A small soldier rushed in and cupped his fists at Liu Yunfeng, saying, "Lord Liu, please."
Liu Yunfeng departed. Yin Xuan and An Dingfeng both entered. An Dingfeng was puzzled by the marshal's decision to camp outside the city overnight, but Yin Xuan understood. Yao'er's thoughts were indeed meticulous, and her concerns were valid.
"Why didn't the marshal stay in Stone City?"
This time, before Qing Yao could speak, Yin Xuan's cold and charming voice rang out, "General An, the marshal did this for fear of changes within Stone City. These hundred thousand troops are no small matter. If Liu Yunfeng plays a trick, we would be asking for trouble."
"But didn't the Emperor of Huang Yuan issue a decree?"
An Dingfeng turned to look at Yin Xuan beside him. It was the first time he had heard this man speak. Not only was he cold, but his voice was also cold. Looking at such a cruel and arrogant person, he couldn't help but think of the Emperor in the capital. Although Yin Xuan and the Emperor did not look alike, their commanding presence and arrogance were indeed similar. It was quite unbelievable that someone with such ability had been recruited by the Empress.
This time, Yin Xuan did not speak and walked to the side to sit. An Dingfeng gasped at his arrogant behavior. He looked up and found that the marshal was not angry; on the contrary, he continued to explain what he had just said.
"The new emperor is young, and I fear that some in the court may not obey him, leading to malicious intentions. Therefore, it is better to be cautious."
An Dingfeng was startled. So that was the case. It seemed that the marshal had thought of everything. He cupped his fists and said, "The marshal's concerns are valid."
"It's late at night, and after marching for days, we are indeed tired. General An, you should go and rest. Tomorrow morning, we will discuss who will lead the charge."
"Alright," An Dingfeng acknowledged and left. In the tent, Qing Yao and Yin Xuan sat opposite each other, gazing at each other. Their pupils held concern and an unwavering determination for Dan Feng Country. "You should get some rest too."
"Alright," Yin Xuan also left. His tent was right next to Qing Yao's, which was beneficial for protecting her. On this march, he did not want her to suffer the slightest accident.
The tent became quiet. Mo Chou led Xiao Yu'er in, followed by Bing Xiao. The two of them began to spread a warm blanket for their mistress. It was autumn night now, and the nights were already cool. Since they were camping outside, they should cover themselves more to avoid catching a cold and getting sick.
"Mistress, it's done. Please get some rest."
They were all in one tent. The main tent was very large, enough for several people to rest. Moreover, Mo Chou and Bing Xiao took turns keeping watch.
"Alright, you two should also get some rest. There won't be any disturbances tonight. From tomorrow onwards, we'll keep watch again."
Qing Yao spoke softly. If there was going to be a sneak attack, it wouldn't be at this moment, so there would be no unusual activity tonight.
Mo Chou and Bing Xiao exchanged glances, feeling very moved. Their mistress was always so thoughtful. Along the way, they were indeed very tired. Since their mistress had said so, they would rest. They spread out their thick felt blankets on the other side and rested together. xxs壹贰
The night was filled with an eerie atmosphere. The wind gently blew, and the flags fluttered.
From time to time, figures moved about. These people, having undergone strict training, did not feel sleepy or tired while keeping watch. Each of them was alert and paying attention to the movements around them.
There was no incident throughout the night. It was early the next morning.
As dawn broke and the sky turned pale, Liu Yunfeng led the twenty thousand troops from Stone City. Some soldiers remained within Stone City and would be mobilized if needed.
In the main tent, Qing Yao had also woken up. Xiao Yu'er was sleeping soundly in a corner. Mo Chou and Bing Xiao put away other things, as this place would soon be used to discuss military matters.
Soon, people began to appear. General An Dingfeng, Deputy Generals Lu Zhanyun and Zhang Zhaoze, Huang Muyang, and their subordinate officers, as well as Liu Yunfeng with his subordinate officers, all entered. Soon, the entire tent was filled with people.
Everyone looked uniformly at the Empress seated at the head. She was dressed in silver armor and wore a silver helmet, appearing like a vibrant, silver-armored young general. However, her face was covered with a thin veil, making her features unclear, revealing only a pair of sharp eyes. Her pupils were deep and cold, commanding a sense of caution.
"The opposite is Chen Tang Pass, the border of Dan Feng Country. If we capture Chen Tang Pass, then we will have achieved a great victory, and taking Dan Feng will be inevitable. If we cannot even capture Chen Tang Pass, then nothing else matters. Therefore, each of you must demand strict adherence from yourselves."
As Qing Yao finished speaking, the generals below cupped their fists and said in unison, "Yes, Marshal."
This sound startled Xiao Yu'er, who sat up rubbing her eyes and looking at the scene before her. The atmosphere was extremely serious, and she dared not say anything more. Not to mention her, even the little white wolf and the little fox did not dare to make a sound.
"I have received news that Chen Tang Pass is defended by five great generals. Now, the Empress of Dan Feng Country has sent Crown Princess Ji Xue to assist, along with a hundred thousand troops. Calculated this way, Chen Tang Pass has nearly three hundred thousand troops, while we, including the people from Stone City, have at most one hundred fifty thousand troops. This is like an egg hitting a stone, but we will shatter this hard stone. Do you have confidence?"
"Yes."
An Dingfeng and his subordinate generals responded loudly. Because they had weapons, even if Chen Tang Pass had nearly three hundred thousand troops, they could still defeat them.
However, Liu Yunfeng of Stone City hesitated, and more so, was trembling with fear. He looked at the marshal at the head and the deputy generals beside her, wondering who gave them such heroic confidence to believe so firmly that they, with so few men, could win. After all, the five fierce generals within Chen Tang Pass were not known for nothing. Although they were women, they were also heroines of the battlefield.
As Liu Yunfeng was lost in surprise, Qing Yao's voice suddenly rang out, "Commander Liu, can you tell us about the situation at Chen Tang Pass? Mainly, what are the skills of their five female generals?"
Liu Yunfeng came back to his senses. Seeing everyone staring at him, he cleared his throat and spoke sternly.
"Speaking of the five great generals at Chen Tang Pass, the commander is named Yu Jiao, and the other four are deputy generals: Chun Tao, Xia He, Qiu Ju, and Dong Mei. These five people are not only skilled in martial arts, but the commander Yu Jiao is also quick-witted. Moreover, the five of them are incredibly beautiful, and they are all delicate women. Therefore, men who encounter them rarely last more than ten moves, because most men cannot resist their charm."
As soon as Liu Yunfeng finished speaking, An Dingfeng and his subordinate generals and officers were stunned.
The tent fell silent. At this moment, a sharp horn sound echoed from outside the tent. Soon, a soldier rushed in, shouting, "Reporting, Marshal, the people from Chen Tang Pass are challenging us thirty miles away."
Qing Yao raised an eyebrow, her pupils flashing with sharpness. It seemed these women were indeed accustomed to arrogance. No one had disciplined them, so they had become somewhat reckless, directly coming to challenge them. Very well, then let their people come to face them.
Qing Yao raised her head and scanned An Dingfeng, Lu Zhanyun, and the others. Frankly speaking, if those five women were truly as beautiful as described, then these men might not be able to overcome them. However, this battle must be won to boost morale. If they lost the first battle, it would greatly affect their morale.
Qing Yao made up her mind, her eyes darting around, and finally settled on Bing Xiao. She knew Bing Xiao's martial arts skills thoroughly. Even if those women were very powerful, Bing Xiao was not to be trifled with. Her pupils suddenly deepened, and she waved her hand, saying, "You may go."