The Blood Crown - Chapter 260

Ever since Chen Mu set out from Yongzhou, he was prepared for battle at any moment, which made the military preparations swift this time. Watching his well-trained troops, Yan Sikong felt uneasy, for he had to credit both himself and Yuan Nanyu. Yet now, it was they who had to face Yuan Nanyu in battle.

However, back when he arranged for Yuan Nanyu to train troops for Chen Mu, he had left many contingencies in place. Among the commanders, Yuan Nanyu had planted his own people. The recent news of Chen Mu’s intensified military preparations had likely already reached Yuan Nanyu, and Yan Sikong could use this person to relay messages. Unfortunately, even he didn’t know the specifics of Chen Mu’s plan now.

Yan Sikong increasingly felt that Shen Hexuan’s presence was a threat. Without Shen Hexuan, he could control Chen Mu better. He had to find an opportunity to eliminate Shen Hexuan.

A couple of days later, Chen Mu came to Yan Sikong with a grim expression, saying that Feng Ye had sent a letter, offering to exchange Yan Sikong for Pingliang.

Upon hearing that name, Yan Sikong’s heart twinged, but he didn’t bat an eyelash, his expression remaining calm.

“He dares to openly demand a person? How ridiculous.” Chen Mu said angrily, “Not only would I never hand you over to him, but historically, no one has ever exchanged a city for a person in such a frivolous manner. He’s clearly trying to deceive us.”

“Of course he’s trying to deceive us,” said Shen Hexuan. “Feng Ye would never hand over a city to His Highness.”

“How does he propose to make the exchange?” Yan Sikong asked.

“Why do you even want to know?” Chen Mu said loudly.

“I just want to understand what kind of trick he’s playing.”

“I don’t want to know,” Chen Mu sneered. “He might be deliberately provoking me.”

Yan Sikong and Shen Hexuan exchanged a glance, both roughly guessing what the other was thinking.

Feng Ye’s move was indeed a provocation aimed at Chen Mu, but it was also a hint. Whether to strike Pingliang or Fengxiang was up to Chen Mu, but now Feng Ye had brought the name of Pingliang to the forefront and even proposed exchanging that city for a person. Chen Mu would not agree and would feel deeply insulted. Thus, he was likely to target Pingliang to counter Feng Ye.

Shen Hexuan, despite knowing this, did not remind Chen Mu in front of Yan Sikong. If he had, Chen Mu might have abandoned the idea of attacking Pingliang, leaving only Fengxiang.

Even if Chen Mu thought this far, he might also consider that Feng Ye could anticipate his decision to abandon Pingliang for Fengxiang. Given that either choice could be predicted by the enemy, under such a hint, Chen Mu might simply choose Pingliang. If he managed to take it, he could thoroughly humiliate Feng Ye.

It was a truly brilliant psychological maneuver.

After calming down, Chen Mu seemed to realize something, frowning even more deeply. “Could it be that Feng Ye already knows I’m planning a surprise attack?”

“It’s impossible for him to know so soon. We only just made the decision,” said Yan Sikong.

“He doesn’t know, but he might have some suspicions,” Shen Hexuan said. “This man cannot be underestimated. From today on, we must strictly investigate all those entering and exiting the city. The timing of the surprise attack must not be leaked.”

Chen Mu nodded. “In this freezing weather, while marching is slow, it’s also difficult for scouts to gather military intelligence, which works in our favor.”

“When does His Highness plan to attack?” Yan Sikong asked.

Chen Mu replied, “Soon, but the exact time is not yet set.”

Yan Sikong sneered inwardly. It seemed extracting information from Chen Mu wouldn’t be easy. No matter—so long as he was there, he would do everything to protect Yuan Nanyu.

—

Several days later, when Chen Mu’s army marched out, Yan Sikong learned that Chen Mu’s vanguard had already set off three days earlier.

On the day of departure, Yan Sikong remained expressionless. After setting up camp, Chen Mu dismissed everyone from the central tent except Yan Sikong, and cautiously asked, “Are you angry with me?”

Yan Sikong cupped his hands and said, “If Your Highness does not trust me, why keep me by your side?”

“You misunderstand me, Sir. I only fear that too many people might speak out of turn and reveal our plans. It’s not that I doubt you.”

“Your Highness’ words make me feel like a fool,” Yan Sikong said softly. “I can guess what Shen Hexuan said to you.”

Chen Mu moved to sit beside Yan Sikong. “You spent so much time strategizing for Feng Ye, it’s only natural for Shen Hexuan to be suspicious of you. But I refuse to doubt you. This mission is too critical, and I told no one the plan—not even you.”

Yan Sikong looked into Chen Mu’s eyes and said gently, “Your Highness, I am just… afraid.”

“What are you afraid of, Sir?”

“I’m afraid you’ll treat me like Feng Ye did,” Yan Sikong said with a bitter smile. “On the one hand, guarding against me at every turn, and on the other, using me. I really don’t want to go through that kind of torment again. So I would rather have nothing and stay far away from conflicts.”

Seeing the lonely expression on Yan Sikong’s face, Chen Mu’s heart ached. “I will never hurt you like Feng Ye did. I told you before, I treasure you as if you were a rare gem. It’s just… it’s just that I also hope you can respond to me in some way.”

Yan Sikong slightly turned his face away.

“You are a smart man,” Chen Mu said, holding Yan Sikong’s hand. “You won’t keep longing for someone who hurt you while pushing away someone who truly cares for you, will you?”

Yan Sikong pulled his hand away. “Your Highness, between you and me, there has only ever been the relationship of teacher and student. I no longer wish to have such entanglements with anyone. I hope you will keep your promise.”

Chen Mu lowered his head in disappointment, a flicker of anger and unwillingness flashing in his eyes. As his power and military strength grew, he found Yan Sikong’s repeated rejections harder to bear, especially since his rival was Feng Ye.

Chen Mu took a deep breath. “In any case, I hope you don’t misunderstand me. You are the closest person to me—no one can take your place.”

“But Your Highness still won’t let me know about military matters,” Yan Sikong sneered. “If I’ve already decided to stay and help Your Highness win, how can I do that if you hide things from me?”

Chen Mu hesitated. “Actually, there’s nothing to hide. The vanguard has already set out with thirty thousand troops, escorting supplies, and they have crossed the Jiuhai Mountains. I will decide whether to go to Pingliang or Fengxiang, but I can’t tell you because I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

Yan Sikong nodded. “What about the enemy?”

“The scouts have just brought back new information—Yuan Shaoxu has been made deputy general at Quewang, finally being given an important position.”

“What?” Yan Sikong’s expression changed.

Chen Mu thought Yan Sikong was still holding a grudge against Yuan Shaoxu. “I know you must want to hear about him. Don’t worry, when the time comes, I’ll try to capture them alive and leave them to you to deal with.”

Yan Sikong’s fist, hidden in his sleeve, clenched tightly, his chest heavy with unease.

A deputy general holds a crucial position in an army, how could Yuan Nanyu give such a post to Yuan Shaoxu?!

It wasn’t simply because he bore a grudge against Yuan Shaoxu that he found it inappropriate—though he certainly did—but because Yuan Shaoxu was arrogant, and lacked the character to match the role, which made him worry.

For Yuan Nanyu, appointing Yuan Shaoxu as deputy general could never be a good thing.

But he could also understand why Yuan Nanyu had made such a choice. Yuan Nanyu’s former deputy general had been promoted and reassigned to defend Fengxiang, leaving the position vacant. Yuan Shaoxu had likely pressured him using family ties. Yuan Nanyu was a man of deep emotions, and probably believed that Yuan Shaoxu wasn’t entirely incompetent and could be trained…

If Yuan Shaoxu truly followed orders, there might not be any mishaps, but Yan Sikong feared that this man had ulterior motives.

Yan Sikong asked, “Did Your Highness try to buy Yuan Shaoxu’s loyalty?”

“Only back then…” Chen Mu felt a little guilty. “Shen Hexuan colluded with him to drive a wedge between you and Feng Ye, but Yuan Shaoxu had no intention of betraying his master.”

Yan Sikong stared directly at Chen Mu. “You’re not lying to me, are you?”

“Absolutely not,” Chen Mu said quickly.

Yan Sikong took a deep breath. “Good. Otherwise, if he still has a use, it would be difficult for me to deal with him.”

“He is petty and jealous, even willing to betray his foster brother. Such a vile person, even if he sincerely sought to join us, cannot be trusted.”

Yan Sikong sneered. “When I was younger, I respected him as an elder brother, obeying his every word, but he never showed me kindness. In front of him, I could do nothing right, and in the end, he even drove me out of the family when I was only thirteen. Out of brotherly affection, I found him a job under Feng Ye, but he was incorrigible, believing I hindered his career and scheming to frame me…” At this point, Yan Sikong’s words, half-true and half-false, ignited genuine anger in his heart. “If he falls into my hands this time, I will not spare him.”

Chen Mu comforted, “Calm down, Sir. I will make every effort to capture him alive and hand him over to you.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” After a moment of thought, Yan Sikong added, “By the way, how did Your Highness respond to Feng Ye?”

He was, of course, referring to Feng Ye’s proposal to exchange Pingliang for him.

“I ignored him,” Chen Mu replied. “What does Sir think I should have done?”

“Why not agree? Tell him to withdraw from Pingliang, and you’ll send me to him, tied up.”

“You mean to trick him?”

Yan Sikong sneered and nodded. “Tell him that as long as he withdraws, I will be immediately sent to Pingliang. That way, he’ll be filled with suspicion, and while he hesitates, our army will already be upon him, catching him off guard.”

“Very well. It will unsettle him. I’ll send a messenger right away.”

Seeing Chen Mu’s deeply contemplative expression, Yan Sikong was almost certain that Chen Mu would choose to attack Pingliang. People are prone to preconceived notions, and Feng Ye and he had repeatedly emphasized Pingliang in front of Chen Mu, making him feel that Pingliang was more important than Fengxiang. Taking Pingliang would allow him to thoroughly humiliate Feng Ye, and Pingliang was even thirty to forty miles closer than Fengxiang. Weighing the options, it was difficult for Chen Mu to bypass Pingliang in favor of Fengxiang.

Now, his task was to find a way to get this information to Yuan Nanyu and to remind him to be wary of Yuan Shaoxu.