All the heroes of the world are now in my grasp.

Chapter 20 The Chanyu's Extraordinary Scheme

Inside the main hall, there was a deathly silence.

Zhou Bo's pupils suddenly contracted, and the words he was about to blurt out, "They are from the Yuanhai tribe, they are Li Longji's people," were stuck in his throat. Ji Guang's casual yet weighty words shattered them completely, and he could no longer utter them.

"I have already exchanged secret letters with Governor Li of Yunzhou. Liu Yuan of the Yuanhai tribe has not moved a single soldier from beginning to end."

Ji Guang slowly set down his celadon teacup, the bottom striking the rosewood table with a crisp, cold sound that jarred in the deathly silence of the hall. His tone was calm, devoid of any emotion, yet carried the unwavering confidence of a powerful regional governor, resolute and brooking no argument: "Yunzhou currently has no desire for war with Bingzhou. Therefore, the forces occupying the border camp at this moment are neither the Yuanhai tribe nor the main force of Yunzhou under Li Longji."

A fleeting look of utter astonishment crossed Zhou Bo's face, followed by a deep, furrowed brow. He had guarded the northern border for over a decade, fighting and maneuvering against various tribes of the grasslands. He was intimately familiar with the strength, habits, and schemes of the Xiongnu tribes. Yet, all his previous judgments and deductions had been based on the premise that "Yunzhou would take advantage of the chaos to launch a large-scale southward invasion." For a moment, this sudden turn of events disrupted his train of thought, leaving him no room for further consideration.

He stepped forward, bowed, and spoke in a steady voice, though with a hint of barely concealed confusion: "Your Majesty is wise. All's fair in war. Li Longji is a man of unfathomable cunning and is known for his ability to bide his time and devise plans. Even if the Yuanhai tribe appears to be holding back, it is not entirely impossible that they could secretly use a pretext to send their trusted men south to disrupt Bingzhou."

"He won't." Ji Guang raised his hand calmly, interrupting his speculation. A sharp insight into people's hearts flashed in his eyes. With one sentence, he pointed out the key to this chaotic game of chess: "Li Longji is isolated in Yunzhou. To the north, the tribes of the grasslands are eyeing him covetously. To the south, the heroes of the Central Plains are vying for power. He is already in a place where he is surrounded by enemies and has to survive in the cracks."

"In the south, the Li clan is divided among many members. Li Shimin occupies Ningzhou, Wu Zetian controls Yangzhou, and Li Cunxu commands troops in Luzhou. Each of them holds significant military power and is ambitious, all eyeing the rightful supreme position in the Central Plains. They are wary of each other and hinder one another. As a member of the Li clan, he is far away on the northern frontier and cannot reach the core of power in the Central Plains. Right now, his most important task is to stabilize his rear base and hold onto his small territory in Yunzhou. He would never take the initiative to break ties with Bingzhou at this time."

Ji Guang paused, gazing at the howling wind and snow outside the window, and calmly revealed a tacit agreement in the chaotic world: "I have already reached a secret agreement with Governor Li that Bingzhou and Yunzhou will not invade each other and will each guard their own borders. We will work together to guard against Xiang Yu of Youzhou's westward advance. There is no need to waste time on internal strife and let others reap the benefits."

Zhou Bo suddenly understood, and most of his doubts were instantly resolved. No wonder his lord always addressed him as "Lord Li" instead of by his given name. With Zhao Ren's sudden death, two emperors ruling simultaneously, and the Song Dynasty existing in name only, the various regional warlords were carving up the country. Ji Guang had been stationed in Bingzhou for many years, cultivating the hearts of the people and commanding a large army. Naturally, he would not be willing to be subservient to anyone. Forming a defensive alliance with Li Longji, who was in a similar situation and had comparable ambitions, and agreeing not to interfere with each other, was undoubtedly the safest and wisest choice at present.

But this answer made the New Year's Eve attack at the border river mouth even more bizarre and unpredictable.

If it wasn't the Yuanhai tribe or the Yunzhou army, then what force possessed such formidable combat power that it could break through his well-established Jiehekou camp, which he had built up over many years, in one night, defeat three thousand elite border troops, and cause his entire army to collapse and his commander to be seriously injured?

Zhou Bo's brows furrowed into a deep frown as the names of all the tribes, large and small, along the northern border flashed through his mind, yet he dared not acknowledge the name that was already in his head.

Just as the room was filled with a heavy silence and thoughts were stuck, a series of light but heavy footsteps came from outside the tightly closed wooden door of the main hall. Accompanied by a weak, hoarse but still clear and orderly report, the suffocating silence in the hall was quietly broken: "I, Gao Zidan, a criminal, request an audience with Governor Ji of Bingzhou."

The attendant stepped forward quietly and slowly pushed open the hall door.

A cold wind, carrying fine snowflakes, rushed into the hall, causing the candlelight to flicker violently. Han Xin bowed and helped Gao Zidan, slowly walking step by step into the main hall.

Gao Zidan's face was deathly pale, devoid of any color. His lips were cracked and bluish. His once upright and imposing figure was now slightly hunched, and his steps were unsteady and weak. He could only stand with Han Xin steadily supporting him. Several days of recurring high fever and recurring nightmares had almost completely drained his energy. His eyes were bloodshot, revealing extreme exhaustion and haggardness. Yet, even so, upon entering the hall, he curtsied and performed a standard and thorough salute to Ji Guang, who sat in the main seat, neither servile nor arrogant, maintaining perfect decorum.

"Gao Zidan, a criminal from Bohai, greets Your Excellency."

Ji Guang looked up at him, his expression calm, showing no surprise whatsoever, clearly already aware of Gao Zidan's presence. He slightly raised his hand, his tone gentle, the coldness of his earlier discussion replaced by a touch of consideration for an old friend's junior: "No need for formalities. Brother Gao is an old friend of mine, tragically killed, the details of which I already know. You are the son of my old friend, burdened with a blood feud, what crime have you committed? There's no need to call yourself a criminal. Someone, bring Zidan a seat."

Attendants on either side responded and brought over seats. Han Xin carefully helped Gao Zidan to her seat. Gao Zidan raised her hands in a gesture of respect and solemnly thanked him. As she looked up, her gaze swept over Ji Guang and Zhou Bo, whose face was solemn beside her. A hint of undisguised frustration, self-mockery, and a chilling clarity flashed in her eyes.

He took a deep breath of the cold air, suppressing the weakness surging in his chest. His first words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly unraveling all the mysteries in Zhou Bo's heart and shattering everyone's previous predictions.

"My lord, there is no need to guess anymore." His voice was still weak, but every word was clear and resounding, carrying an indescribable bitterness and sorrow. "The ones who launched a surprise attack on the Jiehekou camp on New Year's Eve and are now entrenched at Jiehekou refusing to retreat are not the Yuanhai tribe, nor the Yunzhou army."

"It was the Yongming tribe that saved my life, the Xiongnu cavalry of Yongming Chanyu Liu Yao."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Bo was jolted awake, his eyes widened in disbelief, and he froze on the spot.

Yongming Division?

Zhou Bo spent half his life on the battlefield, guarding against Xiang Yu's Youzhou cavalry, being wary of Li Longji's Yunzhou army, and being cautious of the major powerful tribes of the grasslands. However, he never took the Yongming tribe seriously, and never even gave it the slightest bit of caution!

Looking at the extreme shock on Zhou Bo's face, Gao Zidan's lips curled into a deep self-mockery. She shook her head slowly with a bitter smile, her tone full of sudden realization and frustration: "Uncle Zhou, we've both been deceived by him. And I, from beginning to end, have been used as a pawn in his game, manipulated around without even realizing it."

He raised his eyes and looked directly at the two of them, slowly revealing Liu Yao's scheme, word by word: "From the very beginning, what Liu Yao wanted was never just one or two impoverished county towns, nor a place to live under someone else's roof. He sent me alone to the border river mouth to meet the general and discuss with you the matter of borrowing troops in exchange for territory and seeking the protection of Bingzhou. He did not sincerely beg the general to grant him a place to stand."

"He just wants to use my identity and my words to completely lull you into a false sense of security, so that you and everyone in Bingzhou will lower your guard and be wary of Yongming's forces."

Zhou Bo felt a chill run through his body, as if he had fallen into an ice cave. All the details in his mind instantly connected, and everything became clear.

No wonder the Jiehekou camp was attacked so suddenly that very night after Gao Zidan finished negotiating the land exchange agreement with him; during this period, he was preoccupied with various situations and the upheaval in Luoyang, and with the New Year approaching, he was truly unprepared. Gao Zidan's arrival also made him feel favorably toward the Yongming tribe.

"He impersonated the wolf head banner of the Yuanhai tribe, launched a night raid on the camp, and accurately predicted the people's hearts and the situation," Gao Zidan continued in a deep voice, his tone full of fear of Liu Yao's cunning. "He wanted the general to immediately believe that it was Li Longji who launched a major southward invasion and that the Yunzhou cavalry raided Bingzhou, throwing you into chaos and making the Bingzhou army afraid to easily launch a counterattack."

"By using the formidable reputation of the Yuanhai tribe, he created a false impression of strength to intimidate all sides and buy himself time to occupy the border river mouth, build a defensive line, and consolidate his gains. He played this move flawlessly, deceiving everyone."

Ji Guang sat in the main seat, his slender fingers gently tapping the table, the rhythm unhurried. A knowing look finally crossed his previously calm face, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

He finally understood why, after occupying the border river mouth, the other side neither went south to plunder Loufan nor expanded its territory, but simply held the camp tightly and strictly blocked the news—there was no Yunzhou army following behind them, and with only a part of their strength, they were powerless to confront the main force of Bingzhou head-on, so they could only hold their ground and wait for the situation to change, using stillness to control movement.

"Then what exactly did he seek by going to such lengths and risking his life for this surprise attack?" Zhou Bo suppressed all his astonishment, and the composure and coldness of a veteran general reappeared on his face as he asked in a deep voice, each word ringing with conviction.

"His demands are very simple." Gao Zidan looked up to meet his gaze, her tone calm, yet revealing her core ambition: "What he wants is the entire Xihe Prefecture, the whole prefecture, not just a county or a corner. Jiehekou is the eastern gateway of Xihe Prefecture, a vital passage. By destroying Uncle Shi's camp and removing this thorn, Xihe Prefecture will be completely wide open and indefensible."

"Xiang Xu, the governor of Xihe, is no match for Liu Yao's three thousand iron cavalry. Taking Xihe will be a piece of cake for him."

Gao Zidan lowered her eyes slightly, her tone filled with increasing frustration: "What he wants is real territory, a foundation he built himself with his own blood and sweat, and he has never thought of relying on anyone's reward. He knows better than anyone that even if Uncle Shi agrees to grant him one or two counties, those are still lands under the jurisdiction of Bingzhou, which are not legitimate and can be taken back at any time."

"But if he were to seize the entire Xihe prefecture with his iron cavalry, that would be his own territory, his own foundation, rightfully and firmly established, a hundred times more secure and vast than the tiny land the general has granted him."

Zhou Bo stood silently, his fingers clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white.

He had spent half his life on the battlefield, witnessing the cunning and ferocity of the nomadic tribes and the ambition of warlords in chaotic times. Yet, he never imagined that after more than a decade of dominating the northern frontier, he would ultimately fall into the hands of an unknown Xiongnu Chanyu, being schemed against and manipulated step by step, losing completely.

"It was during that bloody battle on New Year's Eve that I finally realized what was going on and saw through his disguise when I saw that black-armored knight." Gao Zidan's voice was slightly low, with a hint of lingering fear. "Previously, at the border of Shanggu, when Liu Yao led his army to block the Youzhou pursuers sent by Xiang Yu to hunt me down, I personally witnessed him charging into battle and killing the enemy, and he was invincible."

"His fierce posture of riding a horse and wielding a spear, his indomitable and domineering killing aura amidst ten thousand troops, was exactly the same as the black-armored knight who broke through the formation on New Year's Eve, charged straight into the center of the army, and headed straight for the general's flag."

He suddenly looked up, his gaze firm, his tone resolute and leaving no room for negotiation: "I can guarantee with my life that the knight in black armor who severely injured my uncle, cut down the general's flag, and routed the entire army was Liu Yao himself. He personally led the elite troops, took the lead, and won the battle in one fell swoop."

As soon as he finished speaking, the main hall fell into an endless silence once again.

All doubts, anomalies, and illogical flaws were resolved at this moment.

They spared no effort in guarding against Xiang Yu and the various warlords vying for power in the Central Plains, but they never expected that the one who would ultimately stab them in the back and tear open the northern border defenses of Bingzhou was none other than the Yongming tribe, whom everyone looked down upon and regarded as nothing, and the Xiongnu Chanyu who seemed rough and bold but was actually as cunning and ruthless as the sea.

Gao Zidan sat upright in her seat, her fingertips trembling slightly, her mind racing.

His dream of being a time traveler has come to an end.

In this chaotic world where human life is as worthless as grass, there is no such thing as a protagonist's halo. He thought he understood people's hearts and knew their personalities, but little did he know that he had already become a pawn on someone else's chessboard, being used and driven by others, until the game was over and he realized it too late.

Just as the room fell silent and emotions were churning, Ji Guang, sitting in the main seat, suddenly chuckled softly.

The low laughter, tinged with amusement and appreciation, broke the heavy atmosphere in the hall. He raised his eyes with interest, his gaze falling on Gao Zidan, scrutinizing her from head to toe.

The young man before me, though recovering from a serious illness, was frail and haggard, yet his eyes showed no panic or collapse, nor any of the delicate timidity of a scion of a noble family. Even knowing his own role as a pawn, even trapped in a desperate situation, he could still clearly dismantle the conspiracy, see through people's hearts, and speak with every word hitting the nail on the head, his integrity unwavering and his mind resilient.

"Zidan," Ji Guang spoke slowly, his tone tinged with a hint of probing and scrutiny, "Since you see through Liu Yao's schemes so clearly and understand his cunning so thoroughly, then I'd like to ask, in your eyes, what kind of person is this Liu Yao?"

Gao Zidan was slightly taken aback, then composed herself, raised her eyes calmly, met Ji Guang's sharp gaze, and answered honestly and respectfully: "Your Majesty, when I was staying with the Yongming tribe, I thought Liu Yao was just a bold and unrestrained, brave and good at fighting, and a straightforward and domineering man. He was just a typical fierce chieftain of the grasslands, brave but not resourceful, and unlikely to achieve great things."

"But only today have I truly seen this man's true colors. He is far-sighted, cunning and patient, brave and knowledgeable in warfare, flexible and adaptable, good at concealing his weaknesses, ruthless in his attacks, and decisive in every strike. Such a person is no ordinary individual; he is a first-rate hero in this chaotic world."

Ji Guang's smile deepened. He leaned forward slightly, closing the distance, and pressed on with the most crucial question, his tone carrying a hint of pressure: "In your opinion, Young Master Gao, given the current situation, how should Bingzhou deal with Xihe County, and how should we deal with the Yongming tribe, which has occupied the border river mouth and is eyeing Xihe with hostility?"

The moment this question was raised, the atmosphere in the main hall instantly became extremely tense.

Zhou Bo glanced at Gao Zidan, holding his breath and waiting for her answer. He was already prepared; he was just waiting for Gao Zidan to speak before he would request permission to prepare the army for war, march west, recapture the Jiehekou, annihilate the Yongming forces, wash away the humiliation of defeat, and regain the face of Bingzhou.

Gao Zidan took a deep breath, met their intense gazes, and spoke directly without hesitation or doubt.

A single sentence, astounding as a thunderbolt, instantly froze the air in the entire main hall, creating an atmosphere of utter devastation.

"Your Excellency, in my opinion, you should immediately submit a memorial to appoint Liu Yao as the Prefect of Xihe."