That evening, Chen Xiaobei, Liu Rumei, and Cui Hongyu once again enjoyed a delicious hot pot. Just as they were about to embark on another spirited conversation, a gentle knock echoed from the courtyard gate. Liu Ziming’s voice called out, "Miss, Miss, an urgent matter."
Liu Rumei quickly rose and went into the courtyard, asking, "Ziming, why have you come so late?"
"Miss, there's an urgent dispatch from the capital."
Upon hearing news from the capital, Chen Xiaobei felt a pang of unhappiness. He had already advised Liu Rumei not to worry about these matters anymore.
But clearly, Liu Rumei had forgotten his advice. As soon as she heard about the situation in the capital, she eagerly asked, "What happened? Speak quickly."
"Miss, the Eldest Young Master just sent word that His Highness the Crown Prince has been poisoned and is in a coma. The Emperor has already moved to the Phoenix Mountain imperial palace a hundred *li* away. The situation in the capital is perilous."
At these words, Liu Rumei’s head buzzed.
Although she had her reservations about the Xiao father and son, upon hearing that Wannian City was in danger, her first thought was of her own father and elder brother, who were both in the capital!
Liu Rumei strode forward and opened the courtyard gate, then urgently pressed, "What about my father? And my brother? And Liu Ce, Liu Tie, they should have arrived too, right?"
Liu Ziming cupped his fist and replied, "The letter said that Zhou Quan and Du Bai went to invite the master out of seclusion, but the master refused. Later, they found the Eldest Young Master, and only then did they learn that the Emperor had already quietly gone to the imperial palace."
After hearing this, Liu Rumei remained noncommittal. She turned and walked back inside, calling for Liu Ziming to enter. After all, it was freezing outside, and it was warm indoors.
Liu Ziming handed over the letter. Liu Rumei read it from beginning to end. It detailed the attack the previous night, the retreat of the army to within the city walls, and then the poisoning of Xiao Jingyun. After reading it, Liu Rumei picked up a nearby teacup and other items, and quickly arranged them to form a defensive map of Wannian City.
After arranging them, she picked up a cup lid and placed it to the side, pointing to it and saying, "This is Phoenix Mountain, a hundred *li* from the capital. If the Great Tu Kingdom hasn't noticed our presence, it's fine. But if they realize someone is here, and their army attacks, will the Emperor still be safe?"
Liu Ziming instantly understood Liu Rumei's meaning. He bowed and said, "Then I will go and inform the Eldest Young Master to relay a message to the Emperor to find another place."
Liu Rumei waved her hand. "There's no need to rush. I believe the Great Tu Kingdom's focus will remain on Wannian City for the time being. As long as the Emperor acts cautiously, he won't be discovered."
Liu Ziming bowed again. "Miss, then should we set off for Wannian City immediately for rescue? If we are late, perhaps..."
Before he could finish, Chen Xiaobei stood up and interrupted him. "That's not advisable. Rumei, if we go to Wannian City, even traveling at top speed, it will take three days and nights. With this heavy snow, it will likely take four or five days. Besides, with just a few of us, what can we accomplish? I'm afraid we won't even be able to enter Wannian City."
Hearing this, Liu Rumei's brows furrowed. Then she sighed. "Brother Xiaobei is right. The Great Tu Kingdom has 400,000 troops surrounding Wannian City. Even if we get there, it will be difficult to break through the city. And what good will a few of us be once we are inside?"
Everyone present fell silent. Yes, just a few people against 400,000 troops was like a drop in the ocean. Unless you were a heavenly general capable of fighting ten thousand at once, whether you went or not made little difference.
Liu Rumei turned and looked at Chen Xiaobei, her expression solemn. "If the city only contained the Xiao father and son, I wouldn't go. But now my father and brother are inside. If Wannian City is truly conquered, my father will be in grave danger."
Chen Xiaobei believed Liu Rumei's words implicitly. Liu Xiangnan had fought many battles against neighboring countries in his youth, and the Great Tu Kingdom had suffered losses at his hands. Therefore, if the Great Tu Kingdom were to breach Wannian City, his fate would likely be grim.
Thinking of this, Chen Xiaobei became uneasy. After all, this was his father-in-law.
At this moment, Chen Xiaobei suddenly felt that his advice for Liu Rumei not to go to Wannian City seemed too heartless. How could he stop his daughter from saving her father? Moreover, as a son-in-law, shouldn't he also go to save his father-in-law?
Just then, Liu Ziming spoke up. "Miss, Qingniu County still has a thousand reserve soldiers. To my knowledge, at Centipede Ridge, Princess also left a few hundred men with Guo Chuan. We can organize them."
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei almost burst out laughing. Forty thousand troops! Would gathering a thousand or so men dare to go to their aid? What was the point? The disparity in forces was nearly 200,000. What use were these thousand or so men? But if he didn't let them go, it would make him seem too unfeeling.
Chen Xiaobei remained silent, but Liu Rumei spoke first. "That's not advisable. With such a small force, we would have difficulty breaking into the city even if we arrived. Remaining outside, small units are easily surrounded and annihilated by the enemy."
"Then, then, Miss, Jizhou still has nearly ten thousand defending troops. We can take them all."
Liu Rumei shook her head again. "No, no. If we take all of Jizhou, and the Great Tu Kingdom takes advantage of our weakness, wouldn't we be in an even more passive situation?"
Unintentionally, the listener's mind was sparked. Chen Xiaobei's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Rumei, since you're worried about them taking advantage of our weakness, why don't we take advantage of theirs?"
His words stunned Liu Rumei. She stared blankly at Chen Xiaobei. "Brother Xiaobei, what... what do you mean?"
Chen Xiaobei chuckled. "The capital of the Great Tu Kingdom, Qingguang City, is less than a thousand *li* from Jizhou. If we march day and night, we can reach it in a few days."
This statement terrified everyone. Liu Ziming stared at Chen Xiaobei with disbelief. "Brother Xiaobei, are you alright? We have at most ten thousand men to attack the capital of the Great Tu Kingdom!"
Chen Xiaobei smiled slightly. "What's there to be afraid of? You think the Great Tu Kingdom mobilized 400,000 to 500,000 troops to Wannian City, their homeland must be quite empty. As long as we create enough of a stir, and make them believe we intend to attack their capital, they will naturally become nervous."
After hearing Chen Xiaobei's words, Liu Rumei pondered.
"Brother Xiaobei, you're right, but attacking the Great Tu Kingdom's capital, Qingguang City, with only ten thousand men is too risky. I think it's better this way: I will immediately write back to my brother, asking him to petition the Emperor to mobilize the troops from Jizhou, Yunzhou, and Shouzou. We should be able to muster at least 50,000 men. Moreover, these three regions are only three to four hundred *li* apart, so they can reach the border simultaneously."
"If our 50,000 men march towards Qingguang City, the Great Tu Kingdom will surely panic, and the siege of Wannian City can be lifted."