Liu Tan's breath caught in his throat. Before he could open his mouth, Wei Buyi trembled and asked, "W-what?"

Li Buyan wiped away her tears and said, "Aden got separated from the main team during the evacuation. I... I didn't send anyone to look for him."

Wei Buyi swayed a bit on his horse, nearly falling off. He said hoarsely, "Aden...how did we get separated from the main team?"

Li Buyan whispered, "I let Arden lead fifty people. It's my fault."

Wei Buyi felt as if his throat was blocked by something and he couldn't make a sound for a moment.

At this time, Liu Tan was still able to remain rational. He was not familiar with Wei Deng, and his concern for Wei Deng was partly because he was Wei Qing's son and partly because of Wei Buyi.

He knew very well that Li Buyan asked Wei Deng to lead the team because he wanted to give Wei Deng a push and also to take care of the younger brother of a family friend, but who could have thought that such a thing would happen?

Liu Tan took a deep breath and said, "Even if Wei Deng got separated from the main force, he wouldn't have lost his way. He will definitely be heading this way. Send someone to pick him up."

Wei Buyi said in a hoarse voice, "Your Highness, Wu Shilu is here. Let's go."

"Leave? Can we leave?"

Liu Tan looked up at the moon in the sky, which was obscured by fireworks, and said, "If we leave, Wu Shilu will be able to march straight into Chang'an. How can we leave?"

After he finished speaking, everyone fell silent. Just now, everyone thought that they would be safe as long as they returned to Shuofang City, but they did not expect that this place was close to the Hetao Plain. Wu Shilu had overcome the most difficult obstacle. If they did not resist at this time, Wu Shilu would go all the way south, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

Liu Tan didn't know how Wu Shilu had crossed the Great Wall and chased here, but it must have had a lot to do with Zhao Po Nu.

It’s a pity that now is not the time to hold people accountable.

Liu Tan looked around and said, "Now, we are not only protecting Shuofang and the Northern Border, but also Chang'an and our families."

Most of the senior military officers present came from Chang'an with Liu Tan, so basically everyone's home is in Chang'an.

Just now when Liu Tan said that Wu Shilu might go south and fight all the way to Chang'an, everyone was shocked, and the idea of ​​escaping back to Shuofang slowly faded.

People always become brave because of protection.

Liu Tan took a deep breath and was about to say something when Zhao Po Nu suddenly spoke up, "Your Highness, it's not easy for Wu Shilu to go all the way south. To resist the Xiongnu, all the county towns along the way are on high alert at all times."

"So you want me to give up and let the cities in the hinterland bear the pressure brought by the Huns?" Liu Tan turned and looked at Zhao Po Nu.

Zhao Po Nu was so irritated by Liu Tan's gaze that he avoided his gaze and dared not look directly at him.

Liu Tan retracted his gaze and said, "Shuofang City, the Northern Border Kingdom, originally existed to guard the national border. When I first came here, I told my father that I would guard the national border for him. Now that I am truly needed, I will not back down. Come, give General Zhao two horses."

Zhao Po Nu was stunned for a moment, then looked up at Liu Tan. Liu Tan didn't even glance at him and said, "General Zhao, please return to the capital and bring a message to my father..."

Liu Tan paused at this point, then finally spoke, "I am not talented enough to emulate Wei Huo, but I will never allow the Xiongnu to set foot in the Central Plains. However, I will... die on horseback, a worthy death."

After he said this, he took a deep breath. This sentence was for Liu Che, but also to encourage himself.

The moment he heard that Wu Shilu was coming, he actually had only one thought in his mind - to return to Shuofang.

He believed that the newly built Shuofang City could withstand Wu Shilu's attack.

But he soon realized that now that they were here, was there any need to hesitate whether to attack Chang'an or Shuofang?

What does it matter if Shuofang is safe? Chang'an will be the only one that is unsafe.

Even if Wu Shilu cannot defeat Chang'an, he will inevitably pass through some villages and towns on the way south, and by then the Central Plains will be covered in blood.

So Liu Tan forced himself to stop evacuating.

Between Wei Deng and the main force, he chose the main force. Similarly, between Shuofang and Central Plains, he chose Central Plains.

After hearing this, Zhao Po Nu stared at Liu Tan for a long moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "I...I will not return to Chang'an. I beg Your Highness to allow me to atone for my sins with my merits!"

Liu Tan still didn't look at him, but his tone was very gentle. "General Zhao was wrong. I didn't ask you to return to Chang'an alone. Come, escort General Zhao back to Chang'an to apologize! Someone else will light the signal smoke, so that the governors of all counties can prepare. Tell them that if we can't hold on, then... the Xiongnu are coming."

Wei Buyi also hated Zhao Po Nu so much that he immediately ordered two people to escort him and the young men around him back to Chang'an.

As they were about to be escorted away, Liu Tan suddenly turned around and asked, "Where's the map I gave you? Do you still have it?"

Zhao Po Nu quickly said, "Yes, I have it with me."

As he spoke, he took out a map from his pocket.

Liu Tan's expression brightened slightly. "You're not wrong. It's too outrageous. Let's go. Don't forget to tell me something."

He looked and saw that the wolf smoke had risen, but it was not very obvious at night. He was not sure if anyone saw it, but at least they had to defend this place for one night.

Liu Tan sent people to investigate the Xiongnu's whereabouts and specifically instructed them, "If you see any Xiongnu entering the mine, light a cigarette to warn them immediately!"

The scouts scattered in all directions, and at this time Wei Buyi and Li Buyan's emotions had stabilized.

Li Buyan's face suddenly changed as if he had thought of something. He said, "Your Highness, there is one more thing I... have not reported."

Liu Tan's heart skipped a beat: "If you're not in such a hurry, just speak slowly."

He had received too much stimulation that night, and felt that his nerves were almost stretched to the limit. If this continued, he couldn't guarantee how crazy he would become when he collapsed.

Of course, in reality he felt that he was crazy at this moment.

Li Buyan said gravely, "Besides being separated from Arden, we also lost contact with the five hundred slaves working in the mines."

Liu Tan was silent for a while before saying, "Oh."

Li Buyan and Wei Buyi looked at each other: Oh?

Liu Tan asked, "Is it possible that they could threaten Wei Deng?"

Li Buyan tilted his head and thought for a moment: "That shouldn't be the case. They are in a different location than Arden, and they won't be heading in the same direction as Arden."

The Huns have all arrived, and these Hun captives must be looking for their own people, so they should run to the north, and Wei Deng should run to the southeast. These are two completely different directions.

Liu Tan felt relieved after hearing this and turned to ask, "Are the catapults ready?"

Wei Buyi nodded and said in a low voice, "I'm ready."

As soon as Liu Tan saw his expression, he knew that Wei Buzhi's mood had not calmed down yet, but this time he had no intention of comforting Wei Buzhi.

As a general, you will encounter such things sooner or later.

Brothers and comrades may disappear in an instant. It is cruel, but we have to learn to accept reality.

Li Buyan, who was standing by, asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, why is there nothing on the catapult?"

Catapults usually throw huge stones, but at this moment there is nothing on the catapult.

Liu Tan said from his horse, "Who said I didn't bring anything? Put everything up there."

After Liu Tan finished giving the order, Li Buyan and Wei Buyi saw that the catapult was loaded with... honeycomb coal?