Chapter 363: On the eve of the war, Hailanhak’s reckoning
The night was as dark as ink. The fire in the Wolf Division camp flickered, illuminating Yelu Cangqi’s angular face.

He was wearing silver-grey armor, with a long sword hanging from his waist. He exuded an unruly aura, like a ferocious wolf waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Hu Yanzhong’s arrival made the atmosphere in the camp subtle.

Yelu Cangqi sat in the main seat, his eyes coldly sweeping over the token in Huyan Zhong’s hand. It was a token engraved with wolf patterns, symbolizing Huyan Zhong’s highest order.

When he saw the token, his gaze narrowed slightly, and a complex emotion flashed across his eyes.

“Huyan Zhong, what do you want to say when you come to me with this thing?” Yelu Cangqi spoke slowly, his voice low and cold, with a hint of inquiry.

Hu Yanzhong stepped forward and presented the token with both hands, his tone respectful but not humble: “Commander Cangqi, this is the token the general asked me to bring.

He asked me to tell you that the next action is of vital importance and he hopes the commander-in-chief can fully cooperate. “

Yelu Cangqi did not take the token immediately, but looked at Huyan Zhong deeply, with an elusive meaning in his eyes.

He was silent for a moment, and finally reached out to take the token. His fingertips gently stroked the cold token, and his eyes flashed slightly.

“Huyanhuan…” Yelu Cangqi whispered the name in his heart, with a slight sneer on his lips.

Of course he understood that Hu Yanhuan sent Hu Yanzhong not only to convey orders, but also to monitor him.

“Oh, spying on me?” He sneered in his heart, with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

“He, Hu Yanhuan, underestimates me, Yelu Cangqi. Does he think I am like Hailanhak, who is double-minded and ambitious?”

However, despite his dissatisfaction, Yelu Cangqi did not show his emotions on his face.

He knew very well that the current situation was complicated. Although the Northern Barbarians were united on the surface, there were actually undercurrents, which could lead to internal divisions if they were not careful.

And as the commander of the Wolf Division, he cannot show any abnormality at this critical moment.

“Hu Yanhuan, ah Hu Yanhuan…”

Yelu Cangqi sighed secretly in his heart, and then suppressed his dissatisfaction.

He raised his head, looked directly at Hu Yanzhong, and said with a firm tone: “Go back and tell Hu Yanhuan that even if he didn’t send you, I, Yelu Cangqi, would never act on my own.

Without his order, my Wolf Division will never go out. Let him rest assured.”

Hu Yanzhong was slightly startled when he heard this, then he bowed and saluted, his tone showing respect: “Commander Cangqi is very understanding of justice. I would like to thank you for your support on behalf of my elder brother.”

Yelu Cangqi waved his hand, with a hint of impatience in his tone: “No need to say more, I know what to do. Tell Hu Yanhuan that I, Yelu Cangqi, always put the overall interests of the Northern Barbarians first and will not let him down.”

Hu Yanzhong nodded, with a look of relief in his eyes.

He knew that although Yelu Cangqi had a rebellious character, he was still a trustworthy ally in the face of the overall situation.

However, Yelu Cangqi’s gaze fell on the token again, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

He gently placed the token on the table, his eyes deep, as if he could see the deeper situation through the token.

His fingers gently stroked the edge of the table, as if touching an uncertain future.

The night outside the tent gradually faded away, and a streak of pale morning light pierced the sky and poured into the tent through the gaps in the tent.

The faint light fell on the token, casting a soft halo on its originally cold black surface.

The halo seemed to contain some mysterious power, emitting an indescribable sense of solemnity.

Yelu Cangqi’s eyes couldn’t help but be attracted by this light. He narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he saw the future of the Northern Barbarians from this token.

The light was like a silent revelation, as if God was telling him that the fate of the Northern Barbarians was reaching a new turning point, and he was the key to all this.

“New life…” Yelu Cangqi murmured in a low voice, with a complex emotion in his tone.

The sense of loss in his heart caused by Hu Yanhuan’s suspicion seemed to be swept away by the morning light.

A surge of excitement surged in his chest again, a sense of mission as a soldier and a sense of responsibility as a commander.

“The future of the Northern Barbarians still needs power to write it!” Yelu Cangqi spoke slowly, his voice low and firm.

His eyes moved away from the token and fell on the map on the table. His fingers lightly tapped on several key locations, as if he was planning his next move.

Hu Yanzhong stood at the side, his eyes calm but alert. His figure was as solid as a mountain, and he did not relax his vigilance at all because of Yelu Cangqi’s attitude.

Although Yelu Cangqi’s words and attitude showed that he was extremely cooperative, Hu Yanzhong clearly remembered Hu Yanhuan’s order – “Stay by Yelu Cangqi’s side and don’t leave for a moment.”

“Commander Cangqi, I will always be here, ready to take your orders at any time.” Huyan Zhong said in a low voice, with a hint of respect in his tone, but a hint of determination in his eyes.

When Yelu Cangqi heard this, he smiled slightly, and a meaningful light flashed in his eyes.

He did not show any dissatisfaction with Hu Yanzhong’s insistence. Instead, he nodded gently, with a hint of indifference in his tone: “Hu Yanhuan really trusts you and sends you to my side. It seems that he attaches great importance to this operation. In this case, you should follow me.”

“I obey your command.” Hu Yanzhong bowed and his tone was firm.

Yelu Cangqi turned around, walked to the door of the tent, and looked towards the distant sky.

The morning light in the east grew brighter, dyeing the entire grassland golden.

The cold wind blew through his armor, making a low sound, as if playing a prelude to the coming storm.

“Hu Yanhuan, your plan is indeed thorough, but the fate of the Northern Barbarians cannot be determined by conspiracy and intrigue.”

Yelu Cangqi pondered in his heart, with a deep look in his eyes, “Since you trust me, I will lend you a hand. But if you have other ideas…”

He didn’t continue, but a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth.

There was a hint of arrogance and disdain in that smile, as if declaring his pride and bottom line as the commander of the Wolf Division.

Huyan Zhong, who was standing by, noticed Yelu Cangqi’s mood changes. Although he didn’t say much, he was secretly alert in his heart.

He knew that although Yelu Cangqi was one of the pillars of the Northern Barbarians, he had always been unruly and was by no means someone who could be easily manipulated.

It is not easy to get such a person to fully cooperate with Hu Yanhuan’s plan. “Big brother’s plan is indeed comprehensive, but it is still unknown whether Commander Cang Qi will fully trust it.”

Hu Yanzhong pondered in his heart, a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes, “However, no matter what, I must complete the task assigned to me by my elder brother, and I must not let any variables affect the advancement of the plan.”

The morning light spread across the earth, the sound of the wind on the grassland gradually subsided, and the entire Wolf Division camp looked exceptionally solemn and dignified.

Under the morning light, the figures of Yelu Cangqi and Huyan Zhong appeared particularly tall and straight, like two towering mountains standing silently on the vast grassland.

The wind began to pick up, and the sound of war drums on the grassland seemed to be faintly heard in the distance.

……

A solemn and murderous atmosphere permeated Hailanhak’s camp.

The guards in the outer tent all kept their heads down and kept silent, not daring to even breathe, for fear of angering the thunderous wrath inside the tent.

From time to time, low roars could be heard from inside the tent, as if suppressing a volcano that was about to erupt.

“Bastard!” An angry shout was followed by a series of crackling sounds.

The teacup on the table was violently overturned, and the sound of porcelain breaking echoed in the tent, as if venting Hailanhak’s anger into an invisible way.

The next moment, several guards were driven out of the tent in a mess, with bruised faces and noses, obviously having just been severely reprimanded.

They lowered their heads, their faces filled with fear, not daring to say much. They could only silently step aside and guard outside the tent from a distance.

Inside the tent, Hailanhak’s face was full of anger, and he looked like an enraged lion.

His heavy breathing was particularly clear in the silent tent. He held a piece of information tightly in his hand, his veins bulged, and his face looked ferocious and terrifying.

Those sharp eyes stared at the contents of the intelligence, as if they wanted to tear the words into pieces.

“Hai Lan Jia Bo…” He gritted his teeth and whispered, his tone revealing endless anger and disappointment.

Ever since Hailan Jiabo reported to him the problem with the group of “messengers” that day, he had been feeling suspicious.

So, with some doubts, he quietly started to investigate along this clue.

Originally, he still held a glimmer of hope, hoping that his suspicion was wrong, and hoping that Hailan Jiabo was still that loyal subordinate.

However, as the investigation deepened, he discovered more and more problems, and what finally lay before him was a mountain of irrefutable evidence.

The intelligence recorded in detail how the real envoys were robbed and killed, as well as clues about the mastermind behind the incident.

Although the other party acted extremely secretly, after peeling off layers of evidence, Hailanhak finally confirmed that the person involved in this matter was Hailan Jiabo, whom he once trusted!

This general, whom he once had high hopes for, actually betrayed him and even tried to use the situation between him and Chagan Uli to instigate civil unrest!
“What a Hailan Jiabo!” Hailanhak laughed in anger, his voice low and cold, as if squeezed out from the depths of his throat.

“I treated you well, but you dared to betray me, and even robbed and killed the envoy, and stirred up discord between me and Chagan Uli! What on earth are you thinking?”

His fingers clenched the information tightly, his knuckles turned white from excessive force, and the paper was crumpled in his hands, as if it would be torn into pieces at any time.

Countless past scenes flashed through his mind. Hailan Jiabo had been one of his most trusted subordinates and had made many military achievements for him.

However, the facts now were like a sharp knife, piercing his chest fiercely, making him feel angry and at the same time, an indescribable pain.

“I should have thought of it earlier…” Hailanhak murmured in a low voice, with a deep sense of self-blame in his tone, “He is ambitious and is no longer the loyal general he used to be. The funny thing is that I even defended him again and again, hoping that I suspected the wrong person…”

Now that Hailan Jiabo has such evil ambitions, he really can’t figure out who he can trust.

He suddenly threw the intelligence onto the table with a dull sound, his eyes showing a cold murderous intent: “Since you, Hailan Jiabo, insist on betraying, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, tried hard to suppress the anger in his chest, and gradually calmed himself down.

At this moment, he knew that anger could not solve the problem, and only decisive action could bring the situation back into his own hands.

He slowly opened his eyes, the anger in his eyes was gone, only deep and cold determination remained. He raised his head and called out in a low and majestic voice: “Someone come!”

A trusted confidant in light armor quickly entered the tent, knelt on one knee, and said respectfully: “What do you want, leader?”

Hailanhak stared at him coldly with a look as sharp as a knife, and said in a low and unquestionable tone: “You can start the action now!”

Upon hearing this, the confidant’s eyes flashed with a gleam of light, and then he nodded solemnly: “I have been waiting for a long time, please rest assured, everything will go according to plan!”

Hailanhak nodded slightly, with a hint of chill in his voice: “Hailan Jiabo has been transferred to the wing, and now is the best time for us to take action.

His trusted aides are still in the camp, but I will never give them another chance. From now on, all key positions must be replaced by people I trust!”

His eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s. He scanned the map in the tent and tapped several key camp locations with his fingers. His tone was firm: “Pass the order down. All the generals who originally belonged to Hailan Jiabo will be transferred from their original positions and replaced by our people. Anyone who dares to disobey orders will be killed without mercy!”

Upon hearing this, the confidant’s expression suddenly became solemn, and his tone was firm: “I understand! I will arrange it right away!”

In fact, the plan had already been laid out, but he had never given the order to execute it.

Although he had long suspected Hailan Jiabo, deep down in his heart, he always had a glimmer of hope that he had suspected the wrong person.

However, now that the truth was before their eyes, that last glimmer of hope was completely shattered.

“I gave you a chance, but you chose to betray me.” Hailanhak murmured in a low voice, with a hint of coldness in his tone, “In that case, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

The confidant took the order and left, while Hailanhak sat back at the desk and his eyes fell on the map again.

His fingers slowly moved across several key locations on the map, and a deep light flashed in his eyes.

Replacing Hailan Jiabo’s cronies is only the first step. If he wants to completely control the situation, he must advance the entire plan to the next stage.

“Besides these arrangements,”

His finger suddenly pointed at the front line on the map, his eyes flashed with a sharp cold light, and he whispered to himself with a firm tone: “The most important part of the whole plan is actually…”

(End of this chapter)