Chapter 206: One Stroke, Two Gains: Both Face and Substance Secured

"A Xiong… he actually came up with such an idea?!"

Yuwen Ze heard this, and his normally calm eyes were filled with shock; he said in surprise.

When he saw the captured Turkic special envoy being held alone and instructed to be treated courteously, he realized his brother A Xiong had made a huge calculation…

But he hadn't expected the scheme to be that big!

He was directly preparing to support a Turkic Khan who was close to Great Zhou!

It must be said, this move is very clever, greatly beneficial to Great Zhou, and his father would certainly agree.

"General Chen speaks rather lightly…"

Moheduo's eyes first brightened, then seemed to recall something; the light in them dimmed, he shook his head helplessly and said with a wry smile, "You should also know that the struggle among the Great Khans has always been fierce, and now, thanks to you, this special envoy rode a thousand miles to attack, yet not only achieved nothing but was captured alive; it probably won't be that easy!"

Having said that, he let out a long sigh.

It cannot be denied that Chen Yan's proposal is indeed enticing; with Zhou State's assistance, he could more easily sweep away those brothers…

But once today's defeat news reaches home, his prestige will plummet, becoming a joke; who would be willing to let a prisoner rise to power?

The previously suppressed brothers would definitely seize the chance, add insult to injury, and cut off their own chances of succession.

"What do you mean captured alive?"

Chen Yan smiled calmly and corrected, "Clearly this shows boldness, great strategy, and great wisdom—entering the Great Zhou army camp alone on a single horse for the sake of the Turkic grand picture and national interests, to negotiate cooperation!"

"What a hero!"

Saying so, he gave a meaning‑laden glance.

What image lies in how one describes…

No one understands the spring‑and‑autumn style better than Chen Yan!

"Hahaha!"

Moheduo almost instantly understood, his mouth couldn't stop smiling, his concerns vanished, he laughed heartily, pointed at Chen Yan, and praised, "General Chen, you truly are a marvelous person!"

"With you in Zhou State, it's hard not to prosper!"

Moheduo held Chen Yan in even higher regard, truly appreciating his exquisite mind…

As long as Zhou State is willing to cooperate, it will not damage prestige but greatly help!

Not only, with great wisdom and courage, he negotiated the highly beneficial Trade Fair, but also secured an ally to oppose the Rouran!

What a great achievement!

The Turks revere heroes; with such an unprecedented merit, his prestige will be incomparable.

"How about it?"

Chen Yan lifted the tea bowl on the table, stretched forward, and asked with a smile, "Special envoy, would you be willing to cooperate with me?"

"Moheduo, do you still have any reason to refuse?" Moheduo raised his tea bowl, clinked it, and retorted.

With such a powerful ally, crushing the brothers is no problem…

Mainly to deal with the Rouran!

Defeat it, and the Turks become the new generation's grassland hegemon!

And Moheduo is, without doubt, the Great Khan.

"To stage the whole drama…"

Chen Yan nodded, a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, and said, "The special envoy must accompany me to Chang'an to meet the Grand Treasury Minister and sign a state treaty!"

"Then Great Zhou will dispatch a special envoy to escort the special envoy back to Turkic lands!"

Face projects are often criticized, yet they are truly effective; otherwise they wouldn't be extolled by later generations…

With this whole maneuver, the capture of the Turkic special envoy is smoothed over, the face is saved, and the trip to Chang'an to pay respects indirectly boosts the Grand Treasury Minister's prestige!

One move, two gains; both face and substance are secured.

"Very proper!" Moheduo nodded, clasped his fists, and said, "Then everything will follow General Chen's arrangement!"

The arrangement, down to the smallest detail, even Moheduo cannot find any flaw…

A trip to Chang'an and a return to Turkic lands will only increase his prestige; he has no reason to refuse.

"Sir, the special envoy's subordinates have arrived!"

You Xian, who had been guarding outside, entered the tent, came to Chen Yan's side, and respectfully reported.

Chen Yan raised his hand, looked at Moheduo, and smiled, "Please have the special envoy handwrite a letter, authorizing ten cavalry to go to An Ding as escort for the special envoy's journey to Chang'an; the remaining troops stay put. Is that acceptable?"

According to Chen Yan's original Plan A, if this Turkic special envoy were a stubborn, unreasonable type and negotiations failed, they would simply exchange people for warhorses…

But now the negotiations are extremely smooth, so Chen has seized the opportunity to activate Plan B.

Together they will return to Chang'an to pay homage to the Son of Heaven and the Grand Treasury Minister.

Moheduo nodded, agreeing, "Fine."

"General Chen, fetch paper and brush!"

At the hour of the Dog, the drumbeat pierced the night, and the whole city was shrouded in tense silence.

Torchlight on the city walls flickered, casting the silhouettes of patrolling soldiers onto the mottled walls, like drifting black giants.

The newly raised martial law banner rustled in the night wind, the bright yellow character "Jin" (Prohibition) flickering in the firelight, like a warning hanging over the people's hearts.

Deep in the alleys, shopkeepers had shut their doors early; only a few lanterns behind paper windows emitted a hazy glow.

On the Qingshi slab road, the clanging of iron armor grew louder, and a horse troupe of over ten men bearing torches raced past, the firelight illuminating curled stray dogs in the street corner before they vanished into darkness.

Zhou Government Office.

After returning to An Ding and settling the Turkic special envoy Moheduo, Chen Yan led Yuwen Hu, Wang Xiong and others to the council hall.

He also sent people to summon those who had also returned: Kou Luo, Liang Shiyan, He Ruodun and others.

"You Xian, order people to spread the news of the devastating Jing Hong Assembly throughout An Ding and the whole Jingzhou…" Chen Yan sat at the head seat, thought briefly, then looked at You Xian and instructed.

"Understood." You Xian, standing to the side, nodded.

Yuwen Ze heard this, was puzzled, and asked, "A Xiong, didn't we annihilate the Jing Hong Society completely, eradicating the bandit threat?"

The elite of the Jing Hong Society that raided Kuangcang Peak were killed cleanly; the few who escaped by luck were also executed by Feng Xiao Yan, who was stationed below.

And the bandits left guarding Wangmu Palace's Yaochi Peak were all exterminated, so where does this talk of heavy damage come from?

"Indeed!"

Chen Yan turned his head, looking at Yuwen Ze with a half‑smile, "A Ze, think about it carefully…"

His words were full of lingering meaning.

"Young Master, several elders have arrived!"

At that moment, Zhu Yi, noticing the newcomers entering, reminded them.

"Brother Chen (big brother)!"

Kuo Luo, Liang Shiyan, Feng Xiao Yan, He Ruodun, and Liu Yuanjing walked side by side into the council hall, saluting Chen Yan.

These four, after standing alone and enduring bloody battles, shed their naivety and impetuousness, gaining a few degrees of steadiness and grim resolve.

"Kuo Luo, Liang Shiyan, how many casualties did your side suffer this time?" Chen Yan's gaze fell directly on the two, and he asked.

The missions of Kuo and Liang were to block the enemy midway, fighting on foot against cavalry; the pressure was greatest, and the casualties were the heaviest.

"On my side, over five hundred Jingzhou soldiers survived; Brother Liang's side has over three hundred!" Kuo Luo said, exchanged a glance with Liang Shiyan, sighed, and reported truthfully.

Speaking of it, he recalled the horrific battle scene, almost unable to return…

"Hmm, well done," Chen Yan nodded.

"Serving the country faithfully, how can we speak of hardship?" Kuo and Liang solemnly replied.

"How did you deal with the several major families that caused unrest in An Ding City?" Chen Yan looked at He Ruodun and asked.

"After Brother Liu and I pacified the rebellion, we placed all members of those families under soft confinement in their own mansions…"

He Ruodun said without hesitation, "Awaiting Brother Chen's decree!"

"Fine!"

"I intend to confiscate the Han family and other clans, using their estates and women to provide relief to the families of fallen soldiers and to reward the brave officers…"

Chen Yan lifted his eyes, scanning the assembled people, and asked, "What do you all think?"

The first priority after the war is to fulfill the battle merits.

We cannot let them die in vain after shedding blood.

Otherwise, who will be willing to be loyal in the future?

"Brother Chen, this arrangement is excellent!" everyone said in unison.

Chen Yan changed his tone, saying gravely, "As for the wealth accumulated by the Jing Hong Society over the years, we will take thirty percent…"

"The remainder will be escorted back to Chang'an for the Grand Treasury Steward to handle!"