Chapter 118: Internal Conflict

Chapter 118: Internal Conflict

Everyone stared at Ashina curiously, waiting for him to continue.

Helu snorted coldly. “You still say it wasn’t on purpose. If you were so sure, why would you lead everyone to their deaths!”

Seeing Helu constantly challenging him, Ashina’s expression turned unpleasant. “No one wanted the heavy defeat Helu suffered in this battle! Stop being so sarcastic. If you had any proof that I deliberately tried to get you all killed, you could finish me right here. I wouldn’t say a word!”

“But if you have no proof and dare to make false accusations, if you continue to confuse the issue and shake morale, don’t blame me for punishing you by military law!”

After Ashina finished speaking.

The members of the Ashina Tribe beside him stood up one after another, glaring fiercely at Helu, as if to show their own stance and bolster Ashina’s authority!

Helu’s side showed no sign of backing down either. Before Helu could speak, the members of the Helu Tribe all stood up and glowered back! Their side had a more fiery temper; they directly drew their knives, ready to fight!

Helu pointed at the people of the Ashina Tribe, full of bluster. “What, military law? Ashina, when we watched you fight those nobodies from the Northern Desert earlier, you weren’t this impressive. Now with your own people, you’re throwing your weight around!”

“Let’s see what you’re going to do to me! Military law? Usually, I give you some face, but don’t really think of yourself as the Turkic emperor! You are one khan, and I am also a khan! What right do you have to punish me by military law! If we really fight, we’ll beat the shit out of you Ashina lot!”

The people of the Ashina Tribe, without another word, drew their knives and retorted without yielding. “You really are ungrateful wolves! Normally, it’s always our Father Khan, for the unity and peace of the Turkic people, who has our clan yield to you everywhere. You dogs really think we’re afraid of you!”

It looked like both sides were about to clash, on the verge of fighting.

Ashide on the side said calmly, “Go ahead and fight, hurry up! It’s best if you pull out all the people from the Ashina Tribe and the Helu Tribe to have a good spar. Fight to the death, determine a winner. Perfect to let those Xiao Kingdom people in Yanbei City see, let’s give them a good laugh.”

Seeing both sides deadlocked.

“My words remain the same: if we can unite together to defeat the Xiao Kingdom people, then we can sit down and have a proper talk.”

“But if you don’t want this alliance anymore, then let’s disband. Let’s not become a joke in front of the Xiao Kingdom people later.”

Hearing Ashina say this, Helu’s face darkened. “I never said to end the alliance. It’s Ashina who wants to punish me by military law. What kind of person is he to punish me!”

Ashina said coldly, “Have you forgotten the nonsense you spouted yourself? Enough! I won’t waste words on you! I want to talk about my next plan. If you want to listen, then listen. If you don’t, then please leave!”

Helu snorted coldly and sat back down. “Leave? If anyone should leave, it’s you. Why should I leave!”

Saying this, Helu, like a sulking child, simply sat down. Then he cursed at the Helu tribesmen behind him. “Sit the hell down, all of you! What are you standing there for? Being lanterns?”

Although Helu did not accept Ashina’s authority, he still had some self-awareness. Ashina maintained good relations with most tribes.

If they really pushed too hard and kicked him out.

He really couldn’t bear to give up on this piece of fat meat, the Xiao Kingdom.

After all, despite the temporary setback, Helu still believed that conquering the Xiao Kingdom was a sure thing, with absolutely no possibility of defeat.

Ashina glanced at Helu and did not try to provoke him further.

He also had his own calculations. The people of the Helu Tribe were known for their fighting prowess throughout the entire Turkic tribes.

If they lost them in the attack on the Xiao Kingdom, it would be no exaggeration to say it was like cutting off one of their own arms.

The two of them, with Ashide’s mediation, settled into a calm state. For long-term benefit, they both chose to back down.

Ashina continued, “My plan is actually very simple: surround but do not attack! According to reliable intelligence, Han Da took in many refugees. And Yanbei City originally had no food! Right now, Han Da is using military rations to aid those refugees. As long as we surround them without attacking, in less than half a month, the city will naturally fall without us having to fight!”

After Ashina said this, Helu couldn’t help but want to argue, but Ashide stopped him with a look.

Helu addressed Ashina, “Ashina, is your inside source reliable? Before, it was because of faulty intelligence that we misjudged their strength!”

“Moreover, Yanbei City is built against a canyon. One of its city gates is on this side, the other city gate is on the canyon side, facing the Four Northern Desert Prefectures and their thirty-nine cities! We simply cannot surround them.”

After hearing this, Ashina smiled and said, “Ashide, I naturally know all that. We surround this side! Additionally, I have a way to make the Noble Clans of the Four Prefectures not send them grain, even block their food supplies. You must understand, Yanbei City can be a key strategic fortress, but it can also be an isolated city with no support!”

Helu, hearing half of it, still couldn’t hold back. “Ashina, don’t blame me for saying this… haven’t you heard? The four Family Heads of the Four Great Clans in the Yanbei Four Prefectures were all turned by that waste Xiao Ce! They are Xiao Ce’s people now, will they listen to you?”

A sly smile appeared on Ashina’s face. “If I weren’t completely sure, would I say this? You probably haven’t heard about the reforms that waste Xiao Ce implemented after taking control of the Northern Desert.”

“Xiao Ce wants to raise those lowly commoners up to be the masters of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures. That damages the fundamental interests of those Noble Clans. They are only putting up with it due to his tyranny! Then, using Xiao Ce’s hand, he removed the original Four Great Clans.”

“Now that they have each returned to their own territories, how could they allow Xiao Ce to gradually erode their lands and power step by step? I already sent people to contact them before. Their attitude is to offend neither side!”

“They clearly stated they will not help Xiao Ce attack us. Nor will they help us attack Xiao Ce!”

Ashide chimed in, “Ashina, can their words be trusted?”

Ashina nodded. “Of course… I trust that person very much. I am completely confident! Those Family Heads are not fools either. If Xiao Ce defeats us, he will have no more worries and can deal with them at his leisure.”

“If they cooperate with us, at least they can maintain the life they had before! Their power and rights won’t be affected! They have already promised me to halt all their…”

Ashide asked, “So you had already contacted them and made arrangements? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Ashina said, “I originally planned to tell you at the Victory Banquet after we captured Yanbei City! That way it would be a double celebration! Who knew this mess would happen. Everyone just needs to wait half a month! Then we’ll see the outcome!”

“As long as we break through Yanmen City, they will all surrender to us Turks. It will be as if we have captured the Four Northern Desert Prefectures.”

Ashide said, “If it’s really as you say! Then, waiting half a month is fine. Because even if we launched a forceful assault, we couldn’t capture it in three to five days.”

Helu chimed in, “Right, you need to make sure your intelligence isn’t wrong this time!”

Ashina nodded and said, “That is certainly not a problem, I can guarantee it. If even one grain of provisions enters Yanbei City, I will step down as the Chief Commander of this assault on the Xiao Kingdom!”

Ashina paused, then said to Helu, “You can take over!”

Hearing this, Helu’s eyes lit up a bit.

“Fine! Then we’ll listen to you! Use your method. If it still doesn’t work, then we use my method!”

Ashina said, “Good, it’s settled!”

Then he looked around. “Do any of you have other opinions?”

Everyone looked at each other. No one spoke.

After all, the two main parties weren’t saying anything, so naturally they wouldn’t foolishly provoke their anger.

Ashide spoke up. “Then during this time, we should also keep an eye on them to prevent any trouble.”

Ashina nodded.

Then, he dismissed everyone.

Ashide stayed behind in the end.

Ashina knew Ashide had something to say to him.

Ashina said, “Elder Brother Ashide, you probably want to ask me who the person is who helped me with these things, and why I trust them so much, right?”

Ashide nodded. “Yes, this matter is of great importance. You must know, from the events at Yanbei City, even if Xiao Ce is a waste, the Prince of Zhenguo behind him, Xiao Dingshan, is not! He is skilled in schemes. If those Noble Clans are only pretending to surrender! If you are deceived again, not only Helu, but surely many others among the Turks will have quite a lot of complaints!”

“If you lose the authority of Chief Commander and let Helu lead us, with his reckless temper, he would get a lot of our Turks killed.”

Mosi Ashina on the side chimed in, “Father Khan, Khan Ashide is right! We better be careful. That person of yours, can they really be trusted?”

Seeing everyone’s worried expressions, Ashina smiled. “This person, I can trust more than myself! However, I cannot tell you who this person is!”

Seeing this, Ashide did not press further. “Alright, Ashina. Since you say so. I’m reassured.”

After Ashide left, the other Ashina tribesmen left too.

Finally, only Mosi Ashina remained.

Ashina asked Mosi, “Did you guess who it is?”

Mosi nodded and said to Ashina, “Father Khan, is it Mr. Hidden Dragon?”

Seeing that Mosi guessed it, Ashina’s eyes brightened a bit, and his expression became more lively. “You brat, not bad! Worthy of being my son, you have some brains! It is Hidden Dragon!”

Mosi Ashina grew even more puzzled. “Father Khan, didn’t Mr. Hidden Dragon advise you to withdraw the troops before? He didn’t think our attack on the Xiao Kingdom was a good idea? How come he’s turning around to help us now?”