The feeling was clearly of approaching storm – extremely oppressive and tense. However, that night passed peacefully without incident, and the following day also passed with no movement from the other side. Scouts could discover nothing and saw no advancing troops, greatly puzzling the prepared Murong army. But fearing surprise attacks, they dared not easily remove their set ambushes.

The matter of reinforcements had Murong Ding and numerous deputy generals deeply worried.

These reinforcements undoubtedly came from the border! The frontier, like the capital region, was defended by three forces – Chao, Murong, and Wei – with two hundred thousand, two hundred thousand, and one hundred thousand troops respectively. Chao’s forces in the capital numbered only eighty thousand. The approximately twenty thousand troops that suddenly emerged from the mountain valleys must have been secretly transferred from the border.

Initially, when nomadic tribes attacked, the border Chao forces at the first line of defense had their food secretly poisoned by enemy soldiers, contracting dysentery with almost the entire army falling ill. The nomadic tribes came with great force this time, approaching thirty thousand troops (twenty-seven thousand). They sensed something might be amiss, but with the war crisis and Chao forces “unable” to fight, Lian Yu could only dispatch Wei Chenghui’s army to the frontier – firstly to quickly defeat the invaders and end the war, secondly to prevent Quan Feitong from suddenly rebelling in the capital. With Wei Chenghui’s intentions unclear and not knowing whom he would assist, transferring this army could both repel border enemies and prevent them from aiding Quan Feitong.

Now Quan Feitong indeed had long-laid plans, using border troops to make the emperor transfer Wei’s army away, also preventing Wei forces from turning against him to aid the emperor. Additionally, he had long secretly transferred some border troops who were feigning illness back, waiting for this battle.

But exactly how many had he transferred? No one knew!

Twenty thousand soldiers had appeared that day. If it were only twenty thousand, that would be manageable. What Lian Yu worried about last night was that these twenty thousand might only be testing the waters, with the actual numbers far exceeding this.

Historically, battles where few defeated many weren’t unheard of, but they were truly rare and required complete advantage in timing, terrain, or popular support. Now they didn’t even know how many troops the enemy actually had – how could this battle be fought!

Though they had sent people to the frontier overnight to summon the border Murong forces back, this distant water couldn’t quench immediate fire – they had to hold out until their reinforcements arrived!

Regarding Lian Yu’s succession, various rumors circulated in the army with unstable morale. Murong Ding proposed killing one to warn a hundred, but the deputy generals, cherishing their subordinates, disagreed. Unlike Marquis Murong Jing, Murong Ding was brave but lacked tact, unable to make these deputy generals submit to him. Old conflicts over his coveting one deputy’s wife’s beauty now surfaced collectively.

In nearby tents, Murong Ding and several deputy generals were still arguing heatedly.

At this moment, cool breezes blew, and the distant mountain peaks looked lush green, as if all things were newly born. However, with strong enemies surrounding them and hidden dangers lurking within, how could Lian Yu have any mood to appreciate this boundless spring scenery? His brows remained tightly furrowed!

“Yu’er, this is hard on you.” Xiao An stood beside him, speaking with heartache.

“Mother, what are you saying? I am the nation’s sovereign. However much wealth and glory I enjoy, I should bear that much responsibility and honor or shame.” Lian Yu smiled faintly, instead comforting her.

Murong Qi said quietly, “Your Majesty, why don’t this consort accompany you for a walk? You should relax well – you discussed matters by lamplight all night and must be exhausted.”

“Thank you for Sister Qi’s kind intention, but I’m not tired.”

Lian Yu patted her shoulder without saying more. Murong Qi was very disappointed but knew that at such a critical moment, since he wasn’t one of those pleasure-seeking emperors, how could he be in the mood?

Lian Xin, usually talkative, now dared not speak much, only sighing, “If only Susu were here – Sixth Brother, you’d surely be more cheerful.”

Xiao An’s expression changed slightly, while Murong Qi glared fiercely at Lian Xin. Lian Xin stuck out her tongue and took Lian Yu’s arm. Lian Yu said flatly, “It’s good that she’s not here.”

He walked toward Murong Ding and the generals, seemingly to stop their argument.

Xiao An called Hong Gu over, staring at Lian Yu’s retreating figure and asking carefully, “How is Lian Qin’s situation?”

Hong Gu replied quietly, “Reporting to Old Ancestor, Ninth Prince remains quiet, staying in his tent all night without moving about. He’s still angry but shows no signs of wanting to take people away.”

“Mm,” Xiao An pondered briefly and said, “This Lian Qin is a rough brute, but he’s still a royal child with some sense. His Majesty is a formidable person – we can’t let him detect anything. He still has considerable feelings for those two brothers. Withdraw the people!”

“Yes, Old Ancestor.”

After Lian Yu walked away, Xuan Wu and several others emerged from around a corner. Lian Yu asked quietly, “How is it?”

Xuan Wu immediately replied, “The Empress Dowager sent people to monitor Ninth Master. These two were responsible for surveillance last night and saw clearly.”

He pointed to two men beside him – Hei Shi and the thin, tall attendant.

“Did Ninth Brother discover Mother’s people?” Lian Yu closed his eyes, slightly relieving the fatigue of his already bloodshot eyes, and asked the two men.

Hei Shi smiled, “Master, rest assured. Our original task was to immediately stop Hong Gu if she did anything excessive, not letting the Empress Dowager make things difficult for Ninth Master. Hong Gu’s people were reasonably careful – Ninth Master probably didn’t notice. Otherwise, with his temperament, he would definitely come out and make a scene.”

Lian Yu nodded, “Good. I’ll have Mother withdraw them shortly.”

The thin, tall attendant quickly said, “Your Majesty needn’t – this subordinate just heard the Empress Dowager tell Hong Gu that she’s decided to withdraw the people.”

Lian Yu said, “That’s for the best. Lian Qin is my brother – I don’t want to lose this brother too. If Lian Qin wanted to leave, he would have gone with Seventh Brother just now. Let me give him some peace. Unfortunately, Mother still doesn’t understand. Still, she means well for me.”

After speaking, he laughed self-mockingly and left with Lian Xin.

Behind them, the four attendants all looked worried. Hei Shi said, “Master truly isn’t easy – at this critical battle moment, he still must manage family affairs.”

The others nodded. Finally, the thin, tall attendant sighed, “Those who achieve great things don’t worry about small matters. Master doesn’t want to be ruthless – perhaps he should let the Empress Dowager act. If Ninth Master takes several hundred personal guards and leaves to join Seventh Master, though it wouldn’t add much military strength for them, it would at least be a blow to us and boost their morale again.”

“Stop!”

With a stern, low command, at nightfall, about three or four li from where Lian Yu’s army was stationed, a unit of roughly a hundred soldiers quickly halted their rapid march and swiftly concealed themselves in dense forest.

“Pass the order – rear units pay attention to concealment, halt advance, await orders.” The person who had given the command ordered again.

“Yes, General!” Several deputy generals beside him received the order and immediately ran back to relay the command.

Then the commanding man and several other men dismounted and walked forward to a position before stopping.

Under moonlight, the faces were all familiar – they were the emperor’s great enemies. In order: Chao Huang, Quan Feitong, Qiu Jing, and Li Zhaoting, with Lian Jie in the center.

An hour ago, Quan Feitong had received secret intelligence from scouts. After consultation with Qiu Jing, Chao Huang and others, they agreed to this surprise attack.

Lian Jie said he had a way to assist their assault.

The method was quite clever – not launching the attack themselves first, but burning Lian Yu’s camp. Once the rear Murong army was in chaos and the front ambushes saw the fire and panicked, they would inevitably collapse. Then the main force would charge up, achieving twice the result with half the effort. This assault would definitely reduce his forces by another ten to twenty thousand!

This arson plan couldn’t be carried out by Lian Jie’s personal guards in Lian Yu’s camp, who were heavily monitored and couldn’t communicate. But as Lian Jie said, there was one person who could do it.

Lian Qin!

An hour ago, scouts reported that Xiao An had sent people to monitor Lian Qin, but Lian Yu hadn’t, still maintaining brotherly affection for this sibling.

Though Lian Qin had broken with Lian Yu, he hadn’t left – perhaps still feeling brotherly sentiment.

But simultaneously, precisely because he hadn’t left yet was filled with dissatisfaction, suspicion, and anger, his feelings were unstable – like a mirror or frozen river with cracks. With just one more push from someone, this thin ice would completely shatter.

This push, delivered by Lian Jie, was most appropriate.

Lian Yu was Lian Qin’s brother, and so was Lian Jie.

When Quan Feitong and Li Zhaoting discussed earlier, they had explored the feasibility of utilizing such internal force. Now, under their temptation, Lian Jie voluntarily spoke up – what could be better than this?

Scouts took Lian Jie’s personally written letter back to camp, finding ways to deliver it to Lian Qin.

Once Lian Qin successfully brought personal guards to start fires, scouts would signal with flames shooting skyward.

Then they could launch their attack. If Lian Qin refused, they could advance or retreat as expedient.

While Quan and Chao’s forces waited like eagles for prey, Lian Qin discovered a letter in his food basket. He hadn’t left his tent these past two days, but food was still delivered regularly.

He held the letter and had the personal guards outside find the soldier who delivered the meal, probing with a few questions. But the other seemed genuinely ignorant. After observing briefly and knowing the letter was hidden by someone else, he didn’t pursue further investigation, dismissed the person, and quickly opened the letter.

After a long while, he said through gritted teeth, “Fine, Seventh Brother. I’ll do as you say. Though Father didn’t treat me particularly closely in the past, he was still my father. This position should have gone to you originally – Lian Yu stole it. I can’t favor one over the other. His kindness to us is just pretense – everything is false!”