"Don't know each other?" Dugu Jing expressed his doubts. "General, you can't joke about this. Think about it carefully."
It was indeed not a joke. This was not a small matter. The other party had taken such a huge risk to help. If there was a conspiracy, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Once the other party lured the Qin army into the desert and caused trouble, the Qin army would be completely annihilated.
"Indeed, we don't know each other, but …" Luo Zhao hesitated again.
Dugu Jing asked, "Did you think of something?"
Luo Zhao shook his head. "I definitely don't know Yuan Gang from Thatched Cottage Villa, but I'm not sure if I've seen this person before. Could he have met me under another identity? I can't be sure until I see him in person."
Dugu Jing was silent for a moment. "Alright, General, make arrangements for the withdrawal first. We'll know when we meet again."
Luo Zhao nodded. This was all he could do for now.
After that, Luo Zhao quickly made arrangements. With such a huge army, there must be a comprehensive retreat plan. They could not just leave like that.
But it was indeed very fast. A day later, the main force of the Qin army attacking Xi Ping Pass suddenly retreated.
This move was not approved by the Qin Emperor, but Luo Zhao knew very well that the Qin Emperor was only a puppet. Following Yu Cang's orders would not be wrong.
Xi Ping Pass General Yin Chu was stunned. He did not know what trick Luo Zhao was playing. He ordered his spies to check and confirm.
When the main force of the Qin army was really far away, he realized that they had really retreated …
"What? Retreated? "Gao Pin, who was patrolling the border of Qi and Wei, jumped off his horse and asked," Where did they retreat to? "
Immediately, a soldier opened the map. The general pointed out the Qin army's current retreat situation according to the report from Xi Ping Pass.
"They went north. It doesn't look like they're retreating to the interior of Qin …" Gao Pin muttered as he stared at the map. His gaze followed the direction of the Qin army's retreat.
"Could it be that they're trying to cross the high foothills? The mountains are dangerous, and the ice and snow are extremely cold. It's impossible for the army to cross. "
His gaze finally fixed on the boundless desert. "Could it be that they're trying to march through the desert? Impossible. Even if they're not afraid of the monsters in the desert, the army and their supplies can't pass through such a vast desert. "
His gaze moved up again and fixed on the seaside. "Could it be that they're trying to cross the sea and return to the interior of Qi? That's impossible. There are so many people. How many ships are needed to transport them? "
"What is Luo Zhao doing?"
Gao Pin, who had been mulling over and over again, really could not figure out what the Qin army was trying to do. He had no idea at all and could not come up with an effective response.
He had no choice but to pass down the order. "Order the spies to continue paying close attention. At the same time, order the Black Water Platform to move. We must find out the intentions of the Qin army! "
He was a little nervous. On the battlefield, he was most afraid of things that he didn't understand. He was worried that Luo Zhao would launch an unexpected surprise attack.
"Yes!" The subordinate received the order and carried it out.
Gao Pin turned around and said to the accompanying Elder of Cloud Tool Sect, "Elder, immediately send out a team of cultivators to walk along the Horizontal Mountain Range again. See if there are any secret paths that we have overlooked or haven't discovered yet."
The Cloudtool Sect Elder nodded. "Very well."
Gao Pin added, "Elder, this matter cannot be neglected. It's not like Wei Guo. Wei Guo was destroyed by us from the start, and was unable to form an effective combat force. That's why I was able to quickly take down Wei Guo. The Qin army is different. It is a complete combat force, and Luo Zhao is also quite capable. Once the Qin army intervenes, it will create a lot of pressure on our army. For Luo Zhao to suddenly withdraw his army to the north, he must be plotting something! "
"Understood. We will definitely make them keep their eyes open and investigate without any negligence. If anyone makes a mistake, no matter who they are, they will be punished by the Marshal according to military law!" The Cloudtool Sect Elder guaranteed.
The unusual movements of the Qin army had already put pressure on the Jin State. For this war, all kinds of spies and secret agents of the Jin State were fully mobilized.
However, they couldn't find out anything. In order to keep it a secret, Luo Zhao was the only one in the entire Qin army who knew what was going on. When the other generals in the army asked, Luo Zhao kept it a secret. It could be said that he kept it a secret and didn't dare to leak anything.
Within the Qin State, the only people who knew anything were Yu Cang and Dugu Jing.
Even if the elders of the Waning Moon Pavilion investigated the matter of Bai Shangcheng's murder, Yu Cang did not dare to reveal it. He only said that it was a top secret and promised them that he would give them an explanation after a certain period of time. At that time, the elders would naturally understand why they did not pursue the matter.
The State of Qi, on the other hand, became excited. They did not know what the State of Qin was planning. They sent envoys to communicate with the State of Qin, but the State of Qin kept their silence. They only said that when the time was right, they would inform the State of Qi to cooperate. Before that, they would not reveal anything.
At the same time, the Qin Kingdom sent an envoy to contact the Song Kingdom again.
Without the reform, the Song Nation, the Han Nation, and the Yan Nation did not want to see the Jin Nation becoming stronger. They were all forcing the Qin Nation and the Qi Nation to join forces to resist the Jin Nation. If they did not comply, the Han Nation and the Yan Nation would be the first to attack the Qin Nation.
Given the current situation of the Qin State, it was better to fight against the State of Han and the Yan State alone or to fight against the State of Jin together with the State of Qi. Moreover, if the State of Jin became stronger, the State of Qin would be the first to suffer. How could the State of Qin ignore this potential threat?
However, it was different for the State of Song. The State of Song did not want to see the Han Nation and the Yan Nation becoming stronger. They also did not want to see the two countries annexing the State of Qin. Therefore, the State of Song promised that as long as the State of Qin and the State of Qi joined forces to resist the State of Jin, the State of Song would restrain the Han Nation and the Yan Nation from the rear.
The State of Qin sent an envoy to confirm the promise.
In order to stabilize the State of Qin, the State of Jin wanted to send a batch of food to the State of Qin. However, the condition was that the State of Qin gave up on the alliance with the State of Qi.
The State of Qin wanted the food very much, but how could they not see the intentions of the State of Jin? If the State of Qin dared to ask for the food, the Han Nation and the Yan Nation would definitely attack them. The State of Jin wanted to give the State of Qin some strength to deplete the strength of the three countries.
After weighing the pros and cons, and with a new plan, the State of Qin naturally rejected the good intentions of the State of Jin.
The Han Nation and the Yan Nation seemed to have formed an alliance. The troops stationed at the borders of the two countries were gradually withdrawn to show goodwill.
At the same time, the two countries gathered their troops to the east and west. If there were any changes, they would have to join forces to annex the State of Qin and defend against the State of Song.
This was clearly forcing the State of Qin to help the State of Qi.
The State of Qin had no choice but to do this. However, they also knew that it was like drinking poison to quench their thirst. After this battle, regardless of whether they could win or not, the State of Qin would be greatly weakened. Even if they won the battle, the State of Qin would be weak. If they did not take advantage of the situation, the State of Qin and the Yan Nation would both send troops to annex the State of Qin.
The State of Qi promised that as long as the alliance was successful, the State of Qi would be willing to send troops to help the State of Qin if the Han Nation and the Yan Nation were to harm the State of Qin.
This promise might not be reliable, but one thing was reliable. The State of Qi promised the State of Wei and the State of Qin. They were willing to hand over the Xi Ping Pass to the State of Qin and betray the State of Wei.
As long as the State of Jin was defeated, even if the State of Qin suffered losses, the State of Qin would be able to enter the Xi Ping Pass and occupy the former territory of the State of Wei.
As long as the State of Qin entered the pass and participated in the battle, the State of Qi would not be able to go back on their words. Unless the severely weakened State of Qi wanted to fight the State of Qin again, they could only ally with the State of Qin to fight the State of Jin.
It was not a good feeling to have a knife held to one's neck and go to war with another nation. However, the State of Qin had no choice. They did not have enough confidence and could not defeat the other two. They could only join forces and fight the other two.
The war started by the State of Jin destroyed the State of Wei and targeted the State of Qi. This caused the State of Qin to be in a dangerous situation. None of the countries near the battlefield could stay out of it.
The situation suddenly became complicated and subtle. It was as if a huge storm was about to befall the world.
…
At the border of the vast desert, the State of Qin finally arrived after a long journey. The vanguard arrived and met up with Yu Cang and the others.
Yu Cang immediately introduced Yuan Gang to Luo Zhao. At the same time, he observed from the side.
"Mister Yuan, I have long heard of your great name. You are indeed extraordinary." The travel-worn Luo Zhao greeted Yuan Gang politely. He was also carefully identifying him.
After seeing him, he was a little puzzled. He was sure that he had never seen this person before. It was impossible that he did not have any impression of such a tall and red-faced man.
Seeing this person, Yuan Gang's gaze was a little complicated. He felt that he had let him down. Since he was willing to help him, it was not like he did not have the intention to repay him.
Therefore, he was more understanding than the others. He nodded slightly and said, "Hello!"
Seeing Yu Cang's gaze, Luo Zhao smiled and asked tentatively, "I have a bad memory. May I ask if we have met before?"
Yuan Gang: "No."
Luo Zhao was instantly puzzled. "Mister came from far away. I heard from the State Preceptor that you have come to help me. Is that true?"
Yuan Gang: "Yes."
Luo Zhao was even more puzzled. "I do not know you. May I know why you are helping me?"
Yuan Gang: "Someone asked me to."
Luo Zhao was suspicious. "May I ask one more thing? Who asked you to help?"
Yuan Gang was silent. He did not know how to answer. However, he did not think that lying could hide anything. He would have to face it sooner or later. It was better to be happy than to be conflicted. Thus, he replied calmly, "Officer Feng!"
"…" Yu Cang and the others looked at each other. Wasn't Officer Feng Luo Zhao's ex-wife? She was actually someone Luo Zhao's ex-wife asked to help?
How could Luo Zhao's ex-wife be so capable? None of them had thought about this before.
Luo Zhao was stunned for a moment. Then, his expression changed drastically. He seemed to have thought of something. He did not know about other things, but one thing he knew was that Officer Feng's help would definitely cause great trouble. There was a high possibility that she would lose her life. How could Officer Feng be so respected?
He pursed his lips and stared at Yuan Gang. Suddenly, he asked, "She went missing for a period of time. Was she with you?"
Yuan Gang was silent for a moment. Finally, he admitted, "Yes!"
Luo Zhao's face instantly turned pale. His body trembled and he clenched his fists. He found it. He finally found the person that Officer Feng was unwilling to say. He gritted his teeth and said word by word, "I have nothing to do with her. I don't need her help!"
After hearing these words and seeing Luo Zhao's reaction, Yu Cang and the others immediately understood something. They were a little dumbfounded.
Yu Cang did not know whether to laugh or cry. He really wanted to ask Yuan Gang if he was stupid to admit this in front of everyone. Was she here to help or to cause trouble?
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