"But the conditions will be as I just said. Also, I mentioned casually at the end of the letter that I heard General Zhang Tao of Henan is near Wuguan. We both agree that it is better to act sooner rather than later, lest things change. Let's give him a push."
"Understood." Lin Feng nodded, then whispered, "But... Niu Desheng and Ma Zongliang are coming from Hedong with great force."
“Even if General Wu arrives in seven days, he must deal with them first. Should we remain entangled with Yang Chao here…”
Zhao Muyun looked northeast, towards the east bank of the river, his gaze distant and unwavering.
"We have Han Zhong, Tian Qing and others in Hedong, which is our foundation. Niu and Ma are brave, but they are not good at strategy. Moreover, they each have their own agendas, so it will be difficult for them to make a real breakthrough in a short period of time."
"What we need is this 'short time.' First, resolve the immediate crisis that has plagued us for millennia, send Yang Chao away, scare Zhang Tao away, and stabilize the gateway to Xijing. Then..."
His voice turned cold, like the clang of metal on metal: "Only then can we free up our hands to deal with Hedong, and even... see what tricks that Li Jingang in Xijing City can still pull."
"Report—"
At that moment, a messenger rushed up the city wall, shouting, "His Highness Prince Jin has sent a secret message!"
Zhao Muyun took the bamboo tube sealed with sealing wax, dismissed his attendants, leaving only Yin Yao by his side.
Upon closer inspection, his brow furrowed.
"Husband, what did my brother say in his letter?" Yin Yao asked with concern.
“Some people pressured the Prince of Jin on the grounds that I had provoked border conflicts and privately recruited enemy generals. There were also rumors that I had secretly made peace with Yang Chao and wanted to establish my own independent regime.”
Zhao Muyun lit the letter on the torch, watching it turn to ashes and scatter in the night wind. "Your brother has temporarily suppressed the rumors for me, but they're spreading like wildfire and I'm afraid this won't last. Some people are making trouble behind my back!"
Yin Yao's face paled slightly as she grasped his hand: "Husband..."
Zhao Muyun grasped her slightly cool hand in return and said gently, "It's alright. It was expected. In this game, the opponent is not only outside, but also inside."
“Your brother has been with me for so long, he shouldn’t easily believe rumors. Once things are settled here, there are some scores we need to settle when we get back.”
He put his arm around Yin Yao's shoulder and looked out of the city again: "Let me focus on dealing with what's in front of me first!"
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