Returning to the palace, Xu Haifeng and Jiang Kongming couldn't help but smile wryly at each other as they talked about Auben.

  This time the ambush mobilized almost all of Xu Haifeng's strength, except for the Yīnèi Tuán who couldn't expose themselves without being fully prepared, even Zhē Bié and the Andrew brothers participated, but in the end they still couldn't capture the person.

  Facing such a powerful figure, even Zhuge Liang, who was as wise as the sea, found himself somewhat at a loss.

  Xu Haifeng sighed helplessly and said, "Let's not mention him for now. Anyway, this time he was seriously injured, so at least for the next few months, we don't have to worry about him. Military Advisor, how did your negotiations with Hami go?"

  Jiang Kung-ming did not conceal it either and told the whole story of his meeting with Hami Tie from start to finish.

  Xu Haifeng's face slightly changed color, looking hesitant, but after a long silence, he finally said: "Military strategist, I'm afraid this matter is not suitable."

  "I don't know what the student has missed. Please enlighten me, sir." Jiang Gongming looked at Xu Haifeng in surprise, this was the first time someone had raised an opposing opinion to his own plan.

  Xu Haifeng's expression was solemn, and he said slowly: "If Xu certain person did this, wouldn't it be equivalent to becoming a traitor who betrays the country? What face would I have left to see my ancestors?"

  Jiang Kongming smiled and said, "Ten days ago, news came from the capital that the Emperor had already established the fifth prince as the Eastern Palace Crown Prince. Master, what do you think? You snatched away his beloved, when he ascends to the throne in the future, will he just laugh it off?"

  Xu Haifeng immediately vetoed: "Liu Zhengqi's feelings for Rou'er are very deep, and he also hates me to the bone, so it is impossible to give up at this point."

  "Not bad, so is Lord Liu still going to sacrifice his life for the Liu family?" Jiang Gongming asked with a smile.

  Shaking his head, Xu Haifeng's face had an unspoken determination. He said: "Military advisor, your words are wrong. These two things can't be mixed together. Let alone Liu Zhengqi is not yet the emperor and doesn't have the ability to eliminate my Black Flag Army. Even if he ascends to the throne in the future, will my Black Flag Army just wait for death? Moreover, I, Xu Haifeng, am confident that within ten years, I will definitely enter the realm of the Sect Master. At that time, if he wants to deal with me, humph, I'm afraid he'll still have to weigh his options carefully."

  His words were utterly treasonous and showed no regard for the imperial family.

  If his voice was heard from afar, it would be impossible to associate him with the timid Xu Haifeng who had just arrived in Lin'an more than a year ago.

  Jiang Kongming blinked twice and asked: "Since you don't want to serve the Liu family, why stop him?"

  Xu Haifeng looked at him and said slowly but heavily: "Military strategist, I am a Han Chinese."

  This sentence reveals Xu Haifeng's mind at this time, he has always been a great Han man, and the blood flowing in his body is the long-lasting, strong and unyielding blood of the Han nation.

  No matter what reason, no matter what excuse, he cannot betray his own country.

  Cheng Jia can be a traitor, but Xu Haifeng absolutely cannot.

  "Well said!"

  A hoarse voice suddenly came from outside the door.

  Their faces changed color at the same time.

  What they are discussing is so confidential that if even a hint of it leaks out, it will be like being a street rat, and the consequences are not something anyone can afford.

  Xu Haifeng was even more shocked, for his current spiritual awareness had not felt anyone approaching at all, which was truly an unthinkable thing. Even if it were Auben Zongshi, once he arrived in Wulong City, Xu Haifeng would immediately sense it. Could it be that there was actually something stronger than the Master in this world?

  He moved his body and jumped out of the door, raised his eyes and looked around, and suddenly let out a sigh of relief.

  An old Taoist with a youthful face and white hair was smiling at him, his slender eyes showing kindness.

  "Really, how did you come?" Xu Haifeng stepped forward and said respectfully.

  Only the spiritual awareness that can deceive Xu Haifeng, quietly and silently evading the eyes and ears of the Black Flag Army soldiers, in the world, only this one who has stepped into the realm of the sect master for over a decade, the number one high-ranking person in the world, Taizhen, has such magical powers.

  Taiyi Zhenren stretched out his big hand and patted him on the shoulder, saying: "Good boy, the old Taoist has not misjudged you after all."

  Xu Haifeng was slightly stunned, then immediately understood his meaning, and bowed his head saying: "The junior is ashamed."

  At this time, Jiang Kongming walked out of the gate with a slow pace. He had some self-awareness and knew that if even Xu Haifeng couldn't take down this person, then he would only be a burden by coming out.

  He didn't rush out, but waited until the two outside recognized each other, then guessed his identity and came out to pay respects: "Student Jiang Kongming has seen Taiyi Zhenren."

  "Jiang Jun's reputation is really big, Lao Dao has long admired his great name." Taiyi Zhenren said with a smile.

  It seems that no matter who he treats, he is always with a kind expression. However, Xu Haifeng felt that the old man had a subtle and imperceptible hostility towards Jiang Kongming.

  "You're overpraising me, my master was fortunate to have your guidance and pass on the divine art. As a student, I feel deeply grateful and can't repay you enough. The only way is to fulfill that unfulfilled wish for you in the future." Jiang Gongming smiled and said.

  Taiyi Zhenren's smile faded away, and he stared at him in astonishment. After a long while, he finally asked: "Do you know what my heart's desire is?"

  Jiang Kongming revealed a hint of a pleased smile and said, "Forty years ago, you made a name for yourself in one battle and established your grand ambition. How could your students not know?"

  Taiyi Zhenren looked at him seriously and sighed: "Forty years... it's been forty years in the blink of an eye. The old Taoist has still achieved nothing, I'm the one who should be truly ashamed."

  Xu Haifeng listened in confusion and interjected, "Sir, what is your heart's desire? Please tell me."

  Taiyi Zhenren pointed at Jiang Gongming with one hand, and the latter understood intuitively, smiling: "Your Excellency, the true man's wish is to... annihilate the Xiongnu."

  Xu Haifeng took a deep breath, counting on his fingers, and realized that the old man was already over a hundred years old. This wish might be impossible to fulfill in this lifetime.

  The Xiongnu is the world's number one military power, and even with the Han Dynasty's overwhelming national strength, it may not be able to win stably. What's more, the current Han Dynasty is plagued by internal troubles and external threats, and it is already a great achievement to barely maintain its own safety, let alone talk about annihilating the Xiongnu.

  Taiyi Zhenren nodded at Xu Haifeng and said, "The old Taoist sat in meditation for a day and discovered that Cheng Xuanfeng left the capital. The direction he went was to follow the Black Flag Army. The old Taoist was curious and followed him until he came with you all to Lin'an... Wulong City. Unexpectedly, today I actually heard about the meeting between Jiang Junshi and Hami Qi, which really shocked the old Taoist."

  Xu Haifeng looked at him with gratitude, this old man was not curious, but worried that Cheng Xuanfeng would be unfavorable to him, so he came privately and prepared to rescue him at any time.

  He respectfully bowed to the old Taoist and said, "I'm sorry to have troubled you with such a long journey, I feel guilty about it."

  Taiyi Zhenren shook his head, and then restored a degree of smile on his face, saying: "Fortunately, you kid still have some conscience, which makes me quite pleased. It wasn't a wasted trip after all."

  Xu Haifeng said in a loud voice: "The junior's recent actions were all just doing his duty, and there is nothing to be proud of."

  "Hahaha..." Jiang Gongming burst out laughing, revealing a tone of admiration, saying: "The master's passionate words, how could his student not know?"

  "General, since you knew, why did you still make that two-year agreement with Hami?" Xu Haifeng looked at his face, seemingly trying to discern whether what he said was true.

  Jiang Kongming's eyes revealed a hint of mockery as he said, "As for luring the snake out of its hole, the snake I've lured isn't just one."

  Xu Haifeng was taken aback and asked: "I don't understand, please enlighten me, General."

  Jiang Gongming did not answer directly, but instead asked in return: "Since the students arrived here, they have been familiar with historical books. Please ask your lord, since the founding of the Great Han Dynasty, there has been a great hidden danger, who is it?"

  "The Xiongnu people." Xu Haifeng's eyes narrowed, his voice low and serious.

  Jiang Kongming raised an eyebrow and said, "That's right, they are indeed Xiongnu people. They have lived on the grasslands for generations, coming and going like the wind. Once their power grows strong, they will surely launch a military invasion of our borders. The Great Han has heavily fortified its northern borders, but to little effect. For hundreds of years, they have repeatedly invaded the Central Plains, with the most recent major incursion being the Six Prefectures War forty years ago."

  Xu Haifeng nodded in agreement with his master's words.

  Speaking of the dispute over the six counties, Xu Haifeng is not unfamiliar. It was in that year when the Great Han Empire was most sorrowful, all the direct male descendants of Fang's family were killed in battle, leaving only Fang Lingtian's aunt to preside over the situation.

  This matter has been mentioned by Ying many times before, how could he not know?

  Taiyi Zhenren sighed and said, "Indeed, forty years ago, I was seventy-one years old. Before that, I had been cultivating alone and had never competed with anyone for strength or bravery. However, the invasion of the Xiongnu people made me break my vow."

  Jiang Kongming sneered, "Break the rules? You should have broken them long ago. When dealing with these wolves of the grasslands, there's no room for reason. The only thing that works is using even greater military force to speak."

  He glanced at Xu Haifeng and continued: "That time, the Xiongnu suddenly gathered a large army and attacked the six northern counties of the Great Han, taking away countless money, grain, and people. The direction of their attack was precisely the capital of the Great Han. Fortunately, at that time, several big families put aside their differences and joined hands to resist the enemy. After a year, they finally recaptured the six northern counties. But did anyone know how much the Great Han lost in that one year?"

  Xu Haifeng did not experience this matter after all, and most of the information he received also came from Fang Yingying.

  All that is known is that after a year of bitter fighting, under the leadership of the previous emperor, the Han court finally achieved its final victory and drove the Xiongnu back to the grasslands. As for specific military achievements, due to the passage of time, in most cases they are no longer known.

  Seeing Xu Haifeng's slightly dazed eyes, the Taizhen True Person sighed: "The old Tao has gone through the changes of six counties, let the old Tao say it."