The army moved out, and more than 50,000 people slowly retreated south.
The Barbarians and the Beida camp were in the front, and the Long family army was in the rear, guarding against the ghost tribe's pursuit.
In a war, the most elite troops are at the front when attacking and stay at the back when retreating.
When setting off for the expedition, because the barbarian army was more familiar with the grassland terrain, they were allowed to serve as the vanguard.
When it came time to retreat, the Long family army took on the heavy responsibility of rearguard action.
Long Chen, Gan Xin, and Mo Lin held the line, while the others walked in front.
"Master Ziyun and Master Miaoyin have already broken through. Zhang Qian, Dugu Jiali and Wu Chuchu have also broken through. Bai Tingting's qualifications are not quite there yet, and Qingyue and Xuan Yi are not even close to being ready either."
"Wu Jian has also broken through, Gan Zhen is showing signs of breaking through, Han Ziping, and Tang Heizi are a little closer."
"Meng Yidao and Zhuang Ling'er also broke through. They are the fastest."
"I heard that Hu Feiyang and Qiu Kuohai are coming soon. These two veterans have good qualifications."
Gan Xin reported the cultivation situation to Long Chen as he walked.
It didn't take long, and the effect of practice was amazing.
Not counting Yu Wenkai's three veterans, Long Chen also has fourteen true masters here, and the number of generals who can fight on the battlefield has increased a lot.
After retreating to Yanmen Pass, there should be someone who can break through to the real realm, and Shi Jingxiang also shows signs of breaking through.
When generals improve their cultivation, ghost blood and skills play a big role, and the foundation they have laid in the past is also very important.
These generals were chosen from thousands of places. They all have very good qualifications and have a solid foundation. Once they have the skills and ghost blood, breakthroughs will be a matter of course.
"How are you?"
Long Chen asked Gan Xin how Mo Lin's cultivation was, and Mo Lin said: "We have also improved a lot. Ghost blood is really tonic."
Gan Xin smiled and said: "We are different from them. We drank a lot when we entered the ice field."
Each of the generals here was assigned a maximum of three ghost soldiers. Gan Xin and Mo Lin were different. They were full at the time.
Behind him, Feng He rode up to catch up.
"Sir, spies from the ghost tribe came, but only three were found."
Feng He could only say that he found three, but he didn't know how many came.
Gan Xin smiled and said: "As expected, it's really here."
Long Chen said: "He actually sent spies to investigate the situation first. Wu Sheng is indeed a veteran, and he works calmly."
Wu Sheng must have known about the killing of Yin Ling and Yin Wugou. His wife and daughter were killed, but Wu Sheng could still resist his impulse and did not directly attack with troops. This shows that Wu Sheng is really experienced.
The same goes for Ghost Girl. The elders and generals of Storm Canyon died, but they were still able to keep their composure.
Such an opponent must be extremely careful.
Feng He asked: "Sir, how should we respond? Should we kill them?"
There are only three spies, and after discovering the trace, it is not difficult to kill them.
Long Chen shook his head and said: "No, we will retreat as planned. Just keep an eye on them and let them pry."
Feng He didn't understand why, but he knew that Long Chen had a plan, so he didn't say anything more.
"I continue to stare."
Feng He turned around and stepped back, while Long Chen continued to walk forward.
...
Capital.
In the palace, a snow eagle landed on a shelf. The female officer in charge of intelligence immediately stepped forward and took out a plate of fresh mutton.
Tube.
There was a word "dragon" written on the reed tube. The female official knew that it was Long Chen's secret letter and hurriedly sent it to the imperial study room of Fengming Palace.
When they arrived at the door, the female officer said to the maid at the door: "I have received a secret letter from King Wu, asking to see the princess."
The maid immediately went in to report. Di Yuwei and Di Xingwan were reviewing the memorial, and Duan, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was both reporting on the money and food supply problems ahead.
"Spring plowing near Linjiang City must be done well, as well as near Jinling. Nanliang's hometown is the main rice-producing area, so we must not neglect it."
Di Yuwei looked at the account book of grain and rice in the household department and gave instructions.
Duan Shuangshuang said with some embarrassment: "Princess, the ministers are in charge of the household department, and the affairs of spring plowing are in charge of Sinong Qing."
The Ministry of Household Affairs and the Department of Agriculture each have their own responsibilities, so it is really inappropriate to let Duan Shuangshuang take charge of spring plowing.
Emperor Yu put down the memorial slightly, rubbed his temples, leaned on the chair tiredly, and said, "I was confused, so I summoned Sir Nong Qing Sun Lu to discuss the matter."
He Ningxin immediately sent an order for the maid to summon Sun Lu, the minister of agriculture, to the palace to discuss matters.
The door of the royal study room opened, and the maid outside the door walked in, and carefully reported to He Ningxin: "Master He, King Wu Feiying has sent a message."
He Ningxin looked stern and immediately said: "Come in."
The maid immediately led the female officer in. He Ningxin took the reed pipe and immediately presented it to Di Yuwei.
"Princess, King Wu Feiying delivers a message."
Di Yu took the reed pipe slightly and pulled out the secret letter inside. Di Xingwan immediately got up and walked over. The secret letter read a line:
Ask Taoist Master Xuanzhen if there is any other way? Come back soon!
After reading the secret letter, Di Yuwei and Di Xingwan felt confused. They didn't know what Long Chen was talking about.
"What's the meaning?"
Di Yu raised his head slightly and asked Di Xingwan. Di Xingwan shook his head, and she didn't know what he meant.
"How do you say something without beginning or end?"
It was the first time that Di Yuwei saw Long Chen talking like this, and he didn't understand the meaning at all.
Di Yu thought about it slightly, they didn't understand, Taoist Master Xuanzhen might understand.
"Send the order and ask Taoist Priest Xuanzhen to enter the palace."
Emperor Yu gave an order, and He Ningxin immediately sent someone out of the palace to invite Taoist Priest Xuanzhen into the palace.
Di Yu calmed down slightly, and He Ningxin stood behind him, gently rubbing his temples.
Emperor Xingwan returned to his seat and sat down, and said to Duan Shuangshuang: "We must ensure the supply of money and food at Yanmen Pass. The weather is getting hotter, and we need to change our clothes, armor and shoes. Please check with the Ministry of Industry."
Duan Shuangshuang said: "Wei Chen understands that the Ministry of Industry is already making preparations."
Xu Ming, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, was brought out by Long Chen. Without the princess's orders, supplies for spring and summer are already being prepared in a hurry.
Outside the door, the maid announced that Sinong Qing Sun Lu had arrived.
Emperor Yuwei asked Sun Lu to come in. The maid led Sun Lu in and said, "Old minister Sun Lu, I have met the two princesses."
Emperor Xingwan asked the maid to bring a chair over, and Sun Lu thanked him.
"How's the spring plowing going in Nanliang?"
Emperor Xingwan asked the maid to give him tea again, and Sun Lu immediately said: "Everything is normal. When he conquered Nanliang last year, King Wu established agricultural officers in various places, and they are still in use today."
Emperor Xingwan said: "The rice in Nanliang is very important. It must be enough for the local people to eat, and there must be no famine. There must also be surplus grain to supply military supplies. This matter must not be neglected."
Long Chen was very kind in his work, constantly fishing from the lake and forcing the people to pay for their food.
Last year during the war in Nanliang, Li Chengdao went too far and the people were squeezed once and needed to recover.
After the grain is harvested, the local people must be satisfied first to avoid fighting in the front and trouble in the rear.
Sun Lu said: "King Wu used the settlement method to confiscate all the land of the local nobles and established official fields. The grain of these official fields was enough to supply the frontline army."
When attacking Nanliang, Long Chen wiped out the clans of several big cities.
These nobles own thousands of hectares of fertile land, and their families have a lot of grain, gold and silver. If they are eliminated, they can make a fortune and get a lot of fertile land.
Emperor Yu sighed slightly: "King Wu had far-reaching thoughts and used the military power at that time to destroy the clans, which could not only establish official fields but also eliminate hidden dangers."
The aristocratic forces have their own private armed forces, and leaving them is a huge hidden danger. If they are eradicated, the territory will be filled with ordinary people, and there will be no trouble.
A maid came in and reported: "Princess, Taoist Priest Xuanzhen is here."
Emperor Xingwan said to Sun Lu: "I have troubled Mr. Sun with the spring plowing. You should go back first."
Sun Lu stood up and left. When he got outside the door, he saw Taoist Priest Xuanzhen waiting.
Sun Lu took one look and slowly exited the palace.
