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Northwest Region is cold and gloomy, with early winds and late frosts. In early October, as winter approaches, the soldiers eagerly await snow, which is a hardship for the young men in the army.
Although the weather is harsh, it does not deter Jinyang, who has developed a fondness for her time in Qibi Helix's camp. She dislikes Caesar's close protection but does not want to go against Xu Zhen's wishes. Therefore, she spends her days practicing swordplay with Li Wushuang, improving her self-defense skills while enjoying herself.
In the small courtyard, she and Li Wushuang are playfully sparring, the sound of wooden swords clashing fills the air. Caesar, finding little amusement in their antics, notices someone approaching the gate. It turns out that a general is seeking an audience, so he tidies himself up and allows Qibi Helix to enter.
Upon greeting each other, Qibi Helix gets straight to the point, explaining the situation regarding Ganzhou without adding personal opinions, leaving it for the prince to decide how to proceed while awaiting instructions from the princess.
Li Mingda, preoccupied with worries for Xu Zhen's safety, understands that the situation is dire. After hesitating for a moment, he consults Li Wushuang. However, given the gravity of the matter concerning the princess's life or death, Li Wushuang dares not speak out of turn, leaving them without a conclusion.
With no resolution reached, Qibi Helix leaves feeling frustrated but still concerned about military affairs in Ganzhou. He gathers a group of strategists to discuss countermeasures in private.
Just as they are unable to come to an agreement, news arrives that several thieves in prison have colluded with officials and fled out of fear of punishment. General Gao Zhensheng has dispatched soldiers on swift horses to pursue them.
"What recklessness!" Qibi Helix exclaims angrily. Reflecting on how the thieves had contacted his wife, he inquires about who had assisted them from the government office. He learns that it was a recently recruited man named Xie Anting. He cannot help but feel regret; this young man possesses great courage and strategy and is truly a rare talent. He had been aiming to promote him but never expected him to commit such a foolish act.
With several like Yin Zong having escaped, there will be no clear distinction between right and wrong anymore. This gives Gao Zhensheng grounds for action, making it even more perilous for Ganzhou.
While Qibi Helix is at a loss for what to do, Yin Zong, along with Xue Dayi, returns safely to the surface of Ganzhou. With the fierce warrior Xie Anting by their side, they encounter enemies along their path and eliminate them without issue. The scouts from the Tuguhun meet unfortunate ends as well. Under cover of night, they signal their arrival at the city gates and are welcomed inside.
The brothers of Xu Zhen, worried about Yin Zong, send daily reports back. Recently, she has been under treatment for injuries from her mentor Sun Simiao's top disciple, Liu Shenwei. Upon hearing that her brothers are safe, she rushes over with relief upon realizing that Xue Dayi has passed his test and has brought back the fierce warrior Xie Anting, filling her with joy.
Given the seriousness of the situation, Xue Dayi does not dare boast about their success. Once inside Xu Zhen's tent, he explains everything clearly with Xie Anting as a witness. Concerned, Xu Zhen frowns and quickly gathers a few people to seek counsel from Li Jing.
Inside the Central Army Tent, Li Jing, along with warriors like Liu Shuyi and Du He, are discussing matters when they hear that a messenger has returned. They invite him into their military tent only to hear such troubling news from Xu Zhen. The usually composed old general erupts in anger and slams his hand down hard enough to nearly break the table!
"That scoundrel Gao Zhensheng! For his own selfish interests, he disregards national affairs! This time he must be dealt with properly!" Driven by his dedication to his country and people, Li Jing avoids court politics and despises deceitful schemes. However, there are limits; by ignoring national righteousness, Gao Zhensheng has crossed a line with him!
Unaware that Jinyang is still alive and under the protection of Qibi Helix, nor knowing about the schemes involving figures like Hou Junji, others do not dare act against him directly but subtly hint at their discontent towards him.
However, knowing more than he lets on about these matters only fuels this old general's fighting spirit further. The officers rally together to devise strategies relying on their own strength to protect Ganzhou.
Seeing that Xue Dayi has returned safely makes Xue Wanjun realize he misjudged him but does not worry about any potential exposure of his own misdeeds since all of Xue Dayi's relatives are within their clan. Revealing anything about Xue Wanche could lead to disastrous consequences for his family.
Thus he steps forward confidently and advises: "The enemy will see our supplies cut off and will surely tighten their siege without launching an attack. If we wish to turn this around, we must take initiative; otherwise, after ten days or half a month without food, our troops will lose morale and inevitably face defeat!"
Li Jing, in order to preserve military strength, refrained from launching a major counterattack after encountering a surprise attack. Instead, he ordered Li Chunfeng to pinpoint the water veins and open underground passages to secretly transport supplies, hoping that the enemy would collapse without an assault. At that time, the forces in Ganzhou were intact and indeed had the capability to fight.
However, defending the city was their greatest advantage. If they abandoned the city defenses and took the initiative to attack, they would lose all advantages. Charging head-on against Ashina King's Army on the plains before the city would be akin to striking short against long, with uncertain odds of victory. Currently, there was hesitation, and attention turned towards Xu Zhen.
"Does Commander Xu have any good strategies to break the enemy?"
He had already promised Yan Lide to open his mind and vigorously develop artillery; supplies of materials and manpower had never ceased. Having witnessed Xu Zhen's success with her thunderous artillery, he held great hope that now was the time for harvest.
As expected, Xu Zhen stepped forward and slightly cupped her hands, saying, "The new military equipment has been completed, but it is primarily focused on defending the city and is somewhat cumbersome, making it difficult to move with the troops. If we want to show our might, it is best to lure the enemy into attacking..."
Xu Zhen spoke without much confidence, and Li Jing frowned as well. Duke of the Right Guard Du He mocked her coldly: " Commander Xu truly does not know her own limitations. Not to mention that Craft Workshop has consumed too much of our military resources, but Ashina's generals are not fools; how could they take the initiative to attack? To lure the enemy deeper—if your equipment is not reliable, it will only make defense more difficult. Are we really going to stake our lives on your untested new artillery? If it fails us, we will all perish at your hands!"
Fairly speaking, Du He's words were not without reason. Only the high-ranking officials knew about Xu Zhen's artillery plan; there was no reason for those below to risk their lives on her.
Thus, a new round of debate and discussion began in the tent, bustling yet yielding no conclusions until Li Jing finally spoke up to suppress it.
"Let’s put this matter aside for now. I believe Qibi Helix will not sit idly by. Let’s wait five or six days; if he truly does not come to rescue us, we will break out forcefully. It is better than being trapped to death."
Since Li Jing had made a decision, no one dared question it further. Just as they were about to disperse, Li Jing added: "As for Commander Xu, continue doing what you need to do; everyone in the army supports you. Just focus on your work."
Du He and others saw Li Jing supporting Xu Zhen like this and felt only discontent but dared not voice their anger. Meanwhile, Xu Zhen received Li Jing's backing and returned to camp with Xue Dayi, Yin Zong, and Xie Anting.
After obtaining Xu Zhen's formula, Li Chunfeng became increasingly skilled and even adjusted proportions himself while continuously testing the potency of gunpowder. This person was a genius; his hands were deft and precise. He managed to delegate some rough refining tasks among Brave Warriors Camp Brothers easily, and gradually the production of gunpowder became abundant.
Having recognized Xu Zhen as his leader, Xue Dayi naturally sought to expose Xue Wanche and Du He’s malicious schemes. However, Xu Zhen seemed to have anticipated this and was not surprised; she had analyzed it with Zhang Jiunian and could only temporarily set it aside until after the great battle when everything could be settled.
While Xu Zhen was busy assembling her artillery camp, Gao Zhensheng dispatched Duan Zan, Hou Polu, and Zhang Shenzhi along with a dozen trusted soldiers intending to hunt down Xue Dayi and Yin Zong. However, they did not expect their opponents to be so formidable; they fought their way through obstacles and successfully entered Ganzhou City.
They lacked Yin Zong's capabilities and suffered losses after encountering two waves of enemy scouts before having no choice but to retreat back to Zhangye with their tails between their legs.
Gao Zhensheng lamented that these men were useless but could not express his frustration openly; he could only coldly order them to rest. Just then he heard that Qibi Helix was finally going to send troops!
Qibi Helix did not expect that the Xuanwu Gate Incident would have such resolve; a mere girl showed heroic spirit concerning national safety without hesitation in risking herself just so Qibi Helix could send troops to rescue Ganzhou.
However, what the commanding general thought differed from Li Wushuang’s perspective. She often accompanied Li Mingda and knew the inside story; although Your Highness also cared about national security, a significant part of her motivation might be because Xu Zhen was in Ganzhou. If the city fell, Xu Zhen would undoubtedly face dire consequences as well.
During this time, she witnessed a completely different Jinyang. This person, born of noble lineage, spent her days sweating and diligently practicing martial arts. What was the purpose behind it?
Although extremely reluctant, Li Wushuang had to admit that it was indeed the annoying figure of Xu Zhen that had helped Jinyang grow.
Since the princess had already made her choice, Qibi Helix did not want to delay any longer. He quickly mobilized troops and entrusted the entire Zhangye to Gao Zhensheng while he himself took four thousand infantry and one thousand cavalry to hasten towards Ganzhou to relieve the siege.
Gao Zhensheng initially wanted to remain aloof, but he couldn't maintain his facade and pretended to say some soft words, assigning one thousand infantry from his command to Qibi Helix. However, he secretly instructed Hou Polu and Duan Zan, this trio, to take a small troop and ride swiftly westward.
This was not the first time Hou Polu and the others engaged in such dealings. They rode hard and within half a day reached the opposite bank of Blackwater River. Following the signs entrusted by General, they traveled along the river until they arrived at a dilapidated temple where they met the person they were supposed to see.
Although it was their second meeting, Murong Hanzhu still felt somewhat uncomfortable with Hou Polu and his companions. He had no choice but to follow Princess Guanghua; even though he resided in the Tuguhun, he had not forgotten about the Sui Dynasty. The trio and those powerful figures behind them from Tang Kingdom sent information into Murong Hanzhu's hands due to their internal strife.
This information was undoubtedly very important to Murong Hanzhu, but in terms of personal integrity and feelings, he truly looked down upon Hou Polu and the others.
Hou Polu also felt apprehensive under the gaze of the scholar before him, always sensing that this scholar possessed great wisdom. His eyes seemed like torches, capable of seeing through any dark secrets. Therefore, after delivering the Secret Letter, he hurriedly conveyed Gao Zhensheng's message and left the temple.
Murong Hanzhu memorized the contents of the Secret Letter and then burned it. He quickly returned to the military camp to start plotting his grand plan!
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