In the Captain's Mansion, Bai Ruolan had also learned the news of the Tartar invasion.
Her face was pale, but she forced herself to remain calm. She directed the servants in the mansion to help carry supplies for defending the city and comforted her frightened family members.
When Huan Naxue heard the news, her fetal qi fluctuated again. The medical officer quickly gave her acupuncture and medication, and she was barely able to stabilize it.
At this moment, the maid came to report: "Madam, Princess Yin Yao is here and wants to see you and Madam Huan."
Bai Ruolan frowned. What was she doing here at this time?
Is he just trying to make fun of me? Or is he trying to take advantage of the situation to blackmail me?
She straightened her clothes and said in a deep voice, "Please ask her to come in."
Yin Yao walked into the hall alone, still in plain clothes, but without the arrogance of the past. There was a hint of solemnity and honesty between her brows.
"Mrs. Bai, Mrs. Huan,"
She spoke first, her tone calm, "I'm sure you two are already aware of the Northern Di army's approach. I don't want to say anything else, but I just want to ask: With such a formidable enemy at hand, can you temporarily put aside your grudges and unite against the enemy?"
Bai Ruolan looked at her coldly: "What do you mean, Princess?"
"The meaning is very simple."
Yin Yao glanced at Bai Ruolan and the inner room, "Defend Shuozhou, everything is still possible."
"If Shuozhou falls, you and I will all be killed by the Tartars, or even imprisoned. What grudges or positions will remain?"
"As a princess, I wish to visit the city to comfort the troops and stabilize the people's hearts. I will also urge Xiao Cheyun's troops to obey Han Sima's orders and defend Shuozhou!"
"I only hope that the two ladies can put aside their past grudges and lend a helping hand to Sima Han to stabilize the rear."
Bai Ruolan and Huan Naxue, who had just recovered her breath and was supported by the maid, were both stunned.
They didn't expect Yin Yao to say such words at this time.
Huan Naxue asked suspiciously, "You...you are so kind? Who knows if this is just a delaying tactic, or maybe even an attempt to seize power?"
Yin Yao gave a bitter laugh: "What's the point of seizing power at this moment? What's the use of power if you can't defend the city?"
"Although I, Yin Yao, am a woman, I understand the righteousness of my country and family, and I know what is important and what is not!"
"If you two don't believe me, I can declare it in black and white to the whole city. If the city is captured, I, Yin Yao, am willing to die with you two and all the soldiers and civilians in the city!"
Her tone was firm and her eyes were clear and determined.
Bai Ruolan stared at her for a long time, and the ice in her heart seemed to melt a little.
Perhaps, in the face of this crisis of national destruction and family ruin, personal grudges can really be put aside temporarily?
"Okay." Bai Ruolan finally nodded slowly, "I can trust you this time. I also hope that the princess...will keep her word!"
"It's a deal!" Yin Yao nodded seriously.
A delicate and fragile alliance was temporarily reached under strong external pressure.
At the same time, Han Zhong also received news that Xiao Cheyun expressed his willingness to obey orders and cooperate in defending the city.
Although he still had doubts in his heart, he knew that with a powerful enemy at hand, more strength was always beneficial, so he immediately made arrangements:
He ordered Xiao Cheyun to send a thousand soldiers to station in Wuzhou City, forming a pincer attack with Shuozhou City, supporting each other, and guarding the flanks to prevent the Tartars from making a detour and encircling the city.
The 5,000 soldiers and horses dispatched by the Crown Prince, Pan Ren, the Minister of Rites, from various states around Jinyang, abandoned Pan Ren and left Shuozhou upon learning that the Tartars were about to invade, rushing back to their respective states for defense.
Pan Ren suddenly became a commander without troops, and could only take his followers to take a detour through Feihu Ridge to avoid the troops of Prince Jin in the southern part of Hedong Road and hurried back to the capital.
The shadow of war completely enveloped the important border town under the jurisdiction of the Pinglu Commandery.
In the capital area, the civil war between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Jin has begun.
The elite troops of the five battalions of the capital, led by Li Chenghua and Yang Dingguo, fell into great chaos and contradictions.
They were originally ordered by the old emperor to return to the capital to provide assistance, but they learned that the prince had ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, and ordered them to turn around and attack the Prince of Jin who was "ordered to quell the rebellion."
The army's morale was temporarily shaken.
Yang Dingguo was mature and prudent. Although he felt something was amiss, he could not disobey the emperor's order, and his family members were all in the capital, so he had to obey.
However, Li Chenghua was a descendant of a founding military family and nobles. The meritorious dukes in the capital all supported the prince, and he chose to stand on the side of the new emperor without hesitation.
The two men eventually led their troops to turn around and tried to intercept the Jin Wang's "Jingnan" army, which was growing like a snowball.
The vanguard troops of both sides have had small-scale contacts and frictions in certain areas outside the capital, with both sides winning and losing.
Inside the capital, the new emperor Yin Zhao sat on the dragon throne, but felt uneasy.
The dragon case was piled high with urgent documents from all over the country: there were reports of the powerful King of Jin, invasions by the Northern Di, shortages of food and grass, and officials lip-service and insubordinate behavior...
He was in a desperate situation and could only rely on Gu Dingming, Cui Kaiji, Chen Xiong and others.
While frantically suppressing the opposition voices in the capital, he kept urging troops from all over the country to come to the rescue, and at the same time strictly ordered Li Chenghua and Yang Dingguo to defeat the Prince of Jin as soon as possible.
......
Zhendi Fort.
Shi Yong looked at the increasingly clear dust on the northern horizon and tightened his grip on the Embroidered Spring Knife.
Because he sent troops to rescue Xiazhou, Wang Pan's death squad took advantage of the situation and invaded, causing huge losses to the tobacco workshop.
Zhao Muyun severely punished him and Deputy Commandant Zhou.
This is a shame for Shi Yong.
He vowed to take back his dignity on the battlefield!
Although Sergeant Zhao, who did not mind his big appetite at Jingbian Military Town and took him back to Yanqingdun Beacon Tower so that he could have meat for every meal, has "died".
Looking at Yanqingdun behind Zhendi Fort, the scene of Zhao Muyun training with these old brothers from Yanqingdun appeared before his eyes again.
"Boss Zhao, may your spirit in heaven bless me. Little Stone will not let the Tartars even a single step into the Qingshui River Valley!"
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