Chapter 118: Expedition

"Xiongnu?"

Du Biao's face darkened, and his heart gave a jolt.

This brother's head lolled to the side; he was already gone.

Du Biao mounted his horse again, galloping a thousand miles. Along the way, he saw at least five more salt transport teams, all slaughtered and looted!

Throughout this journey, Du Biao was filled with towering rage, his eyes bloodshot.

Finally, an hour later, he personally encountered that group of marauding Xiongnu. He drew his long saber and shouted, "Barbarians, you dare kill my brother?"

He roared and charged over.

The Xiongnu were clearly well-trained Archer Cavalry; how would they let Du Biao get close easily? Seeing Du Biao's state, they laughed mockingly one by one, shooting as they retreated. Arrows flew toward him; Du Biao roared in anger and parried, swinging his long saber to knock the arrows aside.

The Xiongnu soldiers saw this and knew they were facing an expert, so they dared not be negligent. By now, Du Biao had charged into their midst. The Xiongnu soldiers shouted, a group of them covering the Refined Salt as they fled, while several others held Du Biao back. This Du Biao was indeed worthy of being a Third Leader from a grassroots background; his own martial arts were quite formidable, and three or five men generally could do nothing to him.

Seeing this situation, a dozen or so Xiongnu soldiers swarmed over.

After all, Du Biao could not fight off four hands with two fists; soon, he was struck by several blades, blood gushing like a fountain, his face pale, yet he still chased after those few men, hacking away regardless of his own life.

"Go!"

No matter how fierce the Xiongnu soldiers were, they feared this man who disregarded his own life, and soon they rode away.

Only then did the reinforcements from the Baiya Army arrive late, charging over in pursuit.

"Don't go!"

The man leading them, about thirty years old with prematurely gray hair, barked at them to stop.

"Second Leader, why is that?"

"These animals..."

"Third Leader, how are you?"

This white-haired man was the Second Leader of the Baiya Army, named Yang Ke, the true mastermind of the Baiya Army. He looked at the departing Xiongnu soldiers and said indifferently, "Their formation is not broken, their advance and retreat are orderly, and they penetrated deep into Liangzhou just for Refined Salt. This means our Baiya Army has been schemed against!"

The crowd was shocked.

Yang Ke glanced at Du Biao and couldn't help but scold, "Are you trying to throw your life away? It's just a few carts of Refined Salt, isn't it? Get him tied up and taken back for proper medical treatment. This should only be the beginning!"

Du Biao's mouth moved, but he dared not say a word.

The Xiongnu have invaded again!

When Liu Zheng received this news, he was completely stunned.

The Xiongnu penetrated deep into Liangzhou, seized Refined Salt, and seriously wounded Du Biao! That same day, on their way back, the Xiongnu habitually looted three more villages, killing countless people.

The Baiya Army was enraged.

The Prefect of Baiya Prefecture reported it to the Liangzhou Prefecture that very day. The Liangzhou Prefecture naturally could not afford to be negligent on the surface and immediately reported it to the Capital. With all this back and forth, three days passed.

Yet in these three days, the Xiongnu became even more outrageous.

Having just signed a ceasefire agreement, the Xiongnu once again launched large-scale looting across Liangzhou. Within three days, they went from small-scale incursions at the start to finally arriving directly at the city gates.

Finally.

The imperial court of the Longyan Dynasty was enraged.

It was said that when the old Emperor heard this news, he even jumped up from his sickbed.

The majesty of the Lord of the Longyan Dynasty—how could it be violated like this?

"War!"

With one order, the entire Liangzhou entered a state of war readiness.

Liangzhou Prefecture.

Chen Ping sat with a gloomy face, looking at the stream of military orders without saying a word.

This war was caused by the Refined Salt, and most importantly, it was instigated by the Liangzhou Prefecture! The Xiongnu, blinded by greed for the Refined Salt, tore up the peace treaty once again and invaded in force. Once a war begins, how many lives are plunged into misery?

But the Xiongnu did not care, because they were accustomed to War-Nourished Warfare.

But what about Longyan?

At this moment, even Chen Ping did not know if his choice was right or wrong.

"My Lord, things have reached this point, you must not hesitate! This is a golden opportunity to regain control of Liangzhou!"

Liu Chang whispered seductively from the side.

Chen Ping said indifferently, "Resisting the Xiongnu is a major event for Liangzhou. Seven consecutive Imperial Edicts have been urging the Liangzhou Prefecture to send troops and transport grain. What should I do?"

Liu Chang said insidiously, "My Lord, grain can be transported slowly, and troops can be sent slowly..."

"Moreover, My Lord, since this is a major event for Liangzhou, and even for Longyan, why not issue an order for Yinzhou to rush to the aid of Baiya? With the Liangzhou war preparations and the Imperial Edict in hand, would that Liu Family father and son dare to defy the edict? Hahaha!"

Chen Ping was overjoyed: "If he defies the edict, then kill him!"

"If he accepts the edict... who would know what might happen in the midst of this chaos?"

The two looked at each other and sneered.

A Liangzhou Prefectural Order, accompanied by an Imperial Edict, was placed before Liu Zheng.

The great war in Liangzhou left people panic-stricken; the commoners longed for stability, yet they were fortunate to live in Yinzhou. Generally speaking, within the borders of Yinzhou, Yangzhou, and Kezhou, things remained quite stable, production did not stop, and commerce was not in disarray.

At this moment.

Liu Zheng, Qingyang Shuo, Jiang Xuan, Qin Zhangfeng, Zheng Yue Ru, Liu Dahao, and others were all sitting together, each lost in thought.

This Liangzhou Prefectural Order was very simple: the war in Beijing was becoming critical, and the Inspector ordered Yinzhou to immediately prepare for support and to provide its own grain and fodder!

"That bastard Chen Ping, he says it so lightly! I think he just wants to exhaust the strength of my Yinzhou! Young Master, you must not fall for it!"

Qin Zhangfeng said angrily.

Liu Zheng gave a bitter smile.

Qingyang Shuo also said, "Knowing full well they want to exhaust us, we still have no choice but to go. I hear that this time the two great Royal Courts of the Xiongnu have united, claiming an army of two hundred thousand, and have publicly declared they will only take Baiya Prefecture. At this time, the Xiongnu's grass is lush and their horses are strong; it is difficult to resist."

On this Xiongnu Grassland, there is a distinction between the East Xiongnu and the Western Xiongnu.

For a long time, the East and Western Xiongnu have been hostile. Therefore, the Longyan Dynasty could sow discord between them and use various methods of alienation to ensure the Longyan Dynasty's stability for many years.

But now, these two Royal Courts have actually united for the sake of Refined Salt?

It is evident that the appeal of this Refined Salt to the Grassland Royal Court is simply extraordinary.

"Refined Salt?"

Liu Zheng was somewhat puzzled: "These Xiongnu naturally assume that this Refined Salt originates from Baiya? Why are they so certain, even to the point of sparing no effort to exhaust their national strength?"

Qingyang Shuo chuckled, "Why must the Young Master ask us? You should already have a plan in mind!"

Liu Zheng and Qingyang Shuo exchanged a glance.

They spoke in unison.

"Liangzhou Prefecture!"

That's right!

This Xiongnu Army invasion has a sense of burning the boats behind them; if they hadn't received definite news, they absolutely would not have done this. Seen in this light, it is most likely that only Liangzhou Prefecture could have tipped them off!

Liu Zheng took a deep breath: "Chen Ping is committing an act of treason!"

Liu Dahao thought for a while before he figured out what was going on, and gritted his teeth: "I knew this guy was no good! To strike at a colleague, he would actually disregard the lives of the people and the safety of Liangzhou; his heart is truly punishable!"

A group of people looked at one another.

They suddenly felt the pressure increase manifold.

But the Imperial Edict before them was something that absolutely could not be defied.

In these past few days, the united Xiongnu Army has been extremely aggressive, and the border-guarding soldiers of the Longyan Dynasty have found it hard to resist. Zheng Yuxing has already lost three fortresses in a row!

"Sir, what should Yinzhou do?"

Liu Zheng took a deep breath.

Qingyang Shuo chuckled: "We must go!"

Everyone was startled.

Knowing this is a trap and a poisonous scheme set by Chen Ping, we must still go?

Qingyang Shuo said calmly: "Since ancient times, fortune and misfortune are interdependent; risks and opportunities coexist. Although this is a poisonous scheme of Chen Ping, it is not impossible to break!"

Everyone listened attentively.

Qingyang Shuo said: "Actually, the matter is simple. Ally with Baiya, repel the Xiongnu, weaken Liangzhou, and attack Chen Ping!"

Liu Zheng smiled bitterly: "Sir, if Liangzhou intends to obstruct us, I fear this battle..."

Qingyang Shuo laughed heartily: "Chen Ping is no fool. As the Liangzhou Inspector, how could he watch Liangzhou be defeated and slaughtered by the Xiongnu? Qingyang believes he will try to find a way to maintain a balance, causing Yinzhou and Baiya to exhaust each other, while he sits on the sidelines, ready to strike at any moment!"

Liu Dahao said angrily: "How poisonous is the heart of that old thief!"

Qingyang Shuo looked at Liu Zheng and continued to smile: "Although the situation is chaotic, if the Young Master can be adept at maneuvering and win merit by defeating the enemy, how could the Imperial Court ignore it? By then, Chen Ping, or even the Crown Prince behind Chen Ping, will fall into an inferior position!"

Liu Zheng was overjoyed.

Jiang Xuan volunteered: "Young Master, Jiang Xuan can fight!"

Qin Zhangfeng also said: "Zhangfeng is willing to go!"

Liu Zheng nodded excitedly.

Regardless, since this battle is unavoidable, then one should prepare well!

An army of two hundred thousand Xiongnu?

After witnessing the Temple Army's siege at Loulan, Liu Zheng was already somewhat familiar with such grand scenes, and even felt a sense of longing. He knew that the Longyan Dynasty had been plundered by the Xiongnu since ancient times, the people were filled with grievances, and countless died every year.

For such a mortal enemy of a different race, there is only one word: kill!

Those who are not of our race must have different hearts!

One must absolutely not have a heart of benevolence when dealing with them; benevolence toward the enemy is cruelty to oneself!

Now, facing the Xiongnu Army pressing on the border, as a man of Liangzhou, he has a responsibility to repel the enemy. Not to mention that he is in a position to do so!

"Mustering the troops!"

Liu Zheng shouted.

The Yinzhou Army had now reached fifty thousand, with several tens of thousands of Militia. Qingyang Shuo directly suggested taking the entire eighty-thousand-strong army, while the remaining Militia and Reserve Force would maintain stability within the territory.

Liu Zheng also knew that even if Chen Ping was calculating and full of devious tricks, he would not dare to harm his own backyard while the whole country was resisting the enemy.

The eighty-thousand-strong army, at a glance, was a vast expanse, and one could not even see the end of it.

The General Platform of Yinzhou.

Liu Zheng announced publicly that he himself would be the Great General for this campaign, Jiang Xuan would be the Left General, Qin Zhangfeng the Right General, with several Lieutenant, and hundreds of Thousand-Man Commander and Centurion.

It is said that before troops and horses move, provisions must come first.

Just after the troops were mustered, Zheng Yue Ru had already helped prepare the provisions and set off a step ahead.

Three days later.

Military reports of the border crisis drifted in like snowflakes, and the Yinzhou Army finally officially set out. What is the concept of these eighty thousand elite troops? It is that these eighty thousand elite troops were all equipped with the Plate Armor that Liu Zheng himself invented! They were all equipped with Mo blades, long spears, and Divine Arm Crossbows—the finest equipment in Yinzhou!

Liu Zheng's thinking was as simple as Qingyang Shuo's.

To fight is to win!

As long as he wins, what does Chen Ping matter?

As long as he wins, any conspiracy or scheme is just a paper tiger!

As the army set out, the people lined the streets to see them off.

Women holding children to send off their husbands, old men leaning on canes urging their sons to kill more enemies, and children searching for their fathers in this long, dragon-like procession.

Once they go, it is unknown when they will return.

In this battle, who knows how many souls perished.

Seeing this scene, even Liu Dahao could not help but feel his eyes redden.

"Chen Ping, you son of a bitch!"

【Author's Note】

Qimao just released a rating system... I hope you brothers will give me a 10-point positive review...