Chapter 1705: Chapter 1705: Life-Saving Grain

Shutang listened to the Heavenly Khan’s indifferent words and looked at the Heavenly Khan’s cold and emotionless demeanor, feeling an overwhelming sadness: "Heavenly Khan, the warriors in the disease camp have already endured too much suffering, we cannot continue to treat them this way."

Hah, Tie He laughed, sitting on the wolfskin-covered throne, looking at Shutang: "You’ve burned them so many times, and only now you feel remorse? Isn’t it too late?"

Yes, indeed, he has burned countless warriors to death, but...

"Shu Ming died. When he begged me to persuade the Heavenly Khan to retreat, he shouted so vehemently that the rotworm burst out of his stomach causing him to die." Shutang said chokingly.

Tie He heard this and his expression finally changed: "Shu Ming is dead... what’s really going on in the disease camp, explain in detail."

Shutang told him of the warriors’ demands to retreat, their rebellious thoughts, and threats to storm the Heavenly Khan’s royal tent if they didn’t retreat.

Rumble!

Tie He furiously kicked over the table in front of him and immediately ordered: "Set fire to burn these disrespectful dogs to the Heavenly Khan!"

Dogs?

Shutang was shocked that the warriors, who dedicated themselves to Da Rong and were nearing death, were insulted like this by the Heavenly Khan.

Shutang knelt down, performing Da Rong’s unique bow and kneel, which involved full prostration, and pleaded: "Heavenly Khan, I beg you to retreat. If we continue like this, we’ll be exhausted to death."

"Shut up, do you know what you’re saying?!" Tie He was very angry, as the Da Rong Tian Khan personally led the army against Jian Chu but ended up returning in defeat. How would the Da Rong Army and people view him? Could he still hold onto his position as the Heavenly Khan?

As Tie He’s confidant, Shutang naturally understood his concerns and said, "Please allow the guards and warriors to withdraw, I have words to share."

Tie He furrowed his brow, but still trusted Shutang, and ordered the visible guard warriors to withdraw, leaving only the hidden assassins to protect him.

The hidden assassins were the most trusted of confidants, capable of hearing anything Shutang had to say.

Yet Shutang still lowered his voice: "Heavenly Khan, if you don’t retreat, and the Great Wizard doesn’t send medicine to treat the rotworms, the warriors will surely become suspicious. At that time, the reputation of the Heavenly Khan, Witch God, and Great Wizard will be damaged."

Hearing this, Tie He was greatly startled. Although Shutang spoke cryptically, as the Heavenly Khan, he was well aware that the claim that the Witch God, Great Wizard, and the Heavenly Khan were descendants of the Witch God was sheer deceit, and if exposed, all of Da Rong would plunge into chaos.

These deceivers would become targets for the Rong people’s vengeance and slaughter.

Shutang continued: "So while the warriors are still loyal, we should quickly retreat. As for whether retreating will cause shame and jeopardize the Heavenly Khan’s throne, you needn’t worry, the Great Wizard will speak for you."

Shutang explained: "The rotworms are bred by the Great Wizard, Heavenly Khan, you have already conveyed messages to him to personally come to Long’an Prefecture to manage the insects and treat the warriors, but he is delaying his arrival, which clearly indicates he doesn’t have the antidote to treat the rotworms."

"Since there’s no antidote and the rotworms are bred by him, if he doesn’t help the Heavenly Khan, you can first announce that he is not the Witch God’s envoy but a malevolent spirit sent to harm Da Rong and kill him first!"

"However, that is the last resort. Presently the best course is to team up with the Great Wizard and cover up all the negative aspects, presenting the battle and rotworm disaster as a test from the Witch God to Da Rong. As long as the Da Rong Army and people withstand this test, an even greater blessing will descend on Da Rong, and Da Rong can conquer Jian Chu, Dongqing, and the Desert Countries to become the dominion over the land."

Shutang had already devised a plan for the Heavenly Khan.

Tie He listened, somewhat moved, but he still remained reluctant!

Shutang could see that and begged tearfully: "Heavenly Khan, don’t hesitate any longer, the situation in the disease camp is extremely dire, continued hesitation will surely lead to rebellion."

"Ten days, can you hold on for ten days?" Tie He still hesitated, asking Shutang.

Shutang frowned and shook his head: "I fear not, those afflicted by rotworm disease fall ill every three days, in ten days there will be at least three new cases, necessitating at least one burn of the disease camp... If we continue burning, not only will the warriors in the disease camp rebel, but even the healthy ones will grow cold-hearted."

Although the warriors of Da Rong are crude, they are not fools, and this practice of burning the sick to death will break them.

"Hold on for now, I need to think further." Tie He said: "Currently, only you have requested a retreat, if I order retreat, other royal generals might disagree."

Having come a long way, regardless of not having enjoyed Jian Chu’s beauties or having grabbed much gold and silver jewelry, no one would be willing to return.

The royal generals who were coveting the Heavenly Khan’s position might seize the opportunity to join forces and kill him to vie for the Da Rong Tian Khan title.

He was still young, having ascended only a few years ago, and his sons had not yet grown enough to challenge the royal generals, he couldn’t afford to die.

Shutang also knew the Heavenly Khan’s difficulties and promised: "Yes, I will fight to hold on until the Heavenly Khan finds the opportunity and allies to retreat."

The matter of attacking Long’an Prefecture had escalated to this extent, now wanting to retreat would require the support of the Great Wizard or royal generals.

The Heavenly Khan nodded and let Shutang leave, instructing him before he left: "Kill all those Rong soldiers who knelt and threatened you!"

That batch of Rong soldiers had rebelled, they couldn’t be kept.

"Yes, I understand." Shutang left, riding back to the insect disease camp and that night blew poison smoke into the warriors’ tents.

The poison smoke was fierce, the warriors struggled only momentarily before dying completely... Burning them would cause a big commotion, better to poison them first, and as for the poisonous insects inside them, wait until they crawl out and then crush them.

Shutang’s midnight meeting with the Heavenly Khan was soon known by Tuogude.

"It seems the disease camp can’t hold on, Shutang came to beg him to retreat." Tuogude felt a bit envious that Tie He had such devoted subordinates as Shutang and Shu Ming who thought so much for Tie He.

The war had reached a point of mutual harm, and their warriors suffered badly, it was indeed sensible to retreat first to treat the rotworms, and then plan for the occupation of Jian Chu.

Even though Tuogude didn’t want to retreat, the facts told him they couldn’t keep wearing themselves out, and with the botched rotworm matter, if the rotworms continued harming the warriors, the Great Wizard might risk being surrounded in rage by them!

He couldn’t let the Great Wizard die, so he too was inclined towards retreating.

"Does the master mean the Heavenly Khan will order retreat in a few days?"

Should they seize this opportunity to pull the Heavenly Khan down from the throne?

Tuogude shook his head: "Probably not so soon, he’s still not willing to give up, and Jian Chu is also at the point of food shortage, he’s determined to wait and see, if Jian Chu is out of food, he might fight to capture Long’an Prefecture and turn defeat into victory."

Tuogude guessed correctly, Tie He was planning exactly that.

Therefore, he immediately summoned all the royal generals to the Heavenly Khan’s tent the next day and announced that Long’an Prefecture was out of food and they should prepare for an assault on Long’an Prefecture on the sixth day.

And the estimates by both the Heavenly Khan and Tuogude were correct, Long’an Prefecture was indeed experiencing a food shortage.

However, what neither the Heavenly Khan nor Tuogude anticipated was someone using very peculiar fire lanterns to send life-saving provisions into Long’an Prefecture!

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