Xu Rao's letter didn't travel fast, just like usual. The messenger arrived in Miaozhou with a slow pace. Coincidentally, the construction in Wuzhou was completed, the training in Lüzhou was on track, and Xu Di, thinking about the government affairs in Miaozhou, returned a few days ago.
The messenger, seeing Xu Di in Miaozhou, was overjoyed. Following Xu Rao's instructions, he recounted the events to Xu Di. After Xu Di finished reading the letter, he stared in astonishment. It was at this moment that Xu Di realized that although he was full of schemes and considered himself to be standing on the shoulders of history and knowledgeable, compared to Wang Xiuyuan, he lacked her forbearance and perseverance. Most importantly, Wang Xiuyuan was a master at using others' strengths against them.
Xu Di didn't delay and sent a letter to Wei Lang. He and Wei Lang were now the first line of defense for the capital in the southwest. If anything happened to this line of defense, not only would the situation in the capital be in danger, but the entire defense line from Yanmen Pass to Lüzhou would also be in grave danger. Xu Di believed that although the Great Yan had withdrawn its troops, there was no guarantee that the Great Yan would not take the opportunity to cross the border river when the southwestern army made any moves. Most importantly, Xu Di didn't know if Wang Xiuyuan and the others had any agreement with the Great Yan. If so, the Wuzhou-Lüzhou line would truly be fish on the chopping block of the Great Yan. If the Great Yan were given a chance to counterattack, this line would only become a slaughterhouse where the Great Yan wielded its butcher's knife.
The more he thought about it, the more alarmed he became. The most urgent task was to gather enough troops to keep the Southwest Army firmly pinned down in the Southwest. Xu Di gritted his teeth and ordered someone to go to Luzhou to invite Zheng Boyuan over. The defenses along the Luzhou border river had been carefully repaired and were easy to defend and difficult to attack. As long as there were no traitors within the Luzhou garrison, it would be no problem to hold it. But now, Xu Di suddenly began to doubt the people of the Luzhou garrison. Wang Xiuyuan had been able to plan step by step for decades. Behind her stood the entire Wang family, whether it was the direct or collateral branches. When the Crown Prince and his mother became a thing of the past, would the Wang family do everything in its power to push this mother and son to the throne?
Wang Xiuyuan had endured so many years of hardship in the palace, waiting for this very opportunity. The Southwest Army would be Wang Xiuyuan's most important trump card. Xu Di now felt that such a large country as Daliang was about to become a place of frequent internal strife because of a woman who was not very conspicuous. It could not be said that the ruler of Daliang was inactive, nor could it be said that the court of Daliang was incompetent. It could only be said that the dog that bites does not bark.
From Miaozhou to Lüzhou, then to Wuzhou, and finally to Yanmen Pass, there was a secret, special channel for delivering messages. This was a method that Xu Di and Wei Lang, along with a group of advisors, painstakingly devised. With messages on this channel, the time could be cut in half. So, what would have taken three days by fast horse to reach Yanmen Pass was delivered to Wei Lang in less than two days.
After reading it, Wei Lang was shocked. He shared the same thought as Xu Di. It was at this moment that Wei Lang realized that no matter what, one should never underestimate a woman, especially a woman who is well-read and has literary talent. Such a person may be the biggest mastermind behind the whole incident.
Wei Lang dared not delay and dispatched all the elite special forces to Luzhou in batches. Xu Di had told Wei Lang that he would mobilize troops in Luzhou to intercept the entire southwestern army on its way out of the southwest.
Xu Di had only stayed at home for a few days before preparing to go to Luzhou again. Seeing him packing his luggage, the two children hugged Xu Di's legs, one on each side. Li Yuexi smiled and pulled them away, saying, "Your father is going to do some important business. He will come back after he finishes. Be good. I saw that Bai Shao made some glutinous rice cakes. Why don't you go and try them to see if they are sweet?"
Duoduo pouted and said unhappily, "When Daddy came back, he said he would stay at home until the New Year, but there is still a long time before the New Year. Mommy, I don't want Daddy to leave."
Li Yuexi looked at Xu Di apologetically. Xu Di smiled and picked up the two children, one on each side, saying, "Daddy really has some very important things to take care of. Daddy promises you, once I'm done, I'll come back to be with you, okay?"
Duoduo shook her head. Guoguo said, "Father said the same thing last time, but he never came back on time. Father, my sister and I want to go to Luzhou with you. Bai Shao said that Aunt and Granny are in Luzhou."
Upon hearing this, Xu Di laughed and said, "Oh, so you were waiting for me here. In that case, Yuexi, go pack your things, and we'll take the two children with us to Luzhou."
Li Yuexi said in surprise, "Husband, you're going on official business. Won't it interfere with your work if the three of us go with you?"
Xu Di only thought of it on a whim. The situation in the southwest is complicated now. What if they find out that he is gathering people in Lüzhou to block them, and the Wang family wants to arrest his family members to blackmail him?
Although the security situation in Miaozhou is relatively good now, Xu Di is unwilling to take such a risk, as he feels that he can only feel at ease if his wife and children are placed in a place close to him for care.
Thinking of the guards around Xu Zhi in Luzhou, and the guards from the Li family on his side, Xu Di felt more and more certain. He urged Li Yuexi, "Hurry up and pack your luggage. We'll go to Luzhou together. You can keep Xiao Jiu and Granny company when you go, and I can rest assured."
Hearing the last part, Li Yuexi's heart jumped. Having followed Xu Di to so many places and experienced so much, what was there that she didn't understand? She knew in her heart that they were preparing for war again.
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