At this moment, Liu Rumei had already led her people to escape the pursuit and hidden in a desolate mountain.
Liu Rumei stood behind a large rock, watching the enemy forces swarming in the distance and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The enemy numbered tens of thousands; if they were caught, their fate would be grim.
However, hiding here indefinitely was not an option. She had ordered her people to carry only five days' worth of dry rations, so food was temporarily not a problem, but water was.
Moreover, after running for a day, her people were tired and their horses were weary. In the freezing cold, in the wilderness, they needed a fire to feel comfortable, but a fire would be too conspicuous, so they dared not light one, only managing to find sheltered spots.
Fortunately, their luck held out. After searching in the desolate mountains for a while, they found a hidden valley.
For caution's sake, Liu Rumei sent out sentries for ten miles before ordering her men to light a bonfire.
As they ate by the fire, the tension among the people gradually eased.
Xiao Qing, however, was at a loss. "Miss, all our carrier pigeons have been released. We've run so far, it's unlikely we'll get a reply. What should we do next?"
Liu Rumei, however, smiled faintly.
She first beckoned several generals over and then smoothed the ground with her foot.
She then took a branch and began to draw. "This is Xiaoqing River. We are about three hundred li from Xiaoqing River, then we turn here. We keep running this way. According to my judgment, if we keep going south, we will reach Xiaoqing River again. Crossing Xiaoqing River, we can find our way back to our country."
"Yes, we can go back, but we don't know what will happen to the others." The others sighed.
But this was no longer something they could decide. Liu Rumei also cared deeply, but there was nothing she could do; war was this cruel.
Liu Rumei continued to address the group, "We will rest here temporarily and then send people out to scout the path until we reach Xiaoqing River. Once we have a clear route, we can move the main force."
One person, named Qi Ning, stood up and cupped his fists in a bow to Liu Rumei. "Miss, I am willing to lead people myself to scout the route."
Liu Rumei nodded. "Very well, General Qi, I will trouble you with this. When we return, I will surely reward you."
Soon, Qi Ning left with his men. Liu Rumei ordered everyone to seize the opportunity to rest. Two hundred li; if all went smoothly, Qi Ning would return by early morning tomorrow.
However, Liu Rumei did not expect that she waited until dawn the next day, and Qi Ning had not returned. She waited until noon, and he still hadn't returned. She waited and waited, and by nightfall, he was still absent.
At this point, Liu Rumei became anxious. It was clear that something must have happened to Qi Ning, otherwise, according to her estimation, he would have returned within a day and a night for a two-hundred-li journey.
Just then, the maid Xiao Qing stepped forward. "Miss, shall I go?"
Before Liu Rumei could speak, another person, named Jia Wang, stepped forward. "Miss, how can we let a woman go? I will go instead."
Soon, Jia Wang also left with his men.
Liu Rumei's heart sank to her throat. She had a very bad premonition.
Meanwhile, in Qingguang City, the Emperor of the Great Earth Kingdom, Chopsen, was in a fit of rage. The entire city was sealed off, with all four gates shut. They had searched for a day and a night, but not a trace of the assassin could be found.
This infuriated him.
He was very confident that with Qingguang City's defenses, it would be difficult for the other party to leave. After all, the city walls were manned by soldiers, with no blind spots. If they tried to leave, someone would surely notice, and the city gates had not been opened for a whole day.
After venting his anger, he then ordered, "Immediately have people search again. No one's residence is to be spared."
Just then, the sound of footsteps was heard, and a guard stumbled in. "Reporting to Your Majesty, a grave matter has occurred. The National Preceptor, Sordoro, has been murdered. His head has been hung on his front gate."
Upon hearing this, Chopsen exclaimed and fell onto his chair. Sordoro was his most trusted confidant, and now he was dead. Chopsen trembled with grief. But he understood even more clearly that this further proved the assassin had not left. They must have realized they could not get to him, so they turned their attention to his subordinates.
Chopsen immediately ordered his carriage to take him to Sordoro's residence. Before he could even leave the palace, another person rushed in to report. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Great General Beta has also met with misfortune."
"Assassins suddenly broke into General Beta's home. General Beta resisted with all his might, but he was still severely wounded and is on his last breath."
Upon hearing this, Chopsen became even more agitated. Suddenly, with a clang, he drew his sword and, with a crack, cleaved a nearby tea table in two.
"Go, convey my orders: mobilize everyone, search the entire city! Furthermore, send word to Duobang to return immediately to reinforce, and surround Qingguang City! I refuse to believe we cannot catch the assassin."
"Also, order Qiao Na to set up defenses along Xiaoqing River immediately, and absolutely not allow anyone to cross the river."
Chopsen's arrangements brought great suffering to Liu Rumei. She waited another day. Jia Wang finally returned, but the news he brought plunged Liu Rumei into despair. The opposite bank of Xiaoqing River was already guarded by troops, and there were mobile sentries. There was no way to cross the river.
This was now five days.
The rations carried by Liu Rumei's soldiers were depleted. In the cold winter, in the desolate wilderness, constantly hiding in the mountain valley, the firewood was also running out. If this continued, they would likely freeze or starve to death.
Liu Rumei spent that night sleepless. She knew she had made a miscalculation. If she hadn't sent Qi Ning out to scout that night and had led the troops directly towards Xiaoqing River, she might have had a slim chance of returning. Now, she had to find another solution.
After much deliberation, Liu Rumei summoned Jia Wang and the other generals.
"Now the enemy's focus has shifted to defending the Xiaoqing River line. We are relatively safe here. Let the soldiers change into ordinary civilian clothes and disguise themselves as commoners. Blend into the nearby cities and towns of the Great Earth Kingdom, pretend to be refugees, and settle down for the time being. When the situation eases, we will find a way to return to our country."
This was a desperate measure. Jia Wang understood that there was no other way. Forcing a crossing would only lead to complete annihilation.
Soon, soldiers began to leave in small groups. Watching them depart, Liu Rumei's eyes welled up with tears.
There was no other choice. Temporarily lying low was better than total destruction.
Liu Rumei then turned to Xiao Qing and said, "Go and ask the people of Wugongling to send a letter to Princess Zhaoning, informing her of our situation, and tell them to disperse as well."
At this time, Chen Xiaobei and Zhao Guangzong had led their men to retreat to Shuozhou. They took stock of their numbers. Besides the five thousand men left with Liu Rumei, they had retreated with over thirty thousand. Along the way, losses were incurred, and after returning from the Xiaoqing River post station, they had over twenty thousand left. Overall, the losses were neither small nor insignificant, but they were heartbreaking.