Xu Yunchuan rode at full speed, traversing rugged mountain roads and desolate plains, finally returning to Tonghu Pass at dawn. His arrival brought new hope and sparks of strategic thinking to the old general.
In the general's tent, Xu Yunchuan recounted in detail the former king's conspiracy and the whereabouts of Consort Mu to the old general. Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in the old general's eyes. He realized that this siege was not merely a military operation, but also a political struggle.
"We must act swiftly, but without letting the enemy discover our true intentions," General Xu said in a deep voice.
Xu Yunchuan nodded, a bold plan already forming in his mind. "We can use the cover of night to split our forces into two groups. One group will continue the offensive from the front to draw the attention of the Northern Frontier; the other group, composed of elite troops, will circle around to the rear of the city and look for an opportunity to infiltrate it."
General Xu pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded: "This plan is risky, but worth a try. We need to find Consort Mu's exact location and ensure her safety."
"Don't worry about that for now. I think Consort Mu wasn't captured by Yelü Hongji, but probably by her father, Yelü Cuifeng." Xu Yunchuan was quite confident because during this period of investigation, he hadn't heard any news about Ruan and Mu in Yelü Hongji's army.
"Let's attack the city first!" General Xu, eager to make a name for himself, took out a map and continued to discuss with Xu Yunchuan and several other generals.
The two quickly devised a detailed battle plan. General Xu was in charge of directing the frontal offensive, while Xu Yunchuan led a team of elite soldiers on an infiltration mission. They knew that the success or failure of this operation would not only determine the fate of Consort Mu, but also the course of the war between Qi and the Northern Frontier.
As night fell, General Xu's army began its advance. The war drums sounded again, torches illuminated the night sky, and the shouts of the Qi soldiers shook the heavens and the earth. The northern frontier army responded swiftly, and archers and soldiers on the city walls stood ready for battle.
Meanwhile, Xu Yunchuan and his squad silently left the camp, dressed in black night clothes, moving like ghosts through the darkness. They evaded the patrols of the northern frontier, using the terrain and the cover of night to gradually approach the city wall.
On the city wall, the soldiers of the Northern Frontier watched the battle ahead with tense expressions, completely unaware of the threat that was silently approaching from behind. Xu Yunchuan and his squad used ropes and grappling hooks to silently climb the city wall and begin their infiltration operation.
Over the next few hours, Xu Yunchuan and his squad engaged in a life-or-death struggle within the city. Meanwhile, General Xu held off the main force of the Northern Frontier outside the city walls, buying them precious time.
With Xu Yunchuan and his squad's clandestine operations within the city of Beijiang, and General Xu's frontal containment outside the city walls, the Qi army finally achieved a crucial victory in its first battle in Beijiang. The Beijiang defenders were thrown into chaos by the Qi's dual offensive, and the bravery of the Qi soldiers and General Xu's wisdom led to a Qi victory.
"General, we've captured the North Gate!" A soldier covered in blood rushed into General Xu's tent and excitedly reported.
General Xu stood up, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. He knew that this victory was not only a military one, but also a powerful blow to the conspiracy of the former king of the Northern Frontier.
"Immediately strengthen the city's defenses to prevent a counterattack by the enemy," General Xu swiftly ordered. He also sent someone to contact Xu Yunchuan to inquire about their situation, instructing him to lead the remaining soldiers to continue creating chaos within the city, buying more time for the main Qi force.
General Xu's army began to systematically take over the cities in the northern frontier. They pacified the people in the cities, restored order, and began preparing for the next step of their operation.
In the following days, the Qi army, under the command of General Xu, consolidated their initial victory on the northern frontier. They repaired the city walls, strengthened their defenses, and began planning a deeper offensive into the northern border.
The war in the northern frontier had just ended, with the Qi army, under the command of General Xu, achieving its first victory. However, the dawn of peace had not yet arrived, and the former king of the northern frontier, having obtained Consort Mu as leverage, made new demands.
"Your Majesty, the former king of the Northern Frontier has sent an envoy to Tonghu Pass, requesting a meeting with us," a soldier hurriedly reported.
The Emperor frowned, knowing that the former king of the Northern Frontier would not give up easily and must have some ulterior motive. "Summon the envoy to the palace. I want to hear what he has to say for myself."
The envoy entered the hall, his attitude arrogant, clearly showing no sign of restraint despite the defeat. "My king demands that the Qi Kingdom immediately return Princess Yelü Yanyun, or else she will be exchanged for Consort Mu."
The Emperor's gaze was sharp as he stared directly at the envoy: "Yelü Yanyun is a woman of my Qi Kingdom. She married me as a concubine, so how can you say she should be returned?"
The envoy explained in detail, “Your Majesty, our former King Yelü Cuifeng also had his reasons. He had been controlled by Yelü Hongji for a long time. It was only with great difficulty that the guards were not so strict during this battle. Please, Your Majesty, show leniency and allow the father and daughter to reunite.”
After a moment of contemplation, the Emperor realized that this war was no longer merely a military contest, but also involved a political maneuvering between the two nations. He decided to temporarily refrain from direct confrontation with the envoy and instead adopt a more flexible strategy.
"Tell your king that I am willing to consider his request, but it will take time to discuss it. In the meantime, both sides should exercise restraint and avoid unnecessary bloodshed," the emperor said slowly.
Seeing that the emperor did not refuse outright, the envoy returned to the northern frontier with the emperor's reply.
After the envoy left, the emperor immediately summoned his key ministers to discuss countermeasures. They knew that the former king of the northern frontier's request was actually a test of Qi's attitude, while also buying time to regroup.
"We must be careful and not let the former king of the Northern Frontier's conspiracy succeed," the Grand Tutor said.
Minister of Revenue Li also offered his opinion: "Princess Yelü Yanyun's safety is of paramount importance; we cannot allow her to become a victim of the conflict between the two countries."
After some discussion, the State of Qi decided to adopt a two-pronged strategy. On the one hand, they would strengthen diplomatic negotiations with the northern border to strive for a peaceful resolution to the dispute; on the other hand, they would continue to strengthen military defenses to guard against a sudden attack by the former king of the northern border.
Princess Yelü Yanyun herself, upon learning that she had become the focus of the power struggle between the two countries, also demonstrated great courage and wisdom. She took the initiative to request an audience with the Emperor and made her stance clear.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to return to the northern frontier for the sake of peace between our two countries. But please grant me one condition: ensure my safety and allow me to return to Qi at the appropriate time," Princess Yelü Yanyun said firmly.
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