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Chapter 2551 Contradictions

The imperial envoy and the envoy of Prince Changxin arrived in Mingzhou almost one after the other.

He Jingyuan first met with Zhou Wenhan, the imperial envoy.

As soon as Zhou Wenhan entered the main tent, he bent over like a shrimp, his face full of smiles, holding the imperial edict in his hands.

“General He, His Majesty said that as long as you are willing to submit to the court, the conditions are negotiable. You can be granted a title of king or marquis, or be granted land and territory. Just ask for it. The court will never mistreat a meritorious official.” Zhou Wenhan said while stealing glances at He Jingyuan’s expression.

He Jingyuan sat in his chair, listened to these words, and sneered: "Submit to the court? I've already rebelled, and you want me to submit? I killed Wei Yan's son, chopped off Wei Xuan's head and hung it on the city wall of Jizhou, and you want me to submit? Do you think Wei Yan will forgive me?"

Zhou Wenhan quickly said, "General He, don't worry. His Majesty will speak to the Prime Minister. As long as you are willing to submit, the past will be wiped clean and no one will mention it again."

"Hahaha..." He Jingyuan laughed loudly, but after he finished laughing, his face darkened, and he slammed his hand on the table: "Wash away the matter of the Marquis of Wu'an sixteen years ago? Why not wash away the matter of the entire Xie family being executed? Why not wash away the matter of my brother Wei Qilin and his wife living in anonymity for sixteen years? Why not wash away the matter of the court being executed? Your court's words are like farts, do you think I believe you?"

Zhou Wenhan was speechless, his face turning red and white in turns.

He Jingyuan stood up, walked to Zhou Wenhan, stared into his eyes, and said, "Zhou Wenhan, go back and tell the Emperor, tell Wei Yan, I, He Jingyuan, don't want any titles or honors. I just want this world to have a new master. The Emperor is incompetent, treacherous officials are in power, and the people can't survive. I've come to act on behalf of Heaven. If they know what's good for them and abdicate, I might spare their lives. If they don't, when I take over the capital, not a single one of them will live; not even a chicken or a dog will be spared."

Zhou Wenhan's legs went weak with fear, and he stammered, "General He, you...you should reconsider..."

"No need to consider it." He Jingyuan waved his hand. "Show them out!"

Zhou Wenhan was carried out by two soldiers before the imperial edict could even be read.

……

Next, Qi Yu (who followed Yuan Huai), the adopted son of Prince Changxin, entered.

Qi Yu was dressed in a moon-white long robe, looking like a scholar, but in reality he was nothing more than a hypocrite.

Both He Jingyuan and Su Ning could tell that this person had a sinister glint in his eyes and was not a calm and collected character.

Qi Yu cupped his hands in greeting, his face full of inquiry, and said, "General He, General Wei, General Su, I have come on the orders of my father to discuss the alliance with your army."

He Jingyuan asked, "An alliance? How does that work?"

Qi Yu said, "My father's idea is that since both families are against the court and share the same goal, why don't we join forces and attack the capital together? Then, we can discuss the affairs of the world."

He Jingyuan glanced at Su Ning, who shook her head slightly.

He Jingyuan turned to Qi Yu and said, “Go back and tell Prince Changxin that our Jizhou army does not need an alliance. We can take the capital on our own and do not need anyone’s help. He fights his battles, I fight mine, and we will keep to ourselves. But if we happen to meet outside the capital one day, then we will each rely on our own abilities.”

Qi Yu was stunned for a moment, not expecting He Jingyuan to refuse so decisively.

He smiled and asked again, "General He, won't you reconsider? It's always better for the two sides to join forces than to fight alone."

He Jingyuan waved his hand: "No need to consider it. I don't trust Prince Changxin. He can ally with me today, but he can stab me in the back tomorrow. I've seen plenty of people like that."

Qi Yu's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal.

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. "Since General He has made up his mind, I will say no more. Farewell."

He Jingyuan nodded and had someone escort him out.

After Qi Yu left, Wei Qilin asked He Jingyuan, "Brother He, why don't you form an alliance with him? If the two of you join forces, it will be easier to take the capital."

He Jingyuan snorted: "That Prince Changxin is extremely ambitious. To form an alliance with him is like asking a tiger for its skin. He's here to form an alliance today, but tomorrow he'll be here to seize our territory. Why should we give him the territory we've worked so hard to conquer?"

Su Ning nodded in agreement: "General He is right. Prince Changxin is unreliable. It's slower but more reliable for us to fight on our own. If we ally with him, things will be complicated and unclear about how the spoils will be divided. Besides, we will inevitably have to fight Prince Changxin in the future."

Wei Qilin thought about it and felt that it made sense, so he didn't say anything more.

The current situation in the Jizhou army is quite complex. On the surface, He Jingyuan, Wei Qilin, and Meng Lihua are loyal to Su Ning, but in reality, the one with more power and influence in the military is He Jingyuan, who comes from the Jizhou governorship.

Wei Qilin and Meng Lihua were alright; the couple had no son, so they naturally did their best to support their son-in-law, Su Ning.

However, He Jingyuan, who now possesses great power, is no longer willing to do favors for others. With the capital city about to be within his grasp, He Jingyuan naturally has his own ambitions for the imperial throne.

……

Qi Yu rode his horse for a day and a night and rushed back to the camp of Prince Changxin.

Sui Tuo was waiting for news in the commander's tent when Qi Yu came in. "Yuan Huai, how did it go? Did He Jingyuan agree to the alliance?"

Qi Yu shook his head and bowed, saying, "Father, He Jingyuan refused. He said the Jizhou army can take the capital on its own and doesn't need to join forces with us. He also said... he also said he doesn't trust Father."

Upon hearing this, Sui Tuo's face immediately darkened, and he slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacup to jump.

"Hmph! He doesn't know what's good for him!" Sui Tuo cursed, his voice so loud that it could be heard outside the tent. "I kindly allied with him, and he puts on airs? Does he think he's something special just because he captured Fengzhou and Mingzhou? Without me holding back the imperial forces in the northwest, could he have won so easily?"

Sui Yuanqing sat down beside him and sneered, "Father, I told you! That old bastard He Jingyuan is no good. You still insisted on forming an alliance with him, only to be met with indifference and make a fool of yourself."

Sui Tuo glared at him: "Shut up!"

Sui Yuanqing pursed his lips, said nothing, and picked up his wine cup to take a sip.

Qi Yu and the others calmed down a bit before slowly speaking: "Father, although He Jingyuan refused the alliance, this trip was not without its gains. I stayed in Mingzhou for a few days and carefully observed He Jingyuan and Su Ning, and discovered some interesting things."

Sui Tuo frowned: "What is it?"

Qi Yu said, "It seems that He Jingyuan and Su Ning are not of one mind. Although they appear to be on good terms, they each have their own ways of speaking and acting. The generals under He Jingyuan are not very convinced of Su Ning's authority. On the other hand, although Su Ning also has his own forces, they are mostly his nominal lords."

Sui Tuo's eyes lit up: "You mean, there's a conflict between them?"

Qi Yu nodded: "I think so. He Jingyuan was originally the governor of Jizhou, with 30,000 border troops under his command, and his foundation is deep. Su Ning is the son-in-law of Wei Qilin and Meng Lihua, and he has no background or qualifications at all. He relies on those mystical methods and the support of the people. The two have different foundations and circumstances, and their ways of leading troops are also different. Over time, there will definitely be friction. Besides, He Jingyuan may not be willing to submit to him."

"Good! Good! Good!" Sui Tuo laughed heartily after hearing this, tears streaming down his face. "I knew it! These guys are no good! They haven't even entered the capital yet, and they're already fighting amongst themselves. It's just like those thieves who start fighting over the loot before they've even gotten their hands on it. He Jingyuan and Su Ning are exactly that kind of people!"

Sui Yuanqing laughed along, "Father is right, a rabble can't amount to anything."

After they finished laughing, Qi Yu continued, "Father, there is one more thing that I think is quite important."

Sui Tuo asked, "What is it?"

Qi Yu said, "Suning's reputation among the people is terrifying. When I was in Mingzhou, I saw temples built for Suning everywhere outside the city. The people called them 'Lord Temples,' and they enshrined Suning's image inside. The incense was very strong. Every day, there was an endless stream of people going to burn incense and kowtow. They were even more effective than the Bodhisattvas in the temples."

Upon hearing this, Sui Yuanqing scoffed, "Building a temple? Offering statues? Isn't that just charlatans? They pretend to be gods and ghosts to deceive the common people. I've seen plenty of these kinds of people. They have a little bit of skill and then they exaggerate it to the heavens. The common people are ignorant and believe their nonsense."

Sui Tuo ignored his son and continued to ask Qi Yu, "Why did the common people build a temple for him?"

Qi Yu said, "I heard that Su Ning has magical powers that can make golden rain fall from the sky and turn wasteland into fertile fields. He has implemented many new policies in the areas of Jizhou, Yanzhou, Fengzhou and Mingzhou, encouraging land reclamation, reducing taxes and exempting people from corvée labor. The people have benefited from this and have started to worship him as a god."

Sui Yuanqing interrupted again, his face full of disdain: "Golden rain? Fertile fields? Father, listen to this, isn't this just fooling idiots? If it rains gold from the sky, where does that gold come from? Does it fall from the sky? Who would believe such nonsense?"

Sui Tuo glared at him: "Whether the common people believe him or not is not important. What's important is that he has indeed won the hearts of the people. What do you know? He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world. Don't you understand this principle?"

Sui Yuanqing blushed after being scolded and dared not say anything more, so he silently drank his wine.

After thinking for a moment, Sui Tuo said to Qi Yu, "This Su Ning is not simple. Send more people to keep an eye on him. I need to know his every move."

Qi Yu nodded: "Yes, Father."

Sui Tuo thought for a moment, then asked, "Yuan Huai, what else did you see in Mingzhou? Is He Jingyuan's side well-equipped with troops?"

Qi Yu said, "It's true that the army is strong and well-equipped, but their military discipline is exceptionally strict. I personally witnessed a soldier take food from the people and be beaten with twenty lashes in the street by He Jingyuan, leaving him with lacerations. He Jingyuan even stood in the street and shouted that anyone who dared to take anything from the people again would have their head chopped off."

Sui Yuanqing couldn't hold back any longer: "Twenty lashes for a little food? That's too harsh! Soldiers risk their lives for them, and they're not even worth food?"

This time, Sui Tuo didn't scold him. Instead, he nodded and said, "Strict military discipline is a good thing, but if it's too strict, the soldiers will harbor resentment and won't fight bravely. He Jingyuan is good at leading troops, but he's too rigid and inflexible."

Qi Yu said, "What my godfather said is true. However, Su Ning's reputation among the people is indeed too good. The people all regard him as a living Buddha. I worry that if this continues, Su Ning's reputation will surpass He Jingyuan's, and then there will inevitably be a struggle between the two."

Sui Tuo laughed: "Let them fight. The fiercer they fight, the more advantageous it is for us. Once they are both exhausted, we will make our move and take over the capital in one fell swoop. This is called sitting on the mountain and watching the tigers fight."

Sui Yuanqing raised his wine cup and said with a smile, "Father, your insight is brilliant! Come, let me toast you!"

Sui Tuo picked up his wine glass, took a sip, put the glass down, and said to Qi Yu, "Yuan Huai, you've worked hard. Go and rest. There's still something for you to do tomorrow."

Qi Yu bowed and said, "Yes, Father."

Then he turned and left.

Stepping out of the command tent, Qi Yu stood in the night and looked up at the moon in the sky.

The moon was round and bright, shining on the entire camp. The silvery moonlight spilled onto the ground, like a layer of frost.

He recalled the small temples he had seen in Mingzhou, and the heartfelt respect and gratitude the people showed when they mentioned Suning. He felt a mix of emotions.

He grew up in the palace, where he witnessed countless power struggles and saw through the wickedness of human nature.

He thought he had long since stopped caring about anything, but seeing those ordinary people sincerely building a temple and burning incense for a living person still stirred something in his heart.

I also heard something in Mingzhou.

Suning implemented new policies in the occupied areas, encouraging land reclamation, reducing taxes and exempting from corvée labor, and requiring officials and gentry to pay taxes together.

These policies are all aimed at the benefit of ordinary people.

Suning isn't putting on a show; Suning is genuinely working for the benefit of ordinary people.

Qi Yu shook his head, banishing these thoughts from his mind.

He turned and walked back to his tent, his footsteps light and silent on the grass.

The lights were still on in the tent. Qi Yu lifted the curtain and went inside to start packing things for tomorrow.

……

After capturing Mingzhou, the capital city will be right in front of us.

He Jingyuan discussed it with Su Ning and Wei Qilin and decided to rest for a few days, settle things in the rear, and then launch a full-scale attack.

Su Ning always kept Fan Changyu and Fan Changning in his heart.

As the war escalated and they moved further and further from home, he was truly worried about leaving his two daughters in Lin'an Town.

Although Zheng Wenchang led two thousand soldiers to guard the area, who knew if the imperial court would be desperate and send people to go around to the rear to arrest them?

We also have to be wary of Prince Changxin, Sui Tuo; it's not impossible that he might capture the Changyu sisters.

In these kinds of situations, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Su Ning found He Jingyuan and Wei Qilin and said directly, "General He, Father, I want to bring Changyu and Changning to Mingzhou. The battle for the capital is coming up soon, and I'm not comfortable leaving them in Lin'an Town. It's safer to keep them with me."

Upon hearing this, Wei Qilin nodded without hesitation: "Bring them over! It should have been brought over a long time ago! I haven't seen them in so long, I miss them terribly. I wonder if Changning has grown any taller."

He Jingyuan agreed: "It's good to take them over. Mingzhou is now in our hands, it's as solid as a rock. Let Zheng Wenchang escort them here, and send more men along the way to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

That very day, Su Ning dispatched a trusted confidant with a cavalry unit to rush to Lin'an Town.

Before he left, he specifically instructed: "Don't delay on the road. Once you pick up the person, head back immediately."

The trusted confidant accepted the order and set off with his men overnight.

In Lin'an Town, Fan Changyu stands at the entrance of the butcher shop every day, looking towards the street corner.

She knew her husband was fighting on the front lines, and that her parents were also on the front lines. She was worried about them, couldn't eat or sleep, and lost a lot of weight.

Fan Changning didn't understand any of this. He just played and ate as usual every day, only occasionally asking, "When are my parents and brother-in-law coming back?"

That afternoon, a troop of cavalry, dusty and weary from their journey, entered Lin'an Town, led by Su Ning's trusted confidants.

He dismounted and ran to the butcher shop entrance, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Madam, the lord has ordered me to come and fetch you and the young lady to Mingzhou. The general said that you should pack your things and depart immediately."

Fan Changyu's heart skipped a beat, a mixture of joy and nervousness. She was happy to see her husband, but nervous about the situation at the front lines. "How are my husband and parents? Are they injured?"

The confidant said, "Don't worry, Madam. Our lord and General Wei are both well and have not lost a single battle. We have captured Fengzhou and Mingzhou, and the general has made great contributions."

Fan Changyu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly went inside to pack his things.

There wasn't much to pack, just a few changes of clothes and some gold and silver.

Upon hearing that he was going to see his parents and brother-in-law, Fan Changning jumped up with joy, clapping his hands and spinning around in the yard. "Sister! Did brother-in-law and parents win the battle? Are they going to become high-ranking officials?"

Fan Changyu smiled and patted her head: "Yes, your parents and brother-in-law won the battle. Let's go find them."

The two sisters boarded the carriage, and Zheng Wenchang led his soldiers and cavalry to escort them from the front and back, and they left Lin'an Town in a grand procession.

The journey was relatively peaceful.

The imperial court's troops had all been deployed to the front lines, leaving the rear vulnerable, and they encountered no trouble.

The cavalrymen traveled day and night and arrived in Mingzhou in just two days.

Suning had already sent people to wait at the city gate.

As soon as the carriage arrived, the soldiers led them directly to the commander's mansion.

Fan Changyu got off the carriage and looked at the unfamiliar city in front of him, feeling a little flustered.

Mingzhou was many times larger than Lin'an Town, and the streets were filled with soldiers coming and going, which was quite frightening.

Fan Changyu held Fan Changning's hand tightly, not daring to let go.

Fan Changning wasn't afraid at all; he looked around and found everything new and interesting.

Pointing to the large flag fluttering on the city wall, she asked in a childish voice, "Sister, what words are written on it?"

Fan Changyu didn't recognize him either and shook his head.

The soldier leading the way smiled and said, "Young lady, that has the character 'Su' written on it. It's our lord's flag."

Fan Changning nodded as if he understood, and then asked, "Is my lord my brother-in-law?"

The soldier laughed: "Yes, yes, that's your brother-in-law."

……

Upon entering the Marshal's Mansion, Su Ning was waiting in the courtyard.

He saw Fan Changyu and Fan Changning come in, strode up to them, and pulled Fan Changyu into his arms. "Changyu, must you have had a long journey? Did you encounter any trouble?"

Fan Changyu leaned against him, tears streaming down her face. All the worry and longing she had felt these past few days had come flooding back. "I'm fine, I just miss you. You've lost weight and gotten darker."

Su Ning smiled, let go of her, and then squatted down to pick up Fan Changning.

Fan Changning hugged Su Ning's neck, giggling, rubbing her little face against his, "Brother-in-law! Have you prepared anything delicious for me?"

Su Ning smiled and said, "It's ready! I'll get it for you later. Come down first, your brother-in-law has something to tell you."

He put Fan Changning down and took Fan Changyu's hand, leading them into the house.

Wei Qilin and Meng Lihua were waiting inside the house.

When Fan Changyu entered the door, he was stunned to see his parents sitting there.

Wei Qilin was wearing a full suit of armor, and Meng Lihua was also dressed in a close-fitting outfit with a sword hanging at her waist. They looked completely different from how they used to be in the butcher shop, as if they had become different people.

"Father? Mother?" Fan Changyu couldn't believe his eyes. He rubbed them and looked again, but it was still them.

Wei Qilin stood up, his eyes red, his lips trembling, unable to speak for a long time.

Meng Lihua stepped forward, took Fan Changyu's hand, and tears streamed down her face. "Yu'er, I've kept this from you for sixteen years. Today, I'll tell you everything."

Meng Lihua pulled Fan Changyu to sit down and recounted the events of that year in detail.

She began by recounting the massacre in Jinzhou, how Marquis Wu'an was wrongfully killed, how the entire Xie family was executed, how she and Wei Qilin escaped, how they settled in Lin'an Town under assumed names, how they opened a butcher shop, and how they raised the two sisters.

As Fan Changyu listened, tears streamed down her face.

She never knew that her parents had such a powerful background, nor did she know that they had suffered such great injustice and hidden such a big secret.

"Mother, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Fan Changyu asked, crying.

Meng Lihua wiped away her tears. "I told you because I was afraid you wouldn't be able to keep it a secret. You were young then, and if you let it slip and Wei Yan's men found out, our whole family would be doomed. Now it's all good. We have soldiers and generals, so we don't have to be afraid of him anymore. Your father doesn't have to hide anymore either."

Wei Qilin walked over and patted Fan Changyu's head. "Yu'er, I'm sorry for keeping this from you for so many years. Don't blame me."

Fan Changyu threw herself into Wei Qilin's arms and cried just like when she was a child, "Dad, I don't blame you, I just feel sorry for you. You've suffered so much, and I didn't know anything about it, and I still made you worry every day."

Fan Changning stood to the side, looking at this and that, not understanding why the adults were all crying.

She tugged at Su Ning's sleeve and whispered, "Brother-in-law, what's wrong with my parents? Why are they crying?"

Su Ning squatted down and said patiently, "Your father and mother are happy. They haven't seen your sister in a long time and they miss her."

Fan Changning nodded, walked up to Meng Lihua, took her hand and said, "Mother, don't cry, I miss you too."

Meng Lihua hugged Fan Changning tightly and cried even harder.

The family cried for a while, then laughed for a while.

Meng Lihua wiped away her tears, then pulled Wei Qilin aside to talk to Fan Changyu, asking about her life in Lin'an Town, her butcher shop business, and whether Zheng Wenchang had protected them well.

Fan Changyu answered them one by one, saying that everything was fine, but he was just worried about them.

……

In the evening, the family sat down together for dinner.

Meng Lihua prepared a table full of dishes, all of which were Fan Changyu and Fan Changning's favorites.

Fan Changning ate with gusto, his mouth brimming with oil. "Mom, your cooking is the best! It's even better than all the restaurants in Lin'an Town!"

Meng Lihua smiled and served her some food, her eyes full of affection. "Eat more if you like it. You're so thin."

Wei Qilin, holding his wine glass, looked at everyone at the table and said with emotion, "Sixteen years! Our family can finally sit down together and have a meal openly and honestly. It hasn't been easy!"

He Jingyuan also arrived, holding a bowl of wine. He toasted Wei Qilin, saying, "Brother Qilin, once we capture the capital, we can eat like this every day. We'll invite the best chef in the land and cook whatever you want."

Wei Qilin laughed and downed the wine in his bowl in one gulp.

Su Ning sat down next to Fan Changyu, held her hand, and whispered, "We'll never be apart again. Wherever we go, I'll take you with me."

Fan Changyu felt a warm glow in her heart and softly hummed in agreement.

……

The family had only been reunited for a few days when military matters became urgent.

He Jingyuan called Su Ning, Wei Qilin, and Meng Lihua together, spread out a map, pointed to the capital, and said, "My lord, Brother Wei, although the court has been crippled, Wei Yan is not resigned to his fate and has transferred another 20,000 troops from the south. Adding to the existing garrison in the capital, there are at least 70,000 to 80,000 troops. We cannot delay; the longer we delay, the more troops he will transfer. We must take advantage of the fact that he has not yet gained a foothold and attack in one fell swoop."

Su Ning nodded: "General He is right. Speed ​​is of the essence in war, the faster the better."

Wei Qilin asked, "Who will stay behind to guard Mingzhou? We can't be without people in the rear. Fengzhou, Jizhou, and Yanzhou all need someone to be there. If someone stabs us in the back, we'll be in trouble."

He Jingyuan thought for a moment, then looked at Meng Lihua and said, "Sister-in-law, how about this? You take 50,000 men and stay in Mingzhou to guard our rear. Brother Wei, the lord, and I will take the remaining 150,000 men to attack the capital. Jizhou, Mingzhou, and Fengzhou are our foundation. I trust you with these places."

Meng Lihua agreed without hesitation: "Okay. You can go and fight with peace of mind. Leave Mingzhou to me, it won't be lost."

Wei Qilin looked at his wife, somewhat worried: "Can you keep watch by yourself? Why don't I stay and keep you company?"

Meng Lihua glared at him: "What are you staying here for? How can you take over the capital if you stay here? I'm doing just fine in Mingzhou, you don't need to worry about me. Hurry up and take over the capital, stop dawdling here."

Wei Qilin was taken aback, chuckled twice, and dared not say anything more.

He Jingyuan slapped the table. "Then it's settled. My sister-in-law will guard Mingzhou, and we'll go to attack the capital. We'll rest for three days, and then set off."

……

Three days later, the army assembled outside Mingzhou City.

An army of 150,000, a dark mass stretching as far as the eye could see.

Swords and spears stood in a forest, banners fluttered, and morale was high.

He Jingyuan, mounted on his horse, stood on the high platform and shouted to his soldiers, "Brothers! The capital is just ahead! Once we capture the capital, the whole country will be ours! Do you have confidence?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" 150,000 people roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and even scattering the clouds.

He Jingyuan waved his hand: "Let's go!"

The army set off, heading towards the capital in a grand procession.

The cavalry were in front, the infantry behind, and the supplies and provisions in the middle, stretching for several miles.

Wei Qilin, mounted on his horse, glanced back at Meng Lihua standing atop the city wall.

Meng Lihua looked at him and waved.

Wei Qilin smiled, turned his head, spurred his horse, and rode forward.

Su Ning rode his horse and glanced back at Mingzhou City. Fan Changyu and Fan Changning stayed in Mingzhou with Meng Lihua.

He felt at ease knowing that he would be fighting on the front lines during the Battle of Beijing, while they would remain in the rear.

Standing on the city wall, Fan Changyu looked at the vast army outside, feeling both excited and nervous.

She had never seen so many soldiers before, nor had she ever witnessed such a large-scale operation.

Looking at Su Ning riding on his horse, his back was very upright, like a mountain, which made her feel at ease.

Holding Meng Lihua, Fan Changning looked at the soldiers outside with great excitement, "Mother, sister! Look, so many horses! So many swords! Brother-in-law is so impressive!"

Fan Changyu laughed, took her and hugged her, "Stop fooling around, just stay in Mingzhou, and I'll have your brother-in-law take you to see the horses later."

Fan Changning nodded vigorously and looked out of the city again.

The army marched south, raising clouds of dust that blotted out the sky.

On the city wall of Mingzhou, Meng Lihua also stood there, watching the army gradually walk away and disappear at the end of the official road.

Several generals stood beside her; they were all trusted confidants left to her by He Jingyuan.

A general asked, "General, what do we do next?"

Meng Lihua turned around, her gaze resolute: "Fortify the city's defenses, inventory the grain and fodder, and send out scouts to keep an eye on the movements of the surrounding prefectures and counties. Anyone who dares to take advantage of the situation will be dealt a severe blow."

"Yes!" the generals replied in unison.

Meng Lihua glanced again in the direction where the army had disappeared, and whispered, "Old Wei, Su Ning, you can go and fight with peace of mind. I'll take care of things at home."

The wind blew, and the banners on the city wall fluttered in the wind, as if in response to Meng Lihua's words.

...(End of this chapter)