When Xu Zhi arrived at the Yongning Marquis's residence, she was taken to the Marquis's outer study after getting off the carriage.
When she arrived, she found not only the Marquis but also her parents. At this time, her father should have been on duty at the Ministry of Revenue, but he was choking. Xu Zhi leaned against the door frame, feeling as if her legs were filled with lead, so heavy that she couldn't take a step.
Chen Zhaoci quickly came over to help her up. Seeing that Xu Zhi's face looked really bad, he said, "Don't worry, your family is here to help you."
The Marquis pointed to the official's hat chair on the side and said, "Xiao Jiu, please sit down first. I'll tell you about the news I've received recently."
Xu Zhi quickly realized what had happened.
On the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Great Yan launched a war.
Prior to this, the imperial court sent a batch of grain to Wuzhou, but it turned out that the grain had been poisoned. Although it was discovered relatively early, nearly 20% of the fighting force was lost.
Zheng Boyuan made a decisive decision, leaving his elite troops to cover the rear while the rest retreated into Wuzhou City. The commander of the Great Yan Dynasty saw through Zheng Boyuan's intentions and concentrated his forces to engage in a fierce battle with the few thousand soldiers Zheng Boyuan had brought to cover the rear.
Although there is no particularly dangerous terrain on the way from the border river to Wuzhou, there is an excellent ambush location.
That place is a necessary route, with hillsides on both sides. I heard that this was a section of the valley before the boundary river changed its course. You can even find some river clam shells on both sides of the road.
Many years later, a valley has formed. Zheng Boyuan had long ago laid an ambush on both sides of this road with a group of carefully selected archers. Zheng Boyuan left the arrows that were transported here when the grain was delivered, so that when they retreated, they could block the attack of the Great Yan and give the soldiers a better chance of survival.
Zheng Boyuan personally led the soldiers who remained behind to fight the invading Yan soldiers for a day, which gave Wuzhou more time to prepare.
Zheng Boyuan led his men towards Wuzhou. After entering the valley, the Liang soldiers who had been lying in ambush there soon began to block the Yan's attack.
Zheng Boyuan had already entered a safe zone, but he never expected to be shot by his own people with a poisoned arrow.
Xi Jing'an stayed by Zheng Boyuan's side the whole time. When he saw Zheng Boyuan fall off his horse, he jumped down without saying a word, picked him up, and rushed into the woods on one side. He found a relatively safe place and fed Zheng Boyuan all the antidote pills that Xu Zhi had given him. At that time, Zheng Boyuan had just been poisoned and was still relatively conscious, so he was able to swallow the pills by himself.
Because Zheng Boyuan was injured, the battle that could have stopped the Great Yan outside the valley was ultimately unsuccessful. The Great Yan advanced unimpeded and fought all the way to the walls of Wuzhou.
Zheng Boyuan, led by Xi Jing'an and several loyal subordinates, traveled north along the border river. On the way, they encountered Wei Lang's deputy general who had come to reinforce them. Wei Lang's deputy general knew what had happened and had the accompanying military doctor examine the unconscious Zheng Boyuan. The doctor simply pulled the arrow out of his back, but was helpless as to the poison inside his body.
After a brief analysis of the battle with several comrades, Wei Lang's deputy general formulated a battle plan. Thanks to Wei Lang's initial arrangements, a team of special forces members was dispatched from the upper reaches of the border river to the other side. Their target was the Great Yan's military camp on the other side of the border river, and they were determined to burn down the Great Yan's military camp and its grain supplies.
The special forces team arrived at their designated position early. After the Great Yan crossed the border river, they immediately infiltrated the Great Yan's barracks. Although the Great Yan had made some preparations before crossing the river, they were no match for these battle-hardened and highly skilled special forces soldiers. Just as Wei Lang's deputy general was chasing the Great Yan soldiers to the border river, a raging fire broke out in the barracks on the opposite bank.
Seeing the raging fire on the opposite bank of the river, the general leading the Great Yan army could only lead his troops back across in despair. Thus, the first battle launched by Great Yan ended in failure. But everyone knew that this was only the beginning.
Zheng Boyuan was sent to Wuzhou City. Feng Zhongyi had already written down the whole story in a secret report and sent it to the capital. He then invited famous doctors from all over the city. Unfortunately, everyone could only tell that Zheng Boyuan had been poisoned, but they could not say what kind of poison it was. It was because he had taken Chen Zhaoci's antidote pills that Zheng Boyuan was in a coma, but his life was not in danger.
The secret report was quickly sent to the capital. Emperor Liang Cheng was furious and ordered a thorough investigation of the grain supplies. Xu Rao heard that Zheng Boyuan had been poisoned and remained unconscious, and pleaded with Emperor Liang Cheng to allow Zheng Boyuan to return to the capital for treatment.
Emperor Liang Cheng issued an edict ordering Wei Lang's deputy general to garrison Wuzhou, and Feng Zhongyi sent men to escort Zheng Boyuan to the capital.
After hearing all this, Xu Zhi felt even more confused. Zheng Boyuan was already on his way back to the capital. Xu Zhi stood up and said, "I'll go out of the city and continue on my way."
Chen Zhaoci grabbed her arm and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? You can't do anything even if you go. I've already written to your uncle. He'll be coming with us to the estate in the outskirts of Beijing. We've discussed it, and it's more appropriate for Boyuan to recuperate at the estate. If he comes to the capital, it will be too chaotic with people visiting our home."
Xu Zhi nodded and said, "Then I'll go to the estate to pack now. Mother, I'm entrusting the capital to you."
Xu Rao sighed and said, "Xiao Jiu, don't be in such a hurry. I have something to tell you. Why don't you sit down first?"
Xu Zhi quickly sat down, and Xu Rao said, "Boyuan is injured now. Once he recovers, someone will definitely make him take responsibility for the Wuzhou battle. The Wuzhou garrison suffered a 30% loss this time, not counting those who were poisoned and recuperating in Wuzhou."
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