Gisd stared intently at Zuan. Under his piercing gaze, Zuan met his eyes with perfect composure. As their gazes locked, it seemed as if countless pieces of information were exchanged between them. Only then did Gisd say, "Let me hear it."
"If St. Tirolman launches an invasion of the Northwest, how long does the Mayor think the city-state can hold?"
Gisd snorted disdainfully, "Zuan worries too much! St. Tirolman has enough on its hands, why would it bother with us?"
Zuan laughed heartily, "How can one sleep soundly with a neighbor tossing and turning? Does the Mayor not think St. Tirolman will give up the Northwest three cities so easily? I dare to stake my head that St. Tirolman will sooner or later conquer the Northwest, it's only a matter of time."
Seeing Gisd remain silent but with a subtle shift in his expression, Zuan continued, "Once St. Tirolman attacks the Northwest, with the city-state's singular strength, it might barely withstand St. Tirolman's ferocious army. Even with the combined strength of the three cities, there would only be a sliver of hope."
Gisd's brows knitted tightly. Only now did he speak softly, "If St. Tirolman truly comes to attack our three cities, even our combined strength would be insufficient to resist."
Zuan smiled faintly, "What if the Barbarian King is added?"
Upon hearing this, Gisd looked up and gazed deeply at Zuan. The latter nodded. Gisd couldn't help but laugh heartily, "If we add the Barbarian King, what do we four brothers have to fear from St. Tirolman?"
Zuan nodded in agreement, "If the three cities fight alone, they will be defeated one by one sooner or later. If we can use the strength of four cities to take down St. Tirolman, the world might see a different landscape."
Gisd never expected that this dry old man before him would possess such ambition. The smile on his face gradually faded as he evidently weighed the pros and cons.
Zuan was not worried that Gisd would refuse him. He slowly swirled the tea in his cup with the lid, saying casually, "Opportunity always comes with risk, but please believe me, Mayor, as soon as we take over another city, more reinforcements will come from all directions."
Zuan's words interrupted Gisd's thoughts, startling him. Reinforcements? It seemed this old man had indeed planned for a long time. Looking at it this way, it was indeed an opportunity.
Gisd pondered for a long time before looking up at Zuan and saying, "What benefits will I gain from taking down St. Tirolman?"
Zuan met Gisd's gaze and smiled, "After taking down St. Tirolman, we will divide it equally. Wouldn't that be much more satisfying than having to watch others' moods?"
Gisd's eyes narrowed into slits. Zuan's words were indeed very appealing. If they could truly divide St. Tirolman equally as Zuan said, then it would be a considerable gain. Thinking this, he immediately slammed his hand on the table and declared, "Good! Since Zuan has such aspirations, I, Gisd, will gamble with Zuan! How about we seal our alliance with a clap of hands?"
With a soft clap, their hands met firmly.
Now that they had opened their hearts to each other, Gisd had no more reservations and said with a worried expression, "However, if we want to unite the other two cities, I fear my two brothers will require some persuasion."
Gisd knew very well that his two brothers, relying on their profound cultivation and strong military forces, disdained to associate with him. To say it would require persuasion was greatly overestimating his influence.
If they were unwilling to even deal with a new territory with him, how could they possibly fight St. Tirolman? However, with his current weakness, this opportunity must not be missed.
"I believe with the Mayor's capabilities, you can certainly persuade the other two mayors."
Gisd naturally could not object. He nodded and immediately dropped the topic, drinking and conversing with Zuan.
Bing Jiade was originally a strategically important town in the north. Since the Emperor's military campaigns began, it had lost its strategic importance as it had always been within the territory of the Winter faction.
In the spacious backyard of a magnificent mansion in Bing Jiade, stood a middle-aged man. This man had a rugged appearance, broad shoulders, a thick back, and was quite fierce. A few strands of yellow beard on his chest further enhanced his imposing demeanor. However, at this moment, his eyes held a hint of melancholy as he shook his head and smiled.
An hour earlier, this most magnificent mansion in Bing Jiade had received an imperial decree from the Winter Emperor, summoning King Gisd of Bing Jiade to the capital.
The middle-aged man standing by the window was precisely King Gisd of Bing Jiade. His fate, like that of other Winter nobles, had been to relocate to his fiefdom.
Compared to other princes and kings, this famous general, who had repeatedly achieved military successes and commanded respect in the Northwest, had his fief expanded to ten thousand households. Soon after, he was promoted to Duke and then enfeoffed as King of Bing Jiade, a testament to the Emperor's immense favor.
Although Gisd lived a life of luxury and ease in Bing Jiade, the rise and fall of the Winter realm had nothing more to do with him.
After Tydarel ascended the throne, all military operations were unrelated to this celebrated general who had aspired to be a warrior since childhood. Gisd, who had fought for half his life, suddenly found himself idle. Without the sight of beacon fires and the smell of battlefield iron, this man, whose demonic nature had not entirely faded, found it extremely difficult to adapt.
He often stood by the window, gazing towards the Northwest, the land where he had once shed blood and sweat. Alas, it seemed he could never return.
However, deep within Gisd's heart, there seemed to be an inexplicable confidence – that one day, the formidable Winter ruler Tydarel, known as the Thunder and Lightning Mage, would re-employ him.
Whenever this happened, he would recall how, after his great battle with the Bantu Kingdom, he was summoned to the Winter capital. On his way, he passed by the ancient mine city-state and decided to visit Tydarel, who was not yet Emperor at the time.
Back then, Tydarel treated him with great intimacy and even cautioned him not to be arrogant when meeting the Emperor, but to reward and punish impartially. Upon his audience with the Emperor, he distributed the credit for his military achievements among his generals, earning the Emperor's favor.
Although several years had passed since then, the bond between him and his brother remained. Coupled with his own bravery, his brother was bound to employ him sooner or later.
Perhaps it was this sliver of faith that supported him in staying in Bing Jiade, far from the smoke of battle, controlled like a prisoner by the regent.
He had waited for this news for three full years and had finally received his brother's summons.
A fine horse should gallop across the land, and a famous general should fight on the battlefield.
For three full years, he had lived like a walking corpse in Bing Jiade, directionless and aimless. Such a life was worse than death.
The day after receiving Tydarel's summons, Gisd set off in haste for the capital. He even saw the smoke of war spreading, smelled the blood of the battlefield. The vast battlefield was calling to him, and great achievements awaited him ahead.
Gisd arrived at the long-unseen capital. He first went to the palace to pay his respects to his mother, Empress Dowager Lisa, and then began a long period of waiting. Gisd lingered in the capital for several days but ultimately did not receive an audience with Tydarel.
However, he did not wish to return to Bing Jiade just like that. So, Gisd went to the palace gates and asked someone to find Tydarel's close attendant.
This was an act that Gisd had previously disdained, yet he never imagined he would one day tread this path himself.
"Great Eunuch, please bother to ask, what exactly does His Majesty mean?"
Gisd's inquiry was earnest, even somewhat humble, but the eunuch seemed unmoved. He glanced at the face carved by the harsh winds and replied sarcastically, "King of Bing Jiade, what were you doing when the late Emperor passed away?"
Gisd stared blankly at the eunuch as if struck by lightning upon hearing this. He remained speechless for a long time.
The eunuch let out two cold laughs, "This old servant is busy with official duties, I shall take my leave now."
Gisd didn't know how he walked back to the guesthouse. The words echoed in his mind: He hasn't forgotten, he hasn't forgotten...
A few days after Gisd left the capital and returned to Bing Jiade, news of the tragedy arrived – the King of Bing Jiade had died suddenly in his mansion.
When Tydarel received the news, he raised his head, took a deep breath, and slowly closed his eyes. A trace of a tear traced down his cheek.
The Winter realm had lost another capable general. Tydarel accorded Gisd a grand funeral.
It was a pity that such a hero as Gisd met his end in this manner.