Wen Hu and Yuan Li raced against time, quickly discussed the matter, and then ordered Wang Yuluan to ride to Changsui at full speed. They then immediately allocated him 30,000 troops to attack Yanchuan City.
Five thousand cavalry and twenty-five thousand infantrymen marched eastward in a mighty force.
This was the first time such a large-scale war had occurred in the heart of the empire since Yuan Xiu assumed power.
The people along the way were in a panic, not knowing what calamity had befallen the country. Most of them guessed that the army was reinforcements sent by the imperial court to Zhenhai Camp. After all, in the people's conventional thinking, an army marching south meant fighting the Southern Zhou, while marching east meant eliminating bandits.
The Yiwen Flying Team's system in Changsui City was already well-established. The Yiwen Society received the news the day after Wang Yuluan and Dian Chen led their troops away from Changsui City.
Zhao Cheng immediately summoned Yuan Fei, Yan Zheng, and Li Dai to his home.
Zhao Huan and Lian Zhongyi sat in the main seats, with Yang Taozhi, Zhao Yan, He Zhi, and others also present, all with solemn expressions.
Zhao Huan, in particular, although he was 52 years old, did not look very old, but his eyes were full of vicissitudes.
This time, he lost his gamble.
The imperial court actually sent troops to Yanchuan City.
He was puzzled. Did the emperor disregard his relationship with the eldest princess?
Or is it that... the emperor has been sidelined?
He sighed deeply, clearing his mind of these doubts. He knew that thinking about them was pointless; the most important thing was to decide on the next step.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Zhao Cheng said, without Zhao Huan speaking first, "Xiao Fei, please give Mr. Lian a detailed account of Wang Yuluan's marching situation."
"yes."
Although Yuan Fei had been the head of Yiwen Society for a long time and had trained two batches of Yiwen Fei teams, he was still extremely respectful in front of Zhao Cheng.
He combined the information sent by the Yiwen Flying Team, organized the script according to his own logic, and explained it to Lian Zhongyi in detail, making sure that no key points or details were omitted.
As Yuan Fei spoke, Lian Zhongyi stroked his beard and thought quickly. After Yuan Fei finished speaking, he immediately said, "Wang Yuluan has grown up very quickly, which has impressed me. Judging from his marching style, he can reach Yanchuan City in less than ten days. We don't have much time left."
Li Dai clasped his hands and said, "I won't need ten days. Give me five days to set up the defenses, and I can make Yanchuan City an impregnable fortress. Especially the west gate; it's not impossible for it to hold off Wang Yuluan's 30,000 troops!"
Lian Zhongyi said, "It's good to have confidence, but Wang Yuluan's tactics won't be that simple. You're focusing your defenses on the west gate, but what about the east, north, and south gates?"
Li Dai asked doubtfully, "Does the gentleman mean... that Wang Yuluan will besiege the city?"
Lian Zhongyi said, "Yanchuan City is too big, and 30,000 people are too few. We don't need to encircle them, but although Wang Yuluan came from the west, he may not necessarily attack the west gate. Don't forget, Wang Yuluan grew up in Yanchuan City, and his familiarity with the city is no less than ours."
Li Dai asked, "What ideas do you have, sir?"
"It's too early to make a decision now." Lian Zhongyi looked at Zhao Cheng, then at Zhao Huan, and said, "What we need to discuss now is whether or not to fight."
Everyone was deep in thought when Zhao Zhan, the youngest among them, couldn't hold back any longer and said sharply, "Sir, of course we have to fight! Are we just going to wait for Wang Yuluan to arrest us?"
Lian Zhongyi smiled slightly and said, "Young master, you don't understand your father at all."
"Father?" Zhao Zhan looked at Zhao Huan.
With all eyes on his face, Zhao Huan got up and walked a few steps around the room before suddenly changing the subject, saying, "Go and invite the Princess here."
While waiting for Yuan Yun, Yuan Fei and Li Dai exchanged information to facilitate Li Dai's planning of defense arrangements.
A while later, Yuan Yun brought A Tao and Heng Wenhao in.
"Princess!" Li Dai and Yan Zheng bowed to Yuan Yun.
Yuan Yun smiled gently at them, walked up to Zhao Huan, bowed, and said, "Father, I cannot represent the Emperor or the Great Jing Dynasty, so I cannot apologize to you. But when I learned of the news that the court had dispatched troops, I immediately wrote a letter to the Emperor."
Zhao Huan said, "The order was issued by the Central Secretariat. Whether the emperor is aware of it or not, I estimate that your letter will not reach the emperor at this time."
Zhao Cheng nodded, agreeing with his father's judgment, and said, "Unless Atao and Heng Wenhao deliver it in person."
Zhao Huan said, "But there's no time left."
Yuan Yun looked at Li Dai and asked, "How many troops does Yanchuan City have?"
Li Dai said, "The garrison, the guards, and the prefectural government can gather a total of ten thousand men."
Yuan Yun asked, "Can all ten thousand people truly and sincerely follow you to fight against the imperial court?"
Li Dai solemnly replied, "Yes! In their hearts, teachers are the most respectable people!"
Yuan Yun then asked, "So, you're going to lead these people against the imperial court?"
Yuan Yun made two statements opposing the imperial court, and Li Dai didn't quite grasp the meaning of the first statement. Only after Yuan Yun asked again did Li Dai understand, and he immediately knelt on one knee, saying, "Teacher, you are right!"
Yuan Yun said, "I know Father is right, but it is a fact that my man defied the imperial decree. The court's dispatch of troops was not without reason. If you lead these 10,000 men to fight against Wang Yuluan, then you and these people will become traitors. At that time, there will be no turning back for you."
Li Dai trembled all over, knowing that this was the crucial moment to make a decision, and said firmly, "The Princess may punish me, but I cannot disregard the safety of my teacher's family!"
Zhao Cheng said, "Senior brother, Ayun didn't mean to blame you. She told you these things to protect you."
Li Dai said, "I know the Princess is giving me a choice, but I have already made up my mind and will never change it!"
Yuan Yun turned around and faced Zhao Huan, saying, "I am Changli's mother, and I have long been a member of the Zhao family. At this time, I cannot do nothing. I cannot interfere with Prefect Li's plans for defense and military affairs, but if Wang Yuluan's army comes to the city and he really sends troops to attack Yanchuan City, I will stand up."
"I am still the eldest princess of the empire."
"If you want to touch Dongdu behind me, you'll have to step over my dead body first."
Yuan Yun spoke these words with extreme calmness, yet they had a profound impact on everyone present.
Li Dai and Yan Zheng, in particular, had genuine respect for Yuan Yun.
Zhao Huan looked deeply at Yuan Yun, recalling that night many years ago, and the farewell in the snow outside Yanchuan City. This extraordinary woman always contained enormous energy in her small body. Even now that she was a mother, her spirit and sense of responsibility had not been weakened. On the contrary, they were even stronger at crucial moments.
She used to help her younger brother.
Now, I need to help my man and my child.
"Ah Yun, don't have such thoughts anymore."
Zhao Huan walked to the door, looked at the sky outside, and said, "I, Zhao Huan, a man of the Zhao family, have no habit of letting women stand in front of me."
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