But these powerful families, having accumulated power over so many years, were not to be trifled with. They launched a furious counterattack.
The capital was plunged into bloodshed, giving the barbarians another opportunity.
This time, they were not engaging in a small-scale operation; they deployed a full 50,000 troops in an attempt to conquer the Northwest.
The Northwest is a crucial military stronghold. Once the Northwest is breached, they will be able to advance rapidly and penetrate into the heart of the dynasty.
Fortunately, the gap of a few months allowed the stationed officers and soldiers to greatly improve their strength.
They managed to hold on for the first month, but the barbarians were constantly increasing their forces.
The Northwest sent out letters seeking help early on, but they were all blocked.
When the letter arrived at a certain post station, it was burned by that official.
This official is a spy from the barbarians. He has been working his way up to this position for many years, all for the purpose of intercepting letters at crucial moments and leaving the Northwest isolated and helpless.
Unable to send the letter, the general defending the city had no choice but to request help from a neighboring city. Unfortunately, the officials in the neighboring city came from powerful families, and they had already received the signal from those families.
After years of accumulation, these aristocratic families possessed a vast array of weapons and always held barbarians in contempt.
These uncivilized people were never within their sight.
The people of this dynasty far outnumber the barbarians, and they have also traded with the barbarians, holding their weaknesses in their hands.
In conclusion, after weighing the options, they believed that letting the barbarians in was actually a good strategy.
The barbarians have come in, but we can fight them off again and cause some trouble for the people in the northwest. Eliminating Liu Jue's forces is the key now.
Without reinforcements, the Northwest quickly became dangerous.
Panic gripped the city, and many people fled in a frenzy.
But those who are clear-headed have long realized that their escape will not be of much use.
If the Northwest is breached, the barbarians will be able to enter as if they own the land.
Before long, the military commander defending the city issued a call to all the people in the city, asking any able-bodied young men in their families who wanted to protect their families to come and join his army.
If the city falls, no one will protect their families.
Xiao Linghan naturally received the news.
He was very intelligent, and he had been closely watching the battles between the government troops and the barbarians.
The call to action issued by the general defending the city this time also illustrates a fact: the number of officers and soldiers is no longer sufficient.
If we don't have enough soldiers, the barbarians might be able to breach the city tomorrow.
That evening, Xiao Linghan silently entered Jiang Tian's room.
Jiang Tian had just woken up from a nap. When she saw the person sitting next to her, she didn't say anything else, only said indifferently, "Go ahead. If you don't go, I'll look down on you."
Xiao Linghan's heart tightened, and he gripped Jiang Tian's hand tightly, saying in a very firm tone for the first time, "You can't stay here any longer."
“I can go, and I will do my best to protect this city for you and the children. But you can’t stay any longer.”
The two looked at each other, and Jiang Tian smiled: "I had already ordered others to pack their bags, but you were so distracted that you missed my plan."
Xiao Linghan's pupils contracted: "Where do you want to go?"
Jiang Tian countered, "Where do you want me to go?"
Xiao Linghan said to her very seriously, "I have a place that is very safe. Are you willing to trust me?"
"Why wouldn't I trust you? If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have brought you back."
Xiao Linghan stared intently at Jiang Tian, speaking with great difficulty: "...Will you wait for me?"
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