"Of course, as long as you are willing."

"However, giving money and grain is not a big issue; we can fulfill that."

"But if you want to borrow troops, this is not a trivial matter. It requires Emperor Chen and our Great Khan of Grassland to sign an alliance pact, to swear blood oaths, and report to the ancestors, declaring the willingness to join forces and never abandon each other."

"What do you think, Your Majesty?"

The atmosphere momentarily stagnated.

Ye Zhongdao and other generals, Zhou Xianping included, turned their gaze toward Chen Dingye, their eyes filled with reluctance and hope. Their palms already resting on their sword hilts, as if a single command from Chen Dingye would have them rush forward and chop off the envoy’s head.

Chen Dingye’s gaze fell, searching the surroundings, then he extended his hand, gently passing over the wine vessel, and finally, as though he made a decision, he tilted his neck back and took another sip of wine, his face flushed from the drink, in a dejected manner said:

"Fine."

"I, no, We."

"We agree... "

......

Que Teqin stayed in Zhenbei City for a period before leaving. He completed his mission and preserved his thigh bone, avoiding being turned into an instrument by the tyrannical Emperor Chen.

Not only that, Chen Dingye even gifted him that White Bone Pipa.

Saying he was previously disrespectful and hoped not to be blamed.

Knowing this pipa was once the envoy’s childhood sweetheart, he returned it to its original owner.

Que Teqin was silent for a long time, looking at the instrument made from a dear old acquaintance, now strung into a pipa, it seemed like a joke from hell. Yet, regardless, he took the pipa instrument with him.

He returned, took it to the grassland, and burned it there, as if returning it to the embrace of the Longevity Heaven.

Ye Zhongdao and Zhou Xianping, among other fierce generals, seemed extremely displeased with Chen Dingye’s agreement to the alliance with the grassland. Que Teqin felt uneasy and had no intention of staying further in Zhenbei City.

He left the gift meant for Emperor Chen.

He rode a fast horse, galloped out, heading towards the Great Khan’s place, reporting this news to Great Khan Gudolu. The Great Khan sat cross-legged on the grassland, carving an arrow with a dagger, raising his eyebrows upon hearing the news, saying:

"Que Teqin, are you saying Chen Dingye agreed?"

"He even hopes we will dispatch troops to enter his Zhenbei City?"

Que Teqin respectfully said, "Yes, Khan."

He said, "Chen Dingye has lost the bravery and kingly demeanor he once had; now he seems broken-hearted, disheveled, reeking of alcohol, looking like a roadside beggar."

"Upon seeing our gift, he was extremely happy, indulging in good wine."

"Agreed without much thought."

"Excellent, Great Khan!"

Que Teqin was quite excited, but the Great Khan remained silent for a long time and then shook his head, saying: "Que Teqin, don’t rejoice too soon; Chen Dingye is not a useless fool. His agreement likely hides malicious intent."

"Being so gleeful and easily trusting him would only leave you with nothing but bones."

"What?"

Que Teqin was startled, Great Khan released the dagger in his hand, raised the arrow crafted with the dagger, his eyes calm yet sharp without much ripple, saying: "Chen Dingye, he isn’t as capable as his brother, the Divine Martial King, but he’s still a viper."

"Though vipers lack strength and speed, their fangs are deadly!"

"One moment of carelessness, and even an antelope that could outrun a cheetah can be devoured by a viper."

As he spoke these words, Great Khan’s bow and arrow shifted, pointing the arrow at Que Teqin, his eyes sharp like an unsheathed sword, inspiring a chill and fear within Que Teqin.

"Khan, what do you mean?"

"I don’t understand."

Great Khan said: "His agreement surely conceals a scheme, likely a trap aimed at encircling our vanguard troops. Once we enter Zhenbei City, we might suffer a vicious bite from him."

"Otherwise, he wouldn’t agree so readily."

Que Teqin’s heart thumped, thinking of that White Bone Pipa, chills crawling up his back, he said:

"A trap... then, what should we do, Great Khan?"

"Aren’t we supposed to join forces with Chen Dingye?"

He was somewhat baffled.

Great Khan chuckled lightly: "Don’t be afraid, nor terrified. Even if it’s a viper, now it’s nothing more than a territory of several hundred miles, merely twenty thousand soldiers, inadequately supplied."

"So-called strategies are only effective between parties with comparable status and strength. When one side is sufficiently powerful, overwhelming enough to crush the other, any strategy becomes meaningless."

"Given the current situation, all that is needed is the strongest force to thoroughly and openly crush Chen Dingye’s so-called trap, and that’s enough. As for the alliance... hmph, Chen Dingye’s army is not our goal."

"Zhenbei City is the key."

"We provide them money and grain, enabling his twenty thousand troops to continue battling Prince Qin’s forces, exhausting Chen Country’s army of twenty thousand, and leveraging Chen Dingye’s last resources to help us withstand Prince Qin’s offensive."

"Not to have our men defend his city."

Great Khan looked at the youth before him, instructing:

"Strategies of the Military School emphasize adapting to circumstances."

"Chen Country and Prince Qin inherently hold deep-seated enmity; be it from a personal or national standpoint, Prince Qin will not spare Chen Dingye."

"Central Plains people emphasize ’[brothers align against threats, jointly resisting external aggression].’"