Xu Zizhuo told Chu Yan everything Chu Yi was thinking about.

Until the end, Chu Yan nodded repeatedly, "General, I understand."

Xu Zizhuo also reminded, "The strength of the Qi army cannot be underestimated. We have to rely more on the tactics of General Chu."

Regarding the issue of this war, the two discussed for a long time and finally reached a consensus.

At the end, Chu Yan suddenly asked, "Nothing should have happened in the capital recently, right? Is my brother, the general, safe and sound?"

"Lord Chu is fine." Xu Zizhuo replied. When he said this, he couldn't help but become interested, and his whole face was full of joy.

Then he moved closer and lowered his voice, "Also, there's something else that everyone should celebrate."

"What is it?"

Xu Zizhuo smiled and said, "His Majesty is pregnant with the heir. General Chu, you will soon become his uncle."

"oh?"

Chu Yan was stunned for a moment, then realized that his elder brother and sister-in-law had been married for so long and finally had a child.

"Well, this is indeed a good thing. I, the general, would like to congratulate you, big brother!"

After being happy, he suddenly thought of something very important and asked cautiously:

"Zizhuo..."

"Has this general's nephew and niece been named? What are their names?"

While asking this, he raised his eyebrows intentionally, as if he was afraid that Xu Zizhuo didn't understand what he meant.

In fact, he cares more about his eldest brother's child's surname than his eldest brother's child's name.

If his surname is Chu, he would naturally be happy too. In this way, the future Prince Anguo would be the head of his Chu family.

Since the Chu family will rule the country in the future, Chu Yan doesn’t have to worry about other problems.

But if the little empress has the same surname as Xiao, it means that the eldest brother has no intention of rebelling at all, so I need to be vigilant.

Ultimately, the surname may seem like a matter between the couple, but it actually has far-reaching consequences.

Xu Zizhuo just chuckled and didn't reply immediately.

After whetting Xu's appetite sufficiently, he waved his hand and said, "Lord Chu and His Majesty have already discussed it. They'll decide on the name after the child is born..."

Chu Yan: “…”

You're so——

I wanted to curse at someone at one point, but in the end I just let it go.

Chu Yan frowned, this result made him very unhappy.

But even without getting an accurate answer, he obviously realized what this decision meant.

After the child is born...is it necessary to determine the gender first?

If that's what he meant, then everything is worth speculating on. Does my eldest brother have the idea that if he becomes a prince, he should take his sister-in-law's surname?

Chu Yan couldn't help but make such a bold guess, but everything was not settled yet, so he could only think of this much.

…

After seeing Xu Zizhuo off, Chu Yan had the rare opportunity to see Fu Xi.

During the time that Fu Xi was in the Beijing camp, he came and went without a trace. He has rarely appeared since the last time he helped to instigate a rebellion.

This time, when he saw her take the initiative to find him, Chu Yan felt an inexplicable worry in his heart.

As expected, Fu Xi made his purpose clear as soon as he opened his mouth:

"Your Majesty, it's time for this demon to leave."

"Leave? Where are you going?" Chu Yan couldn't help but be curious.

He was extremely wary of this witch, but fortunately, Fu Xi had been very well-behaved during her time in the military camp and had not done anything particularly worrying.

Considering how Fu Xi came to his sister-in-law and then to himself at the beginning, and now took the initiative to say goodbye, Chu Yan felt that Fu Xi must want to go somewhere else.

It’s strange, which family’s resentful child has been chosen by this little witch?

"Your Majesty has become the emperor, so naturally he doesn't need me to stay by his side anymore. I have other things to do."

Fu Xi's tone seemed very calm. In her opinion, after confirming that Chu Yan had no value, there was no need for her to bother with it anymore.

She has already determined that there is a very suitable target in Qi State.

Chu Yan wanted to say something, but Fu Xi beat him to it: "Is there any problem?"

Hearing this calm yet unquestionable tone, Chu Yan shuddered all over and didn't dare to nod.

It seems that sending this little ancestor away is not a bad thing.

Thinking of this, he didn't know what to say anymore, so he just smiled awkwardly and agreed.

"No...no..., in that case, let's meet again someday. Thank you for your help these days."

"You're welcome."

Fu Xi replied with one final sentence, then turned and left.

The delicate figure quickly disappeared from Chu Yan's sight.

"Report—"

"Your Majesty, military intelligence from Northern Yan!"

"Just the day before yesterday, the An army and the Qi army clashed under the city of Beiyan. Both sides suffered over 2,000 casualties, with the Qi army alone suffering nearly 2,000 casualties. The An army of Beiyan won their first victory in the battle with only 500 casualties!"

A day later, Chu Yan in Tianshan received the latest battle situation.

"The Qi army finally retreated?"

The soldier who reported the news explained, "The Qi general, seeing the defeat, ordered a retreat, but the main force has arrived and is currently attacking the city."

Chu Yan's face suddenly showed enlightenment, and he couldn't help but show admiration. "It seems that the elite troops of Yan are indeed extraordinary. If Qi wants to easily take over Yan territory, it will probably take some effort."

There was a great battle going on in Beiyan City, but he was still using a deception method and concentrated his main forces in the Dezhou area.

"Send the order! Let the brothers come over so we can discuss the next battle!"

…

And Shengjing,

In the Daming Palace, all the servants looked trembling with fear.

Because just now, the news of the battle from the front line made the emperor furious.

The Qi army suffered a defeat in its first encounter with the Anguo border army. Although the casualties were only 2,000, it still brought humiliation to the Qi monarch and his ministers, who were already full of fighting spirit.

When the army marched south, they were so arrogant and contemptuous of An Guo, and now they were slapped in the face so loudly.

Emperor Yangwu Chen Qizhi had a gloomy expression on his face and smashed the fruit plate in front of him to pieces.

After a long while, until she was kneeling beside him with her legs numb, Concubine Ci couldn't help but speak to comfort him:

"Your Majesty, the Anguo army is well-rested in Beiyan City. It's normal for General Wang to be unprepared for his first encounter and suffer a defeat. Our Great Qi army is invincible, and the main force that will follow will surely bring victory."

"To wait for the hard work?"

Emperor Yangwu sneered, his voice still as loud as thunder, "What do you know, a woman? A husband fights, and courage is needed, and we must fight with all our might!"

"Wang Yongzhi has no idea of ​​his own abilities. Even when he outnumbered the enemy, no one criticized him. But now he's been defeated. Should I criticize him? Is this your world or mine?"