Chapter 545

Chang'an Jianzhang Palace

Bai Li Jun heard the military report and was so shocked he nearly jumped up, "The main army is still alive, but what does it mean that they're all mixed together?"

"It's just… not a total annihilation, but we've already been… surrounded by the Beijiang army."

"Nonsense! That's still a defeat and capture! What about Yu Guang? Is he dead?!" Bai Li Jun could be said to be furious. He usually cared a lot about face, and to show he was more suited for this position than his imperial brother, he had grown accustomed to maintaining the aura of a sage ruler and enlightened lord, but this was the first time he had ever been this furious, his emotions laid bare.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The Beijiang cavalry now patrols over a wide area, so scouts can't get too close… those who got too close never returned. I heard that after a brief clash, Beijiang cavalry in silver armor had already flanked Yu Guang's rear, and from afar they watched the newly recruited soldiers surrender without resistance."

With a 'pa' sound, the cup on Bai Li Jun's imperial desk rolled off and fell.

In recent years, the feng shui of Jianzhang Palace has been poor; whoever sits here consumes supplies at a high rate.

Bai Li Jun anxiously got up and paced a few circles, almost learning from Da Wang how to gnaw on his hand. "... Why aren't you thinking of a solution quickly? Are they going to attack Chang'an right away? The day after tomorrow? Tomorrow?!"

Others can play dead, but the confidants I brought from Jiangxia cannot.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger… there's really nothing else we can do now but hold our ground."

Bai Li Jun suddenly turned to look at Chen Zhong standing behind him, "Defender of the North Marquis, do you have any foolproof plan?"

As an old general of Ning De, if Chang'an is breached by Bai Li Jing's brat, the first to suffer misfortune will be me, the second will be you. You brought the two hundred thousand Chang'an Eastern Army to surrender to this king, can Bai Li Jing spare you? Bai Li Jin ascended the throne with your leading support, and I recall Bai Li Jing also issued a proclamation opposing it at the time? Although we all share the Bai Li surname, Bai Li Jing cares even more about reputation than I do." He was almost reminding Chen Zhong not to become a three-surnamed house slave, but it came to nothing. Of course, they currently all share the same surname.

Bai Li Jin, that waste, thought Chang'an's military authority was under the control of the Wang family's Grand Marshal, but in fact the Chang'an Eastern Camp has always been under Chen Zhong's command, and after Bai Li Jun successfully ascended the throne, he ennobled this great meritorious official as a marquis.

It's precisely these two characters 'Defender of the North' that are really excellent.

Now he's anxious, starting to remind his meritorious officials that they're all grasshoppers on the same rope, warning Chen Zhong not to entertain any treacherous thoughts at this time. Chen Zhong is too cunning, and his ambitions are huge, so I have to speak harshly upfront. If Chen Zhong brings the Eastern Army to defect again, I can wash my neck and wait for my great-nephew.

"I vow to die in loyalty to Your Majesty!" Chen Zhong, how could he not understand?

"As long as the city stands, I stand with Chang'an in life and death. Your Majesty, my loyalty can be verified by the sun and moon."

Bai Li Jun sneered coldly in his heart, thinking you'd better be. On his face he showed a moved expression, "I also only have you all now, hoping we can overcome this crisis together."

However, Chang'an, this thousand-year-old city, is not so easy to attack. With preparations made, holding our ground, Bai Li Jun is still quite confident. Jianzhang Palace, spirits revived, began discussing countermeasures—no mention.

Da Wang and Wei Shen slipped out of the mountain cave, Ling Yin dragged Xiao Jin and appeared, you might ask why drag him? If not dragged, this guy would have already rushed in to find his meal ticket!

The three successfully met silently on the moonlit slope at night, Da Wang gave an important order—that is to retreat first. Over a thousand people from Changli were wiped out in just a bit of effort.

Da Wang felt he had accomplished something meaningful, the night couldn't hide his beaming brows and dancing expression, he gestured to Wei Shen with a chin lift to set off, but as he turned his head he saw two little golden lanterns on the branches ahead…

Da Wang was about to cry out in surprise, when his good cousin just moved to cover his mouth…

The Heaven-Shrouding Elder perched on the branch, observing these three sneaky persons and one beast, he was utterly bewildered.

In the middle of the night not sleeping, shaking off him and the boss, performing a mime on this pitch-black mountain peak!?

Heaven-Shrouding Elder: I don't understand, but I respect.

But… speaking again, how come Da Wang brought the newcomer but not him and Bai Ze the Elder? Is this appropriate?!

Thinking this, Heaven-Shrouding Elder could no longer crouch, he rushed toward Da Wang wanting to say something, but Da Wang had already anticipated his nature, this guy bear-hugged the descending eagle, his voice aggrieved and whiny: "Why did you only come now? Your Majesty, I've just been bullied! Indeed, without Heaven-Shrouding protection it's no good!"

Heaven-Shrouding stopped struggling, human, you're also too pitiable! He decided to stay honest these days, not go out causing trouble, staying by the human's side to protect him.

Da Wang's energy is endless, he stubbornly followed Ling Yin all night to Tong Pass, they discovered it wasn't just them staying up all night, Tong Pass also didn't sleep at night!

Tong Pass was digging pits and burying horse-tripping stakes all night!

Da Wang crouched in the grass, excited, "Look, it's not that there's no effort, isn't it, isn't it Your Majesty you know people are digging traps and burying horse-tripping stakes at midnight?"

Wei Shen was speechless: "There are scouts."

Da Wang looked down on him: "Your Majesty has a set saying, digging traps at midnight, at midnight." He argued while feeling around on himself, pulling out half a pencil, then a few scrolls from his belt, taking advantage of the moonlight to send a message to the Marquis of Dongdu.

Da Wang already knew two small pieces of information after being out for a day. One, the refugees on Moonlit Slope have over a thousand who have already taken to the mountains as bandits. But this information isn't important; what's important is that the eldest son of the Qinghe King is imprisoned inside, Da Wang plans to ransom him with two hundred thousand taels of silver. Two, there are traps and horse-tripping stakes outside Tong Pass.

After writing it, he tied it to Heaven-Shrouding's foot to instruct it, "Give it to Bai Ze, he knows who to show it to! This time's travel expenses are on credit, I'll pay back when I return." Seeing Heaven-Shrouding motionless, only turning those eyes that gleamed ever brighter gold in the night to look at him, Da Wang struck first, muttering: "Your Majesty has been bullied all day today, really too pitiable! You won't even let me buy on credit, will you?"

Wei Shen: ……truly able to bend and stretch, I don't believe you'll admit the debt when you return!

Heaven-Shrouding looked at Da Wang's ragged clothes, his belt all flipped open, seemingly no place to hide precious beast pellets either. Heaven-Shrouding was also being bought on credit for the first time, no experience.

He believed it.

Just as he was about to get things done, Da Wang grabbed him again, pointing at Tong Pass's main gate, playing the victim as usual. "Before leaving, first let Your Majesty enter in there. They won't let me in~"

How could that be reasonable!

Heaven-Shrouding Elder heard this and immediately wanted to go over to lecture those people at the gate who don't know what they're busy with, Da Wang hurriedly urged him, "Forget it, forget it, we need to sneak in to have fun, just find a place with no one to enter!" At this moment he still didn't forget the psychological massage, "Ah… at critical moments it's still Heaven-Shrouding Elder who's the best! Truly capable of getting things done!"

Heaven-Shrouding Elder held his head high, chest out, glanced down with contempt at Rou who was honestly squatting leaning on Da Wang…

Xiao Jin: Clear·JPG

Heaven-Shrouding: ……

Da Wang and his cousin succeeded in hugging Heaven-Shrouding's thighs, passing through Tong Pass unnoticed by humans or ghosts, considering the horses had already been confiscated, Da Wang, to save his legs, also hard-rubbed a stretch. Ling Yin didn't need to, he could rely on himself, Xiao Jin even less so, you can't throw him away even if you try.

Just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Da Wang discovered that outside Chang'an's Xuanping Gate to the east, there was basically no one queuing to enter the city, whereas before there were long lines waiting even before the gates opened.

Da Wang led the team to crouch at a distance to observe, "... No one's entering the city, so what should we do?"

Wei Shen rolled his eyes, he strained to lower his body to cooperate with Da Wang's performance, "... Those with connections already got the news early, people would rather run out to hide, so how many fools could there be outside."

Da Wang ignored him, "According to convention, when the gate opens it should only allow entry, not exit."

Wei Shen looked at him and immediately understood, "It seems there are no traps set up outside Chang'an City." He immediately declared: "Alright, work's done!"

Da Wang won't leave, who dares to call it quits? He gestured to Xiao Jin, Xiao Jin immediately lifted his leg and pressed down on Wei Shen's foot with a claw!

Wei Shen grit his teeth, holding back a yelp, he twitched his foot but couldn't pull it out…? Convinced, what kind of monster is this!

Da Wang educated him, "We just take a glance outside the gate and leave, what do we bring back to report? How will you make the Marquis of Dongdu think? How will you make Feng Xiang think? How will you make Liang He, Changli, Zhou Ke, Zhao Chuan… Bai Ze think? You'll make our camp's flowers and grasses think? By then everyone will know Your Majesty came for nothing, found no useful intelligence, and your persona of being serious, diligent, striving, and enterprising doesn't match."

Wei Shen had a face like: those again? What are those things? expression of heartbreak……

"... Believe me, they definitely wouldn't dare think that much."

After saying that he still pushed Ling Yin a bit, letting him also express his stance.

Ling Da Xia fell silent for a long moment, then said, "... Didn't you just pick up the Eldest Son of the Qinghe King, worth two hundred thousand?"

Wei Shen:...

Da Wang:...

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—————Isolation Line——————

ps: Da Wang really arrived in Chang'an tomorrow (๑ŏ﹏ŏ๑)

These past few days I've been moving house, truly a headache and exhausting. Everyone's shouting that housing prices have collapsed, so why can't I still afford to buy one?!!!!!!!? Some late-night breakdown (-̩̩̩-̩̩̩-̩̩̩-̩̩̩___-̩̩̩-̩̩̩-̩̩̩-̩̩̩-̩̩̩)