Chapter 1098: Does the agreement still count? (2/2)

Although Han Yunxi was still uneasy, but at least they’d shared something. She carefully instructed Mu Linger, “Later, Chu Xifeng and Baili Mingxiang will come to pick you up. You should all head secretly for the Tang Clan.”

“I don’t want to!” Mu Linger refused.

“Then where else will you go?” Han Yunxi retorted with narrowed eyes. With all of them gone, could Mu Linger be content to sit around the army camp with her personality? They’d expended so much effort to rescue her that Han Yunxi wouldn’t be at ease unless she was situated somewhere safe.

“I’ll just stay in the army camps and not go anywhere. I’ll wait for your good news!” Mu Linger said anxiously.

“A few days ago, I received news from Lady Tang that little Tang Tang’s afraid of strangers. She’s been crying every night. Linger, just go for Ning Jing’s sake,” Han Yunxi’s tone grew imposing.

How could Mu Linger refuse after that? She anxiously asked, “When will Chu Xifeng’s group arrive? How long does it take to get to the Tang Clan from here?”

Actually, Mu Linger had underestimated little Tang Tang. Perhaps it was because the baby had been in mortal peril since her birth, but she’d adapted extremely well to the circumstances and was living wonderfully at the Tang Clan. There were scores of people who played with her everyday and a pair who watched over her specially at night. She had long grown used to life at the Tang Clan and didn’t need Mu Linger to worry about her at all.

Just like that, Han Yunxi tricked Mu Linger into waiting obediently for Chu Xifeng and Baili Mingxiang at the army barracks. That night, Long Feiye’s orders were quickly distributed to each army commander while his group of four headed southeast for Tianan. The next day, the 70,000 troops stationed outside the Three-Way Pass split into two. One headed north to support Ning Cheng, while the other aimed for the south. A few days later, the garrison troops in the central and southern regions received Long Feiye’s orders as well and adjusted their strategies to cooperate with the Great Generals heading south.

Only 15,000 soldiers were left within Tianning borders after the Great Generals left Three-Way Pass. They teamed up with the armies stationed on Tianning’s east and west borders to deal with Western Zhou and Tianan’s invasion. The remaining 50,000 troops didn’t stop, but kept heading persistently south. The central regions and Jiangnan in the south were Cloud Realm Continent’s richest and most prosperous land, as well as the territories most suitable for living. Naturally, they demanded the bulk of the army for protection. At the same time, the central and southern garrison troops followed Han Yunxi’s suggestion to put together a people’s militia that was paid grain and money by the various trade consortiums to deal with the traitorous soldiers. All of this was made possible thanks to Long Feiye and Han Yunxi’s past handling of the famine situation in the south. They’d left a good impression on the people there; moreover, they were naturally revered as heirs to two royal dynasties.

The Li Clan might have won the hearts of the soldiers, but Long Feiye and Han Yunxi could win the hearts of the citizens. How could soldiers’ hearts fight against the people? Soldiers were citizens too!

The 50,000 soldiers had hardly reached the central regions when good news came from Jiangnan in the south. The people’s militia had successfully repelled the traitorous factions from attacking and occupying a large territory responsible for grain. At the same time, they cut of multiple sources of grain to the enemy in other places.

Tianning and the three central prefectures were in a more serious state. Although the two opposing armies had yet to fight, those with experience could tell that the region would be plunged into a long-scale war. That was the worst possible outcome for both Long Feiye and Han Yunxi. Unexpectedly, Ning Cheng actually told the troops that Long Feiye had transferred him to head south to support Tianning.

Under these circumstances, it was unclear whether his agreement with Long Feiye of “no defeats” still stood.

Whatever the case, Ning Cheng wasn’t swayed by personal feelings. He could return the 10,000 men back to Long Feiye because Jin Zi had created a tiger regiment of his own to “prove” his identity as a Black Clan direct bloodline descendant. As soon as he brought the tigers to parade around the battlefield, news spread throughout Northern Li’s southern regions. Nearly half of the Black Clan’s old subordinates surrendered at the sight, though the rest held out.

Long Feiye’s group had already been hidden in Tianan for days when the news reached them. While they silently gave Ning Cheng a thumbs up, the central and southern regions stood poised for battle. Meanwhile, they themselves were investigating General Mu’s headquarters and waiting for an opportune moment to strike.

Each of the four had different thoughts about Ning Cheng’s actions.

“Tsk tsk tsk, this Ning Cheng’s pretty impressive! I’ve really underestimated him,” Gu Qishao said with amusement.

Han Yunxi didn’t speak, but was silently laughing at Ning Cheng’s actions. Most likely, he came up with the idea for Jin Zi to claim he was the Black Clan descendant who’d sided with the West Qin Dynasty. Not only did this help West Qin claim the Black Clan, but also slap Long Feiye’s face. After all, the Black Clan were originally followers of East Qin!

“Princess, no matter whether Jin Zi is a Black Clan descendant or not, it’ll be very advantageous if we can use him,” Gu Beiyue had a knack for seeing these things behind his placid smile.

Long Feiye only laughed coldly. “Since he gained the Black Clan, this crown prince will wait for him to take all of Northern Li!”

No one would know that Ning Cheng’s letter contained a piece of paper for Long Feiye alone. On it was written clearly: no matter how things changed in Northern Li, he and Long Feiye’s agreement still stood. After that display of attitude, Long Feiye was going to wait expectantly for results.

Two days later, the shadow guards verified that Great General Mu was still in Tianan’s capital city, but there was no sign of Bai Yanqing. Han Yunxi’s group didn’t hesitate to leave for the capital. However, they hadn’t gone far when bad news spread overnight across all of Cloud Realm Continent--especially in the central and Jiangnan regions. It happened so fast that it must have been prepared ahead of time by scouts planted in each region.

The bad news said that Great General Mu had personally led 10,000 soldiers to guard Tianan’s imperial capital and seal off its exits. No one was allowed to come in or out, thus trapping 30,000 citizens inside.

And Great General Mu was calling for Han Yunxi to demand they make a deal!

1. Mu Yuanbo (穆元博) - Mu is a surname meaning “solemn, reverent,” Yuan is “key element, essential factor, first/chief/fundamental,” Bo is “rich, abundant, plentiful, erudite, loose/big.” You know things are getting serious when the novel finally gives you a full name! Congratulations, Great General Mu! It’s only been 1098 chapters…