Midnight has passed.
Zhao Muyun received Yang Chao's letter, which was filled with despair and madness.
The messenger even brought Yang Chao's personal jade pendant as a token of his resolute farewell.
"He wants armor and weapons, and he wants us to hold off Zhang Tao for at least two days."
Lin Feng twirled the jade pendant, which felt warm to the touch yet seemed to carry the scent of blood. "They want us to 'tacitly approve' their intention to head east to Henan after defeating Zhang Tao... They have quite the appetite."
"When a dog is cornered, it will jump over the wall and naturally bite the fattest piece of meat."
Zhao Muyun lit the letter over the candle flame and watched it turn to ashes. "Henan is wealthy, and Zhang Tao's troops are quite elite. If we can swallow them whole, Yang Chao's strength will increase dramatically in an instant, and he may even threaten the capital and shake the Central Plains. This is a good thing for us!"
“Then we…” Xu Yunlong hesitated.
"Here you go." Zhao Muyun said decisively, "As previously agreed, discard one thousand sets of armor, one thousand swords and spears, one thousand hard bows, and ten thousand arrows."
"I'll also give you twenty extra cans of raging oil and thirty small thunderbolts, saying it's my personal donation to help him defeat the enemy."
Shi Yong's eyes widened: "Grand Commander, are you really giving us firearms? What if..."
"The smaller one has limited power; it's mainly for making a sound and scaring people."
Zhao Muyun said calmly, "Besides, how many of Yang Chao's men do you think are proficient in using the firearms of my Shenji Battalion?"
"Giving it to him will only increase his dependence and add another burden to his mind—if he can be used, won't Zhang Tao be even more wary?"
"If Li Jingang finds out, will he be even more convinced that he has been colluding with me for a long time?"
Lin Feng nodded: "This kills two birds with one stone. It temporarily strengthens their fighting power and solidifies their determination to fight Zhang Tao to the death, while further confirming their crimes of rebellion and collusion with foreign enemies, leaving no room for maneuver."
"As for holding Zhang Tao back for two days..." Zhao Muyun walked to the city wall and looked towards the southeast darkness, "Let our feint troops in the Ziwu Valley direction move southeast in a big way at dawn, making it look like we want to join forces with Yang Chao."
He turned around, his gaze sharp: "At the same time, send a message by carrier pigeon to our scouts in the capital, spreading the news that Yang Chao has been forced to rebel, has reached a tacit agreement with Zhao, and intends to take Henan to the east."
"Especially the officials in charge of the prefectures and counties in Henan must know! It must be done quickly and truthfully, so that everyone feels that Yang Chao, this mad dog, is about to pounce on Henan first."
“In this way, Zhang Tao will be hesitant and advance slowly, and may even divide his troops to guard the rear. Various places in Henan will also be in a state of panic, either fortifying their defenses and clearing the fields, or seeking help to protect themselves, further disrupting Zhang Tao’s rhythm.” Xu Yunlong understood.
“Exactly.” Zhao Muyun nodded. “Two days may not be enough for Yang Chao to be fully prepared, but it’s enough for Zhang Tao to hesitate, enough for the news to spread, and enough for… us to do something else.”
"What is it?"
Zhao Muyun did not answer immediately, but looked at Yin Yao who had been listening quietly and said gently, "Yao'er, I'm afraid you will have to go through a lot. You should return to Xijing immediately."
Yin Yao was taken aback: "Husband? Why are you asking me to go back now? War is about to break out, I..."
"Precisely because war is about to break out, and it will break out outside our camp, it is even more necessary to stabilize the city of Xijing."
Zhao Muyun held her hand and whispered, "Yang Chao is about to rebel. Regardless of who wins or loses between him and Zhang Tao, when the news reaches the capital, Li Jingang will be furious. He might even resort to desperate measures, putting more pressure on Xijing or employing more vicious divisive tactics."
"His Highness Prince Jin needs an absolutely trustworthy person by his side to assist him in stabilizing the court and appeasing the people."
“Go back on my behalf, and on behalf of the soldiers at the front. Tell the Prince of Jin, and the people and soldiers of Xijing, that the city will remain as stable as Mount Tai for ten thousand years. Zhao Muyun and his soldiers will never let the flames of war reach the gates of Xijing!”
Looking into her husband's firm and affectionate gaze, Yin Yao understood the weight and trust contained within it.
She nodded emphatically: "I understand. I'll pack right away and leave before dawn. My husband... please take care."
"Don't worry." Zhao Muyun gently stroked her cheek and turned to Lin Feng. "Lin Feng, arrange for the most capable people to escort the princess back to the city."
"Upon entering the city to pay homage to Prince Jin, in addition to explaining the situation at the front, we request that Prince Jin, in the official name of the Great Yin Dynasty, issue a document condemning Li Jingang's incompetence and tyranny for forcing a good general to rebel, and expressing support for Yang Chao..."
"At the same time, an invitation was extended to the people of Henan, expressing that the soldiers and civilians of Xijing sympathized with their plight and that they could seek refuge in the north if anything happened."
Lin Feng's eyes flashed with admiration: "This move not only has a righteous cause, clearing our army of any suspicion of collusion with Yang Chao, but also shifts all the responsibility for the turmoil in the Central Plains onto Li Jingang, and can also win over the hearts of the people of Henan, laying the groundwork for the future... Grand Commander, I admire you!"
"And one more thing," Zhao Muyun said, turning to Shi Yong, "Little Stone, your cavalry no longer need to conceal themselves."
"Tomorrow afternoon, we will return to the West Gate in a grand manner, so that Yang Chao's men will see us, and so that Zhang Tao's scouts who may be sneaking in will also see us."
"Our reinforcements have arrived, and the main force will follow shortly! For ten thousand years, our defenses will be impregnable!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
......
At this very moment, deep within the Dragon Ridge Ancient Road, in the darkest hour before dawn.
Yang Yan and his group, like disheveled wild ghosts, finally stumbled and staggered over the most treacherous section of the mountain ridge.
A relatively flat hilly area appeared before us, with village lights faintly visible in the distance.
"General, we...we're out!"
Li Jin slumped to the ground, his voice choked with emotion, whether from exhaustion or excitement was unclear.
The elite team that set out with more than two hundred people has now dwindled to less than one hundred, all of them ragged, wounded, and disarmed.
Yang Yan leaned against a withered tree, panting heavily, his lungs burning with pain.
The rain had soaked him through, and the cold was biting, but the fire in his heart burned brighter and brighter.
Looking back, the dark, looming dragon spine completely secluded all past glories and humiliations.
"Is this... part of Shangzhou?" he asked in a hoarse voice.
A bodyguard familiar with the terrain identified the location: "Yes, Commander. Thirty li ahead is Shangzhou City. However..."
He hesitated for a moment, "The garrison commander of Shangzhou has probably already received a document from the imperial court ordering a thorough investigation."
“We won’t go to the prefectural city,” Yang Yan said decisively. “We’ll find a nearby manor to hide and rest, and try to get some clothes, dry food, and horses.”
"Li Jin, send two absolutely reliable men disguised as merchants to head west immediately, straight for Wannian!"
"Find Chao'er and tell him that his uncle will be there soon. Tell him that he must hold on no matter what! We'll figure everything out when I get there!"
"yes!"
Yang Yan looked up and gazed through the sparse tree canopy at the faintly white sky to the southeast.
Chao'er, hang in there, Uncle's coming!
Since the world will not tolerate the loyalty and righteousness of the Yang family, then we will use swords and spears to carve out a world that belongs to us.
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