In fact, the content of these four letters is almost identical, except for the different names of the recipients, the contents of the four letters are basically the same.

First of all, he praised the king as the "great master of the steppe" in a humble and respectful tone, and then expressed his determination to lead his troops to allegiance. At the same time, in order to be able to attack the enemy by surprise on the battlefield and catch the opponent off guard, please keep the great king secret, and after defeating the enemy, he must bow down in front of the king......

And the signature at the end of the letter is none other than the son of the slave girl, Saladin, who has always been looked down upon by several princes.

If it was just Saladin's signature, I'm afraid the four princes might not believe it. But the problem is that after Saladin's "Vote for Integrity" arrived, the four of them received another letter at the same time!!

And this letter made the four "steppe kings" have to be fooled!

This is a handwritten letter from Hanmuye, and like the previous one, the content of the letter received by the four princes this time is actually the same.

In his letter, Hanmuyah expressed in a sincere tone that he did not accept your call in the royal court, but left with people, and was not an act of fear or defection. After all, if your tribe is small, with a population of only 30,000 and a few thousand troops, you can't help much at all. My departure is actually to preserve my strength, and at the same time, to find reinforcements for you!

And now. He had already tried his best to convince Saladin, the youngest prince. And Saladin has already expressed his willingness to join me in joining you, and I will have tens of thousands of troops with him, so that I can be of great help to you.

On the day of the decisive battle, he and Saladin will enter from the side of the battlefield with their soldiers and horses, and then ......

After receiving this handwritten secret letter from Hanmuye, the four princes were really fooled.

Who was Hanmuye? It was his own uncle, his father's own brother, in the royal court. He also had a very good personal relationship with the princes.

No one believed that Hanmuyah would harm him...... No one thought that Hanmuyah would "take refuge" with Saladin. After all, Hanmuye was a truly noble prince! and Saladin ...... It was just a boy born of a slave girl, a mongrel, who had come to this day by flattering his father......!

And, it must be mentioned, at the end of Hanmuye's letter, it is written again!

"Dear King. I think Saladin agrees to help us, but we don't fully trust the bastard. I will help you keep an eye on him...... It's just that my forces are limited. It's really hard to effectively restrain him, so please send a little bit of men to help me, not a lot, just give me another 5,000 troops, and I can keep an eye on this guy, and if he dares to make a little move, I can ......."

It was this last paragraph that moved the four princes.

Each of them was overjoyed—it was the idea of the prince of our royal court!hmph, that bastard. Most of them are unreliable! Moreover, my uncle only wants 5,000 people, and he can still squeeze them out! If he dies at that kid, he will have to send 30,000 or 40,000 people! In this way, it is a very worthwhile thing.

Although his own subordinates are also very nervous. But squeezing out 5,000 people is still barely possible.

As a result, the four deceived "steppe kings", after receiving the "secret letter", all fantasized in their hearts that they could get the support of Saladin and Hanmuye, and had to agree to Hanmuye's request.

There were three princes, all of whom at once ordered to divide 5,000 men and horses, and quietly left the distance of their camp overnight. The fourth prince, on the other hand, really did not have any extra troops, so he simply ordered a small tribe to take refuge in himself. The whole thing was sent out.

Saladin Hanmuyer's letters to the four princes differed from place and time of contact. So there was such a scene:

For the next three days, four different times, four different locations. After the four tribes arrived at the designated contact point, they all met with the "loyal" Prince Hanmuye and his men as promised.

And then...... The only fate that awaits these fooled creatures is that they are deceived and unprepared by Hanmuye, and then they are so heavily besieged that not a single bird can fly out of this place that has been ambushed by Saladin. In the end, they laid down their weapons and could only accept their fate. Surrender is reorganized!

All Hanmuye had to do was run four places in a row and perform four plays in three days.

And Saladin, without spending a single soldier, just used a letter, in exchange for more than 20,000 horses!

Even Hanmuye, known as the "think tank", admired this whimsical and bold and adventurous idea.

But what he didn't know was that this idea was not something Saladin could have come up with.

After completing this plan, Saladin secretly met with Alpha. Alpha faced this yīn steppe man, although he didn't like this guy, but out of loyalty to Du Wei, he still fulfilled his mission.

"Your Excellency the Duke asked me to tell you that this plan for you is the last time he will help you, and the rest of the matter will depend on you. We will not give you any more gratuitous help, and from today onwards, any help will come at a price. ”

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The four "steppe kings", who did not know that they had "lost" 5,000 men and horses, were still dreaming, believing that they had already gained an advantage in strength with the support of the combined forces of Hanmuye and Saladin.

And the arrival of the decisive battle, reality, has severely crushed their fantasies!

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The four princes, who were watched by the wolves on the grassland, finally made up their minds to fight a decisive battle! Because they could not drag it on, they had to defeat their brothers as quickly as possible, and then they could make the tribes who were eyeing them surrender with the attitude of strong and victorious.

This is the only way.

Thereupon. On this morning, the men and horses of the four directions gathered on this grassland, the war drums beat, the horns sounded, the cavalry polished their scimitars, and the horses' noses sprayed white gas, and the horses' hooves were kicked restlessly......

The snow-bright scimitar, under the sun, shines with a piece of golden light.

And the funny thing is. Four princes, but looking at the battlefield at the same time

...... Waiting for them to "surprise reinforcements".

At noon, when the sun shone overhead, the faint sound of horses' hooves could be heard on the side of the battlefield. Then, above the horizon, large clouds of dust were raised. I don't know how many cavalry are galloping towards us. The dust that covers the sky. There is no doubt about it. It stimulated the confidence of the four Prairie Kings!

And, before the dust. A group of cavalry galloped, and the banners they were holding were none other than Saladin and Prince Hanmuye!!

The most ridiculous and ironic scene happened at this moment.

Four Prairie Kings, almost at the same time. Pointing to the dust flying in the distance. Then he turned and shouted to his men with a victor's confidence, "Look, my brave sons, do you see those people in the distance! These are the reinforcements that Prince Hanmuye has brought us! Our reinforcements have arrived! Victory, it is ours! Charge the enemy!!"

Although there are some people. I feel that the dust is very moving...... But the sound of horses' hooves in the distance didn't seem to be as much as expected. But at this tense juncture. No one has time to dwell on these issues.

Thereupon...... The horn of the charge sounded, and the warriors raised their scimitars and urged their horses. began to rush and kill without hesitation......

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"Do they fall for it, you say?" said Saladin, smiling at the horse beside him.

Hanmuye thought for a moment, and he immediately said, "Yes." My king. And also...... I admire your cunning, well, it took only a thousand cavalry, and the back of the horses was dragged around the ground with branches tied to them, and such a large amount of dust was raised...... They must now think that we are out in force to help them. ”

Saladin yīn smiled deeply: "So...... Right now. Let's get on our horses and get ready to go. ”

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On the grassland, the four groups of people and horses together exceeded 100,000. It has slammed into each other like a huge meat grinder, shattering all the life that can be involved!!

Whistling, fighting. Screams, screams......

When the battle went on for a while, the four "Prairie Kings" were angry to find that they had high hopes that the "reinforcements" had not joined the battle! Came back to report the news, let the four kings. I was so angry that I almost vomited blood from my horse and fainted!

These so-called reinforcements are only a thousand people...... The dust of the sky was brought up by the branches of the trees tied behind the horses. And, when the battle began, they ...... I ran away from them all!!

"Damn Saladin!!Damn Hanmuye!!"

Still, the four prairie kings. In the midst of their respective military formations, the most vicious curses were issued at the same time. Still, they made a unanimous decision.

It is impossible to stop fighting! In the current situation, whoever retreats will die!

The four kings, at the same time, ordered their last reserves, the whole army to rush forward!

Life and death, right now!!

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Where are Saladin's centaurs at this time?

He sent four teams of men. Each team is 5,000 people. And these 5,000 people were dressed in the costumes of the 5,000 men and horses sent by the elder brothers. Under their banner, and then when it was difficult to solve the problem on the battlefield, they quietly approached the base camp of the four grassland kings......

Saladin's order was simple.

"Hurry! Everything must be fast! Grab what you can! Burn what you can't take away! One blow is the leg, and no one is allowed to delay!"

The four princes, who had devoted all their forces to the decisive battle, were exposed to Saladin's minions in an empty base camp, and this time, he decided to devote his life to hatred to this battle!!

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The Roland Empire is nine hundred and sixty-three years old.

Winter is coming.

Du Wei sat in the Governor's Mansion of Loulan City. Received the last secret report from the grassland. It was also the last letter from Alpha, subsequently. Alpha will also end his two-year career in the grasslands and return to the province of Dessa.

In that decisive battle between the four "king of the steppe", Saladin released a big pigeon of the four brothers, and sent troops to attack the camp of the four. They plundered a large amount of land and wealth, and even plundered many slave populations. Finally walked away.

And on the battlefield. The battle lasted until dark. The four beasts duel, shedding their last drop of blood. At last. The two princes were killed on the spot. And one man, seeing that the general situation was gone, had to leave the battlefield with the remnants of his army, and when he fled, there were less than 6,000 cavalry left around him, and most of them were wounded.

The last "winner". He was the eldest son of the former King of the Prairae. It's a pity that this victor also paid a huge price...... After he finally counted the results, he found out. Plus after the incorporation of prisoners of war. The full strength of their own. There are less than 30,000 left.

And...... His base camp was also copied by Saladin.

30,000 ...... Relying on 30,000 remnants of the army, the generals were defeated. What else is the king?

So, take advantage of the darkness. This "victor" set a fire, burned the battlefield, and also burned his own "royal flag", and then took people with him. Left in the direction of the southeast.

And the only victor in this war. Saladin is the only one!

His strength has swelled by a level. After the war, he had a population of nearly 100,000 and 60,000 iron horsemen!

This strength, above the grassland, is already a first-class tribe.

And. Clever Saladin. I firmly remember the advice in Du Wei's letter to him: slow down the king!

From beginning to end, he did not erect a royal banner. There is no self-reliance why the king of the steppe. Instead, he took his army, devouring everything he could find around him step by step, and then took advantage of the royal court to collapse. The short-term vacuum of the forces in the southwest of the grassland has rapidly increased its own capital......

By the time winter came, Saladin had more than 100,000 troops!

And he was left with the last two brothers. One fled with a few thousand remnants, but on the way, because of the defeat, he lost his prestige and was killed by his rebellious subordinates.

And the other great prince. He went south with 30,000 horses, only to be swallowed up by another large tribe, and the head of the great prince. Also cut down.

In the winter, on the steppe, several large tribes jointly issued a proclamation demanding all the tribal leaders. Take people to the site of the "royal court", convene a grassland tribe meeting, and restart

King of the Prairie.

Saladin who received the news. But he just sneered and tore up the letter at will.

Then, Saladin smiled, showed his white teeth, looked at his uncle Hanmuye beside him in the tent, and sneered: "That Duke Tulip of Roland once told me not to believe in any so-called 'elected king', the real king is not elected! You can't do it by such a boring thing as 'pushing'! The only way is to use your scimitar to conquer and completely conquer the enemy. Those who disobey are killed, and in the end, the rest become your own people, and then you can receive true allegiance. ”

"So...... Are we not going to participate in this conference?" asked Hanmuyeh.

"Participate, why not. Saladin said, "Go as my representative." But remember, we only put others as kings, and we are absolutely inappropriate ourselves. ”

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After reading the last letter, Du Wei casually handed it to Philip beside him. Philip finished reading it with a smile, and then he nodded: "Lord Duke, it seems ...... In the next 10 years, we will not have to worry about the threat to the grasslands. ”

Du Wei nodded, agreeing with Philip's words.

"In the past, the royal family was too strong to suppress the entire grassland, so the grassland people would quietly unite under the royal court. But now, the most powerful royal family has collapsed. The big tribes in the rest of the land, even the largest tribes, were far from strong enough to suppress the entire grassland, and they did not have the advantage of overpowering xìng. Therefore, even if someone is elected as king, they will still not be able to sit firmly in this position, and soon a new challenger will stand up and start a new civil war. According to our calculations, the civil war of the steppe people will probably take at least seven or eight years, and there is still such an ambitious guy as Saladin. I'm afraid it will drag on even longer. So, in ten years, we don't have to worry about these steppe people. ”

From the beginning. Du Wei did not think about conquering the steppe. He knew that with the current state of the Empire, it was impossible to do this—neither in terms of strength. There is still time. Neither.

Du Wei never thought of sending troops to invade the grasslands. Even if the vitality of the steppe people is greatly damaged, even if Du Wei can win the war, "winning the battle" and "completely conquering" are completely different.

It is easy to win a war, but to conquer the steppe and conquer such a nation, it is absolutely not possible to do it in a short period of time. In that case, you would drag your own army into a quagmire.

So. Du Wei Di target. It is to plunge the grasslands into chaos. Serious civil unrest. The years-long civil war has torn the steppe people apart, and their strength has been greatly damaged! Du Wei can safely concentrate all his attention and deal with more important enemies.

"Well, let's get the small force of troops stationed in the Northwest Corridor back. Philip laughed: "For half a year, we have been transporting water every day. It's too much to consume. ”

"Withdraw...... Halfway. Du Wei thought for a moment: "The border cannot be left unfortified. It is enough to leave half of the people. ”

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In the afternoon, Du Wei walked out of the study, rubbing his sore temples. Then he let out a long sigh.

I looked at the sky, and it seemed that it was about to snow.

Without any retinue, he walked straight through the corridor to the other side of the castle. I came to a room upstairs.

In the room, the melodious sound of the piano was heard.

Pushing open the door, there were still several beautiful girls, dancing, and the person sitting in the middle playing the piano......

Du Wei suddenly felt that he was in a trance, and only after he saw it clearly did he sigh.

Ailu, the female assassin of the Great Snow Mountain, was wearing a Roland woman's long skirt and sat in the middle - even she played the piano. It's all so much like that beautiful girl who is as light as the moonlight.

Du Wei walked into the room with his hands in his hands, and then let everyone out, leaving only Ailu.

Ai Lu's expression was very dark, and she even looked at Du Wei with a provocative look.

In fact, in the months after Hanyue's death. Her attitude towards Du Wei has always been like this, but Du Wei did not embarrass her, no matter how much trouble she made, Du Wei just locked her up for two days.

"You...... What are you doing here? Ai Lu stared at Du Wei: "Are you going to send someone to death this time?"

Du Wei shook his head, and then his hand reached out from behind his back, and a light appeared in his hand, and he had already taken out something from the magic ring and held it in his hand.

It's a small organ, with crystal strings. Apparently it was carefully scrubbed every day and it was spotlessly clean.

"You play the piano very well. Du Wei said softly: "So, this piano is given to you." ”

Eru didn't speak.

Du Wei's next sentence made Ailu's body shake violently.

"This piano ...... She left it behind. After she was gone, the piano remained in my hands. ”

Eru took the piano, her fingers running lightly over the strings.

Then, Du Wei walked to the window and looked into the distance. With his back to Elu: "Play a clip for me." ”

Eru seemed to want to object, but the words came to her lips. But somehow, it became: "What do you want to hear!"

Du Wei was silent for a while before he said, "Whatever music she likes to play in the past, you can play it." ”

The soft and harmonious sound of the strings sounded, and the smooth tune fell into Du Weidi's ears, and he sighed.

His eyes fell far away.

The direction he is looking at is due north!!

The dark clouds on the horizon were low......

"It looks like it's snowing soon. Du Wei seemed to murmur in a low voice: "A year has passed." It's been a year...... There are two years left...... Time flies so fast, there are only two years left. ”

Although this guy had his back to him and he couldn't see his expression, Ai Lu clearly felt that this young duke, who was becoming more and more majestic in Pingrì, was tired in his voice at the moment!

Yes, tired.

It's the kind of exhaustion that seems to have hollowed out my heart.

"Two years...... What does he mean by two years. And also...... He is like this now, he wants the wind to blow, he wants the rain to rain, what else makes him so worried, so tired......" Ai Lu thought quietly in her heart.