Chapter 178 Retreat without a fight
"Yuru, I don't look down on women, but you've never been to a battlefield. It's a chaotic place. If something happens to you, how can I explain it to your father?"
Gu Yuru clenched Madam Gu's hand, "Mom, you love me too, you should know that I love Mumu as much as you do me. If anything happens to her, I won't be able to live."
"But if Mumu doesn't go, what if grandpa and the others are poisoned? Mumu wants to save grandpa and uncles. Grandma, Mumu can fight and detoxify, so nothing will happen." Li Mumu said quickly, fearing that Mrs. Gu would stop her.
"Mom, there's never been a saying in the Gu family that women are inferior to men. My father and brothers are all capable of fighting on the battlefield, and so am I. What my father taught me since I was little is no different from what my brothers taught me. I also want to help them. One more person means more strength."
Gu Lan sighed, "Aunt, I want to go with you too."
"Don't join in the fun. The child is so young and needs you right now."
Gu Lan looked at the child in her arms and felt very uncomfortable.
"If you all go one by one, then I, an old lady, might as well go with you." Old Madam Gu was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
"grandmother!"
"mother!"
"I'm just kidding. I know I'll only cause more trouble if I go. Sigh... since you've made up your minds, can I stop you just by disapproving?" Madam Gu looked at her daughter and the two little kids. "Go ahead, but be sure to be safe."
Gu Yuru nodded, "Mom, I understand."
Knowing that their mother and sister were going to the battlefield, the three Li brothers could no longer sit still. Even Li Yunjue was clamoring to go.
"You? You're not as strong as your sister, and you're not much better at martial arts, let alone archery, so you should stay home."
Li Yunye said with a look of disgust.
Li Yunjue felt so wronged, "Mom!"
"Yun Jue, listen to your second brother and don't go. Yun Ye, you stay too."
"Mom~I..."
Gu Yuru shook her head. "We're all gone, and there won't even be that man left at home. What if your grandmother and aunts get into trouble? Although you're younger than your eldest brother, I know you've always been the most attentive and thoughtful. You have to protect them and your younger brother."
Li Yunye bit his lip and said, "Let Big Brother stay. His injury..."
"My injury has healed a long time ago. Mother has her reasons for making such arrangements. You can stay. There are still several children in this family who need you."
Li Yunye naturally wanted to go with his mother, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt that what she said made sense.
My cousin is the only one in the family who knows martial arts, but she just gave birth, and if she really meets someone, there won’t be anyone in the family who can fight.
Not to mention my elderly grandmother, aunt and younger brothers.
"Okay then, Mom, I'll listen to you. You must take care of yourself."
"I know."
Li Yunjue wanted to say something, but was glared at by Li Yunye.
If you want to go, go early rather than late.
The main reason is that Li Mumu is afraid that something may happen ahead.
However, just in case, Li Mumu asked someone to send a letter to her godfather, Magistrate Nie. She was still a fugitive, and if the higher-ups came to investigate and they were not there, it would be a big deal.
With his words, the county magistrate below had to give him some face.
When Magistrate Nie learned that the women and children of the Gu family were all going to the battlefield, he felt mixed emotions.
"Mumu...she's so young, what is she going to do?" Mrs. Nie asked worriedly.
Magistrate Nie sighed, "She went, and the Gu family allowed her to go, so she must have her reasons. But this war..."
"What's wrong? Please tell me."
"Originally, the enemy generals had fought General Gu several times, but never won."
"Isn't that a good thing? General Gu won't lose this time."
"Madam, it's not that simple." Magistrate Nie shook his head. "Although I'm not in the capital, I've heard that no one in the court accepted the challenge, so General Gu had no choice but to take the field."
"Why? Can't you beat him?"
"For these reasons, even though it's easy for Old Man Gu to defeat him, others don't stand such a high chance of winning. Moreover, after years of war, the national treasury is empty, and the last time we suffered heavy losses, we haven't even had time to catch our breath, and now we have to fight again. Think about it..."
"Insufficient food and supplies, and the situation in the rear is tight?" Mrs. Nie's face suddenly turned dark.
"That's right, so General Gu is like a housewife trying to cook without rice. Not only are we short of food and fodder, but we also have far fewer men and horses than the enemy."
"Isn't that just going to die?"
"So what? Does General Gu have any other choice? Even if he does, he won't."
Madam Nie was so anxious, "What should we do with Mumu? Mumu is still so young."
"Under an overturned nest, how can the eggs remain intact?" Prefect Nie said heartbrokenly, "If Mr. Gu fails this time, the Gu family will bear the infamy and be executed. Will Mumu survive then? We can only fight to the death."
"But with what you just said, how can we win this battle?"
Magistrate Nie shook his head. "Mumu is a blessed child. Perhaps there will be a turnaround?"
At this moment, he looked up at the overcast sky and wanted to say something, but he was surrounded by a feeling of powerlessness and ended up saying nothing.
Mrs. Nie burst into tears just thinking about what Li Mumu was about to face.
She is still so young.
She is still a child.
I have already suffered the pain of exile, what kind of suffering do I have to endure?
Why doesn’t God let a child go?
After leaving the city, Xie Xun and Gu Yuru and her son split up into two groups.
"Where are you going?" Li Yunchao asked.
"There's not enough food. I'll go find a way."
"What do you have in mind?" Li Yunchao asked vigilantly.
Xie Xun's eyes flickered, but he didn't say anything.
Li Mumu frowned, "Are you going to Liangzhou?"
"I……"
"I heard from my grandfather that there are some of the former crown prince's old subordinates there. Are you planning to look for them there?"
"Ahem...how...did you know?"
Li Mumu was extremely grateful that she had guessed correctly and in time.
"But Grandpa also said that person can't be trusted."
"How could that be?" Xie Xun frowned. Could it be that the information he got was wrong?
"If you don't believe me, go ahead and try it. See if you still have a chance to overturn your father's verdict."
"I..." Xie Xun looked at Li Mumu.
"If you go, your identity will be exposed. Even if my grandfather wins the battle, he will die."
"How are we going to deal with the food problem? The enemy keeps wasting time. If they're defeated without a fight, he'll still die!"
"If it can last ten days, then it should be resolved within ten days. If it can last five days, then it should be resolved within five days, right?"
"It's easier said than done." Xie Xun frowned.
Li Mumu curled her lips. She was a well-read person, so how could she not know the enemy's tactics?
Goldfinger is still very useful.
"Don't they like to poison people? Then we should give them a taste of their own medicine and poison them with a more powerful poison so they can retreat without a fight."
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