The military report stated that three thousand cavalrymen had invaded the territory, but Zhao Tingduo could only immediately mobilize a little over a thousand men from Mida City.
Using a thousand men to block three thousand cavalry, while having their backs to the royal court of Xuyang Grassland, was obviously too risky.
Old Yu and several deputy generals stared intently at Zhao Tingduo, their hearts pounding with tension.
If Zhao Tingduo wanted to protect himself, he only needed to postpone or delay sending troops, and Duke Anguo, General Lei, and the entire Zhenbei Army would be annihilated.
However, they cannot condemn it either.
After all, sending troops to mine was a voluntary act by the Zhenbei Army.
Moreover, in two years, the Zhenbei Army made a considerable amount of money.
Without the slightest hesitation, Zhao Tingduo said, "I will immediately lead 1,400 men from Mida City to Pingliang Fort and block the royal court's rear route."
Back in Hecheng, Old Yu should hurry and send a message; it would be best to use both carrier pigeons and messengers.
Upon hearing that Zhao Tingduo was willing to send troops, Old Yu quickly replied, "Yes, I will grind the ink right away!"
The deputy generals also got up and went out to arrange for the mine and the Thunder Battalion to set off.
Everyone in the study left in a flash, leaving only Song Liyun and Zhao Tingduo.
She didn't say a word after Wudan called her over; she just listened silently.
Logically, Song Liyun shouldn't have been present for these military matters, but the couple had discussed everything over the years, so they allowed her to listen in at the first opportunity.
Only when the couple were together did Zhao Tingduo look at Song Liyun, her brows furrowed slightly, and she said apologetically, "Ayun!"
I don't know what else to say; he has no choice but to send troops.
Song Liyun had just seen her brothers off that morning, and now that her husband was going to war, she was bound to feel terrible.
Seeing Zhao Tingduo's troubled expression, Song Liyun felt very nervous, but she didn't panic on the surface. She simply reached out and smoothed away a shallow wrinkle between his brows: "It's alright, I'm here at home, you can go out and fight without worry. Your brother can't be in any trouble!"
Something absolutely cannot go wrong with Zhao Tinglei.
Even if the emperor knew that the city was being smelted for iron, the revenue from these past few years had already greatly reduced the national treasury's military needs.
However, the evidence of unauthorized troop deployment could not be suppressed.
If Yunzhou suffers a disaster and an impeachment is launched, Zhao Tinglei will definitely be demoted, and may even have to return to the capital to atone for his sins.
This is not good news for either the Zhenbei Army or Mida City.
Aside from the blood ties between Zhao Tinglei and Zhao Tingduo, their relationship is already inseparable due to their geographical location and business dealings.
Without Hecheng and Zhenbei Army, Mida City will be left isolated and helpless.
Similarly, life in Hecheng was not easy either.
Without the continuous supply of livestock hides and various gemstones from the grasslands, the Wu Dynasty also suffered a major loss.
Just as Master Yu said, as long as the Di soldiers who crossed the border are blocked inside Pingliang Fort, the impending upheaval can be averted.
However, the deployment of troops by Mida City inevitably aroused the hatred of the royal court.
For the past three years, Mida City has avoided getting involved in the battle of Xuyang Grassland, focusing instead on its own development during this lull.
Even when tribes attacked, they concealed their strength and simply drove them away.
This time, by relieving the siege of the Zhenbei Army, the relationship was made public.
Once the Di soldiers retreat from the Wu Dynasty, they will surely regard Mida City as a traitor and an enemy.
What followed was a war of annexation, and the Mida Valley would never have peace again...
This day was bound to come sooner or later, and Mida City was already mentally prepared.
Zhao Tingduo had no way to avoid it; he sent out his troops that very night.
The thousand-person procession departed in a flurry, and no matter how low-key they tried to be, it still drew astonishment from the surrounding tribes and city dwellers.
Song Liyun stood on the high city wall, watching the dust and smoke recede into the distance once again.
Inside the city lord's mansion, Song Liyun gathered Fang Zheng, Jian Fangtong, Lao Qian, and Aqiya together for a meeting.
Among these people, Fang Zheng was a guard of the Northern Army of the City Lord's Mansion, Jian Fangtong was a secret patrolman outside the city, Lao Qian was from the City Management Bureau, and Aqiya was a personal guard of the Wuda tribe.
Each one has been carefully nurtured by Song Liyun.
It was the reserve armed force left behind after Zhao Tingduo took away the city guards, and it was also the patrol battalion that Song Liyun mentioned.
Although it appears to be fragmented and disorganized, it forms a self-contained system and has not been scattered due to the departure of the troops outside the city.
Moreover, Mida City has experienced several special situations over the past three years.
Especially when the tribe wanted to attack Mida City, Zhao Tingduo was leading troops outside, and many merchants panicked, causing chaos in the city.
Under Song Liyun's command, the patrol battalion moved in and out in a well-coordinated manner, calmed the emotions, and quickly quelled the chaos, bringing peace to the merchants.
Now, she has experience with the system she controls, from minor disputes and fights in the city to major deployments of troops to protect the city.
This time, it's just a return to wartime status.
Song Liyun's expression was solemn as she said to Fang Zheng, "From now on, the guards at the city gate will be on duty in three shifts, and they cannot relax their vigilance at night."
Fang Zheng was originally a member of the city lord's mansion, but now Song Liyun has arranged for him to work at the city gate, which means that he is in charge of the entire city defense.
Fang Zheng bowed and accepted the order.
Song Liyun then said to Lao Qian, "Starting today, alcohol is prohibited in the city during the day. Anyone who violates this rule will be whipped ten times and driven out of the city."
A curfew is in effect at night; the city gates are locked after dark, and no one is allowed to wander the streets without an order from the city lord's mansion.
This was Old Qian's business as a city management officer, and he agreed to it.
The ban on alcohol during the day was also to prevent fights and brawls caused by alcohol, and people had to buy alcohol outside the city if they wanted to drink.
A curfew at night can reduce chaos.
In addition, fire safety must be checked, and all wells, cisterns, and buckets should be placed in conspicuous locations for emergencies.
Every member of the patrol battalion has received firefighting and first aid training and can take control of the situation at any time.
Achia's task was to lead people to prepare enough horses in the city.
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