Chapter 212 Night Exploration of the Enemy Camp

After Xue Youli met with Chu Xinyue, they discussed the marching arrangements and then took a rest.

There will be tough battles to fight every day, and they must ensure they have enough energy.

The next day, just after dawn, Xue Youli and Chu Xinyue were ready to go.

Just as they were about to leave, they heard a hurried call from behind.

"Li'er! Wait!"

Xue Youli pulled the reins and turned to look towards the source of the sound. At a glance, he saw Xue Huaiyuan and Xue Wuyou chasing in that direction.

The father and son were carrying several bags on their backs. After they ran a few steps, the bags slipped off their shoulders, making them look a bit like wolves.

Xue Youli got off the horse and looked at the two men who were chasing him breathlessly. He felt a little distressed, "Dad, Third Brother, why are you here?"

Xue Huaiyuan and Xue Wuyou looked at each other, then Xue Huaiyuan coughed lightly and replied, "The northeastern border is a bitter and cold place. Your mother is worried about you, so she packed some clothes and food overnight and asked me and your third brother to bring them to you!"

Yesterday in the court, Xue Huaiyuan witnessed the entire process of Chu Xinyue being conferred the title of marshal.

Chu Xinyue has a good relationship with Xue Youli, and everyone in the Xue family knows it.

When Chu Xinyue was going to the border, Xue Huaiyuan guessed that his daughter would probably go with her as well.

Yesterday he asked Xue Wuyou to quietly come to Prince Kang's Mansion to inquire about the time his daughter would leave, and he came specially to see them off.

Xue Wuyou nodded quickly, "Yes, yes, yes! Dad definitely didn't pack these things overnight! Mom prepared them all! Sister, I also prepared a lot of your favorite snacks and dried meat for you, don't starve yourself on the road! When you get to the border, you must take good care of yourself, understand?"

Xue Youli looked at the worry and reluctance in their eyes, and her nose suddenly felt sore.

She bit her lip and nodded vigorously, "I know! Daddy, Third Brother, go back and tell Mom, I will take good care of myself!"

Xue Huaiyuan opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, his eyes turned red.

No matter how far away a son goes, his father will worry about him!

How could he feel at ease about his son Li'er, who had never been to such a far place alone since he was a child?

He pushed his third son forward, choked up, and turned his face away. "Tell your sister the rest!"

He was afraid that if he continued talking, he would burst into tears.

After all, there are outsiders here, and he also wants to save face!

Xue Wuyou took off his and his own bags one by one and handed them to Xue Youli, "Ali, nothing else matters. The most important thing is that you and the princess must return safely!"

Chu Xinyue, who was standing beside him, immediately nodded and said to the Xue family father and son, "Uncle, Third Brother, I will protect Ah Li and make sure that not even a hair of hers is missing!"

Xue Huaiyuan turned his head and looked at Chu Xinyue, "Princess, you should take care of yourself too! Two of these packages are prepared for you!"

Chu Xinyue's parents both passed away, so when Xue Huaiyuan prepared something for Xue Youli, he also brought a portion for her.

"Thank you, uncle!"

Xue Youli chatted with them for a few more words, then looked up at the gorgeous morning glow in the sky, "Dad, Third Brother, it's getting late, we should leave."

When Xue Huaiyuan heard this, his eyes instantly turned red.

He felt sad and reluctant, but he still waved at Xue Youli and Chu Xinyue, "Let's go! Be careful on the road!"

Chu Xinyue raised the long sword in her hand and gave orders in a sonorous and powerful voice, "All soldiers, listen up! Move out!"

"Yes!" All the soldiers answered loudly.

They packed their luggage and got on their horses.

With solemn and resolute expressions, they set out on the road to the border with their families' earnest expectations.

So, Xue Huaiyuan and Xue Wuji watched Xue Youli, Chu Xinyue and their group slowly walk away.

After everyone disappeared from the street, Xue Huaiyuan couldn't hold back any longer, "Wuwuwu... Li'er... my beloved daughter... you must come back soon..."

Xue Wuyou patted Xue Huaiyuan on the back and reminded him softly, "Dad, stop crying. It's dawn now. It would be embarrassing if someone recognizes you."

Xue Huaiyuan slapped him on the head and said angrily, "You unfilial son, your sister went to such a dangerous place, and I can't cry? If someone sees it, let them watch it. I don't mind being embarrassed... Wuwuwu... Li'er... you have to come back soon..."

Xue Wuyou rubbed his head, rolled his eyes, and said to him, "I heard that crying when sending off your relatives is unlucky!"

"Why didn't you say so earlier, you little brat!" Xue Huaiyuan glared at him, rolled up his sleeves and wiped away his tears, "Let's go! Let's go home! With Princess Qinghe protecting her, your sister will definitely return safely!"

A few days after Xue Youli and Chu Xinyue left the capital, famine broke out in Jiangnan.

Although Murong Ye was far away in Japan, he was the first to receive the news that the victims of the famine were fleeing everywhere, so he informed Hisaikawa Kazuo that they could prepare to attack the border of Kyushu.

"The commander sent by Murong Che this time is a woman who has never been on the battlefield. Coupled with the outbreak of famine in Jiuzhou, Murong Che must be extremely worried. Now is the best time for us to send troops!"

Kusai Chuan Yifu immediately said, "I'll take you to see the king to discuss the dispatch of troops!"

"Yes, Father!"

In order to gain the support of Hisaikawa Kazuo, Murong Ye married Hisaikawa Hezi on the first night they arrived in Japan.

Even though Hisako's face was disfigured, he was patient and gentle to her, and took her feelings into consideration no matter what he did.

After spending a few days together, Jiu Caichuan Yifu noticed everything Murong Ye said and did, and was very satisfied with his son-in-law.

Therefore, when he learned that large areas of cities in the south of Jiuzhou were suffering from famine, he immediately took Murong Ye to meet the king of Japan.

The Japanese king himself had no power and no opinions of his own, he just followed whatever Kazuo Kusaichuan said.

So, not long after the three of them had a secret conversation, the King of Japan issued an order to attack the border of Kyushu according to Kazuo Hisaikawa's wishes.

Kusai Kazuo was the commander-in-chief. Murong Ye knew the terrain of Jiuzhou and the fighting style of the Jiuzhou generals very well, so he followed Kusai Kazuo and served as a military advisor.

This time, Japan placed all its chips on Murong Ye. Not only did it send out an army of 80,000, but it also selected 1,000 ninjas with the strongest ninjutsu in Japan to accompany him.

Kusaichuan Yifu was very frank with Murong Ye and told him the whole battle plan. "The ninjas are going to assassinate the commander who came to the border first. Once the commander is dead, the morale of the Jiuzhou army will be gone! After the commander is eliminated, I will send some ninjas to sneak into your Jiuzhou palace and assassinate the emperor of Jiuzhou. Without the emperor, Jiuzhou will be yours and mine!"

Murong Ye heard the hidden meaning in his last sentence. This Jiu Caichuan Yifu was very ambitious. Not only did the King of Japan obey his orders, but now he also wanted to annex the entire Kyushu. He was not afraid of choking him to death.

Murong Ye complained a few words in his heart, but he was still extremely respectful to him on the surface, "I will follow my father's arrangements in everything!"

After he married Hisako Kusai, he also changed the way he addressed Hisako Kusai.

Hisaikawa Kazuo had no sons, only two daughters.

Murong Ye called him "father" all the time, which made him feel happy. "Okay, you are most familiar with the situation in Jiuzhou. After we break through the northeastern border, I will arrange for you to go to the capital of Jiuzhou to inquire about the news!"

Murong Ye stood at attention and lowered his head, "Hi!"

Seeing that he had mastered Japanese etiquette, Kusaichuan Yifu immediately raised his head and laughed, "Mr. Murong, don't worry, I will definitely help you take the throne of the Emperor of Jiuzhou. But, as we agreed before, the cities in the northeast will all belong to me, and you can't go back on your word."

Murong Ye sneered in his heart, but his face became more respectful. "We in Jiuzhou have a saying that once a word is spoken, it cannot be taken back. I will definitely do what I promised you!"

However, whether he will still be alive to enjoy the joy of victory is another matter!

…

Jiuzhou, the Imperial Palace.

Xuanzheng Hall.

During the morning court session, officials were reporting to Murong Che about the famine in Jiangnan.

"Your Majesty, because you allocated disaster relief grain in a timely manner, the victims of this famine have received sufficient food, and the government has also stepped in to properly resettle them."

"In addition to opening the warehouses to distribute grain, local governments have followed your instructions and, after investigating the disaster, have begun to build water conservancy projects. Now the famine has been brought under control, and the people's hearts have been appeased!"

"Your Majesty is wise! Thanks to your early call on the people to plant cold-resistant crops, we were able to come up with so much food in the face of famine!"

"It only took us three days to completely control the famine! The disaster relief supplies sent to Jiangnan were sufficient, and there were no casualties among the victims. This is the first time in the history of Jiuzhou!"

"According to your instructions, officials in Jiangnan have deliberately exaggerated the severity of the famine disaster. They have spread rumors of disaster victims fleeing everywhere to the northern border and northeastern border!"

What Murong Ye received was false news that Murong Che had ordered people to deliberately spread to confuse them.

In fact, after learning that Japan had sent troops to attack the northeastern border, all the people of Kyushu, including the victims of the disaster, signed up to join the army, wanting to do their part to protect their families and the land of Kyushu!

The disaster brought all the people of Kyushu together. They had only one thought in their minds: to drive out the enemy and protect their homeland!

At this moment, when the ministers in the court mentioned the famine, no one looked sad, but their eyes were brighter than each other.

Some of them had been officials for decades, but this was the first time they realized that preventing famine in advance could not only save the lives of so many people, but also make everyone think and work together!

After listening to what everyone said, Murong Che smiled with a strategic plan in his eyes, "Planting cold-resistant crops is because Concubine Xi accidentally saw the cold-resistant crops in the cold palace when she went there before, and she proposed to me that drought-stricken areas can promote the planting of such cold-resistant crops. Inspired by her, I ordered officials to go to various places to promote the planting of crops such as sorghum. This disaster can be controlled in the shortest time, and Concubine Xi has made an indelible contribution!"

“熙妃娘娘慧眼如炬，她的提議救了無數九洲百姓的性命！”

群臣聽完慕容徹的話，對薛悠黎肅然起敬。

慕容徹聽他們七嘴八舌地誇贊薛悠黎，薄唇微勾，眼底卻泛起幾分思念。

算算日子，薛悠黎跟楚馨月應該已經抵達東北邊境，不知道她們現在如何了。

與此同時，東北邊境的營帳裏，薛悠黎跟楚馨月穿着厚實的織錦鬥篷，低頭研究桌案上的疆域圖。

她們從來沒有離戰場這麽近過，為了守護所有跟随她們來邊境的将士們，她們仔細對比與東瀛接壤的幾座城池，商議作戰策略。

片刻後，薛悠黎擡手指着中間的寧城，對楚馨月道，“阿月，寧城易守難攻，而且後方道路平坦，便于支援，咱們就把東瀛的主力引誘到這裏，好好陪他們玩玩！”

楚馨月點點頭，“可慕容邺是九洲人，他之前不止一次随軍征戰沙場，對寧城的地形應該很清楚。他會上當嗎？”

薛悠黎睨着疆域圖，篤定道，“他會！他要是知道來邊境跟他對峙的是你跟慕容楠，怕是睡覺到時候做夢都會笑醒！”

在慕容邺看來，慕容楠就是個一事無成的閑散親王，而楚馨月空有一身武藝，行事卻很莽撞。

這樣一對從來沒有上過戰場的夫妻成了這次對抗東瀛的主帥，慕容邺得知這個消息，必定會輕敵。

而他不知道的是，慕容徹把他們夫妻放在明處，也有迷惑敵人的目的。

在所有人來邊境的時候，慕容徹暗中派了幾名經驗老道的将領從旁協助楚馨月和慕容楠。

薛悠黎正要接話，天機書突然出現在她眼前。

【劇情觸發：檢測到有關慕容邺的大秘密！】

薛悠黎看着天機書上的一行大字，頓時來精神了：【什麽秘密？】

天機書：【慕容邺跟久蔡合子成婚後，嫌棄久蔡合子滿是疤痕的身體。為了不跟久蔡合子洞房，他故意在司剎面前賣慘，最後是司剎自願獻身，在他灌醉了久蔡合子後，替他跟久蔡合子圓房的！】

薛悠黎看完天機書上的內容，被慕容邺惡心壞了。

這個男人真是又當又立，想攀上伊賀派的高枝借助伊賀派的勢力殺回九洲，卻不肯為了自己的野心犧牲一點點色相。

薛悠黎：【洞房花燭夜新郎換了人，久蔡合子一點感覺都沒有嗎？】

天機書：【久蔡合子畢竟沒經歷過這種事，再加上司剎跟慕容邺無論是體形還是身高都很接近，醉酒狀态下，久蔡合子根本發現不了異樣！】

“阿黎？阿黎？想什麽想得這麽入神，我跟你說話，你都不理我？”

在薛悠黎跟天機書交流的時候，楚馨月伸手在她眼前晃了晃。

薛悠黎拉住她，把從天機書上看來的八卦跟她說了。

楚馨月聽完，把慕容邺罵了個狗血淋頭，“靠！我真沒見過這麽不要臉的人！雖說久蔡合子也不是什麽好東西，但是慕容邺這種軟飯硬吃，還要手下替他獻身的行為，簡直豬狗不如！”

她越想越氣，“不行！咱們得想個法子讓久蔡川一夫和久蔡合子看清楚他的真面目！”

以久蔡川一夫對女兒的寵愛，要是知道慕容邺是這種人，就算不當場閹了他，也要扒他一層皮！

兩人讨論完八卦，又聊完正事，慕容楠就神色匆忙地進了營帳。

“前方探子傳來消息，慕容邺領着久蔡川一夫去了寧城！他們帶領的幾萬大軍就駐紮在城外，一副随時準備攻城的架勢！”

楚馨月眉頭一擰，“阿黎，果然被你猜中了！慕容邺的目标是寧城！”

薛悠黎回道，“寧城的駐軍已經做好與寧城共存亡的準備，咱們準備一下今晚過去！”

楚馨月毫不遲疑道，“行！我點好人馬……”

然而，她的話還沒說完，薛悠黎就搖頭道，“援兵讓五弟領過去，咱們倆收拾一下，夜襲東瀛大營！”

楚馨月一聽這話，眼神都放光了，“夜襲？我喜歡！到時候把慕容邺個小八嘎的腦袋擰下來當球踢！”

慕容楠看着她們，眼底浮起一抹擔心，“阿月，東瀛大營守衛森嚴，況且還有忍者隐藏在暗處，你們去太危險了！”

楚馨月扭頭看向他，“不危險的話哪裏需要我們出馬？再說了，我們就是要把忍者一鍋端了！”

見慕容楠還是不放心的模樣，她又接着道，“有阿黎的腦力值，再加上我的武力值，我們就是最強組合了！”

慕容楠不清楚薛悠黎有秘密武器，“你們如果堅持要去，我陪你們一起！”

薛悠黎能理解他，“五弟，我保證把阿月全須全尾地帶回來！而且，我們這次過去只為打探敵情，人多了反而容易暴露行蹤！”

楚馨月拍了一下慕容楠的肩膀，“是啊，你領着一隊人馬先過去增援，盡可能高調，以轉移東瀛那幫家夥的注意力，這樣我們也更安全！”

慕容楠沉默地蹙緊眉頭，在心裏權衡再三，終于同意了，“好，你們萬事小心！”

薛悠黎往營帳外瞥了一眼，當看到有個黑影正在朝這邊靠近時，立刻壓低聲音對慕容楠道，“五弟，你出去就率領将士去支援寧城，記住聲勢越浩大越好！”

“好！”慕容楠應了一聲，再次把目光投向楚馨月，“阿月，我不在你身邊，你要好好的，千萬別受傷！”

薛悠黎見他當着自己的面肉麻兮兮，幹脆走到他倆中間當電燈泡，“五弟，有我在，肯定把五弟妹毫發無損地帶回來！你去做你該做的事，我們做我們該做的事，事成之後在寧城吃宵夜慶祝！”

說完，她伸手指了指已經湊到營帳跟前的黑影，給他們打了個手勢。

慕容楠心領神會，“阿月，我走了，你們等着我回來！”

說完，他又盯着楚馨月看了一眼，這才轉身出去。

營帳外，阿雁剛湊近過來，還沒偷聽到有用的消息，就看到慕容楠從營帳裏出來。

她趕緊躲到帳篷的陰影裏，聽見慕容楠調遣人馬，阿雁眼珠轉了轉，立刻追上去。

待阿雁離開，王大力走進營帳，向楚馨月禀報，“郡主，阿雁跟着康王殿下走了。”

楚馨月露出了然的表情，想了想，對王大力道，“今晚，你的任務就是監視阿雁的一舉一動，能做到嗎？”

王大力毫不遲疑地點頭，“能！保證完成任務！”

楚馨月在他離開前，又叮囑道，“小心點，別被阿雁發現，也別受傷。”

“好！”

夜深人靜，寒風凜冽。

薛悠黎跟楚馨月一路快馬加鞭，在抵達寧城後，她們一刻也沒有耽擱，直接換上夜行衣，翻牆出城。

“阿黎，多虧你娘親給你做衣裳的時候，順便給我也做了一件，穿在夜行衣裏頭，真保暖！”

“我娘做的保暖衣內襯是貂絨，确實暖和！”薛悠黎回話的時候，摸了摸脖子上的圍脖，“還好咱們在脖子上系個圍脖，要不然冷風肯定呼呼地往脖子裏灌。”

“這種鬼天氣打仗，真不是人幹的事！”楚馨月哈了兩口氣，身上的怨氣比女鬼還重，“就沖着這一點，姑奶奶也要弄死慕容邺！”

黑暗中，薛悠黎跟她一起從繩索滑下去，雙腳落地後，她們看着遠處一個個蒙古包一樣的營帳，眼底不約而同地掠過一抹興奮，“走吧，該咱們大顯身手了！”

此時，東瀛的營帳裏，慕容邺跟久蔡川一夫也在商量禦敵的對策。

“父親，我剛剛收到消息，慕容楠連夜帶援軍正在趕往寧城。我們可以在援軍趕到之前搶先一步攻下寧城。”

寧城背後是一片平原，一旦這裏失守，東瀛大軍就可以一路打進京城。

久蔡川一夫沒想到慕容邺在九洲大軍當中還安插了細作，有人時刻向他們彙報九洲大軍的動向，他們就能掌握主動權，搶占先機。

“慕容君，如果我們能順利拿下寧城，我一定記你頭功！”

“多謝父親大人！”

久蔡川一夫看着慕容邺卑躬屈膝的模樣，內心得到極大的滿足。

上一次慕容邺到訪東瀛的時候，姿态擺得很高，如今像條喪家之犬，在他面前只能夾着尾巴做人。

久蔡川一夫得意地睨着對自己彎腰鞠躬的男人，正想再叮囑他幾句，突然外頭傳來一道驚呼聲，“着火了！我們的糧草着火了！”