Chapter 199: Northwest Jingzhou, Ming Shaoxia

"Ming Shaoxia isn't losing his mind, is he?"

Yuwen Ze looked at that frantic, ferocious appearance, and, coupled with those solemn words, asked in bewilderment.

He knew better than anyone how much advantage his brother A Xiong's combo had established.

Unless the Ming Shaoxia before him were the unparalleled Xiang King alive, perhaps he could still break through the encirclement despite such extreme disadvantage…

But there was no way to stir things up and restore Former Yan…

Moreover, he was only a civil official; Yuwen Ze truly couldn't imagine any other chance to turn the tide!

"It doesn't look like it either…" Lu Cangfeng said cautiously, shaking his head, feeling that the fellow wasn't truly mad.

Wang Xiong, Dou Luling and others also debated loudly.

"Isn't that so?"

Chen Yan placed one hand behind his back, smiled calmly, and retorted.

He paused, then hypothesized: "Could Ming Shaoxia, the prefect, perhaps, like Emperor Guangwu of Han, summon a meteor out of thin air and strike Yaochi Peak?"

What kind of figure the Great Magus is, what fate, that the same thing could happen a second time?

If it truly were possible, Chen Yan would indeed concede…

"I can't summon a meteor…"

Ming Shaoxia's Red Eyes trembled all over, and he sneered.

Immediately, he turned the conversation and shouted hysterically: "But I can drag the whole Anding, the entire Jingzhou to be my sacrifice!"

By the end, Ming Shaoxia was flailing his arms and legs.

As if he had it in the bag…

Having worked together for so many years, Situ Hui knew Ming Shaoxia well, fully aware that his tone wasn't bragging nor baseless, and immediately asked: "Ming Shaoxia, what do you mean by that?"

"What contingency have you left inside Anding City?"

A foreboding feeling spread in Situ Hui's mind without any sign…

"Nothing much, and not inside Anding City…"

Ming Shaoxia craned his neck, smiling devilishly, scanning everyone from left to right, and darkly asked: "Do any of you know what lies in the northwest of Jingzhou?"

"Tuyuhun?" Dou Luling blurted out almost reflexively.

But as soon as he said it, he shook his head: "No, just last year Tuyuhun was beaten by Chen Lao Zhuguo, who led his troops and wounded them badly, their vitality severely damaged, they never had the nerve to invade our Great Zhou here…"

Dou Luling knew this so well because his father Dou Luchang also took part in that battle.

Therefore, the Tuyuhun in the northwest of Great Zhou could hardly threaten Jingzhou; where then does the danger come from?

"You foolish, narrow‑minded brat!"

Ming Shaoxia snorted coldly, curled his lip, and mocked.

Humiliated, Dou Luling's face flushed, about to retort, but Chen Yan spoke first: "Bypass Tuyuhun and strike straight into Jingzhou…"

Mentioning this, his gaze at Ming Shaoxia became razor‑sharp, and he continued: "Have you been secretly colluding with the Turkic in the northwest?"

The Turkic border Great Zhou, yet they do not neighbor Jingzhou.

It is the vast northwest Grassland, home to newly rising nomads, originally iron‑forged slaves of the northern grassland hegemon Rouran.

Skilled in mounted archery, their military strength is formidable, now showing great momentum for rise.

"Chen Yan, you kid are really…"

Having his scheme exposed, Ming Shaoxia was momentarily stunned, looked at Chen Yan appreciatively, and couldn't help praising: "Spot on!"

He paused, then said: "At this hour, the three thousand Iron Cavalry led personally by Moheduo Special Forces are probably less than a hundred li from Anding…"

"Moheduo Special Forces?"

Yuwen Ze muttered the name, suddenly realizing something, and said: "The Turkic Chuluo Great Khan's most war‑like prince?"

Being the Jin Prince's heir, the sole successor, the Grand Chancellor seldom allowed Yuwen Ze to review official documents and train in state affairs…

He was, of course, well‑versed in the neighboring states.

And this Moheduo Special Forces was the third son of the Turkic Chuluo Great Khan, who, in the great war against Rouran, won battle after battle, earning a formidable reputation…

"Ming Shaoxia, you really are a damn bastard!"

"Do you know what consequences this will cause!"

Situ Hui stared at Ming Shaoxia with murderous intent, shouting profanities.

Three thousand Turkic Iron Cavalry, plus a battle‑hardened Special Forces, would mean devastation for all living beings!

This is for personal gain, abandoning countless civilians!

"Three thousand Iron Cavalry trampling Jingzhou, do you know how many civilians will be displaced or lose their lives because of your actions!" Dou Luling's eyes widened, his emotions intense, he demanded.

The grassland cavalry marching south will inevitably burn, slaughter, loot, rivers of blood, utterly rampant.

No one knows how many civilians will die gruesously under their blades.

Nor how many men and women will be captured as slaves, becoming tools for their beastly lusts…

One misstep, and the prosperous Jingzhou would be ruined in an instant.

"What does the life or death of those lowborn have to do with me?"

Ming Shaoxia sneered, looked up, and disdainfully retorted.

He paused, then pointed at Situ Hui, shouting: "They wouldn't have had to die; it's because you brought Chen Yan!"

Obviously, Ming Shaoxia placed all responsibility on Situ Hui.

Originally, this Turkic cavalry was to be used as a surprise force to storm Chang'an once everything was ready…

But due to Situ Hui's meddling, summoning the damned Chen Yan, the plan had to be launched early, resulting in total loss.

Thus the lowborn's fate was no longer his concern!

Situ Hui gritted his teeth and asked: "Do you know how much the lowborn cherish you?"

At that moment, Si Tu Hui truly felt the deceived Jingzhou townsfolk were left feeling worthless....

They revere them, they treat them as the heavenly father officials, yet they are scum worse than pigs and dogs!

"Crazy!"

"He really is crazy...."

"How can there be such a mad person?"

Wang Xiong and Dou Luling sighed.

Just as the crowd was roused, ready to verbally and in writing attack Ming Shaoxia and let their guard down, he swiftly drew a hand crossbow from his lower back, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes, and said, "Chen Yan, you go die for me!"

It is obvious that Ming Shaoxia mentioned the Turkic army and used that phrasing deliberately to divert attention....

"Young Master, be careful!"

"Sir, be careful!"

Zhu Yi and You Xian reacted the fastest, immediately shielding Chen Yan.

The other embroidered-cloak envoys did the same, stepping forward one after another to guard.

No one expected that Ming Shaoxia also concealed a crossbow bolt on his person.....

"Ah!"

A wail of pain rang out.

Ming Shaoxia's bolt struck an unexpected person.

"You....."

Si Tu Hui clutched his chest, soaked in fresh blood, and fell.

Zu Ting: "Xiao Changshi!"

Chen Yan: "Si Tu Hui!"

Hongye: "Father!"

The crowd was shocked and pale, and Hongye immediately lunged forward.

"Xiao Lin, no, I should call you Si Tu Hui....."

Triumphant, Ming Shaoxia laughed wildly, full of resentment, snarling, "Didn't expect me to feint east and strike you, did you?"

"I, Ming Shaoxia, hate being betrayed the most!"

"Hahaha!"

Ming Shaoxia knew clearly that there were experts beside Chen Yan, so even a surprise attack would be hard to land......

It would be better to feint a shot, using everyone's attention on him, and take away the bastard who was causing his own downfall.

That was at least a sigh of relief!

As for the mind, Louis XVI should take a lesson.....

"Hold Ming Shaoxia!" Chen Yan narrowed his eyes, clenched his fists, and barked through gritted teeth.

"Yes."

The surrounding embroidered-cloak envoys responded, pinning Ming Shaoxia to the ground.

"Cough... cough cough... Hongye..."

The fresh blood oozing from his chest stained Si Tu Hui's clothes red as he muttered.

"Father, your daughter is here!" Hongye clutched her father's lifted hand.

"Father probably can't…"

Si Tu Hui, breathing weakly, grasped his daughter's hand, forced himself to stay alert, and instructed, "Lord Chen Yan is the only hope for the Jingzhou people; you must protect him without moving a step!"