Liu Rumei also sighed, "Yes, the situation is probably worse than we imagined."
Meanwhile, in Qingniu County town, Zhou Quan received another urgent report from Crown Prince Xiao Jingyun.
The Da Cang Kingdom had been defeated again and forced to retreat two hundred li. With this retreat, the Da Tu Kingdom's army was less than three hundred li away from Wannián City.
Looking at this memorial, Zhou Quan could neither eat nor sleep. He did not know that Princess Zhaoning had already departed from Centipede Ridge. At this moment, Zhou Quan's heart was filled with unwillingness and turmoil. He knew that at this point, even if he rushed over overnight, it would be like a drop in the bucket for hundreds of thousands of Da Tu Kingdom soldiers.
After much thought, Zhou Quan made up his mind. He could only shamelessly seek out Liu Rumei again. If Liu Rumei remained indifferent, then he would have to rush back himself, and his fate would be left to heaven.
As dawn broke, Zhou Quan set off. This time, he made no attempt to conceal his movements and hurried towards Hetou Village.
The village guards saw Zhou Quan arrive again and quickly reported to Chen Xiaobei.
Upon hearing the report from the village guards, Chen Xiaobei was even more surprised. He instantly realized something. Zhou Quan's return this time likely meant the situation was even more dire.
As expected, Zhou Quan's expression was grave when he met Chen Xiaobei.
"Brother Xiaobei, I am not asking Miss Liu to personally intervene this time, but I am an official serving the Crown Prince, and I cannot fail to carry out the Crown Prince's orders."
Saying this, Zhou Quan directly presented the urgent report he had received last night to Chen Xiaobei. "Brother Xiaobei, look. This is the urgent report just received. The situation is very unfavorable to our Da Cang Kingdom. The hundreds of thousands of Da Tu Kingdom troops are only three hundred li from Wannián City, and the Crown Prince is putting up a desperate resistance."
After hearing Zhou Quan's words, Chen Xiaobei felt a pang of concern. He knew that if the Da Cang Kingdom truly fell, whether he and Liu Rumei could escape unharmed was uncertain.
Although he had made a judgment about the war, believing that the Da Tu Kingdom would be defeated as long as Xiao Jingyun could hold on, the premise was precisely that he had to hold on, and now it seemed difficult.
But no matter what, Chen Xiaobei really did not want Liu Rumei to get involved again.
As he hesitated, Zhou Quan stood up. "Brother Xiaobei, I have said all I can. Please help me convey this again. Even if Miss Liu is unwilling to come out of seclusion, her advice would still be of great help to the Crown Prince."
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaobei knew that Zhou Quan was truly desperate. After all, even the Crown Prince had personally led the troops and suffered continuous defeats; where would the civil and military officials have any confidence?
Chen Xiaobei sighed, but he could only agree. "Brother Zhou, please wait a moment. I will go and call Rumei over. We can discuss it in person."
After speaking, Chen Xiaobei invited Zhou Quan inside for tea while he himself went to find Liu Rumei.
Today, Liu Rumei had changed into new clothes to teach the villagers. Since her pretense of illness had been exposed, there was no longer any need to continue it.
Liu Rumei was teaching in the study hall when she saw Chen Xiaobei appear at the back door. She quickly taught the villagers two characters and asked them to practice before hurrying out.
"Rumei, Zhou Quan is here again, and he brought this."
Chen Xiaobei handed the urgent report in his hand to Liu Rumei. After reading it, a trace of worry flickered in Liu Rumei's eyes. As someone who had led troops in battle, she naturally understood what it meant to be only three hundred li away from Wannián City.
This was tantamount to the enemy being at the gates, especially since there were no formidable defensive positions within three hundred li of Wannián City, and they could only endure a direct confrontation.
"Rumei, Zhou Quan said that even if we don't go, our advice could help the Crown Prince alleviate his difficulties."
Liu Rumei frowned and pondered for a long time, finally exhaling softly.
"Alright then, I'll make some arrangements and go with you to see Zhou Quan."
Liu Rumei turned back to the classroom to make arrangements, then accompanied Chen Xiaobei to meet Zhou Quan.
When Zhou Quan saw Liu Rumei arrive, his eyes immediately turned red, and his voice was tinged with a sob. "Miss Liu, I..."
Liu Rumei waved her hand. "It's alright, I already know about the situation."
After speaking, Liu Rumei invited Zhou Quan to sit down. "You've been here a few times. You haven't told me the detailed situation on the front lines, nor why the Crown Prince has repeatedly suffered setbacks."
Zhou Quan let out a long sigh. "We fell into a trap set by the Da Tu Kingdom. The Da Tu Kingdom had been creating disturbances along the Jizhou front, making us believe they would invade from near Jizhou, so the Crown Prince focused his attention here."
"What we didn't anticipate was that just as Tian Wenhao had delivered provisions to the Jizhou front, the Da Tu Kingdom suddenly attacked, invading our Da Cang Kingdom from the northwest direction. What's even more hateful is that their invasion route was the same route they used when they attacked our country together with the Da Lin Kingdom previously."
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei instantly understood something. When they had captured the spy Ding Lao San in the capital last time.
And this Ding Lao San was later assassinated by several soldiers led by Luo Xi.
At the time, he couldn't figure out why Luo Xi acted so decisively to eliminate the evidence. But looking at it today, Chen Xiaobei began to understand.
Ding Lao San was clearly a pawn, a sacrifice made to mislead Da Cang. Therefore, because of this pawn, Chen Xiaobei had made a miscalculation, and so had Xiao Jingyun.
Zhou Quan used tea to draw on the table, meticulously explaining the situation of both sides to Liu Rumei. Liu Rumei listened with a furrowed brow, finally letting out a sigh.
"The situation has come to this. We cannot hold the defense. My father once uniquely created the Four Spirits Eight Trigrams Formation, which can defeat a larger force with a smaller one, and a weaker force with a stronger one!"
"I can draw the formation for you, and you can take it to the Crown Prince."
"As long as we can hold them off for a while, their supply lines will be disrupted, and they will naturally retreat!"
Hearing Liu Rumei's words, Zhou Quan was overjoyed, even feeling the urge to stand up and kowtow to her. "Thank you, Miss Liu. Miss Liu is truly a blessing to the common people!"
Liu Rumei's expression was grave, and she shook her head. "You don't need to thank me. Seeing our unfavorable war situation, I am also anxious."
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei actually let out a long sigh of relief. Liu Rumei drawing the formation for Zhou Quan indicated that she had no intention of going to the front lines herself.
At this moment, Zhou Quan could not think of anything else. Regardless, this was like a straw of salvation. He bowed to Liu Rumei again, "Thank you, Miss Liu."
Soon, Xiao Qing prepared the brush and ink. Liu Rumei drew the formation while meticulously explaining the subtleties of its changes to Zhou Quan. She even wrote down key parts for Zhou Quan on paper. It wasn't until nearly noon that the Four Spirits Eight Trigrams Formation was mostly explained.
Liu Rumei packed the materials and then spoke again, admonishing Zhou Quan.
"Tell the Crown Prince to focus on defense and not to launch any rash attacks."