Long Tianmo's gift to Emperor Kang Cheng involved Western Zhou's trump card, the Chu Clan troops!
Years ago, the Chu Clan had betrayed Western Zhou's imperial clan and sought refuge with Tianning. The two elders of the Chu Clan had mobilized their troops for a civil war that broke free from Western Zhou's control. This was the main reason why Western Zhou had fallen from being a major power in the west to its current state in just a few short years.
However, after the Chu Clan broke away from Western Zhou, Ning Cheng had dealt them a vicious blow. Not only did they fail to take over Tianning, they failed to establish themselves as the hegemon of a region and suffered disastrous losses.
Afterwards, Chu Tianyin listened to Gu Beiyue's plan and pretended to surrender to Western Zhou. This gave Western Zhou a chance to ally with the Tian An and launch a pincer attack against Ning Cheng. That battle had forced Ning Cheng to use the red coat cannons he'd set up to defend Northern Li.
Although Ning Cheng had won two battles against both Western Zhou and Tian An, he'd still gained the upper hand and won two battles. However, the Ning Clan Army had also suffered a blow because of this. Otherwise, the Ning Clan Army wouldn't have suffered defeat after defeat in the battle with the Baili Army not long ago.
Northern Li hadn't participated in the war because of the horse plague, while Long Fei Ye's commander-in-chief's estate in the south central regions was the true fisherman.
Western Zhou and Tian An were separated by Tianning, but Chu Tianyin had risked Ning Cheng's pursuit to forge an alliance. But now Long Tianmo was using the Chu Clan troops as bait to ally with Emperor Kang Cheng.
What would Chu Tianyin think if he found out?
Long Tianmo's gift to Emperor Kang Cheng was Long Tianmo gaining control of a powerful deputy general in the Chu Clan troops named Wei Mingshi.
The Seven Noble Families had limited clansmen, so the Chu Clan, Ning Clan, and Baili Army were all led by clansmen. They would then recruit capable men and buy horses.
Wei Mingshi was one of the generals Chu Yunyi had spent a lot of money to recruit. He'd raised the man himself and personally taught him archery skills.
The last time Chu Tianyin had pretended to surrender, the Emperor of Cannes had no choice but to give him a lot of military power in order to protect the eastern border. Now, the Chu family had once again taken control of the military power in Western Zhou. After the war, Emperor Kang Cheng had a headache for several days trying to regain his military authority.
Long Tianmo's recommendation of this person was both a show of goodwill to Emperor Kang Cheng and a threat to him.
Long Tianmo controlled Wei Mingshi, which meant that Long Tianmo could make a large portion of the Chu Clan's army betray him at any time. They could betray Western Zhou, or they could betray Chu Tianyin!
As soon as Long Tianmo returned to the room, Mu Qingwu, who had been waiting at the tea table for a long time, immediately stood up, "Your Majesty, how is it?"
Although Long Tianmo and the Mu family were master and servant, they were more like allies. Without the Mu family, Long Tianmo's regime would have collapsed long ago.
Although he had been the crown prince since he was a child, he'd been ill for years without much training. How was a young man like him supposed to deal with the unpredictable changes in Cloud Realm Continent over the past few years?
Actually, the straightforward and upright Mu Qingwu was even less of a match. The true controller of Tianning's political power was General Mu.
Today, Long Tianmo and Emperor Kang Cheng had a secret meeting. Long Tianmo had formally handed Wei Mingshi over to the emperor. From tonight onward, Wei Mingshi would no longer be loyal to Long Tianmo, but to Emperor Kang Cheng. Emperor Kang Cheng had promised to keep this a secret no matter what happened.
"Kang Cheng agreed. Everything went smoothly," Long Tianmo murmured.
Mu Qingwu nodded. "Then I'll send a messenger hawk back immediately. My father must be anxious from waiting."
A complicated look flickered past Long Tianmo's eyes before he took Mu Qingwu's hand. Mu Qingwu gave a start before his gaze turned complicated as well.
He could guess what Long Tianmo wanted to ask.
"Your Majesty, this soldier really doesn't know anything about this. This soldier only found out a few days ago that Wei Mingshi was one of my father's men," Mu Qingwu replied honestly.
"Then do you know anything else?" Long Tianmo asked Coldly.
If General Mu's hands could reach into the Chu Clan's troops, then what about the other armies?
Did General Mu have other spies in the Northern Dynasties Emperors' cavalry, Jun Yi Xie's cavalry barracks, the Ning Clan troops, and even the Baili Army?
Long Tianmo had always respected General Mu, but he couldn't help but be on guard this time. Just how deep were the foundations of the Mu family? Why was General Mu hiding his true strength? Was General Mu, this old fox with hidden depths, truly sincere in helping Tianning's imperial clan? Or did he have ulterior motives?
Mu Qingwu could clearly sense Long Tianmo's anger and wariness in his tone.
"I don't know if there are any," Mu Qingwu replied truthfully.
Long Tianmo suddenly grabbed Mu Qingwu by the collar and said angrily, "Do you father and son take Zhen as a three-year-old child?"
Mu Qingwu didn't struggle. "Your Majesty, this soldier has never lied to Your Majesty."
Long Tianmo calmed down at his words. He had always known Mu Qingwu's temperament and Mu Qingwu's character.
When Mu Qingwu had pretended to get close to him, it was to investigate the embezzlement case of the disaster relief grain. After finding out that the case was the imperial uncle's doing and not the Eastern Palace's, Mu Qingwu and Long Tianmo gradually became a monarch and subject who could talk about anything.
Although they weren't friends, their relationship had long surpassed that.
Mu Qingwu's words had calmed Long Tianmo down because Mu Qingwu had spoken the truth.
Mu Qingwu's words implied that he hadn't lied to Long Tianmo yet, but he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't in the future. He could only listen to his father.
Long Tianmo flung his hand aside. "Why does your father want to get involved in the enmity between Eastern and Western Qin and the Wind Clan? You should know that, right? "
Mu Qingwu still shook his head helplessly. He had to admit that his father's actions had frightened him. Long Tianmo was angry, but so was he. It was just that he hid everything in the bottom of his heart.
He was the only son of the Mu family and the sole heir to the Mu family army. But his father still treated him like an outsider and hid everything from him. What was he?
Long Tianmo couldn't calm the sullen anger in his heart. He flicked his sleeves and was about to leave when Mu Qingwu stopped him. "Your Majesty, although this place is far from the Hundred Poisons Sect, it's still not safe."
He stopped Long Tianmo and walked out of the door. "Your Majesty, rest early."
With a bang, Long Tianmo slammed the door shut and headed for the tea table, only to see a booklet on the table. When he opened it up, he saw that it was a letter from General Mu urging him to spread his bloodline for the imperial Long Clan as soon as possible!
Long Tianmo sneered. He hadn't taken a concubine since he ascended the throne, and he had never touched Mu Liuyue. Was General Mu standing up for his daughter?
Based on the current situation, once Mu Liuyue became pregnant with the dragon seed, he might become the "late Emperor". He would never repeat his Imperial Father's mistakes.
Long Tianmo immediately called for the guards outside. "Send orders back and prepare to take a concubine!"
If he wanted to produce more offspring for the imperial family, then he had to be fair! Mu Liuyue wanted to have a child, right? Let's rely on our own skills!
Long Tianmo threw the memorial to the floor and angrily sat down at the tea table.
As he raged, the image of a serious, focused face surfaced in his mind. It had been a long, long time since he'd seen Han Yunxi. The deepest impression he had of her was her expression when she took his pulse.
He never knew that a woman could be so serious and so beautiful.
Was she here already?
Would she be happy that Long Fei Ye had avenged her in Great Central Town today? Just what was her relationship with Long Fei Ye now?
He had worshipped and revered Imperial Uncle Qin since he was a child. Now that he knew the man wasn't a member of the Tianning imperial clan, he didn't hate him or denounce him. Instead, he admired him even more.
For no other reason than the fact that the Eastern and Western Qin imperial clan was the noblest in Cloud Realm Continent. Their bloodlines were of the highest order!
Han Yunxi was Imperial Uncle Qin's woman and his imperial aunt, so he didn't dare to think too much about it.
Now Han Yunxi had nothing to do with him and was Long Fei Ye's enemy. Still, he didn't dare to think too much about it. After all, she was born in the Western Qin imperial clan.
The only one worthy of her was Long Feiye.
Was the Tian An Emperor's sleepless nights for the sake of his country, or for the sake of his love life?
Mu Qingwu personally stood guard outside the door, arms crossed over his chest as he stood like a sturdy pine tree. However, that pair of eyes that had always been bright and full of vigor had unknowingly lost their luster.
Was his sleepless nights for the sake of the army, or for the sake of his beloved woman?
As the night grew darker, the northern winds whistled. Winter had already descended upon Cloud Realm Continent.
Northern Li's weather was the coldest of all. Currently, Ning Cheng was warming up wine in his tent. Even if he was drinking by himself, he could still drink to his heart's content!
He was in a good mood because Bai Yuqiao's business was progressing smoothly. In less than a day, Bai Yuqiao had already bought three jugs. With Bai Yuqiao's skills, he'd probably be able to buy ten jugs in the next few days and spend half of his silver drafts. He'd tampered with each of the banknotes so that Northern Li's Trade Consortium members would recognize them and hand them over to Myriad Merchant Hall's Council of Elders.
Once the news got out, he'd be able to continue competing with Jun Yi Xie without fear of repercussions!
Thinking of this, Ning Cheng's single eye slowly blossomed into a sinister smile in the dusk, adding a hint of resolute evil to his cold and arrogant face.
Now, he just had to wait for news from Hundred Poisons Sect tomorrow.
Jun Yi Xie was also in his tent, drinking by himself. He hadn't left his tent for a day, and Bai Yuqiao had also been guarding outside the door for a day.
Both of them were waiting, not for news from Hundred Poisons Sect, but for news from their master.
Would their master go to Hundred Poisons Sect or come to Northern Li's Milky Way?
Jun Yi Xie raised his wine cup high, toasting to the bright moon outside the window. His heart was toward the moon, but the moon was toward the ditch.
He told himself that if his master didn't come tomorrow, then their master-disciple relationship would be over!
A group of people in Three-Way Black Market were also waiting for news tomorrow, except for two people who didn't pay much attention to Hundred Poisons Sect.
These two people were none other than Tang Li and Gu.
Gu had already inquired about Deacon Jin's whereabouts in Willow Flower Lane. Someone saw Deacon Jin fighting with Uncle Cheng behind a brothel, but the outcome was unclear. Someone else saw Deacon Jin buying a carriage and leaving from the north gate of Three-Way Black Market.
"Uncle Cheng must have colluded with Deacon Jin to kidnap Ning Jing and the others!" Tang Li said angrily.
"North …" Gu pondered.
Tang Li was shocked. "Could they …"
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