Qin Yue Zhao took the blood-stained bamboo tube and said to Chen Wan'er, "Don't stand there, quickly take him down to treat his wounds!"
Chen Wan'er accepted the order and withdrew.
Huo Tingye stood next to her and leaned in to stare at the superstition.
The superstition was contained in a bamboo tube about half a foot long, sealed with beeswax and rope, and preserved perfectly.
It seems the secret agents are really risking their lives to protect them.
Qin Yue Zhao untied the rope on the bamboo tube, unfolded it for a glance, and then quickly closed it again.
Seeing the anger in her eyes, Huo Tingye asked with concern, "What's wrong? What did you write?"
Qin Yue Zhao gripped the letter tightly and coldly cursed, "Father is bedridden, yet the eldest prince seizes power and attempts to force me to abandon the city and return to court? What for? To punish me for delaying military operations or for disobeying imperial orders?"
"Or are you saying that all the people in this city are not human, and can be abandoned at will?"
"What is the eldest prince? Relying on his mother's favor with the emperor, he colludes with the inner palace and the court, attempting to force the emperor to abdicate! Father Emperor is not dead yet, what is he anyway?"
Upon hearing this, Huo Tingye quickly pried her hands open and took out the secret letter.
He was furious when he saw the Crown Prince's seal on it.
"Damn it! I've suffered humiliation my whole life, but this is the angrier I've ever been! That Qin Yueming is an incompetent good-for-nothing who only knows how to eat, drink, and have fun all day long. He can't even be a city lord, so why should he be the crown prince?"
Upon hearing his words, the other lieutenants also became enraged.
"Damn it! We've been working for the imperial court, and they're living the high life while we're eating and drinking like madmen, completely disregarding our safety! Your Highness, shall we rebel?"
"Yes, the imperial court doesn't care about us anymore. We've been defending Liangcheng for over a year, and the court hasn't given us even a single grain of rice. It's as if the gods have intervened. Why should we risk our lives for such a court?"
Out of consideration for Qin Yue Zhao's status, someone nudged the agitated deputy general with their elbow.
Those lieutenants not only didn't restrain themselves, but their insults became even more vicious:
"What's wrong? Are we wrong? His Highness risks his life for the country, doing the hardest work, yet he's not favored by His Majesty! Why?"
"I am a member of the Huo family, and I only listen to General Huo! General Huo dedicated his life to the people, and even if he dies on the battlefield, I will never abandon the people!"
"We, too, support Princess Yue Zhao! All other orders are worthless! We'll just rebel against them if necessary!"
Some people, upon hearing this, also sighed:
"Eh, that's easy to say. How can we rebel? We only have 50,000 men. We can't even leave this Liang City! The gods said they would send weapons, but they haven't sent them yet."
"..."
Huo Tingye looked at the speaker; it was Ling Tianen, a fourth-rank general whose father had been a protégé of the emperor's father-in-law.
He used to live a carefree and dissolute life in Kyoto, but later he was ordered to follow Huo's army to Liangcheng to fight against the enemy.
As a result, Liangcheng was defeated and then suffered a famine, and his family in the capital didn't even care about his life or death.
During this time, he ate grass roots and tree bark. Almost all the servants in his house who could die had died. If Qin Yuezhao hadn't given him the last of his grains, his wife and son would have starved to death.
Since then, he has stopped being a spoiled brat and has become more diligent in patrolling the camp and taking attendance.
It's just that people have a big mouth; they say whatever comes to mind.
Qin Yue Zhao actually liked his brainless nature, and chuckled, "You're right, we must win the battle and return to the capital honorably!"
"How do you plan to fight this battle?" Huo Tingye asked.
Qin Yue Zhao looked at the sky and let out a deep breath.
The yellow sand filled the sky, the atmosphere was oppressive, and she frowned, looking very melancholy.
Fifty thousand remnant soldiers faced a Northern Barbarian army of nearly three hundred thousand; such a battle, in history, is rare in which a smaller force defeated a larger one.
"First recruit soldiers, then write a letter to General Chu at Nanping Pass."
"General Chu Yunhe, who is stationed a hundred miles away?" Huo Tingye frowned. "Chu Yunhe and the Huo family army have always been at odds. How could he possibly come to our aid?"
"Besides, the Northern Barbarians have an army of 300,000, while he only has less than 100,000 soldiers. Even if he wants to protect himself, he won't stand on our side, will he?"
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