Princess Zhaoning sighed helplessly and withdrew.
Seeing her leave, Xiao Jingyun immediately ordered someone to find Liu Rumei.
Seeing Xiao Jingyun frowning, Liu Rumei asked cautiously, "What happened, Your Highness?"
Xiao Jingyun got straight to the point, "The Lotus Cult Master and a few others are in Qingniu County. They killed Zhu Yan two days ago, and now they're proposing to open the city gates and let us charge in overnight."
Upon hearing this, Liu Rumei was also startled.
"Qingniu County is too small. If we charge in, we'll definitely be mixed with the civilians, and the casualties will be considerable."
Xiao Jingyun nodded, "Yes, so I'm thinking, perhaps we can't wait until deep winter as Chen Xiaobei suggested. We must find a way to deal with Qingniu County as soon as possible."
Liu Rumei pondered for a long time, "Your Highness, I think this matter should still be discussed with Brother Xiaobei."
"But..." Xiao Jingyun opened his mouth, hesitant to speak.
Liu Rumei suddenly understood Xiao Jingyun's intention in summoning her.
As the Crown Prince, he found it difficult to speak to Chen Xiaobei again after suddenly changing his established plan.
Seeing Liu Rumei arrive, Chen Qiao'er greeted her with a smile, calling her "sister" with great affection.
Cui Hongyu also smiled and nodded, then beckoned to Chen Qiao'er, "Qiao'er, I'll take you to play with Sister Huang Ying."
After the two left, Liu Rumei sighed, "The situation has changed somewhat. His Highness intends to finish this quickly."
"Why the sudden change in style?" Chen Xiaobei was a little surprised.
Liu Rumei recounted Princess Zhaoning's sudden visit to Xiao Jingyun.
After listening, Chen Xiaobei sighed, "Alas, it seems the Princess is afraid of someone else snatching the credit, which is why she's so impatient."
Liu Rumei nodded, "Yes, traveling such a long distance without accomplishing anything, she'd be too ashamed to face the Emperor upon her return!"
"Very well, since they want to finish this quickly, we have ways to do so."
Chen Xiaobei thought to himself, I haven't fought a war, but I've watched so many movies in my previous life. Any one of the classic tactics from those movies could be applied here.
For those holed up in a city, there are generally two methods: either lure them out or infiltrate.
It was clear from the enemy's disposition that they would absolutely not come out, so infiltration was the only option. Although the Lotus Cult Master was inside, he might not obey my arrangements.
"Rumei, how many people do you still have in the city?"
Liu Rumei sighed, "Only three or four guards, and their martial arts skills are mediocre. Don't expect them to accomplish anything significant."
Chen Xiaobei nodded, "Then it seems we have to send people in again."
"Send people in for a decapitation strike, capture the Jueding Daoist, and force him to order his subordinate officers to surrender."
Upon hearing his plan, Liu Rumei's expression became troubled.
"Brother Xiaobei, there's something you might not know. The martial arts skills of the Jueding Daoist are probably beyond ordinary people. Even if Liu Ce, Liu Tie, and I join forces, we might not have much of a chance."
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei was shocked. Were the Jueding Daoist's martial arts skills that terrifying?
He secretly felt fortunate that it was Sima Wushuang who had climbed the steep slope last time, not the Jueding Daoist. Otherwise, the outcome would have been uncertain.
"Then let me think about it again." Chen Xiaobei frowned.
He had thought that a decapitation strike would resolve the issue, but he didn't expect Liu Rumei to retreat first. Of course, he couldn't blame her; according to her, the Jueding Daoist's martial arts skills were truly terrifying.
In this era of cold weapons, a skilled commander could determine the outcome of a war.
Although they seemed to have many people, it appeared they didn't have anyone capable of holding their own against the Jueding Daoist.
Chen Xiaobei pondered for a long time, finally setting his sights on Huang Ying and Shen Ziyan.
Perhaps these two could come up with a better plan.
Seeing Chen Xiaobei arrive, Huang Ying appeared very pleased, "Brother Xiaobei is here, please sit."
Chen Qiao'er, who was playing with Shen Ziyan, immediately ran to the side obediently and nestled into Cui Hongyu's embrace, remaining silent.
Chen Xiaobei sat down and asked directly, "Ziyan, Sister Huang Ying, have you two ever heard of the Jueding Daoist in the martial world?"
Upon hearing him mention this person, Huang Ying and Ziyan exchanged glances, their eyes full of surprise.
"Brother Xiaobei, why are you suddenly asking about him?" Huang Ying asked with a smile.
"He's in Qingniu County, and he's the highest commander of the city's defenders. If we want to break through Qingniu County, we have to face him." Su Dan Novels.
Hearing this, Huang Ying's expression turned somewhat somber, "He's a top-tier master. I'd be lucky to last ten moves against him."
Shen Ziyan also sighed, "Yes, and that's assuming he isn't using his full strength."
After hearing their statements, Chen Xiaobei's heart sank completely.
A divine-like existence, even the astounding Shen Ziyan and Huang Ying could only claim to last ten moves against him. How could they possibly fight?
"Alas, it seems we need to find another way." Chen Xiaobei couldn't help but mutter.
Cui Hongyu by his side also repeatedly persuaded, "Yes, husband, there will be a way, don't worry."
Chen Xiaobei sighed, "If no one can stand against the Jueding Daoist, this matter will be difficult to handle."
Huang Ying, however, blinked and smiled, "Brother Xiaobei, you are too deeply involved in the situation to see clearly. You can defeat him."
Seeing Huang Ying's smiling face, Shen Ziyan gently tugged at her sleeve, implying that this was not the time for jokes.
Huang Ying remained unmoved, still smiling, "Use your firecrackers! Didn't you gravely injure Sima Wushuang last time?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaobei's eyes lit up. Yes, he was being foolish. He possessed the most powerful weapon, landmines!
If he could modify the landmines into hand grenades, and throw them into the Jueding Daoist's residence, would he still be alive?
Thinking of this, he laughed and tapped his head.
"Sister is right. I was momentarily confused in my haste."
Chen Xiaobei had carried a lot of landmines when he went up the mountain. They were barely used and were carried back down as they were.
The next step was to figure out how to modify them.
Back in his room, Chen Xiaobei took out a landmine and placed it on the table, staring at it without moving for a long time.
The principle was the same, all it needed was to pull the pin. But if the Jueding Daoist saw trouble brewing and ran, what then?
Therefore, he had to find a way to keep the Jueding Daoist next to the landmine, waiting for it to detonate.
But why would the Jueding Daoist listen to him?
Chen Xiaobei fell into deep thought.
If this old Taoist didn't listen to him, then there was only one option left: someone had to get close to him without him knowing and quietly plant this landmine near the Jueding Daoist.