Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 648 - 593: Joining the Tujue, Understanding Battle Techniques

Chapter 648: Chapter 593: Joining the Tujue, Understanding Battle Techniques

"Report—Great Khan, just now we dispatched someone to scout ahead, and they found that the Vanguard Army of the western forces has just arrived on Longyou Road; they haven’t yet engaged with the Great Sui’s army and have stopped their advance. Then... then..."

At this moment, within Sharlobi’s Central Army tent, the returning cultivator was also panicked.

"Speak! What happened then?"

"Then the Khan of Dashi Bian issued the order to withdraw troops!"

Bang!

Sharlobi, infuriated, slammed the wine cup from the table forcefully onto the ground.

"This is outrageous! He is, after all, a Khan of the Tujue, how could he possibly retreat without engaging in battle?!"

Sharlobi stood up, roaring with anger.

The State Preceptor whispered a reminder from the side, "Great Khan, that’s called withdrawing without a fight, not retreating without offering battle."

Sharlobi ignored the State Preceptor and just watched Aikan Shetou and Shiba Limi in the tent with a cold gaze.

"What do you two think, after this war, should we punish Dashi Bian?"

Both Aikan Shetou and Shiba Limi were people Sharlobi had promoted, so they naturally understood the Great Khan’s intentions.

"Punish! We must punish!"

"Wherever the Great Khan’s blade points, my war horse will charge!"

Sharlobi nodded in satisfaction and was about to praise the two when another messenger rushed in.

"Report—Great Khan! It has been confirmed that after Khan Long Bo demanded a large pasture, he did not immediately lead his troops southward but quickly occupied the pasture. Then..."

"What then?!"

"Then, due to the pasture, Khan Long Bo had conflicts with other surrounding tribes and has started fighting. The war is still ongoing, and I’m afraid... afraid that he won’t be able to join this invasion of the Great Sui in time!"

Sharlobi, hearing of Khan Long Bo’s actions, was so angry that he was itching to act.

Initially, Khan Long Bo stated that he needed some pasture to provide accommodations for his troops to deploy.

Sharlobi had agreed with great reluctance!

Even though those pastures belonged to other tribes, not his own.

Yet, no sooner had Sharlobi agreed than Khan Long Bo turned around to fight his own people without any regard for him as the Great Khan!

This is outrageous!

At this moment, Sharlobi wished he could lead his forces back to the grasslands right away and eliminate Khan Long Bo first!

However, just then someone else rushed in.

"Report—Great Khan! We’ve just received information that Khan Ding Kucha’s army has been moving southward, but along the way, they have been obstructed by many tribes. It seems that Ding Kucha hoped they would provide some supplies and provisions, but those tribes were unwilling, leading to conflict!"

Sharlobi was relieved that at least Ding Kucha was decent towards him; when he asked for troops, Ding Kucha actually complied.

But the problem was, even though Ding Kucha had deployed his troops, what was the deal with these tribes along the way?

Can’t you all just give me some peace of mind!

While Sharlobi was fuming with irritation, yet another person came in to report.

"Report—Great Khan! A distress letter has just come from behind."

As they spoke, the person handed over a letter with both hands.

Sharlobi took it and was greatly surprised upon seeing its contents.

"Xing Luohou actually suffered an attack from the indigenous tribes of the Southeast region? And some are so overwhelming that they’re asking for our support? I find it hard to believe."

At this moment, the State Preceptor beside him sighed deeply and said in a low voice, "Great Khan! I had people look into this before, and Khan Xing Luohou has been doing exceptionally well in the southeastern grasslands. Over the years, he has been winning the hearts of many tribes and has even recruited refugees."

"After he went to the southeast, he got along very well with the local indigenous tribes, to the point where they were essentially indistinguishable from each other. This plea for help must be a ruse. He simply does not want to send troops to attack the Great Sui."

Hearing this, Sharlobi was so furious that he tore the letter in his hands to shreds.

"State Preceptor, what do you think we should do next?"

The State Preceptor was about to say "I have three strategies: upper, middle, and lower," but after a thought, he decided it would be better to suggest only one.

"Great Khan, our immediate concern is the war between our great army and the Great Sui. The last battle showed that the Great Sui had concentrated many troops to deal with us. Now that the Great Sui is prepared, and we probably still have tens of thousands of our men in their hands, we don’t know if they are safe. We must first find out the status of our people and then figure out a way to rescue them. Otherwise, relying solely on the hundred thousand men under our command to face the Great Sui is too difficult."

And just then, another person ran in.

"Report—Great Khan! Outside..."

Bang!

The person coming in to report had not yet finished speaking when Sharlobi rushed up and kicked him.

The person who had come in to report was stunned.

Sharlobi angrily said, "Is it more bad news?"

The person who was kicked to the ground said with an innocent face, "No! The Sui Dynasty has sent an emissary, who says they have captured sixty thousand of our Tujue soldiers and are willing to let us buy their release."

Initially, Sharlobi felt that today’s reports were all good news.

He never expected that the kick he delivered would also produce good news.

It seemed that in the future, he had to kick more often!

"Where is the emissary of the Sui Dynasty? Have them come quickly..."

The State Preceptor immediately stopped Sharlobi and whispered, "Great Khan, there is a lot of room for maneuver in this matter."

"Room for maneuver?"

The State Preceptor nodded very seriously.

"Since we know that our plan to invade the Great Sui with five armies simultaneously has failed, and now it’s essentially just us fighting the Great Sui, we must make them believe they are about to win. That way, they are more likely to release the prisoners."

Sharlobi suddenly understood and said, "You mean we should pretend to be weak?"

The State Preceptor nodded.

"As long as we pretend to be weak and also reveal that the other four armies aren’t coming, we can make the Great Sui believe they have basically won this war. We could even offer less money for the ransom and then promise to withdraw our troops after the prisoners are returned!"

Sharlobi chuckled, "Heh heh... And once the prisoners are back, we’ll launch a counterattack immediately, right?"

The State Preceptor quickly grabbed Sharlobi’s hand and said, "No! We will truly withdraw our troops!"

"Ah!?"

"Great Khan, we will retreat on the surface, but in reality, we’ll find a good place to the north to ambush them. They are unlikely not to pursue us, as wounding our forces would be beneficial for the Great Sui. Then, we find a location to encircle the Great Sui. If we can capture Kaihuang in the process, it will certainly plunge the entire Great Sui into panic."

Hearing this, Sharlobi smiled with satisfaction.

Indeed, such matters requiring cunning certainly needed the State Preceptor.

"Very well, now I’m... ill! I can’t meet the emissary! State Preceptor, you will represent me in meeting the emissary of the Great Sui. As for the ransom, although we’ve not plundered much on our journey, it doesn’t matter if we give all of it to the Great Sui. If that’s not enough, we can throw in some lesser quality horses as well. I’ll leave everything to you, let’s show weakness!"