Chapter 777 - 40: Human Hearts and the Game of Control

"Such rumors, arriving at such a fortuitous time, pressing forward step by step... highly reminiscent of the handiwork of the Gu Clan." Yelv Zongzhen took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to immediately break ties with Western Xia.

He couldn’t entirely dismiss the possibility of this being a Song stratagem for sowing discord.

After all, given the presence of a foreign race.

Yet, who knows how many have suffered losses at the hands of the Gu Clan in this regard.

"Enough!" he thought, interrupting the court ministers’ debate in a deep voice, "Rumors are ultimately just rumors; without concrete evidence, how can we rashly engage in warfare, destroy our alliance, and let the Song reap the benefits?"

His gaze swept across the crowd, "Issue orders to Xiao Hui, the offensive on the front line must not slacken, but towards Western Xia... we need to be doubly vigilant and firmly guard against any military movement. Without my explicit directive, do not initiate conflict with Western Xia."

Yelv Zongzhen chose caution, believing this was the most prudent strategy.

No matter the situation.

Liao could always mount a response.

But this was ultimately a futile effort; human nature is such.

As long as the rumors continue to spiral, the seeds of doubt will endlessly spread.

And Gu Rui would certainly not let these rumors cease.

From then on, the already fragile bond of trust between Xia and Liao, though not completely severed, had worn down to mere threads.

Scouts along the border of both sides traveled back and forth increasingly, with eyes filled with vigilance.

Communications were not entirely cut off, but between the lines was an undertone of cold skepticism and alienation.

A heavy, explosive hostility spread between the two nations.

The front lines continued in cooperation against the Song, but behind the scenes, each was preparing for a potential internal clash.

And just as this tense string was about to reach its limit, Gu Rui’s long-planned final blow finally descended boldly!

...

Western Capital Road.

Since following Gu Jin to attack Liao years prior, this critical location had been held by Western Xia for many years.

For decades, the two countries have ignited countless conflicts here; Liao’s people ardently aspired to reclaim it, Western Xia refused to yield an inch, the barren plains watered with blood, the sands laden with bones, old grudges have already saturated every inch of this land.

At this moment, within a crucial pasture on the outskirts of Western Capital Road.

A contingent of about three hundred elite cavalry lay in ambush like ghosts at the edge of an important pasture.

Each of them wore standard leather armor of Liao’s palace camp army, with Liao’s familiar curved swords and maces hanging from their saddles, even the horses’ horseshoes were treated, landing with a thud akin to that of a Liao army elite night raid.

At the forefront of the team was a young commander with a face somewhat resembling Gu Rui’s, yet with sharper and more assertive features. He gently stroked his mount’s mane, his gaze coldly fixed on the distant flickering lights of the pasture.

He was Gu Rui’s younger brother, Gu Hong.

"Check everything; nothing unnecessary should remain on you, not a single piece of Song paper." Gu Hong’s voice was low, carrying an unexpected calm for his age, and he spoke in precise Hebei official dialect, starkly contrasting with his Liao military attire.

His gaze swept over the silent warriors behind him, "Once this is done, the Imperial Censorate will not forget your merits."

"Whether you’re brothers from Hebei, or..." he paused, looking at some among them with deeper-set features and equally determined eyes, "...or Liao friends willing to risk for the grand cause in allegiance to the Gu Clan."

Upon hearing this, everyone present couldn’t help but nod.

——This was a contingent of absolute elites!

Among them were not only the hidden guards cultivated by Great Song over the years but also quite a few from local tribes who were loyal to the Gu Clan.

Gu Hong had expended considerable effort to gather these people covertly.

Reflecting on everything before leaving Great Song.

Gu Hong’s feelings were somewhat complicated.

Both slightly anxious and somewhat inexplicably amused.

Even he thought of saying his elder brother was truly too cunning.

Back when Western Xia and Liao had just begun attacking Great Song, he had already been arranged by Gu Rui to infiltrate Liao, to covertly select personnel.

At first, he didn’t understand what Gu Rui intended to do.

But as time passed and the situation developed, he finally understood Gu Rui’s intentions.

To sum it up, with one word.

——Cunning!

By now, he had an approximate grasp of Gu Rui’s thoughts.

In essence, up to this moment.

As long as he took this successful step, there was no need to concern himself with much else, regardless of what those in the imperial court thought, as long as the momentum was formed, it was enough.

And he was now executing the final step in creating that momentum!

Time slowly passed.

Just when the sky was about to lighten, and the guards on the Western Xia watchtower atop the pasture were at their most fatigued and lethargic.

Gu Hong suddenly raised his hand, then with force, swung it forward!

"Move! Remember the slogans!"

The three hundred Liao cavalry burst forth like a breached flood, with thunderous hooves but with the characteristic rambunctious whistle of Liao cavalry, charged straight for the pasture camp!

The alarm gong sounded mournfully, and Yeli Yuqi, the Western Xia general guarding the pasture, had just dashed out of a felt tent when the sight before him struck him with disbelief.

He saw the camp fortifications breached, flames rising all around, familiar Liao-armored cavalry charging in, slashing anyone in sight and burning tents!

"Liao scum! How dare you invade!" Yeli Yuqi parried a stray arrow, bellowing in Dangxiang with anger.

The response was a precisely aimed arrow that shot down the plume from his helmet, followed by an echoing roar in heavily accented Dangxiang from a Khitan speaker: "Dangxiang thieves!"

"You have seized our Great Liao’s ancient lands for decades. Today, by order of King Yelv, we’ve been sent to reclaim old debts and recover old territories!"