Chapter 646
Chapter 646
Li Qianqiu thought for a moment and soon understood. After suffering several consecutive blows, Su Nan's state of mind would have undergone a significant change, so it was natural for his presence to weaken. However, no matter how one looked at it, there were bound to be flaws in Samanya's disguise as Su Nan. So why did everyone come to believe that the man who died was Su Nan?
It was a kind of psychological tactic. People believe what they want to believe, and everyone thought Su Nan would surely be with his family. Most importantly, that 'Su Nan' had killed his entire family with his own hands before he died. Including his wife and his most favored son. The event was so shocking that it was enough to overshadow any questions.
It was like a shocking twist in a movie. If a movie's plot is chilling enough to make one's hair stand on end, people instinctively overlook its flaws or problems. Even Shen Lang felt the hair on his body stand on end whenever he recalled that scene. Su Nan had personally killed every direct member of the Su Clan. Everyone believed that only Su Nan could do such a thing, and that only he had the right to.
So, did the members of the Su Clan at the time realize that the man was Su Nan's double? Su Nan's son and wife, among others, would have surely known. But they kept their mouths shut and allowed Su Nan's double to kill them, wanting their deaths to pave the way for Su Nan's escape. The thousands of people in the Su Clan wanted to trade all their lives for Su Nan's single life. Thus, the hundred or so direct members of the Su Clan all died before Shen Lang, putting an end to the feud between them.
In such a situation, could you suspect that the man was Su Nan's double? Who could possibly think of that? No one would consider such a possibility.
But then, was Shen Lang also deceived? He had his X-ray vision; when he looked at someone, he first examined their blood vessels. Unless the blood vessels were identical, no one could escape Shen Lang's eyes. So Shen Lang immediately noticed the man was Su Nan's double, but he said nothing. Because he, too, was shocked. Moreover, after killing the Su clansmen, Su Nan's double, Samanya, had asked Shen Lang a question.
"Is the feud between the Su and Jin clans now over?"
At that moment, Shen Lang couldn't help but answer in his heart.
'I'll consider it over now.'
In reality, it was impossible to catch the fleeing Su Nan at that point. Even if Shen Lang mobilized all the cavalry of the State of Qiang, he couldn't have caught him. Having sacrificed his entire family and abandoned everything to be alone, Su Nan could easily transform into someone else. It was like finding a needle in the ocean—how could he possibly be found? However, it was somewhat predictable that Su Nan would head south and seek refuge with the Prince of Jun. And Shen Lang had told only four people the secret that Su Nan was still alive.
* * *
Su Nan's clan had been exterminated, and he had lost the great enterprise his family had built over hundreds of years, but this, in turn, became an advantage for him. Su Nan was undoubtedly a formidable figure. His wisdom, methods, and temperament were all those of a top-tier talent, but he had one weakness. An easily greedy heart. As soon as things went smoothly, he would try to kill two, or even three, birds with one stone. It was precisely this character flaw that led to his defeat by Shen Lang and the annihilation of his clan. But now, with nothing left to lose, he could become stronger than ever. Over the course of more than a year, his martial arts had progressed far beyond their previous state, and he had finally broken through the last barrier to reach the level of a Grandmaster.
Of course, the title of Great Grandmaster had to be bestowed by the six transcendent powers, so he couldn't be considered one, but his skill had at least reached that level. Besides, how talented he was, and how magnanimous was the Prince of Jun? When Su Nan went south and pledged allegiance to the Prince of Jun, the two hit it off like fish in water. In just over a year, he had become the Prince of Jun's right and left hand, an excellent commander carrying out his orders.
* * *
Mounted on a large horse, Su Nan looked down on the hundred-thousand-strong army of Yue, Nangong Ao, Zhu Lin, and the Crown Prince. He laughed loudly and said.
"Ning Yi, are you going to pursue us or not?"
How could they pursue the Savage Tribe warriors who had already entered the deep mountains and dense forests? Before Ning Yi left, the King had repeatedly told him never to pursue a cornered enemy, and Governor-General Zhu Rong had also strongly advised him not to chase the Prince of Jun's army if they entered the deep mountains or forests. At the time, Ning Yi had been inwardly displeased.
'Why shouldn't I give chase? I have over a hundred thousand troops; I can annihilate the Prince of Jun's entire army.'
But now, Crown Prince Ning Yi was so weary of the Savage Tribe that he couldn't even think of the word 'pursuit', needing no advice from Ning Yuanxian or Zhu Rong. One only understands things after facing hardship. Now he saw that the deep mountains and dense forests were truly the domain of the Savage Tribe warriors; pursuing them would mean certain death.
'In any case, I won! What does it matter if the war was incredibly difficult? Did anyone see it? The common people are all fools, easy to deceive. I just need to write a glorious victory report later. I just need to make countless people across the land frantically praise this victory.'
Yet, a dark cloud hung over Crown Prince Ning Yi's heart from beginning to end.
'Where is the Prince of Jun?'
Finally, Crown Prince Ning Yi could hold back no longer and asked.
"Su Nan, where is the Prince of Jun?"
Even from a great distance, Su Nan heard his voice. Su Nan laughed and replied.
"How would I know? How can a subordinate concern himself with His Highness's affairs? Aren't you going to give chase? If not, I'm really leaving!"
Su Nan rode a hundred meters, then turned back and shouted.
"Are you really not going to chase us? Then... then I'm really leaving!"
The Crown Prince, Zhu Lin, and Nangong Ao trembled with rage at Su Nan's antics.
'Why has Su Nan become as vulgar as Shen Lang?'
To make matters worse, the Savage Tribe warriors were also extremely crude, jumping out from the bushes and standing in the middle with a swagger. Their actions were like courtesans standing at a window, beckoning and saying, "My lord, come in. Come play. I'll show you a good time!" At that moment, the three leaders of Yue felt utterly humiliated, but none of them suggested giving chase.
When the Crown Prince had arrived here, his confidence had soared to the heavens, boasting that he would annihilate the Prince of Jun's army in one fell swoop, tear his corpse to shreds, and achieve an unparalleled feat. But now, he just wanted to take home the credit for a safe victory. Hadn't Ning Yuanxian promised that his position as Crown Prince would be secured as long as he repelled the Prince of Jun?
It seemed His Highness the Crown Prince was quite rational after all. He knew when to be timid.
"Your Highness, Privy Councilor Nangong, General Zhu Lin, I'm really leaving now."
Su Nan's voice was heard again.
'Dammit, just go already!'
Finally, Su Nan led the Savage Tribe warriors away with a swagger, and the hundred-thousand-strong army of Yue watched them leave in silence. Zhu Lin and Nangong Ao breathed a sigh of relief, came before the Crown Prince, bowed, and said.
"Your Highness is wise."
'Are you mocking me?'
How pitiful. Zhu Lin and Nangong Ao weren't being sarcastic; their words truly came from the heart. They had genuinely feared that His Highness the Crown Prince, in his youthful and vigorous spirit, would order a pursuit. If that happened, this army of over a hundred thousand would have been plunged into an irreversible situation. The dense forests and deep mountains were, after all, the Savage Tribe warriors' home ground.
* * *
Crown Prince Ning Yi returned to the barracks and drank, his heart heavy with frustration. The Zhu Clan had paid a huge price, using up decades of family assets and even future political resources, all for this result? To be unable to claim full credit was like eating half-cooked rice.
Zhu Lin sighed and said.
"Your Highness, I am satisfied with this outcome. It is perfectly normal to plan for the best and achieve a moderate result."
"But the price paid was too great."
Zhu Lin replied.
"In life, eight or nine out of ten things are beyond our control. How many truly great victories have there been in this world? Haven't most wars ended in awkward settlements?"
Those words were indeed true. Decisive, triumphant victories like those of Huo Qubing were extremely rare; most wars ended with both sides fighting to exhaustion, retreating, and then declaring victory.
The Crown Prince said.
"How can I return to the capital under these circumstances? The people of the realm are waiting for me to win a great victory and achieve an unparalleled feat."
"Your Highness has already achieved an unparalleled feat. We have decisively repelled the Prince of Jun's army and the main force of the Savage Tribe. In this war, Your Highness's sound command led our grand army to an unprecedented victory. Isn't that right, Privy Councilor Nangong?"
Nangong Ao said with a serious expression.
"The Savage Tribe's army poured endlessly from the Great Southern Commandery, gathering a force of a hundred thousand. Our State of Yue's army of one hundred and eighty thousand engaged their hundred thousand in a great battle, slaughtering eighty thousand of them, while we suffered only fifty thousand casualties—a great victory! The enemy general, Su Nan, fled in haste with the remnants of his army, numbering less than twenty thousand! If this is not a great victory, what is? It is, of course, an unparalleled feat."
"Privy Councilor Nangong is truly a veteran of the battlefield."
Zhu Lin's words were not sarcastic; he was genuinely praising Nangong Ao. Writing the victory report this way would best meet the expectations of the people of Yue. The Savage Tribe's army was indeed formidable, to the extent that our one hundred and eighty thousand troops from Yue could only barely defeat their hundred thousand. But we, too, were very strong. We beheaded eighty thousand of them, while suffering only fifty thousand casualties ourselves—if this wasn't a glorious victory, what was?
Zhu Lin said.
"The key point is that the enemy general was Su Nan!"
Zhang Suo nodded in agreement.
"The focus of this victory report is Su Nan! Wasn't he said to have been killed by Shen Lang? But why did he turn up alive in the Prince of Jun's army? It proves one thing: Shen Lang deliberately let Su Nan go, and what's more, it's solid proof that he's colluding with the Prince of Jun!"
Crown Prince Ning Yi nodded.
"Indeed. That will draw everyone's attention! People won't question the situation on the battlefield; they'll focus on the fact that Su Nan isn't dead and that Shen Lang is colluding with the Prince of Jun! That crime alone is enough to beat Shen Lang and Ning Zheng to death!"
Grand General Zhu Lin said.
"That victory report will cause an uproar throughout the realm."
Crown Prince Ning Yi asked.
"Then should I send the same report to my Royal Father?"
Grand General Zhu Lin was silent for a moment. A report like that could deceive the entire world, but it wouldn't fool Ning Yuanxian. After a moment of thought, Grand General Zhu Lin spoke.
"We're not lying, so why shouldn't we report it to His Majesty that way? Privy Councilor Nangong, please speak."
Nangong Ao's hair stood on end, but he could no longer escape this group.
"That's right. Isn't that the truth? Our army beheaded eighty thousand and suffered fifty thousand losses; the enemy was practically annihilated. Of course, we must report the truth to the King."
Zhu Lin shot to his feet and said.
"Your Highness, congratulations. You have achieved an unparalleled feat by annihilating the main force of the Prince of Jun's army, bringing decades of stability and peace to our State of Yue!"
Nangong Ao also shot to his feet, clasped his hands, and said.
"Your Highness, I congratulate you on achieving this unparalleled feat."
Crown Prince Ning Yi also stood up, helped the two generals to their feet, and said.
"This great victory was entirely due to the brilliant command of you two generals and the fearless, desperate fighting of our soldiers. I, Ning Yi, have no credit to my name."
Ugh! After experiencing a war, Ning Yi had matured. He could even say such things without blushing, which meant he had laid the basic foundations of a monarch.