The evacuation of the people in Jiyang City and Xiao Jue's takeover of the Jiyang city army took place almost at the same time.

The people would obey the orders given by the princess herself. No matter how confused and puzzled they were, they would temporarily leave to save their families' lives when they heard about the turmoil in the city. The only ones who did not leave were the old, weak, sick and disabled who could not walk far. They were unable to move for various reasons, and they did not want to be displaced on the road, so they would rather die in their hometown.

The most difficult thing is probably that some of the aristocratic families in Jiyang City have been unhappy with Mu Hongjin for many years and have secretly harbored resentment. However, Mu Hongjin has always been vigorous and powerful in doing things. Although she is a woman, she has always suppressed all the voices of opposition. However, the crisis in Jiyang City this time is coming, and Mu Hongjin is a little overwhelmed. These aristocratic families are ready to take advantage of this opportunity to do something.

Mu Hongjin couldn't leave Jiyang City. Once she left, it would not only give those who secretly opposed her a chance, but also mean that she had abandoned the city and the people in it. As the princess of Jiyang City, she enjoyed the love and respect of the people, and at this time, she should take responsibility.

A disguised and inconspicuous carriage secretly left the palace gate.

Mu Hongjin, dressed as a maid, stood at the gate of the palace, with most of her body hidden behind a pillar, looking in the direction where Mu Xiaolou left.

Mu Xiaolou was still unaware of the crisis in Jiyang City. She naively thought that she was leaving this time just to attend the birthday party of the prince on behalf of her grandmother. She was very happy when she left and said that she wanted to bring gifts to Mu Hongjin. She was afraid that it would be summer when she returned, and she wanted Mu Hongjin to accompany her to make sweet ice cream.

Mu Hongjin did not withdraw his gaze until he could no longer see the back of the carriage. Just as he was about to turn around and walk into the mansion, he seemed to see a man in white standing opposite him, and he could not help but stop and look over.

It was a man in white clothes, whose face could not be seen clearly. He was hiding in the yard across the street. The sunlight shone down from the roof, casting a large shadow. He stood in the shadow, and his face could not be seen clearly. All that could be seen clearly was a long sword at his waist and a harp on his back.

The wide street was crowded with people coming and going. He raised his head slightly, as if he was looking at her through the crowd, but also as if he was not looking at her.

A horse-drawn carriage carrying goods drove slowly past.

When Mu Hongjin looked up again, all she saw was the dazzling sun. There was no one on the other side of the street, as if what she saw just now was just an illusion.

She stood quietly for a moment and then walked away.

…

At night, the oil lamp in the study of Cui's house was still bright. There were large lanterns in the four corners, illuminating the room. Cui Yuezhi's study was more like an armory than a study. It was deserted and square. Except for a few scrolls piled on the table and the black wooden shelves with books, there was really no elegance or purity in the place.

But he was not a book lover.

There was a map hanging on the wall. It was so large that it took up half of the wall. In the middle was a river, and the whirlpools and reefs near the river were clearly drawn.

There were more than ten people sitting in the room, all of them were warriors like Cui Yuezhi. These were Cui Yuezhi's colleagues and subordinates. If Wu Tuo sent people into the city this time, these people would serve as deputy military leaders of the Jiyang City Army and cooperate with Xiao Jue.

He Yan and Xiao Jue sat on one side, while Fei Nu and Chi Wu stood at the back with their arms folded. Cui Yuezhi took a charcoal pencil and drew a circle at a prominent place on the map.

"This is the only place in the canal that is most suitable for landing," Cui Yuezhi pointed to the place he drew, "If we land from here, the two armies will fight here. This place is flat and suitable for the Jiyang City Army to deploy, but..." He glanced at Xiao Jue and felt a little guilty, "We don't have enough troops."

Jiyang City would not have too many soldiers and horses, and Emperor Wenxuan would not allow such a thing to happen. In order to protect themselves, many princes disbanded their troops, and Mu Hongjin did the same. Leaving the Jiyang City army of less than 20,000 was already a special favor from Emperor Wenxuan.

Twenty thousand soldiers and horses are not enough for a rebellion and cannot cause any big waves, but similarly, the Wutuo people are not confident enough to resist tens of thousands of fierce soldiers. Cui Yuezhi also understands this point. Even if there is a brave general Feng Yun, but you don't even have soldiers, what can he use to fight others? Use his face?

"It's not that we don't have enough men and horses," Xiao Jue said calmly, his eyes falling on the map, "it's that we don't have enough ships."

"Boat?" One of Cui Yuezhi's men looked at him, somewhat puzzled.

Don't blame them. Jiyang City has been peaceful for so many years. Except for the older ones like Cui Yuezhi, I'm afraid that the younger ones have never even been on a real battlefield.

Xiao Jue tapped the teacup in front of him with his fingers and said, "You tell me."

He Yan: "Me?"

Cui Yuezhi and the rest of his men looked at He Yan.

He Yan has now changed back into female clothing. Everyone present has heard about how she defeated Mu Yi in the martial arts arena today. However, a female subordinate with outstanding skills can only protect the safety of her master, and at least kill a few people on the battlefield.

Arranging troops and analyzing battle reports are not things that ordinary people can do. Moreover, men generally think they are superior to women in military affairs, so they are a little jealous of Xiao Jue's behavior. He thought that the rumors were not true. It turned out that the rumors that General Feng Yun was cold and indifferent to women were all false. Now he was blinded by lust and allowed this female subordinate who had a "close relationship" with him to do whatever she wanted.

For a moment, everyone looked at Xiao Jue as if they were looking at a tyrant emperor who was bewitched by his foxy concubine.

He Yan had seen men looking down on women countless times over the years. She wanted to teach these people a lesson, so after thinking for a while, she decided not to refuse. She stood up and walked to the map with a smile on her face.

Cui Yuezhi returned to his seat, and the rest of the people looked at He Yan, with an expression of "waiting to see what nonsense she says".

He Yan didn't even look at the map, he just faced everyone and said, "None of this is important."

People don't understand.

"There is no other way to fight on water. A big ship beats a small ship, a big gun beats a small gun, many ships beat few ships, and many guns beat few guns."

"You have small boats and small guns, but few boats and few guns. No matter where you land or how you deploy your troops, it's not the most important thing. Except for the imperial guards, the Wei Dynasty prohibits the use of fire guns, so we only talk about boats. As long as the Wutuo people have enough boats, they can win."

"If you want to win a battle with fewer troops, you need ships."

"On the water, they have many boats, and on the shore, they have many people. This map is not meant to be used that way at all."

Although the people present had not fought in recent years, they were not fools. They knew whether He Yan was talking nonsense or not. She pointed out the key to the problem, and for a while, people's contempt was reduced a lot.

"Miss He," Cui Yuezhi said, "but you also know that in recent years, His Majesty has prohibited the private raising of troops, let alone warships. The ships on the canal are used to transport goods or carry people on long journeys. Jiyang City does not dare to build its own navy, let alone raise muskets."

He Yan sighed in her heart. She knew all this. After all, there had been chaos among the princes in the previous dynasty. Since the late emperor ascended the throne, he had paid special attention to reducing the power of the princes. The princes now were actually the same as the nobles in Shuojing City who had no real power.

"May I ask Commander Xiao?" One of Cui Yuezhi's men looked at Xiao Jue and asked cautiously, "Based on a conservative estimate, how many troops do the Wutuo people have?"

Xiao Jue: "One hundred thousand, no more, no less."

Everyone took a deep breath.

With such a disparity in military strength, it's hard to even have any hope.

"Your Highness has arranged for the people in the city to evacuate and leave through the city gate." A deputy soldier said in a dry voice, "Let's...try to delay for a little longer."

The implication was that everyone was ready to sacrifice. The civilians evacuated from the city, as well as the little prince, were all the remaining fire. All they could do was buy more time for the civilians. It was only a matter of time before the city was captured.

Xiao Jue glanced at the crowd calmly, sat up slightly, and was about to speak when suddenly, a woman's clear voice rang out.

"It's not a good thing for morale to be so low. You know, we still have famous generals here. Do you know what a famous general is?"

Everyone was stunned.

"A famous general will not lose a war that should not be lost, and will have a chance to win a war that cannot be won." He Yan raised his eyebrows. "When it seems that a battle is bound to be lost, a famous general can find a breakthrough and turn defeat into victory. There is a famous general here who can turn the tide with his own strength. How can others deal with you guys?"

She thought to herself, there is not just one famous general here, but a pair. Both of Wei's great generals are here. If we lose, we will have no chance of living as a human being if we tell anyone about it.

People didn't know her background, they just looked at Xiao Jue and thought, Xiao Jue's subordinates really did their best to flatter him. Even in such a terrible chess game, they were still convinced that Xiao Jue could turn defeat into victory. How much do they admire him on a daily basis?

Cui Yuezhi was silent for a moment, then asked Xiao Jue: "So, Commander Xiao, how should we turn defeat into victory?"

People don't know that Xiao Jue's water attack was a victory of a few over many. After all, to outsiders, Xiao Jue led 100,000 Southern Army soldiers to a great victory in Guocheng. But at that time, they were pouring water into the city, attacking the city instead of defending it. Moreover, Jiyang and Guocheng have different environments. Jiyang is a water city. Although both are water attacks, they are actually very different.

Xiao Jue leaned back in his chair, his left hand knuckles slightly raised, he stroked the tea lid, looked at He Yan, his beautiful eyes were filled with countless deep emotions, and said, "You tell me."

He Yan frowned slightly.

He said, "You have fought against the Uto people before, so you know their methods better than anyone else."

The methods used by the Wutuo people are crude and direct, which is related to their own style of doing things. They have been hiding in the dark for so many years, testing and harassing from time to time, which makes them both arrogant and inferior. This time, they have been planning for a long time, and they chose Jiyang City as the first battle. This battle will definitely be a big success with a huge momentum.

He Yan said: "Water overcomes fire, water and fire cannot coexist, it is better to attack with fire."

No one spoke in the study for a while.

"Please explain it more clearly, Miss He." Cui Yuezhi said.

He became more respectful to He Yan, and felt that this girl was very different from other women, and also very different from Xiao Jue's other subordinates. For example, Fei Nu and Chi Wu were also Xiao Jue's subordinates, but they only followed Xiao Jue's orders, and Xiao Jue would not let them express their opinions as he did now. Although He Yan seemed to be very respectful to Xiao Jue, if you look closely, it doesn't seem like a relationship between superiors and subordinates. Cui Yuezhi was generous, and it was hard to tell whether he loved her or not, but he could feel that He Yan regarded him and Xiao Jue as being on the same level.

If she were a man, she and Xiao Jue would probably be more like brothers and friends rather than master and servant.

"The ships used by the Wutuo people are probably very large. At least they are definitely not like the small boats used by the Jiyang City army to transport goods or people. Wutuo is far from the land and there is no sea around it. I think it is not as good as the people in Jiyang City in sailing. I think the biggest possibility is that they will take a large ship to the edge of Jiyang City and go ashore at the place pointed out by Cui Zhongqi just now." She pointed to the place marked by Cui Yuezhi just now, "If...if their ships are very close to each other, we can use fire attack. Once the fire spreads, Jiyang's small boats can quickly leave, but the Wutuo people's large ships cannot. We can take the opportunity to destroy the main force of the Wutuo people."

Using fire attack on water, this method has never been tried before, and no one said anything for a while, but He Yan's words made everyone suddenly enlightened, and they were secretly excited, thinking about the feasibility of this plan.

"The Wutuo people have more troops than us, and they also know that Jiyang has been peaceful for many years and is no match for the Wutuo people. They must be arrogant and short-sighted. This is their weakness, and it is our strength."

When she spoke, her voice was soft and firm, clear and organized. Every word seemed to give people infinite confidence. Those who had just believed that they would lose the battle, just by listening to her words, felt that perhaps they could create a battle in history where the few defeated the many, for the world to admire.

But... Cui Yuezhi looked at He Yan in confusion. In such a short time, she came up with a solution. Although it was not flawless, it was unique and pointed out the key to victory or defeat. Can an ordinary woman really do this? Not to mention women, even men who have been in the army for many years may not be able to react so quickly. After all, a general needs not only experience, but also a little talent and unique vision. But how old does He Yan look? I heard that she is only seventeen. A seventeen-year-old girl is already so powerful?

Xiao Jue's men are so powerful, there must be hidden dragons and crouching tigers in the Nine Flags Camp. Cui Yuezhi felt a chill in his heart.

"I just proposed this idea," He Yan said, "I am not sure whether it can be implemented or how to implement it." He Yan knew that he had said too much, so he consciously passed the words to Xiao Jue, "Whether this plan is feasible or not depends on the decision of the governor."

She could have said nothing, but it was the responsibility of every general to take every battle seriously. Besides, Jiyang City was a good place, and the people were warm and simple. She didn't want this beautiful paradise to be destroyed by the Wutuo people. You know, if the Wutuo people occupied Jiyang, they would only go north, and the people of the entire Wei would suffer.

She will fight till the end.

Everyone looked at Xiao Jue. Xiao Jue glanced at He Yan, stood up, and walked to He Yan's side.

He Yan lowered his head, avoiding his thoughtful gaze, and returned to his seat.

He picked up the charcoal pencil that Cui Yuezhi had just put aside, circled it in front of the mark Cui Yuezhi had just made, and made a new mark.

The new marker is in front of the old marker, that is, in front of the Jiyang City, there is a narrow exit. This is the place where the canal connects with the river in Jiyang City, like a gourd mouth, sharp and thin. Only after passing this gourd mouth can you reach the real canal.

"Fire attack is feasible. We can set up an ambush here. This road is narrow and large ships cannot pass through. Small boats can pass through it."

Cui Yuezhi's eyes lit up. Xiao Jue's eyes were very vicious. This place was very suitable for ambush troops.

"As for the fire attack," Xiao Jue said, "it depends on the wind direction and terrain."

"There are people in the city who are responsible for observing the weather and wind direction!" said a Jiyang soldier, "On weekdays, they can be used to arrange the planting of paddy fields in the farms."

Another person asked hesitantly, "But what if the wind is blowing in the opposite direction that day?"

"Then we can't use fire attack." Xiao Jue said: "After all, war is about the right time, right place, and right people."

He Yan thought, this is true, both are indispensable. Of course, Xiao Jue did not finish his words. If the wind direction was the opposite, there would naturally be other ways.

However, war is a matter of luck. If God doesn't let you win, there are many examples of failure in history. What they need to do is to minimize these uncertainties.

This discussion about water attack lasted until midnight before everyone dispersed. From being listless and pessimistic at the beginning to being energetic and high-spirited later, it was all because of the "absurd" idea proposed by He Yan.

When Lin Shuanghe saw the group coming out, their expressions were very different from when they first came out. He asked them in surprise, "What happened? What did you do in there? Why are they so happy?"

He Yan yawned, "Of course I am using both reason and emotion to persuade him."

"That's not the case." Lin Shuanghe muttered, "If someone didn't know, they would think you were having a party in there."

He Yan: “…”

She said, "It's getting late. I'm going to go to bed first. We can talk tomorrow if there's anything else."

Lin Shuanghe nodded: "Okay."

He Yan returned to the house. She had spent the day in the martial arts arena correcting the formation of the Jiyang City Army, and at night she had discussed the map. She was already feeling very sleepy. After she washed up, she came out and saw Xiao Jue still sitting at the table in the back room, writing something.

He Yan went over to take a look. He found out that he had obtained a rubbing of the map that Cui Yuezhi had just hung on the wall of the study room. It was just a smaller version. He put the rubbing of the Wutuo People's Defense Map that Chu Zhao had given to Mu Hongjin in one place and compared them with something.

He wrote about the various aspects that He Yan had just mentioned, which might require attention in a fire attack. For example, how many ambushes should be set up at Huluzui, the wind direction on that day, and the arrangements for the city gates and guards in the city. Because the Jiyang City Army was too small, even if one soldier was deployed, extreme caution had to be exercised.

She's just like a young wife who saves money to manage the household.

He Yan asked, "Commander, are you still not asleep?"

"Go to sleep." Xiao Jue didn't even raise his head.

He Yan sighed in her heart, thinking that being the first in a young age only requires talent, and one can still be the first even if he sleeps in class. But being the first for many years is not something that can be done with talent alone. She had seen the moon at midnight, the ugly hour of the zodiac, and the hour of the tiger.

Thinking of this, he said, "Captain, let me help you."

As he was talking, there was a knock on the door. It was Liu Buwang: "Ah He, are you ready to rest?"

It's so late, Liu Buwang still comes to see her? He Yan and Xiao Jue looked at each other and said, "No, Master, wait a moment."

She put on an outer garment and opened the door. Liu Buwang was standing outside. He seemed to have just returned from outside the mansion, and his clothes were still wet with the cold dew from the night. He Yan looked outside the door and said, "Come in and talk."

Liu Buwang walked in and saw Xiao Jue. He nodded slightly to Xiao Jue as a greeting. His eyes fell on the scroll in front of Xiao Jue, and he paused for a moment before saying, "Does the governor have any plan for the battle in Jiyang?"

"A little bit," He Yan said.

"What are the chances of success?"

He Yan: "At most 50%."

The best is half and half.

Liu Buwang was silent for a moment, then said, "The Wutuo people may take action soon."

Xiao Jue looked at him: "What did Master Liu find out?"

"The Wutuo people I was tracking have now gone in one direction. Some have gone outside the city, and some have disappeared. They have noticed my whereabouts, and the princess couldn't keep the news of the evacuation of the people secret." Liu Buwang said, "The Wutuo people's ship hasn't arrived yet, so we have to race against time now."

"In the shortest possible time, the people of Jiyang should evacuate as far away as possible, but there are civilians in the city who cannot leave." Liu Buwang's voice sank.

He did not want the common people to become lambs to be slaughtered by the Utos.

"Master," He Yan said, "You are good at fortune-telling, but have you figured out whether we will win or lose this battle?"

“No solution.”

He Yan: "No solution?"

In fact, many years ago, when Liu Buwang was still a teenager, he had been digging for the future of Jiyang City in the mountains. The hexagram showed that in a few decades, there would be a great disaster in the city, with piles of corpses and no one left. The same was true for the Wei Dynasty. The dynasty was gradually running out of luck. He wanted to see it again, but the Taoist Yunji, who happened to see it, smashed his tortoise armor with a palm and scolded: "The way of heaven is unpredictable. How can you see the secrets of heaven?"

It ended in nothing.

Many things happened later, and he also knew that things in the world are unpredictable, and human power is too insignificant compared to the laws of nature. Liu Buwang had not read the hexagram for many years, but since he met He Yan this time, he knew that there might be a war in Jiyang City, and when the Wu Tuo people came with ill intentions, he could not stay out of it, so he secretly read the hexagram again.

With hexagrams, you can never see the cause or process, you can only see the end. He still remembered the result of the hexagram many years ago, but after several decades, the hexagram was completely different.

This was a dead end, with no hope of survival, but he still saw the same scene as that year, but in the scene, there was a pair of blurry shadows. The shadows were shining with golden light, as if they had infinite merits, as vast as the sky, like two bright golden lights, illuminating the dead hexagram.

A dead end became "unknown" because of these two blurry shadows.

He couldn't see the end.

－－－－－－－A side note－－－－－－－

The fire attack was based on the Battle of Red Cliff and the Battle of Poyang Lake, and the saying "A big ship is better than a small ship..." came from Qi Jiguang.

I can't write about war, so I just wrote it randomly. Don't mind the many bugs, it's just a mindless and cool story~