Fang Jie and Da Quan hid in the dense grass, stealing glances towards the path not far away. Mu Xiaoyao, because her red dress was too conspicuous, stayed behind, concealed in the reeds not far away. From Mu Xiaoyao's senses that many people were approaching, Fang Jie and Da Quan had enough time to find a suitable hiding place.
Initially, they thought it was people from the Sui Dynasty's intelligence agency, but upon closer inspection, Fang Jie couldn't help but mutter in surprise.
"How could it be them?"
On the path not far away, a group of a dozen or so burly men were gathered together, exchanging a few words in hushed tones. Several men then separated and stood guard around the perimeter, while the others found a clean spot to sit and rest. Fang Jie recognized the young man sitting in the center.
Long robe, mandarin jacket, leather boots, and a curved sword at his side.
His forehead was shaved clean, but a long, black braid swung down his back.
"Northern Liao people?"
The big dog was also slightly surprised, instinctively looking at Fang Jie and asking, "You know them?"
Fang Jie pointed to the young Northern Liao man in the center and said, "I saw this man once in Fangu. He brought five hundred fine warhorses into the city to sell. His name was something like Wanyan Liyao… Although he pretended to be an ordinary herdsman, I could tell at a glance that his status in Northern Liao was definitely not low. Look, those Northern Liao people are spreading out around him; all the defenses are set up specifically for him."
Fang Jie pondered for a moment and said, "So quickly from…" "We're back in the capital. Could it be that we were rejected by the Sui emperor again?"
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
Big Dog sniffed and said, "These people aren't targeting us; they don't seem to have any killing intent. But since Little Waist said there are experts among them, we can't be careless."
Fang Jie smiled and pointed to the Northern Liao people's warhorses: "If only we could steal three of their horses. Of course, it would be best if we could steal their carriage."
"Huh?"
Fang Jie couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation as soon as he finished speaking, because he noticed that there were women among the Northern Liao people!
One of the Northern Liao people, dressed in men's clothing and clearly smaller in stature, removed her hat, revealing long hair. Clearly, the long braid she had previously worn was fake. Because she was a little far away, her features weren't very clear. But she had definitely disguised herself; her face was probably covered with something, making her skin appear somewhat dark. Fang Jie knew that all the women in Bei Liao were fair-skinned and beautiful.
"What's the big deal?"
The big dog whispered, "If what you're guessing is true, and this guy is a big shot in Bei Liao, it's not surprising he has a maidservant with him. Nobles, isn't that what they value most—having a beautiful woman to warm their bed every night?"
While the two of them were whispering in the bushes, the Bei Liao people resting on the side of the path were also whispering amongst themselves.
A woman whose face was clearly disguised sat down next to Wanyan Liyao. Her feminine posture was completely exposed. Her legs were bent inwards, knees touching, and her feet almost lay sideways. If a man were in such a position, he would probably be laughed at. Moreover, men's leg bones are thick and hard, making it difficult for them to sit so naturally.
Because the makeup on her face was too thick, her natural appearance was obscured. And precisely because of this, her feminine hairstyle combined with her dark face looked somewhat comical.
Judging from her face shape, she shouldn't be fat at all. Her current figure appears bulky and bloated, with broad shoulders, indicating she's definitely wearing a lot of padding under her clothes.
She looked down at her toes, took a small sip from her water jug, and then looked at Wanyan Liyao beside her: "Brother, what exactly does the Emperor of the Sui Dynasty mean? If we go back like this without any clear explanation, how will we explain it to Father Khan… Although this time a high-ranking official received you, he just wouldn't give a clear answer. How are we supposed to prepare?"
"That's the most annoying thing about the Central Plains people—they're not straightforward enough!"
A burly man with a thick beard standing not far away said with some dissatisfaction, "We sincerely pledge our allegiance to the Sui Dynasty and are willing to be subjects of the Sui Emperor, yet they're so arrogant and unwilling to lower their guard. Are they afraid we'll leak our secrets? You should know that the risks we Northern Liao people face are far greater than those of the Sui people."
"Kuotai, you can't say that."
Wanyan Chongde, the prince of Northern Liao, who was using the alias Wanyan Liyao, waved his hand and said, "The Sui people have a point. Regardless of whether they truly intend to accept our Northern Liao's surrender, the Sui Dynasty won't give any clear answer until they're ready." "Reply. Once this news leaks out, a war between the Sui and the Mongol Yuan will be inevitable. Whether it's Möngke or the Emperor of the Sui, emperors of such powerful empires value their reputation highly. If war truly breaks out, they will not allow their soldiers to be defeated."
"The Han people of the Central Plains live such tiring lives!"
Kötai continued whipping the roadside weeds with his horsewhip: "How can we accomplish anything great with such hesitation? If it were me, I would have already sent a large army to join forces with our Northern Liao's iron cavalry. The Mongol Yuan is in the northwest of the Sui..." "The troops deployed on the border are only the Manduqi's less than 100,000 cavalry. If a real war breaks out, our 30,000 Han cavalry from Northern Liao can slaughter them; there's no need for the Sui Dynasty to send troops!"
Wanyan Chongde shook his head: "I have a guess now. If that's really the case, then we should persuade Father Khan to prepare for war after we return. However, before I left, the Minister of Rites of the Sui Dynasty, Huai Qiugong, pretended to be confused again, making it impossible for me to figure out what they're really planning."
"What guess?"
The Northern Liao woman asked.
"It's..."
Before Wanyan Chongde could speak, suddenly, the Northern Liao warriors on guard nearby shouted loudly: "Who goes there!"
Wanyan Chongde and the Northern Liao woman quickly stood up and looked in that direction, only to see a young man, soaking wet, walking towards them with a smile.
"Brother Wanyan, how have you been?"
The young man cupped his hands in greeting from afar, smiling as he called out.
...
...
"Lord Fang?"
When Wanyan Chongde recognized Fang Jie, he couldn't help but gasp in surprise. He truly hadn't expected to encounter the young man who had left such a deep impression on him in Fan Gu by this mountain path. Although he knew the young man was merely a deputy commander in the border army, he had held him in exceptional high esteem ever since that first meeting.
Back in the Fan Gu dungeon, this young man had told him that upon arriving in the capital, he would be received by a very high-ranking official. Wanyan Chongde hadn't believed it then, but upon arriving in the capital, the Minister of Rites indeed personally met with him. He didn't believe in prophetic powers, so he preferred to believe that the young man was exceptionally intelligent.
Such a person was called a sage in the Northern Liao region.
And sages were highly respected in the Northern Liao region.
"Don't call me 'sir,' I'm just a lowly soldier in the Sui border army."
Fang Jie walked over with a smile, completely ignoring the Northern Liao warriors who were clutching the hilts of their curved swords. His nonchalant demeanor, however, caught the attention of the Northern Liao woman. The moment Fang Jie appeared, she swiftly pulled her hat back, her long braid hanging down her back, making her appear perfectly natural.
Fang Jie's gaze swept over the woman's face only briefly, without lingering, but her bright, large eyes left a deep impression on him. Her eyes were large and clear as water, exceptionally captivating. He wondered what she was wearing on her face, as it completely obscured her natural skin color.
The woman's large, beautiful eyes lingered on Fang Jie, filled with curiosity.
Fang Jie, walking and smiling, said, "Brother Wanyan, if you don't mind, you can call me 'brother'."
Wanyan Chongde quickly went to greet him, laughing as he walked, "You are the wisest man I have met since entering the Sui Dynasty. It is an honor to be called your brother. Since we parted in Fangu, I have often thought of you, always regretting that we haven't had the chance to meet again. Perhaps the Eternal Heaven heard my prayers and specially arranged for you, Brother Fang, to meet me."
Fang Jie was no stranger to this way of speaking among the Northern Liao people.
He smiled and said, "Yes, the Eternal Heaven gave me a dream, saying that you missed me, so I traveled thousands of miles to wait for you here."
"Haha!"
Wanyan Chongde couldn't help but laugh, unabashedly taking Fang Jie's hand and leading him back, introducing him to his men as they walked, "This is a good brother I met in Fangu. He's the one who told me that a high-ranking official from the Sui Dynasty would be receiving us this time."
"Greetings, Wise Man Fang."
Kuotai and the others dared not be negligent, quickly placing their arms across their chests and bowing in greeting.
Fang Jie quickly waved his hand, saying, "I'm hardly a wise man; Brother Wanyan flatters me. By the way... Brother Wanyan, weren't you going to the capital? How come we're meeting you here?"
Wanyan Chongde waved his hand, and the Northern Liao warriors immediately left. He pulled Fang Jie to sit down on a roadside rock, recounting his experiences in the capital before sighing, "Brother Fang, you're not an outsider; you're a friend of my Northern Liao region. So I won't hide anything from you. It seems we'll be returning to the Hundred Thousand Mountains of Northern Liao again, disappointed. I'm heartbroken to have failed my father's trust."
Fang Jie frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and asked, "What? Did the court send you out again after letting you eat, drink, and have fun in the capital?"
"This time is different."
Wanyan Chongde then recounted his meeting with Huai Qiugong, the Minister of Rites of the Sui Dynasty. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Brother Fang, you are the wisest person I've ever met. I treat you like a brother, and the people of Northern Liao sincerely regard you as a friend. Please help me figure out, Brother Fang, what is the attitude of your Sui court this time?"
Fang Jie thought to himself, these Northern Liao people are indeed simple-minded and honest; how could they casually reveal such an important matter upon first meeting? However, he quite liked this straightforward nature; dealing with such a person was at least not tiring.
He recalled Wanyan Chongde's words, then shook his head and said, "This time is definitely different, otherwise the Minister of Rites wouldn't have personally met with you. Besides, you shouldn't have doubted from the beginning; you should have realized that this time is very different from your previous attempts to see the Sui Emperor."
"How is it different?"
Wanyan Chongde asked subconsciously.
Fang Jie smiled and said, "Think about it, in the past, when the envoys from the Han people of Northern Liao came to the Sui to pay homage to the emperor, every time they mentioned that Northern Liao wanted to submit to the Sui, what kind of response did the officials of the Ministry of Rites give?"
"They avoided the topic, and if pressed, they simply refused."
"Anything else?"
"They would also send many gifts."
"Did they send you gifts this time?"
Wanyan Chongde shook his head and said, "No, not only were there no exquisite porcelain or tea as gifts, but no Sui officials saw me off when I left the capital. Before I left the capital, I wanted to see Lord Huaiqiu Gong again, but no one answered." "Yes, sir. It's like, suddenly we've become the ones who aren't liked."
Fang Jie stood up, patted Wanyan Chongde on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "Go back and tell the Khan of Northern Liao to order your Northern Liao warriors to prepare. Perhaps... war really is coming."
Wanyan Chongde exclaimed in surprise, "Are you really so sure?"
"Brother... Envoy, you should trust the wise man's words."
The Northern Liao woman disguised as a man, who had been sitting quietly to the side, complained to Wanyan Chongde. Perhaps because she almost misspoke, a blush appeared on her dark face.
Wanyan Chongde was startled, then quickly apologized to Fang Jie.
Fang Jie hesitated for a moment and said, "No need to thank me... Actually, I came to you because I need your help. I'm facing some difficulties right now, and I don't know if Brother Wanyan would be willing to help."
"Yes!"
Before Wanyan Chongde could speak, the woman nodded vigorously. She realized her mistake as soon as she finished speaking, and her face seemed to turn even redder.