Sanqing Palace, Qi Yun silently stared at a secret report.
This was a war report from the Northern Border, stamped with the seal "Cao." It was sent by Cao Yin.
"Old dog, they already know that the little thing is still alive."
Chen Zhong bowed slightly and chuckled, "Your Majesty, this is good news, indicating that His Highness and the Princess Consort have already t."
"Indeed, it’s good news, although the secret report says that Mu’er’s situation is bleak, with crises rising all around. Yue’er proposed losing the Five Northern Counties to let him establish himself, while she disguises herself to go to the Da Liang Palace... This move is risky, but it might not be a dead end?"
"Leave it to the Supre Emperor to decide unilaterally!"
"To report, Your Majesty, His Majesty the Emperor requests an audience!"
A eunuch announced from outside, Qi Yun smiled slightly, "What’s troubling that child again? I suppose it’s the frontier war? Let him co in!"
Qi Junlian walked in, bowed, and said, "Father Emperor, the frontier is in crisis, I humbly ask for your guidance!"
Qi Junlian’s words were simple; he just wanted Qi Yun to offer so advice.
Qi Yun sipped tea lightly and asked, "How is it urgent?"
"Valley Pass is breached, fifty miles of the border have fallen into enemy hands!"
Qi Yun slightly raised his eyes and smiled faintly, "Breached so let it be breached. Junlian, don’t take it to heart. Do what you must, don’t be disturbed in mind. How can one fleeting success or failure define a hero?"
"But Father Emperor, it’s fifty miles of the border!"
Qi Junlian’s heart trembled. That was the fifty-mile boundary line, if the decline wasn’t reversed, the Five Northern Counties, the hundred-mile defensive line would be destroyed instantly!
"Moreover, Father Emperor, that General Cao and General Chang retreated without a fight, it’s truly the sha of our Dazhou!"
"Junlian, then have you found better candidates for generals?"
Qi Junlian was taken aback, then his expression changed drastically, hurriedly saluting, "It’s a fault of mine being reckless."
Qi Yun saw his attitude in admitting fault was good and nodded slightly, "Junlian, switching generals during battle is a taboo in military affairs, you must rember. As for border matters... just leave it! Trust Cao Yin, trust Gao Chi, trust Chang Baitu; they are all famous generals, veteran warriors. If they can’t defend the Northern Border, what use are others?"
Qi Junlian was stunned.
The words of Qi Yun were indeed correct; they were powerful generals who had fought north and south, rich in experience. If even they were helpless, others would just be sent to their deaths.
"Yes, I understand, thank you, Father Emperor, for the advice."
Qi Junlian left, Qi Yun watched his departing figure, sowhat helpless. This son, in the end, was too weak, lacking decisiveness, even less courage and boldness!
Mu’er, this little thing! Clearly the best candidate, but simply uninterested in the throne, it’s worrying.
"Grandpa, royal... Grandpa..."
A soft voice ca; Xiao Rui’er walked slowly escorted by an aunt.
Qi Yun saw this little guy, his eyes imdiately softened, extending his arms.
"Co, co here to Grandpa, oh, good, Rui’er is so good, hahaha!"
Qi Yun picked up Xiao Rui’er, kissed him repeatedly, enjoying the pleasure of family bonds.
As for the battlefield outside, how was it really? He no longer cared.
After all, he always intended to give this realm to Li Qingmu. Now he needed his realm to be a stepping stone, letting go of five counties, so what?
If he loves to toss around, let him do it!
And so, with neither the Supre Emperor nor the Emperor caring, the Northern Border continued to lose ground, and in a blink, five counties were lost.
Of course, this blink lasted until the late spring of the following year.
This Zhou and Liang war continued for a full half year.
Normally, after half a year of battle, both nations, regardless of victory or defeat, should be greatly drained in vitality. But strangely, both seed to have so tacit understanding, not engaging much in combat.
More used was strategy and psychological warfare.
Moreover, in the cold winter, with over two months of freezing, fighting was impossible, only camping there to analyze both sides’ situations.
So it seed a long fight, but actually casualties were not many.
"It’s almost there."
Dazhou Military Camp, the main camp here.
Cao Yin looked at the map above, pointed to one of the points.
"Everyone, we are now at this crucial bottleneck. As long as we hold this, the enemy cannot move southward. Concentrate all forces here for defense."
"Old Cao, you’ve had us brothers keep retreating, always retreating, what on earth are you planning? The Liang Army is fierce, but are we inferior? Everyone could hold the front line without losing it; yet what’s the purpose behind your empty fighting?"
Chang Baitu couldn’t hold back any longer, asked with a scowl.
For months, they pretended to be defeated and retreated, initially thinking it was a strategy, everyone trusted Cao Yin and said nothing, but gradually, it didn’t feel right.
Did Cao Yin defect to the enemy?
Unlikely, any other might betray, but he certainly wouldn’t.
Then, what was it for?
Cao Yin did not speak but stared hard at the map.
"Gentlen, there are things I must ask your forgiveness for, I cannot say. But all you need to know is that our mission is to hold this place. If so, we’ve won."
"Old Cao, just tell us this hidden business, man alive or dead!"
Chang Baitu couldn’t hold back, directly cursed, and others also clamored.
"There’s no directive from Shengjing City!"
Cao Yin’s words silenced all the doubts.
Yes, having suffered so many defeats, logically there should have been a ssage from Shengjing City, even other generals would have been dispatched.
However, Shengjing City was almost dead silent, with no news coming.
Does this indicate a problem?
Defeats, perhaps, were not Cao Yin’s intent, but...
Thinking of this, everyone felt a chill up their spines.
"Gentlen old brothers, there are things beyond our involvent. Our task is simply to secure this checkpoint, this must not fall again!"
"Alright!"
People here were sharp. Naturally, they heard Cao Yin’s implication, so those questioning voices vanished.
"Cousin, you want to go to Da Liang, going like this? Those people all recognize you, it might be very dangerous!"
In the tent, Cao Anxing looked worriedly at Long Yue packing her belongings.
He already knew Li Qingmu was alive, having occasionally heard the conversation between Long Yue and Cao Yin. Since he knew, he had to share his plan with him.
After hearing it, Cao Anxing was dumbfounded!
No wonder, the army certainly capable, kept failing and retreating, turns out it was all for this?
"Don’t worry!" Not minding Cao Anxing’s complex expression, Long Yue smiled slightly, "Master gave a brocade box before leaving, inside is a disguising technique, can achieve seamless concealnt!"
And this so-called disguising technique is... The skin of the living dead!
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