"Together?"

This was a question,

carrying three parts sincerity, three parts probing, three parts jest, and one part indescribable.

But in reality, even that single part probing was enough to shock!

"What are you joking about?"

Zheng Boye said with a laugh.

However, he still didn't move forward; instead, he took half a step back.

A possible third-rank swordsman was far less terrifying than a possible third-rank swordsman who also seemed a bit crazy.

The former still reasoned, talked about benefits; the latter seemed to have no taboos.

"Joking?"

The Sword Forger shook his head, saying:

"You can tell I'm serious."

After saying this,

the Sword Forger sat down on the ground again, Mo Shi stuck into the dirt beside him.

"Give me a reason."

Zheng Boye said.

There had to be a reason.

The Sword Forger shook his head again, saying:

"Don't want to."

"Then why should I believe you?" Zheng Boye retorted.

The Sword Forger raised his hand,

saying:

"Believe it or not, it's up to you."

He was clearly talking about something that concerned the life and death of a country's ruler, but he was as carefree as if they were discussing whether to go to the red tent in town tonight.

"Why?"

Zheng Boye asked again.

The Sword Forger's status in Chu was extremely high, and as a member of the Dugu family, he was naturally considered part of the true upper echelons of Great Chu.

When he went to snatch the princess, Zheng Boye saw the Regent riding in the same carriage as the Sword Forger; if he wanted to, he definitely had many ways to harm the Regent;

but he didn't.

If he was really a "deceiver of the world," that would be one thing, but had he even deceived himself?

"The Great Chu King is the phoenix of Great Chu. This phoenix can be captured by external enemies, but it cannot be bound by the subjects under its wings."

The Sword Forger said these words.

The implication was that the Regent could be captured by the Yan army, but he could not be betrayed by his own people.

This was the reason he gave for why he had many opportunities before but didn't act, but this reason was really hard for Zheng Boye to believe.

But whether he believed it or not was one thing; in any case, he could put aside the dispute and develop together.

So,

Zheng Boye's next sentence was:

"How do we do it?"

First, listen to the practicalities, then consider his own gains and losses.

"Let me create a scene in your military camp, killing my way in and out, tricking the garrison of Juyang City into attacking, and then you, Zheng Boye, can take the opportunity to kill your way in."

Zheng Boye frowned slightly; this was a move to lure the snake out of its hole, but…

Zheng Boye shook his head,

saying:

"I won't do it."

The Sword Forger glanced at Zheng Boye, saying:

"Afraid I'll really do it?"

"Yes."

"Where's your courage?"

"Put it away."

"If this succeeds… your Yan country won't have to fight this battle anymore. Next, Chu will cede land and sue for peace."

Once the Regent was captured, or, to put it more extremely, died in the chaos, then Chu really couldn't continue this battle.

The current integration within Great Chu is because of the external threat of the Yan army, and the Yan Emperor's precedent of suppressing aristocratic clans;

On the other hand, it's because the Regent's sense of the big picture and his skills have won the trust of all parties. The Regent hasn't officially ascended the throne to this day, which is the biggest concession and sincerity.

From a purely military point of view, this military gamble is worthwhile, and very worthwhile.

If it succeeds, the Yan-Chu war can be declared temporarily over.

Zheng Boye still firmly said:

"It won't work."

"You have to give me a reason?" the Sword Forger asked.

"I'm afraid of death."

I don't want to risk my life to gamble on a bright future for Great Yan.

It's not worth it,

I'm not willing,

Am I stupid?

"It's really hard to imagine that the Great Yan, Pingye Baron, would actually say something like that."

"It's like the world can imagine the Great Chu Sword Forger saying 'together'."

"Can't be trusted?"

"Can't be trusted."

Late at night, cooperating in a staged defeat? He had more than ten thousand soldiers, not ten thousand actors; how could he act?

As he acted, it might become real. And then, if the Chu army from Juyang City attacked, they would all be elites from the imperial guards. One charge, and his side might collapse directly.

If Zheng Boye had brought the original Snow Navy this time, and everyone had their warhorses, then he could have tried it.

But this time, his men seemed to have high morale, but in reality, they were a cobbled-together "elite," and they had all become infantry. Once an extreme situation arose, they would be completely finished.

Now, Zheng Boye could still manipulate his brother-in-law for a few more days. Once the situation turned bad, he could escape into the Great泽, fight a guerrilla war. It would be a bit tough, but not a big problem;

However, once he went all-in tonight, he might have to flee for his life under the Chu's search, just like when he snatched the princess, and walk the same path as before.

"Still won't do it?"

The Sword Forger felt that he had given this Great Yan, Pingye Baron plenty of time to consider.

"Won't do it."

Zheng Boye continued to give his original answer.

The Sword Forger nodded, saying:

"Warhorses, I'll leave you half, let my people leave."

"Okay."

Zheng Boye agreed very readily.

Leave half for now.

The Sword Forger pointed to Mo Shi stuck in front of him,

saying:

"After my people leave, this sword will also be given to you."

"Good."

Zheng Boye agreed readily again.

I can also keep your people.

The Sword Forger looked at the Sword Saint, saying:

"Long Yuan, you owe me a favor, repay it today. I'll sit here and wait for my people to get out, this sword, I'll give to him."

The Sword Saint could of course protect Zheng Boye here, but if the Sword Saint was willing to agree to this agreement and not take action, then Zheng Boye, who could have eaten this five hundred riders plus a Sword Forger, would have to seriously fulfill the agreement.

At such a close distance, and outside the encirclement, even if Jin Ke or Fan Li brought people up, the Sword Forger could detect it in advance. In short, if the Sword Saint didn't move, the Sword Forger could stab Zheng Boye with a sword.

"Why?"

Zheng Boye asked,

"You give him a Long Yuan, he sends you to the Four Great Swordsmen; who loses and who gains?"

The martial world all says that the reason why the Sword Forger can be ranked among the Four Great Swordsmen is because of the Sword Saint's praise.

The Sword Forger closed his eyes, sighed,

somewhat helplessly saying:

"I didn't let him speak for me back then. The Four Great Swordsmen or not, it only brings me trouble."

Saying this,

The Sword Forger urged:

"You, Yu Huaping, agree or disagree?"

The Sword Saint then looked at Zheng Boye, saying: "You already agreed to it."

"I was tricking him."

"………” The Sword Forger.

"Then it's very difficult for me now." The Sword Saint pointed to the Sword Forger sitting there, "I really owe him a favor."

A Long Yuan, a real favor.

"Leave all the warhorses behind; you people, get out." Zheng Boye said, "I'll just stand here, okay?"

"Okay." The Sword Forger agreed, and then took out a fire signal from his bosom, pulled it out, and a red light flew into the sky.

On the other side, the black-armored cavalry dismounted and tied the warhorse reins to the trees beside them.

Jin Ke ordered people to find Zheng Boye, and after getting Zheng Boye's approval, he opened a path to allow the knights to leave the forest.

The warhorses,

were all left behind.

The Sword Forger closed his eyes to rest, the Sword Saint also sat cross-legged, and Zheng Boye leaned against a tree, with a mint candy in his mouth.

When another fire signal flew into the sky in the distance, the Sword Forger stood up, tapped his fingertip on the sword tip, left Mo Shi there, and then headed northwest.

"Where are you going?" Zheng Boye asked.

He originally thought that the Sword Forger was staying behind to cover their retreat.

"Going to Juyang City to protect my king." The Sword Forger answered.

"Are you sick?"

Zheng Boye asked very seriously.

"When you rejected my proposal earlier, I also thought you were sick."

The Sword Forger walked in front of the Sword Saint, laughing:

"It's different now."

The Sword Saint said: "Just go, stop talking nonsense."

"It's really different now; there won't be any Four Great Swordsmen in the future." The Sword Forger sighed, "Oh, right."

The Sword Forger looked at Zheng Boye, saying: "I used some special materials in Mo Shi's sword; it has a great impact on people's minds. I don't want to call it a demon sword, because it's too vulgar."

Zheng Boye didn't speak; with the Demon Seed by his side, he really wasn't worried about any mental demons.

"That's it; I'm leaving. Yu Huaping, next time I have a chance, I'll come to the baronial manor to look for you to watch swords and drink wine."

The Sword Saint then said: "It's a marquis manor."

"Tsk………”

The Sword Forger's figure disappeared into the night sky in the northwest direction.

The Sword Saint walked forward, reached out, and pulled out Mo Shi, saying:

"This sword………”

"If you like it, you can take it."

Zheng Boye was always generous in this regard.

"Having a Long Yuan on me is already tiring enough; I don't want this one."

"Then you can keep it for me first, and I'll take it out to play with after the battle is over."

"Okay."

"Hey, you say, if he was sincere………”

The Sword Saint laughed: "What's the point of saying this now?"

Regardless of whether people are sincere or not, they've already left.

"You say, why?"

Rejection was rejection, but that didn't stop Zheng Boye from ruminating over it a few more times.

That sentence "together" was too shocking and almost took Zheng Boye's soul away.

"He actually looks a lot like someone."

"Who?"

"You."

"Me?"

"You are a baron ennobled for military merit. Great Yan has treated you well, and you are also a Yan person. Didn't you reject his proposal for your own safety?

He is a hereditary aristocrat, the Dugu family, sharing prosperity and ruin with the country. He is a Chu person; can't he live for himself?

In this world, there are only a few big frameworks, but there are thousands and thousands of people. How can those few frameworks fit everyone?"

"What you said makes a lot of sense, but unfortunately, I can't sit down and have an epiphany like you."

"A sixth-rank martial artist is enough; I'm blocking in front of you, and he has to negotiate with you. Sorcerers are outside the world, driven by the imperial court; martial artists and swordsmen are running dogs in the army.

Which is bigger and which is smaller is clear at a glance."

"It's different. If I………”

The Sword Saint's mouth revealed a smile, saying: "Next time, I'll take a good look."

"Those words sound creepy." Zheng Boye rubbed his hands.

"After being a countryman for a long time, you get used to looking into your neighbor's yard when you have nothing to do."

"Hehe."

Zheng Boye waved his hand,

saying:

"Okay, let's stop talking; I'm tired too. You should rest early. In a few days, when we're chased around, we'll still need you to protect us. By the way, do you think he has a private feud with the Regent? Like having his beloved woman snatched away, or that beloved woman being killed?"

"Why a woman?"

"Right, why a woman? That seems a bit cliché;

Never mind, never mind, let's go home."

After Zheng Boye finished speaking, he started walking towards the military camp; the Sword Saint followed.

When they came, the Sword Saint walked in front, and the Baron walked behind;

When they returned, the Baron walked in front first, and the Sword Saint walked behind. Slowly, the Baron walked to the back again, and the Sword Saint became the front.

The Sword Saint didn't ask Zheng Boye about the true relationship between him and those "gentlemen," even though the Sword Saint had already seen some clues;

Just as he didn't say that the Dragon Yuan sword actually had the power to break the seal of the Great Chu royal family's secret technique, Lock Phoenix Hand.

Some things, whether to say or not, whether to ask or not, since you can't get an answer, there's no need to open your mouth.

In the military camp,

Xue San was sitting there, and Si Niang was helping him sew up his wound.

A Ming wasn't here; he had specially returned to his tent to bleed himself.

"Injured?" Zheng Boye asked.

Xue San nodded, saying: "It's nothing, Master."

"I had something to do outside just now; I'm tired, so I won't deliberately offer you comfort."

"This subordinate also suffered a little injury and is a little tired, so I won't deliberately pretend to be moved."

"Hehe."

"Haha."

Zheng Boye looked at Si Niang, asking: "Are the medicinal materials ready?"

"They should be enough." Si Niang answered, "If we don't specifically go deep into the Great泽."

"There's no need to go deep; just fly kites with the Chu people on the periphery. I don't believe they would be willing to send out a hundred thousand troops to just walk around with me here."

Zheng Boye stretched,

saying:

"I'm a little hungry; what's for breakfast?"

………

The Sword Forger entered Juyang City.

He didn't fly up and land on the city wall like other experts using the qinggong technique, but instead, he had them lower a hanging basket. He jumped in, and then he was pulled up.

After entering the city, he saw the Regent.

The Regent had already gone to bed, but now, he was wearing a white robe, sitting by the bed.

"Your Majesty."

The Sword Forger saluted.

"How is it outside?"

"The Yan people's defenses are very tight."

"My brother-in-law is a personal disciple of the Jingnan Prince. Tian Wujing uses troops best at meticulous planning. Naturally, he wouldn't make that kind of oversight. The gate guards reported that you walked here?"

"Yes, I brought five hundred riders over, intending to negotiate a condition with that Pingye Baron."

"What condition?"

"I asked him if he wanted to enter the city and capture you, Your Majesty. As long as he was willing to act in a night raid with me, we could trick open the gates of Juyang City."

"He refused?"

"Yes."

"Doesn't trust you?"

"Yes."

"Hehe, what a pity." The Regent said with emotion, "He missed a great opportunity."

"Indeed."

"What about the five hundred riders?"

"The people left; the horses were left to him."

"Really willing."

"And a Mo Shi."

"A big loss."

"I think so too."

The Regent picked up the tea that the eunuch beside him handed over, took a sip, and slowly said:

"Where is Duke Dugu's army?"

"They have already begun to set up a net."

"Go out of the city again and convey an imperial edict to the Duke for me. There's no need to trouble the old man with the matters of Juyang City. Let him lead the army to the Wei River, to Jing City, and stabilize the situation there."

"The family head probably won't listen to me. Perhaps Your Majesty has thousands of considerations, but in his eyes, whether to come here or not is an attitude. The noble sons of Great Chu share weal and woe with the royal family. What's lost can't lose this attitude."

"It's ineffective to have others convey the edict, so I'm sending you. Has Sun Yuan arrived?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, General Sun has already been summoned."

"Let him in."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Soon, a one-eyed general walked in from outside and knelt to salute. The Regent asked:

"How many cavalry are there in the city?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty………”

The Sword Forger interrupted Sun Yuan, directly saying:

"Your Majesty, that Mo Shi is also a twin sword."

Saying this, the Sword Forger reached into his bosom and took out a small black sword,

saying:

"There's no need to trouble General Sun to escort me out of the city. I'll use this to exchange for a chance to leave the city."

The Regent waved his hand, signaling Sun Yuan to step down. General Sun got up and took his leave.

"Go convey the edict. If your old man still insists on coming over, put the sword to his neck."

"Okay."

The Sword Forger got up.

"Don't be in such a hurry to leave; accompany me for a bowl of mutton soup later; Juyang City's mutton soup."

The Sword Forger hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Perhaps in response to the bowl of mutton soup that followed, the Sword Forger asked:

"Your Majesty will continue to stay in Juyang City?"

The Regent nodded, saying: "Isn't he just trying to use me to tie down my Great Chu's troops? Then, I will deliberately go against his wishes.

There's no need to worry about me here. That kid took a boat down the Wei River. The Qu family should have noticed it. It won't be long before my Great Chu's navy and the Qu family's Azure Phoenix Army arrive here.

It's right to let the Qu family deal with that kid."

The Sword Forger also nodded, saying: "Indeed."

The Regent put down the teacup in his hand,

saying:

"You really shouldn't have put most of your mind on sword-making. You could have chosen either civil or military affairs. With your qualifications, my Great Chu could completely have another Tian Wujing.

They didn't see it, but you did."

"You're not Ji Runhao; why do you always want Tian Wujing? Even if you were Ji Runhao, the end of Tian Wujing is still unknown.

But I also really want to know why you are so sure.

My old man and those old men from other families didn't not see it; it's just that they are unwilling to believe it.

At this point, who would still do that kind of thing?"

"But you believe that I would do it."

"Aren't you afraid of really losing the country?"

"The country can't be lost."

"Where does that certainty come from?" the Sword Forger asked.

The Regent picked up two books from the coffee table and threw them in front of the Sword Forger.

These two books, one was "The History of Jin," and the other was "The History of Yan." Of course, this wasn't the complete history; it was just one volume from each history book.

"Meng Shou is back." The Regent said.

Meng Shou, who revised the history books of the four countries, had returned to Chu.

"I know."

"Meng Shou told me something; I later had people personally look up the historical materials, and finally, I confirmed it."

"Confirmed what?"

"Every one hundred and twenty years is a cycle. In those two years, there will be great disasters, especially in the north."

The Sword Forger laughed, saying: "Did Meng Shou become a qi refiner from revising history?"

Great disasters and great calamities are the words that qi refiners like to hang on their lips.

"The great disasters here are real natural disasters: droughts, floods, cold weather, and crop failures. When Meng Shou was revising the history of Yan and Jin, he noticed this: every one hundred and twenty years, there will be a large-scale natural disaster; the climate will become strange and extreme;

Northern China is most affected by this.

More than eight hundred years ago, because of the disasters in those two years, the barbarians and savages were forced to move south. Great Xia suffered great pressure, which led to the Marquis of Yan and the Marquis of Jin being ordered to open up the frontier to resist the barbarians and savages; it also led to the founding Emperor being ordered to drive out the Shanyue, opening up new territories for China.

The last cycle was one hundred and twenty years ago.

Yan was hit by a major drought, and the barbarian court saw an opportunity, thinking it could take advantage of it, so it chose to summon the desert tribes to advance eastward at that time, fighting a bloody battle with Yan, attempting to defeat Yan in one fell swoop;

The Qian country's five hundred thousand troops invaded the north. The history books record that the Yan people cleared the fields and emptied the houses, but how could such a large place really achieve a complete clearing of the fields?

In fact, the Yan people had run out of food.

Silver Wave County, from the founding Marquis of the North's triumphant poem: 'Whip the horse to chase the silver waves, watch the clear stream stretch to see the peach blossoms.'

It tells of the tragic scene of the Qian country's northern expeditionary army being littered with corpses on the road, leaving only the armor reflecting the silver light of the sun.

But in reality, it should be that only the armor was left on the ground. The hungry Yan people no longer cared about armor or weapons; instead, they had already used the corpses of the Qian people as rations, dragged them home, and started cooking, hahaha."

The Regent said, laughing, and continued:

"Why didn't the founding Marquis of the North directly go south to attack Qian? Instead, he only plundered the population, grain, and wealth of Qian's three border regions before returning north? Not only was Yan still fighting a bloody battle with the barbarians at that time, but more importantly, Yan's national strength at that time could no longer bear a major war.

The Si Tu family, the He Lian family, and the Wen Ren family are the three masters of Jin;

Among them, the Si Tu family and the Wen Ren family were originally fiefs of the Marquis of Jin. The He Lian family has savage blood, but they surrendered, but their family was very old.

One hundred and twenty years ago, Jin was hit by major floods, and the people were displaced. On the river works, people rioted, and their power was immense, sweeping through the three Jin lands, almost capturing the capital of Jin at that time.

The Jin Emperor issued an edict, allowing local militia to organize troops to protect the king. The He Lian family, the Wen Ren family, and the Si Tu family were originally just large families, but in those two years of suppressing the rebellion, they ate into territory and expanded their troops. After the rebellion was quelled, the three-way division of Jin began to take shape.

This year,

the summer in Yan is much longer than in previous years. The drought has already appeared; the torrential rain in Jin has also been going on long enough.

Hehe,

The Emperor,

is the Son of Heaven,

but the true will of Heaven is unknown even to this Son of Heaven.

Using history as a mirror,

this is using history as a mirror,

Without Meng Shou, who revised the history books of the four countries, no one could see this pattern.

The strength of the Yan people is only at this time. After this year, Yan and Jin will suffer great disasters. How can the Great Yan court, which has already seriously overdrawn the people's power in the two places, continue to maintain itself?

Not to mention continuing to fight.

The Phoenix Nest Guard's scouts in Jin reported that the Yan navy probably set out while the Wang River was breached.

That Jingnan Prince of Great Yan is worthy of being a military god. He can even use this kind of strategy that uses natural engineering as a medium. It's really amazing and admirable.

But,

the wrath of Heaven,

who can measure it?

Hold Zhennan Pass and wait until next year to see the people of Yan and Jin living in misery!

Even if Zhennan Pass can't be held, two years later, I can take advantage of the exhaustion of Yan and Jin to send troops north and recover the old land.

Some people in the court think that the Yan people will likely take Zhennan Pass and Shanggu County and then stop there, turning to a gradual plan;

But I know, I understand that even if the Yan people want to continue to expand the war, attempting to destroy Chu in one fell swoop, hehe, even if they have the heart, they don't have the strength.

Just like a hundred years ago, when the founding Marquis of the North defeated the Qian people's northern expeditionary army, he was still unable to go south despite the good situation.

You ask me why I am so sure,

I will answer you like this;

You ask me why I am still doing those things at this time,

That's because I am preparing early.

You,

understand?

How,

in your eyes,

Am I really a shortsighted ruler who disregards the land and community of Great Chu for the sake of my own power and selfish desires?

Or are you,

reluctant to part with the so-called precious bloodline of the Dugu aristocratic family that flows in your veins?

It is said that the Emperor of Yan has already let the Crown Prince supervise the country, while he himself has gone to the rear garden to enjoy his retirement. I'm afraid his body can't last long.

What a pity,

What a pity,

The true era of great struggle,

is about to begin.

So,

in the future,

there are still many places where we need to work together."

The Sword Forger lowered his head,

bowed down and saluted,

saying:

"Your subject understands."

——————

Don't panic, there will be more tonight.
Chapter 1 The Beginning