Xuanyuan Zhan was stunned when he heard the soldier's shout. He suddenly tightened the reins and turned around in disbelief.
Ye Feng and Ye Yun also stared at the soldier with blank expressions.
What's the meaning?
The Northern Rong have attacked the city?
Why would the Northern Rong suddenly attack the city?
The soldier rushed to Xuan Yuanzhan, and before he could catch his breath, he dismounted and knelt down, saying, "Your Highness, the Northern Rong have launched a surprise attack on the northern border, breached the northern pass, and are already outside Beifeng City, with their army at the gates."
Xuanyuan Zhan was instantly shocked and angrily said, "How dare they, the Northern Rong!"
This isn't the first time the Northern Rong have invaded Eastern Chu. After being defeated by General Su, they haven't made any moves for several years. Why would they suddenly invade Eastern Chu again at this time?
Xuanyuan Zhan was worried about the Northern Rong invading the northern border, but he was also really worried about Bai Shi and Su Xuening. He frowned and looked at the soldier, asking, "How is the battle going?"
The soldier said urgently, "The Northern Rong army is at the city gates. Bei Feng has activated the Zhenbei Army, which is currently resisting the Northern Rong army from the city walls. However, the Northern Rong army is coming on strong, and I'm afraid the Zhenbei Army will not be able to hold them off. General Ling sent me to ask Your Highness for help."
Xuanyuan Zhan was even more confused after hearing this.
Something happened in Kyoto, and he wanted to rush back to Kyoto immediately, but he really couldn't ignore such a big matter as the Northern Rong invasion.
If the Zhenbei Army is truly defeated and Beifeng is forced to retreat, the northern lands will soon be occupied by the Northern Rong. The people of the northern lands are already living in dire straits; if they are truly invaded by the Northern Rong, the northern lands will become an even more hellish place.
As a prince of Eastern Chu, Xuan Yuanzhan simply could not stand idly by.
Xuanyuan Zhan turned his horse around, frowned, and looked at Ye Yun: "Go back to the capital and make sure to protect the Dowager Consort and the Princess Consort."
Ye Yun refused to leave Xuan Yuanzhan: "Your Highness, there are plenty of people in the capital. Not only Ye Yu and Ye Xue, but also Ye Shui and Ye Bing are here. The Holy Prince's Mansion has so many guards and soldiers who will protect the Dowager Consort and the Princess Consort. Didn't the letter also say that Doctor Luo and Uncle You, and even Master Dao Yi are in the Prince's Mansion? The Dowager Consort and the Princess Consort do not lack a subordinate to protect them."
Even if he goes back, he might not be of any help. It would be more important for him to stay by the prince's side and protect him.
Xuan Yuanzhan felt a little more at ease knowing that his masters and uncles were all in the Holy King's Mansion.
With such high martial arts skills, my master and uncles should be able to protect my mother and Ning'er.
Xuanyuan Zhan then looked at Ye Feng and Ye Yun: "One of you go to Baichuan to recall all the soldiers, and the other go to the Beian City military camp to gather all the disaster relief soldiers."
"Yes," the two replied, and immediately went their separate ways.
Ye Yun went to Baichuan again. He had been in Baichuan for the past few days and knew the roads there very well.
Ye Feng returned to Beian City.
Xuanyuan Zhan went to the Beiliang River.
News of the Northern Rong's invasion of the northern border quickly spread throughout the entire northern lands.
The civilians and soldiers digging the riverbed were all in a state of panic, unsure whether they should continue digging, go to help fight the war, or abandon the city and flee.
When Xuanyuan Zhan arrived, the river construction had already stopped, and everyone seemed to be waiting for him.
"Your Highness." Upon seeing Xuan Yuanzhan, Bai Ying and the others immediately came forward: "Is it true that the Northern Rong have invaded the northern border?"
"Yes." Xuanyuan Zhan nodded, looking seriously at the capital reserve army on the river and said, "Follow me back to the camp first, and we'll prepare to head to Beifeng."
"Yes, sir," the soldiers replied, dropping their hoes and forming a line.
Bai Ying frowned and said, "Your Highness, what about us?"
Zhang Debiao and the others also stared eagerly at Xuan Yuanzhan.
Xuanyuan Zhan looked at them and said, "Leave half of you to continue digging the canal, and send the other half to the other five districts to distribute disaster relief food."
Upon hearing this, the soldiers of Beicheng looked at each other, somewhat unwilling, but remembering what Xuan Yuanzhan had said about military discipline, they dared not ask any questions.
Bai Ying couldn't help but ask, "Why doesn't Your Highness let us go together to resist the Northern Rong?"
Xuanyuan Zhan frowned and said, "I don't know the situation in Beifeng yet. None of you have been on the battlefield before, so you shouldn't go to the battlefield this time. It just so happens that the soldiers in the city who were responsible for disaster relief have all been transferred, and someone needs to do the work of distributing food for disaster relief."
"Your Highness..." Bai Ying wanted to say something more.
Xuanyuan Zhan solemnly raised his hand and said, "Let's leave it at that for now. If the situation becomes serious, you will have to go to the battlefield even if you don't want to."
Bai Ying knew that Xuan Yuanzhan was actually protecting them, and military orders could not be disobeyed. Although he wanted to go to the battlefield, he didn't say anything more.
The people who were digging the canal couldn't help but ask Xuanyuan Zhan, "Your Highness, shall we continue digging this canal?"
"Dig!" Xuan Yuanzhan shouted, "Keep digging your canals! You'll continue to eat and be paid as usual. As long as the Northern Rong don't invade Beifeng City, you must continue your work. The people of the entire northern region are waiting for water!"
Xuan Yuanzhan's words made the people even more uneasy: "Your Highness, will the Northern Rong invade Beifeng City?"
Several years ago, the Northern Rong attacked the Northern Lands. If it weren't for General Su's arrival and his defeat of the Northern Rong army, the Northern Lands might have been occupied by the Northern Rong.
At that time, the north was also in chaos, and the people there were filled with fear and anxiety.
Xuanyuan Zhan looked at the people who were staring at him expectantly and said loudly, "As long as I am in the North, I will not allow the Northern Rong to break through Beifeng City. If the Northern Rong want to occupy the North, they will have to step over my dead body!"
Xuanyuan Zhan's resounding words and voice deeply moved the people.
That's great! With the prince's words, they suddenly didn't find the Northern Rong so scary anymore.
The prince will protect them!
As he spoke, Xuanyuan Zhan led his soldiers toward Beian City.
Bai Ying and the others were deeply moved as they watched Xuan Yuanzhan's retreating figure.
“There’s a prince in the north, it can’t be him again.” Zhang Debiao said, then murmured, “The prince doesn’t let us go to the battlefield because he wants to protect us.”
Li Yuanbao frowned and said, "Qian Ergou and I will stay and continue digging the canal. You two go into the city to distribute the disaster relief grain. We cannot let down the prince's kindness. We must complete the tasks he entrusted to us. We also need to be ready to go to the battlefield at any time."
Bai Ying nodded and said, "Vice General Li is right. We must be ready to go to the battlefield at any time. It's decided then. We'll go into the city to distribute the grain, and you continue digging the canal."
They could not disobey the prince's orders; they had to carry out disaster relief and grain distribution, and they also had to be ready to go to the battlefield at any time.
The group split up, with Bai Ying and Zhang Debiao leading 20,000 Beicheng soldiers back to Bei'an City.
When Xuanyuan Zhan arrived at the military camp in Beian City, Ye Feng had already gathered Deputy General Liu and the remaining reserve troops from the capital city and were waiting for him at the camp.
"Your Highness." Upon seeing Xuan Yuanzhan return, Ye Feng hurriedly stepped forward: "Are you still waiting for Ye Yun?"
"We won't wait any longer; he'll go to Beifeng himself."
Xuanyuan Zhan said a few words, then shouted to the soldiers, "Proceed to Beifeng!"
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