In the study, Shi Tou explained the situation in a few words: "The caravan encountered the royal cavalry on the road and is now retreating. Commander Fang has already led cavalry to meet them and asked me to inform the young mistress!"
Song Liyun's expression changed, and she slammed her hand on the table. The thing she was worried about had finally happened!
Just then, Old Yu and Old Qian, who arrived a little later, also appeared outside the study door, accompanied by a caravan guard who looked disheveled.
"Young Madam, don't worry. The caravan has five hundred guards, and Commander Fang has already led cavalry to meet them. Nothing will happen!"
When Old Yu saw that Song Liyun, the pregnant woman, was angry, he quickly tried to comfort her.
Song Liyun was worried that her lack of knowledge about defense might cause problems, so she insisted that it should be handled by specialists, and that Fang Zheng had the authority to make decisions in emergency situations.
That's why the report only reached her after Fang Zheng had already sent out his troops.
Song Liyun also felt restless and irritable since becoming pregnant. She took a deep breath to calm herself down and asked, "What's the specific situation?"
Those goods were the lifeblood of the merchants, and these merchants were the lifeblood of Mida City.
If anything goes wrong, Mida City's reputation will be completely ruined.
The guard who returned with the news knelt down with a thud: "Madam City Lord, we haven't even reached the Zabu River yet, and we've encountered a road that's been destroyed. Boss Lin and Steward Wan think there's a problem and want everyone to turn back into the city."
Other merchants argued that the road had been washed away by summer floods, and if there had been an ambush, the pontoon bridge across the river should have been destroyed first; they insisted on continuing on their way.
At this point, the guard was clearly filled with remorse, and his voice choked with emotion.
The guards had scouted the route beforehand, but having traveled it many times over the past three years, they were bound to make mistakes.
They only looked at the pontoon bridge in the river and whether there were any wolves within a mile radius.
Although the Lin and Wan families are prominent families in the city, people are willing to listen to them when they speak.
But now the people have already gone halfway, and there are many other merchants as well.
Everyone was in a hurry to leave, and no one was willing to turn back just because of something unusual when they were already halfway there.
So the caravan stopped on the road and the guards repaired it.
This stop lasted for half a day, and because they hadn't reached a rest stop, hundreds of people were crowded together in a chaotic mess.
Half a day later, bad news arrived: the guard who went to contact the rest stop ahead had gone missing.
The sentries also sounded the alarm, indicating that cavalry were lurking nearby.
"You're going to turn back right now?" Song Liyun said in a deep voice.
The guard shook his head: "A few families saw that the road had been repaired and thought they should rush across the Zhabu River immediately, so that they could contact the Zhenbei Army in Hecheng as soon as they crossed the river!"
They kept shouting that they didn't want to go back to the city!
The Zhabu River beach is one li wide. Now that the water level is low in winter, and there is a wooden pontoon bridge, as long as the horse-drawn carriage can cross, the city will be close.
"What was the situation when you left?" Song Liyun had no interest in listening to the guard's explanation; she just wanted to know who had attacked the caravan.
The guard hurriedly said, "When Boss Lin saw that things were not going well and no one wanted to retreat, he asked me to go back to the city to report the news first."
Song Liyun frowned, and couldn't help but complain to Lin Qingyuan for sending a guard who never seemed to know the point to deliver the message: "So, the caravan is safe for now!"
She said that, but the people in the room did not relax; instead, their expressions became serious.
Lin Qingyuan and his colleagues are people who have been traveling on the grasslands for many years.
Having experienced robbery and banditry, I don't get easily flustered and start shouting at the slightest disturbance.
They must have discovered something amiss, which is why they sent Fang Zheng with his troops.
Old Qian spoke up: "Although Fang Baihu's cavalry is not as good as Lei Zi Battalion, if the other party just wants to rob us on the road, we can easily deal with them."
The caravan had over a hundred guards and a hundred cavalrymen, making it a formidable force that could not be easily defeated.
Song Liyun nodded: "Old Qian, take him down to rest, and then organize the city's patrol team."
The guard who brought the message had been running for three days and was exhausted.
Knowing his position, Lao Qian responded and left with his men.
Shi Tou also went out to find Yun Niangzi and the guards in the mansion to make preparations in advance.
Old Master Yu wanted to leave, but Song Liyun stopped him: "Old Master Yu, please stay!"
With no one else in the room, Song Liyun asked Old Yu, "Old Yu, do you have any thoughts?"
Despite the urgency of the conversation, Old Yu didn't seem too nervous; his expression was somber, as if he were deep in thought.
Old Master Yu sat down: "The young mistress has also made a discovery!" He used a statement of fact.
Song Liyun said in a deep voice, "I don't understand military affairs, but for the past two months, my husband has been capturing Di soldiers who have crossed the border near Pingliang Fort, and the Zhenbei Army has also been strictly guarding the border. Logically speaking, they should have returned to the army long ago."
But now it seems like something is holding it back. Should I fight or retreat...? What am I doing?
"The caravan hasn't encountered any real danger yet, so why transfer Fang Zheng?"
Zhao Tingduo initially said that he was hunting down the three thousand Di soldiers in the mountains, but there has been no news since, as if he has been cut off from contact.
The Zhenbei Army also withdrew completely from Kara Mountain.
In addition, the caravan left with its guards, and even Fang Zheng's hundred cavalrymen were withdrawn.
To be honest, at this moment, without the protection of armed forces, Mida City is like an exposed piece of fat meat, which can be easily taken by anyone.
Old Master Yu's expression changed instantly. If Song Liyun could think of it, he naturally could too: "Young Madam, we've been deceived!"
Yes, Mida City was deceived, not only Zhao Tingduo but also Zhao Tinglei.
As expected of a veteran in the military, and having served as Zhao Tinglei's advisor for several years, Old Yu is even more knowledgeable about military affairs than Song Liyun.
For the past three years, he has stayed on the grasslands since he found the mine, building blast furnaces and conducting scientific research, thus distancing himself from politics and military affairs.
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