turmoil

Teller's ending came to Zhang Jingche's ears an hour later, and he was not surprised at all - although there was no clear evidence, the killer who assassinated Menia's biological mother was indeed a Manichaean, and his status was not low.With the ability to drive such a killer, but with the sole purpose of murdering a helpless slave girl, the possible suspects can be counted on the fingers.

Mei Niya was taught by Zhang Jingche, he knew too well that under the appearance of Huihe Queen's lamb, there was a she-wolf's heart of vengeance.She would not let the murderer who killed her mother have a good time, just like Zhang Jingche would not let the murderer who killed her adoptive mother and step-sister go.

Even if the new Huihe queen knew that the execution of her half-brother who was of Beile blood almost meant provoking and declaring war on the behemoth behind him.

And this is exactly what Zhang Jingche wants to see.

"Mei Niya has no choice but to show her favor to the Central Plains." Ding Ru'an sat down opposite him and poured himself a bowl of milk tea. He knew that Zhang Jingche would not mind this little trespass. It's just an insignificant detail, "She is very aware of the consequences of executing Teller. When she decides to recover the blood debt, there is only one way left."

He raised the tea bowl and shook it as if celebrating Zhang Jingche: "Master, your bet is right!"

Zhang Jingche turned to the window, lost in thought in the dim yellow sky of the desert: "It's not that simple."

Ding Ru'an couldn't help being taken aback.

"Don't underestimate the great power game. In the face of interests, even blood and family can be discarded as nothing," Zhang Jingche said lightly, "Beile Khan is a smart man. He knows the weight of Huihe very well. How would you choose a cousin who has never met face to face?"

Ding Ru'an was thoughtful.

"If Tumen is smart enough, he will forget about this worthless cousin and offer an olive branch to the newly crowned Queen of Huihe... If Her Majesty is strong enough, she can gain an advantage in the uncertain political situation of the royal court of Huihe "Zhang Jingche said lightly, "There is a time gap, and what we have to do is to use this time gap to subtly pull Huihe to the Central Plains camp."

Ding Ru'an pondered.

He thought for a moment, and was about to say something, when Zhang Jingche put down his tea bowl and looked at him firmly: "Ru'an, can you do it alone?"

Ding Ru'an was stunned for a moment, but soon, he realized the deep meaning of Zhang Jingche's words, and he was stunned: "Master means..."

"The situation in the Northwest Camp is unknown, I must rush back as soon as possible, but Huihe can't be left alone," Zhang Jingche said frankly, "I made a deal with Mei Niya, she signed an alliance with the Central Plains, and I will provide her with support within my ability ...until she has enough strength to control the Huihe Dynasty."

"Tumen Khan is a shrewd man. According to my estimation, he will not send troops to Huihe immediately, but will wait and see what happens. If Huihe loses its way, he is likely to take advantage of it. But Ruoxin The enthroned Huihe queen has shown enough talent and skill to cooperate, and she doesn't mind letting go of her blood feud and renewing the covenant with Huihe."

Zhang Jingche tilted his head and thought for a while, then used the most appropriate term: "...that is commonly known as picking peaches."

Ding Ru'an swallowed his saliva, and said with difficulty in a daze: "So, the master is planning to put the peaches on his plate before they ripen?"

Zhang Jingche gave him a look of approval.

"Menia is a female wolf. She has been dormant for more than ten years. I have to put a collar on her," Zhang Jingche said lightly, "The token of the Silk Road Chamber of Commerce is in your hands. During my absence, you You can fully mobilize the resources of the chamber of commerce without asking me for instructions."

Not everyone can handle matters with "full authority" on behalf of Zhang Jingche, which means unreserved trust and appreciation.Ding Ru'an suddenly felt his heart surge. He knew that Zhang Jingche relied heavily on him, but it was the first time he knew that this man was willing to give his back to him to protect.

Ding Ru'an didn't know how to express his feelings at the moment. "A scholar dies for his confidant" is a legend that can only be met but not pursued. He never thought that he would be so lucky.

"Master," Ding Ru'an put away all his cynicism, and something more resolute appeared in the depths of his eyes, "I understand...leave it to me."

Zhang Jingche crossed the table, held the folded folding fan and tapped him on the shoulder lightly, their eyes met, and they reached a tacit understanding in an instant.

Zhang Jingche hadn't received a letter from Northwest Camp for five days. He didn't know what it meant, he just knew that he couldn't wait any longer.After learning that the second prince was put to death, he couldn't wait to explain the follow-up matters to Ding Ru'an, wishing he could leave for the south on the same day.

It was rare for Ding Ru'an to see his master in a hurry, he was amused, but also a little uneasy.He thought of the hidden epidemic in the Northwest Camp, and the Marquis of Dingbian who had not shown his face for a long time, and suddenly understood Zhang Jingche's return.

The movement of the Central Plains Commercial House could not be hidden from the eyes and ears of the Huihe people. On the evening before the departure, the newly crowned Huihe queen disguised herself and brought her confidant guards to visit Zhang Jingche's house.She had fought beside Zhang Jingche, and she had found all kinds of hidden strongholds in Gaochang City. Being a guest was as calm as going back to her mother's house.

"Tomorrow is my enthronement ceremony, but my husband can't attend it," Menia sighed regretfully. "It was an unprecedentedly grand ceremony. I hope someone trustworthy will watch me take over the scepter."

Zhang Jingche poured her a bowl of milk tea: "Even if I don't attend, I can still imagine that scene."

Mei Ni Ya looked at him, with hope in the test: "Sir, can you really stay? Even if you don't enter the court as a minister, you can still sit in Gaochang as before and manage the commercial routes in the Western Regions. I promise, as long as it is under your command Caravans, the door to Huihe is always open."

Zhang Jingche shook his head with a smile, and said simply and clearly: "Someone is waiting for me."

Meniya was a little disappointed, and there was something inexplicable in her eyes: "I know why my husband chose me, and I also know your intention to support me, but I am still grateful to you. Without Mr.'s years of teaching, I would still Rolling in the mud..."

She wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Zhang Jingche with a folding fan.

"I don't need to say anything superfluous," Zhang Jingche said lightly, "I taught you to have my own selfishness. You fulfilled your promise and paid the bargaining chip. You and I are worth the money. You don't need to say anything else. I won't believe it either."

Meiya smiled wryly: "Is sir so cruel? After all, I have been with you for four years, and I don't have any teacher-student friendship?"

Zhang Jingche looked at her gently, but his tone was almost cold: "You are my best student, you have mastered everything I taught you... Because of this, you should understand better than anyone else, people like us , 'Friendship' is empty talk, only 'interest' is real."

They do not represent individuals, but behind them are "Huihe" and "Central Plains". When thousands of miles of mountains and rivers and hundreds of millions of people are on their shoulders, the insignificant friendship can almost be ignored.

At least, this is the case for Zhang Jingche.

Meniya's smile became more bitter.

"From the day I met you, sir, you have been sober and almost cold," she said with half emotion and half mocking, "You have an iron scale in your heart, which is cold and precise, and all people and things can be weighed. Get an accurate measurement. I even suspect that no one can really walk into your heart, because compared with Shanhe Sheji, anyone's weight is too light..."

Zhang Jingche was slightly taken aback by her sighing voice, and then said softly, "Actually... there are also."

Meniya was stunned for a moment.

Zhang Jingche didn't intend to explain. He lowered his head and played with the folding fan in his hand. The bones of the fan were rubbed repeatedly, showing a jade-like luster.

Menia caught tenderness and nostalgia in his downcast eyes, and she realized in an instant that no matter what chips she gave, she couldn't keep this man in his footsteps.

Others are in Huihe, but their hearts have already flown across the Guanshan desert and returned to the Northwest camp south of Qilian.

Zhang Jingche originally planned to leave early the next morning, but an accident disrupted his plan. After receiving the carrier pigeon from the Northwest camp, he ordered to leave the city overnight without any hesitation.

"What's the matter?" Ding Ru'an was packing his bags for the return journey, but was caught off guard by his master's whim, "Why did you suddenly leave early?"

Zhang Jingche moved the letterhead that he had finished reading to the candle, and slowly burned it: "The scouts report that the Beile people have changed."

Ding Ru'an was startled.

The sudden outbreak of the epidemic in the Northwest camp caught everyone by surprise. They immediately realized that this was not an accident, but someone did it on purpose.The livestock carrying the disease were not the usual cattle and sheep, but elite war horses. Only the Beile people could do such a thing, and only the Beile people had such sinister intentions.

"Tumen's plan is nothing more than to weaken the combat power of the northwest garrison, and then follow the example of his ancestors and command the Central Plains," Zhang Jingche showed a disgusted expression, "He is not a wolf king, but more like a cunning fox, hiding in the dark, so he can't be seen His low-level methods are disgusting."

Ding Ru'an seldom heard Zhang Jingche comment on a person in such a harsh tone, it was obvious that he was really angry.

"Isn't this expected?" Ding Ru'an looked at Zhang Jingche's face and said cautiously, "That's why you asked He Ling to collect medicinal materials and good doctors and send them to the Northwest Camp in order to control the epidemic as soon as possible... from Axuan Judging from the letter I received, the effect is not bad, although no prescription for the right medicine has been found, but the disease has not spread further, which is a blessing among misfortunes."

"However, Beile Khan chose to send troops to attack at this time. This move is very intriguing," Zhang Jingche mused, "The Northwest Garrison is still alive, and Tumen may not be able to please even if he puts all his strength on the grassland... Why should he do this? In a hurry? Why don't you wait a little longer?"

Wait until the epidemic spreads, or when more accurate news comes, and you are sure of it, and then give your enemy a fatal blow.

Just like his father and grandfather many years ago.

"Tumen has always made plans before acting, so he won't be so impatient, unless something happened to the grassland, forcing him to act immediately... Or, someone hinted to him that this is the best time to act!" Zhang Jingche lifted At the beginning, there was a sharp light in his eyes: "...who could it be?"

He and Ding Ru'an looked at each other and thought of a name at the same time: He Ling!

"He Ling doesn't dare to betray the Northwest Army!" Ding Ru'an quickly smoothed his thoughts, "Because of Qidal, Beile Khan no longer trusts him, and it is not good for him to be a fool... If he puts the movement of the Northwest Garrison Tell the Beile people that it can only be instigated by others."

He breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a smile: "Marquis Yang's handwriting is not small, and he seems to be in good spirits, master can rest assured."

Zhang Jingche let out a "huh", but his brows did not relax.

"Yuanzhou really likes to take risks, but every time he goes out, he lays the groundwork. He won't be completely defeated, and he won't drag the Northwest Camp along the tightrope," he mused in the long silence, "Since The situation is not so bad...why did he lure people from Beile to do it?"

The same question not only hovered in Zhang Jingche's mind, but also took root in Beile Khan's heart.The wind in Mobei blew the king's flag, and Tumen unfolded the letter paper amidst the sound of hunting, repeatedly trying to figure out the implication between the lines.

The secret letter was sent by He Ling—in the Battle of Qidal, the Beile cavalry suffered heavy losses, and the loyalty of the He family in Baoji was questioned. But this chess piece is too important, and Tumen is unwilling to give it up easily. People stared at He Ling secretly, trying to find clues in his daily behavior.

But the spies failed, because He Ling was too shrewd, he had already guessed that Tumen Khan had this move, and he performed impeccably from beginning to end...until he revealed the news that "Northwest Camp was infected with the epidemic" according to the order of Dingbianhou. To the Beile people is to put one's position on the table.

It's a pity that Beile Khan didn't know about this turbulent game.

"...Our previous foreshadowing worked. The people in the Central Plains were infected with the epidemic, and their combat power and fighting spirit were severely damaged. There was only an empty shell left in the Northwest Camp. If you got close, you could hear the wailing of the sick soldiers. Tumen put down the letter paper and waved to the side. His young son put down his little bow and snuggled up to his father, "Halan, if it were you, what would you do?"

The young prince tilted his head, his Tumen-like eyes revealed deep thoughts: "Where did Father Khan hear about it? Is the information credible?"

Tumen thought for a while: "A friend told me that he helped us a lot. I dare not say that he is absolutely credible, but from the current point of view, there is no problem with our cooperation. This information is at least [-]% credible. .”

Harlan frowned: "I heard from the merchants on the grassland that doing business is all about making a bet, and if you have a five-point chance, it's worth the bet...but I don't think he's right."

Tumen looked at him with interest: "What's wrong?"

"If it's just one person's wealth and life, you can gamble with a three-point certainty. But if the bet is on Qianli Grassland and tens of thousands of clansmen, even ninety percent certainty is too little!"

Tumen laughed loudly, he gently tossed his young son up, and then caught him firmly like a rock.

"That's right," Tumen said appreciatively, "Just like the prairie wolves that Father Khan brought you to hunt, they spend most of their lives in hiding, and they won't easily reveal their whereabouts, and they don't take the initiative to show their minions. Sometimes, you even suspect that they are not aggressive at all, no different from domesticated watchdogs."

"But when the fighter planes come, they will be ready to attack in an instant... At that moment, forget about the so-called odds of winning or losing, you only see winning or losing!"

"This is the fate of the prairie wolf!"