"We probably won't be able to finish it all within a year."

Dongfang Jue was shocked. How could this be!

"I can tell from Jue'er's expression that this is probably quite different from what Jue'er expected. But look at the state of the city, does it look like there's going to be a war?"

Although Dongfang Jue had some doubts, he simply nodded and listened to Su Cheng continue, since the other party was Su Cheng.

"Sect Leader Su, what do you mean?"

"It means that if you launch a direct attack, you will surely suffer a crushing defeat."

Dongfang Jue asked, puzzled, "Why?"

Su Cheng smiled but did not answer. He simply called over the waiter.

"Waiter, we are merchants who have traveled this far. The city gates are now closed. We've heard there's going to be a war. Is there any way to get out of the city? I need to take my family and escape with me!"

Seeing the waiter scrutinize the three of them, Su Cheng pretended to be worried. Dressed in a brown coarse cloth long gown, he had delicate features and looked somewhat like a merchant fiddling with an abacus.

Beside him, one of his family members was dressed in a dark floral dress and looked like his daughter, while the other was dressed in a dark blue gauze dress and looked like his concubine. In this way, they really did look like merchants who had come here.

The waiter looked at them with pride, as if he were looking at three country bumpkins: "You haven't been here long, but you must know that this place is called Yong'an City. Don't worry, just behave yourselves and don't wander around. Nothing will happen to you."

"Why is that? I've heard that the emperor sent his own daughter, the General of the North, with a large army. How can such a small town withstand such a fierce and ruthless army?"

The waiter seemed to get quite excited and chatted with Su Cheng for a bit longer.

According to the waiter, there was no Lihe Pass before; this place was called Yong'an Town.

Later, due to attacks from foreign enemies, the emperor built a city here, which became Yong'an City.

Since then, Yong'an City, due to its strong fortifications and advantageous terrain, has never been breached. Later, with the construction of Lihe Pass, Yong'an City finally enjoyed peace.

Although Yong'an City was not large, it had always provided grain and fodder to Lihe Pass and undertaken its logistics.

This was not the emperor's intention, but rather a long-standing rule, simply a way to compensate the soldiers or pay a protection fee.

Even today, Yong'an City still has three years' worth of grain reserves.

Even if water and food are cut off, the city will remain safe and sound, and can even support the garrison at Lihe Pass.

"Hehe, that General Zhenbei is nothing but a woman, far inferior to General Luo An! General Luo said that the more people that girl Dongfang Jue brings, the better; he's not afraid at all!"

Dongfang Jue was completely dumbfounded. How did the conversation turn into a personal attack?

Was this guy sent by that kid Luo An? Is he deliberately pretending to be a waiter to spout threats?

"General Luo An seems to treat the people in the city very well?"

"I don't know, but after he arrived, no one bothered us anymore."

Su Cheng nodded thoughtfully and smiled, "If that's the case, then I'm relieved!"

After the waiter left, Su Cheng raised an eyebrow at Dongfang Jue and asked, "Do you understand now?"

"What does what he's saying have to do with Jue'er?"

Instead of answering, Su Cheng asked, "Where is Jue'er's army stationed?"

"Twenty miles north of the city, across the mountain, we built a camp on a flat area with earth and stones."

How many people are in Jue'er's army?

"One hundred thousand armored soldiers and twenty thousand light cavalry, totaling about two hundred and fifty thousand men from all units, were divided into four routes to occupy strategic locations and protect each other."

"With such a large army, the daily expenses must be astronomical. Jue'er's army is pressing on the city with the intention of a rapid attack. The longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be for Jue'er."

How could Dongfang Jue not know all this? Whether on the battlefield or in the imperial court, all the pressure was on her shoulders.

"What does Sect Leader Su mean?"

"A direct assault is no longer the best option, especially with the rebels at Lihe Pass watching us closely. Only by employing unconventional tactics can we achieve victory."

"Please enlighten me, Sect Leader Su."

It seems that Su Cheng's tone of voice has changed because he has been a master for too long.

"Since General Luo An is determined to hold out to the death, perhaps we could try changing our target?"

The Immortal Seeking Flowers and Willows said that Su Cheng was a man who didn't like to talk nonsense. Dongfang Jue felt that the Su Sect Leader in front of her had a bit of a teacher's air about him, but she didn't dislike him.

"What does Sect Leader Su mean?"

Su Cheng smiled and glanced at Yu Lan beside him.

"Call him out."

In the blink of an eye, Su Cheng arrived at Dongfang Jue's military tent.

Even during wartime, Dongfang Jue's military tent as the General Who Guards the North was more luxurious than others.

The immortals inside quickly noticed Su Cheng's arrival and hurriedly hid, as they did not want to meet this Sect Leader Su.

As soon as Su Cheng entered the room, he smelled a familiar scent...

And this was the fragrance emanating from that loli tyrant, the Flower-Seeking Immortal Venerable, which Su Cheng recognized all too well—it was the Remnant Dream Flower.

"Jue'er, what's this smell?"

Dongfang Jue had promised the immortal to keep the secret, so he naturally pretended not to know.

"The scent? It's the smell of flowers, isn't it? Maybe those brats are asking for trouble again, playing pranks on Jue'er?"

Yu Lan smiled. These were her favorite flowers, and Su Cheng had even given her a bouquet. Of course, she immediately recognized them: "These are Yu Lan's favorite flowers, they're Ice Orchids."

"No, this is a Dream Remnant Flower..."

Ice Mist Flowers don't grow in the Southern Region, and even high-quality Ice Mist Flowers bought from the system won't have such a strong fragrance.

"The Broken Dream Flower?" This was the first time Dongfang Jue had ever heard of a flower with such a name.

Soon, Dongfang Jue saw panic on Su Cheng's face for the second time.

Last time it was because Shangguan Rou pulled out a long sword burning with flames, but this time it was simply because of the scent left behind by the immortal.

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