RPAGF Chapter 182: Strike first to gain the upper hand
Chapter 182: Strike first to gain the upper hand
That night, Liu Yunniang tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.
Xiao Mu's figure and Ye Xiaoxiao's determined eyes kept appearing in her mind.
She knew that she had deep feelings for Xiao Mu, but as a mother, she was really worried about Ye Xiaoxiao.
Ye Xiaoxiao didn't fall asleep either. She lay on the bed, looking at the moonlight outside the window, thinking about the people in the northwest and the upcoming war.
She knew that her mother was very conflicted, and she also understood the dangers of the Northwest, but she had a sense of mission in her heart that made her want to go to the Northwest and do something for the people there.
The next morning, when Liu Yunniang got up, she found Ye Xiaoxiao already practicing Kung Fu in her yard.
Seeing her daughter's serious look, Liu Yunniang was touched.
Xiaoxiao is afraid that she will refuse His Majesty's arranged marriage because of her!
Ye Xiaoxiao saw Liu Yunniang, stopped what she was doing, and ran over.
"Mother, look, how am I doing?"
Liu Yunniang forced a smile.
"Xiaoxiao, you've practiced very well. But kung fu can't be mastered in a day or two, you have to take your time."
Ye Xiaoxiao nodded.
"Mother, I know. I will practice hard so that I can protect myself better."
Liu Yunniang took Ye Xiaoxiao's hand and walked into the house.
"Xiaoxiao, mother has been thinking about you all night. Mother is still very worried about you. The northwest is really too dangerous."
Ye Xiaoxiao looked at Liu Yunniang with her eyes full of expectation.
"Mother, I am not afraid of danger. Just agree to go to the northwest with General Xiao. Let's go together to help the people there."
Liu Yunniang sighed.
"Xiaoxiao, let's not talk about this for now. The three-day deadline given by His Majesty has not yet arrived. This matter concerns our entire lives, and mother cannot make a decision lightly."
Ye Xiaoxiao was a little disappointed, but still nodded obediently.
"Okay, mother, take your time to think about it. But don't give up your own happiness because of me."
In the next two days, Liu Yunniang was still thinking about this problem.
.......
Xiao Mu has not appeared in the past two days. Liu Yunniang doesn't know whether she is disappointed or relieved.
Since he didn't show up, she would not be questioned by him. Otherwise, how could she tell her her feelings?
Xiao Mu had no idea about Liu Yunniang's dilemma. He had been accompanying His Majesty in discussing the Rongdi issue over the past two days.
Emperor Jingxuan did not tell Xiao Mu that he had proposed the marriage to Liu Yunniang.
He just said that it was because of Ye Xiaoxiao's dream that Liu Yunniang and her daughter were summoned.
Xiao Mu had already been prepared in his heart, and naturally knew that His Majesty would summon Yunniang and her daughter because of this matter.
I didn't think much about anything else.
And because Emperor Jingxuan told Xiao Mu what Ye Xiaoxiao said, the two had been discussing the feasibility of this matter.
In the imperial palace, Xiao Mu and Emperor Jingxuan looked at the map and carefully studied the terrain of the northwest and the distribution of Rongdi's troops.
"Your Majesty, according to the secret report from the northwest, I'm afraid Hu Yan won't live much longer."
Xiao Mu frowned and said seriously.
Emperor Jingxuan glanced at the map with a solemn expression.
"Humph, he's not a good guy either. It's just that he's gotten older and older these years, and he's become more and more afraid of death, so he doesn't dare to send troops to our northwest easily. But, look, Youcheng, Beichuan, which year has he not launched a surprise attack?"
Xiao Mu pondered for a moment. It was not that he was reluctant to part with Hu Yan, but he was thinking that once he died, the short period of peace in the northwest would be over.
He pointed to several important roads on the map.
"Your Majesty, the tribe adjacent to Beichuan is the one led by Langchuan. At this moment, he is probably waiting for the news of Hu Yan's death to spread."
Emperor Jingxuan nodded slightly.
"If Hu Yan is dead, I'm afraid he would rush there impatiently. He is not on good terms with the two neighboring tribes. If he wants to rush there, he would probably go directly through here."
Emperor Jingxuan pointed his finger gently at a pipeline outside Liangcheng, which was ten kilometers away from Liangcheng, but was the fastest road for Langchuan to reach the Huyan tribe.
Xiao Mu looked in the direction Emperor Jingxuan pointed, and his gaze became increasingly profound.
"Your Majesty, if Langchuan really chooses this path, it would be an opportunity for us to exploit."
Emperor Jingxuan raised his eyes and looked at Xiao Mu, with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.
"General Xiao, please share your thoughts."
Xiao Mu clasped his fists and bowed, saying,
"Your Majesty, we can set up ambushes on both sides of this pipeline. Arrange archers to hide on the high ground on both sides of the pipeline in advance, and then deploy infantry to the rear as support. Once Langchuan's troops enter the pipeline, the archers can fire thousands of arrows at once to disrupt their formation, and the infantry will rush out afterwards, which will definitely cause them heavy losses."
Emperor Jingxuan nodded slightly, but he still had some doubts.
"Although this plan is good, Langchuan is cunning and suspicious. Will he be prepared?"
Xiao Mu replied,
"Your Majesty is right. Therefore, our actions must be extremely secretive. We can first send a small group of elite troops to disguise themselves as local herdsmen or merchants, pretending to graze or travel near the pipeline, and secretly monitor the movements of Langchuan. At the same time, create some seemingly natural obstacles at the entrance of the pipeline, such as fallen trees and rolling rocks, so that Langchuan will think that these are just some unexpected roadblocks and will not suspect that they are our deliberate arrangements."
Emperor Jingxuan thought for a moment.
"Well, we also have to consider the weather. If it's windy and sandy, that's the best time for us to set up an ambush. The wind and sand can help us hide our whereabouts better."
Xiao Mu continued,
"Your Majesty is wise. We can also set up some traps in the pipeline, such as digging pits, inserting sharp wooden stakes into the pits, and then covering them with branches and hay. When the Rongdi cavalry enters, the horses' hooves will easily get stuck in them, which will affect their marching speed and team order."
Emperor Jingxuan paced back and forth, constantly thinking about the details of the entire plan in his mind.
"General Xiao, this operation is crucial. If we can successfully inflict heavy damage on Langchuan, the northwest border will be temporarily stable. But we must also be fully prepared just in case. If the ambush is discovered, how should we respond? If you are not in the northwest, once Langchuan is angered, or he escapes, the northwest will be in danger."
Xiao Mu looked solemn.
"Your Majesty, if we decide to kill Langchuan, there will be absolutely no possibility of failure! As long as we succeed, the cavalry troops that have been arranged in advance outside Liangcheng will immediately take action. After the ambush team retreats to a safe distance, these cavalry will quickly attack and fully cover the ambush team's retreat back to Liangcheng."
Xiao Mu's fingers moved slowly along the terrain around Liangcheng.
"Langchuan must be eliminated! According to Murong Jin, Hu Yan will die of illness in three months, and Langchuan will ascend the throne. In just three months, he was able to capture Liangcheng and Beichuan in one fell swoop, and even kill me. Therefore, this man must die! Xiaoxiao is right. Since we already know clearly that he is about to take action, why should we sit and wait for death? Before, I was too conservative... All is fair in war. Since he wants to assassinate me, we should strike first."