"So he is ritorious and faultless."
Yu Jianji looked at the people in the hall, especially the Minister of War: "Indeed, Li Xuan has a docunt granted by , giving him the authority to act independently and mobilize a thousand soldiers from local forces if necessary. Minister of War, Wei and Eunuch Qin, also felt that the case of stolen military equipnt was of great importance and couldn’t be entrusted solely to Xi Ying, the left deputy imperial censor, hence, they also endorsed the docunt."
The smile on Quan Dingtian’s face beca more obvious, while the Minister of War and Qin Mingyu also looked much more pleased. The latter seed to recall this matter, the purple on his face quickly disappeared: "Correct! I had heard of Li Xuan a while ago. A standout of the Liudao Division who has solved many cases, he sounds very reliable. Moreover, the case of stolen military equipnt has been unresolved for several months, and those lost weapons have given sleepless nights!
As expected, just one day after receiving his orders, Li Xuan uncovered Lin Ziyang’s rebellion and made the truth of the military equipnt case clear. You all say that Lin Ziyang was forced to rebel, which is simply absurd. I believe it’s better to expose this abscess sooner rather than later. This man has been preparing for who knows how long and even acquired fifty Huihui Cannons. I heard there are even more cannons in Dantu City but he didn’t use them due to the limit of his forces. I don’t understand, do we have to wait until he is fully prepared and take over the canal?"
The Minister of War, Wei Zhirite also nodded slightly: "Brother Li Xuan’s actions are indeed par excellence. Even if we can’t hold onto Beigu Mountain in the end, he has bought ti for the court."
He tapped his hand on his armrest as though tapping on everyone’s heart: "The pressing matter at hand is not about discussing the rits and derits of Li Xuan, but whether we should save Tieweng City on Beigu Mountain."
"In my opinion, we must save it!" the one who spoke was Duke Xuguo: "Tieweng City has a commanding position! Both Zhenjiang and the Jiangnan Canal are on either side of it, as long as the city stands for one day, Lin Ziyang cannot lead his troops southward to sweep the canal."
Another person stroked his long beard: "Zhenjiang is located next to Nanjing, Lin Ziyang can spy on Nanjing from the west and can take over Changzhou, Suzhou, and Lake Zhou to the south. The location of Tieweng City is indeed crucial, but the question is whether they can hold on? Can they withstand until reinforcents arrive?"
"It’s impossible. Lin Ziyang has fifty Mountain Spirits and thirty flanged cannons, how could Tieweng City, which has been in disrepair for years, withstand this? It is a fortress built more than two dynasties ago to resist the ng people, it hasn’t been maintained for many years."
"Lin Ziyang himself is also highly skilled, and his troops add to his prowess. His strength can be compared with that of the heavenly level."
"Do we abandon it just because we know they can’t hold on? What if Li Xuan and his companions manage to hold on till this evening, wouldn’t we have missed a golden opportunity."
"Going to save this lost cause is the real missed opportunity. We should transfer troops to enter Changzhou by waterway."
"I think it’s too late to mobilize troops. However, we can send so masters. They need soone who can confront Lin Ziyang. I think we can ask Earl Chengyi to go. On water, his strength can compete with the heavenly level."
"Li Chengji is now suspended and pending investigation. He has not yet been cleared of suspicions in the case of the assault on the prince."
There was a flurry of discussion and disagreent in the hall. The second Prince, Yu Jianji, couldn’t help but frown and he stood up directly.
"Everyone, quiet!"
He enquired directly from the Minister of War, "Which troop is nearest to Beigu Mountain now? How long will it take?"
Wei Zhili, the Minister of War in Nanjing, hesitated a bit: "Naturally, it’s Yangzhou, but the troops in Yangzhou are no longer usable, the soldiers in several units are already extrely decayed. They are currently strained suppressing just the north canal and Maitreya Teaching. Next is the navy on Chongming Island in Suzhou. Several days ago, five battalions of the navy on Chongming Island were transferred by Jiancha Yushi Cui Chengyou to patrol the illegal activities on the Zhenjiang River. They can land at Beigu Mountain within two hours."
He bowed slightly: "Yet, this five thousand navy embarking at Beigu Mountain would be like a drop in the bucket."
Yu Jianji paused: "Then what about other places? There are tens of thousands of people in the royal camp in Nanjing, and there are also Suzhou, Changzhou, and Songjiang?"
Wei Zhili gave a wry smile: "Jiangnan is prosperous, the civilians have lived in peace for a long ti, and the martial spirit is weak. To my knowledge, only the Jinshan Guards in Songjiang, Guangde, and Ningguo can afford a battle. But, they have to advance by land, which would take several days. Besides, the royal camp in Nanjing shouldn’t be easily moved. Speaking of the north, the closest is Chuzhou Governnt and Fengyang in the central capital, especially the Left Command in the central capital. There are thirty thousand royal guards and mausoleum guards there, who are quite elite after being reorganized by Shaobao Yu."
"I didn’t realize that the military affairs in Jiangnan had deteriorated to this extent." Yu Jianji couldn’t help but frown, then he let out a sigh of air: "I don’t know much about military matters. However, in my view of the situation in Beigu Mountain, sending the navy from Chongming Island to help is not unreasonable. If we can save them, we save them. If not, they can go down the canal to Changzhou to seize crucial locations and block the river. Next is the martial arts master. As far as I know, there are nurous experts in Nanjing City, surely we can send soone who can contend with Lin Ziyang?"
"Your Highness, that may be difficult."
Qin Mingyu began to speak again. This pale-faced person handed a flying symbol into Yu Jianji’s hand.
"We just received the news that the Knife Demon, Li Zhetian, has entered Nanjing, directly heading to Earl Chengyi’s mansion after entering the city from the east gate."
At this point, the entire hall erupted in shocked gasps, and most people’s expressions changed greatly, even revealing expressions of horror.
The complexion of Quan Dingtian turned pale at this mont.
This was undoubtedly the worst situation. No external help, Tieweng City was dood!
※※※※
At this ti, Li Chengji, looking rushed, strode out of the shrine of Chengyi’s mansion. There was a long knife hanging at his waist, different from the one he usually carried. His speed was astounding, just with a few strides, he had already reached the front yard after leaving the shrine.
But the mont Li Chengji stepped out of the mansion, his heart froze and he stopped in his tracks.
That was because there was a figure standing on the steps below which he was familiar with. He was a seemingly destitute young man; his face still handso, but unkempt. His hair was ssy, his face was covered in stubble like steel needles, and his clothes looked as if they hadn’t been laundered in a long ti, with the collar blackened and the sleeves stained with nurous wine and grease spots.
Yet, his hands were very clean, the fingers long and the skin like jade, evoking images of a girl’s delicate hand.
"Li Zhetian!"
Li Chengji felt a cold unease creeping in, a terrible premonition taking hold. "What brings you here?"
The young man gave a tender smile, "I have been holidaying in Nanjing recently, when I heard that your two cherished sons have encountered trouble, and might just lose their lives at Lin Ziyang’s hands."
Li Chengji’s hands tightened around the saber at his waist, "And what then? Are you going to stop ?"
"It’s well-known that I, Li Zhetian, always repay a favor." The young man’s face was casually serene as he continued, "Once, you blocked my path on the river and saved that person from my sword. So today, I will return the gesture and block you once in turn."
He then looked at the saber Li Chengji was gripping, "Planning on fighting? Interesting. Isn’t that the saber left by Li Lexing? Interesting... I’ve been quite curious. In the past, Li Lexing was known as Yihan Saber, the Saber King of Jiangnan. At the ti of his ascension, it was said that he reached the Middle Heaven level."
"I’m rather interested to see, how impressive is his saber technique? However, if we were to fight, half of Nanjing City would not be safe. The Ban Jinshui Array in the city can no longer match its past glory, and the successive Zhenshou eunuchs all cut corners, so I’m afraid it can’t withstand the power of our heavenly level sabers."
At this mont, Li Chengji practically ground all his teeth to dust.
Right then, he glimpsed Leng Yurou riding an Earth Dragon out of the side gate, and sprinting towards the east.
The young man gave her a sideways glance but paid no further heed. He continued to look at Li Chengji, "Anyone else can take that path, but you cannot."
※※※※
When Jiang Hanyun, along with Luo Yan and others, reappeared at the city’s head from the back of Beigu Mountain, they found Li Xuan and Xue Yunrou fussing over a bag of flour. Nearby, Li Yan and Shi Shishi were watching them.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Hanyun was utterly confused, wondering why, at a ti like this, they were not guarding the city wall. Wouldn’t two guards, Su Zhaojun and Su Linghuan, be too few?
"Keep quiet and watch." Li Yan held his saber across his chest, his gaze fixed. "Li Xuan is saying that we can utilize the flour stored in the storeroom to create an explosion which would engulf the entire battlefield. They’re conducting an experint right now."
"An explosion with flour?" Jiang Hanyun couldn’t understand, feeling it to be utterly ridiculous, "And you believe this?"
It was absurd to think that flour could cause an explosion.
While she was gradually feeling that Li Xuan was reliable and carried a heroic aura rare in this world, his proposition this ti was sowhat challenging her worldview.
"That’s why we need to conduct an experint." Li Yan said uncertainly, "It’ll just take a mont and won’t affect anything. After all, he’s my junior and nominally the commander in this operation. I have to give his words due consideration-"
Just as he was saying this, Xue Yunrou whipped up a strong wind, scattering the flour out of the bag to an area about one yard in front. A slight breeze swirled around the edges, keeping it contained.
Li Xuan’s hands then sparked electricity into the drifting dust.
In the next instant, the flour exploded with a ’bang’, a bright red fla swallowing the surroundings.
Feeling a hot blast wave hit him in the face before he could react, Li Yan had his bangs singed. However, the rush of excitent he felt as he exchanged glances with Shi Shishi was undeniable. Hopes were stirred.
This technique seed genuinely credible!
Jiang Hanyun was visibly shaken, staring at the spectacle before her incredulously.
This flour, this ingredient which she’d typically use to wrap dumplings and make noodles, had actually exploded? It exploded—
Luo Yan, on the other hand, looked wordlessly at Li Xuan. She then mused in awe, "So, there’s this trick as well? Flour can explode? I prided myself on being an expert in fire, yet it turns out I’ve been making a fool of myself."
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