Finest Servant

Chapter 565 "Anything is Possible"

Lin Wanrong chuckled heartily and declared loudly, "Lu Dongzan, you're too kind. To be honest, among the Turks, you're the one I admire the most. If not for the war, sharing a drink and a chat with you would be an incredibly joyous occasion."

"Master Lin, your words fill me with immense pride," replied Lu Dongzan, the Turkic National Tutor, a trace of pride and delight appearing on his face. "If you wish to drink and talk, I'd be more than happy to accompany you, and even surprise you in ways you'd never expect! But for now, I'd suggest you retreat from the edge of the Sea (Desert) of Death. Even my bravest Turkic warriors dare not venture there. I would hate to see a man I admire so much meet his end in such a place."

Lin Wanrong grinned, "So, you're suggesting that I retreat from the Sea of Death only to await your capture? That's a pretty neat calculation you've made!"

Lu Dongzan quickly shook his head, "Why would I capture you? You misunderstand, Master Lin. You're the most intelligent person in Great Hua, and few among us Turks could rival you. We Turks admire strength and valor. You have proven your mettle through your wit and courage. As long as you retreat from the Sea of Death, I assure you, the Turks will treat you with the respect accorded to a national hero. You can have any official title you desire; Bilge Khagan will bestow it upon you."

"Any official title, you say? You Turks really hold me in high regard." Lin Wanrong chuckled, "So, Lu Dongzan, can I really choose any position?"

Seeing that he was interested, Lu Dongzan eagerly nodded, "Any position, Master Lin, the choice is yours!"

"In that case, if I wanted to become your Khan, that would be alright too, yes?" Lin Wanrong said with a playful grin.

The expressions of the Turks opposite him changed dramatically. Angry glares and murmurs erupted.

Lu Dongzan gestured awkwardly to silence his subordinates, "Master Lin jests. You may choose any position below that of the Khan."

Lin Wanrong burst into laughter, waving his hand dismissively, "Well, that's no fun. You know my status in Great Hua, Brother Lu. Both of my wives are Princesses, and my father-in-law is the current Emperor. I could have my way in the Great Hua court if I so wished. Why would I come to the Turks to be subjected to anyone else? If you're really sincere, offer me the position of Khan, then I might consider it. Heh heh."

"Such arrogance! This Great Hua man is simply intolerable!" The Turks behind Lu Dongzan erupted in indignant shouts. Unable to contain their fury, the Turkic advisor gritted his teeth and declared, "Master Lin, I can't promise you that. All I can assure is that if you have the ability, miracles might just happen."

"So, you're saying I can't be Khan, after all?" Lin Wanrong shook his head and sighed, "What a shame, what a real shame, Lu Dongzan. It seems we'll meet on the battlefield then!" With that, Lin Wanrong resolutely brandished his steel blade, his determined visage leaving no room for doubt.

Lu Dongzan glanced at him and shook his head slightly. "Why bother, Master Lin? Behind you is the Sea of Death with no way back, and in front of you are the invincible Turkic cavalry. You have nowhere to go! I hope you will think carefully."

"There's no need for careful thought!" Lin Wanrong laughed heartily and urged his war horse forward a few steps. "Although my character is not the brightest, I know what can and cannot be done. We men of the Great Hua would rather die standing than live kneeling! Brother Lu, your Turkic people enjoy duels, don't they? Well, then, in the name of the compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva, I challenge you to a duel. Do you dare accept?"

"A duel?" Lu Dongzan burst into laughter, eyeing the two lonely figures in front of Lin Wanrong and then glancing back at his tens of thousands of troops. "Master Lin, aside from your exceptional cunning, you also have impressively thick skin! In a situation where you are already ensnared in a death trap, is a duel even necessary? Lu Dongzan is not such a fool!"

"You're absolutely right, Brother Lu; you are truly wise!" Lin Wanrong sighed and shook his head. "However, I don't entirely agree with your assessment that I'm in a death trap. At the very least, I still have one powerful move left to play."

"What move?" Lu Dongzan's expression shifted slightly, as if he had thought of something.

Lin Wanrong advanced his horse two steps and smiled. "Nothing much, just a small golden blade. Oh, Brother Lu, you should have received that blade, right?"

A glint of sharpness flashed in Lu Dongzan's eyes. Suddenly, he revealed a finely crafted curved blade in his hand—delicate and beautiful, glittering in gold. It was the golden blade so precious to Yueya'er. "Master Lin, can you tell me where the owner of this blade is now?"

Lu Dongzan's eyes flickered, but his expression remained stern, betraying no emotion. Lin Wanrong chuckled. "I can't tell you her current whereabouts, but she's probably faring better than I am, not having to face so many hidden dangers and open threats."

"That's good to hear," the Turkic National Tutor nodded gravely. "Master Lin, Lu Dongzan is willing to negotiate a condition with you."

"What condition?" Lin Wanrong blinked.

"As long as you are willing to release the owner of this golden blade," Lu Dongzan solemnly stated, "I swear by the name of the God of the Plains, we will allow you to leave the grasslands safely."

Leave the grasslands safely? Lin Wanrong felt a stir in his heart. Lu Dongzan was really pulling out all the stops. What exactly was Yueya'er's identity?

"What do you say?" Seeing Lin Wanrong deep in thought, Lu Dongzan pressed urgently.

Lin Wanrong looked up and smiled. "It's somewhat intriguing. However, Brother Lu, as you know, I come from a business background. I don't engage in loss-making deals. Surely this Miss Yueya'er is worth more than that?"

Quite the businessman—valuing Yueya'er by the pound. Seeing Lin Wanrong grinning slyly, even the normally calm Lu Dongzan couldn't suppress his anger. "So what exactly do you want?"

"What else could I want? Raise the stakes, of course!" Lin Wanrong said casually. "For example, your Turkic people could admit defeat, sign treaties, disband the army, cede territories, pay reparations, offer annual tributes, establish free trade between the two countries, teach the Great Hua language, allow free migration, commerce, intermarriage, and postal communication between our lands, and so on..."

In a single breath, Lin Wanrong listed a myriad of points. Lu Dongzan's face went pale with fury. Waving his hand dismissively, he bellowed, "Master Lin, you are insufferably arrogant! If that's how it is, then I must take offense. Once I capture you, finding the owner of the golden blade won't be difficult. Men, capture Lin San alive! The reward is a thousand head of cattle and sheep, and three fine steeds! The title of 'Bravest Warrior' will be yours!"

‘A thousand cattle and sheep, three fine steeds? So, in his eyes, I'm worth only livestock prices!’ Lin Wanrong was so angry he felt like spitting blood. Lu Dongzan was showing him no respect. Unaware of the Turkic system of rewards, he felt he was being shortchanged. Little did he know, this offering of a thousand cattle and sheep and three fine horses was practically a fortune, among the highest material rewards the Turkic people offered.

Stirred by the promise of rich rewards, the dust swirled into the air. Thousands upon thousands of Turkic cavalry, brimming with aggression, charged forward. Their sabers gleamed with a silvery glow, shaking the earth and heavens.

Lin Wanrong and Hu Bugui stood at the boundary between the grassland and desert, coldly watching the onslaught of Turkic warriors rushing toward them like a torrent. Their grotesque faces and wild eyes were crystal clear. The thunderous hoofbeats resonated with the ground, almost bursting their eardrums.

The over twenty-thousand Turkic men were uncomfortably crowded, divided into three segments by Ejina's tents. Lin Wanrong laughed heartily and waved, "Burn their camp! Brother Hu, it's your turn!"

"At your command!" Hu Bugui roared, igniting the blazing arrowhead. With a slight bend in his posture, he aimed his massive bow skyward, and the burning arrow was nocked.

Witnessing the large flaming arrow in Hu Bugui's bow, Lu Dongzan blinked. He turned to see the vast sea of Ejina's tents and the Turkic cavalry filling them. His face suddenly changed color, and he yelled in Turkic, "Quickly leave the tents; they're going to set fire!"

"Too late!" Lin Wanrong burst into laughter, "Brother Lu, let me show you some fireworks!"

Before his words had fully settled, Hu Bugui grunted and drew his bow with all his might. The blazing arrow, guided as if it had eyes, shot out and landed precisely on one of Ejina's central tents.

With a "boom," a pillar of fire shot into the sky. Tents doused in oil were instantly engulfed in flames. The dry grass between the tents caught fire quickly, spreading the blaze from one area to another. The frightened Turkic warhorses neighed loudly, breaking free from their riders' control, and scattered in all directions.

Hu Bugui shot two more arrows, setting more tents ablaze. The whole Ejina camp was enveloped in flames, and the Turkic warhorses ran around in panic. Amidst the chaos, people and horses were trampled, and screams filled the air.

Having never expected such cunning tactics right under his nose, Lu Dongzan's face flushed red with anger. Brandishing his saber, he led his Turkic cavalry directly toward Lin Wanrong and Hu Bugui.

Arrows whistled past them, swift as the wind on the plains. Seeing the sea of flames engulfing Ejina and the countless Turkic people busy putting out the fires, Lin Wanrong turned his horse around. He looked at Lu Dongzan's flushed face and laughed loudly, "Brother Lu, we shall meet again! Brother Hu, let's go!"

Both of them simultaneously whipped their horses, urging them forward. With a skyward neigh, the steeds lifted their front hooves and leaped swiftly, crossing the grassland in a blink and plunging into the desert winds and sands. A whirlwind of sand and dust arose, swirling around them until they were hardly visible.

Exhaling deeply, the Turkic cavalry came to a halt at the edge of the desert. They looked at the wild sands dancing in the sky, fear evident on their faces. Not a single one dared to set foot into it. Arrows rained down, disappearing into the depths of the desert, unable to discern the figures of the people from Great Hua within.

No one had ever emerged alive from this Sea of Death, and no one knew where it led. Surprisingly, the people from Great Hua had the audacity to venture into it, indifferent to the risks.

Lu Dongzan lingered at the edge of the desert, pondering for a moment. Then, with a nod, he picked up a heavy arrow beside him and securely tied something to it. With a sharp whistle, the arrow spun into the air, shooting deep into the desert.

With a clang, the arrowhead landed heavily on the sandy ground, startling Lin Wanrong. Hu Bugui shifted his gaze away from the riders at the edge of the desert, looking at the arrow in surprise. "Huh, there's something on it?"

The winds had been strong, and a layer of dust had quickly accumulated on the arrow. Lin Wanrong dismounted and picked it up. It was a heavy arrow, specifically designed by the Turks to pierce armor, and it felt substantial in his hand. Wiping off the dust, he saw a small box bound to the arrow with golden thread.

Upon opening the box, a flash of gold light burst forth, momentarily stunning Lin Wanrong. Hu Bugui exclaimed, "Isn't this Yujia's golden blade? Why would the Turks return it to us?"

Lin Wanrong was equally baffled. This blade was a token of affection from Yujia to her lover. Countless Turks had risked their lives for it; why would Lu Dongzan send it back?

Old Hu chuckled, "General, perhaps Yujia is Lu Dongzan's daughter. Maybe the Turks National Tutor saw your character and wants Yujia to offer you the blade as a proposal, inviting you to become his son-in-law!"

After inspecting the blade and finding no tampering, Lin Wanrong pocketed it, laughing. "Yujia is Lu Dongzan's daughter? A rotten tree can bear good fruit? Old Hu, your guess is quite something! Why not say she's the Khan of the Turks, wanting me to become her prince consort? That would make me feel a bit better, haha!"

Hu Bugui grinned, saying that if he was being absurd, General Lin could surely outdo him in making wild guesses. His keen eyes then fell on the box, almost entirely covered by sand, but with a corner of silk peeking out. "General, it looks like there's a letter as well!"

They had been so preoccupied with the blade that they hadn't noticed the silk scroll in the box. Lin Wanrong dusted off the box, pulling out the scroll and quickly scanning it under the moonlight.

The silk was soft and delicate, and on it were scrawled six large characters: "Anything is possible!"

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