As the noise outside quickly faded away, Ye Wanshu's heart gradually calmed down.
Although she was not absolutely sure of winning the game tomorrow, Gu Tingzhou's visit tonight undoubtedly gave her a reassurance.
She returned to bed and soon fell asleep peacefully.
Meanwhile, twenty miles away from Jiayu Pass, Duke Ning led the Yuezhou Army, exhausted after a ten-day journey. As they neared Jiayu Pass, Tao Anran, noticing that the Duke showed no intention of stopping, spoke up and advised, "Duke, why don't you let the soldiers stop and set up camp to rest?"
Thinking of his grandson and his grandson's wife, Duke Ningguo's face was filled with worry: "No, we must enter Jiayu Pass as soon as possible and subdue Xie Zhan's army."
"It's probably going to be difficult to subdue him," Tao Anran said, looking ahead at the gray haze. "Duke Ning is holding the banner of Prince Yongning, and our Yuezhou Army is the army of a vassal king. As a border general, Xie Zhan should come to greet him in person. We can't violate the hierarchy. If we do, even if we enter Jiayu Pass, it will only make those generals of the Gu family even more arrogant."
His reminder immediately alerted Duke Ningguo: "Xie Zhan has been stationed at the border for many years, and I heard that Empress Dowager Gu is also somewhat wary of him. If we enter the border like this, I'm afraid he won't take it seriously even if we show him the emperor's secret decree."
Tao Anran smiled and said, "There's no need for the Duke to worry too much. Xie Zhan is, after all, a minister of Daye. The situation in Lin'an is unclear right now. We just need to send someone to Jiayu Pass to tell him to come and receive the imperial edict. If he comes, we will have no choice but to obey the edict. If he doesn't, it would be treason. Our 200,000 Yuezhou troops have cut off his escape route, and there are still 100,000 Mu family troops outside the pass. If he dares to rebel, I'm afraid he'll have to think carefully."
Duke Ningguo was delighted to hear this: "No wonder Qingqing insisted that I keep you by my side. You really are quite clever."
"You are so kind, Duke." Tao Anran replied humbly, and then warned in a deep voice: "When the Marquis of Wuping arrives later, Duke Ningguo must make sure he receives the imperial edict immediately and do not show him any favors."
Duke Ningguo nodded and said, "Don't worry, I still have some tricks up my sleeve to deal with such a powerful general."
After saying that, he ordered his confidant to take people to Jiayu Pass to convey his order, and he personally led the army to choose a strategic location to set up camp.
After setting up the tent, he and Tao Anran drank a cup of tea in the general's tent, and then they heard the earth-shaking sound of horse hooves outside.
The two were stunned at the same time. Tao Anran smiled faintly and said, "It seems that Xie Zhan is not someone who can be easily deceived. We will have to spend some time to persuade him today. Please wait in the tent for a while. I will go and greet him personally."
After giving the instructions, Tao Anran personally left the general's tent. Looking up, he saw flames in the distance illuminating half the sky, and a sea of dark figures numbering at least tens of thousands.
"What does Marquis Wuping mean?" Tao Anran walked forward slowly. "Prince Yongning personally led the expedition to the northern border on behalf of His Majesty. It would be fine if Marquis Wuping didn't come to greet him, but what is he planning to do by leading a large army now? Are you plotting a rebellion?"
"Who are you?" Xie Zhan sat upright on his horse, glancing at Tao Anran with disdain. "Prince Yongning is personally leading the expedition on behalf of His Majesty. He should be of one mind and purpose with the soldiers in the Northern Territory. Why bother with all these empty formalities? Are you trying to put on airs?"
"How dare you." Tao Anran's eyes sternly said, "I think Wu Pinghou has been at the border for many years. He has become arrogant and has forgotten the etiquette between the monarch and his subjects. Is there any dignity in your eyes?"
Xie Zhan suddenly choked.
No matter how insignificant Prince Yongning is, he is still a member of the royal family, not to mention that he has the emperor's decree in his hands. There is really no reason for him to condescend to meet him.
But he always felt uneasy. The information brought back by the spies only mentioned the banner of King Yongning. He never showed up from beginning to end, so he didn't know whether this person was really in the tent.
Seeing him hesitate, Tao Anran didn't give him any time to think and urged him sternly, "Marquis Wuping, please come into the tent and see His Royal Highness Prince Yongning immediately."
Xie Zhan looked around and was about to dismount with an embarrassed look on his face, but was stopped by the general beside him: "My Lord, be careful, there is a trap."
"Why, you bastards are trying to sow discord between the Marquis and my Highness?"
Tao Anran said, "My Highness has just entered the northern border. Does the Marquis intend to break up with the Yuezhou army? If so, how can we work together to fight the enemy in the future?"
Xie Zhan felt very distressed. He didn't know what tricks his nephew and the queen mother were playing. They placed the Mu family army at Xiling Pass and now allowed Prince Yongning to enter the northern border. If he confronted the Yuezhou army, the only ones who would benefit would be the northern invaders' cavalry.
After thinking it over, he dismounted from his horse, selected a few strong guards to accompany him, and whispered to the others, "Wait here."
Afterwards, he followed Tao Anran into the general's tent.
The tent was silent. Xie Zhan glanced around and immediately realized something was wrong. He shouted to Tao Anran, "Where is Prince Yongning?"
Just as he was about to draw his sword, he suddenly saw Duke Ningguo and his soldiers come in and surround the tent.
"Duke Ningguo?" Xie Zhan looked stunned.
"Marquis Wuping Xie Zhan, receive the decree." Duke Ning held up the imperial edict and read it solemnly, "Prince Qi is plotting rebellion. Your Majesty and the Queen Mother are in danger. I order Marquis Wuping Xie Zhan to hand over the tiger talisman and return to the capital with the royal army to defend the king."
"Impossible," Xie Zhan said angrily, "Duke Ningguo, don't even think about deceiving me. Who the heck is Prince Qi? How could he possibly rebel?"
"Marquis Wuping, are you questioning His Majesty's blood decree, or are the lives of His Majesty and the Queen Mother insignificant in your eyes?"
Duke Ningguo sullenly threw the imperial edict in front of him and said, "Do you want me to go to Lin'an first and find out the situation thoroughly before letting you go back?"
Xie Zhan picked up the imperial edict and took a look at it. The imperial edict issued by the emperor was made by the Wensi Academy and was printed with a unique floral seal. It was impossible for the vassal kings to forge it, and the eye-catching seal was even more impossible for anyone to imitate.
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