On the 18th day of the second month, Qin Yin's letter arrived at Mosong Pass.
Early in the morning, in the quiet little courtyard of the Pass, the morning mist turned into rain and fell down. The tender leaves of the pomegranate tree splashed onto the cobblestones. Tang Lan held the book with the Empress's imperial seal in her hand and stood under the pomegranate tree with an ashen face. Looking at the newly sprouted petals, she felt an unspeakable discomfort in her heart.
"Duke Lan …"
The Tang family's general, Tang Xi, was still used to calling this name and said, "What order did Her Highness give that makes it so difficult for you to decide?"
"Look at it yourself."
Tang Lan threw the letter on the ground. Tang Xi picked it up and carefully read it word by word, muttering, "Commander Xiang Yu has already conquered Bai Ling City? Oh my god, this is an unparalleled achievement. Duke Lan, Her Highness has ordered you to govern Bai Ling City. This is a great thing, why are you so unhappy? "
"Did you see how many troops Her Highness ordered me to lead?"
"Ten thousand. But … "Tang Xi hesitated and said," But Bai Ling City's military strength is empty and there are 50,000 elite troops led by Xiang Yu. Even if Duke Lan only leads 10,000 elite troops, it should still be very safe! "
Tang Lan couldn't help but smile dejectedly, "Tang Xi, you have been in the army all your life and naturally don't know so many schemes … Sigh, forget it, hahaha … Heaven doesn't want my Tang family, I can only resign myself to fate! Tang Xi, where is Tang Lu's army? "
"300,000 elite troops are still in Seven Sea Gates. As long as Duke Lan gives the order, Young Master Tang Lu will lead the army out of the pass and listen to Her Highness's orders!"
"Where is Xiao Xi?"
"Princess Xi is leading 200,000 demon troops to guard the western suburbs of Lanyan City. I don't know why but she seems to be guarding against the army of Seven Sea Gates. I really don't understand Princess Xi's intention."
"Sigh, Xiao Xi ah Xiao Xi …" Tang Lan looked up at the pomegranate tree and muttered, "Success is due to Xiao Xi and failure is due to Xiao Xi … Tang Xi, prepare a pen and ink for me. I want to write a letter. Personally lead the light cavalry to Seven Sea Gates and hand it to Tang Lu."
"Yes!"
Before long, Tang Lan handed Tang Xi a letter stamped with the Seven Seas Sovereign Seal. She looked at his doubtful expression and said, "If you want to read it, open it."
Tang Xi took out the letter and glanced at it. Instantly, his body trembled. "Master Lan, have you really decided to hand over the military power of the 300,000 elite soldiers of the Seven Seas City to Princess Xi?"
"Yes."
Tang Lan had a dejected look on her face as she said indifferently, "Xiao Xi is brave and decisive, but Tang Lu is jealous and narrow-minded. I've thought about it for a very, very long time. Perhaps the Seven Seas City's army can only exist a little longer in Xiao Xi's hands. If it's in Tang Lu's hands, it will sooner or later be buried by this kid … Go."
"But …" Tang Xi said, "Will Young Lord Tang Lu really obediently hand over his military power based on this letter alone?"
"I knew there would be such a mess."
Tang Lan murmured. "How about this. When you arrive at the Seven Seas City, use my Tang Sect's iron order to request Tang Lu to gather all the vassals for a discussion. Then, take out this letter in front of everyone. I believe that kid Tang Lu won't disobey my order in public."
"Yes, I understand!"
Tang Xi carefully stuffed the letter into the space bag at his waist. He looked at Tang Lan again and said, "Master Lan, I'll leave an additional 40,000 soldiers outside the Cuckoo City. You can bring an additional 40,000 soldiers to the Hundred Ridge City."
"Yes, I understand. Go."
"Yes!"
After Tang Xi left, Tang Lan continued to look up at the pomegranate tree swaying in the wind. Suddenly, she raised her head and laughed heartily. Her laughter sounded extremely old. As she laughed, she suddenly lowered her head and vomited a mouthful of blood. Her face became much paler as she said, "Men."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Prepare the horses. Mobilize 10,000 old soldiers and follow me to the Turtle Valley Trail to reinforce the Hundred Ridge City."
"Your Highness," the major general said, a look of surprise on his face. "Ten thousand is enough? Before Commander Tang Xi left, he left behind a total of 80,000 soldiers. Do you want to bring all of them? "
"No, only 10,000 soldiers. All of them must be old soldiers."
"Yes!"
Not long after, Tang Lan led the 10,000 soldiers and left the Black Pine Pass in a grandiose manner. Su Yu and Feng Jixing escorted them to the outskirts of the city. The spring wind blew gently, causing the plains on both sides of the road to turn green. Everyone was very quiet. Feng Jixing and Su Yu rode side by side and followed behind Tang Lan. Su Yu wanted to persuade Tang Lan to stay again and again, but she resisted every time. She also knew that it was the Empress's imperial edict and she couldn't defy it.
"Alright, I'll send them here."
Tang Lan turned his horse around and cupped his fists. "General Feng, Commander Su, I'll send them here … I'll quickly march to the Hundred Ridge City. I hope that the two of you will take care of yourselves."
"Yes."
Feng Jixing looked at Tang Lan with a deep gaze and said, "Seven Seas King, do you have any words that you want me to pass to Her Highness?"
"The Tang Family has been guarding the Seven Seas Province for generations. I hope … hope that Your Highness will treat the Tang Family well and hope that Your Highness will take care of herself."
"Alright, I'll definitely pass this message to her!"
"Let's go."
Tang Lan spurred his horse and left. A row of Tang Family's old soldiers followed behind. Coughing sounds could be heard from time to time. Most of these old soldiers were already sick. Actually, many smart people had already guessed the outcome of Tang Lan's departure.
Once Tang Lan left, he wouldn't return.
…
"General Feng, has Her Highness already dug a grave for the Seven Seas King?" Su Yu's hair swayed gently in the cool breeze as she looked into the distance and muttered.
Feng Jixing's lips curled up. "Her Highness has no choice but to do so. Tang Lan ordered Tang Lu to lead three hundred thousand strong soldiers to guard the Seven Seas Pass, eyeing Lanyan City covetously. Tang Lan's disloyalty is clear, and Her Highness has determined this. That's why she ordered Tang Lan to lead the army to the Hundred Ridge City. Hmph … the Hundred Ridge City is the capital of Yihe Country. Long Qianlin and Ding Xi will definitely return to help. As long as Long Qianlin and Ding Xi surround the Hundred Ridge City, Tang Lan will definitely die."
Su Yu's delicate body trembled when she heard this. Her eyes were somewhat blurred as she said, "Xiao Yin has actually thought so far ahead … Since that's the case, Tang Lan will send himself to his death. What about us? What should we do? "
Feng Jixing said, "Commander Su Yu, I've already received a secret order from Her Highness. You will lead a hundred thousand soldiers to guard Ink Pine Pass. As for me … I'm going back to Lanyan City."
"To Lanyan City?"
"Yes."
"What are you going to do? Can I ask?"
"Haha …" Feng Jixing laughed heartily and said, "With Tang Lan's death, the Tang family's three hundred thousand soldiers are like a group of dragons without a leader. Someone must take over the army, so Her Highness's secret order is for me to carry out."
Su Yu couldn't help but smile. "Then I'll have to congratulate General Feng."
"There's nothing to congratulate. I'll serve the empire and sell my life for Her Highness!" Feng Jixing looked at the sky and said, "I'll set off in two days. In these two days, we'll observe the movements of Long Qianlin and Ding Xi's army. Once they receive the news, they'll quickly prepare rations and armaments to return to the Hundred Ridge City. Her Highness has ordered us to delay them for a day or two. It's best if we can cut off and burn their rations and armaments."
"Yes."
…
In Fiery Moon City, the central tent was quiet in the afternoon. A battle report was spread on the table of the commander. Long Qianlin sat there with a pale face, while Ding Xi was smoking a pipe. Clouds and mist lingered in the tent. A group of generals above the rank of Captaincy sat there with solemn expressions, not saying a word.
Not long after, a messenger opened the tent door and walked in. He said, "Reporting to the Second Marshal, we've received Commander's order. He's now in the fortress of Jiange, but there are less than thirty thousand soldiers defending it. Commander has ordered the two marshals to immediately send the army to Jiange to reinforce Commander and seize Hundred Ridge City."
"Got it. You're dismissed."
"Yes!"
Long Qianlin waved the smoke away and saw Ding Xi's face clearly. He said, "Marshal Ding, why do you still have the leisure to smoke this kind of thing here? Bai Ling City has been captured by Xiang Yu and half of Yihe Country's territory is in danger in the blink of an eye. Don't you have a plan?"
Ding Xi smiled faintly. "Ji Yao leading three hundred thousand elite soldiers out of Jiange is doomed to ruin. What can we do at this moment?"
Long Qianlin said, "Commander has ordered the two of us to lead four hundred thousand soldiers to reinforce Jiange. What do you think?"
"Absolutely not."
Ding Xi said, "When a general is in the field, the emperor's orders cannot be obeyed. We can't go back to Jiange together. Otherwise, we'll lose more than just half of Lingnan Province. Our enemy is Feng Jixing. His strategy is not inferior to QianFeng and Lin Muyu. Once we send the army to reinforce Lingnan Province, Feng Jixing will definitely attack Sunset City … Sunset Marquis is old. How can he be a match for Feng Jixing? So, Marshal Long, you lead two hundred thousand soldiers to reinforce Commander. I'll lead two hundred thousand soldiers to stay in Swift White Province and suppress Feng Jixing. What do you think? "
"Yes, that's what I was thinking."
Long Qianlin nodded. "If we set off tonight, we might be able to reinforce Commander before Xiang Yu can mobilize his forces to counterattack Jiange. Marshal Ding, you must also remember that Feng Jixing is very powerful. Don't act rashly. Swift White Province is too important to Yihe Country. We can't lose it."
"Got it. I'll go and set up the defense."
"Alright!"
Ding Xi extinguished his opium pipe, picked up the wine gourd on the table and tied it to his waist. He said to the group of Swift White Province generals, "Follow me. Return to defend the steel wall. Leave all the Heavenly Book weapon embryos for Marshal Long. They might be useful for attacking Hundred Ridge City and resisting the Devil Race. "
"Yes, Marshal!"
"Thank you, Marshal Ding." Long Qianlin cupped his fists and looked at Ding Xi gratefully.
The two smiled at each other and turned to go their separate ways.
Qin Yi had started his uprising in Lingnan with the slogan that all living beings were equal and people should be benevolent. Five years had passed in the blink of an eye, and the Yihe Country had also existed for five years, but now it was on the edge of a cliff. The only people who could save the Yihe Country were these two generals. But Ding Xi was too benevolent, and Long Qianlin was suspected because he was originally a general of the empire. The two of them were like struggling in a quagmire. The more they wanted to leave, the deeper they sank, unable to extricate themselves.
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