Chapter 1003 – Battle of the Northern Border (Part 40)
“Is Liu Xi insane or just plain foolish?”
The envoy responsible for the feigned surrender rubbed his hands with excitement, pacing back and forth in the tent, hardly able to contain his giddiness.
“I merely showed my loyalty and tricked her; she actually wants to reuse us?”
The smile on the Northern Border Messenger’s face was stretching dangerously wide, almost splitting his cheeks.
To gain Jiang Pengji’s trust and lower her guard, the Northern Border Messenger had to work hard to profess his loyalty upon meeting her.
Never in his wildest dreams did he expect Jiang Pengji would actually dare to use soldiers who had just surrendered.
“… Hahaha, Liu Xi even said, ‘Trust those you use, and don’t use those you doubt,’ what a laugh!” A flicker of darkness and severity crossed the Northern Border Messenger’s eyes. Just thinking of the war and casualties Jiang Pengji brought to the Northern Border made him wish he could tear her apart and eat her alive. “Are people from Central Plains really this naive? But naivety aside, her sending us to the front lines makes it convenient for us—”
To the Northern Border, Jiang Pengji, who had caused massive casualties, was nothing short of a ruthless demon and executioner.
His companion, clearly fed up, snapped, “You’ve already repeated that several times. Just because Liu Xi sent us to the front lines doesn’t mean she has good intentions; she’s probably just using us to rush into battle and throw our lives away for nothing!”
If they went to the front line, the enemies would be their own kin! What was there to be happy about?
The Northern Border Tribe Messenger frowned, wearing a look of disdain as if he couldn’t believe how foolish his companion was. “You—you really are hopelessly naive. Why can’t you think positively? Being sent as vanguards means what? It means Liu Xi’s battle strategy won’t escape our eyes. We’ll report to the royal court, providing internal and external support. No matter what schemes Liu Xi has, she won’t escape unscathed!”
As for being used by Jiang Pengji and having to fight against their own kin?
Compared to the big picture, such sacrifices were nothing at all.
A real man must learn to prioritize; he couldn’t be stuck on trivial benefits.
His companion scoffed, “I don’t know about anything else, but I know Liu Xi is a cunning person. How could she trust enemies who just surrendered? There’s surely some trick waiting for you to fall into!”
The Northern Border Tribe Messenger darkened his expression; he was growing more and more annoyed with this person.
“Hmph—” He huffed heavily and said darkly, “If that’s the case, when the day comes and we make a great achievement, don’t regret it.”
His companion felt utterly frustrated.
He suspected Jiang Pengji had some other conspiracy in mind, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to share in the accolades.
The Northern Border Tribe Messenger continued, “… Moreover, we have no choice but to agree to this. I pledged my loyalty to Liu Xi; when she proposed sending us to the front line, could I make excuses to refuse? If I refuse, even if she didn’t suspect us before, she would have to then. And don’t worry; if Liu Xi really knew we were faking our surrender, she would have sent troops to wipe us out by now; how could she reemploy us?”
Upon hearing that, his companion had to admit it made sense.
The initiative in this matter certainly didn’t lie with them.
If Jiang Pengji wanted to plot against them, they could only take it step by step.
“We’ll inform the royal court’s Dai Wang to minimize casualties—” His companion was loyal to the Northern Border, feeling troubled at the thought of killing his own kin on the battlefield. “Even though we have to put on a show for Liu Xi, we can’t go too far.”
The Northern Border Tribe Messenger, thinking of claiming credit, didn’t take his words to heart.
Not only that, he found his ally cowardly and softhearted.
They had to earn Liu Xi’s complete trust to get in touch with real military secrets.
If she grew suspicious or discovered something, it wouldn’t just be their deaths; even their families would meet the same fate!
If this plan succeeded, the benefits would be beyond their imagination.
Fortunes come from risks!
Little did they know, all their small maneuvers were already anticipated by Jiang Pengji.
Who would die would still be uncertain.
Currently, the Dai Wang of the Northern Border had changed to the Sixth Prince.
Seeing the secret report secretly passed by the Northern Border Tribe Messenger, he couldn’t help but slam his palm down in excitement.
“Heaven must be favoring our Northern Border!”
The Sixth Prince, overjoyed, called upon his maternal uncles and a few advisors overnight.
He knew depending too much on external family influences wasn’t wise, but they were his own uncles, his blood relatives.
If he couldn’t trust them, who in this world was worthy of his trust?
His maternal uncle glanced at the secret report, his eagle-like eyes darting around as he asked, “Dai Wang, is this true?”
“If the intel is true, then of course it’s true.”
The maternal uncle lowered his voice, “Dai Wang, have you thought about who to send for this play?”
The Sixth Prince paused and replied, “I haven’t thought it through yet.”
The maternal uncle smirked ominously, hinting slyly, “Dai Wang might as well take this opportunity to clean house.”
The Sixth Prince’s expression darkened; he understood his maternal uncle’s insinuation—
This was indeed a good opportunity to eliminate dissidents.
Though he was supported by his maternal clan to become Dai Wang, the other brothers weren’t without the ability to resist.
As long as he didn’t suppress these brothers completely, his position as Dai Wang would never be stable.
The titles of Dai Wang and Great King are only one character apart, but they’re worlds apart in meaning.
“Uncle, let me think this over—”
He couldn’t appear too eager to turn against his brothers, otherwise he would seem cold-hearted.
Saying he would think it over was merely a feigned reluctance.
The Sixth Prince had set his sights on the Eighth Prince.
The eldest and third brothers were already out of the picture, and the fifth was of little consequence.
The eighth and seventh brothers teamed up and posed the biggest threat.
Counting the surviving brothers, the Sixth Prince aimed his blade without hesitation at his own bloodline.
This was how society in the Northern Border worked—brotherly ties meant nothing.
When a father dies, the property can be inherited by his sons.
When brothers die, their wives and children can be inherited by the surviving brothers.
In such a chaotic and morally bankrupt society, one couldn’t expect the royal household princes to act in brotherly love.
The Eighth and Seventh Princes had no idea of the schemes brewing, but their instincts told them the Sixth wasn’t acting in good faith.
“Isn’t he afraid that the other brothers will lash out and overthrow him? Why is he so quick to agree to let the Eighth Brother lead the troops?”
Though the Seventh and Eighth Princes weren’t born from the same mother, they were extremely close, practically grew up in the same pants.
“Right now, he is the Dai Wang, and with Liu Thief eyeing us, we should stick together and get through this crisis.”
The Eighth Prince smiled, seemingly dismissing the situation and cheerily advising the Seventh Prince not to cause trouble.
“Eighth Brother, you see him as a brother, but he doesn’t see you the same way. You have such a good nature; sooner or later, you’ll be calculated against by the Sixth.”
The Seventh Prince shook his head, an anxious expression lacing his features.
The Eighth Prince simply smiled and said nothing.
