TNIBFT -Chapter 318 Cannon Fodder Xiao Tianchen

But Ye Tian knew.

If the person arriving was Xiao Tianchen, and if Xiao Tianchen wanted to do something to Sifang City, Xiao Xun’er would be the first to oppose it.

At this moment, Xiao Tianchen coming to Sifang City indicated that something had gone wrong in the capital: he had been cuckolded by Princess Leyang and ostracized by Shen Jie. Somehow, the story had deviated enough to push him toward Sifang City.

Last time, Xiao Xun’er had also mentioned that if they couldn’t survive, she and her brother would rebel.

“No need for a sneak attack.”

Ye Tian spoke: “Send a squad to monitor day and night. Any abnormalities, report immediately.”

“But…”

Zhu Heyu frowned in protest.

Tonight was indeed an ideal time for a sneak attack. If they missed today, even if the city were attacked tomorrow, it would still cause unnecessary trouble.

Ye Tian raised his hand to interrupt: “We don’t know friend from foe yet.”

“If we act rashly—if it’s an attack—we aren’t afraid of the Dazhou army, so why fear the Daliang army?”

Zhu Heyu was silenced.

He could only clasp his fists and say, “Understood!”

“I’ll have Zhongyi lead the men for constant surveillance.”

Zhu Zhongyi stood, bowing his head, and followed his father.

Once the arrangements were set, Ye Tian had Zhu Heyu bring back some cured beef. Zhu Heyu was so moved he cried and sniffled at the same time.

…

Elsewhere.

On the snowy plains, inside the Daliang camp.

Xiao Xun’er’s face had been treated by Qiu Feibai—equivalent to modern cosmetic surgery—and now the lower half of her face was tightly bandaged.

Looking at his sister’s face, Xiao Tianchen’s eyes showed reluctance. He clenched his fist tightly on the table, his gaze dark, lost in thought.

Xiao Xun’er glanced at her brother.

This meeting, her elder brother seemed even gloomier. What had he experienced in the capital?

“Brother?”

Xiao Xun’er spoke.

Xiao Tianchen turned to look at his sister.

Xiao Xun’er continued, “What should we do next?”

“We can’t stay entrenched on the snowy plains forever; supplies will run out eventually.”

Xiao Tianchen frowned. “I had planned to take Sifang City…”

Before he could finish, Xiao Xun’er interrupted, “I said it already—Ye Tian is my only friend, and my lifesaver. Brother, I cannot repay kindness with betrayal.”

“Listen to me.” Xiao Tianchen continued, “We’ll pretend to attack Sifang City. Under that pretense, we’ll move to the surrounding towns and continue to borrow troops. With the imperial edict in hand, these people, whether willing or not, will have to cooperate.”

“Once we have the troops, we—brother and sister—will take Heng City directly. Heng City borders Sifang City; behind us Ye Tian can hold off Dazhou, in front there’s natural fortification, and we can live safely.”

Xiao Xun’er’s frown slowly relaxed.

Close to Ye Tian, she could immediately rush to save him if he were in danger, taking her brother with her.

Heng City—it’s not impossible!

Xiao Xun’er nodded slightly: “But I need to notify Ye Tian first. Otherwise, he might think I’m betraying him. I promised him!”

Xiao Tianchen remained silent.

“Brother, how have you been all these years?”

“Back then, Princess Leyang, to get engaged to you, starved herself for three days and threatened the emperor with her life. She should be a person of extreme passion, right?”

At the mention of Princess Leyang, Xiao Tianchen’s eyes were bloodshot.

Hatred surged in his heart. How crazy Princess Leyang had been for him back then—now multiply that by a hundred for Shen Jie. For Shen Jie, Leyang was utterly insane. She had wanted the engagement, insisted on being together.

Back then, he had no way to resist. For his sister’s safety, he had left his hometown and gone to the capital to study, following the princess’s wishes.

He endured everyone’s ridicule, surviving alone in the cracks of life. At first, he despised Princess Leyang, but gradually, as the princess genuinely treated him well, Xiao Tianchen let down his guard and came to regard her as his fiancée.

Now, one wrong word—

And everything could be over. He would become the laughingstock of the capital.

After causing trouble for Shen Jie twice, Princess Leyang had already forgotten past favors. She treated him as a mortal enemy, joining forces with Shen Jie to eliminate him.

Xiao Tianchen clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

“Big Brother?”

Seeing this, Xiao Xun’er stepped forward worriedly and called out. Only then did Xiao Tianchen react. “It’s nothing… I’m just thinking.”

One day, he would personally kill Shen Jie!

“General! Something’s wrong!”

Outside the tent, a soldier reported.

His shadow was cast on the tent, distorted and warped. Xiao Xun’er frowned and looked at her brother.

Outside, the soldier continued, “A cavalry unit has appeared on the snowy plains. They are extremely powerful; our men are no match. General, what should we do now?”

Cavalry?

Could it be Ye Tian?

Xiao Xun’er immediately stood up, ready to go outside.

Xiao Tianchen grabbed his sister’s arm. “Wait here. I’ll go see.”

“If things go wrong, don’t worry about them. You and I—just focus on surviving.”

Xiao Xun’er nodded.

Meanwhile, on the snowy plains:

Qin Fengyi wore jet-black armor. Her long black hair was tied atop her head with a silver crown. One hand held the reins, the other a silver spear.

Beneath her, the black steed snorted violently, tossing its head repeatedly.

Behind her, several hundred cavalrymen rode in formation, each clad in matching black armor, mounted like divine soldiers descending from the heavens.

The soldiers of Daliang shivered in fear.

Each drew their necks in, their faces filled with terror. No one dared approach.

Nanfeng said, “Time’s almost up. Where’s your commander?”

“Then don’t blame us—we won’t give you a chance!”

That voice made the Daliang soldiers’ legs tremble. This cursed place was not only freezing, but the people themselves were terrifying. They were like wild savages, truly uncivilized.

“Whoosh!” Nanfeng drew his sword.

He lifted the gleaming blade overhead. The iron-armored soldiers crouched, ready. These were Qin Fengyi’s elite troops—on the battlefield, they thrived on setbacks and grew more ferocious at the sight of blood.

The black-armored soldiers’ eyes glinted, waiting for Qin Fengyi’s command.

“You are the army of Daliang?”

“The force attacking Sifang City?”

Qin Fengyi’s voice was cold and clear.

Some soldiers dropped their helmets and armor in panic, tumbling and squealing, “It’s not our doing! It’s General Xiao! He’s acting on the Emperor’s orders, using us to attack Sifang City. We’re not from Sifang City!”

“I surrender!”

“I won’t fight anymore!”

The battle hadn’t even started, and the enemy had already been terrified.

Seeing their discarded armor, the black-armored troops erupted in thunderous laughter. Among these cowards, someone said, “Boss, just kill them all and be done with it!”

“Yes, dead men pose no threat!”

Qin Fengyi’s phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly. In a cold voice, she said, “Kill!”

“Charge!”

“Charge!”

At her command, the iron-armored troops surged like tigers from the mountains, riding straight at the enemy. In moments, cries of agony echoed all around, the ground soaked in blood.

When Xiao Tianchen arrived, he saw her sitting atop a black horse like a divine warrior descending from the heavens. The wind lifted her dark cloak, and her piercing gaze suddenly locked onto him…