After the two discussed some details, Shangguan Wanning and Huo Gang left the Turkic camp together.

Seeing that blood was still oozing from Shangguan Wanning's wrist, Huo Gang took out some medicine and gauze from his bag and bandaged her wrist.

"Miss, I didn't realize you were so brave. It's just that you didn't hit me accurately. The wound is so deep that I'm afraid it will leave a scar."

"Leave a scar?"

Shangguan Wan Ning was horrified when she heard this. "It seems that after things here are settled, I will have no choice but to go to Medicine King Valley. Fortunately, my master is here, and he will definitely not let me get a scar."

"That's enough." Huo Gang put away the medicine and gauze and reminded, "Don't touch water for the next few days."

Shangguan Wanning nodded thoughtfully.

"Miss, there is something...I don't quite understand."

Shangguan Wanning raised her head and looked at Huo Gang, smiling, "Brother Huo, you and I are friends for life and death. If you have any questions, just tell me."

"How do you know that the Turkic princess will agree to your conditions? It seems... it won't do her much good."

Shangguan Wanning found a big rock to sit on, supporting her chin with one hand. The breeze lifted her long hair, making her heart become very calm.

"Brother Huo, you should remember that the first time you saw her, she was trying to assassinate the prefect Liu Xian. Have you ever thought about why she did that?"

Huo Gang was stunned, as if... he really hadn't thought about it.

"If you can openly attack the southeastern prefecture, why take such a big risk to sneak into the Central Plains to assassinate the prefect? ​​I always feel that this reason unknown to outsiders is very important to this war."

"The Turks have always been good at fighting, but this time the one leading the army is a princess. She has kept her troops inactive these days, and there must be a reason for her. I always feel that she doesn't really want to fight this battle."

Huo Gang thought about it carefully and said, "That makes sense. I see that their camp is strong and well-equipped. If we really fight, even if we attack head-on, we won't gain any advantage."

"So, the best way is for us to pretend to be defeated and return to the city. I think it won't be long before the imperial court sends troops. By then, Liu Xian won't be able to do whatever he wants."

Huo Gang smiled heartily and took Shangguan Wanning back to his camp.

After listening to Shangguan Wanning's overall plan, Jin Ruhong remained silent.

As a military general, asking him to feign defeat and flee is a cowardly act.

He took a few sips of wine.

"Commander Jin, I know this will be unfair to you. But you have seen the current situation. You can't bear to see so many brothers sacrificed here in vain, right?"

Huo Gang felt that Shangguan Wanning was extremely smart and she knew how to grasp people's hearts when talking to them.

She did not persuade Jin Ruhong directly, but appealed to his emotions by using the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers.

Sure enough, Jin Ruhong just sighed deeply in the end.

"I trust the princess, so let's do this."

Two days later, the two sides officially engaged in battle. According to the agreement between Shangguan Wanning and Ge Shuyan, the troops of both sides only fought a symbolic battle, and Jin Ruhong ordered a retreat back to the city.

Before the war started, they had no reason to go back; now that they have been defeated, they can go back with a clear conscience.

A large number of forty to fifty thousand troops arrived at the city gate of Southeast Province.

Upon seeing this, the general defending the city immediately reported it to Liu Xian.

Liu Xian came out of the city in person. It was originally thought that he would comfort the wounded soldiers, but the result was unexpected.

"Someone, arrest Jin Ruhong."

At Liu Xian's command, four big men jumped forward and pulled Jin Ruhong off the horse.

"What crime have I committed? Why are you arresting me?" Jin Ruhong struggled a few times but couldn't break free from the grip. He could only glare at Liu Xian angrily.

Liu Xian snorted heavily and scolded: "Jin Ruhong, you are afraid of death and dare not fight, delaying military operations. Each and every one of you is a capital crime."

"You are talking nonsense. I have tried my best. There are always victories and defeats in battles. How can you sentence me to death just because of one battle?"

"Don't you deserve to die? You still have more than 40,000 troops, but you brought them back. If you're not afraid of death, what else can you do but desert the battlefield?" Liu Xian said coldly, "Take him away, lock him up, and behead him in three days as a warning to everyone."

Shangguan Wanning was hiding in the distance. She didn't expect this result. When she was about to step forward to argue, she was grabbed by Huo Gang.

"You can't save Lieutenant General Jin if you go now. We still have three days. Let's think of a way. Maybe the imperial court will have troops arriving within three days."

Shangguan Wanning felt very helpless and could only watch Jin Ruhong being taken away.

Three days passed in a flash, and there was no movement from the court troops. Shangguan Wanning was so anxious that she was like an ant on a hot pan.

It was almost noon and Jin Ruhong would really be beheaded in public.

"Miss." Huo Gang knocked on the door and came in, holding food in his hands, "Eat something. You've been restless these days and haven't had a good meal."

Shangguan Wanning felt a wave of sadness in her heart.

"Okay, Brother Huo, come eat with me."

"Um."

Huo Gang put the food on the table and went to get the bowls and chopsticks. Shangguan Wanning looked at his back and secretly pinched a silver needle between her fingers.

She approached silently, raised her hand and was about to stab Huo Gang on the back of the neck.

Huo Gang dodged to the side and Shangguan Wanning's attack missed.

"Brother Huo?"

"Miss, are you planning to stab me unconscious with a needle and then go to the execution ground yourself?"

"I promised Lieutenant General Jin that I would save his life no matter what. Now, I have broken my promise. If I cannot... I will have no choice but to die as an apology. However, this matter has nothing to do with you."

Huo Gang smiled calmly. "Miss, I came here to protect you. How can you say that your life and death have nothing to do with me?"

Shangguan Wanning lowered her eyelids, not knowing what to say.

Huo Gang handed the chopsticks to Shangguan Wan Ning and said with a smile: "Come, eat your fill, and I will accompany you to the execution ground. No matter what, I will not let you die before me."

Shangguan Wanning looked at Huo Gang's determined eyes, took the chopsticks and said, "Brother Huo, if I survive this disaster, I will definitely repay you."

Huo Gang just smiled and didn't answer.

Initially, he protected Shangguan Wanning out of gratitude, but now, he saw the national integrity in this girl.

She deserves his protection.

The two men finished the meal while chatting and laughing, paid the bills at the inn, and rushed to the execution ground.

The onlookers surrounded the execution ground in three layers. Liu Xian personally supervised the execution. When he saw that the time was up, he picked up the warrant and threw it down.

"Time's up, kill!"

Just as he finished speaking, a flying knife came over and cut the order sign into two pieces.

"Can't be killed."