In the Qin Mansion within the Protectorate General's Office at the border pass.
The emperor had issued an imperial edict, ordering Feng Zuo to immediately dispatch 20,000 elite troops and secretly transfer them along the hinterland of the Protectorate General's jurisdiction to Gengnan City. It also indicated that Qin Feng should withdraw to Yutian and keep a close eye on the safety of Gengnan City at all times, while Qin Huaiqiu would continue to garrison the Protectorate General's Office.
"Gengnan City?!" Qin Huaiqiu looked at the three big characters on the glittering imperial edict, then turned to look at the map and exclaimed, "I'm not mistaken. Where on earth is Gengnan City? Garrison there?"
Qin Feng calmly took a sip of tea, closed his eyes to savor it, and said, "Good tea."
"Father, what's going on?" Qin Huaiqiu couldn't figure it out and turned to ask Qin Feng.
"Your father doesn't know either." Qin Feng looked at the tea in his hand and gently swirled it. "Since the emperor has issued the edict, I'll leave now."
"Father?" Qin Huaiqiu took three steps in two and rushed forward, grabbing Qin Feng's arm. "Could it be that the emperor knows something? He's sending Feng Zuo to support and ordering you to stand by in Yutian. That means the emperor knows something will happen in Gengnan City."
Qin Feng looked down at him with a somewhat disdainful look in his eyes. "So what if something happens? I've never encountered anything I can't handle."
"Father, we've recruited many soldiers these days. Now the Protectorate General's Office has 240,000 troops. I'll allocate 50,000 troops to you just in case."
"For a tiny Gengnan City, do we need 50,000 elite troops?" Qin Feng's beard twitched. He glared at Qin Huaiqiu and said, "There are already more than 30,000 troops in the city under that fellow Qian Shuyu. Plus the 20,000 the emperor ordered Feng Zuo to bring, the troops in Gengnan City will suddenly soar to 50,000. Gengnan City is such a small place. If we add another 50,000, there won't even be enough room to live."
"Then 30,000." Qin Huaiqiu still held on to Qin Feng's hand. For some reason, he felt an uneasiness welling up inside him. After some hesitation, he said, "How about I go with you? Let Feng Zuo stay here."
"Damn you!" Qin Feng shook off his hand and roared angrily, "Qiu'er, how did I teach you? As a subject, we have to obey the emperor's orders."
Qin Huaiqiu trembled all over. He bit his lower lip, lowered his head, and replied with some reluctance, "Yes," the sound muffled and tinged with a hint of grievance.
Qin Feng didn't say anything else. Looking at Qin Huaiqiu's lowered head, his heart softened. He reached out and ruffled Qin Huaiqiu's hair hard. "Don't worry, kid. Don't you trust your father? You're the great general of the entire Dacheng now. Be more serious!"
Qin Huaiqiu was stunned for a moment. He looked up at Qin Feng, then rubbed his face. Calming himself down, he said, "Qiu'er understands."
"Good." Qin Feng nodded in satisfaction.
"Father!" Qin Huaiqiu called out to him again just as Qin Feng was about to step out of the room. "Father, I always have a strange feeling. Something might happen in Gengnan City this time... Although the Protectorate General's Office is far from Gengnan City, if we take a shortcut and ride at full speed, we can reach there in just two days. If things go badly, I'll immediately lead troops to support."
Qin Feng paused in his steps. Slowly, he turned around on the spot and looked at Qin Huaiqiu.
Something flashed before his eyes. In a daze, he seemed to see Qin Huaiqiu as a young child, just learning to walk. Wearing a bellyband, he staggered towards him with his hands outstretched. In an instant, a multitude of emotions welled up in his heart.
The child who used to babble and learn to speak had now grown into a general who could hold his own. In an instant, Qin Feng seemed to clearly feel the passage of time, so long yet so short.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat. Finally, he couldn't say a word.
Qin Huaiqiu looked at him, his eyes shining with determination and concern.
Qin Feng looked at Qin Huaiqiu's familiar face again, then suddenly turned his head and strode away. "Got it! Stop being so wordy."
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Although Feng Zuo had some battlefield experience, because of his uneasiness, Qin Huaiqiu still assigned Wan Chengyan to him.
With Wan Chengyan following Feng Zuo, Qin Huaiqiu could breathe a sigh of relief for the time being.
The Qin family's army was very quick to respond. After receiving the imperial edict, Qin Huaiqiu and Qin Lan quickly organized the troop mobilization. Just an hour after the imperial edict arrived, Qin Feng and Feng Zuo led their troops on the road.
From the Protectorate General's Office to Gengnan City, if they didn't march in a hurry, it would take them about three days at a normal pace.
But because Sikuo Ting's imperial edict was urgent, Qin Feng and Feng Zuo tried their best to speed up all the way.
Qin Feng arrived in Yutian half a day earlier than the scheduled time. Feng Zuo and Wan Chengyan continued south and also arrived in Gengnan City ahead of schedule. When the city guard of Gengnan City, Qian Shuyu, saw them coming, he immediately led his troops to welcome them. Just as they successfully entered the city, the combined army of the Loulan and Xiongnu was also intensively preparing for the city - siege.
Because Qin Huailian had a feud with Huyelu, the two simply couldn't cooperate. So she simply called on Yazebu and Keze'er, led more than 100,000 troops, and had arrived two days earlier. They were hiding in the Kunlun Mountains, just waiting for the right moment to launch the city - siege.
And because Huyelu was so arrogant and looked down on everyone, at first he didn't advocate letting the Loulan soldiers go to war. So when Qin Huailian proposed the battle plan this time, he was so angry that he almost overturned the tent.
Qin Huailian's plan was that while she led the troops to attack Gengnan City, Huyelu would lead his troops to attack the Protectorate General's Office to hold back Qin Huaiqiu and prevent his support. That is to say, their side was the main force, and the attack on the Protectorate General's Office was just a ruse.
And the letter she wrote to Sikuo Ting at the beginning was actually a trap.
She deliberately revealed her intention to attack the city, so that she could dominate the opponent's decision - making and mindset in the game between the two countries. From the latest intelligence obtained by the spies, it could be seen that Sikuo Ting, just as she had expected, didn't want her to meet the Qin family members directly.
Humph, Sikuo Ting. Whether others say you are considerate or playing a trick, only I know that you just don't want my elder brother to be sad after knowing the truth.
The person who killed my mother has fallen in love with the son of the mother who was killed.
It's really ironic.
The weather had gradually turned cold. Qin Huailian stood outside the tent. The north wind howled, blowing her hair in front of her eyes. But she didn't even bother to smooth her hair. Instead, she stared blankly at a certain point on the horizon, as if she was thinking about something, or maybe nothing at all.
"Hey, is the Holy Maiden enjoying the sunset alone here?" Yazebu staggered over with a jar of wine in his hand. Hearing the sound, Qin Huailian turned her head. Seeing that he seemed drunk but still had bright eyes, she frowned in disgust and didn't say a word.
Yazebu seemed to be used to her cold and aloof personality. Seeing that Qin Huailian ignored him, he casually made a small space beside her and sat down cross - legged. "I heard it was you who gave that bastard Huyelu the suggestion to let us participate in the war?"
Qin Huailian still stared into the distance, not seeming to intend to talk to him.
Yazebu burped. He put the wine jar on the ground, reached out and slapped off the seal. The mellow aroma of the wine immediately spread out.
He picked up the wine jar in his hand, waved it at Qin Huailian, and smiled. "What do you say, Holy Maiden? Have a jar?"