Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 443 The Enemy at the Gates (1)

Xuan Yue entered the newly established Marshal Camp and saw the master still examining the drawings at his desk. He stepped forward, clasping his fists, and said, "Master, Crown Prince Lou Qianyu has arrived."

Dugu Chen withdrew his gaze from the drawings, "Let him in."

"Yes."

A moment later, a man dressed in dark cyan regular clothes entered the tent, a smile playing on his lips.

"Why has Crown Prince Lou come in person?" Dugu Chen extended his hand, gesturing for Lou Qianyu to sit on a chair to the side.

The Crown Prince then reciprocated by inviting Dugu Chen to sit down, his face full of smiles as he looked at Emperor Jinghe and said, "Early this morning, I learned that Emperor Jinghe has won another battle, and I am here especially to congratulate you."

"Crown Prince Lou is jesting. The Sunset Kingdom’s spirits are high lately, having captured two cities in succession. It can truly be said that they triumph every time they go to war."

Emperor Jinghe is jesting," Crown Prince Lou replied. "My visit this time, one, is to celebrate Emperor Jinghe’s victory, and second, is to show Emperor Jinghe something." Suddenly, the jovial expression on his face turned to one of distress after he finished speaking.

Dugu Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, an almost imperceptible hint of sarcasm flitted across his lips: "What could possibly bring Crown Prince Lou to make a trip like this?"

Lou Qianyu gave a helpless smile, took out a Secret Letter from his bosom, and handed it to a guard at his side.

Dugu Chen picked up the letter, glanced at it, and then placed it on the small teatable in front of him, appearing completely at ease: "I respect Crown Prince Lou’s decision."

"Does Emperor Jinghe not wonder what the Emperor of Mingyi Country has written to me?" Lou Qianyu propped open his large eyes, not wanting to miss a single detail of Dugu Chen’s expression.

With a teacup in hand, Dugu Chen heard those words and chuckled lightly, casting a sidelong glance at Lou Qianyu, "There’s nothing to be curious about, Mingyi Country... I will not let them off."

Lou Qianyu detected the hidden meaning in Dugu Chen’s words and nodded in agreement, "Although the conditions put forth by Mingyi Country are quite tempting, the Sunset Kingdom will also not collaborate with them." It was fortunate not to have chosen to cooperate with Mingyi Country; otherwise, given Dugu Chen’s character, after defeating Mingyi Country, the next target would likely be the Sunset Kingdom.

"Crown Prince Lou, there is no need to mention these matters to me; I respect the decisions of the Sunset Kingdom."

Seeing that Emperor Jinghe was unmoved, Lou Qianyu sheepishly smiled again: "From the start, my Emperor and I never considered cooperating with Mingyi Country, or else I wouldn’t have shown Emperor Jinghe this Secret Letter."

Dugu Chen set down the teacup in his hand, looked at the awkward Lou Qianyu, and smiled, "The Crown Prince wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble just for such a trivial matter, would he?"

At this, Lou Qianyu laughed heartily: "Of course not, this visit is to discuss a joint attack on Mingyi Country with Emperor Jinghe."

"Aren’t we already fighting side by side?"

Lou Qianyu paused, then his laughter burst forth again: "No, what I mean is that the commanders of the Sunset Kingdom will follow Emperor Jinghe’s orders to take down Mingyi Country as soon as possible."

This time, it was Dugu Chen who was taken aback, but then a smile spread across his lips: "Aren’t you afraid that I might harbor ulterior motives by then?"

"I have faith in Emperor Jinghe’s character."

"Haha, well, since Crown Prince Lou is so candid, I shall not be ungracious," replied Dugu Chen.

Raising his teacup as if it were wine, Lou Qianyu toasted the distinguished Emperor Jinghe, "To our delightful collaboration!"

Dugu Chen also lifted his teacup, cheerfully saying, "To a delightful collaboration," and he drank the warm tea in his cup.

On the ninth day of the second month, Dugu Chen led a million-strong army, capturing several cities in a series of victories. The Emperor within the Mingyi Country palace became restless, having sent envoys to propose peace several times, with none returning, realizing that their fates were likely grim.

The remaining cities yet to be conquered were also panic-stricken, with some residents even hoping for a victory by Xueyan Country since that might mean they could finally have full bellies. They had all heard from itinerant monks that Xueyan had high grain yields, with the ability even to produce two rice harvests a year—something that filled these commoners with envy.