Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Watching Ali Bai act like a madman, Fang Zheng was utterly dejected.

This kid is ruined... he's already gone beyond being human, there's no saving him.

But what's even more vexing is his situation; Ali Bai is determined to set up a scheme to make him an emperor, and now he's in a dilemma.

If he does it, it will be in front of the delegation, and no matter how the process goes, the result will surely affect Emperor Jing when it reaches his ears.

He couldn't gauge the extent of this influence, after all, Emperor Jing has always been very generous, and now they are family.

But after all, the identity of the emperor is there...

He was clearly a prisoner, but he was hoodwinked into indirectly becoming the emperor of a local faction.

He also holds the position of Zhan Shi Fu! The teacher of the crown prince, anyone would be suspicious.

If you can fool others today, will you fool the crown prince tomorrow? In the future, will you turn the crown prince into a puppet?

Even knowing that Ali Bai set up the scheme, so what? Once this kind of thing happens, it will leave a thorn in people's hearts.

It won't lead to death, but it will always hurt feelings.

If he doesn't comply, it will be even more troublesome. Few people know Shui Yibai's identity until now, not even Miao Han.

If this matter is really exposed, he'll probably be skinned alive, and it wouldn't be surprising to enter the palace as a playmate for the imperial grandson...

Now it doesn't matter whether Ali Bai has witnesses or not, as long as he says it, someone will investigate.

Between two evils, choose the lesser. Now he can only play along with him, and indulging in the emperor's addiction sounds good!

Fang Zheng watched Ali Bai walk out of the room, sighed, and followed him out of the room.

This grandson has so much potential, he really put a lot of effort into getting me to work for him, such a talent should be a headhunter, he was obviously born in the wrong place!

.....

Chenggao Pass.

The Jin army was lined up neatly, with a forest of burial mounds in front of them.

Buried were the dead Jin soldiers.

With tens of thousands of casualties, Utu had to take time to reorganize the troops and appease the soldiers.

Although Chenggao Pass was captured, the joy did not last long.

After all, the pressure faced by the entire army is unimaginable, and handling the fallen soldiers in non-emergency situations is a necessary procedure.

Otherwise, it will greatly affect morale.

On the other hand, Chenggao Pass also needs to be readjusted. In the future, this will be one of the important strongholds of the Great Jin. In case of an accident, it is also a retreat.

Defending Chenggao Pass, the Jing army will no longer be able to leave the pass!

After a simple ceremony, the army set off to continue south.

Utu returned to his tent and was still making detailed plans on the map when someone outside the tent reported.

"Your Majesty, scouts report that they encountered the Jing army on the Xifeng Plains, with no less than 200,000 men."

"Are you sure?"

"According to the scouts, there are only more, not less! This humble servant has confirmed it again and again."

Utu was a little lost for a moment, and raised his hand and said: "Call the State Preceptor."

Not long after, Paba entered the tent and said: "Your Majesty, the Jing army is in front of us, I'm afraid there is something strange about this!"

Utu's face was solemn: "Yes... How could the Jing State arrive at Xifeng Plains so quickly? Even if the defending general of Chenggao Pass notified them day and night, it would be impossible for them to mobilize their troops so quickly. Unless our news has been leaked..."

The news has been leaked?

Paba also frowned.

"Your Majesty, why not send a few more scouts to carefully understand the situation? The Jing army appeared here too early, and the defending general of Chenggao Pass retreated inexplicably... Is there a trick in this?"

Utu raised his hand and said: "It should be so, first send a few scouts with hot air balloons to continue to scout the enemy's situation, and we will proceed according to plan."

"If their army is assembled in Xifeng Plains, it would be a good thing for us. Even if there is a trick, what kind of trick can there be? In the plains, what can chevaux-de-frise do."

"No matter what, it is suicide to fight my army in the plains!"

Paba was a little worried, and he vaguely felt something was wrong.

"This minister will arrange it, but there is something strange, that Li Che is also a brave and good fighter, it is unlikely that he will fight my army head-on, I hope Your Majesty will be careful."

"Okay, go."

.....

"Your Majesty, the report below is that the Jin State scouts have returned."

In the central army tent, Emperor Jing looked at the military books absentmindedly. Hearing someone enter the tent, he raised his eyes and said: "Mobilize all the troops and advance forward."

"If Utu sends someone again, pretend to pursue them, and send another team to investigate the enemy's situation."

"Order the generals to raise the flags high and prepare for war."

.....

After a day and night of reconnaissance, the Jin State scout galloped back to the camp again.

The Jin army had already set off on the road to Xifeng Plains, the team was winding and long, like a giant python moving forward.

Utu was riding on the horse, accompanied by Chilie.

As the army was marching, a scout rode his horse wildly to meet him, and seeing Utu in front, he immediately shouted: "Your Majesty, the Jing army is advancing towards us, after reconnaissance by hot air balloon, their entire army is no less than 400,000! The remaining scouts have been discovered by the Jing people and are still being pursued."

Utu was a little dazed when he heard this!

No less than 400,000 troops, and they are taking the initiative to attack?

This is like the old man eating arsenic, thinking his life is too long! Is there such a happy event?

"Is there any other news?"

"Yes! There is also the dragon flag, we also found the dragon flag in the army formation!"

Another unexpected ecstasy!

Imperial conquest? Li Che actually led an imperial conquest with no less than 400,000 troops.

That means these 400,000 people must be the main force of the Jing army.

"Scout again and report!"

"Heaven is helping me, heaven is helping me! This Li Che has lost his mind, he doesn't defend the city but takes the initiative to attack? It seems that he has been at peace for a long time, and he has long forgotten how to fight!"

"Do they want to have a head-on duel with me?" Utu murmured.

"Your Majesty, since Li Che has the courage to have a head-on duel with Your Majesty, he must have something to rely on. I don't know when they arrived at Xifeng Plains, maybe they have already set a trap, waiting for us to enter the urn," Paba reminded.

Utu pondered: "The scouts reported earlier that they took the initiative to meet us, how could they have time to set a trap? But let's wait and see, and don't act rashly."

"Your Majesty! I am willing to lead the troops as the vanguard and personally take Li Che's head for Your Majesty." Chilie, who had been silent, said.

"No, light cavalry will be the vanguard, you are in the formation, don't move easily. It's not easy to say whether this Jing State has any tricks, we will know when we fight him."

.....

"Father, if we encounter the Jin army later, this son is willing to be the vanguard!" Li Yuanzhao flattered, riding his horse beside Emperor Jing.

When he said this, he was a little excited, his nostrils slightly enlarged, and he looked at Emperor Jing with a hopeful face.

Emperor Jing glanced at him: "I already have a candidate, you will lead the Embroidered Uniform Guards in the rear, dare to move lightly, and you will be dealt with according to military law!"

"Oh...."

......