Success

"Guo Jing, why won't you go back?"

Bo'er Shu rushed forward and angrily grabbed Guo Jing by the collar.

With his mouth agape, he loudly questioned.

"Guo Jing, you've seen all the beautiful landscapes of the South, and you don't want to go back to the desert to suffer from sandstorms, do you?"

"Bo'er Shu, release Guo Jing."

Jebe and Töregene rushed forward and grabbed Bo'er Shu's strong forearm to try to pull him away.

Guo Jing replied, "He is definitely not that kind of person!"

Huazheng was also defending Guo Jing.

"Bo'er Shu, in your heart, am I really that kind of person?"

Guo Jing asked with a stern face.

Bo'er Shu kept his mouth tightly shut and gritted his teeth, the muscles on his face bulging.

He and Guo Jing had a deep friendship, but he was neither as naive as Huazheng nor as truly benevolent as Guo Jing.

He was a general under Temüjin, and he was an adult who understood the stakes.

He shouldn't have doubted Guo Jing's benevolence and righteousness, but he still did.

The more he doubted, the more frightened Guo Jing became. Brother Ji was absolutely right. For the sake of power and profit, no feelings could be mentioned. No matter how honest a person was, they would become twisted, ruthless, and turn into a demon.

Guo Jing lived on the grassland for eighteen years. These people watched him grow up and had a deep friendship with him. Who didn't know him well?

Even Bo'er Shu, still doubted himself. What about the others?

Power is truly terrifying. If someone else were to become emperor in the future, how many misunderstandings would such suspicions cause?

Mongols are known for their straightforwardness, and given the differences in their cultural customs, how many conflicts are bound to arise?

The waters here are too deep. Others can't grasp this throne, and I don't know if I can either, but I'm willing to give it a try!

Guo Jing became even more determined.

His calm expression betrayed no hint of lying, a far cry from the Guo Jing of the past who would stammer and be easily spotted when lying.

"I am staying here for the sake of the Great Khan's great cause."

Guo Jing recounted the lies that Ji Boying and Huang Rong had taught him and that he had practiced hundreds of times.

"You also know that there are some river bandits and mountain brigands here who have been fighting against the Song Dynasty, right? You only escaped danger because of this opportunity, didn't you?"

Tolui and the others nodded, not understanding what Guo Jing wanted to say.

"My seven masters were originally from this area and had connections with the leaders of these river bandits and mountain brigands. I am highly trusted among them. So I plan to join them and lead them to fight against the Song people. Wouldn't this be very beneficial to the Great Khan's cause?"

Tolui didn't understand yet, but Bo'er Shu understood. His anger and malice vanished, replaced by a simple, honest smile.

Bo'er Shu grinned, revealing yellowed teeth with white edges from gnawing on bones, and patted Guo Jing's shoulder enthusiastically.

"Good, good, Guo Jing, I, Bo'er Shu, was right about you. You are truly my friend!"

"But Guo Jing, you should come back with us. It's too early for you to be thinking about these things. We need to wipe out the Jin Dogs first before we can deal with the two-legged sheep of the Song Dynasty."

Guo Jing's expression froze, and a chill ran through him.

Fortunately, Ji Boying and Huang Rong had anticipated this and had Guo Jing practice a blank, stoic expression so that he wouldn't give himself away even if he froze.

Guo Jing also knew the seriousness of the matter.

They tried their best to remain calm and composed, never revealing any sign of their emotions.

"Bo'er Shu, you are unaware of this."

"Although the Great Khan is powerful, the Jin Kingdom is not small after all, and it is already difficult to deal with just the Jin Kingdom."

"Although the people in the south are weak and cowardly, and the common people live in great poverty, their emperor and officials are very wealthy."

"Although the high-ranking officials of the Southern people were unwilling to share their wealth and food with the people, they were very generous in helping the Jin people fight."

"You fled in such a sorry state precisely because they had already signed an alliance, weren't you?"

"Guo Jing replied, 'What exactly was the alliance they signed?'"

Tolui and Bo'er Shu immediately tensed up.

"I don't know the specifics, but some of it has already been spread. The Song people would provide the Jin people with weapons, armor, food and supplies to help Jin people fight. You were all in the Northern Desert grasslands before, so you didn't see them and didn't know how powerful their crossbows and armor were. Although their people weren't good at fighting, their weapons were all very sharp and sturdy."

Both Tolui and Bo'er Shu had grim Jebe, as if facing a formidable enemy.

As Guo Jing said, although Temüjin was a man of great talent and ambition, it was not so easy for him to conquer the Jin Kingdom.

Although they didn't stay in the south for long, the prosperity there had already broadened their horizons, and they had seen some of the Song Dynasty's official soldiers and equipment, which were indeed impressive.

Many of them in the Mongols tribes were still only wearing leather armor, and the arrows they carried were sometimes made of stone, animal bone, and animal teeth.

Although they were not afraid of any enemy, they knew that iron armor could save their lives and iron arrows could penetrate enemy armor, kill more enemies, and protect more of their own soldiers.

If the Song and Jin dynasties were to actually possess nuclear energy, it would be a disaster for Mongols.

"Don't worry, I'm staying here to sabotage this."

Guo Jing spoke with utter arrogance.

"The bandits and brigands here are also men of courage. They have a blood feud with the Jin people, have always wanted to resist them, and are also dissatisfied with the weakness of their court."

"I will join them and lead them to fight against the Song soldiers, tying down the Song's attention and stopping them from transporting all the weapons they wanted to the Jin Kingdom. The alliance between the two countries will collapse without a fight. With the Great Khan's abilities, wouldn't it be a sure thing to defeat the Jin people?"

Bo'er Shu clapped repeatedly as he listened.

"Good, good, Guo Jing's plan is brilliant. The herdsmen on the grassland will graze their livestock according to the water and grass. When they meet again, their cattle and sheep will be so fat that they will have to wash their eyes before they dare to recognize each other. Guo Jing, you have become clever. You are truly remarkable."

Guo Jing, however, said with a stern face, "I am not a smart man. When I arrived here and heard this news, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep night after night, and worried every day. I was thinking about our Mongols brothers and sisters, and about the Great Khan's great cause, and finally managed to come up with this desperate solution."

"I will stay here to stop the Song people from aiding the Jin Kingdom. When the time is right, I can use the hatred these people have for the Jin people to lure them and attack the Jin people from behind. This will be much more effective than me, a fool, going back to the grasslands to lead troops."

Both Töregene and Bo'er Shu praised Guo Jing's strategy and agreed that Guo Jing should stay.

Although Huazheng was reluctant to part with him, there was nothing she could do.