Upon hearing the system notification, Mu Zian's lips curled up slightly.
Since these bandits were able to breach the prefectural capital, it means that their fighting force had reached a considerable scale.
Moreover, even with a mere three thousand men, they could conquer the entire Luzhou region without suffering any casualties.
That would make it impossible to divide troops to defend the city.
This would inevitably put them in a dilemma, so Mu Zian could predict that Pei Jianzhi would be defeated in this battle!
With this thought in mind, Mu Zian looked around and said loudly.
"Since General Pei possesses such abilities, then I choose to withdraw!"
"Ding! Congratulations on your decision, host! System reward has been issued!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present was taken aback.
It should be noted that although Mu Zian has regained the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion, he cannot hold onto this position without military merits.
Upon hearing this, the emperor frowned and said coldly.
"You are the Duke of Zhenguo of Dali, how can you retreat without a fight? If word gets out, what will the world think of you!"
Seeing Mu Zian being reprimanded, Pei Jianzhi said sarcastically.
"After all, the Duke of Zhenguo has never been on the battlefield, so it's normal for him to be afraid of this mere group of bandits."
"Unlike us military generals who have fought in the east and west for years, dealing with all kinds of enemies, these mere bandits are not worth mentioning."
Lu Yunxue was also surprised that Mu Zian gave up so easily.
But on second thought, this is actually quite normal, after all, Mu Zian is just a playboy from the capital.
Leading troops into battle is out of the question.
Mu Zian looked at the emperor, who was in a state of rage, and spoke.
"Your Majesty, Luzhou is a land of many mountains, valleys and crisscrossing paths. Those bandits have long been entrenched there and know the terrain very well. This is an advantage of the land."
"Now it is the height of summer, and the army must be exhausted after a long march to Luzhou, while the rebels are waiting in comfort. This is the opportune moment."
"In Luzhou, corruption is rampant and the people are living in misery. When bandits and cavalry rebel, their followers must number in the hundreds of thousands. The people's hearts are not with the government, but with the rebels. This is the harmony of the people."
"We lack favorable timing, geographical advantage, and popular support, therefore I can say that our three thousand soldiers will certainly be unable to complete the task of suppressing the bandits."
Upon hearing this, Pei Jianzhi immediately snorted coldly.
"Just because you can't do it, Mu Zi'an, doesn't mean others can't! Don't try to demoralize the troops!"
However, Mu Zian ignored Pei Jianzhi completely and instead clasped his hands in greeting.
"That is why I am not confident that I can quell the rebellion in Luzhou with three thousand soldiers. Since General Pei has such ability, why not give it to him?"
Upon hearing this, Pei Jian's face immediately turned ugly, as if Mu Zi'an had given up the position of commander-in-chief and was giving it to him.
The Emperor of Dali also had a thoughtful expression on his face at this moment.
Luzhou is a very poor place, and the annual tax revenue it pays is the lowest among all the prefectures in the entire Dali.
If 30,000 troops were sent to quell the rebellion, the consumption of food and supplies would be enormous, making it a losing proposition.
Moreover, in his view, they were nothing more than a few bandits and refugees; how strong could their actual fighting power be?
What Mu Zian said was far too alarmist.
Three thousand men may be a small number, but they may still be able to quell the rebellion of these bandits.
Since Mu Zian had never been on the battlefield, his priority was definitely to maintain stability.
Lu Yunxue and Pei Jianzhi had fought against those barbarians on the grasslands, and had won a great victory.
In comparison, Pei Jianzhi is naturally more reliable.
Upon realizing this, the emperor looked at Pei Jianzhi and asked.
"Can you really quell the rebellion in Luzhou with three thousand elite troops?"
Upon hearing this, Pei Jianzhi was overjoyed, knowing that the game was definitely in the bag, so he immediately stepped forward and patted his chest to assure him.
"Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your expectations."
Since Jian Pei was so confident, the emperor didn't say much and immediately issued an order.
"Pei Jianzhi, heed the imperial decree!"
"Your subject obeys the decree."
"Today I appoint you as General Who Conquers Bandits, leading three thousand elite troops to quell the rebellion in Luzhou. Do you have any other requests?"
Upon hearing this, Pei Jianzhi was overjoyed and immediately said...
"Your Majesty, I wish to request that you issue an edict appointing the Heroine Marquis as my deputy general."
"Very well, I grant your permission. The army will be assembled and set off in three days."
Pei Jianzhi and Lu Yunxue both knelt down and said.
"My lord, I obey the order!"
"Since time is so tight, you should all hurry up and make preparations."
"Your subject takes his leave!"
As the group walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Pei Jianzhi looked at Mu Zian provocatively and said...
"It is truly commendable that the Duke of Zhenguo has such self-awareness."
However, Mu Zian didn't even glance at Pei Jianzhi's clamor and turned away directly.
Spending even a second with such an idiot makes me feel like my IQ is being lowered.
Seeing this, Pei Jianzhi wanted to continue mocking Mu Zian, but Lu Yunxue grabbed him and pulled him aside.
"Why didn't you discuss the reduction of troops with me? Originally, we had 10,000 elite soldiers, but now we only have 3,000 left."
Pei Jianzhi, however, replied with a completely indifferent expression.
"So what if there are three thousand? Those people are nothing but bandits and thieves. As soon as the imperial army arrives, they will surely flee at the mere sight of them. Whether it is ten thousand or three thousand, the final outcome will be the same."
Pei Jianzhi grasped Lu Yunxue's hand and said with a smile.
"Don't forget, back then on the grasslands, you and I single-handedly slaughtered those barbarian cavalrymen, so why are you showing fear when facing these mere bandits and brigands?"
"If we win this battle, our influence in the army will surely rise even higher. Now that Mu Zian has retreated, we should press our advantage and pursue him. Only in this way can we wash away the shame we have suffered!"
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com