Chapter 3263 A helpless move

The next day, the two of them sat together for dinner.

I don't know if it was because the weather was too hot and they had lost their appetite, or if there was an invisible stone weighing on their hearts that prevented them from eating more. Facing the various dishes on the table, both of them were too lazy to pick up their chopsticks. However, Zhu Feng still urged them softly, "Eat more. I see you've lost a lot of weight recently."

Nan Yan held the chopsticks in one hand and fiddled with the rice in the bowl, then looked up at him again.

Just as he was about to say something, he heard footsteps outside. He turned around and saw a minor official from the Duwei Mansion outside. He said a few words to Xiao Shunzi, and Xiao Shunzi waved his hand to send him away.

Zhu Feng asked, "What's the matter?"

Xiao Shunzi had originally planned to wait until the emperor and the imperial concubine had finished their meal before reporting. However, upon seeing Zhu Feng asking, he immediately walked in cautiously and said, "Your Majesty, it's Chao Lu."

"Oh? What happened to him?"

After Agula's death, Zhu Feng had Chao Lu taken out of the cell and relocated to a new place, where he was naturally under observation. Chao Lu had been seriously ill and nearly dying, but upon hearing the news of his son's death, he gritted his teeth and persevered. After recuperating for a while, he wasn't fully recovered, but he felt much more energetic.

This spirit calls for revenge every day.

The clerk who came over just now was to tell Xiao Shunzi that Chao Lu had been yelling at the top of his lungs for the whole day. Although the people here were not polite to him, this man had provided some detailed information about the deployment of troops in Baihu City, so it was not easy to do anything to him, so he came to ask for permission.

Nan Yan couldn't help but frown after hearing this: "This guy really thinks of us as tools for his revenge?"

Zhu Feng didn't say anything, just waved his hand and let Xiao Shunzi go down.

It seems that they are obviously not planning to make any arrangements.

Nan Yan thought for a moment, biting her chopsticks and said to Zhu Feng, "But, is the emperor really doing nothing?"

Zhu Feng glanced at her and said, "Didn't I tell you clearly before? Why are you still asking?"

Nan Yan frowned and said, "But, it's been almost half a month. Even if we don't do anything, judging from Agula's situation, Arslan must know that the emperor has come to Handongwei. It's impossible for him to not make any move at all."

As soon as she finished speaking, as if to confirm her words, Xiao Shunzi came in from outside again, stood at the door and said: "Your Majesty, Lord Chen requests to see you."

When Zhu Feng heard this, his face suddenly darkened.

He seemed to have sensed something, but he just put down his bowl and chopsticks, picked up a handkerchief to wipe the corner of his mouth, and motioned Xiao Shunzi to bring people in. After a while, Xiao Shunzi brought Chen Zixiao and several of his lieutenants to the door.

Chen Zixiao knelt and said, "Your Majesty."

Zhu Feng asked, "What's the matter?"

Chen Zixiao said, "Spies have reported that there has been movement in White Tiger City. Arslan has assembled 30,000 troops and is heading towards Handongwei."

When Nan Yan heard this, she immediately took a deep breath.

Thirty thousand troops to attack was not too many for them, but not too few either. If they really wanted to fight, knowing that Zhu Feng was in Handongwei, thirty thousand troops would definitely not be enough.

It would be better to say that he was coming here to test us rather than to fight us.

Nan Yan has been with Zhu Feng for so many years and has experienced many battles, big and small, so she has learned some tricks. As for the fact that Agula ran back from Handongwei and died at the hands of their own people, Arslan must have his own considerations. He did not make any movement for so many days, obviously he was watching Zhu Feng's reaction.

On the other hand, not a single soldier was dispatched from the Handong Guard.

Then Arslan would definitely judge that although Zhu Feng was testing them, he was not willing to fight with them immediately. In this case, if Arslan was not stupid, he would definitely judge that he wanted to find an opportunity to resolve the crisis of Baihu City and the Eastern Chaga tribe in one fell swoop.

However, Arslan might not be able to guess what this opportunity is.

It is precisely because he cannot guess that he wants to send troops now, because he must first break the temporary peace that Zhu Feng wants.

Zhu Feng thought quietly for a while and said, "You can handle this matter yourself."

“……?!”

“……?!”

Chen Zixiao and Nan Yan both showed surprise on their faces.

Logically speaking, Chen Zixiao is the captain, so the affairs here are naturally under his jurisdiction. However, after all, the emperor is now in Handongwei, so all matters, big or small, must be reported. What's more, everyone knows that Emperor Zhu Feng comes from the military, so even if he is not here, he still has to "interfere" in the war here. What's more, he is already here and has mobilized a lot of troops in the early stage. Anyone with a discerning eye knows that he is going to take action against Baihu City.

But now, White Tiger City has dispatched troops, but he lets Chen Zixiao handle it himself -

Chen Zixiao was a patient man, but he was a little nervous this time. He said softly, "Your Majesty, do you have any instructions for me?"

Zhu Feng glanced at him and smiled faintly, "When I wasn't here, weren't you the one commanding all the battles, big and small? It's not possible that you won't fight just because I'm here, is it?"

Chen Zixiao immediately said: "Of course not."

Zhu Feng said: "Then go ahead."

"……yes."

Chen Zixiao saluted and stood up to leave, but just as he reached the door, Zhu Feng hesitated for a moment and called out to him, "How many troops are left in the Handong Guard now, apart from those I have transferred away?"

Chen Zixiao said: "Less than 80,000."

Zhu Feng nodded slightly after hearing this. After a while, he said jokingly, "Save some beatings."

Chen Zixiao's eyes flickered, and he immediately said, "Your humble servant understands."

After saying that, he retreated.

After he walked away, Nan Yan looked up at Zhu Feng and said impatiently, "Your Majesty!"

Zhu Feng was still putting food into her bowl. When he heard her voice, he looked up at her and asked, "What's wrong?"

Nan Yan asked, "The Emperor wants to fight?"

Zhu Feng smiled and said, "They are charging towards us with an army of 30,000. If I don't let them fight, do I really want Arslan to directly attack Handongwei?"

“…”

After hearing what he said, Nan Yan herself felt that this question was too stupid.

But--

She frowned and continued, "But didn't the emperor say before that if we can't win in one fell swoop, once the battle gets stalemate, it will be easy for others to take advantage of us."

After Zhu Feng picked up some food for her, he put some food into his own bowl and said in a deep voice, "She's here, I have to stop her."

In other words, sending troops now is a helpless move.

Nan Yan felt as if a heavy stone was pressing down on her heart, and she couldn't eat at all. After struggling for a long time, she whispered softly, "Your Majesty, I dare to ask you a question."

"What?"

"What should we do if the rain that the emperor wants doesn't come?"