As soon as Ruan Niang finished speaking, Wei Dongling pinched her nose and gulped down the bowl of bitter Chinese medicine.
Sure enough, the medicine was so bitter that she felt like vomiting. She quickly pounded her chest to catch her breath, fearing to waste the precious herbs.
She still had a great revenge to avenge, so she couldn't die yet.
After another round of the Nine Needles for Resuscitation, Wei Dongling felt completely drained as she lay on the couch. She had been pricked with needles every day these days and felt like a hedgehog.
At noon, after everyone had finished lunch, Pin Hao returned from the military camp. He strode up to Wei Dongling and whispered something in her ear.
Wei Dongling nodded in understanding. After packing up, she followed Pin Hao to the military camp.
Prince Ninth, Murong Yuchen, was discussing military affairs in the tent.
A group of senior generals of the Xue Family Army slapped the table in protest and firmly refused to ally with the Iron Cavalry Army. Murong Yuchen endured it again and again and tried to persuade them kindly for a long time, but still couldn't convince them.
Wei Dongling stood outside the tent and listened carefully for a moment, then pulled Pin Hao to the training ground.
During the day, all the Heavenly Dynasty soldiers were training hard. Their punches and kicks were quite standard.
Suddenly, the melodious sound of a zither came from the center of the drill ground, attracting the attention of all the soldiers who were practicing boxing.
They had learned the sad news of the death of Prince Yun from Lord Pin Hao today. They couldn't believe it for a long time and were heart - broken.
Moreover, this was exactly the tune that Prince Yun used to play every night in the camp! All the soldiers were itching with curiosity and craned their necks to look in that direction.
Finally, during the mid - day break, all the Heavenly Dynasty soldiers rushed towards the center of the drill ground. There, a thin and small man in black was sitting with his head down, playing the zither. The melodious sound of the zither filled the air.
It was indeed the tune that Prince Shangguan Yun used to play!
Most of them could tell that the zither - playing skills of this man in black were far inferior to those of their Prince Yun. But the plaintive tune instantly stirred up all their memories.
They didn't know who this zither - playing man in black was, but Lord Pin Hao was standing beside him all the time, looking sorrowful with red - rimmed eyes.
Before long, the drill ground was filled with Heavenly Dynasty soldiers. They stood still in silent mourning, paying tribute to their beloved Prince Yun in this way.
When the tune ended, Wei Dongling put down the pear - wood zither and shouted, "Soldiers of the Heavenly Dynasty! Do you want to know how your respected Prince Yun died?"
The whole place fell silent. Everyone held their breath!
Wei Dongling roared, "The people of Xiliang are heartless! They signed a contract with our Heavenly Dynasty, claiming that after the marriage alliance, they would send 100,000 troops to support Hanzhong City and help us drive out all the Iron Cavalry Army! But they went back on their words! When Prince Yun went to send the princess for the marriage alliance, he saw Princess Fifth being chased and killed. He was so righteous that he fought without hesitation and was beheaded on the spot by tens of thousands of Xiliang cavalrymen!"
Hearing this, all the Heavenly Dynasty soldiers' eyes instantly turned red. During the short few months they had spent with Prince Yun, they all admired his character and marveled at his talent.
They never thought that the death of the proud son of heaven, Shangguan Yun, would be so tragic!
Looking at Lord Pin Hao shedding hot tears, all the soldiers also felt heart - broken.
Seeing that everyone was sighing and silent for a long time, Wei Dongling said again, "Yesterday, Lord Pin Hao went to the Iron Cavalry Army camp alone, intending to reach an armistice with the Northwest Iron Cavalry Army. He asked them to put aside their hatred and gather with us first. We will join hands to destroy the 100,000 Xiliang troops. We will avenge Prince Yun first and then talk about other things. Now, Prince Ninth also agrees to this! But several senior generals of the Xue Family Army disagree. They firmly refuse to ally with the Iron Cavalry Army. They refuse to avenge our Prince Yun!" After all, Pin Hao had been getting along with the Heavenly Dynasty soldiers day and night, so he was closer to them!
Seeing that the Heavenly Dynasty soldiers were red - eyed and angry but dared not speak out, Wei Dongling secretly gave Pin Hao a push.
Pin Hao immediately reacted and stepped forward to roar, "I want to ask all the brothers here. How many of you are willing to follow me and Prince Ninth to avenge Prince Yun?"
"I am!"
"I am!"
"Me too!"
The responses came one after another.
Wei Dongling secretly gave Pin Hao a thumbs - up. So Pin Hao worked even harder to stir up everyone's emotions.
Wei Dongling called an undercover guard from the Prince's Mansion in the crowd and told him to quickly invite Prince Ninth to come and stabilize the situation. The guard didn't say a word and rushed off immediately.
So when Prince Ninth arrived with several senior generals of the Xue Family Army, everyone was in high spirits and the situation was almost out of control.
Seeing that all the Heavenly Dynasty soldiers were strongly reacting and determined to gather and attack Xiliang, the few senior generals were so angry that the flesh on their faces was trembling. Their firm opposition became irrelevant.
So at the Hour of the Boar at night, Wei Dongling led Prince Ninth, Pin Hao and a team of loyal guards to a pavilion ten miles away.
General Cui had actually brought his men and been waiting here for a long time. Seeing the Flying General sitting far away on a tree branch, he only ordered a maid beside him to come forward to negotiate the armistice agreement. General Cui felt a little uneasy for some reason.
Cui Huan took out two scrolls. She respectfully presented one to General Cui and said, "This is the armistice agreement that the Flying General asked this maid to prepare. Please take a look, General Cui."
General Cui glanced at Prince Ninth of the Heavenly Dynasty and his entourage, then nodded and unfurled the scroll to read it carefully.
Prince Murong Yuchen also held a scroll and read it carefully. According to Wei Dongling's instructions, he didn't show any eagerness. Instead, he studied it word by word slowly.
General Cui read it carefully from top to bottom, frowned and raised an objection, "Set off for Xiliang tomorrow? It's too hasty! I haven't received a reply from our king yet!"
Wei Dongling, standing on the tree branch, coughed lightly and said, "Those who achieve great things pay attention to the right time, place and people. We're afraid that if we're a step late, something unexpected may happen! Moreover, a general should not blindly follow orders when he is away from the capital."
General Cui also understood that if Xiliang and the Heavenly Dynasty were to form an alliance, it would be their Northwest Iron Cavalry Army that would be caught in the middle.
Moreover, the last clause of the agreement clearly stated that from the day of departure tomorrow until the end of the war and return to the camp, all the food, supplies and even pensions of the Iron Cavalry Army would be borne by Prince Ninth of the Heavenly Dynasty!
General Cui was secretly shocked. This would take at least ten days or half a month, not to mention the time spent on the battlefield. The expenses for all these people would be really huge! Was this Prince Ninth of the Heavenly Dynasty so rich? How much had he embezzled?
General Cui didn't think about it anymore. He nodded and reported, "Flying General, our Northwest Iron Cavalry Army has no objection to this agreement!"
Wei Dongling nodded and asked Murong Yuchen, "What's your opinion, Prince Ninth?"
Murong Yuchen's scalp went numb. He sighed with a bitter face. Where could he get so much money? How could he afford the rations and pensions for 130,000 Iron Cavalry soldiers for more than half a month?
But then he thought of his elder sister's earnest instructions, so he had no choice but to nod in agreement and signed the contract with tears in his eyes.
Seeing this, General Cui also picked up the pen and ink and signed and sealed the contract.