Chapter 352: A Beauty Pays a Visit

Liu Zheng's land, sea, and air forces took Yong'an that very day.

When this news reached Chuan Shu, everyone was shocked.

Chuan Shu is, in itself, a nation within a nation. Here, too, there are County Marquises and Prefects for every prefecture and county. During this Southern Barbarian invasion, these Prefects sent out many troops, yet they suffered a crushing defeat.

After the Old Shu King died, these Prefects kept a way out for themselves, and they did not have many troops left in their hands to begin with—and what they did have were newly conscripted soldiers who had not yet experienced the strength of war.

Therefore.

They began to wait and see.

After Xie Yang proclaimed himself the Shu King, in which direction would the situation in Chuan Shu develop? This was something they needed to consider carefully. If they were to support Xie Yang, what if Xie Zhen, the legitimate heir, was not dead and fought his way back? If they supported Xie Zhen, Xie Yang controlled the ancient city of Shuzhou City.

Thus, these Prefects became fence-sitters.

They were waiting... and while waiting, they naturally did not overly obstruct the Southern Barbarian army that Xie Yang had requested aid from—firstly, because they truly could not defeat an army of 150,000, and secondly, if they fought, would it offend Xie Yang?

However...

They did not expect it.

Only ten days.

In just ten days, the situation in Chuan Shu underwent a heaven-turning, earth-flipping, and extremely dramatic change.

Shuzhou was taken by Qin Zhangfeng in one day.

Yong'an was taken by Liu Zheng in one day.

This shocked every one of these Prefects. Was the Liangzhou Army truly this fierce? Once they arrived, the situation became completely one-sided? It seemed that Xie Zhen had truly backed the right horse!

The Prefect of Mianyang, being closest to Shuzhou, was the first to jump out, shouting angrily: "Xie Yang colluded with the Southern Barbarians to slaughter Chuan Shu; I, the sons of Chuan Shu, will be the first to refuse!"

At the first opportunity, he sent out 30,000 troops to reinforce Shuzhou.

This immediately ignited a wave of resistance throughout Shuzhou.

Consequently, one Prefect after another jumped out.

Reinforce!

Fight the Southern Barbarians!

Never mind that they were all new recruits; their momentum could not be lost. In just one day, the various Prefects and County Marquises of Chuan Shu gathered an army of 100,000 and set out that very day.

When the news reached Shuzhou, Qin Zhangfeng was also left dumbfounded.

However...

He was still feeling somewhat depressed.

Why, exactly, were the Southern Barbarians still not coming?

Finally.

On this day, a Scout who had trekked several hundred miles returned to report.

"General, this subordinate discovered that the Southern Barbarian army is trapped near Mang Mountain; they... they... they have not come out for seven days already."

"What?"

Qin Zhangfeng stood up abruptly.

Mang Mountain?

Chuan Shu has many mountains, and even more great mountains. This Mang Mountain was a notoriously difficult mountain to traverse, located several hundred miles outside of Shuzhou. Being difficult to traverse was one thing, but Mang Mountain had many wild beasts, rugged mountain paths, and lingering mountain fog; even experienced hunters often went missing inside and could not find their way out.

But...

This was an army of 150,000; even if they walked in a straight line holding onto one another, it would be impossible for them to be trapped inside.

Therefore, after receiving this news, Qin Zhangfeng could not fathom the reason.

Could it be...

That this was a trap set by the Southern Barbarians?

Relying on Mang Mountain to set an ambush—that vast mountain valley was indeed an excellent location for an ambush.

"General, what shall we do?"

"General, this is a great opportunity for us!"

"General..."

A group of officers was already eager to try at this moment.

Qin Zhangfeng, however, shook his head slightly: "The geography of Mang Mountain is complex, so it is not suitable to go deep, and the Glider cannot fly to high altitudes for reconnaissance... Moreover, everyone must know that Xie Yang has already been defeated, so it is no longer necessary for the Southern Barbarian reinforcements to support Shuzhou. Regardless of why these Southern Barbarians are lingering there, if they have set an ambush on the spot, we must be on guard."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Kai also nodded.

Because this Mang Mountain was truly too suitable for an ambush. In the Art of War, this Mang Mountain belonged to the "Qi Swallowing Mountains and Rivers" formation. Although these Southern Barbarians were uncivilized and not well-versed in the Art of War, looking at how this Southern Barbarian army had been able to occupy Jiangzhou for two or three months, it could be seen that there was still a powerful leader among these Southern Barbarians.

"General, what should be done?"

"Could it be that we can only wait for them to come to Shuzhou? This..."

In fact, these officers were unwilling to let the Southern Barbarians approach Shuzhou. After all, being on the receiving end of an attack is not as good as taking the initiative. While defending a city certainly results in fewer losses than a field battle, it is the common people who suffer in the end.

Shu has been in chaos for a long time, and the hearts of the people long for stability.

If they could fight a battle in the field and wipe out the main force of the Southern Barbarians, it would surely make Shu much more stable and win the hearts of the people.

The group discussed for a while.

Taking the initiative was not right, and passive defense was not right either.

Qin Zhangfeng was scratching his head; if only the Young Master were here right now.

These past few days, those Prefects had been moving at the slightest sound, waiting for action from Qin Zhangfeng's side.

This made him feel troubled.

Just at this moment.

Suddenly, a report came from outside.

Miss Pei has come to visit.

The scene of the intense argument suddenly fell silent.

Gaze after gaze, filled with ambiguity, turned toward Qin Zhangfeng.

Miss Pei?

Pei Yanran?

This... after so many days of Qin Zhangfeng not taking the initiative to see her, this Miss Pei had actually been unable to help herself and come to this military camp to find him?

"Aha, General, shall we..."

"Withdraw, withdraw!"

"Hahahaha..."

The jeering of these people made even Qin Zhangfeng blush. However, before these people could leave, Pei Yanran had already arrived.

That beautiful figure walked gracefully toward them, accompanied by a few attendants. To avoid suspicion, she wore a veil, but this still could not hide the endless charm and allure she possessed.

Qin Zhangfeng took one look, and his entire body stiffened, his breathing even becoming somewhat rapid.

She had come after all...

He had seen her after all.

The two had exchanged letters many times and were of one mind, but previously it had only been a meeting of spirits. After Qin Zhangfeng arrived in Shuzhou, the two had only met in passing once.

But that exchange of glances had made both of them believe that the other was the person they wanted.

The person they wanted for this lifetime.

Therefore.

This time, Pei Yanran coming in person still made Qin Zhangfeng feel somewhat uneasy, yet joyful in his heart; this complex emotion instantly transformed into a burning gaze as he looked at this peerless beauty before him, oblivious to everyone else, stammering: "You, you, you..."

Pei Yanran also watched Qin Zhangfeng quietly at this moment.

It was also her first time seeing this man of hers at such close range.

Look...

He was so tall, so burly, and that face full of uprightness perfectly overlapped with the man in her dreams.

Seeing Qin Zhangfeng's embarrassed appearance, Pei Yanran could not help but giggle, covering her mouth with a slender hand; her crisp, delicate voice sounded like a young swallow emerging from a valley as she laughingly scolded: "You blockhead!"

Oh, this?

Qin Zhangfeng scratched his head.

Although he had once had a wife, he had never had such an ambiguous interaction with that Sikong Jing.

This feeling...

Ha, how could it make one's breathing so chaotic?

The crowd, meanwhile, was about to run away.

Who would have thought that Pei Yanran would smile faintly: "Generals, there is no need to withdraw; Yanran has come this time to offer a strategy."

"Oh?"

The group looked at one another in dismay.