Chapter 161 A Win-Win Strategy

Song Lingyi was upset. She smoothed her wind-blown hair and tried to remain calm, "What about going to Danyang County for help?"

Huaizhou City was different from Danyang County. Most of the city's officers and soldiers had never fought against pirates, and if they were to encounter a surprise attack, they would likely have no countermeasures. Danyang County, on the other hand, had a strong coastal defense force and ample combat experience. The two cities were only a hundred miles apart, a mere two or three days' journey, so seeking help from Danyang County was the perfect opportunity.

"Danyang County has always been the first barrier for pirates to attack. The military equipment in the city cannot be easily mobilized. What's more, I am just a captain and I don't have the order from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. It is not realistic to mobilize the troops in Danyang County." Du Xuan said.

“…”

Song Lingyi finally understood.

She was now facing a difficult problem that was even more difficult than the last big question on the math test.

Knowing that the pirates were lurking in the dark, she could do nothing but wait for the pirates to attack.

The heavy rain made the window frames in the hall crackle. Song Lingyi's mind raced as she looked up at Du Xuan.

"I wonder if the Duke of Jin's handwritten letter will be of any use?"

She almost forgot that before leaving, her uncle wrote her a handwritten letter, telling her that no matter what problems she encountered, she could use the letter to seek help from local officials. However, since Xiao Mingyi had given her a heads-up beforehand, the letter hadn't been used yet.

"I'm afraid the Duke of Jin's letter cannot be used to mobilize troops." Du Xuan frowned.

"It's not about mobilizing troops, it's about looking for people."

The candlelight in the hall was dim, but Song Lingyi's dark eyes shone brightly. "The Song residence has guards sent by my uncle and the crown prince. The pirates won't be able to break in any time. Brother Du is very agile, so he shouldn't be discovered by the pirates if he leaves the city alone."

"When you get to Danyang County, tell them I'm missing and have the governor dispatch people to look for me. As long as they find something amiss in the city, there's no reason for Danyang County to sit idly by."

This is a win-win solution.

If the pirates really invaded Huaizhou City, the Danyang County Governor would certainly dispatch troops to help; if there was no invasion, the Danyang County Governor would find the pirates and return on his own. This would not be considered false reporting of military intelligence, nor would it delay Danyang County's coastal defense.

Du Xuan frowned, pondered for a moment, and then agreed without hesitation: "Okay, I'll leave the city tonight. Pirates are good at surprise attacks. If the news is true, there's no telling when they'll break into the city. Please stay at home for the time being. Have the guards stay in the courtyard."

Song Lingyi nodded: "Be careful when leaving the city tonight."

The rain outside had stopped. After the discussion, Song Lingyi returned to the main house to get the letter.

The floor of the backyard corridor is old and makes a creaking sound when you step on it.

Even though Song Lingyi walked very lightly, she still woke up the maids who were sleeping lightly in the room.

Hongju came out wearing an outer coat and holding an oil lamp, looking sleepy. Seeing her daughter walking towards the front yard, she followed her.

Rain was still dripping from the eaves, the bluestone slabs in the yard were wet, the crabapple tree had experienced wind and rain, its leaves drooped lily, and the potted green ivy by the pond was swaying slightly in the wind.

The surroundings are quiet and the cool night air is refreshing.

Hongju stood behind the porch pillar and saw her daughter handing a letter to Brother Du. In the faint moonlight, she could see the tense expressions of the two men, as if something big had happened.

"I have asked the second brother to call back the brothers from the inn. The wall of the Song residence is not high, and we must use open flames to illuminate every corner at night to prevent thieves from climbing over the wall and causing trouble..." Du Xuan instructed in a deep voice and put the letter into his pocket.

"Be careful on your journey." Song Lingyi watched Du Xuan leave.

Horses and dry food were ready outside the gate. He jumped on the horse swiftly, lowered his head and said a few words to the strong man leading the horse, then galloped towards the city gate.

The strong man leading the horse was the second one Du Xuan mentioned. His real name was Lu Bao. He was a bald, dark-skinned man with a round face, big ears, a straight nose and a square mouth. When Song Lingyi looked at him, she always thought of Lu Zhishen who uprooted the weeping willow in Water Margin.

Lu Bao stepped over the threshold, closed the door with his backhand, and looked solemn.

"Miss Song, the captain just told me that you have to postpone your worship of your parents. It's best not to go out for the next few days. I'll have the brothers take turns guarding the courtyard and be extra vigilant about the gates. Tomorrow morning, we'll go to the market to buy some food for storage."

"Thank you, Brother Lu." Song Lingyi nodded, feeling particularly heavy-hearted.

She had thought that returning to Huaizhou City would help her avoid many troubles, but her unlucky constitution kept showing up. First, she was imprisoned by Lu Qian, then her left foot was dislocated, and tonight was even more bizarre: even the pirates were thinking about her.

The moon was at its zenith, but she felt no sleepiness at all.

The guards were armed and scattered around the courtyard in a serious formation. Hongqiu, who was standing behind the pillar, was startled and walked out quickly.

"Girl, what happened?"

Song Lingyi turned around and saw Hongju coming with a lantern, and her brows furrowed.

Anyway, she would have to tell the people in the mansion about the pirate attack sooner or later. She didn't intend to hide it, but the courtyard was not a place for conversation. She took Hongju into the hall and told her in detail what happened tonight.

"Pirates?!"

Hongqiu covered her lips and screamed, her eyes full of fear.

She had heard about the pirate incidents along the coast since she was a child. A few years ago, the pirates occupied Danyang County and massacred the people in the city. Even though the court sent troops to recapture Danyang County, the city was already littered with bones and only one in ten people survived.

"Miss, if that Sima is really a pirate, Huaizhou City will probably be doomed."

Song Lingyi's heart was in turmoil, but her face remained calm.

"Don't worry, it's not certain yet. Even if the pirates want to invade Huaizhou City, I have asked Brother Du to go to Danyang County to seek help from local officials. We can guard the yard and hold out until reinforcements arrive. Maybe we can survive this disaster."

Hongju was extremely confused. No wonder she couldn't sleep well at night. It was definitely a sign of bad things to come.

The master and servant were in low spirits and remained silent for a long time. The hall was silent.

"Miss, has the young master really come to Huaizhou City?" Hongju suddenly spoke.

In fact, she should have noticed it earlier. Her daughter disappeared at the post station, and after returning, she was very secretive about the person who kidnapped her. Moreover, the Crown Prince's men clearly knew the truth, but refused to reveal it at all. This was enough to show that the person's identity was not simple.

If you think about it carefully, the young master's attitude towards the girl is indeed different.

For example, on the day of the old lady's birthday banquet, she saw the young master wearing a tourmaline jade pendant. Whether it was the workmanship, material, or the inlaid jade, it was exactly the same as the tourmaline bracelet given to the girl.

Seeing her daughter lowering her head and saying nothing, Hong Qi hesitated and said, "The young master is usually a bit unreliable, but he's not a bad person. He's the only son in the Duke's Mansion, and everyone in the mansion spoils him..."

Song Lingyi sighed, "Because the elders spoiled him too much, he developed a personality that demands whatever he wants, and if he can't get it, he will do whatever it takes to get it."