YWTGU -Chapter 71 The Stratagem of Sowing Discord: I Have Never Failed

At last… they had arrived at Yanyun Pass.

Now, the fate of Great Qi and Northern Yan was tied entirely to this single stronghold.

Li An stood atop the fortress wall, staring at the overwhelming Northern Yan camp across the river, feeling deeply shaken.

As a modern man, the last time he had seen such a sea of troops was scrolling through short videos on his phone.

But what was filmed through a screen and what stood before him in reality were worlds apart. The shock of seeing it in person could make one’s whole body stiffen, too stunned to speak.

He could even smell the horse manure drifting from across the river.

That was a camp of two hundred thousand men, stretching for more than a dozen li, endless from east to west.

From above, the dense black tents looked like poisonous mushrooms sprouting from the earth—layer upon layer, packed tightly together.

Northern Yan’s military banner snapped sharply in the morning wind—a massive golden wolf-head flag, symbol of the fiercest war machine of the степpe.

It wasn’t just Li An. The Great Qi soldiers on the wall were pale-faced as well.

Some swallowed nervously.

Some gripped their spears tightly—hands trembling.

Others wiped cold sweat from their foreheads again and again.

You couldn’t blame them.

Facing that formation—anyone’s legs would go weak.

“Bwooo—!”

A horn sounded from the Northern Yan camp, deep and resonant, like muffled thunder from underground.

Then the earth began to tremble.

Thud-thud-thud-thud—

Hoofbeats.

And not just a few—tens of thousands.

Northern Yan’s iron cavalry poured out of the camp, their momentum terrifying enough to freeze the heart, forming a wall of steel along the opposite bank of the Blackwater River.

The vanguard riders wore heavy armor and carried curved sabers. Even their horses were wrapped in iron plating.

In the morning light, the armor gleamed brilliantly.

Every scale plate. Every forging pattern.

Li An recognized them all.

Because they were forged using the latest iron-smelting techniques he had provided to Northern Yan.

And it was he who had personally handed the formula to the Ninth Princess of Northern Yan.

He had also personally signed that so-called “technology exchange agreement.”

Back then, he had been Northern Yan’s undercover agent—his goal was to ruin Great Qi.

So he sent Great Qi’s best technology to the enemy, strengthening Northern Yan and weakening Great Qi. National fortune had indeed plummeted—

But the timing had been wrong!

Now he was Great Qi’s loyal minister, his life and wealth tied to its national fortune.

What he once considered a brilliant move had now become tens of thousands of curved sabers and suits of iron armor.

It was like a vicious slap across his own face.

“Soldiers of Great Qi, listen!”

From across the river, someone shouted in Great Qi’s official tongue.

Even from the wall, the voice was crystal clear.

“Our Northern Yan cavalry is invincible! And these sharp sabers were given to us by you, Great Qi!”

“Two hundred thousand of us against your one hundred thirty thousand! If you don’t want to die, surrender now! Those who surrender will not be killed!”

The faces of Great Qi’s soldiers turned even paler.

Whispers spread.

“Is that true…?”

“I heard the court did some kind of technology exchange before…”

“The armor and sabers they’re wearing look exactly like our latest batch—maybe even better…”

This psychological attack visibly crushed morale.

Ding!

【Northern Yan psychological warfare; Great Qi morale shaken】

【Morale –15%】

【National Fortune –1,200; Current: 197,871】

Li An’s face darkened at the system’s notification.

This was the consequence of aiding the enemy.

Half an hour later.

Inside the central command tent.

Zhao Ling’er sat behind the marshal’s desk, a military map spread before her.

Present were Commander of the Imperial Guard Zhou Yong, Military Affairs Advisor Chen Huan, Jin Daya, Zhang Tiezhu, Li An, and Hongmei.

“Gentlemen.”

Zhao Ling’er’s voice was surprisingly steady.

“Northern Yan’s vanguard of thirty thousand cavalry has formed up across the river. Their main force of one hundred seventy thousand is camped thirty li behind.”

“How many of our forces have arrived?”

Commander Zhou Yong stood and reported:

“Your Majesty, fifty thousand Imperial Guards are in position. Thirty thousand reinforcements from Hebei Circuit have arrived. Fifty thousand from Hedong Circuit are still en route—expected in two days.”

“So, at present, we can deploy only eighty thousand.”

She summarized calmly.

“Eighty thousand against two hundred thousand.”

Silence filled the tent.

Jin Daya ventured, “Your Majesty… perhaps we should hold defensively? Wait until Hedong’s troops arrive?”

“We can’t hold.”

Li An spoke.

All eyes turned to him.

“Northern Yan cavalry isn’t strong at siege warfare, but they can cross rivers. The Blackwater River is in dry season—its shallowest points only reach a horse’s belly. They can force a crossing anytime.”

“If we sit behind the walls and refuse to engage, we surrender initiative. They can split forces, circle behind, and cut off our supply lines.”

Zhao Ling’er looked at him.

“Then what do you propose?”

“Take the initiative.”

Li An pointed at the Blackwater River on the map.

“Before the Hedong reinforcements arrive, launch an engagement within these two days. Test their strength—and boost our morale.”

Zhao Ling’er pondered briefly.

“Very well. We fight.”

That afternoon.

Great Qi’s army crossed the river to meet the enemy.

Three thousand Imperial cavalry led the vanguard—one of Great Qi’s few mounted forces.

They splashed through the shallows, hooves spraying water, charging toward Northern Yan’s front lines.

War drums thundered.

Horns blared.

Great Qi’s cavalry roared and surged forward—

And then—

They were smashed back.

Like a wooden wall crashing into a wall of iron.

Northern Yan’s cavalry did not yield an inch.

Their sabers came down, and Great Qi’s armor tore like paper.

Their horses, clad in iron, collided and flipped Great Qi’s mounts aside.

First charge.

Three thousand cavalry—eight hundred casualties. Forced back into the river.

Those who retreated looked hollow-eyed, hands still shaking.

“Their armor… can’t cut through it… can’t…”

One blood-soaked rider fell from his horse into the river, kneeling and sobbing.

Commander Zhou Yong’s eyes reddened.

“Charge again! Damn it, charge again!”

Second charge.

Five thousand infantry crossed the river to reinforce.

Shield-bearers up front, spearmen behind.

It looked somewhat organized.

But Northern Yan’s cavalry formed a wedge formation and drove straight into Great Qi’s flank, piercing the line instantly.

The new sabers struck Great Qi’s standard shields—

Shields shattered.

Spears stabbed at Northern Yan’s horse armor—

Bent.

Great Qi soldiers struggled in the river, cried for help, were trampled.

The Blackwater River turned dark red.

On the wall, Jin Daya’s eyes nearly popped out.

“How the hell do we fight this? They’re wearing armor that’s immune to blades!”

Zhang Tiezhu gripped the battlements, face tense.

He recognized the forging patterns.

Those iron plates were crafted using methods from his Ministry of Works.

Copied by Northern Yan’s smiths.

Meanwhile, Great Qi, busy restructuring the economy, hadn’t produced many for itself.

“I taught them…” he muttered. “That forging method… I taught them…”

On the wall, the young emperor Zhao Ling’er’s face turned deathly pale.

She suddenly stood, grabbing a guard’s saber.

“Prepare my horse! I will personally—”

“Your Majesty, you must not!”

Li An grabbed her arm from behind.

“You cannot charge into cavalry battle! You won’t return!”

“Let go!”

Her eyes were bloodshot with fury.

“The soldiers bleed for me! How can I stand back and watch?!”

“Give me time!”

Li An’s voice carried desperation.

“Give me a quarter of an hour! That’s all I need!”

“Why?”

Her voice was hoarse.

“Why should I trust you again? Do you know how many have died down there?”

Li An did not flinch.

He looked straight into her eyes.

“Because… I still have one last trump card.”

The tent fell silent for two seconds.

Zhao Ling’er stared at him.

There was fury in her eyes, unwillingness, and deep disappointment—almost despair.

But in the end… she loosened her grip on the saber.

“A quarter of an hour.”

“Only a quarter.”

“If you exceed it, I will go myself.”

Ding!

【First engagement routed; Great Qi vanguard suffered heavy losses】

【Killed + seriously wounded: approx. 1,800】

【Army morale severely shaken】

【National Fortune –5,000; Current: 192,871】

Five thousand gone in an instant.

Li An stared at the blood-red number, then turned and ran toward the central command tent.

Mud splashed up from beneath his boots, staining the hem of his robe. He didn’t care.

From outside came the sounds of fighting and groaning by the river.

Those sounds pierced his mind like needles.

Their bloodshed… he bore part of the blame.

He had given the technology away.

He had armed the two hundred thousand iron cavalry himself.

He needed a miracle.

And in his hands, he just happened to have one last miracle.

Inside the central tent.

Li An stood alone.

His trembling hand opened the system panel.

In his inventory lay a single icon.

【All-Seeing Eye】

Quality: SSS
Uses: 1/1 (single-use)
Effect: Upon a target, reveals core motivations, fatal weaknesses, and key relationships.

He had saved it for a long time.

From the moment he obtained it, he knew it could only be used once—at the most critical moment.

Now.

This was that moment.

He took a deep breath and pressed “Activate.”

A streak of golden light shot from his eyes—visible only to him.

He closed his eyes and focused on one person.

Northern Yan’s commander-in-chief.

Yelü Xiong.

Text surged across the system panel like flowing water—

Ding!

【All-Seeing Eye Activated】

【Target: Yelü Xiong, Left Worthy King of Northern Yan, Grand Marshal of the Southern Campaign】

【Core Motivation: Use this campaign’s success to accumulate military prestige and replace the Northern Yan Emperor as ruler】

【Fatal Weakness: Deep mutual suspicion between him and the Northern Yan Emperor. The Emperor has already begun defensive deployments in the rear】

【Key Relationship: Deputy General Murong Ke is a supervisory officer planted by the Emperor; severe conflict exists between them. Yelü Xiong suspects Murong Ke may assassinate him at any time】

【Additional Intel: This campaign is not purely for national interest but an extension of personal ambition. If defeated or constrained by court forces, he is highly likely to withdraw to preserve strength】

【Item Consumed】

Li An’s eyes lit up immediately.

As the golden glow faded, clarity filled his gaze.

“So that’s it…”

“He’s not here to conquer Great Qi.”

“He’s here to conquer for himself.”

Those two hundred thousand troops… no—those “borrowed” two hundred thousand troops—were bargaining chips he had obtained from the Northern Yan Emperor.

If he won, he would gain overwhelming prestige and use the momentum to seize the throne.

If he lost, he still controlled over a hundred thousand loyal soldiers—enough to carve out his own domain.

But there was one prerequisite—

No chaos in his rear.

And yet, chaos was already brewing.

The Northern Yan Emperor had planted a nail behind him—Deputy General Murong Ke.

On the surface, Murong Ke was vice-commander.

In reality, he was a blade hanging over Yelü Xiong’s head.

With a single imperial order, Murong Ke could turn against him.

Yelü Xiong knew this.

So he guarded constantly.

Suspected constantly.

Li An stood up.

His brain buzzed as if electrified, thoughts racing.

Don’t attack the front.

Attack the crack.

Within minutes, a complete plan formed.

He rushed out of the tent.

In the command tent.

Zhao Ling’er was still waiting, her face taut with anxiety.

“The quarter hour has long passed.”

“I know.”

Li An burst in, skipping formalities, striding straight to the map.

“Your Majesty, I have a strategy to break the enemy.”

She straightened.

“Speak.”

“Yelü Xiong’s southern campaign is not entirely for Northern Yan.”

“It’s for himself.”

She frowned. “Meaning?”

Li An took a breath and relayed the intelligence revealed by the All-Seeing Eye under the guise of “top-secret spy reports.”

“His true aim is to accumulate prestige from this war and use it to replace the Northern Yan Emperor. These two hundred thousand troops are less an invasion force than capital borrowed from his sovereign.”

Her expression shifted.

“You’re certain?”

“Certain.”

He pointed at the deployment on the map.

“And the Northern Yan Emperor is no fool. He planted a nail beside Yelü Xiong—Deputy General Murong Ke. Nominally vice-commander, in truth a supervisory officer loyal to the Emperor.”

“The conflict between them runs deep. Yelü Xiong constantly fears Murong Ke may move against him.”

A light gradually kindled in Zhao Ling’er’s eyes.

“So your proposal is…”

“Sow discord.”

A sly smile curved Li An’s lips.

“We forge a secret letter from the Northern Yan Emperor to Murong Ke. In it, the Emperor orders him to seize Yelü Xiong and reclaim command immediately after the battle.”

“Then, through discreet channels, we let the letter ‘accidentally’ fall into Yelü Xiong’s hands.”

She was silent for several seconds.

“Yelü Xiong already distrusts Murong Ke. Seeing that letter, he will believe it genuine.”

“And then?”

“Then he either diverts troops to guard against Murong Ke—or strikes first. In either case, Northern Yan’s frontline command fractures.”

He drew an arrow across the map.

“Once a crack appears…”

“We drive through it.”

The tent was silent for a long while.

Then Zhao Ling’er smiled.

“Minister Li.”

She looked at him steadily.

“I knew you would have a way.”

Li An bowed, thinking: This concerns my own life! Even if there were no way, I’d have to invent one!

Without the system, he wouldn’t even know whether the opposing marshal was born in the Year of the Horse or the Tiger.

But of course, that couldn’t be said.

He had long mastered the art of looking composed.

Since transmigrating to Great Qi, he had perfected the performance of “complete confidence.”

Zhou Yong, who had been listening, finally spoke.

“Minister Li, if this strategy fails…”

“It won’t.”

Li An’s expression did not change.

“I have never failed.”

Then he began drafting the forged secret letter on blank silk.

He followed the exact format of Northern Yan’s confidential court correspondence—seals, coded phrases, folding style—every detail flawless. He had learned it earlier from Hongmei.

When finished, he handed it to one of Great Qi’s undercover agents.

The spy examined it carefully.

Then tucked it into his robes.

Ding!

【Strategy submitted. System evaluating…】

【Probability of successful discord: 67%】

【Estimated impact on National Fortune to be settled post-battle】

【Host, prepare for the worst】