CHAPTER 1117: CHAPTER 609: ZHAO DOUAN’S COUNTERATTACK (5K)_3

"This is a method, but it’s nothing more than a change of family. Just exchanging casualties, that’s all, and everyone must not forget that the prisoner exchange at Yansuo Lake must not go wrong either."

"Ugh, this won’t do, that won’t do either... How did this Ye Xin suddenly come up with such a disgusting method?"

"Heh... Such deceitful tactics and cunning. I’m afraid it’s not something that Ye Xin could come up with, perhaps it’s the handiwork of that strategist surnamed Xu..."

During the discussion, many people’s hearts were stirred, and they felt that the opponent’s disgusting tactics were very familiar.

Thinking it over carefully, they suddenly realized that the opponent’s strategy was as crafty as Zhao Douan’s previous schemes....

The silently pondering Zhao Douan also sniffed the familiar scent.

At this moment, it was as if two old foxes had sensed each other’s presence through the winter wind, catching the whiff of each other’s slyness.

"A troublesome opponent. Much more difficult to deal with than Zhuang Xiaocheng was," Zhao Douan mused.

Seeing the group arguing endlessly, he suddenly tapped on the table, quieting everyone down.

"I have made a decision," Zhao Douan said slowly, showing a look of deep thought: "Agree to the prisoner exchange. Set a time with the other side, at which point, I will send my guard Ji Yue and Song Jinxi to lead a group of Tributor to Yansuo Lake for the exchange."

After a pause, he added: "The rest of the military experts and I will sit in the Central Camp. Order the defense line to be on high alert. If there is an attack on any part of the defense line, dispatch experts to support. Let’s do it this way."

This...

Everyone exchanged glances, feeling that this plan was very passive, but couldn’t think of a better one.

So they all nodded: "Since the governor has decided, we will arrange it immediately."

Soon, the meeting ended, and people dispersed.

Zhao Douan returned to the Governor Mansion, pushed open the study room door, and saw Yu Xiu flipping through a Taoist book at the round table: "Jin Jian, she..."

Yu Xiu glanced at him coldly, nodding towards the bed with an unhappy expression: "The money has arrived."

"Snore... Snore... Huh?" Jin Jian, who was sleeping with her little bottom raised, rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up without opening her eyes, saying: "Where, where?"

...

...

Once the decision for the prisoner exchange was made, the agreement between the two sides was quickly reached.

At the same time, the entire court’s three armies received the alert message; suddenly, in this truce of winter days, the two armies subtly exuded a tense atmosphere again.

As if a barrel of gunpowder, ready to explode at any moment.

Da Feng Tower.

Xu Jianwen quietly listened to the report of his subordinates, nodded, and smiled: "Everything is progressing as expected, isn’t it?"

Qi Yuchun hesitated and said: "Your Highness, why did that Zhao Douan agree? What if he didn’t agree? And how are you certain that the other party will act according to your plan?"

Xu Jianwen sat in front of the thick, light brown solid wood chessboard, his soft, loose robe piled on the ground, and he chuckled softly: "Doesn’t Zhao Douan like to play with open conspiracies the most? This time, let him taste the flavor of an open conspiracy instead."

Ren Kun laughed: "Your Highness has calculated that he must take up the challenge to establish himself in the military and build up his reputation. This is an open conspiracy."

Qi Yuchun sighed: "Is there no way to crack an open conspiracy?"

As a former Great Commander, he was quite perplexed by these civil servants’ intrigues and calculations.

"Of course, it can be cracked, and it’s very simple," Xu Jianwen said calmly: "The way to crack an open conspiracy is to give up. Imagine if Zhao Douan were not sitting in that governor’s position, didn’t have to stabilize military morale, or seek that reputation, how would he be bound by it? If one is ruthless enough, knows how to let go, and releases what one cares about, then any open conspiracy can’t befall them. Heh, take Zhao Douan, for example; if he abandoned my sister and the role of Imperial Consort and just left, with his current cultivation, he could live very well hidden outside of Yu Country. He just doesn’t want to, that’s all."

In the corner of the room, Master Gu Huo, feeling rather bored, glanced at the three and muttered: "I can’t be bothered with any of you, just want to know when we can take out Zhao Douan. I’m already starving and thirsty."

Xu Jianwen said lightly: "Why rush, the day after tomorrow, during the prisoner exchange, is the time to consume him."

"Snap!"

As he spoke, he picked up a black piece and placed it on the chessboard’s intersecting lines, instantly severing the figurative large white dragon on the board that was deep in the marsh.

...

In a blink, it was the scheduled day of the prisoner exchange.

Morning.

When Zhao Douan awoke from his meditation, he felt that his Qi Sea was particularly restless today.

Upon internal inspection, he was surprised to find that the "Dragon Essence," which had been dormant without signs for a long time, was now showing signs of awakening.

It was as if it was coming out of hibernation, about to thaw.

"Is it because I have completely established myself in the World of High Grade Realm? Has my cultivation stimulated the Dragon Essence? Or is it for some other reason?"

Zhao Douan was quite surprised.

But no matter how he tested it, the Dragon Essence sleeping in the Qi Sea was, at most, lazily flicking its tail, in a lethargic, almost awake state that did not respond to his calls.

"Baffling. Could it be that the timing isn’t right either?"

Zhao Douan shook his head, trying to quell his curiosity, and walked out of the backyard to the front hall of the Governor Mansion.

At this moment, Mo Chou, Tang Jinzhong, Shi Meng, the Commander of the Three Thousand Camp, and Jin Jian were all stationed in the hall.

Seeing him arrive, they stood up in unison: "Governor!"

"Hmm," Zhao Douan nodded and asked: "Has the prisoner exchange team set off?"

Mo Chou nodded: "They have already set off, according to your arrangements, Ji Yue and Song Jinxi lead a group."

After a pause, she added: "Before leaving, they all went through the door."

The "door" she referred to was the [Two-Life Gate], which Zhao Douan had Mo Chou, Song Jinxi, and even himself go through early in the morning.

Only, this Suppressing Object’s lifespan was also nearing its end.

"Alright, everyone, let’s wait for the news together," Zhao Douan said as he sat at the main seat and flipped out a small bronze mirror with a wave of his hand.

At this moment, the mirror showed a scene of light.

...