The Villainess Always Wants to Cuddle With Me [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 20

Wild Goose Pass stood on the vast, desolate border of the Rin Kingdom, surrounded by endless stretches of yellow sand.

A small stream separated the barren land outside the pass from the territory of the Northern Herdsmen. The locals called this stream the Mugexiu River.

In the early years of Yuchi Gong’s reign, the Northern Herdsmen’s Khan, who was nearing the Great Yan Mandate of Heaven, seized the opportunity of the Rin Kingdom’s unstable foundation to harass the people of Wild Goose Pass relentlessly. But Yuchi Gong, with his fierce and unyielding nature, refused to tolerate such aggression against his people.

He dispatched General Kang Sheng to suppress the Northern Herdsmen. At the time, Kang Sheng was merely a ninth-rank captain, yet the Northern Herdsmen proved to be a formidable foe. Though their population was sparse, their cavalry was renowned for its bravery and skill in battle. Combined with their intimate knowledge of the terrain, General Kang Sheng engaged them in a two-year campaign of wits and valor before finally breaking their resistance.

In Rin Kingdom Year 5, the people of Yanbei, in honor of Kang Sheng’s victory, renamed the stream outside the pass the Mugexiu River.

Now, in Rin Kingdom Year 15, after a decade of recuperation, the Northern Herdsmen’s restless ambitions had finally erupted into action.

Inside Wild Goose Pass, Yu Chi Lan, clad in golden armor, stood surrounded by his generals before a sand table. With a chess piece in hand, he drew a line through the sand, dividing the pieces into two groups. “As you all know the current situation, I have come here for two crucial matters. First, we will send envoys to negotiate peace with Khan Harsji of the Northern Herdsmen.”

Before Yu Chi Lan could elaborate on the second matter, Geng Bohan, his voice booming through the tent, interjected, “Your Highness, if you order us to fight, we’ll obey without question, striking wherever you command. But asking us to negotiate with those treacherous Northern Herdsmen? That’s utterly absurd!”

Yu Chi Lan glanced at Geng Bohan, his hand pausing mid-motion. He let out a soft hum. “I haven’t finished speaking. I understand that you Yanbei generals are men of iron will, too proud to lower yourselves to such negotiations. Therefore, I will personally negotiate with Harsji. If it succeeds, all the better. If not… that brings me to my second matter: turning these fierce wildcats of the grasslands into docile housecats.”

“If we’re going to keep fighting, I have no objections,” Geng Bohan persisted, his expression unchanged. “But Your Highness personally negotiating? Those treacherous bastards will surely try to deceive you. If you ask me, we should just attack!” He finished with a heavy sigh toward Qi Man.

The surrounding generals remained silent, each either bowing their heads or exchanging wordless glances. None dared to meet Yu Chi Lan’s gaze, their silence a clear expression of their opposition.

“Your Highness,” Qi Wenyu said calmly, his words measured and precise, unlike Geng Bohan’s impassioned outburst. “I believe pursuing peace talks is unwise. We’ve been fighting the Northern Herdsmen in Yanbei for half a year now, and we know their treacherous nature all too well. These slippery scoundrels are sure to try something underhanded.”

Yu Chi Lan understood Qi Wenyu’s unspoken warning perfectly: they were all telling him that peace talks were doomed to fail and might even cost him his life. His eyes darkened as he pondered this. “I understand your concerns,” he murmured, “but peace talks are a matter of honor for the Rin Kingdom. Since I’m leading this mission, I must approach it with sincerity. I’m not foolish enough to gamble with my life. Look at the plains northeast of here. I believe holding the talks there would prevent either side from gaining an advantage.”

Standing beside Yu Chi Lan, Guan Qigui held a folded fan against her crimson lips, completely indifferent to the peace talks. In her view, they were likely just a formality. Studying the complex terrain of the sand table, she noted that the ravines in the northwest sector could prove useful.

Qi Man, who had remained silent until now, calmly said, “Your Highness Prince Lan, there’s no need to trouble yourself. They are merely crude warriors, ignorant of proper etiquette and decorum. Since this peace negotiation is a matter of our nation’s customs, we will do our utmost to ensure Your Highness’s safety.”

Yu Chi Lan smiled. “General Qi truly lives up to his reputation as Yanbei’s foremost commander. Now that the first matter is settled, let’s consider the second. I trust you generals are far more familiar with Yanbei’s terrain than I am. I will rely heavily on your counsel for military strategy.”

“Of course,” Qi Man, Qi Wenyu, and Geng Bohan replied in unison.

A moment of silence fell as everyone pondered military tactics. Guan Qigui broke the silence, pointing to the ravines on the sand table. “These northwestern ravines would make excellent ambush sites.”

Qi Man glanced at Guan Qigui with admiration. “Indeed, if used properly, the northwestern ravines could serve as ideal ambush locations. Your Highness Prince Lan has brought an excellent strategist. However, if you can think of it, the Northern Herdsmen will surely have considered it as well.”

Yu Chi Lan’s lips curved into a smile. “Allow me to introduce my retinue member…”

Before Yu Chi Lan could cause any trouble, Guan Qigui quickly interjected, “I am Qi Gui. General Qi, your praise is undeserved.”

Yu Chi Lan cast a deep glance at Guan Qigui but didn’t expose her. In his eyes, she was already his, and he could tolerate such minor deceptions.

On the day of the peace talks, Halsji and Yu Chi Lan sat at a hastily prepared square table, their respective armies arrayed on either side. The two leaders were the only ones present for the negotiations.

Guan Qigui stood at the front of the Yanbei formation, unable to hear the conversation. However, Halsji’s reaction—slamming his fist on the table—made it clear: the talks had collapsed, as expected.

The instant Halsji struck the table, the Northern Herdsmen soldiers behind him raised their arrows, ready to fire. The Yanbei soldiers swiftly raised their shields and shifted into defensive formations.

“The Yanbei troops have been fighting the Northern Herdsmen for half a year,” Guan Qigui remarked to General Qi Man beside her. “Their reaction time and speed are truly commendable.”

“Qi Gui, where do you think we should bury the trenches in this northwestern ravine?” Qi Man asked calmly. He understood Halsji well; any rash action here would benefit neither side. The khan wouldn’t engage in a losing venture.

As the two armies stood poised for battle, Halsjilang burst into laughter. “Hahaha! Prince Lan, you truly have courage! I accept your sincerity, but the battlefield knows no mercy. Next time we meet, I’ll show you my sincerity!” With that, Halsjilang mounted his horse, waved his hand, and the Northern Herdsmen withdrew their arrows, vanishing into the desert along with his laughter.

“My humble opinion is merely the perspective of a junior officer,” Guan Qigui said slowly, her voice calm. “But seeing General Qi’s expression, I believe it’s worth considering. Ambushing the enemy would be a risky move they could easily counter. Instead, why not use their advance into the mountains against them? Let them think they’ve sprung our ambush, then retreat to the mountain pass. When they pursue, scatter beans to startle their horses, making them realize they’ve fallen into our trap. The Wild Goose North Army can then strike from the east…”

Guan Qigui’s plan was sound, but she had overlooked one crucial detail.

Qi Man nodded. “As expected of Prince Lan’s retainer. I only considered an ambush, but your counter-strategy is brilliant. This plan is viable.”

Yu Chi Lan approached, a sardonic smile playing on his lips. “Halsjilang has truly lost his mind, daring to propose marriage to Princess Lianchen!”

The mention of Princess Lianchen’s marriage sent alarm bells ringing in Guan Qigui’s mind. Her breath caught for a moment, and a bone-chilling cold seemed to engulf her, as if she had plunged into an icy abyss. For that fleeting instant, she felt an overwhelming urge to flee. But just as quickly, she regained her composure, leaving only the bl00d-stained fingertip as evidence of her momentary panic.

In that fleeting moment, no one noticed anything amiss. Qi Man merely felt a vague discomfort, dismissing it as a minor ailment. “Rumor has it,” he said, “that the Third Princess possesses delicate eyebrows and pearly teeth, her beauty radiant day and night. It’s truly lamentable that she suffers from chronic eye disease. Though she has remained confined to Changyang Palace for years, never venturing beyond its walls, this matter concerns the dignity of the imperial family. Halsji must have completely lost his mind.”

“General Qi speaks with clarity,” Yu Chi Lan replied, his eyes sharp as blades. “Changyang Palace has always been a place of lush growth and enduring power. Whether under past rulers or the current regent, it remains far beyond Halsji’s reach.” His voice hardened. “These Northern Herdsmen grow more brazen by the day!”

“Your Highness,” Guan Qigui interjected, her lips curving into a smile, her eyes serious, “General Qi has already devised a brilliant strategy to crush the Northern Herdsmen.”

Qi Man glanced at Guan Qigui, his expression puzzled. Yu Chi Lan turned to Qi Man, his own confusion evident. Despite his bewilderment, Qi Man had no choice but to claim credit. “Your Highness,” he began, “this ingenious plan involves…” He proceeded to outline the strategy in detail.

“Excellent!” Yu Chi Lan exclaimed, clapping Qi Man on the shoulder. “There’s no time to waste. Let’s strike while Halsji’s arrogance is at its peak, catching him completely off guard. General Qi, proceed with the plan. This prince will provide full support!”

Yu Chi Lan was unusually excited that night, perhaps because he sensed the dawn of victory against the Northern Herdsmen. Despite the critical situation, he resolutely entered Guan Qigui’s tent.

Guan Qigui gazed at Yu Chi Lan, suppressing the venom in her heart as she said, “Your Highness, it’s late. You’ll need your strength to command the troops in the battle against the Northern Herdsmen in a few days.”

Yu Chi Lan moved closer, reaching out to lift her chin. His eyes curved upward as he said, “Precisely for that reason, shouldn’t this prince cherish this precious night even more?”

With a swift wave of her hand, Yu Chi Lan collapsed to the ground.

On the day of the battle, Yu Chi Lan, following Guan Qigui’s instructions, charged to the vanguard and shouted across the battlefield, “Halsji, have you considered accepting this prince’s terms? If you agree to pay annual tribute of a thousand bolts of cashmere, a thousand warhorses, ten thousand taels of silver, a hundred taels of gold, and other special products, I, representing the Rin Kingdom, promise not to exterminate your people. We will even gift the Northern Herdsmen a thousand bolts of silk brocade each year!”

Halsji, standing not far away, scoffed at the offer. Every word Yu Chi Lan spoke was an insult to the grasslands and a contemptuous slight to the Northern Herdsmen. Raising his silver-white hand blade, he roared back, “Bullshit! Kill them all!”

As Halsji’s words rang out, the Northern Shepherd Army behind him spurred their warhorses forward, raising their blades in a charge. The Wild Goose North Army retreated according to their plan. Yu Chi Lan pulled on the reins to turn his Ferghana horse, but the moment he did, the horse stumbled violently forward, kicking up a cloud of dust and dirt. He was thrown sideways from the saddle. Despite being a prince, Yu Chi Lan had received systematic martial arts training. He used a burst of concentrated force to regain his footing, but as soon as he landed, he clutched his chest and groaned. A sharp whoosh followed by another muffled groan revealed an arrow piercing his shoulder. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to rise.

The soldiers, focused on executing their plan, had no time to spare for their fallen comrade. This was a rare and perfect opportunity—how could they abandon it for a single man? Besides, in the chaos and clamor of battle, who would even notice this isolated incident?

Casualties were inevitable. Qi Man sighed deeply, closing his eyes and muttering, “May the soldiers of the Rin Kingdom find peace and return home.”

The Northern Shepherd Army continued their pursuit. Halsji, seated on his horse, looked down at Yu Chi Lan and sneered, “Someone like you dares to call himself royalty? The fate of your Rin Kingdom is sealed! Truly, the heavens favor my Great Ge Shepherd Tribe!”

As the pursuing Northern Shepherd Army rode their Ferghana horses over the beans scattered by the Wild Goose North Army, the horses panicked and reared up in chaos.

“Ambush! Retreat!”

Halsji, overjoyed with his effortless capture of the prisoners of war, heard the news from the front lines and his expression darkened. He immediately led the men back, shouting, “Retreat!”

This fell precisely into the trap laid by Qi Man and Guan Qigui. Though they couldn’t crush the Gomu Clan in one blow, they had still managed to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy forces. It was now only a matter of time before the Gomu Clan conquered the Northern Herdsmen.

The Gomu Clan’s morale plummeted after the battle. Their warriors hung their heads in dejection, some even with reddened eyes, desperately suppressing tears and stifled sobs of resentment.

Halsji, their leader, sat cross-legged at the head of the tent, his displeasure evident on his face. The Gomu warriors were like brothers, and the loss of sixty of their comrades was a bitter pill to swallow. Halsji slammed his fist on the table, roaring, “These jackals only know how to tear at our flesh and bones! If not for capturing that damned prince, would we have let them run rampant like this?”

“Your Highness,” Mengxiba Ha declared, his voice burning with righteous fury, “let his bl00d be a sacrifice to the souls of our fallen kin!”

The tribesmen in the tent roared their approval, their voices rising in a clamorous chorus.

If it were any other prisoner of war, it wouldn’t matter. But this was Yu Chi Lan. To the Gomu Clan, he was a crucial piece in their victory strategy, and they couldn’t afford to let emotions cloud their judgment. After the crowd’s anger had subsided, Halsji spoke calmly, “My thoughts align with yours, but we must not be shortsighted. Yu Chi Lan is not only a citizen of Rin but also a member of their Imperial Family. He is our golden bargaining chip in negotiations with Rin! How could we simply sacrifice him to appease our families? Exchanging him for a decade or two of peace and prosperity for our people would be far more valuable!”

Mengxiba Ha calmed down and considered the matter carefully. He nodded in agreement.

Halsji’s words sparked a glimmer of hope among the Gomu Clan warriors, rekindling their fighting spirit.

“Indeed!”

A clear voice rang out from outside the tent: “A letter from the enemy!”

Halsji gestured for Mengxiba Ha to bring the letter forward. After a quick glance, Halsji burst into laughter. “The jackals are in disarray! Our bargaining chip is secured!”

The Gomu Clan warriors felt as if they had swallowed a calming pill, their hearts settling into a state of composure.

Before a cup of tea could be brewed, a ten-year-old boy rushed into the tent, his face pale with panic. Gasping for breath, he cried out urgently, “Your Majesty! The prisoner… he… he…”

Mengxiba Ha, ever impatient, cut in before Halsji could speak. “What happened to him? Wumuge, speak plainly!”

Under the stern gazes of the crowd, Wumuge took a deep breath and announced, “He died suddenly!”