Chapter 255 Dilemma
Li Zhaonian's face turned pale, "Jifeng..."
Li Jifeng moved closer, "Royal brother."
Li Zhaonian looked at him and said, "After I die, they will definitely not let you go. I can't protect you anymore. The rest of the things will be up to you."
"My brother will not die." Li Jifeng looked at Li Zhaonian and said again, "Hold on a little longer, you will not die."
Li Jifeng had many brothers and many of them had died. He even watched Li Yanchang die in front of him without being moved.
But now, when he looked at the weak Li Zhaonian, he felt like there was a stone blocking his chest.
Li Zhaonian blinked gently. "I won't live much longer. I'm just hanging on. Border...border...Chen Yu..."
"When you were unconscious, she won the battle at Yanliang Pass. She is very powerful." Li Jifeng said.
Li Zhaonian laughed, "I knew it a long time ago. I knew she could do it."
He smiled for a while, then stopped smiling, "Where's Xie Tingzhou?"
Li Jifeng paused for a moment and said, "We haven't received any news about him going to Yanliang Pass yet."
"Then, then Chen Yu..." Li Zhaonian struggled to get up, but was gently held down by Li Jifeng.
"You have to believe in Chen Yu and Xie Tingzhou." Li Jifeng said.
Li Zhaonian lay there panting, "Help me... draft an edict."
Li Jifeng had already guessed Li Zhaonian's intention, "Nandaying is the last line of defense in Shengjing, and there is another Xuanping Marquis in the Great Zhou."
Marquis Xuanping has not yet mobilized his troops, and they have not guessed his intention. If the Southern Camp goes to Yanliang Pass for support, Shengjing will become someone else's possession.
Li Zhaonian looked dejected. "It was fine when my father was on the throne. Why did it become like this when I took over?"
What he said was a bit naive, but Li Jifeng did not point it out.
Li Jifeng advised: "The defeat at Yanliang Pass was the key to the demise of the Great Zhou. It's not your fault. We are all powerless to turn the tide."
Li Zhaonian was tired and very weak.
He closed his eyes and thought, perhaps he would be the last emperor of the Great Zhou and also the shortest-lived emperor.
Li Jifeng moved closer and heard Li Zhaonian's steady but weak breathing.
.
He stood up and let down the bed curtains, stood beside the dragon couch for a moment, then walked away.
…
The black armor of the Qingyun Guards stretched out in the snow, with no end in sight.
The entire army was in good order. Apart from the sound of the wind and the sound of soldiers' feet marching in the snow, no one could be heard talking.
Xie Tingzhou led 80,000 troops this time, with 20,000 light cavalry going first and the rest of the heavy cavalry and infantry following behind.
They traveled day and night and had already traveled more than 200 miles from Beilin, heading towards Yanliang Pass.
Xifeng handed over the water, "My Lord, drink some hot water."
Xie Tingzhou was in poor health and became even weaker in winter. Doctor Yu, who was accompanying the army, had warned him to avoid eating raw or cold food.
The weather was too cold, and it was not easy for them to get a hot drink during the march. The cavalry had to run ahead and boil water, and by the time they caught up, the water was almost ready.
Xie Ting didn't even get off his horse. He took the water, drank two sips and then coughed a few times. After he calmed down, he finished the water in the bowl and handed it to Xifeng.
Seeing this, Han Jiwu said, "Your Majesty, why don't you stop and take a rest."
"No need." Xie Tingzhou said, "Continue marching."
Han Jiwu followed the army this time, leaving Chang Heng in Beilin, and leaving 20,000 Qingyun Guards to garrison Beilin.
Xie Tingzhou always felt uneasy. He had read the military reports from the northwest. Chen Yu had won a small victory. Xijue had an overwhelming advantage in military strength, but had not launched a general attack yet. It seemed that they were waiting for something.
Han Jiwu had suggested to Xie Tingzhou long ago that he could lead his troops to Yanliang Pass first, so Xie Tingzhou wouldn't have to rush, and it wouldn't be too late for the heavy cavalry and infantry to follow.
However, this proposal was rejected by Xie Tingzhou at that time, and he was told not to mention it again.
Han Jiwu looked at Xie Tingzhou worriedly, then turned and met the eyes of Xifeng beside him.
Xi Feng understood and said immediately: "Your Majesty, it will be dark soon. The light cavalry can't stand running like this. Let's stop for a while."
Xie Tingzhou hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded.
Han Jiwu immediately ordered, "The whole army should rest and stop marching!"
Tents were quickly set up in the makeshift camp.
Xie Tingzhou sat in the tent. Xifeng brought hot water, wrung out a handkerchief and handed it to Xie Tingzhou.
Xie Tingzhou wiped his face and soaked his frozen hands
In lukewarm water.
"Bai Yu hasn't come back yet?"
"Not yet." Xifeng said, "It is flying north. Perhaps it is difficult to hunt in winter."
Xie Tingzhou frowned, dried his hands, and Xifeng went out with the basin of water.
As soon as the curtain fell, Xie Tingzhou heard a slight commotion outside, followed by Xifeng shouting outside.
"Your Majesty! It's Bai Yu!"
When Xie Tingzhou heard something was wrong, he immediately lifted the curtain and went out. Xifeng had just picked up Bai Yu from the ground.
“Your Majesty…”
"Come in!" Xie Tingzhou raised his hand to hold up the curtain, "Call the doctor."
Xifeng rushed in quickly holding Baiyu, placed it on the simple couch, untied the letter tied to Baiyu's leg and handed it to Xie Tingzhou.
Xie Tingzhou placed one hand on Bai Yu's heaving body to soothe him, quickly glanced at the short letter, and then stopped.
Xie Tingzhou's face was heavy, and for a moment, he looked confused and uneasy.
"Your Majesty?"
Xie Tingzhou handed him the letter and said in a deep voice: "Beirong..."
He exhaled and quickly calmed down, "The Beirong people crossed the snowy mountains and were attacked in the north."
At this moment, he finally understood what the Western Jue people were waiting for.
They are waiting for this winter snow.
After the winter snow, the mountains will be blocked by heavy snow, and Beilin and Beirong will enter a truce period. Xie Tingzhou will lead his troops to Yanliang Pass to reinforce and bring back his princess.
At this moment, Beilin’s combat power was the weakest, and the Beirong people could take Beilin directly as if they were in an empty land.
Xie Tingzhou, Shen Yu and even the Great Zhou will be attacked from all sides.
The Western Jue and the Northern Rong colluded with each other and stood on the same front, wanting to divide up the piece of fat meat at a time when the Great Zhou was in turmoil.
Xie Tingzhou clenched his fists.
"Ayu." He called her name in his heart. This name that had brought him peace countless times now felt like a sharp knife stabbing into his heart.
If he continued to move forward at this moment, it would be tantamount to abandoning Beilin and the hundreds of thousands of people living in Beilin, where the families and children of the soldiers were still.
But if he turned around and went back to Beilin, he didn't dare to think about what the outcome would be.
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