Chapter 431: Incitement

You Xian stepped forward, his steps light and swift yet unhurried; the dark robe's hem brushed the ground almost silently. He stopped three steps away from Chen Yan, hands lowered in a respectful bow, and in a deep voice said, "Sir, Lord Gao has returned!"

He paused, then continued, "Also with us is Prince Tuyuhun, Xiahou Da!"

The assembled crowd, upon hearing this, first froze in surprise, then their eyes brightened. Some unconsciously tightened their grip on the fruit they held, their eyes bubbling with uncontrollable excitement.

Gao Jiong leading Prince Tuyuhun back means that this war is about to draw to a close…

It will be recorded in the annals as their great victory!

"Oh?"

Chen Yan lifted his eyebrow ever so slightly; in his deep eyes there was no surprise, as if he had long anticipated it. He let his lips rise slowly, a faint knowing smile appearing: "It seems it has become…"

"Invite them to the Central Army's main tent!"

You Xian, hearing this, bowed his waist another half inch, and clearly replied, "As you command!"

He then hurried away.

The Central Army's main tent.

The candlelight flickered as the wind stirred it, casting a cold, hard gleam off the surrounding armor.

Chen Yan had already changed into a suit of black iron armor; the Taotie pattern on his Shoulder Armor shimmered faintly in the light and shadow as he sat upright on the main seat.

His fingertips rested on the armrest, his gaze calmly sweeping over the tent below, his aura growing ever more imposing.

The generals lined up on both sides, all composed and solemn, swords hanging at their waists, even their breathing softened a bit.

The tent curtain was pulled aside from outside, and You Xian led the two in with measured steps.

Gao Jiong's eyes immediately fixed on Chen Yan at the main seat; he stepped forward half a step, went into Dankui Guidi, clasped his fists to his chest, and said, "Shuyi has seen the Grand General!"

His hands quietly clenched, the excitement hidden deep in his eyes.

It flashed only for an instant as he lifted his gaze, then was swiftly masked by composure.

Gao Jiong finally caught the last train of merit!

Venturing alone into the city for negotiations, securing Prince Tuyuhun's agreement to the treaty beneath the city, will surely leave a bold, vivid mark in this battle…

Is this Chen Yan, who dealt a great defeat to our Tuyuhun? He is even younger and more heroic than imagined… Xiahou Da, wearing a Brothel, the collar embroidered with silver‑threaded eagle pattern, surveyed Chen Yan's appearance from head to toe, inwardly sighing, bowed and said, "Great Khan's envoy has seen Grand General Chen!"

Chen Yan rose slowly, stepping down from the main seat with steady strides, stopped before Gao Jiong, raised his hand and gave his shoulder a firm pat, the palm's pressure conveying reassurance and approval, and laughed, "A Jiong, well done!"

His eyes were full of admiration.

He truly is a fine vassal…

"It is Shuyi's honor to serve the Grand General, I dare not speak of hardship!"

Gao Jiong, hearing this, bent his waist even lower, a flattering smile instantly spreading across his face, his tone firm yet with a hint of excitement: "I will not disappoint the trust placed in me!"

Chen Yan withdrew his hand from Gao Jiong's shoulder, his fingertips lightly brushing the cloud pattern on the armor, his gaze slowly turning to Xiahou Da at his side.

He did not speak immediately, his eyes calmly assessing the other from top to bottom.

After a moment, a faint smile tugged at his mouth; his tone showed no obvious distance, yet carried the composure of one above: "I suppose this is Prince Tuyuhun, His Highness Xiahou Da, correct?"

"Exactly!"

Xiahou Da felt a slight tension, quickly nodded, his voice a bit lighter than expected: "I never imagined Grand General Chen had even heard of me…"

His words trailed off unconsciously, his eyes hiding a barely perceptible surprise.

"Of course I've heard…"

Chen Yan heard this, his smile deepening a few more degrees; the smile never fully reached his eyes, adding a hint of intriguing playfulness.

Then, speaking slowly again, his voice low yet carrying a certain penetrating force: "After all, Crown Prince Shun has often spoken of you, Prince."

"Oh?"

Xiahou Da's brows twitched lightly twice, a still composed curve at his mouth, and he asked tentatively: "Then what did big brother say about me?"

He did not expect this Zhou Army commander to suddenly mention his own Crown Prince brother…

He could not understand what kind of medicine was being sold in that gourd!

Chen Yan's playful glint deepened, a half‑smile curving his mouth, his gaze blazing as it locked onto Xiahou Da, his tone openly teasing: "Crown Prince Shun says you have a good younger brother, always coveting the Crown Prince's seat, wishing to replace him…"

He paused, stepped forward half a step, deliberately lowered his voice, yet clear enough for the parties to hear, the ending heavy with pressure: "I also beg this General, and kindly bring you, Prince, back to Chang'an as a guest!"

When the words "guest in Chang'an" fell, Xiahou Da's complexion turned pale by half, his steps instinctively retreating a small distance.

His hands clenched into fists, even his breathing became rapid.

Yuwen Ze, standing beside the main seat, fixed his gaze on the two confronting each other in the tent; his face showed no ripple, his eyelids slightly lowered, masking a fleeting smile, yet in his heart he laughed silently: "A Xiong really is wicked!"

"So this is direct incitement…"

At that moment, Yuwen Ze grasped his brother's intention…

To exploit the internal conflict of the Tuyuhun royal family to achieve his own goal!

As for whether Xiahou Shun really said that, does it matter?

If A Xiong says it exists, then it does!

"General Chen is joking!"

Xiahou Da took a sharp breath, steadied his emotions, raised his hand to smooth the front of his Brothel, forced his spine upright, and for the sake of the royal family's dignity, forcibly defended his honor: "My two brothers have always been harmonious, truly brotherly and respectful; how could big brother utter such words?"

Even so, the hand hanging at his side clenched quietly, the hint of apprehension in his eyes no longer hidden.

What a good big brother he truly is!

He had been captured alive by the Zhou Army, yet still wanted him to keep him company…

Wang Xiong and the others unconsciously rubbed the pommels of their swords at their waists, suppressing any smile from their mouths.

When Xiahou Da uttered those four words earlier, they almost couldn't hold back a laugh.

Almost in unison they thought to themselves, "What a brotherly and respectful pair!"

"Xiahou Da truly can speak without a change of expression!"

The four of them clearly remembered what the flashpoint was when Xiahou Shun angrily pursued…

Chen Yan heard that, blinked, the teasing in his eyes faded, and he put on a look of sudden enlightenment with a hint of "misunderstood", a smile at the corner of his mouth, his tone unusually sincere: "Oh? Is it like that?"

He stepped forward half a step, raised his voice a bit, as if truly trying to remedy his earlier "misspeak", though his eyes hid deeper amusement: "Then after I return to Chang'an, I will petition Your Majesty and the Grand Chancellor to let Crown Prince Shun return to Tuyuhun soon!"

"May you brothers reunite soon!"

As his words fell, he even bowed his hand to Xiahou Da.

He looked as if "thinking of you", as if truly about to fulfill it.

"Stop!"

Xiahou Da's voice suddenly rose, almost instinctively blurted out, and his body lunged forward a small half‑step.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized the slip, froze abruptly, his face turning even paler than before.

"Stop what?"

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, the smile in his eyes fully spread, full of amusement.

Immediately, he deliberately paused, locked his gaze on the other, his tone unmistakably teasing: "Look at the prince's reaction, does it mean you don't want Crown Prince Shun to return?"

A cold sweat beaded instantly on Xiahou Da's forehead, trickling down his temples; anxiously he added: "Please don't make General Chen difficult!"

He stepped back half a step, trying to appear composed, yet couldn't hide the urgency in his tone: "Brother is a hostage; how could his personal desire ruin the alliance between the two states?"

Xiahou Da knew well that, given Chen Yan's status and his connection with that powerful minister of Zhou State, if he were willing, he could truly…

Finally, with Xiahou Shun gone, he could expand his power and solidify his position in the Great Khan's heart.

Xiahou Da hoped his Crown Prince brother would die in Zhou State, so he could legitimately succeed the heir…

Could he let Xiahou Shun return again?

Yuwen Ze's gaze fell on Xiahou Da's expression, a faintly contemptuous smile tugged at his mouth, silently mocking in his heart: "A Xiong plays with this guy, easier than playing with a dog…"

"Thanks to the prince's reminder!"

Chen Yan raised his hand, lightly tapped his forehead, a look of "realization" on his face, his tone carrying just the right amount of "annoyance": "I actually forgot that point…"

He paused, his tone suddenly shifted, the earlier teasing largely reined in, and continued: "Let's hurry and sign the alliance treaty!"

Gao Jiong immediately stepped half a step forward, smoothly took two neatly rolled bright yellow silk sheets from his bosom.

They were the pre‑drafted final version of the treaty state document, the silk's edges embroidered with Great Zhou's dragon‑pattern totem, standing out in the dim light of the tent.

He held the state document with both hands, bowing slightly.

Seeing the topic finally steer away from "the prince's return", Xiahou Da's tense shoulders relaxed, a look of relief on his face, he quickly nodded, his tone a bit urgent and light: "I was just about to say the same!"

He hurried to the main table, scanned the spread treaty document, hesitated a moment, then swiftly picked up the brush, dipped it in ink.

With each stroke he signed his name, then took the jade seal at his waist, stamping heavily at the signature line.

The seal paste was bright red, striking against the bright yellow silk.

Chen Yan then stepped forward, took the brush, wrote with vigorous strokes, then stamped the Grand General's seal, the motion crisp and decisive.

He picked up Great Zhou's treaty document, fingertips brushed the signature, his smile deepened, and shouted toward the outside of the tent: "Fetch the wine!"

"I will celebrate our Great Zhou's brotherly alliance with Tuyuhun!"

The camp's soldiers heard and responded, quickly bringing wine jars and cups inside.

Xiahou Da carefully folded the Tuyuhun treaty, slipped it into the inner pocket of his Brothel, pressed to confirm it was secure, then turned to take the cup handed by a soldier, walked to Chen Yan, lifted his arm slightly, his posture deliberately respectful: "I salute the General!"

Chen Yan lifted his hand, raised his own cup; the rim of his cup lightly clinked with the other's, producing a crisp sound: "Cheers!"

As the words fell, both men tilted their heads simultaneously, drinking the strong wine in one gulp.

Xiahou Da set down his cup, the bottom struck the table with a soft sound, quickly bowed to Chen Yan, his tone hurried to leave: "Since the treaty is sealed, I won't linger, I'll return to the city to report to the Great Khan…"

With that, he turned to leave the tent, his steps much faster than when he arrived.

"Hold on." Chen Yan suddenly spoke, his voice low but made Xiahou Da's steps halt instantly.

He turned, seeing Chen Yan's fingertip tracing the cup's rim, a half‑smile in his eyes, his tone leisurely: "Look at my memory, I almost forgot to say…"

He paused, his gaze landing on Xiahou Da's suddenly tense face, the trailing tone full of control: "Don't delay the yearly installments, after all it concerns Crown Prince Shun's return date!"

"General Chen, rest assured!"

Xiahou Da twitched his mouth, gritted his teeth and replied: "What's due each year will never be missed!"

Yuwen Ze watched the scene, the smile in his eyes deepening…

To keep Xiahou Shun forever in Chang'an, he didn't fear Xiahou Da's lack of effort.

Half a month later.

The army that campaigned against Tuyuhun retreated to Hezhou, reaching Baohan.

After consulting the Grand Chancellor's father, Chen Yan changed the military office to a governance office, no longer moving around to trouble the people.

Baohan was turned into a military town, serving as Great Zhou's garrison and training ground in Hezhou.

Night just spread over the city walls, the camp's soldiers' area was lit by torches bright as day.

The soldiers removed their armor, leaving only the inner padding, gathering in groups of three or five around makeshift wooden tables.

In the copper basin on the table simmered fragrant lamb meat, the wine jar was open, amber liquid flowing down the altar's edge, reflecting specks of light in the fire.

The Gaotai stood in the center of the camp, draped with Great Zhou's standard red curtains, and a simple amplifier made of copper tubes and a wooden box stood in a corner.

Chen Yan, dressed in a light Brothel, walked steadily to the platform, his gaze sweeping the densely packed soldiers below; the previously noisy crowd fell silent at once.

After the surroundings fell completely silent, he spoke, his voice carried by the amplifier to the whole venue, steady and warm: "On this joyous occasion, I wish to tell you a few heartfelt words!"

The ground below was only the crackling of torches, even the most wine‑loving soldiers set down their cups and leaned in to listen.

The Duke of Wei's eyes fell on the newly added tents at the camp's edge, his tone grew solemn: "The Tongtian Society wreaks havoc, disturbing Hezhou's peace; you, with swords and armor, thunderously suppress the rebellion, letting the beacon fires pause!"

"Tuyuhun's wolves of ambition, leading troops to breach our gates, you defended the frontier with flesh and blood, forcing the strong enemy to surrender, keeping the nation's doors safe!"

"More commendable, you pursued the victory, striking Tuyuhun's homeland, forcing them to sign the treaty beneath the city—"

"These deeds of quelling rebellion, repelling foreign foes, expanding the nation's prestige, should be recorded in history, shining for millennia!"

"This victory is not solely General Chen's merit, but the result of every soldier's sweat and blood."

"Your steadfast guarding, lying on your swords awaiting dawn, and your fearless charge into the enemy formation are the brightest lights on this victorious banner."

"Today's glory belongs to every hero present!"

"From now on, the Court will never betray your contributions; your achievements will be recorded, and the families of those who gave their lives for the nation will be compensated."

"May we once again unite our hearts, protect our mountains and rivers forever, and safeguard the well‑being of our people!"