Chapter 447: Heartless

Xi Lang looked at the crowd, "Don't you all feel something is off?"

"Suspicious? Could it be that the general, out of old affection for Ning Chengyan, doesn't want to attack Da Ning?"

"Could it be that the general is thinking of betraying the country?"

At that moment, a person stepped forward, his eyes filled with a hint of malice.

Xi Lang furrowed his brows, looked at that person, and with a big hand directly grabbed his neck, then lifted him straight up.

"You haven't forgotten, have you? The right to speak this time belongs to me, the general."

He coldly smiled, his pitch-black eyes like a suppressed demon slowly releasing; those who had just been speaking up all shut their mouths.

Xi Lang put him down, then patted his shoulder, "Shaman, do you have any high opinions?"

Shaman.

The Xijiang shaman, of exalted status, had many people standing behind him.

Looking at Xi Lang, his sinister voice said, "General Xi Lang, don't forget that although Ning Chengyan saved you, you are a Xijiang person."

Xi Lang laughed hahaha after hearing his words, "If I weren't a Xijiang person, you..."

He leaned in to the shaman's ear, "He's been dead for a long time."

The shaman shuddered, Xi Lang, known as the Mad General.

He is nothing but a lunatic, a devil.

"Assemble the troops!"

At Xi Lang's order, everyone inside the house looked at him with unfriendly eyes.

He, unfazed, took a sip of wine, looking at the shaman with a gaze that held a few hidden meanings.

Who do these few people belong to?

Those few who remained in the royal city, yet placed people around him—do they really think Xi Lang is easy to manipulate?

The Northern Rong and Southern Man also respectively received the news.

And even faster than them were the Jiang Family Army and the Wang Fu Army.

"General." Hen Jiang walked in from outside, holding a letter, "The Princess Consort's letter."

Bamboo pole.

Ning Chengyan's mouth corner slightly curled as he looked at Hen Jiang standing there, "How about it? A family letter, Hen Jiang, interested?"

Hen Jiang coldly, "Hmph!"

Then he turned and left...

Ning Chengyan opened the envelope full of anticipation, but seeing its contents, besides the situation of the Jiang Family Army, there were their plans, and also Ning Hanmo's situation.

After reading the letter, he frowned, flipping it back and forth several times; there wasn't a single line of personal correspondence, but rather an official document.

"Heartless." Ning Chengyan gritted his teeth; if not for his people sending intelligence, he wouldn't have known she had returned to the Jiang Family Army, and now she hasn't even given him a word.

At this moment, Jiang Yunchu had no idea that far away, a man was holding a grudge, even gritting his teeth.

And she, with the city's people, sewed special medicine packets; Kang Zi Wei, with her companions, was dividing the herbs, then packing them into the sewn packets.

"Dean, what are these for?" The little ones were extremely curious; the Dean never does useless work, so at this tense moment, making these things is naturally...

"Trap Xijiang!"

They just don't know how to trap.

"Animals are more sensitive than humans; these medicine packets are a special aphrodisiac..."

"Aphrodisiac..."

Those eavesdropping now had faces flushed red.

"Aphrodisiac? But our horses weren't the first to be affected by the medicine, were they?" Kang Zhiqiu asked, raising his head.

"Good question." Kang Zi Wei nodded, then answered, "When preparing the medicine packets, I had already prepared three pills in advance."

"These pills are the antidote to the aphrodisiac."

Hearing Kang Zi Wei's words, several people couldn't help but twitch the corners of their mouths, fierce...

Many of Xijiang's horses are fed herbs, among which there are not a few poisons, and also some antidotes.

These horses' resistance to drugs is quite strong.

"Ready." Several people gathered in the big tent, three individuals exchanging glances.

Jiang Fengsheng looked at the sand table before him, "I just don't know whether Xijiang dares to enter Weng."

We have already planned everything here, and also notified the Wang Fu Army and the Jiang Family Army; their preparation time is short, but Xijiang, being an expeditionary force, is at a disadvantage both geographically and in terms of initiative.

"Even if we haven't moved against Xijiang yet, even if the enemy troops are at the city walls, we still cannot act." Jiang Yunchu frowned, then suddenly lifted his head and said.

This left General Jiang and Jiang Fengsheng somewhat puzzled, "Why?"

The enemy is already at the city gates; why can't we act?

Can we only passively take hits?

"Because... public sentiment." She looked at the two, gave a light smile, "Since ancient times, there's a saying: He who wins the people's hearts wins the world."

"The surrounding countries regard Da Ning as something in their pockets; this is an opportunity they won't let slip, they will certainly act."

"Since we've already prepared, we might as well wait a bit."

He who wins the people's hearts wins the world.

General Jiang gave Jiang Yunchu a deep look, as if suddenly understanding why those children were so outstanding—their minds had long surpassed many people.

These days, he has enjoyed chatting with the little ones; several children's strategies, several children's layouts, their thoughts and cognitions, even that agile mind, have made him ponder deeply.

"Rear hand." General Jiang simply said, setting the tone for this operation.

"If there is matter, report; if none, withdraw from court."

Ning Jing, facing the morning sun, officials dare not confront the holy visage.

General Jiang poisoned, his fate unknown; Xijiang has repeatedly advanced its troops, the city folk are in panic, and we still plead for the imperial verdict.

Just after morning court, news from Xijiang came by an urgent eight‑hundred‑li express, relay stations swapping riders and horses, delivering it to Ning Jing; the people of Ning Jing, as if it were none of their concern, went about their own business.

The news from Xijiang naturally came from Xi Fang's city garrison and the Jiang family army; no matter how the fighting goes, it could never reach Jingdu.

"What do you all think, beloved officials?" Emperor Ning showed no stance, merely looking down at those below.

The previously quiet court hall now buzzed with whispered discussions.

At that moment, a person stepped forward.

"Father Emperor, I, your subject, believe that Xijiang's designs are merely a couple of border towns; our vast Da Ning, rich in resources, could give them two without harm."

The Third Prince stepped forward, his head lowered the whole time, his expression unreadable.

Emperor Ning nodded. "The Third Prince's proposal has been heard by all beloved officials; what do you think?"

At that moment someone stood up, saying, "I believe the Third Prince is absolutely right; our great nation need not bother with a small state."

"Our Majesty the Holy and Wise, our people live in peace and contentment—why wage war against tiny Xijiang? It only labors the people and wastes wealth."

"I second that."

"I second that."

……

In a moment, five people stepped forward; Emperor Ning watched them, his eyes flickering, his fingers tightening then slowly loosening.