The Northern Border’s army of over a hundred thousand had already stationed in Liangzhou, ready to march south at any moment.

The number of soldiers on the towers of Leizhou City was several times more than usual, but they were merely watching.

Leizhou was not their ally.

If they rashly attacked the Northern Barbarian’s army stationed in Liangzhou, the Northern Barbarian’s people would turn around and attack them.

Between Jianghuai and Liangzhou lay Bianjing.

Jianghuai’s allies couldn’t come to their aid, and the Xie family’s army from Qiangliu Pass couldn’t be recalled in time.

If Bianjing were to assist the Northern Barbarian’s people in attacking them, then Leizhou would be easily taken by the Northern Barbarian’s army.

Xie Chi and Xie Huan, the two brothers, climbed the city walls every day to observe the situation.

The barbarians were right under their noses, yet they couldn’t send out troops to attack.

Xie Chi was burning with anger.

Leizhou also sent a letter to Bianjing, stating that as long as Shen Yanzhi expressed agreement to ally with them, their combined forces of Leizhou, Bianjing, and Jianghuai could at least temporarily trap the Northern Border’s barbarian army in Liangzhou, preventing them from advancing southward.

However, once the news reached Bianjing, it was as if it had sunk into the ocean.

The urgent reports from the front lines were sent from Leizhou through the key pass of Qinxiangguan to Jianghuai, and Qin Zheng saw that there was no response from Bianjing even at this time.

She prepared for the worst.

To increase their chances of success, she ordered the recruitment of new troops in the Jianghuai area, mobilizing the local people to dig trenches and set traps, trying to make the most of the terrain advantage.

The number of refugees fleeing south from Bianjing increased day by day.

Even ordinary people realized that this battle was different from the previous wars between the feudal lords.

If they lost, they would probably become slaves of the Northern Barbarian’s people, driven like cattle and horses.

Soon, scouts and fleeing refugees brought another piece of news:

Shen Yanzhi was hosting a banquet at Lihua Terrace to entertain Li Zhong, seemingly intending to reconcile with him formally and officially bring Li Zhong under his command.

The people knew Li Zhong’s character very well, and the atmosphere over Leizhou and the entire Jianghuai region became gloomy and desperate.

Their enemies now not only included the Northern Barbarian’s people but also the fifty thousand troops from Bianjing.

The traps and trenches set up around Zhuzhou were originally highly disadvantageous to the Northern Barbarian’s army, but when the two armies fought, if Bianjing’s troops engaged in mountain warfare, then the previous terrain advantage would not be of much use.

Not only literati from all over the world but even ordinary people cursed Shen Yanzhi and Li Xin incessantly.

Qin Jian even wrote several letters of reprimand to Shen Yanzhi and sent them to Bianjing.

He and Shen Yanzhi were once close friends, and if it weren’t for the incident of the Eastern Palace bride-snatching, they would still be in an Best-brothers relationship.

However, as close as they once were, the national grudge between them and their loyalty to their respective lords made them harbor deep hatred for each other.

The weather was bitterly cold, and water turned to ice.

Qin Zheng and Song Heqing climbed up to the city walls of Zhuzhou to inspect the defenses.

The bleak and dismal clouds pressed down on the sky, and the banners behind them fluttered in the northern wind.

Qin Zheng wore a dark purple cloud-geese-patterned brocade jacket, covered with a fox fur cape with fur trimmings.

She wore golden hair ornaments on her head, exuding an air of nobility and majesty.

She gazed deeply into the distance, where a faintly visible mountain range hidden in the heavy snow, reflected by the moonlight and snow, her eyes were faint and distant. It was unclear when her expression had become so inscrutable.

When civil and military officials saw her, they were more intimidated by her majesty, and few paid attention to her appearance.

“Minister Song, do you think Shen Yanzhi will join forces with the Northern Barbarian?”

Standing beside him, Song Heqing’s temples were grayer than before, but his stature remained as sturdy as a pine tree enduring wind and rain on a cliff, straight and towering.

Only when he spoke did he lean forward slightly:

“If Shen Yanzhi intends to contend for this world, and Your Highness has already taken control of Jianghuai and the Southern Territory, and the Northern Court is willing to submit, Shen Yanzhi has no chance of victory.

Only by joining forces with the Northern Barbarian’s people does he have a chance to fight.

But this move is no different from seeking skin from a tiger. We will eventually drive out the foreign enemies. If Shen Yanzhi doesn’t want to be reviled by future generations, he should not collude with the barbarians.”

Qin Zheng remained silent, naturally understanding what Song Heqing said.

Previously, Shen Yanzhi was relentless in his pursuit because of his deep hatred for the Crown Prince and his desire to win back his beloved.

But after their meeting at Tali Pavilion and Shen Yanzhi’s return of the Wandering Doctor’s Notes about cures of Epidemic, Qin Zheng thought he understood everything and believed that Shen Yanzhi had let go of his hatred.

Now, the attitude of Bianjing made her uncertain again.

Was Shen Yanzhi, who once sought to destroy the Chen Dynasty established by Li Xin, now seeking revenge for his belated revenge, or was there some other reason behind it?

The cold wind moved the fur trim on Qin Zheng’s cape, and snowflakes fell into her thick black hair, making her expression even colder.

Song Heqing thought she was worried about the defense of Zhuzhou and said, “Your Majesty, don’t worry. Even if we bury our bones here, as long as there is one Chu person in this world, the war to drive away the barbarians will not stop.

Since ancient times, there have been many foreign tribes coveting our Central Plains, but none of them have been able to settle here permanently.”

Qin Zheng nodded, took a deep breath of the cold and fresh air, and her gaze swept over the mountains and plains.

Behind this solid city wall were the unarmed people of the Central Plains.

She spoke slowly and firmly, “Minister Song is absolutely right.”

Even if the odds of winning this battle were slim, it had to be fought.

If they all retreated, where would the people of Chu retreat to?

…..

Bianjing, Lihua Terrace.

Lihua Terrace was originally a palace built by Emperor Chu Yang during his reign.

The palace lake was home to ten thousand koi fish, and even in the deep winter, the lake did not freeze due to the warmth of the earth dragon below.

Snowflakes flew around the pavilion, and groups of koi fish played in the lake, creating a magnificent scene.

Led by a servant, Li Zhong walked through the carved corridors and finally arrived at the high platform with a panoramic view.

The pavilion was surrounded by curtains to block the wind, and a figure could be vaguely seen sitting inside.

The servant opened the curtains, and Li Zhong chuckled, then sat down heavily on the high platform, saying, “Young Master Shen is quite extravagant.”

Although Shen Yanzhi proclaimed himself as the Regent, Li Zhong still referred to him as Young Master Shen, indicating that he did not acknowledge Shen Yanzhi’s position as Regent.

In the past, when he intended to take Yongzhou but was defeated by the former Crown Prince’s side, he fled everywhere like a dog with a broken home. Forced to do so, he turned to Shen Yanzhi, who did not receive him but instead sent him to live temporarily in Sishui City.

Li Zhong understood Shen Yanzhi’s plan very well. Sishui City happened to be the closest city to Zhuzhou.

Shen Yanzhi left his army here, undoubtedly to guard against the former Crown Prince’s attack on Bianjing. Li Zhong’s troops could act as a first line of defense.

Now that Shen Yanzhi took the initiative to summon him, it was obvious that he wanted to win him over. Li Zhong would naturally not miss this opportunity to profit for himself.

Facing Li Zhong’s ridicule, Shen Yanzhi remained unusually calm.

There was a noticeable pallor on his face, and he still couldn’t stop coughing even with the heavy fox fur draped over his shoulders. He brewed a cup of tea with freshly boiled water and pushed it over to Li Zhong, saying in a calm tone, “General Li has come from afar. Have a cup of tea to drive away the cold.”

When he didn’t show those sharp, pointed fangs, he seemed to revert to the courteous and gentle young master he once was.

Li Zhong brought several strong and skilled guards with him. Being skilled in martial arts himself, and with only Shen Yanzhi, a sickly fellow, in the pavilion, he felt confident enough to sit down.

As for any food or drink offered by Shen Yanzhi, he would not partake.

Li Zhong got straight to the point: “I’m a simple man. I can’t play the games of the Bianjing elites. I’ll say what needs to be said. If there’s any offense in my words, I hope Lord Shen will forgive me. Lord Shen, you’ve raised your banner now and invited me, Li Zhong, to join you. The men under my command, each of them has followed me through thick and thin. Even if I don’t care for myself, I have to consider them.”

Shen Yanzhi took a sip of tea and said calmly, “General Li is indeed a man of loyalty and righteousness. I admire that.”

Everyone in the world knew that Li Zhong, in order to save his own life, had abandoned his wife, children, and elderly mother who were detained by Li Xin. When he plotted to take Liangzhou, although it was at Li Xin’s instigation, it was him who personally negotiated with the Northern Barbarians.

The phrase “loyalty and righteousness” from Shen Yanzhi sounded ironic, but he maintained his usual demeanor and tone of praise, leaving Li Zhong unable to retaliate. He could only continue stiffly, “Lord Shen has only twenty thousand troops stationed in Bianjing, while Li Zhong, although unworthy, has thirty thousand soldiers under his command.”

He paused for a moment, his fierce gaze fixed on Shen Yanzhi, his threat evident: “However, in this severe winter, my soldiers are hungry and cold. To alleviate their concerns about food and clothing, I would like to request control over the cities south of Bianjing and north of Sishui from Lord Shen.”

This was tantamount to demanding half of Shen Yanzhi’s territory right away.

The reason Li Zhong’s troops stationed in Sishui City didn’t dare to cause trouble was twofold: firstly, Sishui City was not particularly prosperous, and his soldiers were indeed suffering from hunger and cold. Secondly, because it was Shen Yanzhi’s territory, they didn’t dare to act recklessly. After all, a group of hungry and cold soldiers against Shen Yanzhi’s twenty thousand elite soldiers would likely end in disaster. Secondly, if Shen Yanzhi were angered, he might turn against Li Zhong, join forces with Jianghuai, and divide his territory. That would undoubtedly be seeking death.

But now, asking for half of the cities was different. When his troops had enough supplies, it was hard to say whether Bianjing would still be under Shen Yanzhi’s control.

Shen Yanzhi put down his teacup and smiled faintly. “General Li, why not look at the bigger picture? Once Jianghuai and the Southern Territory are under our control, you can pick whichever cities you want.”

Li Zhong was shrewd in these matters. “I prefer to have things in my hands now rather than later.”

After pretending to ponder for a moment, Shen Yanzhi conceded, “Very well. The cities south of Bianjing and north of Sishui are yours, General Li. However, I’ve heard that you have had dealings with the Northern Barbarians. Would you mind delivering a letter to them on my behalf?”

Li Zhong had long received an olive branch from the Khitan, the Northern Barbarian’s leader.

He already had an answer in his mind but pretended to be confused and asked, “What kind of letter does Lord Shen want to send?”

Shen Yanzhi handed him a letter and said, “Accepting the proposal of the Khitan prince, but there are some details to be discussed. Please ask the prince to come to Lumen Gate for a face-to-face discussion. It is said that the prince is skilled in martial arts, so when the time comes, you and I will go to Lumen Gate together. That way, I can be more at ease.”

Lumen Gate was a city on the border between Bianjing and Liangzhou.

After Li Zhong opened the letter and confirmed Khitan’s handwriting, and heard Shen Yanzhi’s words, he was overjoyed.

He had been in contact with the Khitan for a long time, and they had expressed their desire for him to replace Shen Yanzhi. However, he was wary of the Khitan using him to pit against Shen Yanzhi. Now, in the letter from Khitan to Shen Yanzhi, there was not a single word about him. Instead, it focused on the defeat of the former Crown Prince, the conquest of Jianghuai and the Southern Territory, and the former Crown Prince’s couple leaving everything to Shen Yanzhi’s disposal.

Li Zhong also knew that Shen Yanzhi was known for his sentimentality. The fact that Khitan made such a promise in the letter didn’t surprise him.

Shen Yanzhi didn’t know that Khitan had approached him as well and wanted him to replace Li Zhong. That was enough.

He could take advantage of this opportunity to seize power from Shen Yanzhi without shedding blood. In this way, he wouldn’t have to worry about Khitan benefiting from the situation.

Li Zhong pretended to be surprised. “Is the lord planning to join forces with the Khitan to attack Jianghuai?”

A fierce light flashed in Shen Yanzhi’s eyes. “I have an irreconcilable hatred with Chu Chengji!”

Li Zhong cursed him silently in his heart, but outwardly, he flattered, “A man who doesn’t avenge his wife’s grievances is not worthy of being a great man. Lord, you are indeed a man of passion!”

After a brief moment of contemplation, Shen Yanzhi stepped back. “Very well. You’ve got the cities south of Bianjing and north of Sishui. But in exchange, could you do me a favor and deliver a letter to the Khitan prince?”

Li Zhong hesitated briefly when he took the pen, but soon understood Shen Yanzhi’s intention. Since Li Xin had been caught colluding with foreign tribes, Shen Yanzhi wanted to join forces with the Khitan but didn’t want to personally involve himself, lest he leave behind evidence that could never be erased. Li Zhong had a precedent of contacting the Khitan on Li Xin’s behalf, so Shen Yanzhi wanted to emulate Li Xin and let Li Zhong negotiate with the Khitan on his behalf, positioning himself as the beneficiary behind the scenes.

After the incident was exposed, he could just push Li Zhong out, just like Li Xin did.

Li Zhong sneered inwardly. As long as he got half of Shen Yanzhi’s territory, he didn’t have to wait for the agreement at Lumen Gate. He could make Bianjing change hands first.

After composing the letter inviting the Khitan prince to a banquet, Shen Yanzhi checked it over and had it sealed with wax before sending it off to Liangzhou immediately.