Chapter 1 Aftermath of Battle, Plans for the Future

After staying in the camp by the Di River for four days, one evening with a beautiful moonlight, the rumble of horses' hooves awakened Ye Tao. Even in the dead of night, a small lamp was always lit in Ye Tao's tent. This was because Ye Tao had too many occasions where he would think of some strange ideas, some peculiar notions, or sometimes recall some crucial knowledge and skills that had been lurking deep within his mind, and excitedly get up to find paper and pen to record them. His tent always had a table of considerable size, which, unless it was an emergency, was always piled high with various documents, drawings, and sketches. Two sober guards always stood at the entrance of his tent, because Ye Tao always carelessly left those confidential documents on the table. He often needed to look at things that seemed completely unrelated to others and needed to cross-reference many materials as the basis for making decisions. And Ye Tao's casualness, since it was gradually understood by those around him, has been tolerated, even respected. When Ye Tao first needed guards around him, Sophie Marceau, who had taken care of Ye Tao's life for the longest time, told the personal guards that the various contents Ye Tao recorded when he got up in the middle of the night were all proven to be very important and very interesting.

When Ye Tao was awakened by the sound of horses' hooves and rolled off the not-so-sturdy folding bed onto the felt-covered ground, and grumbling, stood up, Wu Pingan, who had been holding his sword and guarding the door, lifted the curtain and walked in, asking, "My lord, do you need anything?"

"What's going on outside...?" Ye Tao rubbed his head. Although he was still a little dizzy, he could still understand the movement of the marching troops outside.

"Military Governor Dai has issued an order for a full-scale attack and is taking advantage of the night to cross the Di River. In about a day to a day and a half, they will launch a full-scale attack on the Northern Tribe coalition. Military Governor Dai is outside directing. Does Your Lordship want to summon Military Governor Dai?" Wu Pingan reported in a low voice.

Ye Tao shook his head and said, "Forget it. If there's nothing important, then forget it. Dai Yun should already be overwhelmed with work."

However, even though Ye Tao had enough understanding of Dai Yun's busyness, Dai Yun's deep respect and trust for Ye Tao made him take the initiative to come to see him after learning that he had already woken Ye Tao.

"Dai Yun, I'll leave the rest to you. I'm grateful that you brought me here from so far away. I've had a great time these past few days." Ye Tao's words clearly implied a farewell, which stunned Dai Yun.

"My lord, are you preparing to return?" Dai Yun asked eagerly.

Ye Tao nodded and said, "Yes, I've stirred up quite a mess here. I fully believe that you will be victorious, because under your command, there is indeed the number one army in the world. And when you built the number one army in the world, you borrowed a lot from the Tie Yun cavalry. And the tribal coalition loyal to you. And after you achieve victory, no matter what the court..." Ye Tao smiled and said, "Now it's our common court... No matter who the court sends to be responsible for the handover of Yunzhou, I have already agreed to those conditions of the Yunzhou tribes, and I hope they can be effectively implemented. Since these are the conditions I came up with, naturally, I should be the one to persuade the lords in the court to ensure that these measures can be passed. It wouldn't be appropriate for me, who can be considered the commander-in-chief, to run away before you lead the tribal coalition to set off, but now it doesn't matter. I'll rush back to Danyang to persuade His Majesty to pass these clauses. If all goes well, I should be able to finalize the matter before a certain lord responsible for the handover of Yunzhou sets off, so that the lord can come to Yunzhou with the court's favor."

Dai Yun frowned. Although she knew Ye Tao's indifference, she never thought that Ye Tao would be willing to give the credit, which could be equated with expanding territory, to the latecomers. Dai Yun hesitated and said, "My lord, if someone who doesn't really understand the tribes, or at least doesn't have prejudice against the tribes, is going to manage them, it's better not to implement these measures and just leave everything as it is. The many ministers in the court... are different from those of us who grew up in Yunzhou. Although sayings like Hua Xia Yi Di (Han Chinese vs. Barbarians) are not as strict as in Chunnan, I don't know how those guys' brains grew. It's obvious that Dongping's national strength is above Chunnan's, but they learn from Chunnan in everything. In this regard... on the contrary, you, my lord, not only have no discrimination against these tribesmen at all, but when you get along with them, you seem more at ease than when you get along with those officials in Danyang."

Ye Tao's expression seemed even more dim and uncertain under the dim light of the tent. He smiled and said, "I haven't been with them for many days. They call me Lord Ye, Brother Ye, Little Ye, they call me whatever they want. There's no pressure getting along with them, everyone doesn't put on airs, so it's comfortable. But, when did you start calling me Lord Ye all the time?"

Dai Yun smiled embarrassedly and said, "I can not care, but I'm afraid others will say I don't care, that's probably it."

Ye Tao didn't say anything more. He sighed and continued after a moment of silence, "I believe His Majesty will definitely send a suitable candidate for the handover. This time, no matter what, after returning, the merits will outweigh the demerits after all. It's a pity that I can't throw away my official position."

Dai Yun cupped her fist at Ye Tao and said seriously, "Ye Tao... then, we'll meet in Danyang."

Ye Tao waved his hand casually and freely, bidding farewell to Dai Yun. Early the next morning, Ye Tao set off on the return journey with his guards. With a guy like Ye Tao, who has a strong curiosity and a bit of a busy life, it was naturally impossible for him to head straight to Danyang without caring about anything along the way. He stayed by Snow Wolf Lake for two days, one day to receive representatives from various tribes' summer settlements and visit the largest market by Snow Wolf Lake. Naturally, the various gifts he needed to buy for his family and friends, as well as the miscellaneous things he was interested in, cost him quite a bit of gold and silver. Due to the more complex commercial circulation between the tribes and the multiple transfers, coupled with the lack of reliable intermediary institutions to handle them, the various disputes and troubles caused by the circulation of silver in kind in the tribal market were also deeply imprinted in his mind. And on the other day, Ye Tao came to the original Gaozi Mountain, now Thunder Cliff, to visit the military camp built entirely of giant wood and cowhide with a rugged style. This time, his plagiarism was really just in the name.

Ye Tao now had to reflect on his previous rash action of sending the Zhuo Xianchen tribe to Xiling. The war ended too quickly, so quickly that this unit sent to disrupt Xiling's supply line had not yet played a role. The Xiling side was already a little overwhelmed, and the Zhuo Xianchen tribe became a useless move. It was estimated that the Zhuo Xianchen tribe would be recalled in a few days. After all, no matter what, Zhuo Xianchen was a member of the Zhuo family and led a part of the Imperial Guards, so it was impossible for him to stay behind enemy lines for a long time. But judging from the results of the Zhuo Xianchen tribe sent to Yunzhou by Zhuo Xianchen and sent by the Dai family through Harrier Eagle, it was a pity to give up like this.

As it stood now, it was entirely possible to really pretend to be bandits, occupy the mountains as kings, and even reach a certain tacit understanding with the local government. What if this "Tianwang寨(Heavenly King Stronghold)" could continue to exist for a long time, and develop silently without attracting the attention of the local government in Xiling, and eventually become a nail driven into Xiling? After the invasion of Xiling, a female official spy was dug out from Lianfei's side, plus the assassination Ye Tao himself suffered and the spies of the Daoming Sect's Eagle Hall that were excavated in connection... there was no doubt that Dongping's construction in the intelligence field was far behind Xiling's. Especially now that Xiling has not only the original intelligence system, but also the threat of Daoming Sect infiltrating through religious and spiritual power.

Since the Zhuo Xianchen tribe has always concealed its identity with cloaks and masks, and even doesn't say much at ordinary times, if they were to step up their deployment now, transfer out the Zhuo Xianchen tribe, and transfer in the people who can manage the "Tianwang寨(Heavenly King Stronghold)" behind enemy lines for a long time, it probably wouldn't even arouse suspicion. On the one hand, secretly accumulate military power, stockpile materials to prepare for the future war between Dongping and Xiling, and on the other hand, rely on Dongping and Yunzhou to conduct reconnaissance and infiltration into northern Xiling. The "Tianwang寨(Heavenly King Stronghold)" can really play too many roles.

In Ye Tao's mind, the most ideal situation would be to inherit some of the Dai family's arrangements in Xiling and provide various support for the "Tianwang寨(Heavenly King Stronghold)" through the Dai family's original personnel and contacts. As for the various expenses, Ye Tao figured that the Internal Affairs Office would be very willing to bear this part of the expenses. Especially now, Tan Xiaopei has moved to separate the Internal Affairs Guards from the Internal Affairs Office and establish an independent intelligence agency, and most of the ministers in the court feel that it is completely okay for Dongping's finances to maintain such an agency. The Internal Affairs Office will soon have a large surplus to operate this matter, which would be ideal.

Thinking of this, Ye Tao began to draft the "Tianwang寨(Heavenly King Stronghold)" action plan on the way back, explaining the risks and significance of such an action, and also explaining the many roles that the "Tianwang寨(Heavenly King Stronghold)" could play. And the most difficult thing in the whole plan may be to spread another religion completely fabricated and controlled by Dongping. Perhaps it won't be able to destroy the Daoming Sect's status in Xiling, but at least it can create an atmosphere of suspicion among some of the lower-level people.

If the people of Xiling have another acceptable choice in terms of religion besides the Daoming Sect, then, when Dongping and Xiling wage war in the future, the resistance encountered will be reduced to a considerable extent through various actions.

Brainwashed commoners are terrible, and perhaps even more terrible are brainwashed soldiers. Not long ago, more than 20,000 of the Daoming Sect's Protectorate Army actually resisted desperately without fear of death, blocking the Blood Kirin Army for a whole day. Although because the gap between the two sides in equipment and training was too great, and Qiu Haohui chose the safest and most secure gradual advance, using the extravagant method of opening the way with oil bombs, the Blood Kirin Army did not suffer too much loss in the end. However, the scene of the Protectorate Army soldiers shouting loudly and rushing towards the Blood Kirin Army's line even with great fire all over their bodies shocked everyone greatly. Many people in the Blood Kirin Army realized that if the Daoming Sect's Protectorate Army had better equipment and training, they would definitely become a formidable enemy in the future.