Chapter 437 : Warlords Vying For Supremacy (4)

About ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍an hour later.

Following ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the nomad guide who had come to fetch him, Namguru arrived at the designated meeting spot. There, Jong-ri Chu was already waiting for him, standing next to a little pile of burlap sacks.

"Ah, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍welcome! I went ahead and scraped the bottom of our barrels to gather whatever grain we had on hand."

Namguru ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍took one look at the paltry pile and scowled. "Are you trying to mock me right now? You expect me to believe that this is all the provisions a fortress this size has prepared?"

At ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Namguru's accusation, Jong-ri Chu laughed sheepishly and scratched his head.

"I'm ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍terribly sorry, but my hands are tied. Strict orders from command, you see. We're bleeding ourselves dry just trying to fight off the Han Imperial Family right now."

"So you're telling me you sent all your grains south, and there's nothing left here?"

When Namguru glared at him like he was spouting complete nonsense, Jong-ri Chu quickly waved his hands to clarify. "That's not what I meant. With the war against the Imperial Family keeping everyone on edge, how many days do you think we could even hold this fortress against your tribe?"

"Ah! Since this fortress could be taken at any moment, you only prepared a minimal amount of military provisions?"

"Correct. Call it a preemptive scorched-earth tactic. But since we have now formed an alliance, I decided to be honest with you."

Seeing him blab all of his strategic information so honestly with such idiotic candor almost made Namguru sneer.

'What a damn fool. Hehehe.'

Though Namguru thought he had hidden his derision well, his inner thoughts were completely transparent to Jong-ri Chu's eyes.

—Oh, would you look at this guy! He thinks you're a complete joke! Break his kneecaps and teach him a lesson!

Hearing the advice of the blurry friend hovering behind Namguru's back, Jong-ri Chu replied in his heart.

'I know, don't worry about it.'

As Jong-ri Chu stared off into the empty air with an idiotic grin, Namguru couldn't help but let out a small snort of laughter before quickly schooling his features.

"Ahem. Well, I understand your plight, but this amount is nowhere near enough."

"Oh, please! You have to have a little pity on us. There are no grains left at the fortress, but I'll send a messenger south right away to explain things and have them prepare more."

"You haven't even sent a messenger yet?"

"Oh no! I've been so caught up worrying about our guests from the Mierqi tribe that it completely slipped my mind! Anyway, please just wait a few days. We're struggling with the war against the Han Imperial Family as it is, so I am certain the Cult Leader will authorize the release of the grain."

After mulling it over for a moment at Jong-ri Chu's words, Namguru responded.

"Fine. For now, we'll send these grains back to our tribe. And I'll relay your intentions to the Khan as well."

"Hahaha. Much appreciated!"

"However, I will only send back a few men as messengers to escort the grain. The rest of the warriors and I shall remain here. Since we are soon to be allies, so that much shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Namguru said this as if to make clear he wouldn't be easily fooled, and Jong-ri Chu responded with a smile that seemed utterly oblivious.

"Of course! We're practically in the same boat now, so make yourselves at home!"

To Jong-ri Chu, Namguru's clumsy scheming felt almost endearing, especially compared to the seasoned cunning of those Muslim merchants.

***

The next day.

Deep within the Forbidden City.

Upon hearing news that envoys from the Mierqi tribe had arrived, the Supreme Eunuch issued his order without even a moment's hesitation.

"Give them everything they're asking for."

He had no intention of pretending to negotiate just to stall for time. He genuinely intended to hand over as much as the Mierqi tribe wanted.

'Those nomads can be dealt with later! Right now, the rebels come first!'

With the news of the massive uprising in Guangdong complicating his mind, the Supreme Eunuch felt that wasting even a second negotiating was out of the question.  On top of that, the harvest season had just passed not long ago, meaning the country was practically drowning in fresh grain.

"Also, since we're in a state of war, issue orders to every province and county to raise taxes and seize whatever grains they can find by any means necessary!"

To the Supreme Eunuch, the crops that farmers had grown through blood and sweat were nothing more than his own property to dispose of as he pleased.

The moment his orders were given, the eunuchs rushed out to execute his command. Within hours, riders were galloping desperately toward the Northern Military Command, the North China Plain, and the Northeast Plain.

Under the Supreme Eunuch’s command, the Northern Military Command told the Mierqi envoys to wait just a few more days. Meanwhile, the North China Plain and Northeast Plain began stripping crops from the land in what amounted to outright plunder.

A few days later, carts and wagons loaded with the vast quantities of crops gathered from the North China Plain and Northeast Plain rolled in an endless line toward the northern border.

These weren't grains meant for the soldiers defending against the invaders. They were ransoms meant for the invaders themselves.

***

Meanwhile, as the Han Dynasty were extorting their own peasants to prepare tribute for the Mierqi tribe, Jong-ri Chu was forced to use every trick in the book to avoid handing over any grain to Namguru.

"Just wait a little longer, please! Since the Cult Leader is out on the front lines, it seems messages are taking some time to reach him."

For the first two days, he made the excuse that the Cult Leader's permission had yet to arrive.

"The Cult Leader has given his approval! However, we need time to transport the grain."

After that, he dragged things out for another five days and kept inventing every excuse under the sun.

"Oh, this is bad. The harvest from the central farmlands came up short. Wait, you didn't hear? Those Han bastards are butchering our farmers and burning our fields to the ground! Now we barely even have enough rations to feed our own troops."

"But don't worry. The fields might be empty, but there's always a backup plan! The rice and food the common folk have stored away in their warehouses, we'll squeeze it out of them by whatever means necessary and hand it over to you."

"Why shouldn't I? The great Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is bleeding to keep them safe, so it's only fair they starve a little to fund our war effort, right?"

Jong-ri Chu spouted off this nonsense as if every word came straight from the heart.

Thanks to Jong-ri Chu's nonstop chatter, every time Namguru came to demand when the provisions would actually be handed over, he ended up returning half out of his mind.

By all rights, Namguru should have completely lost his temper and realized he was being played, but Jong-ri Chu was a master at distractions.

"Please! I'm begging you, just give us a few more days! We desperately need the help of the Mierqi tribe.”

How could he doubt him when Jong-ri Chu was literally on his knees, gripping Namguru’s pant legs with tears welling up in his eyes?

When it came to securing the future of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Jong-ri Chu would happily throw his pride into the dirt and stomp on it. 

No, actually. He felt glad that he could be of use to the Divine Cult, even in a way like this.

Among the surviving four disciples of Hyeokryeon Il-hwi, Wi Jin-hak had become the Cult Lead, Seo Wan-pyeong had become the Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord, and the youngest had even become the Left Guardian of the Divine Cult.

Compared to them, Jong-ri Chu had always felt himself sorely lacking, not having even achieved Transcendence yet.

Because of that, the fact that he could be of use to the Divine Cult even at the cost of his pride brought him immense joy.

Either way, watching Jong-ri Chu grovel and beg on his hands and knees completely blinded Namguru to the reality that he was being played for a fool.

"Fine. I'll do my best to put in a good word with the Khan."

"I truly appreciate it!"

Every time Namguru came to demand the grains, he ended up leaving with words like these instead. He would then write down everything Jong-ri Chu had told him and dispatch a rider to the Mierqi tribe’s camp.

By the time the third or fourth letter reached the Khan...

The Khan let out a wry chuckle as he read through the newly arrived letter from Namguru.

"Well. Isn't he an entertaining little rat?"

He might have been fooled the first time or two, but the Khan didn't fully believe everything written in these letters.

Part of it was simply his paranoid nature, but mostly it was because he wasn't standing in the room watching Jong-ri Chu's masterful acting. After all, it's human nature to fall for a scam when you're the prey, but it's incredibly easy to spot the lie when you're watching from the outside.

Just as the Khan was mulling over how to handle this little problem, a guard shouted from outside the tent.

"O’ Khan! Word has come that carts and wagons carrying provisions sent by the Han Dynasty are approaching!"

The tribute the Han Dynasty had promised had finally arrived at the Mierqi tribe.

"Hm."

The Khan stroked his scarred chin thoughtfully before a smile cut across his face.

"Take about a thousand warriors and head to the fortress where Namguru went."

A thousand men weren't nearly enough to siege a fortress. Seeing the confused looks on his warlords' faces, the Khan clarified his orders.

"Tell them that if they're genuinely serious about this alliance, they need to send an envoy to live in our camp until the grain finally arrives."

Only then did the others in the yurt understand the Khan's true intention.

In simple terms, he meant to take a hostage.

"And tell them to send someone with real standing among those fanatics. If they refuse to hand over the grains and it comes to war between us, sever that envoy's limb tendons and put him on the front lines as an arrow shield."

***

A few days earlier.

Hundreds of miles south of the northern border, near Dechang in southern Sichuan Province.

Three massive armies had dug into the region, creating a suffocating standoff.

Trapped in the center was the Southern Military Command, hunkered down behind their barricades and entirely focused on surviving the siege. Blocking them in from the north was the army of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. And to the south, the rebel force of the Guandong Jin Family and the Hainan Sect was breathing down their neck.

If the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the rebels just joined hands, they could crush the Southern Military Command in a single afternoon. However, the battlefield remained completely deadlocked.

The main reason for this situation was that neither side trusted the other. 

They both wanted to burn the Han Dynasty to the ground, but they hadn't formed a concrete alliance, leaving them in a rather awkward standoff.

"Oh, for fuck's sake! If you're so worried about them, just slaughter those Southern Military Command bastards and be done with it!”

At Dokgo Ryong's outburst, Baek Un-hak let out a soft sigh and replied. "Right Guardian. Please, try thinking before you speak for once."

He was using formal speech, but the content of what he said was practically an insult.

As the war council dragged on, it basically devolved into a spite match between Baek Un-hak and Dokgo Ryong, with Yang Gwang and Taoist Master Cheongmok watching them back and forth.

It stayed like that until an urgent report arrived at the tent.

The first was an urgent report regarding the north. It reported that the Mierqi tribe was testing the waters, and that Jong-ri Chu was stalling for time. Due to the vast distance between Sichuan and the northern borders, the news has just arrived.

The second urgent report was that the Eastern Military Command had begun mobilizing.

After hearing both reports, Yang Gwang quickly spoke up.

"Once those forces from Guangdong hear that the Eastern Military Command has begun moving, they'll have no choice but to head back to defend their home base in Guangdong. So we need to do whatever it takes to join forces with those Guangdong forces as quickly as possible and finish off the Southern Military Command before they retreat."

The others also realized that this wasn't the time to be leisurely searching for ways to win with minimal losses.

From here on out, it was a race against time.

"Hahahaha! Then it all worked out perfectly!  Send a letter to those Guangdong boys. I don't care if they accept our alliance or not. The second the sun rises tomorrow, we charge the barricades and wipe the Southern Military Command off the map!"

Baek Un-hak sighed once again, but he didn't object this time.

He didn't like that things were going the way that crazy old man wanted, but there wasn't much choice given the circumstances.