, and our Great Chu will have to face the possibility of Northern Yan advancing southward on three fronts simultaneously."

If I were Murong Ke or Murong Chui, I would definitely launch an offensive against the Song and Jin territories, which had just been ravaged by war, after occupying the entire Liaodong region and reorganizing my troops.

Given the current military deployments of the Great Chu in both Song and Jin territories, it would be difficult to withstand the rapid expansion of the Liaodong cavalry.

Shen Lang nodded and continued, "Moreover, if the Song and Jin regions are attacked by the Northern Yan, do you think the imperial court should send troops to their aid?"

Sending troops would require an astronomical amount of resources; not sending troops would only allow us to watch helplessly as the long-planned Song-Jin territories become easy prey for others.

There are quite a few war-weary officials in the court. Although His Majesty currently holds absolute power, he cannot ignore the voices of the court.

Moreover, our Great Chu currently does not have a fleet capable of transporting two divisions simultaneously.

Therefore, conquering Rangzhou at this time would not only be of no benefit to the State of Chu, but would also sow the seeds of a huge hidden danger.

Ban Dingyuan: "Now I understand the commander's intention. The slow pace of the advance is to buy time."

Shen Lang tacitly agreed with Ban Dingyuan's words.

Ban Dingyuan frowned: "But, after all, there is an agreement between our Great Chu and Northern Yan."

After conquering Goguryeo, he ceded the land north of Bingzhou and transferred the suzerainty of the Taiji Kingdom to the Chu Kingdom.

"If you were Murong Ke, after occupying Liaodong, would you allow a hidden enemy to share control with you?"

"No, but we will meticulously eliminate this hidden enemy. As for the methods..."

Using someone else to do the dirty work is enough to clean up one's own name, after all, the Liaodong region is full of bandits and outlaws.

It's still possible to massacre a garrison fortress.

"Since you understand this principle, do I still need to explain and analyze it in more detail?"

Shen Lang shifted his posture: "Furthermore, so far, Murong Ke has only acknowledged in writing that the Bingzhou border region belongs to the Chu state."

But so far, the number of Northern Yan troops stationed on the border of Bingzhou has increased rather than decreased. How strange do you think that is?

"Does Northern Yan want to break the agreement?"

"Of course they want to break the contract, they just won't say it verbally."

It's the same principle as vassal states always citing the need to "purge the court of corrupt officials" as their reason for rebellion, never revealing their desire to become emperor themselves.

These words made Ban Dingyuan feel that many things were even darker than he had imagined.

"Then may I ask, Commander, is there no chance to break this deadlock?"

"Of course, and I'm already doing it."

Shen Lang stood up and walked to the sand table: "Let Goguryeo and Northern Yan fight each other. The greater the losses, the better. Secondly, reform the various tribes in Liaodong."

"change?"

Ban Dingyuan felt that his thinking was completely unable to keep up with Shen Lang's changes.

He understood the first point, but what about reforming the various tribes in Liaodong? What did that mean? Would they listen?

"Regarding change, and in a very simple and brutal way."

Shen Lang slammed a dagger into the sand table.

"Those who follow the trend prosper, those who oppose it perish; this is the key to turning the tide."

Ban Dingyuan felt a chill run down his spine after hearing those words.

What this means is quite obvious.

"In the entire Liaodong region, it is enough to have just one obedient ethnic group that is absolutely loyal to the Great Chu. As for the others, if they cannot be integrated, they should be eliminated."

With a single, understated sentence, Shen Lang had already decided the future fate of hundreds of tribes in Liaodong.