Chapter 164: The Barbarians’ Trick
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The scent of wheat mingled with the earthy aroma of soil, wafting on the breeze. In the nearby river, gentle ripples shimmered under the sun.
It was a peaceful and idyllic scene—standing there amid the fields, one could almost forget the looming threat of war. If not for the barbarians, this would’ve been a picture-perfect moment of rustic tranquility.
After chatting a bit more about the upcoming harvest, Xiao Ming finally shared with Niu Ben, Lu Fei, and Luo Xin the news of the barbarian envoys’ arrival in Chang’an.
“Just over two months?” Niu Ben frowned slightly.
Xiao Ming noticed his expression and asked, “What is it, General?”
Niu Ben replied solemnly, “Your Highness, the barbarian totem is the steppe wolf. They fight like wolves—cunning and treacherous. We must not trust their claim of ‘three months before their attack.’”
“Exactly,” Lu Fei agreed. “From our experience fighting the barbarians, it’s clear they’ll use any means necessary to win. They lie, deceive, and strike when least expected.”
Pang Yukun exchanged a glance with Xiao Ming. They hadn’t dealt with the barbarians enough to understand their tactics, but now their expressions turned grave.
“Please, elaborate,” Xiao Ming asked seriously.
Niu Ben nodded. “If they say they’ll attack in three months, it’s likely to lull us into a false sense of security. Their real plan is to strike early and catch us unprepared. From this point forward, Your Highness should dispatch scouts into the steppe to monitor their movements and prepare for a sudden strike on Cangzhou.”
“They’ll almost certainly send small tribes first,” Lu Fei added. “A probing attack to test our defenses before committing their main force.”