Chapter 561 - 561 558 Retreat With Body Intact_1

Chapter 561: Chapter 558: Retreat With Body Intact_1 Chapter 561: Chapter 558: Retreat With Body Intact_1 Xiao Rongyan did not pay attention to Chun Tao’s demeanor towards him. Ever since Bai Qingyan came out, Xiao Rongyan’s eyes had been on her, so he did not have time to notice others.

“Miss Chun Tao?” Xiao Rongyan then realized the maid beside Bai Qingyan, who seemed a bit uncomfortable. He guessed it might be because she saw him last time when he couldn’t control his emotions and intruded into Bai Qingyan’s boudoir, making the little maid wary of him.

Xiao Rongyan smiled and touched his nose, realizing that his previous intrusion into Bai Qingyan’s boudoir was indeed reckless.

Seeing the Bai family’s guard, Lu Ping, leading the Bai family guards out, Xiao Rongyan smiled and cupped his hands towards Lu Ping.

“Mr. Xiao!” Lu Ping had a good impression of Xiao Rongyan. After all, he was the Bai family’s benefactor, and Lu Ping remembered this kindness.

The Dong Mansion’s carriage convoy, led by the commanders of the Dengzhou Army, had Lu Ping and the Bai family guards following closely behind. The Dengzhou Army protected them on both sides. Madam Dong’s carriage was in the middle, followed by Xiao Rongyan’s carriage. Then came the convoy escorting the Dong family’s valuables, followed by several hundred Dengzhou soldiers maintaining the rear.

At the city gate of Dengzhou, when the Dong family’s convoy arrived, most of the townsfolk had already gathered. Some were herding cattle and sheep, others were stuffing duck cages onto carts. A child, frightened by the scene, was crying and calling for his mother, who was pulling a cart. Clearly, the city was in chaos, yet there was an underlying order.

At the south gate, the Dengzhou Army helped the townsfolk push carts and lead cattle, allowing them to walk within the protective lines of the army. Dong Changlan rode a white horse at the front, and the Dengzhou Army raised torches to light the way as they marched towards the campsite where tents had long been set up.

Dong Changlan’s mission this time, besides escorting Madam Dong and the townsfolk to the camp, was to call back other officials from Dengzhou City.

This way, the people sent by the Imperial Court could “die in battle” smoothly during this great war.

The journey was smooth and not difficult to traverse. The townsfolk were elated when they saw the large military camp illuminated in the distance.

“So, Lord Dong truly arranged everything for us!”

“Hey! We really misunderstood Lord Dong!”

“I always said, Lord Dong wouldn’t abandon us Dengzhou townsfolk. My wife didn’t believe me! Now, she finally does!”

Although the townsfolk left their homes, because they did not become refugees, they felt grateful as Dong Qingyue had arranged everything in advance.

Hearing the voices, Bai Qingyan lifted the curtain and looked into the distance.

Uncle Dong Qingyue had meticulously calculated the population of Dengzhou and made arrangements, ensuring that once a group of townsfolk was sent away, the Dengzhou Army would have enough space to settle them.

On August 30, when Nanrong attacked, Dong Qingyue sent a reliable person to deliver a letter back to Dadu City, claiming that they lost Dengzhou City due to the Nanrong invasion and submitted the first casualty list, which included Dong Changlan.

Only with the death of Dong Qingyue’s legitimate son would the Emperor truly believe in the severity of the Dengzhou battle.

Thus, Dong Changlan could successfully lead a group of “fallen” Dengzhou soldiers towards the Jin Kingdom and Nanrong border, taking supplies to train in Nanrong for future confrontations.

The express military dispatch was unobstructed, with the battle report sure to reach Dadu within ten days.

In the military camp, under Bai Qingyan’s arrangement, the Dengzhou Army divided the townsfolk into small groups based on their age, strength, and gender. Some were responsible for cooking, some for doing laundry, some for collecting firewood, and some for distributing food and water. Everyone had something to do, ensuring no one was idle. They faced difficulties together, hoping to return to Dengzhou City one day.

On August 30, the Nanrong’s Ghost-faced General led fifty thousand troops to attack Dengzhou. More than half of the Dengzhou Army were killed or injured. Governor of Dengzhou, Dong Qingyue, was severely wounded. The Dengzhou Army fought desperately to protect him and escape from Dengzhou. His legitimate son, Dong Changlan, died in battle. The situation was dire.

On September 8, the news reached Dadu. The Emperor, upon learning that Dong Qingyue had repeatedly submitted petitions warning about the imminent full-scale attack from Nanrong, became furious when he discovered that those petitions had been suppressed. Minister of War, Shen Jingzhong, was imprisoned. Eleven officials implicated were dismissed. Simultaneously, the Emperor issued an edict for Fu Ruoxi from Anping Camp to immediately aid Dengzhou and reclaim the city.

On September 9, the Emperor ordered Lu Jin, the Minister of Judicial Review, to investigate the embezzlement of military funds meant for Dengzhou to refurbish a palace. The involved personnel were thrown into prison, and the palace refurbishment was paused. The Crown Prince personally escorted supplies and reinforcements to Dengzhou, promising to triple the military pay for the Dengzhou army upon victory and additional rewards.

At this time, Dong Qingyue was solidly nestled in a tent “recovering.”

Dong Changlan had already taken the detailed map of Nanrong and was leading troops there. They avoided Nanrong’s outposts and military sites, bringing supplies to establish their base on the Nanrong grasslands.

Bai Qingyan was accompanying Dong Qingyue in the command tent, playing chess. After placing a piece, she said, “I guess the Emperor will send reinforcements from Anping Camp to aid Dengzhou and reclaim the city.”

“These days, after Nanrong occupied Dengzhou City, they searched house by house. Unlike past looting and leaving, it seems they want to establish a foothold and advance gradually.”

Bai Qingyan rubbed the chess piece in her hand, thought for a moment, and said, “This is not hard to guess. There are basically three reasons. First, in recent years, Nanrong has lagged behind Jin Kingdom because Jin’s people are good at farming. Compared to the nomadic life, agriculture is more stable and prosperous. When the people are wealthy, the country is strong. The Ghost-faced General must have suggested to the King of Nanrong to occupy cities, allowing the Rong people to take over the houses and farmlands of Jin citizens for a stable life. Hence, the King of Nanrong committed all his forces.”

“If that is the case, the King of Nanrong’s ambition is not small!” Dong Qingyue placed a piece, “Deploying all forces like this, isn’t he afraid of Beirong attacking his base!”

“Second, the King of Nanrong, bolstered by the presence of the Ghost-faced General, might be trying to conquer Jin’s cities to negotiate with Jin for benefits.” Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes slightly. “Fight if they can, retreat if they can’t. This has always been the Rong people’s way. Jin’s army has no advantage on the vast grasslands. Supplies can’t keep up. The deeper they go into the plains, the more Jin soldiers struggle. This is why the Rong people, despite their inferior strength, cannot be eradicated.”

Dong Qingyue nodded slowly.

“Third, A Yu is waiting for me in Dengzhou, wanting to meet with me!” Bai Qingyan looked up at Dong Qingyue solemnly.

Dong Qingyue threw a handful of chess pieces into the box. “It’s likely that the Emperor’s edict to dispatch Anping Camp to aid Dengzhou will arrive in five or six days. If Fu Ruoxi comes, it might complicate things. We must ensure A Yu’s safe retreat. Therefore, regardless of which of these three reasons it is, we need to set out early tomorrow to reclaim Dengzhou!”

“Uncle is absolutely right!”