The city of Luoyi was still in chaos.
Despite Han Jingyu personally leading patrols every day, it couldn't stop the Turkic soldiers from slaughtering indiscriminately.
The greatest number of deaths, naturally, were among the Yu Lin soldiers.
Han Jingyu had his men deliver a small bell to each household, instructing them to ring it upon seeing Turkic soldiers, and Yu Lin soldiers would quickly arrive.
However, several days had passed since the bells were distributed, and none had ever rung.
Facing such indifference from the city's populace, Han Jingyu couldn't help but worry, "Perhaps... tomorrow, we should have the Seventh Prince rest at the inn."
Previously, having the Seventh Prince accompany them was to subdue the Turkic soldiers.
But compared to the current indifference of the city's people, Han Jingyu felt it was time to make a decision.
Ji Zizhao, stirring the medicinal soup with a wooden twig, did not stop but said softly, "There's no need. If he wishes, let him continue to patrol the city with General Han."
Han Jingyu looked at the completely unfazed Princess Ronghe, speechless.
He didn't believe Princess Ronghe couldn't guess the reason why the people of Luoyi were disheartened with the Yu Lin soldiers.
But if Princess Ronghe knew, why insist on having the Seventh Prince continue patrolling?
Uncle Zhang Shuzhong, who had been guarding the inner room, hurriedly called out, "Princess Ronghe!"
Ji Zizhao stood up directly and entered the inner room.
Left with no recourse, Han Jingyu had no choice but to go downstairs, turn left, and knock on the Seventh Prince's door.
"Your Highness has been exceptionally tired recently, perhaps you should rest for a few days?" Han Jingyu suggested with a smile.
However, Xie Jingqi didn't fall for it at all. "Rest? Why rest? Don't you see the Turkic soldiers are still finding excuses to kill our people? Until the Turkic soldiers are all eliminated, I won't rest a single day!"
Han Jingyu: "..."
Truly a headache.
Yet, Xie Jingqi was a man of his word and, early in the morning, he rushed out of the inn's main gate.
Han Jingyu, who had just mounted his horse, watched the Seventh Prince disappear in the blink of an eye, so angry he wanted to curse.
Look at him, where is the demeanor of a prince?
This was clearly an unbroken wild horse!
Ji Zixiu, standing beside him, asked, "General Han, what do we do?"
Han Jingyu: "..."
What to do?
What else could be done?
Naturally, we chase!
On the third floor of the inn, General Mu Man stood side by side with Mu Shizhen.
Watching the Yu Lin soldiers depart for patrol again, Mu Shizhen gritted his teeth, "Are these Yu Lin people fools? Don't they see the current situation? How many more soldiers do they want us to kill before they stop!"
General Mu Man, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, was rather nonchalant. "Soldiers defeated in battle have no value in continuing to live. If they can contribute to the Turks before they die, then their deaths are not in vain."
"What does A'bu mean..."
"Currently, the people of Luoyi have attributed the plague entirely to Yu Lin. Naturally, their hearts lean towards the Turkic soldiers. Therefore, the more Yu Lin soldiers kill our troops, the greater the hatred of the Luoyi people towards the Yu Lin soldiers will be. At that time, we only need to cast the final bait, and all the big fish will take it."
General Mu Man's gaze was dark and sharp. "Luoyi is in trouble, and the Yu Lin Emperor will not stand idly by. However, by the time the reinforcements arrive, Luoyi will be nothing but a sea of corpses. At that point, the Yu Lin Emperor will surely order the city burned, and from then on, Yu Lin will have no Luoyi."
What the Turks could not obtain, Yu Lin would not be able to get either.
But the peace treaty had been signed, and Yu Lin would continue to pay tribute to the Turks, and a Yu Lin prince would still be sent as a hostage.
This war, by all accounts, was a victory for the Turks.
"A'bu is cunning. I didn't expect A'bu to have plague spreaders at his disposal."
General Mu Man smiled slyly. "How could I have such dangerous things? Of course, I would have them in others' hands."
Mu Shizhen frowned. "Isn't A'bu afraid he'll regret it halfway?"
General Mu Man raised his eyebrows proudly. "The overall situation is set. It's no longer something he can go back on."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"Reporting to the General, just now a message came from the fourth floor, saying they have found a method to treat the plague."
What, what?!
Mu Shizhen's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe what he heard.
The smile on General Mu Man's face also gradually faded, but he quickly regained his composure. "Even if Yu Lin's imperial physicians have a cure, who would believe it now?"
General Mu Man remained silent for a moment, then looked at Mu Shizhen and said, "You take people and food now and go visit those frightened citizens."
Mu Shizhen's eyes lit up. "Son understands."
After Mu Shizhen left, General Mu Man looked at the soldier behind him. "Follow the young general. After he meets the people of Luoyi, ring this."
As General Mu Man spoke, he took out a bronze bell from his sleeve.
By the window of the private room on the fourth floor.
Zhang Shuzhong watched Mu Shizhen charge out of the inn with a large group of men. He turned to Ji Zizhao, who was organizing the pills, in confusion.
"Developing a pill that can cure the plague is a great joy, but why did Princess Ronghe inform the Turks in advance? Isn't Princess Ronghe afraid the Turks will continue to sow discord?"
"If it's sowing discord, one needs to be caught red-handed to break it," Ji Zizhao tidied up the pills, called Qing Zhu to accompany her, and invited Zhang Shuzhong to go out with her.
Zhang Shuzhong, worried about the Turks continuing to sow discord, naturally agreed to accompany them.
However, after getting into the carriage, Zhang Shuzhong waited for a long time, but the carriage didn't move.
"Luoyi is not a big city. Princess Ronghe should hurry and search for the Turkic young general."
"It is precisely because Luoyi is a big city that we cannot waste too much effort."
Zhang Shuzhong: "..."
Is this the legendary generation gap?
Why couldn't he understand a single word?
Ji Zizhao, however, smiled and poured a cup of tea, handing it over. "We just need to wait. The Turks will naturally lead us to them later."
Zhang Shuzhong: "..."
This wasn't a generation gap, it was a chasm!
While Ji Zizhao was waiting, Xie Jingqi had already killed several more Turkic soldiers.
Xie Jingqi was refreshed, but Han Jingyu had to resignedly clean up the mess.
Ji Zixiu was about to carry the corpses of Turkic soldiers onto the carriage when his shoulder suddenly felt lighter.
In a blink of an eye, he saw Cao Yan already carrying a corpse and throwing it onto the carriage.
Ji Zixiu looked at Cao Yan, who had become increasingly friendly with him in the past few days, and felt uneasy. "Cao Yan, you never used to get along with me. Have you eaten the wrong medicine?"
Cao Yan threw another corpse onto the carriage before generously saying, "It's all in the past, why bring it up again? Now that we are fellow soldiers, we should help each other. Ji Zixiu, I was short-sighted before. If you still mind, I can apologize."
Ji Zixiu was not one to dither and said with relief, "Cao Yan, I finally find you somewhat likable now."
Cao Yan chuckled and quickly moved all the corpses on the ground into the carriage. However, after closing the carriage door, he looked at Ji Zixiu again and said, "When we return to the imperial city, if there's a chance, let's go for a drink together. And, and... invite your eldest sister along, how about it?"
Ji Zixiu: "..."
So, your reconciliation was fake, and your true intention was to become my brother-in-law?!
"Cao Yan, I advise you to buy a mirror. You? Don't be a toad lusting after swan meat." Ji Zixiu spoke harshly, and his fists were even less merciful, hitting Cao Yan on the head.
Cao Yan, battered and bruised, "..."
He just admired, admired!
"Ring ring ring... Ring ring ring..."
Suddenly, the crisp sound of a bronze bell pierced through the streets and echoed throughout Luoyi.