GBP Chapter 109 Marriage
Chapter 109 Marriage
Inside the tent, Li Jingqing and Afu were already in their positions, ready to go.
Li Mao smiled slightly, his gaze sweeping over the two faces.
The Wolf Lord's special envoy then entered, his face full of arrogance.
The envoy nodded slightly, looking directly at Li Mao, and said, "Your Highness Prince Shou, the Wolf Lord has shown great sincerity regarding the marriage alliance. I wonder if the Tang army can make an appropriate response?"
Li Mao remained calm and nodded slightly, signaling Li Jingqing to present the prepared documents. "These are the opinions and conditions of the Tang army. Please take them back to the Wolf Lord for detailed review."
The envoy took the document, quickly glanced at it, and then revealed a thoughtful smile. "Your Highness's proposal is indeed worth discussing, especially regarding resource exchange and arms restrictions. We need to discuss these in more detail."
Li Jingqing followed up by saying, "These proposals are intended to ensure a more stable relationship after the marriage alliance."
Both sides touched on the points briefly, and the peace talks continued in this lukewarm manner, with neither side making any real progress.
At this moment, the Duke of Wei's steady voice broke the brief silence: "I wonder what the special envoy's opinion is on our initial ideas?"
“The Duke of Wei speaks with certainty.” The special envoy turned to him and said frankly, “But the situation on the grasslands is complex and ever-changing, and cross-border cooperation naturally requires time to work out.”
"We have time, but the key lies in the determination of both sides," the Duke of Wei replied with an unquestionable gaze. "Otherwise, which nation would be willing to entrust its future destiny to mere verbal promises?"
With just one simple sentence, the camp fell silent instantly.
Everyone was sizing each other up.
At this moment, Afu interjected, "The special envoy may wish to take His Highness's contract back with him. We are willing to have repeated exchanges on the details to strive for a compromise that satisfies both parties."
The envoy pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Very well, as the two generals have said, I will report to the Wolf Lord truthfully."
The envoy took his leave, and no one spoke in the tent.
Li Mao slowly leaned back in his chair, his heart finally settling down a little. "Uncle Wei, thank you for your help earlier."
The Duke of Wei smiled slightly, clearly not taking it to heart. "Your Highness, there's no need for such formalities. We're all in the same boat, facing the storms together."
Li Jingqing tidied up the documents in his hand and asked, "Your Highness, what is the next step?"
"Maintain the current momentum and don't lose the initiative," Li Mao said firmly. "The envoy's visit shows that we have begun to have some effect, but it doesn't mean that the Wolf Lord has revealed his trump card. Everyone, don't let your guard down."
As night deepened, the barracks outside the tents gradually returned to tranquility.
“I have a strong feeling that the Wolf Lord may be brewing other plans.” Li Mao pondered for a long time without speaking.
"As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy. A good opponent is often the best at hiding their strength." Afu nodded and added in agreement.
“We must guard against any possible changes,” Li Jingqing suggested. “Perhaps we can intensify our reconnaissance of the border regions and deploy some reliable spies to promptly report the enemy camp’s movements.”
“That makes sense. Every little thing is crucial,” Li Mao agreed. “We also need to ensure communication with the court, as decisions made in Chang’an will directly affect our deployments in the rear.”
Seeing the worried expressions on everyone's faces, the Duke of Wei sighed softly, "War is a perilous path. Do not let temporary troubles cause you to be afraid. With Your Highness as the leader and the soldiers of the Great Tang as our support, we will surely be able to defend against the enemy and overcome difficulties."
Everyone agreed in unison.
A few days later, Li Mao received news from the front lines that the Wolf Lord's army was frequently moving around the border, seemingly with ulterior motives.
Li Mao frowned, his heart tightening.
This situation suggests that the wolf leader has not fully committed to sincerity in the peace talks.
He summoned Li Jingqing and calmly said, "Immediately dispatch cavalry to strengthen border defenses."
Li Jingqing accepted the order and left immediately.
Li Mao sat back down at the table, gazing at the map spread out on it.
If we do not make every effort to maintain this balance, then even if a marriage alliance is reached, true peace cannot be guaranteed.
"Your Highness, how should we proceed with our plans?" the Duke of Wei asked from the side.
“We should plan this carefully. We cannot be hasty.” Li Mao pondered for a moment and replied, “No matter how the Wolf Lord changes, we will always be invincible. Only by ensuring our own safety can we then strive to become stronger.”
The Duke of Wei nodded, his expression resolute. "A long-term strategic struggle must prioritize planning. Let us jointly explore the situation and proceed steadily."
Li Mao smiled slightly, his eyes sharp, "As long as we cooperate closely, there is no difficulty that cannot be overcome."
The chill of the night was creeping in.
Under the lamplight, Li Mao gathered Li Jingqing and Afu to discuss their next steps.
He stood in front of the sand table, pointed to the key locations on the border, and said to the two men, "The Wolf Lord's intention to reinforce his troops is clear. At present, we must strengthen our defenses and ensure that each outpost is garrisoned with sufficient troops. Any abnormalities must be reported immediately."
“Your Highness is absolutely right,” Li Jingqing agreed. “We can send elite troops to quietly infiltrate the enemy lines to obtain more accurate intelligence, so as to know ourselves and our enemy.”
“That’s right, and in this process, it’s essential to maintain communication with the imperial court,” Li Mao continued, his eyes gleaming with wisdom. “Chang’an’s support is crucial to our morale and our supply of materials.”
Afu added at the opportune moment, "We can utilize some commercial channels, not only for trade, but also to secretly transmit information."
During the discussion, the Duke of Wei joined in, suggesting, "We should pay close attention to the attitudes of the scattered tribes on the border. As long as we can maintain the support of these tribes, it will be difficult for the Wolf Lord to infiltrate our territory and disrupt our rear."
Li Mao nodded in approval, already having a more comprehensive plan in mind.
The next morning, Li Mao specially summoned several capable generals and briefly explained his strategic plan to them.
He stated firmly, "No matter how the enemy changes, we need to hold our existing defenses. At the same time, we must strengthen vigilance and preparedness to respond promptly."
The generals all looked solemn and responded in unison.
Seeing this, Li Mao felt somewhat relieved.
For the next period of time, the entire camp was under heavy security.
Trade with various tribes gradually became more frequent. Through this channel, the Tang Dynasty not only ensured reliable material supplies but also gained an advantage in intelligence gathering.
However, three days later, the scouts returned with important news: the Wolf Lord had mobilized a large number of elite cavalry, suspected of planning a large-scale military exercise or a surprise attack.
Li Mao urgently convened a meeting of his core generals, and the map was once again laid out before them.
His finger traced the key area, and he said in an urgent yet steady tone, "Judging from this situation, the Wolf Lord may be testing us."
"How should we respond?" Li Jingqing asked, while also considering new plans.
"In that case, let's deceive them with a false appearance," Li Mao said calmly.