Yuan Yun said, "Father, you have always been a pragmatic person. I don't think a man's face is that important in this matter."
Zhao Huan said, "Neither saving face nor practical considerations will work."
Yuan Yun asked, "Why?"
Zhao Huan said, "You are very smart, but you underestimated the Central Secretariat's determination to destroy me, and you also underestimated their methods."
As he spoke, Zhao Huan reached out and caught a falling leaf, then continued, "Ever since I received the news that the court was sending troops, I've been wondering why the emperor would disregard your feelings, and what the court's decision to send troops to Yanchuan City was based on?"
"After seeing you, I understand."
"When I see you, I am reminded of you and the emperor when you were children. You two were very close as siblings. No matter how suspicious the emperor was, he could never doubt you or shake your relationship."
"Then there's only one explanation."
"This is a conspiracy."
"I don't know what methods Wenhu and Prince Xin used, but it must be a conspiracy."
Lian Zhongyi said, "Your Highness, the old general is right. If this troop deployment is based on a conspiracy, then your blocking Wang Yuluan's army is actually helping them. Wang Yuluan's 30,000 troops are not Wang Ren's troops, but the garrison of Changsui City. There must be many people from Wen Hu and Prince Xin planted among them. If you appear and are killed by a hidden arrow, this debt will be attributed to us."
"At that time, whether the emperor is furious and enraged, or the central government uses this matter as a pretext to launch an attack, the dangers that will follow will not be limited to Wang Yuluan's 30,000 men."
Yuan Yun frowned and said, "I raised Yuan Li, I don't believe he has the intention to kill."
“He doesn’t have it, but Wen Hu does.” Zhao Cheng walked to Yuan Yun’s side, took her hand, and said, “I support Father in this matter, and I will not allow you to go out. You already protected me in Changsui City. In Yanchuan City, I will protect you.”
Li Dai shouted sternly, "At worst, we'll fight to the death!"
Standing next to Yuan Fei, Yan Zheng, who had remained silent until now, said, "May I say a few words?"
Lian Zhongyi was Zhao Huan's advisor, and Yan Zheng, although the second-in-command of Yiwen Society, was also considered Zhao Cheng's advisor. Zhao Cheng immediately said, "Mr. Yan, please speak."
Yan Zheng said, "After the boss defied the imperial decree, I communicated with Prefect Li several times and have a good understanding of the situation of the 10,000 men in Yanchuan City. A couple of days ago, I went to all four city gates of Yanchuan City and got a feel for the terrain outside the city. Although Wang Yuluan's forces are larger than ours, we are not necessarily going to lose. Don't forget, we still have 300 soldiers from the Right Prime Minister's Office. These 300 men are not much of a help for defense, but if they are used for offense, their surprise ambush can be extremely effective."
"Warfare is all about morale. If Wang Yuluan were leading Wang Ren's troops, our chances of winning would be slim. However, the Changsui garrison has been inactive for many years and is rife with corruption. Wang Yuluan took command and immediately set out on the campaign, without any training or opportunity to integrate with the troops. Furthermore, Commander Long is renowned for his prowess. If we achieve a few small victories, their morale will surely crumble!"
Yan Zheng's words excited Li Dai, who raised his fist and said, "Mr. Yan is right. Although we don't have as many troops as Wang Yuluan, why should we have to be on the defensive? If everyone thinks we have to defend, then we'll ambush them in advance and take the initiative to attack!"
Lian Zhongyi said, "I agree with what Mr. Yan said, but as I said at the beginning, it's too early to talk about these things now. The first thing we need to decide is whether or not to fight."
Zhao Cheng nodded and said, "Father, you make the decision."
Zhao Huan asked, "What's your opinion?"
Zhao Cheng showed no tension at the approaching enemy forces, and smiled easily, saying, "This game is too big for my vision and mind to offer any opinion."
Zhao Huan looked at Li Dai and asked, "Will you support any decision I make?"
Li Dai knelt down on one knee again, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I will obey any decision you make, teacher!"
Zhao Huan walked out from behind the door and stood in the middle of the hall, saying, "It's not that we can't win. But as A-Yun said, once the fighting starts, Li Dai and his ten thousand men will have no way to turn back."
Li Dai said, "Teacher, I am not afraid."
"Let me finish."
Zhao Huan looked relaxed and calm, as if he were having a casual chat. He said, "It's not a question of whether you're afraid or not, but whether we've reached this point yet. Is this the most appropriate time? This game is indeed too big. If we move one piece, the whole game will be affected. Have you thought about what to do next? If we move without thinking, then failure is inevitable."
"Being passively attacked sounds cowardly, but it's also a tactic. It shows our attitude: we're not rebelling. Even if a fight breaks out, it's for self-preservation. Leaving room for maneuver doesn't mean we still want to beg the court to reconcile with us; it's just to give ourselves time to make plans."
Zhao Huan turned around and looked out the door again, saying, "Yanchuan City has developed at a visible speed in recent years. Although I rarely go out, I have seen everything. Yanchuan Square, the Medical Museum, the Oriental Restaurant, and the increasingly bustling commercial street have made Yanchuan City even better than Changsui."
“That day I went to the back mountain and looked out over Yanchuan City from the top of the mountain. I felt proud. Today, Yanchuan City is prosperous and its people are wealthy. All of this is because of my son.”
"It was my son Zhao Cheng who changed all of this!"
Zhao Huan raised his head, his usually lazy gaze now filled with excitement. After a long while, he slowly turned back to look at Zhao Cheng and said, "If Yan Chuan City really becomes a battlefield, all of this might be in vain."
"Acheng, are you willing to do that?"
Zhao Cheng remained silent, only feeling a lump in his throat and a surge of emotion.
Zhao Huan sighed, "Let's preserve the prosperity of Yanchuan City!"
As he spoke, Zhao Huan walked in and continued, "Li Dai, you don't need to reorganize the military or set up defenses. Everything will remain the same as before. We will only take three hundred soldiers and leave Yanchuan City with our families."
"This is my arrangement, a decision I made on behalf of everyone."
Upon hearing this, everyone except Zhao Cheng and Lian Zhongyi was stunned.
Li Dai knelt down on both knees and shouted, "Teacher! Let me follow you!"
“No.” Zhao Huan refused decisively, saying in an unquestionable tone, “It’s not appropriate, at least not now.”
Li Dai asked, "Then where are you going, teachers?"
Zhao Huan said, "The world is vast, and I have my own plans."
Yan Zheng interjected, "Even if we leave Yanchuan City, Wang Yuluan will still pursue us. Without Yanchuan City as a shield, our situation will be even more dangerous."
Zhao Huan said, "These are all under consideration, and my mind is made up!"
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