The letter to Peng Yuyan arrived a little late after all.
On February 20th of the third year of Tiande, Yu Chunqiu's 300,000-strong army arrived at the border town and entered the Qishan Corridor.
The border town became tense at this moment.
Those merchants who settled in the border town or did business in the border town were the first to smell something different.
"These damned ones, can't we just live peacefully?"
The proprietress of the Wind Chime Inn watched the mighty army march away, her face as gloomy as the sky of this border town.
"I'm afraid there will be a war." Zhong Jitang also muttered while sitting in the inn.
"This is the flag of the Southern Frontier Army. They've entered Qishan... Could they be fighting the Wu Dynasty? I didn't hear any rumors of war when I got here!"
"This large force is brazenly marching over there. The Wu Dynasty will surely get the news. Isn't the Fourth Army training on the Huazhong Plain? It doesn't necessarily mean a war, perhaps just a sparring match between the two countries."
Feng Ling heard this and turned around to say, "It would be great if we could have a sparring match. Thanks to your majesty, our inn has finally made a little money in the past two years. But please don't start a war. If we start a war... they will definitely be driven back by your majesty in no time. It would be better to kill them all in Qishan, but I'm afraid that if we don't kill them all, they will become bandits. Then we won't have a peaceful life."
"That's right! This is my first time doing business in the border town this year. If a war really breaks out, I won't be able to do business anymore!"
"Hahaha, Brother Lin, just rest assured. That brother is right. I guess it's just a sparring match. Although we are from the Yu Dynasty, we are also aware of the situation in the Yu Dynasty. Alas..." The man shook his head and sighed: "What can we use to fight against the Wu Dynasty!"
"Our emperor and the one across from us are both young, so why is there such a huge difference in their ability to govern?"
"Be careful with your words! I wonder what kind of business Brother Lin is planning to do this time?"
"My father thinks the price of grain in our Yu Dynasty might go up this year. Didn't the Wu Dynasty have a good harvest last year? I thought I'd come and check out the grain prices here and buy some if it's reasonable."
“…”
Many guests in the inn echoed the words, but in the corner of the inn there was a man who had been listening. He drank without saying a word, but his eyes were shining and seemed a little excited - he was Su Diandian, the fifth senior brother of the Taoist temple.
Yu Xingjian listened for a long time but couldn't understand what was going on. He frowned and thought for a moment, "Jitang, let's go out and take a look."
"good."
The two men came from Guanyun City and had only been in the border town for two days. They originally wanted to buy a few shops here to establish a sales window for their family in this commercial city. Unexpectedly, before they bought the shops, they encountered the army of the Yu Dynasty entering the Qishan Corridor.
Although it is difficult to judge what the situation is, as a businessman, what we want at this time is to be safe.
The two walked on the streets of the border town. After the army passed, the streets regained their vitality.
People were coming and going, shoulder to shoulder, with occasional worry on their faces, and most of their conversations were about the sudden situation. However, Yu Xingjian and Zhong Jitang clearly saw that these people were talking but were still doing what they were supposed to do.
They came to the newly built trading market, which was even more lively. The market was crowded with people, shouting and bargaining sounds one after another, just like before.
The two looked at each other, finding it increasingly difficult to make a judgment.
At this moment, Su Diandian walked out of the Wind Chime Inn. He stretched, looked around, went to Qibu Alley, entered the peach orchard in full bloom, and disappeared into the back mountain.
…
…
The southern border army headquarters.
In front of Yu Wendao was an old man with a dark complexion. If Fu Xiaoguan were here, he would recognize him at a glance - Fei An!
The great general Fei An who once farmed in Nanling County outside Jinling City!
"I will leave the 300,000 Tiance Army to you."
"Your Majesty, thank you for your trust!"
"I have already explained the current situation to you in detail. The Imperial Preceptor of Fan State is expected to arrive in Guanyun City with Emperor Wen's coffin around February 25th. The 300,000-strong Fan State army is expected to land in Hexi Prefecture around February 20th. The 100,000-strong Yi State revenge army will also arrive in Guanyun City around the same time."
"What our army needs to do is to defeat the Wu Dynasty's Fourth Army on the Huazhong Plains, and then join forces with the other two countries' armies on Liluo Plain for a decisive battle... right there on Liluo Plain!"
Fei An carefully looked at the map on the table, and after a moment of silence, he said, "I have two concerns. These two concerns are not about the Wu Dynasty battlefield, but about this place..."
Fei An's hand fell on Wo Fengdao, "Your Majesty, Fu Xiaoguan's Divine Sword First Army is an absolutely formidable force. Our dynasty has mobilized all its main forces. If Fu Xiaoguan dispatches the First Army to attack the eastern border troops... Even though the Crown Prince has a thousand cannons to defend, I am worried that they will not be able to stop it."
"Once the First Army enters Wofeng Road, there will be no more obstacles on their way westward. They can march straight into Jiangnan Road and all the way to Nanjing!"
Yu Wendao raised the corner of his mouth, "I have already given my brother the order. If the First Army dares to advance westward... the Eastern Border Army will be divided into smaller groups and attack the Chi Le Chuan Autonomous Region!"
Fei An was stunned. Just give up?
Your Majesty, are you going to burn your boats?
Once the First Army left Chi Le Chuan, Chi Le Chuan would be deprived of any military strength. Using the Yu Dynasty's strategic depth to gain victory in Chi Le Chuan was a viable option.
"Another point is the Yangtze River. Although Fu Xiaoguan took six warships out to sea, it is still unknown how many navy ships he took with him."
Fei An looked at the Yangtze River and said, "The Wu Dynasty has many ships. Even if they are not warships, what if he sends 100,000 navy soldiers to the Qinhuai River on passenger ships..."
He raised his head with a look of worry on his face. This went straight to Yu Chao's heart!
Yu Wendao was shocked. This was something he had never expected. His eyes fell on the map and he thought for a long time. "I will immediately send a secret order to Huo Huaijin, instructing him to lead the western border troops and enter Nanjing immediately."
"Hurry! The Western Frontier Army is too far from Jinling. Huo Huaijin has to go from Jinling to the Western Frontier Army base and back..."
"No, Huo Huaijin is in Jiannan Road."
Fei An was startled. Yu Wendao didn't mention that Huo Huaijin had resigned and was traveling in Jiannan Road. Instead, he looked at Fei An earnestly and said, "This is a battle for the fate of the Yu Dynasty. If we win, the Yu Dynasty will prosper for a thousand years. If we lose... the Yu Dynasty will be destroyed in my hands, and I will have no choice but to die in the imperial mausoleum."
"Go ahead, I'm waiting for your good news!"
Fei An bowed and retreated.
The 300,000-strong Tiance Army completed its reorganization that evening, but did not immediately move out of camp.
Fei An sent out a hundred spies and ordered them to comb Qishan - he always had a doubt in his mind, did Fu Xiaoguan really not hear any news at all?
Can Zhou Tongtong really block all the information and make Fu Xiaoguan blind and deaf?
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