Ye Zhen and the others returned to the inn.
Those left at the inn by Li Chengye hurriedly stepped forward, "Master, why are you back so late? Did something happen?"
His name was Fu Zhe. He was originally Li Heng's attendant. Li Heng was worried about his son, so he sent him to his son's side to take care of him.
He was Li Chengye's strategist and steward.
"It's nothing."
Ye Zhen mimicked Li Chengye's voice, "Tonight I will personally lead the men to open the city gates."
"Master, this is too dangerous."
Fu Zhe disagreed, "Let's stick to what we agreed before. You can wait at the inn until we open the city gates, then you can show up."
My men have already scouted the area. Tonight is New Year's Eve. There are only about fifty guards at the east and west city gates, and they are all of average skill. My men can take them out quickly.
The entire garrison in the county town of southern Jiangsu only numbers a thousand, while we have thirty thousand. This battle will not be difficult.
Ye Zhen didn't say anything more, only gave him a brief glance, indicating that he wouldn't change his mind.
She had too little contact with Li Chengye and was worried that saying too much would lead to making mistakes.
Seeing this, Fu Zhe continued to persuade him, "Master, the Prime Minister is already in trouble, you cannot afford any mistakes..."
"Mr. Fu."
Someone interrupted him, "You said it yourself, this siege is easy and not very dangerous, so you should let the master personally charge into battle so that the people below know that the master is with them. Only in this way can they be of one mind."
"Are you doing this for the good of our master, or do you want those 30,000 soldiers to only recognize you?"
It was Shi Yan, who was posing as Li Chengye's confidant, who spoke.
“Nonsense, my heart is only for my master.”
Fu Zhe was furious.
He never expected that this person would dare to provoke him to his face.
Shi Yan sneered, "Master isn't a three-year-old child. He has his own thoughts. Now that the Prime Minister is in trouble, Master should step forward and take charge, letting the 30,000 troops see his abilities, instead of you always taking the lead. In that case, will these 30,000 troops recognize you or Master..."
"master!"
Fu Zhe interrupted Shi Yan, looking at Ye Zhen with a mixture of anger and grievance, "This old servant has never had such thoughts. This old servant only wants to protect you."
"Alright, Uncle Fu, I understand your feelings."
Ye Zhen said, "But he's right, I must go to this battle in person."
Fu Zhe felt utterly heartbroken.
The guards stirred things up, but the master did not stop them.
Now he insists on his own ideas. Is the master really worried that he will steal the credit, or is the master already dissatisfied with him?
At this moment, Shi Yan continued, "Mr. Fu was once just a follower of the Prime Minister, while the Master was raised by the Prime Minister as the Crown Prince from a young age. How can you think that your ideas are more brilliant than the Master's?"
Fu Zhe is a smiling tiger who is usually good at hiding his emotions. Today, he was spoken to like this by a guard, and his master did not defend him but instead indulged him.
His anger could no longer be concealed, and he roared at Shi Yan, "Enough! What exactly are you trying to do by sowing discord between our master and me before the battle?"
He had served his master for nearly twenty years, and this was the result of his sincere efforts. Fu Zhe was very disappointed in Li Chengye.
Shi Yan said innocently, "I was only doing it for the master's own good. You've been the one preventing the master from standing up for himself. How could I be stirring up trouble?"
The two of them started arguing back and forth.
Ye Zhen waited until Fu Zhe's fingers were trembling with anger at Shi Yan before calmly saying, "Shut up, I have my own plans."
The order was given: of the 30,000 troops, 10,000 would return to the mountains to await further orders, 10,000 would proceed to northern Jiangsu, and 10,000 would proceed to southern Jiangsu as originally planned.
"My lord, how can you disperse your 30,000 troops at a time like this?"
Fu Zhe was startled by Ye Zhen's words and forgot his anger. He patiently said, "The news of the occupation of Su Nan will soon reach the capital. At that time, the emperor will definitely send troops to suppress it."
"With only 10,000 troops left in southern Jiangsu, how can they possibly withstand the imperial forces? My lord, this is absolutely unacceptable!"
It was clearly stated before that 30,000 troops would attack southern Jiangsu tonight, and before the court could react, they would seize northern Jiangsu with lightning speed.
Even if the imperial court sends troops to suppress them, they will at least have 30,000 soldiers to resist, and the entire city's population as hostages.
The 30,000 troops now had two bases in southern and northern Jiangsu.
Because he was excited, his tone was somewhat aggressive, even a little forceful.
Because of Li Heng's previous instructions, Li Chengye had some respect for Fu Zhe. Because of this respect, Fu Zhe would inevitably act like an elder in important matters.
But right now, the person being addressed as "Master" by Fu Zhe is Ye Zhen.
Why would we spoil him?
"Who is fighting this battle, me or you? Who is the master of these 30,000 troops, me or you?"
These words were incredibly important to Fu Zhe.
Fu Zhe looked hurt, his eyes filled with shock, "Master..."
How could you think of me like that?
Immediately, he sharply sized up Ye Zhen.
How could the master have changed so much after only one day away? Was he instigated, or has someone else been replaced?
“Master, I came to your side when you were four years old. When the Prime Minister arranged a false identity for you to study at the academy, I accompanied you. I have never had a single day of disloyalty.”
You said that besides the Prime Minister, the person you trust most is this old servant, and you also said…
puff!
Ye Zhen suddenly drew the long sword from Shi Yan's waist and stabbed it into Fu Zhe's heart, coldly saying, "A servant is a servant, what old feelings are you talking about?"
Father sent you to stay by my side to serve me, and I respected you for that. But you've really taken yourself for an elder. Now that you harbor ulterior motives, how can I tolerate you?
She knew very well that Fu Zhe was suspicious, and those words he had just said must have been a test.
Having laid the groundwork to this point, it's understandable that Ye Zhen would kill Fu Zhe during the ensuing argument.
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