"Our country falls because of us!" With a dignified composure, what he saw was the grandeur of the world, and the only possibility of winning with fewer troops and rescuing his father. Li Jianwen opened his mouth, and at this moment, he once again felt the immense gap between himself and his sister. The gap was so enormous. In his heart, he could not even muster resentment or unwillingness, only left with the dejection and helplessness of an ordinary man facing a genius. He opened his mouth, and at this moment, footsteps intentionally made louder could be heard from outside. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on NoveIＦire.net Li Jianwen looked over. It was that itinerant merchant in a brown felt coat, black hair tied into a ponytail, unconventional by the etiquette standards of the Central Plains, his dark eyes smiling slyly, cunning, shrewd, poor, almost as if he was about to fall into the eyes of money, that Tian Ge’er. Li Jianwen suppressed his fatigue, and had no energy to say much to this itinerant merchant who always claimed poverty, only saying, "Coming here today, are you also claiming to be without money?" Li Guan said, "Indeed." He strode forward, saying, "I have heard of the Duke encountering an ambush and being trapped. Since we are allies, naturally, there should be some assistance." Li Guanyi raised his eyes slightly and said, "Using a deception strategy may deter one party, but if the heroes of the Western Regions are unwilling to leave, there will always be danger." "Why not use linked strategies, at least for more assurance." Li Yuanchang, ruined by indulgence, having been reprimanded by his elder brother and second sister earlier, now seeing an itinerant merchant with only a reputation as a pauper in the city come as well—his temper rising inevitably would release it on others, he said: "You’re merely an itinerant merchant, what do you know about troops?!" "At the Duke Mansion we’re discussing important matters, who do you think you are to sneak a peek here!" After saying this, he shouted, intending to call someone to push him out. Li Guanyi glanced at him. Li Yuanchang only felt his heart pound heavily. An indescribable aura pressed down, he lifted his head, feeling his heart racing, as if under this invisible pressure, the edges of his vision gradually turned dark. Before him, the second sister in a brocade robe and the itinerant merchant in ordinary Western Region attire stood side by side looking at him, their expressions indistinct, only seeing their eyes like dragon and phoenix, carrying a faint golden glow, looking quietly at him, layers of pressure building up. Li Yuanchang was speechless, unconsciously drenched in sweat. Li Guanyi averted his gaze, the natural aura of one who has fought a hundred battles dispersed, he smiled: "I am indeed merely an itinerant merchant, but also an ally who signed a treaty with the Duke. During these days, I’ve handled some matters for the Duke Mansion, the Duke in trouble, naturally, I will assist." "In Xiyi City, at the Heroic Pass of the world, there are arrows, armor, and rations in the city itself. But now, with military orders above, we cannot rashly send out troops, but in Anxi City, there are armored and bow-wielding soldiers, only lacking money and equipment." "Why not, as Mr. Yuwen suggests." "Dispatch troops with military equipment from here, with flags flying for tens of miles by day and drums sounding by night, while Anxi City sends its army in similar formation, finally converging together." "Then a troop can be formed." Such a stratagem is more reliable than Li Zhaowen’s plan. It was proposed by Li Guanyi after knowing Li Zhaowen’s plan, based on the Breaking Army’s strategy. Li Jianwen asked, "How many people can you provide?" Li Guanyi replied, "Over ten thousand." Li Jianwen’s expression struggle, and he said, "Good!" In such circumstances, Li Guanyi’s willingness to dispatch troops is already offering help when it’s most needed, making Li Jianwen harbor a slight favor towards this cunning merchant. He was calculating in his heart to start with his second sister Li Zhaowen’s deception strategy. With ten thousand fierce soldiers and his father’s troops gathered, it was not impossible to fight, the unwillingness in Li Jianwen’s heart gradually dissipated. Li Zhaowen and Li Yuanxu left. Li Jianwen and Li Guanyi negotiated for a long time, exhaling a breath, this eldest son exhausted, exhausted to the point of not even having the strength to be angry, only saying: "Truly a cunning merchant." "But fifty thousand arrows, that must be the Qi-breaking and Armor Break wolf teeth inverted hook arrows, where would there be so many, ten thousand, ten thousand wolf teeth inverted hook arrows, plus three thousand sets of cavalry armor, rations, weapons, I’ll give you them, anything more, we don’t have." Li Guanyi looked at Li Jianwen and said, "In the city there are many luxurious prominent families." Li Jianwen was silent. Li Guanyi pressed his hands on the table, leaning forward slightly, bringing Li Jianwen a sense of powerful oppression, saying: "In such a time of life and death for the world, does the eldest young master still wish to maintain an appearance of harmony and beauty among the different prominent families?" "Do you mean to tread into the world in such a gentle and harmonious manner?" "The Western Regions, the world, the Northern Border, Jiangnan, the Central Plains, the upheaval of the world, is not like a banquet with dancing and music." As if the last veil in Li Jianwen’s heart was lifted, he remained silent for a long time, then said: "How much confidence do you have?" Li Guanyi replied, "Ten thousand suits of excellent armor, including three thousand sets of cavalry armor, ten thousand weapon level weapons, strong bows, hard arrows, heavy shields, enough rations and military pay to sustain ten thousand soldiers on their expedition." "I will bring your father back intact." The compelling aura, the grand momentum of the world, seemed to gather within his words. Li Jianwen looked at Li Guanyi, "Is this a deal?" Li Guanyi said, "No, Young Master." He smiled, looking at Li Jianwen: "This, is [an alliance]." Li Jianwen remained silent for a long time, finally saying, "...Good." Li Guanyi looked at him, but Li Jianwen felt that the itinerant merchant was not looking at him; Li Guanyi’s gaze shifted, seemingly looking at the great and visionary Great Emperor of Ying Country, then turned and walked away with large strides, raising his right hand, clenching his five fingers into a fist, and said lightly: