Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 605 - 561: Declare Total War on Great Sui!

Chapter 605: Chapter 561: Declare Total War on Great Sui!

Inside the tent of the Great Khan of the Tujue, Sharlobi was drinking fine wine with Qianjin Kedun, their cups clinking together.

"Congratulations, Great Khan, I hear that this time you have truly routed the Sui Army."

Despite feeling very proud at this congratulations, Sharlobi merely smiled faintly and said softly, "It’s nothing, nothing at all."

"Speaking of which, during this Disaster Descending God event, there appeared eight Calamity Positions, but our side, the Tujue, only secured three, while the Great Sui, including that damned Ying Zhao Clan, snatched away five! Absolutely infuriating!"

Qianjin Kedun naturally knew the importance of both soldiers and strong warriors and quickly consoled him, "Great Khan, don’t worry. After all, the Ying Zhao Clan is part of the Demon Clan, how could they truly align with the Great Sui? Besides, aren’t those four who obtained the Calamity Position also ministers of the Great Sui? Do you really think that Kaihuang would allow his subordinates to control the power of the Path of Calamity?"

Sharlobi suddenly recalled that Kaihuang was originally the Red Dust Immortal of the Imperial Path, wielding the power of the Imperial Path.

It is said that the Imperial Path and the Path of Calamity are naturally in conflict.

Now that those four have obtained the power of the Calamity Position, it remains to be seen whether it’s a blessing or a curse.

"Exactly! Kaihuang may not be able to tolerate those four, but..."

At this point, a hint of fierceness flashed in Sharlobi’s eyes.

"The three Calamity Positions secured by us, the Tujue, one was snatched by Khan Long Bo, and that newly born son of Xing Luohou also obtained one, with the last one held by Kucha Shahhan. In fact, the only one I truly possess is the one held by Kucha Shahhan!"

Qianjin Kedun continued to comfort Sharlobi, "Great Khan, you worry too much. Although they might not be very loyal in their hearts, you are the Great Khan of the plains after all, who would really dare to defy your orders?"

At this, Qianjin Kedun suddenly thought of something and said softly, "Great Khan, I just thought of a good plan. Didn’t you say that the reason the Great Sui sent troops to attack us this time was to kill our young Tujue talents, thus preventing our younger generation from rising?"

Sharlobi nodded his head.

"Isn’t this the perfect excuse to declare war?" Qianjin Kedun said, a smug smile spreading across her face.

After all, she finally had the chance to avenge the entire Yuwen Imperial Clan of the Northern Zhou.

"Great Khan, not only do we have a justified cause to dispatch troops, what is even more important is that, upon your command, all Tujue tribes will send troops to attack the Great Sui. The treasures plundered and divided among them will give them a taste of the benefits! Then, all the tribes will know the benefits of following the Great Khan."

"What is even more important is that you have just become Great Khan. If your first campaign against the Great Sui is a sweeping victory, your prestige on the plains would be like the dawn’s first light, illuminating the earth and protecting the Tujue!"

Upon hearing this, Sharlobi stood up, proud and triumphant, and laughed out loud, "Exactly! I am the dawn’s first light!"

As he spoke, Sharlobi pulled Qianjin Kedun into his embrace.

According to the customs of the Tujue people, when a father dies, everything that belonged to him becomes his successor’s—including his women.

After some indescribable events, Sharlobi let Qianjin Kedun go back first, then sent someone to summon the State Preceptor.

The State Preceptor hadn’t even entered Sharlobi’s tent when he noticed from afar that Qianjin Kedun, with trembling legs, was being helped by a maid as she walked out of Sharlobi’s sleeping quarters.

Then, as soon as he stepped inside, he immediately knelt down in front of Sharlobi.

"I have seen the Great Khan."

"Get up, get up, State Preceptor. I have a major issue to discuss! I am planning an attack; do you have any wise strategies?"

Although Sharlobi thought he was clever, he knew better than to underestimate the State Preceptor who had loyally served his father for so many years, otherwise, his father wouldn’t have valued him so highly.

"Does the Great Khan want to campaign against the Great Sui?"

Sharlobi nodded and motioned for the State Preceptor to come over and sit down, no need to kneel.

Once the State Preceptor approached, Sharlobi smiled and said, "Firstly, I’ve just assumed this position as Great Khan, and this exploration of the Secret Realm showed that there are still some ambitious men below. This upcoming battle would be a good opportunity to deal with some disobedient people!"

"Moreover, us facing the Great Sui is like a tiger moving against a flock of sheep. The things we seize and distribute downwards would ensure that henceforth, the heart of the entire steppe will be with me, Sharlobi!"

"Thirdly, I also want to use the hands of the Great Sui to weaken the influence of a few other Khans. You should know to whom I’m referring, right?"

The State Preceptor nodded, "It must be Khan Long Bo and his daughters, and Dashi Bian..."

As the State Preceptor spoke, he watched Sharlobi’s expression closely, clearly waiting.

"And Xing Luohou."

Seeing Sharlobi nod in satisfaction, the State Preceptor finally sighed in relief.

"Great Khan, I have three strategies: high, middle, and low. The high strategy is for you to command all tribes of the steppe to unite and launch a unified assault on the Great Sui. Though the national war will have a lengthy front, some areas will naturally require your personal command, while others can be entrusted to other Khans."

"For this five-army campaign, it should be comprised of Dashi Bian’s army, Long Bo’s army, Xing Luohou’s army, Ding Kucha’s army, and the central Tujue army led by you."

"Five armies, launching simultaneous attacks on the Great Sui. With such a lengthy battle line, the Great Sui will inevitably be stretched thin."

"This is the best strategy. The next best strategy is..."

Sharlobi raised his hand, smiling, "I know, you strategists all like to offer three plans, then let us choose. There’s no need for that. Since it’s the best strategy you mention, it must be the best. Let’s go with this best strategy!"

The State Preceptor’s subsequent words were stifled back.

Actually, the State Preceptor had always felt that Sharlobi was not very intelligent, which worried him that Sharlobi might be stubborn and pick the worst of the three strategies provided, thinking it to be the best option.

Therefore, the best strategy he mentioned was actually not the best strategy in his mind. In fact, the real best strategy in his mind was the next strategy he was going to mention.

In the name of the Great Khan, gather all the tribes’ forces together, then focus the military might directly into Longyun Path, straight into Capital Region Road, and storm into the capital of the Great Sui, shattering its capital!

By then, with the capital in ruins, the Great Sui’s national fortune and morale would suffer a severe blow, and then allow the tribes to roam and plunder at will while Sharlobi holds the capital.

If others face setbacks, that would be the time for Sharlobi to act.

If others progress smoothly, they would feel that it is due to Sharlobi’s competent command.

After the great battle, Sharlobi’s prestige among all the Tujue people would soar to its peak.

But the result was, just after expressing one strategy, Sharlobi decided on it.

If I had known this would happen, why didn’t I mention what I truly considered the best strategy first?

It seems that next time I offer strategies to Sharlobi, I should state the real best strategy first.

However, the strategy I just mentioned was actually the medium strategy in my mind, and it’s also a decent strategy, sufficient to deal with the Great Sui.

Subsequently, the State Preceptor and Sharlobi discussed some details and then immediately sent people to convey the orders to the eight Khans of the Tujue.

Even though Khan Long Bo, who was located far in the Black Iron City of the Far North Snowfield, had established a tribe of three to five thousand people outside the Far North Snowfield, pretending to be all the manpower under his authority.

Consequently, the eight Khans on the grassland promptly received the notice.

Upon receiving Sharlobi’s orders, Khan Long Bo couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.

Seeing his mother laugh, Xue Lihong, curious, asked, "Mother, what are you laughing at?"

"I laugh at how foolish Sharlobi really is. He actually wants to attack the Great Sui immediately, and has us dividing our forces into five routes, from west to east—west route, right route, central route, left route, and east route. We are the right route army, fitting right in between the west’s Dashi Bian and the central Sharlobi."

Although Xue Lihong was eager to join the battle, to take the opportunity to bring back the man he missed from the Great Sui, seeing his mother seemingly reluctant, he said, "Mother, then let’s not go. Who wants to work for Sharlobi? What can we gain by attacking the Great Sui?"

Khan Long Bo scoffed, saying, "Our location is too far north. Now, moving to the Land of the Midday Sun to attack the Great Sui, no matter how much territory we conquer, none of it will be ours. But... we still need to go!"

"What!?" Xue Lihong looked at his mother with a puzzled face, unsure of what exactly she was thinking.

"Someone, go and draft a letter telling Sharlobi that I, Khan Long Bo, and Khan Xue Lihong agree to dispatch troops and coordinate in battle with the Great Khan. But as our tribe’s location is far north, and the supplies are insufficient on the southern march, and there is no place for our troops to station, let him assign these areas to us. With these pastures, we will dispatch our forces!"

Only then did Xue Lihong understand. His mother was not unwilling to dispatch troops; she wanted to demand some concessions from Sharlobi first before agreeing.

As for what to do after securing the pastures, whether to dispatch troops or not, that would be a matter for later.

Meanwhile, Dashi Bian, upon receiving Sharlobi’s orders, though annoyed by the Great Khan’s tone, thought about how he had just established a foothold in the west and needed a war to train his army, so he felt that participating in the battle was also a good choice.

He could even take the opportunity to test whether the tribes that had surrendered to him in the west were truly loyal or merely pretentious.

Ding Kucha, receiving Sharlobi’s orders, was also very happy.

Because he, as the left route army, was right next to the central army.

And commanding an army personally, he must have gained Sharlobi’s favor.

Considering that his own brother was now a favored figure before Khan Sharlobi, Ding Kucha felt increasingly pleased.

He even started to contemplate the kinds of escapades he might indulge in with the beauties of the Great Sui once he reached the Land of the Midday Sun.

For a time, it seemed every person on the grassland was looking forward to this war erupting, except for Xing Luohou, who, upon receiving Sharlobi’s orders, furrowed his brows deeply.

The reason he had moved close to the Great Sui was because the strength of his own tribe was not very strong, so he needed the protection of the Great Sui.

Now the Tujue intending to wage war against the Great Sui!?

"Someone! Send this letter to Zhang San, tell him, ’The Tujue are initiating a full-scale war against the Great Sui!’"