Finally, after some discussion, it was decided that Marcus Aurelius would lead fifteen legions and two legions of the Taiping Church to attack Helan Pass in the south, while the legions from the various provinces would attack Linma Pass in the north.

Meanwhile, the legions under the Senate remained in the main camp, serving as a diversionary force.

After everyone dispersed, the noble leaders under the Senate quietly gathered together again.

"Hmph, they clearly planned this all along, using us as bait. What a shameless bunch!"

As soon as he sat down, a young nobleman couldn't help but mutter a curse.

"Sigh, given the current situation, it's clear that we're being targeted by both sides."

But what can we do? We can't just run back like this, can we? Another noble commander sighed.

"Running back is definitely not an option. If we do that, they will have a legitimate reason to attack us directly, and it could even implicate our families!"

"Sigh~ Knowing I'm being used, yet having no choice but to accept it, it's truly frustrating!"

In the end, everyone couldn't help but look bitter and sigh in unison.

Seeing everyone's reaction, the commander said calmly, "There's no need for you all to be like this. I once heard Master Zhang say, 'Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise.' Today's situation may actually be an opportunity for us."

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback and looked at the commander with some confusion.

The commander rubbed his forehead helplessly: "Have you all forgotten our previous plan?"

“Of course I remember, but His Majesty and the others are about to leave the camp, so the plan is no longer of any use, is it?” a nobleman asked doubtfully.

"Who said that plan is useless?"

The commander chuckled, glanced at everyone, and said slowly, "Why don't you all think about this from a different perspective? The Parthian army has obtained the defense map of our camp, so they will definitely come to launch a surprise attack. As long as we set up traps, we can definitely defeat the Parthian army that comes to launch a surprise attack."

Once we defeat the Parthian army and capture Xilin Pass, we will undoubtedly be credited with the greatest achievement.

"Then, when we return home in triumph, we can expose His Majesty and the provincial legions' crimes in framing us. At that point, won't all of Rome be under our control?"

"Um?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up.

"Report!"

Just then, a guard who was on duty outside the tent suddenly walked in.

"Generals, Zhang Tianshi is outside requesting an audience!"

"oh?"

Upon hearing that it was Zhang Bao who had come to visit, the expressions of the noble leaders in the tent changed, and they all hurriedly stood up.

The commander hurriedly said, "Quickly, invite the Celestial Master in!"

"yes!"

The guard agreed and then withdrew.

Soon, Zhang Bao, dressed in a Taoist robe, followed behind his personal guards into the tent.

"Greetings, Celestial Master Zhang!"

The noble leaders also hurriedly stepped forward, cupped their hands in greeting, and were very respectful in their attitude.

The main reason they did this, besides Zhang Bao leading the Taiping Church physicians to treat their wounded soldiers, was because Zhang Bao's previous kind reminder had prepared them and allowed them to seize an opportunity to turn defeat into victory and control Rome.

"You're too kind, everyone!"

Zhang Bao also calmly raised his hand and returned the greeting to everyone.

After exchanging greetings, the commander asked in a questioning tone, "I didn't know the Celestial Master had arrived. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Alas, I have heard about the matters you discussed in your tent today. I saw in the divine realm that you are destined for great calamity, with tens of thousands of soldiers likely to perish here. I have come to inform you of this..."

Zhang Bao sighed with a look of deep sorrow and explained the purpose of his visit.

"Thank you for your concern, Celestial Master Zhang. We have already devised a way to break this deadlock and will surely be safe..."

The commander bowed gratefully to Zhang Bao, and then confidently told Zhang Bao about the ambush of the Parthian army that everyone had just discussed.

"Sigh, you all are really too naive. If this matter were really that simple, I wouldn't have come here!"

Looking at the group of noble leaders, all of whom looked confident, Zhang Bao couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

"What do you mean by that, Celestial Master?" a commander asked hesitantly.

“In the divine realm, I saw that those who wielded their swords against you were not only the Parthians…”

In the end, Zhang Bao suddenly fell silent, only giving everyone a meaningful look.

The commander's expression changed: "You mean His Majesty and the others actually intend to... us?"

"You all should take care of yourselves!"

Zhang Bao shook his head to interrupt the other party, bowed, and then turned to walk out of the tent.

Watching Zhang Bao's departing figure, the noble leaders in the tent frowned, their faces filled with resentment.

They weren't stupid; they naturally understood the meaning behind Zhang Bao's words.

Marcus Aurelius's plan to divide his forces and seize the pass with the legions of the various provinces was a ruse. His real intention was to use them as bait to lure out the garrison of Xilin Pass and then annihilate them all.

The commander gritted his teeth and said, "What a ruthless scheme! How dare they?"

"So what should we do next?" a young commander asked doubtfully.

The commander pondered for a moment, then his eyes narrowed: "Immediately send someone to Xilin Pass to inform the Parthian army of Marcus Aurelius's plan!"

"What……?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present gasped in surprise.

"Do you really intend to unite with the Parthians?" a nobleman asked, frowning.

The commander sneered, "Of course not, we just need to leak the whereabouts of the legions in each province!"

"Why is that?" one person asked, puzzled.

The commander said, "Think about it carefully. Once the provincial legions discover at Linma Pass that the garrison above is actually reinforcements from Xilin Pass, what will they think?"

“They’ll definitely think someone leaked their mission objectives!” the man replied.

The commander smiled and said, "If you were the commander of the provincial legion, who would you think leaked this information?"

The man thought for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "If it were me, I would definitely believe that Marcus Aurelius deliberately leaked the information to the Parthian army in order to claim all the credit for breaking through the pass for himself..."

"Isn't that settled?" the commander said coldly. "At that time, the provincial legions will definitely have a rift with Marco Aurelius, and we can then join forces with him to fight against this tyrannical and incompetent ruler!"

"Well, at this point, this is the only way. This tyrannical ruler was the one who was heartless first, so he can't blame us for having such a hard time!"

Upon hearing the commander's plan, everyone present nodded in agreement.