Li Molin, Liu Li, and the other two demons emerged from the stone forest and stopped in a grove of red willows on the eastern outskirts of the Gobi Desert. The grove was about an acre in size and not very dense.
It's a beautiful day with a bright moon and few stars in the sky. The temperature difference between day and night in the Gobi Desert is huge; it's extremely hot during the day, but it's a bit cool now.
A bonfire was lit in a small clearing in the red willow grove. Li Molin had Yu Ke summon several demonic feathered birds to gather information about the war in the Central Plains. Yu Ke was currently telling him about the situation in the Central Plains. Lang Yuan sat silently by the fire, occasionally throwing dry branches into it. Ji Jue was fast asleep, leaning against a red willow tree. He hadn't slept all night because he was worried about Li Molin, and had fallen asleep during the day and hadn't woken up since.
Liuli, holding Ahua in her arms, sat around the fire, listening attentively to the conversation between Li Molin and Yu Ke.
At that moment, Yu Ke said in a low voice, "Yelü Yan is quite capable. After breaking through Huyue Pass, he led the Northern Rong cavalry southward with unstoppable momentum. No city could stop his advance. He has now conquered most of the northern lands of the Central Plains."
Li Molin nodded in satisfaction and said, "Okay."
Liu Li glanced at Li Molin and said in a strange tone, "Looks like you bastard have an even better chance of getting the Imperial Seal!"
Li Molin glanced at her unhappily, ignoring her, and instead looked at Yu Ke and said, "Yu Ke, continue."
"Yes," Yu Ke replied, and continued, "General Hai Linqin of the East is also a formidable figure. After conquering cities and towns, his first priority is to comfort and appease the people. He punishes the corrupt officials in the towns and gives all the wealth they have plundered to the poor. Furthermore, he spreads the word that his soldiers are not allowed to plunder or bully the people in the conquered towns, and those who disobey will be punished according to military law. Therefore, Hai Linqin is extremely popular, and his soldiers, strategists, and officers are gathering more and more, making his army increasingly powerful."
"As for Xuanyuan Lie, who became emperor..." Yu Ke shook his head and sighed with admiration, "He was also a master of strategy and tactics. His fief was located in the western part of the Central Plains, which was the Jiang Kingdom, one of the nine ancient kingdoms. Therefore, his fief was also called Jiang Land."
"Since Xuanyuan Lie arrived in his fiefdom, he has feigned illness and weakness, rarely venturing out of his residence. Meanwhile, he has secretly recruited talented individuals, established numerous businesses throughout the fiefdom, and used the continuous flow of money and provisions to hire soldiers and cultivate advisors. He has also actively won over the hearts of the people in his fiefdom, often feigning illness to personally distribute porridge and grain to relieve the suffering of the people. One year, a plague swept across the Central Plains, and Hua Wang's fiefdom was no exception. That year, Hua Wang invited many renowned doctors to work day and night in his residence to develop a cure. Undeterred by the plague, he personally comforted the victims. Once the cure was developed, he immediately distributed the medicine free of charge to help the people. He also always seized opportune moments to punish corrupt officials in his fiefdom and seek justice for the people. These are all messages relayed by the demonic feather birds sent by his clansmen scattered throughout Jiang."
Li Molin lowered his eyes and pondered, "Then wouldn't the people of Jiangdi be extremely fond of Xuanyuan Lie?"
“Yes.” Yu Ke nodded and said, “As we all know, Xuan Yuanlie is in poor health. Many people in Jiangdi pray to the heavens every day that King Hua’s health can be restored. They would give up their own lifespan without hesitation. Over the years, under the mask of his serious illness and weakness, Xuan Yuanlie has really done a lot. At one point, the people in the forty-five states of Jiangdi only knew King Hua and not the emperor.”
"Tsk tsk..." Liuli interjected again, praising, "Amazing, amazing, this Xuanyuan Lie is truly amazing. He faked his illness and the whole world believed him. He's so good at winning people's hearts..."
Li Molin and Yu Ke still ignored her. Yu Ke continued, "Eastern Hai Linqin, Western Emperor Xuanyuan Lie, and Northern Yelü Yan, these three forces are conquering cities and territories and advancing all the way to Yingyang City. The army of Dasheng Kingdom is completely unable to resist them. Even though Zhang Chao is frantically mobilizing troops in Yingyang City, it is already too late. It is only a matter of time before Dasheng Kingdom falls."
"Emperor Rui is incompetent; it is the will of Heaven," Li Molin said calmly.
Yu Ke nodded and said, "Young Master, let's set off tomorrow and return to the Northern Rong camp as soon as possible. The Imperial Seal is more important."
Li Molin lowered his eyes and pondered, "What day is it today?"
Yu Ke thought for a moment and replied, "The fourth day of the seventh month."
"Qixi Festival is almost here..." Li Molin said softly.
"Qixi Festival?" Liuli's eyes lit up, and she said happily, "Li Molin, I remember you mentioned Qixi Festival. Isn't there a place called... Magpie Bridge Town that's especially lively?"
Li Molin looked up at her, the flickering flames reflecting in his gentle eyes. He smiled and said, "You still remember?"
"Of course!" Liuli leaned forward, pleadingly saying, "Li Molin, let's go to Magpie Bridge Town and have some fun. Let's not go back to the military camp; it's too boring there!"
Li Molin paused for a moment, his expression hesitant.
Yu Ke chimed in, "Because of the war, the cities and passes in various places are heavily guarded nowadays. I'm afraid Queqiao Town won't be too lively. Why don't you wait until next year to go?"
Whether or not she went to Queqiao Town wasn't that important, but Liuli absolutely didn't want to go back to the Northern Rong camp. It was incredibly boring there, and she couldn't eat or sleep well; she was already fed up with it. So, she gave Yu Ke a displeased look, pouted, and said, "I don't want to go next year. Who knows if there will be other things happening on Qixi Festival next year!"
As she spoke, she turned to look at Li Molin, her little face scrunched up in a pleading expression, and said, "Let's go to Magpie Bridge Town, Li Molin, have you forgotten? You said you'd take me to Magpie Bridge Town for Qixi Festival this year!"
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