The Prodigal Son

Outside Yiling City.

Fang Junji and his men also received news that Yan Li had led his troops into Guanzhou.

Upon learning this news, several generals came to Fang Junji to volunteer for the battle.

"Commander Fang, it's time for us to attack the city!"

"Our reinforcements have arrived; if we don't attack now, when will we?"

"Qin Yu's news is probably already spreading like wildfire behind enemy lines. We can't just stand by and watch him feast while we don't even get a sip of soup, can we?"

"This humble general is willing to be the vanguard and lead the troops to attack the city..."

The group chattered amongst themselves, and even the usually composed Xue Lie volunteered to join the fight.

The Yan state has already dispatched troops!

If they continue to watch the show, even they themselves will feel ashamed.

"Quiet down, everyone!"

Fang Junji raised his hand to stop the crowd, "Now is not the time to attack! Let's wait and see!"

"Still waiting?"

Guo Su's face fell. "We've waited this long already, how much longer do we have to wait?"

Because of his relationship with the Empress Dowager, Guo Su was sidelined for several years.

Now that he finally has the opportunity to lead troops into battle, he is eager to prove himself on the battlefield.

"Yes! If we wait any longer, the war will be over!"

The others echoed this sentiment, each looking at Fang Junji with anxiety and dissatisfaction.

Many people have already labeled Fang Junji as a coward.

"As I said, just keep waiting!"

Fang Junji sternly stopped everyone, "I know you all want to make a name for yourselves, but now is not the time! Huang Dengxing should soon receive news of Yan's attack on Guanzhou. When Huang Dengxing can no longer sit still, that will be our time to attack! If we launch a strong attack on Yiling now, even if we win, it will be a Pyrrhic victory!"

"Commander Fang is right!"

Xue Lie nodded in agreement, his cold gaze sweeping over the generals who had volunteered for battle. "Precisely because the Yan Kingdom has already invaded Guanzhou, we must continue to wait! You must believe that Huang Dengxing is more anxious than we are! In this battle, we must not only win, but win decisively! No one should even consider doing something that results in the loss of eight hundred of our own while killing a thousand enemies!"

"right!"

Tang Chunlai nodded in agreement, then waved to the generals, "Go back now! When it's time to attack, you'll be given the opportunity!"

Seeing that none of the three agreed to attack, Guo Su and the others were immediately disappointed.

Just as they were about to try again, Fang Junji's personal guard rushed in, "Commander Fang, the Holy Envoy has arrived!"

Holy Envoy?

Fang Junji's expression changed slightly. He exchanged a puzzled look with Xue Lie and Tang Chunlai before quickly walking out.

They hadn't gone far when they saw the holy envoy coming towards them.

Upon seeing that bald head, everyone was slightly taken aback.

Why send a monk as the holy envoy?

Is it to have monks perform a ritual to help the souls of the dead find peace?

Xue Lie looked at Dong Liu with suspicion, his heart filled with doubt.

How did he become a holy messenger?

Does Your Majesty not know about his feud with Zhao Po?

Knowing full well that Zhao Po was here, why did they still send him?

Or perhaps, Your Majesty believes that Zhao Po is following Qin Yu?

Dong Liu ignored the questioning looks from the crowd, quickly produced the imperial edict, and said sternly, "Fang Junji, listen to my decree!"

Without a second thought, everyone immediately knelt down on one knee to receive the imperial decree.

"His Majesty has decreed: The Northern Qi have launched a surprise attack on Zhubei City, and our dynasty may engage in a major war with them. I have heard that Fang Junji has been holding back his troops outside Yiling City for a long time, and I am very worried! I order Fang Junji to end the war with Min State as soon as possible, lest things get complicated! I hereby appoint Dong Liu as the military supervisor. If Yiling is not captured within ten days, Dong Liu will assume full command of the army..."

Dong Liu was still loudly proclaiming the imperial edict, but Fang Junji felt utterly disheartened.

Clearly, Zhao Luan was very dissatisfied with his continued inaction.

This is putting pressure on him!

Fang Junji inwardly felt bitter. After Dong Liu finished reading the imperial edict, he forced himself to say loudly, "Your subject accepts the decree and thanks you!"

Dong Liu handed the imperial edict to Fang Junji and said solemnly, "Commander Fang, you have six days left!"

The ten days are counted from the time they set off!

They traveled at breakneck speed to Yinzhou and then came here, taking a full four days.

Now, Fang Junji only has six days left to break through the city.

And that includes today!

Hearing Dong Liu's words, Fang Junji's heart skipped a beat again.

Six days!

This is really a troublesome matter!

While Fang Junji was lost in thought, Xue Lie bowed to Dong Liu again: "Greetings, General Fu Bao!"

General Fu Bao?

Upon hearing Xue Lie's words, Guo Su's gaze suddenly fell on Dong Liu.

They had never heard of Dong Liu.

But he still knew about General Fu Bao, Dong Xiufu!

Dong Liu glanced at Xue Lie indifferently. "I'm the military supervisor now!"

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Xue Lie smiled and pulled Dong Liu aside. "What's going on? Why would His Majesty suddenly issue such an imperial edict?"

From his perspective, he felt that Fang Junji's handling of the situation was perfectly correct.

While Yiling's defenses weren't impenetrable, they were heavily fortified.

In this situation, a direct attack would definitely be the worst option!

"Didn't you hear the imperial decree? Bei Qi has launched a surprise attack on Zhu Bei City!"

Dong Liu glanced at Xue Lie with displeasure. "Before coming here, I already sent an imperial decree to Yun Zhao of Yinzhou. Yun Zhao will soon lead his troops to advance on Gongzhou of Chu..."

"What?"

Xue Lie's expression changed, and he lowered his voice, saying, "Has Her Majesty gone mad? Does she intend to wage war on all sides?"

Even Yun Zhao of Lianyin Prefecture received an imperial edict?

"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"

Dong Liu said impatiently, "Instead of wasting time chatting with me, you should be thinking of a strategy to take down the city! You'd better hurry up and capture Yiling; I have no intention of taking over military command!"

He genuinely didn't want to take over military power, nor did he want to get involved in this matter.

He came here entirely out of respect for that old bastard Qin Fumeng.

"We want to break through the city too! But now is not the time to do so!"

Xue Lie looked bitter. "Yan has already sent troops, and Min's defeat is inevitable. We can't possibly do something that would harm the enemy a thousand while also inflicting eight hundred casualties on ourselves at this time, can we?"

"This is your business!"

Dong Liu had no interest in listening to his complaints. "I heard Qin Yu led his troops to attack the enemy's rear. How is the situation there?"

"Senior Zhao has already sent men deep behind enemy lines to inquire."

Xue Lie replied, "A few days ago, Qin Yu defeated Shen Tu Hong's cavalry and helped Yu Jing gather a considerable number of troops. Then he marched towards Xuanzhou and defeated Yan Mu's 30,000-strong army at Changxi Plain in Xuanzhou. After that, there was no news..."

Nobody knows what Qin Yu is doing or where he has gone.

All they knew was that Dongyuan was under heavy attack from Chu general Liang Jingzhe and seemed to be on the verge of collapse.

However, they did not receive any news of Qin Yu's troops returning to reinforce them.

Dong Liu pondered silently for a moment, then guessed, "That little bastard has most likely gone to Wuzhou or Xingzhou!"

Xue Lie was startled and hurriedly asked, "How do you know?"

Dong Liu continued his analysis: "When I arrived in Yinzhou, Yun Zhao told me that the Chu army was making large-scale movements and was even sending reinforcements to Min State through Yuwang Pass..."

If Qin Yu does not return to reinforce Dongyuan, there will only be two directions left for the attack.

It's either Yuyang or the south bank of Qujiang!

However, Yuyang is, after all, the capital of the Min Kingdom. With the limited forces Qin Yu has, it would be difficult to conquer Yuyang.

However, attacking the south bank of the Qujiang River and disrupting the enemy's rear is also a good option.

The large-scale movements of the Chu army seem to confirm this.

Just as Dong Liu was pondering this, a figure flashed by.

Upon seeing who it was, Fang Junji was immediately overjoyed.

Zhao Po!

Zhao Po is finally back!