In the guard camp, Su Lu looked at Niba kneeling in front of him, his expression showing no emotion or anger.
"Get up."
Su Lu ordered.
In this battle, the main force of the Dingxiang Guards has all moved out to the northern border. Ye Qingmei's rebel army is mainly in the southern border. The only ones that can be used here are the mud's secret guards.
Although he didn't like mud, Su Lu still sighed when he saw that the boy who had followed him since childhood turned into a middle-aged man with a sandy face.
It's passed.
"Tell me, how is the situation now?"
Su Lu asked Niba.
There are six hundred imperial guards, and they are all warriors of hundreds of battles. After blessing the formation card, although one cannot defeat ten, there is still no problem in defeating an army formation of one or two thousand people.
The only thing to worry about now is how many rebels Xie Yun has gathered. If there are too many rebels, he must attack first and attack them separately.
Niba kowtowed again, then stood up respectfully, lowered his head and said:
"Your Majesty, based on mutual verification of the information sent back by Zhao Shuo and Wen Jing, we can be sure that the rebels coming this time include Qin, Qi, and Chu."
"The total number is 6,300, and they are still being assembled. They will all be assembled nearby, and it will probably be until the afternoon of the day after tomorrow."
Su Lu nodded:
"Is there any news about Wen Jing and Zhao Shuo?"
"You did a good job. You made arrangements in advance and left these two people as available internal agents. If it succeeds this time, it will be your first contribution."
Niba didn't even raise his head and said respectfully:
"I don't dare to take the credit. It's all the work of Wen Jing and Zhao Shuo. Your Majesty, you went on a killing spree this time and built this Jingguan, which caused them to misunderstand you. They thought you were in poor health, so your temperament changed drastically. You want to
To quell all the rebellion, you may die if you go back."
"So Xie Yun proposed to change the strategy. He planned to use all the troops and keep you here, but changed it to each family sending half of their troops to die, so that you could think that you had completed the counterinsurgency and returned to Yanjing as soon as possible.
.”
Su Lu pondered for a moment after hearing this:
"If they don't screen them, they will change their strategy and send people to die?"
Niba pondered for a moment, then finally raised his head, a look of confusion appeared on his stubble-covered face:
"The general doesn't understand either, but judging from the look on Wei's beard, it seems that there is a reliable source who thinks that you, the prince, are ill."
"Xie Yun did not deny what Wei Huzi said. It seems that she also trusts Wei Huzi's intelligence network. She will eventually suspect that there is someone among our guards who is a treacherous person."
Su Lu was stunned for a moment when he heard this. Following Niba's gaze, he saw Lu Zhan next to him and shook his head:
"You're overthinking it. There won't be craftsmen from other countries among the imperial guards."
Niba lowered his head and said nothing.
Su Lu ordered:
"Continue to inquire, keep in touch with Zhao Shuo and Wen Jing, and give them orders to try not to be exposed. This may not be the full strength of the Xie family."
After Niba agreed, he left the camp.
Lu Zhan came out to ask for orders:
"Your Majesty, I was born in Qin, and because of my incompetence on several occasions, the generals have always suspected that I have second thoughts. I will ask Your Majesty's permission to release my ministers and return home."
Su Lu, who was reviewing military affairs books, kept his hands on his hands, raised his head and glanced at Lu Zhan, and asked in a deep voice:
"Are you sure you want me to let you go home?"
"Think about it carefully. We are not young now. Most of us have reached the age of begging for bones. If you really want to return to your hometown, I will allow you to do so."
Lu Zhan was stunned when he heard this. After a moment, he lowered his head and said:
"The general wants to return to his hometown, please ask the prince for permission."
Su Lu nodded:
"Okay, since you really want to go home, I won't stop you. Come here."
Gao Dabao responded and stood next to Su Lushuai's case.
Su Lu ordered Gao Dabao:
"Lu Zhan wants to return home. He has been with me for many years and has worked hard. However, due to my reasons, he has not been able to get a promotion. This time, he will be rewarded. He will receive a promotion in his ministry and honors. Return home."
To take care of him till his old age, you send him back to his hometown."
Gao Dabao asked hesitantly:
"Your Majesty, the last general is carrying your majesty's secret decree, and it has something to do with the land war commander."
Su Lu was slightly stunned. It had something to do with land warfare. After thinking about it carefully for a while, Su Lu sighed:
"Keep the secret decree in your heart. Even if Lu Zhan has second thoughts, as long as he goes home peacefully and takes care of his old age without showing it, I think he is a loyal minister based on our friendship over the years."
Gao Dabao clasped his fists in salute, bowed and walked out.
Su Lu put down the pen in his hand, went out of the tent, looked at the guards training in the camp, and sighed.
Lu Zhan, Lu Zhan, it doesn't matter whether you are loyal to me or not. If you choose to retreat from me, you have already established a master-servant relationship.
I believe you are loyal to me.
"Here's the order. The entire army is to rest and prepare food after dark. Before the moon rises today, break through the rebel camp."
"Here"
The generals received their orders with a roar, and their voices were loud.
As night fell, the lights in the guard camp began to light up, the gang leaders also got busy, and the aroma of vegetables and rice filled the night sky.
There were not many guards, and the meal time was very short. It only took a cup of tea, and all the troops had a good meal, pulled up their well-fed horses, wore armor and armed themselves, and were ready to go to war.
Gao Dabao was dressed in black armor, with a black visor hanging in front of his chest. Six hundred guards stood on horseback, quietly waiting for Su Lu's military order.
In the dark night, Su Lu walked out of the camp and gave instructions:
"If we set out today, we will definitely win a great victory. I have only one request: no one shall be left alive."
The troops responded with a roar.
Su Lu waved his hand and returned to the camp.
Gao Dabao pulled down his visor, looked at the sky with the spear in his hand, and the sound of inner breath spread around him.
"Set off"
With the sound of iron hoofs, the troops dispersed into the night.
Holding a stack of military affairs brochures in his hand, Dong Ling quickly entered the Chinese army tent and blamed Su Lu:
"My lord, how come you have sent out most of the guards and not even a few guards are left? What should I do if something goes wrong?"
With that said, Dong Ling put down the military affairs booklet and ordered Wang Wu who was on duty at the door:
"Go and send a message to General Niba and order him to bring people to protect the prince."
Su Lu picked up the military affairs brochure and looked at it with a plain tone:
"Niba does things properly. He has thought about many things in advance without you arranging them. Among the three details, the one I am most optimistic about is Niba's secret guard."
A moment later, the guard's questioning voice sounded outside the camp, and then Niba strode into the Chinese military tent.
"Your Majesty, the battle has begun ahead. General Gao has broken through the enemy camp. It has become a foregone conclusion to kill all the Xie Jiajun. How many remnants can escape depends on the ability of these rebels."
Su Lu nodded and told Niba:
"General Dong Ling is worried about my safety and insists on transferring you back to protect me. Do you think it is necessary?"
Niba was slightly stunned, but he immediately came to his senses and said firmly:
"Xie Yun has a saying that is right. If the prince is safe, the Han will be safe. If the prince dies, the Han will die. No matter how many people are mobilized at any time, it is necessary to protect the prince and your safety. It is more important than anything else."
Dong Ling also said next to him:
"This place is lost. As long as you are here, we can get it back. But if you are gone, everything will be lost."
"My lord, you are the pinnacle of the Han Kingdom. Xie Yun wants to kill you and subjugate the Han Kingdom. I think her method is very safe. This is the only way to make the Han Kingdom collapse."