"They are reinforcing the city walls, and the garrison is also conserving strength. Have they discovered something?" Hong Qu frowned.
Zuo Wushang said in a deep voice, "Even if it's just a precaution against Bai Niu Mountain, there should be some reaction. But from the current situation, Li Xiuyun is quite something!"
Hong Jie explained, "I've observed that the morale of these Luzhou defenders is far superior to before. They don't engage in idle chatter with outsiders, suggesting that the troops are likely personally arranged by Marquis Dingguo."
"Can the Huichun Sect not take Luzhou?" Hong Qu asked in confusion.
"Not necessarily. The Huichun Sect initially mobilized less than sixty thousand troops. There will surely be reinforcements later, and perhaps even a greater surprise!" Zuo Wushang shook his head. "However, Hong Jie's analysis is accurate; the initial mobilization was less than sixty thousand, and the final assembled force is likely to be less than one hundred thousand."
Hong Jie added, "Three of the top talents in Jiangnan have already gathered here. Perhaps other gifted individuals are secretly collecting intelligence for them and have come to inform them! A fierce battle is unavoidable."
At this moment, Zuo Wushang and Hong Qu had to admire Hong Jie's foresight.
Even if Luzhou could be taken, the Huichun Sect's forces would inevitably suffer heavy losses.
If not, Liang Xiao and Li Xiuyun would thoroughly investigate the situation within the city, and the remnants of the Daheng Kingdom might be discovered if they didn't withdraw in time!
Attacking a city of this caliber required utmost caution from both sides, especially for the outnumbered defenders, otherwise, they could face utter annihilation!
"What do we do now? Just watch the Princess?" Hong Qu asked worriedly.
"We must watch the Princess, but also observe the situation. We cannot retreat arbitrarily," Zuo Wushang replied.
Hong Jie squinted, gazing at the distant city walls, and said calmly, "This is the golden opportunity we've been dreaming of! If it's a one-sided affair, regardless of who wins or loses, we gain nothing. If the Huichun Sect takes Luzhou but suffers heavy losses, we can then deploy our hidden card, simultaneously bribe Lü Ma'er and others with great rewards, and seize the initiative!"
Zuo Wushang smiled and nodded, his gaze gradually sharpening. "Don't forget how our compatriots were 'blood-sacrificed' by the Huichun Sect members back then! Even if the restoration is successful, the Huichun Sect cannot be controlled and must be eliminated. Why not take this opportunity to let them exhaust themselves against the Daqian Kingdom's army and serve as our scapegoats!"
The three men re-examined the city walls, a sense of awe filling their hearts.
Whether it was the remnants of the Daheng Kingdom, the Huichun Sect, the noble clans, the Southern King, or the barbarians, each had their own trump cards, far beyond what outsiders could imagine.
This land, known as the "Central Kingdom," was the target of constant covetousness by all factions. Everyone wanted to rule the central plains, yet there were always individuals who stood up to protect the nation!
Among these factions, the remnants of the Daheng Kingdom were the smallest in number, an insurmountable fatal weakness. They couldn't afford to gamble unless absolutely necessary; each loss was irreplaceable, let alone their own Princess's unwavering devotion to Liang Xiao...
"This Liang Xiao repeatedly appears in places he shouldn't, ruining our plans. He deserves to die!" Hong Qu finally could not suppress his grief and indignation.
Zuo Wushang and Hong Jie exchanged a look, both offering wry smiles.
No matter how deserving of death he was, he couldn't die, at least not at the hands of the Daheng Kingdom's remnants, lest their Princess follow him in death!
Hong Jie sighed, "It's a pity there's no opportunity. Otherwise, I would personally want to interact with this person and see what kind of abilities he possesses to have achieved so many world-shattering accomplishments and to have so many people follow him with unwavering loyalty. He even incorporated the barbarian tribes!"
The barbarian tribes!
Zuo Wushang and Hong Qu's hearts sank.
That powerful, ancient tribe, which Zuo Wushang had failed to recruit through threats and enticements, had now become Liang Xiao's steadfast guards!
After a moment, another trusted subordinate arrived from afar and whispered, "Marshal, that person has arrived."
Zuo Wushang's expression changed. He forced a smile and walked towards the approaching shadow.
The shadow did not respond to Zuo Wushang's clasped-fist salute, merely stating coldly, "This brat Liang Xiao dares to snatch our young lord's woman and meddle with imperial power. He deserves to perish here! Reinforcements have departed from the southwest and will join forces with the Huichun Sect within seven days. Lüzhou City will surely fall! You are to keep a close eye on Liang Xiao. Once the time is right, capture him alive and hand him over to our young lord for personal judgment!"
Zuo Wushang and the other two tensed, nodding in unison.
After the shadow left, Hong Qu said with a bitter smile, "So many people want to see him cut into a thousand pieces, yet we, who hate the Daqian imperial family the most, are precisely the ones who dare not harm him..."
Zuo Wushang remained silent.
Hong Jie sneered, "They are just a bunch of suicidal mediocrities, thinking he's just a nineteen-year-old boy easy to deal with. Only we know that the most difficult person in this world is him! It's good for them to wear each other down. I should make my move as well."
At night, the north gate of Lüzhou was wide open, and Li Xiuyun was personally waiting there.
After a moment, a figure on horseback, like a streak of white light, galloped from afar, causing the guards to exclaim in shock, "What kind of horse is this, so tall??"
Li Xiuyun's heart tightened as he looked at the approaching figure and said, "Let them pass, no obstruction!"
Gazing at the white figure, Li Xiuyun secretly sighed, "Its entire body is snow white, its eyes are as red as if they glow. How can it be exactly like the 'White Dragon Shadow,' the mount of the King of Donghai, recorded in historical texts..."
Under the covers, Jian Qinwan held Liang Xiao tightly. This time, she didn't even ask Liang Xiao to tell her stories, afraid of tiring him.
"Second Young Master, the Master has arrived!"
A guard's voice came from outside. Liang Xiao, who had been softly coaxing Jian Qinwan to sleep, immediately perked up.
Jian Qinwan's pretty face flushed. She and Liang Xiao put on their clothes and headed straight for the stable Liang Xiao had prepared.
Hong Xiu was currently preparing fodder for Bai Ye Feiying.
Upon seeing Liang Xiao, Bai Ye Feiying whined softly and shook its head.
Liang Xiao understood and smiled as he stepped forward to stroke Bai Ye Feiying's neck.
"Feiying, Feiying, perhaps there will be another battle!" Liang Xiao said softly.
Bai Ye Feiying whined again, then panted like an ox, its pair of red eyes seeming to faintly glow red under the moonlight.
Looking at this legendary warhorse and its "master of destiny," Jian Qinwan's heart fluttered.
The implication of the "flower thief" was self-evident...
"Thank you, Master!" Liang Xiao said gratefully.
"Compared to the Marquis of An's repeated efforts for the sake of all beings, this humble monk is insignificant," Hong Xiu sighed.
Liang Xiao conversed with Hong Xiu while personally adding fodder to Bai Ye Feiying. Only when Bai Ye Feiying was full did he return to the room with the silent Jian Qinwan.
"You..." Jian Qinwan spoke hesitantly.
"What about me, what about me? I'm your husband anyway," Liang Xiao said with a smile.
"Oh..." Jian Qinwan lowered her head. After a long while, she said softly, "The battlefield is dangerous, you cannot be careless, and you must not let us lose you. Especially Princess Ningshuang, she is the one you cannot betray the most..."
Liang Xiao was taken aback. He looked at Jian Qinwan, whose face was filled with shyness and worry, and his heart ached.
She was so proud, why did she always consider others?
"Then tonight, you'll coax your husband to sleep."
"How... how do I coax him?"
"What do you think?"
"..."
"Mwah~"
Inside the Prefect's mansion, a burly, middle-aged general in black armor with a furrowed brow was waiting.
He was General Hengjiang, Gongsun Dingjun, the right-hand man of Marquis Dingguo!
Gongsun Dingjun looked at Li Xiuyun and Zhuo Zifang, who were deep in thought, and asked, "Prefect Li, what life-or-death matter does Marquis An have that requires such a solemn summons for me?"
He had been on guard duty in the camp when he was suddenly summoned by Liang Xiao, who also asked him to bring fifty of his most trusted guards.
Power grab?
Gongsun Dingjun believed that if Liang Xiao wanted to seize power, he wouldn't have him bring his personal guards, especially since Liang Xiao was the designated son-in-law of the Qin Sage.
Li Xiuyun said with a bitter smile, "I don't know either. He only said he needs to create something extremely secret, which absolutely cannot be leaked, or it will bring endless disaster!"