After breakfast, they went into the city for a stroll but didn't buy any bedding. Almost all the shops on the street were closed. The common people were panicking, and there were hardly any pedestrians on the street.
When they climbed up the city wall, Shi Nuohan was on patrol. Seeing Lin Yuan coming up, he rushed over eagerly. "Young General, here for a patrol?"
Lin Yuan nodded as a greeting to Shi Nuohan. "There are too many guards on the city wall. Just leave some for patrol to observe the situation outside the city. The rest should go to the drill ground for training."
It's never pleasant for anyone to have their defense policy denied right away, especially for Shi Nuohan, the city lord who had been in charge of Hanyu Pass for many years. He forced a smile. "Young General, I'm afraid this isn't a good idea. What if the enemy attacks—"
"How big is Hanyu Pass?"
Shi Nuohan didn't expect the topic to turn to this. He stammered, "H, half... with a radius of sixty li..."
"How long does it take to run from the drill ground here?"
"O, one incense stick's time..."
"How many soldiers are there?"
"A, including the vanguard troops... over ten thousand..."
"Even if we station all these ten - thousand soldiers on the city wall, can we drive back Xin Yi and Fan Gu?"
Shi Nuohan's voice gradually faded. "No..."
Lin Yuan pressed on step by step. "If we just let them stand guard here until they can't even hold a gun or kick properly, will that repel the enemy?"
Shi Nuohan lowered his head. "No. I'll follow the Young General's orders."
Since Yi Zhici met Lin Yuan in the capital city, they had always been in the deep palace compounds or the alleys of the marquis's mansion. She had never seen Lin Yuan looking heroic and valiant in the army, nor had she seen him forcing back villains with his aggressive manner.
But... he really looked so handsome!
Yi Zhici's eyes sparkled like stars, and she couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth.
Suddenly, Lin Yuan turned around. "You go to the drill ground too and train with them."
The infatuated Yi Zhici: "Huh?"
Lin Yuan sighed slightly and leaned close to Yi Zhici's ear. "Go practice horse - riding and light - footed skills. In case of a battle, all you have to do is run. Understand?"
Yi Zhici was secretly delighted. If a battle broke out, she wouldn't run. There was a different Lin Yuan here, and he seemed even more charming in the army.
But she still had to listen to Lin Yuan. So Yi Zhici went to the drill ground very obediently to train with the soldiers.
Captain Tian finally got a chance to ask about this suddenly - appeared personal guard. But before he could approach, Lu Xiao stopped him.
"Don't provoke her. Big trouble will come."
These eight words had deeply impressed Mu Feng and Lu Xiao. Now Lu Xiao passed them on to Captain Tian, hoping he would understand. Unfortunately, he didn't.
The consequence of his ignorance was that Yi Zhici rode the wild horse that Shi Nuohan cherished so much but couldn't tame. She almost sent Captain Tian, who still insisted on asking her for an answer, flying into the sky.
Of course, Yi Zhici herself almost flew into the sky too.
Finally, after three days of tussling with Yi Zhici, the wild horse that Shi Nuohan had failed to tame for two years finally submitted to her.
After a few days, Lin Yuan's preference for Yi Zhici was obvious to everyone. He took her with him during patrols, in the study, in the courtyard, in the room, and even when sleeping.
In other words, during these days in Hanyu Pass, except when Yi Zhici was taming the wild horse on the drill ground, Yi Zhici could always be seen by Lin Yuan's side.
Luo Mingyu even made some idle remarks when discussing the military situation in the southern border with Lin Yuan. "Young General, don't worry. I definitely won't tell the young mistress. Although I've never seen the young mistress, I'm sure she's not as good - looking as Yuyang. I only admire Marquis Jing, the Young General, and Yuyang for their good looks. I support Yuyang. Don't worry, Young General."
Shi Nuohan was a shrewd man. Naturally, he could tell that Yi Zhici and Lin Yuan had a special relationship. He dared not say anything but had to give away his beloved wild horse.
The vanguard troops had been in the southern border for several days, but Xin Yi and Fan Gu showed no sign of action. No action was the biggest anomaly. Lin Yuan summoned Luo Mingyu and others to discuss in the study for a long time.
Finally, they decided to strike first.
Since the vanguard troops arrived in the southern border, Xin Yi and Fan Gu didn't seem to be eager for a battle. They were probably waiting for their main forces.
Lin Yuan decided to burn Fan Gu's grain depot and leave some small evidence of Xin Yi. Fan Gu didn't really want to start a war in the first place. If they had a rift with Xin Yi, it was uncertain whether this war would even break out.
Hearing that they were going to do something big, Yi Zhici raised her hand excitedly. "I'll go too. Can you take me along?"
Lin Yuan held Yi Zhici back. "You can't go. Just stay by my side."
Yi Zhici hung her head and instantly lost her energy.
The people in the study all pretended to be blind and deaf at this moment. They all looked at the dead branches outside the door that showed no sign of movement.