"It'll get cold after this autumn rain!"
On the walls of Yuguan, Li Xin gazed at the distant horizon and said, "In a little over a month, it will snow. This battle must be over quickly!"
"Your Highness, don't worry!"
Zhao Bingzhang stroked his beard and said with a smile, "Even if it snows, it doesn't matter. Over the past few years, our Dongning army has gained a lot of experience in fighting in the snow. Moreover, muskets, cannons, grenades and the like are not afraid of wind and snow."
"Flintlock guns are vulnerable to rain!"
Li Xin shook his head slightly and said, "However, the enemy probably doesn't know this yet. Are the soldiers at the front still digging trenches today?"
Let's surround them for now. If we can subdue them without a fight, that would be even better!
After all, they're also citizens of our great nation!
"Your Highness is merciful!"
Zhao Bingzhang uttered a word of praise.
Just then, a staff officer rushed to Li Xin's side with a letter in his hand.
"Your Highness,"
The staff officer, still catching his breath, blurted out, "Urgent news from the capital!"
"The capital?"
Li Xin frowned slightly as he took the letter, feeling somewhat puzzled.
What happened in the capital?
Upon opening the letter, one finds only a few dozen words on it.
However, these few dozen words were like arrays, piercing into Li Xin's eyes.
"Li Ming led over 100,000 troops to defend the capital and retreated south. Their destination is unknown and reconnaissance is underway. All officials of the capital have also moved south."
"this……"
Li Xin was dumbfounded and could not believe the contents of the letter.
"Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Zhao Bingzhang was somewhat surprised, not expecting His Highness to be so astonished.
He moved closer to Li Xin and looked at the contents of the letter.
Upon seeing this, Zhao Bingzhang was also stunned.
How... is this possible?
"Li Ming actually abandoned the capital and led his troops south?"
Zhao Bingzhang was somewhat shocked and muttered, "What are they trying to do? Abandon the capital and head south? I really can't understand what Li Ming is up to?"
After a moment, Zhao Bingzhang thought of a possibility and said in a daze, "Could it be that Li Ming is planning to abandon Jidong, the capital, Zhili, and the provinces of Daiyue, Hedong, and Heluo, and instead go to Jiangnan?"
It seems that the governors-general of the provinces in the Jiangnan region are all close associates of Li Ming and Song Xianze.
So, does this mean Li Ming is prepared to abandon the hopelessly lost North and instead maintain a standoff and separatist regime with us in the South?
"Um?"
Li Xin was stunned by Zhao Bingzhang's words.
Now that you mention it, it's actually quite possible!
Li Ming had to cut off his arm to survive!
He truly has immense courage and perseverance to make such a decision!
"Return to the manor!"
Li Xin said in a deep voice.
Back at the mansion, the two stood in front of the map, looking at the situation on it.
Currently, Zhang Fuchen's troops in the Yuguan City and Jidong area have been surrounded by the Dongning army.
It was only a matter of time before Zhang Fuchen's troops were defeated.
In addition, small groups of special operations forces are active in eastern Hebei, Zhili, Daiyue, and even the Heluo region.
Except for the province of Hoa Loc, where the militia forces are relatively weak, the militia forces in other regions are developing rapidly.
There are not many soldiers left capable of fighting in these places.
The militia is like a festering sore on fresh meat; it can't be removed, and you can only watch helplessly as the meat rots away bit by bit.
In the Jiangnan region and other areas, Dongning has not yet dispatched special operations forces.
These areas, which were under the control of Li Ming and Song Xianze, had not yet been damaged.
Now, it is highly likely that they will lead an army of over 100,000, detour through the south, and abandon the north!
They abandoned the festering, rotten places and used their remaining army to preserve the prosperous lands of Jiangnan, hoping to gain half of the country.
In this way, they won't end up homeless and destitute in the second half of their lives.
It takes real courage to make such a decision!
For a moment, Li Xin also began to admire Li Ming!
Taking a deep breath, Li Xin gradually came to his senses and said coldly, "This Li Ming has certainly played his cards right!"
He has the guts to cut off his arm to survive, but it's uncertain whether he has the ability!
"Your Highness,"
Song Xianze frowned and said, "This matter is not to be underestimated; we must treat it with caution!"
If Li Ming is really able to give up so many things, then he will definitely make unexpected struggles to keep his remaining position!
Considering that Li Ming had even colluded with grassland bandits to eliminate his rivals, one can imagine what else he might do now.
"Um?"
Li Xin frowned slightly and asked, "You mean, Li Ming is also colluding with grassland bandits?"
"I'm afraid it's not just that!"
Zhao Bingzhang let out a long breath and said, "Now that the Northern Kingdom has been abandoned, Li Ming can be even bolder."
They offered all the northern provinces to the grassland bandits in order to gain their full support.
In addition, they could even cooperate with vassal kings such as the Prince of Qing, the Prince of Su, the Prince of Dian, and the Prince of Qin.
Li Xin was stunned.
These measures are indeed possible to implement.
After all, Li Ming had already been secretly contacting other countries.
Nowadays, it's not impossible for someone to make some compromises in order to maintain their position.
I just don't know what Li Ming will do.
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