Chapter 650: We Can Do Anything—Except Send Troops to Battle!

Luoyang.

The summer heat rises so that even the evening breeze carries a wave of warmth, yet the Ya Ge deep within the Luoyang Prince Manor exudes a bone‑chilling coolness.

This Ya Ge is built beside the water; its carved beams and painted rafters are inlaid with fragrant nan wood, and at each of the four corners sits an ice basin half a person's height tall.

Large chunks of cold ice melt slowly in the basins, white mist spirals up along the carved, lattice‑like rims, suppressing the room's heat until it vanishes without a trace.

In the center of the Ya Ge lies a scarlet carpet from the Western Regions, where seven or eight Hu ji are dancing gracefully to the rhythm of the pipa.

They wear pomegranate‑red, gold‑splashed Hu skirts, the hems cut extremely short, revealing slender, supple waists and bare, translucent white ankles.

Bead strings adorning their heads sway lightly with each step, chiming softly.

Their brows and eyes are painted with dark flower ornaments; as their gazes ripple, flirtatious charm erupts, and when they spin, the skirts flare like blooming pomegranate blossoms, dazzlingly vivid.

At the side of the seat sit several graceful women, all in moon‑white ru skirts, their delicate hands lightly plucking the pipa.

The strings sound at times clear and soaring, at times soft and languid, intertwining endlessly with the jingling bells at the Hu ji's waists, filling the room with harmonious song and dance, the silk and bamboo music pleasant to the ear.

Within the Ya Ge are several huanghuali wine tables, each laden with rare delicacies.

A whole roasted sheep, its skin crisp and oily; marinated deer tendons bursting with flavor; crystal‑clear jelly; plus assorted fresh fruits and amber‑colored Western Regions wine.

The scent of wine mingles with floral perfume and the coolness of ice mist, weaving an atmosphere of luxurious laziness.

Hou Wanjing sits at the head seat, deep eyes, high nose, slightly sunken eye sockets, prominent cheekbones—a typical Xiongnu‑Hu appearance. He wears a dark, gold‑woven python robe that makes his figure even more imposing, the python pattern subtly shifting in the lantern light.

Though his face bears a hint of intoxication, his eyes conceal a deep, sharp acuity.

Flanking him on both sides are the great generals Kezhuhun Qiyuan, Shao Ling, Ding He, Chi Luo Tong, Zhi Huaren, Song Zixian, and others.

All are clad in Brothel, in shades of blue, purple or crimson, each standing tall and upright.

Some raise cups to drink heartily, others pick meat to chew, their gazes all lingering on the dancing Hu ji at the center; after three rounds of wine, all wear a slightly tipsy expression.

Kezhuhun Qiyuan, naturally bold‑hearted and having downed plenty of strong liquor, is now thoroughly drunk; he slams his wine cup onto the table, laughs loudly and stands: "A dance this fine, just watching it is no pleasure!"

Chi Luo Tong, also a headstrong man, immediately echoes him; the two step into the dance floor one after the other, merging straight into the Hu ji.

The Hu ji, seeing this, are not startled; instead they sway their waists and hips even more coquettishly, circling around the two.

Kezhuhun Qiyuan's eyes flash, his hand swift; he grabs the waist of a nearby Hu ji, his fingertips stroking the slender, supple waist and abdomen, then smoothly pulls her hand, his finger pads grazing her smooth skin, a mischievous grin on his face, he teasingly praises: "Hey, this tiny waist is so thin, this little hand so tender!"

The Hu ji, accustomed to flattering, instantly casts a springy glance, softly nestles into Kezhuhun Qiyuan's arms, her chest gently brushing his Brothel, cooing delicately: "General Kezhuhun~~"

Her voice is so soft it could melt a person.

Kezhuhun Qiyuan, aroused by this coquettish posture, leans his head down to the neck, inhales deeply the scent mingling flower and body fragrance, laughs loudly: "Tonight, you beautiful one, will attend to this general!"

Having said so, he embraces the Hu ji and laughs boisterously, his hearty laugh echoing throughout the room.

Chi Luo Tong, on the other side, grabs two Hu ji, one in each arm, his fingertips wandering freely over their bodies, provoking continual giggles.

The atmosphere in the Ya Ge grows ever more decadent and indulgent.

Zhi Huaren and Song Zixian laugh heartily, occasionally raising cups to cheer.

Only Ding He remains composed; watching the noisy song and dance, he furrows his brow.

He sets down the white jade wine cup, the liquid rippling shallowly, then rises, circles the noisy dance floor, approaches Hou Wanjing's main table, leans in and whispers: "Lord, Yuwen Hu has sent more goods again!"

Hou Wanjing stares intently at a spinning Hu ji, a piece of roasted lamb meat between his fingers, and nonchalantly waves his hand as he chews: "If it's sent, just take it!"

His tone is full of indifference, as if it were a commonplace item.

Ding He furrows his brow tighter, ponders briefly, then leans in a few steps, his voice even lower, tinged with urgency: "Lord, this delivery is unlike the past; the storeroom holds over a thousand stones of provisions, ten boxes brimming with gold, silver and jewels, and ten stunning beauties..."

"Only I think, Jinyang has already taken up arms against Zhou State; this is a once‑in‑a‑thousand‑years opportunity for us!"

At those words, Shao Ling, who was raising a cup nearby, instantly brightens, sets down her cup and leans forward, eyes blazing, her tone full of heroic vigor: "Indeed, Lord! General Ding speaks so rightly!"

"Once the Gao family and the Yuwen family clash, both sides will fight to the death…"

"Now is the perfect moment for us to dispatch troops northward and seize territory directly!"

Speaking, he clenches his fist, his eyes filled with eager longing for conquest, clearly having long plotted the northward campaign.

Hou Wanjing, hearing this, lifts the white jade wine jar on the table, fills his own cup to the brim, tilts his head back and drains it in one gulp; the wine slides down his mouth corners, soaking the python pattern on his chest, he hums lightly, a slight curl of his mouth, his gaze dripping with disdain: "Ha!"

"If we truly act so, that would be falling into Yuwen Hu's trap!"

He sets down the cup, his fingertips lightly tapping the table, his gaze sweeping over Ding He and Shao Ling, a half‑smile, his tone tinged with amusement: "In the end, we're just making a wedding dress for Zhou State!"

Ding He, hearing this, startles, the urgency on his face freezing, and asks in bewilderment: "How… how could that be?"

"We're seizing the Gao family's territory while the two armies face off; what does Zhou State have to do with it?"

"How could we be making a wedding dress for them?"

He truly cannot fathom how such a prime opportunity could be Yuwen Hu's scheme.

Shao Ling, also full of doubt, furrows her brows, echoing: "Indeed, Lord!"

"Zhou State and Jinyang's forces are locked in fierce battle, preoccupied with themselves; how could they even calculate us?"

"I truly cannot see the logic here; please enlighten us, Lord!"

Hou Wanjing picks up a piece of tender, marinated deer tendon, places it in his mouth and chews slowly, the meat's aroma and rich broth filling his teeth.

He swallows gradually, grabs the nearby brocade handkerchief and wipes his mouth corner.

The drunken gleam fades from his eyes, leaving only a bottomless depth, as if he could see the trajectory of the world's chessboard.

A faint, teasing smile curls his mouth; he sets down the brocade handkerchief, speaks calmly yet with weight: "Don't be fooled by the current standoff of Zhou and Qi beneath Yubi City, swords drawn, tension boiling, as if they won't cease until one kills the other…"

He pauses, his gaze suddenly sharp as a blade, sweeping slowly over the assembled generals; his tone deep, with a hint of a rhetorical question: "Do you believe that once Luoyang's troops move even a half step north, Yuwen Hu and Gao Ying could instantly set aside past grievances, negotiate peace before battle, and point their spears straight at us?"

The words thundered like a sudden strike on flat ground, exploding in the generals' minds.

The Ya Ge is so quiet one can hear the dripping of the melting ice basins; the confusion on everyone's faces gradually fades, replaced by solemn realization.

They are all veteran battlefield generals, naturally understanding the principle of three‑way balance, but had previously been blinded by the lure of heading north, never pondering the risks.

Song Zixian, who had been sitting silently at the side, finally speaks.

He taps his fingers lightly on the table, eyebrows slightly raised, eyes sharp, picking up Hou Wanjing's thread and says: "Lord, you speak absolutely right!"

"And moreover, do you think Gao Ying of Jinyang, daring to rashly dispatch troops against Zhou State, truly has no defenses against us, Luoyang?"

He paused, his tone firm, "In my view, he has already covertly placed many spies and rear guards along the border that abuts us, waiting for any slight movement from us, then he will act immediately…."

"If we actually send troops, we might be cut off before even reaching Jinyang's border!"

Ding He heard this, startled sharply; the urgency on his face vanished, replaced by a thoughtful look.

He lowered his head, pondering briefly, his impulse gradually yielding to calm; when he looked up again, the earlier restlessness gone, he clasped his fists to Hou Wanjing and asked, "Your Majesty, Shuyi's earlier thoughtlessness nearly caused a grave mistake!"

"Then, according to Your Majesty's view, how should we respond to the current situation?"

Shao Ling finally fully grasped the point; the fists she had clenched slowly relaxed, though still somewhat unwilling, her tone tinged with regret and urgency: "We can't just stand on the riverbank watching the fire, doing nothing and missing this seemingly once‑in‑a‑thousand‑years chance, can we?"

"We've trained troops for a thousand days; can we only watch Zhou and Qi armies clash, doing absolutely nothing?"

Hou Wanjing lifted the white jade goblet on the table; the amber liquid shimmered in the lamplight, he smiled lightly, his expression full of confident certainty, and said slowly, "Not so! We are not idle; we must 'use stillness to control movement.'"

"As long as I hold my troops steady and defend Luoyang, both Zhou and Qi will be wary…"

He raised his hand, swaying the goblet; the liquid rippled gently, his tone growing steadier: "Whether it's Yuwen Hu or Gao Ying, they both know, and out of fear they'll desperately try to win us over!"

"We only need to stand on an invincible position, sit back and watch them exhaust each other, reaping steady gains!"

Song Zixian heard this, immediately nodded in agreement, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes: "Your Majesty's words are spot on! This is precisely the key to the three‑way game."

"We can freely move between the Zhou and Qi sides, using their mutual restraint as an opportunity to demand more benefits from both, secretly amassing greater strength…"

"When they are both battered and weakened, we will strike at the right moment, and only then can a single battle decide the heavens and earth!"

His voice was soft, yet each word was like a pearl, revealing deep calculation, causing the generals' minds to clear. Hou Wanjing's face showed an approving smile, and he nodded heavily: "Indeed!"

He set down the goblet, his gaze sweeping the crowd, saying with a half‑smile, "Thus, aside from sending troops to fight, we can do anything!"

The words just finished, his gaze fixed on Ding He, his tone turning a bit stern, gently calling, "Ding He!"

Ding He felt a chill, immediately rose, clasped his fists, and respectfully replied, "Subordinate General is here!"

Hou Wanjing lifted the goblet, took a sip, then drained it, his tone tinged with a hint of playfulness, and slowly instructed, "You must immediately send orders, continue dispatching people to Chang'an and Jinyang…"

"Go to Chang'an to see Yuwen Hu, tell him Luoyang's army is short on provisions and equipment, and request his assistance!"

"Go to Jinyang to see Gao Ying, say we are willing to serve the nation, request command to lead reinforcements, and demand provisions, pay, and arms."

"In short, we need money, provisions, and weapons—the more the better!"

He paused again, fingers lightly tapping the table, and added, "Also, increase correspondence with the Liang Kingdom to the south…"