Ye Zhiqiu's mind was almost entirely devoted to defending the city, but he was not resigned to other things, although some things were still unsatisfactory.

For example, the whereabouts of the crown princess are still unknown, along with Cao Feihu's son Cao Xiwen and his daughter Ye Yin, who are no longer visible.

Ye Zhiqiu believed that they were together, and as long as they found one, they could find the other two. But he still can't figure out why his daughter suddenly breathed out of the same nostril with Cao Xiwen, which made him really have a headache.

This is not only his daughter, but more importantly, Ye Yin is the only bloodline of the Chang family. He originally thought that as long as the dragon scale army was dispatched, at most he would be able to find the entire imperial capital, but he didn't expect to be heard from him.

What bothered him the most was that he couldn't let anyone know Ye Yin's true identity, because she was the weakness of the Chang family and the key point. Once exposed, Chang had a weakness. So Ye Zhiqiu had to pretend to be indifferent, so he could only search secretly.

Perhaps physically and mentally exhausted, Mrs. Ye has been completely bedridden since that night.

Ye Zhiqiu didn't even let her get out of bed when he took her away from Shangshu Mansion, but directly ordered someone to pull the spacious eight-lead carriage from the Ministry of Rites, and moved her bed directly onto the carriage until Qinghuai Villa.

Ye Zhiqiu invited the best imperial doctor for her, prepared the best pills, and asked Uncle Kang to send more than 20 subordinates to serve around.

However, after entering Qinghuai Villa, he didn't go to see her once.

She heard everything that should have been said, and what she shouldn't have said.

Maybe it's the best choice to not see each other at this moment, and seeing each other will only increase your troubles.

Ye Zhiqiu stood in the gorgeous and empty courtyard, feeling a loneliness that he had never felt before.

It's a lonely and cold road, isn't it?

Zheng Lun's figure hurriedly appeared in the distance.

Ye Zhiqiu was very glad that Han Fu had left such two good helpers for him, and now Chen Qi and Zheng Lun alternately supervised the patrol of the dragon scale army every day, which shows that the two of them are attentive.

Judging from Zheng Lun's expression, it was about another safe day.

Sure enough, when Zheng Lun approached, he didn't speak, just shook his head.

Ye Zhiqiu breathed a sigh of relief: "Lord Zheng has also worked hard today, so let's rest early, tomorrow it should be Lord Chen patrolling the city, right?" ”

"It's not hard work, it's just one day a day." Zheng Lun hesitated: "But...... Lord Ye really thinks that Li Houcong will do things from the city? ”

"Of course I hope he doesn't do this, but for him, the only way to open the city gate is to cooperate with the outside, otherwise, Lord Zheng, please think about it, the imperial capital is such a solid city, and we occupy a high place, how can we attack it?"

Zheng Lun thought for a while and said, "Yes." ”

"Isn't there any news on the edge of the Hanjiang River?"

"No ...... for the time being"

Ye Zhiqiu looked at the withered plum blossoms in the courtyard, frowned, and said: "According to the day, it's time to react, how can there be no movement for half a minute, is there still a variable?" ”

As soon as the words fell, Uncle Kang suddenly approached in a hurry, saw Zheng Lun, and hesitated whether to speak.

Ye Zhiqiu said: "If you have anything to say, you don't have to hide it from Master Zheng." ”

"Yes, sir. Just now, the father-in-law in the palace sent a letter, saying that the pigeon harrier room had received an urgent letter. ”

"Oh? Bring it to me and take a look! ”

Uncle Kang respectfully handed over a finger-long scroll of paper.

Zheng Lun couldn't help asking, "It turns out that Lord Ye still has people in the palace." ”

"Well, there are a few spies in advance at the pigeon harrier reception by the Hanjiang River, and if there is any abnormality, you can send a letter to me immediately."

Zheng Lun had no time to admire Ye Zhiqiu's foresight, and just wanted to know what was written in the secret letter.

I saw that the more Ye Zhiqiu looked at it, the more surprised he became, and he couldn't hide the surprise on his face.

"What does the letter say?"

Ye Zhiqiu didn't answer, only handed over the letter.

Zheng Lun quickly swept his eyes twice, and was also surprised: "Li Houcong is ...... Not only did he not look back, but he also divided 50,000 horses for Huo Qinglin to go to sea? ”

"The stranger things are yet to come, and you can keep looking."

“…… What the? He only allocated 4,000 men to return to the imperial capital? ”

Ye Zhiqiu snorted coldly, "It seems that you and I really haven't been taken seriously." ”

Zheng Lun couldn't help but scolded loudly: "Old horseman, you deceive people too much!" How can I say that my Han family army is also the head of the third battalion of the imperial army, and he occupies the imperial capital, so he will use 4,000 people to attack?! When I wait for a wine bag rice bag? ”

"I really don't know who this leader is, isn't this saint trying to borrow our hand to get rid of a certain general who doesn't like it?"

"Then there is no reason to come up and kill people with a knife. As long as our side runs out of supplies, he will not be able to jump for a month or two at most, 4,000 people? Isn't this a cocoon? ”

"Very good, since he killed himself, then let's help him." Ye Zhiqiu withdrew the secret letter from Zheng Lun's hand and threw it into the charcoal basin on the side.

"Knowing Pei Ran, the time has come, from tomorrow onwards, the official letter that the military department comes to ask for supplies will not be ignored! I want to see what kind of ability he has as a Mu Yun clan! ”

At the same time as the clouds were rising in Qinghuai Villa, Su Xiaochen had already taken the 4,000 people borrowed from Emperor Wen to the suburbs a hundred miles away from the imperial capital.

There are many mountains and forests in Cangwu country, and there are countless mountain trails.

If it is an army of tens of thousands, there are only a few avenues that can be walked. But only a few thousand people...... There are more mountain trails to choose from.

Mu Yunyou knew all the roads around the imperial capital clearly, and taught them all to Su Xiaochen. Which road is suitable for how many people to march, which road is suitable for walking secretly at night, and which road can hide the traces through the Qigu Deep Gorge, Su Xiaochen is as familiar as his own backyard.

So with so few people and such a hidden whereabouts, Ye Zhiqiu didn't even notice that 4,000 people had come under his nose.

After Eagle Tail returned to Meilongyu, he quickly chased after him with ten good players of the Fog Hidden Stream.

In addition to these eleven people, two others also followed very firmly.

Cao Xiwen and Ye Yin.

Since "Daddy" said goodbye at the entrance of the village, Cao Xiwen has never looked forward to the day of reunion, which makes him more and more restless.

Maybe Dad didn't go anywhere else, maybe Dad thought he was still near the imperial capital.

Since you can't wait, it's better to find it yourself!

Cao Xiwen stubbornly refused the persuasion and retention of everyone around him, and decided to return to the imperial capital.

In fact, he didn't care so much about whether Su Xiaochen could attack the imperial capital or not, but since he was going to attack the city, there would definitely be some chaos. This is definitely an opportunity, a good opportunity to sneak into the city and find out the news.

Ye Yin saw that he couldn't persuade him, so he simply followed.

Cao Xiwen honestly didn't want to take her, but Ye Yin's reason was very sufficient.

"I'm going home, can't you let me go back? You are looking for your father, and I am looking for my mother, but it just happens to be on the way. ”

Since it is a way, Cao Xiwen can't really treat her like a stranger, so he has to take care of her along the way, but he doesn't dare to slack off at his feet, and the itinerary is in a hurry.

Ye Yin has been pampered since she was a child, and she couldn't bear so much hardship, even if she rode forward, but her feet were ground up with several blisters by stirrups for a few days. However, she was stubborn, she gritted her teeth and endured not to say anything for Cao Xiwen, and only quietly poked the wheat straw in the middle of the night, and still followed the next day, for the sake of Cao Xiwen, she couldn't help it.

About four days later, Cao Xiwen and Ye Yin also rushed to Su Xiaochen's camp according to the markers left by the eagle tail along the way.

At this point, the 25,000 people of the imperial capital Ye Zhiqiu against Su Xiaochen's 4,000 people, and the 95,000 people of Emperor Wen and Huo Qinglin against the 80,000 people of Imulan are all ready to go. In addition, Zhu Zhitong and Liu Mingyan's Kuntou ships and Qiu Yueshi's eighteen serpentine ships were hidden near Meilongyu, closely watching both sides of the Hanjiang River.

When Emperor Wen and Su Xiaochen's men and horses, he specially ordered a general to accompany him.

It's called auxiliary, but it's actually surveillance.

Both sides know this.

However, Su Xiaochen didn't care at all.

He was not familiar with these 4,000 people, and he was only a scholar in front of the palace, so it was difficult to convince the public in a short time. He couldn't ask for a general who could listen to his orders and restrain the soldiers for him.

As for surveillance......

There is no tree in my heart, where can I stir up dust?

This general's surname is Xu, and his single name is a Fu character, which was specially screened by Emperor Wen. Emperor Wen is well versed in the art of manipulating people, it is not good for too smart people to be next to Su Xiaochen, in case he really has any good ideas, the two sides will not be able to argue, but they will not be able to do anything. That's why I chose Xu Fu, who has a mediocre military rank and a mediocre brain, but he is cautious and loyal.

This Xu Fu followed Su Xiaochen all the way to see more and talk less. As far as he is concerned, he doesn't even care whether the imperial capital strategy wins or loses, as long as he adheres to Emperor Wen's entrustment, he doesn't send four thousand people to Ye Zhiqiu in vain. So according to his personal hopes, there are two best endings.

First, Su Xiaochen boasted that he regretted going to Haikou and fled overnight. Then he can return to Hanjiang with 4,000 soldiers to resume his life.

In the second case, Su Xiaochen secretly collaborated with the enemy and was discovered by him. Then he can justifiably cut off Su Xiaochen's head with a knife, and then bring him back to Hanjiang to recover his life.

Anyway, no matter which one it is, Xu Fu never thought about attacking the city at all.

If Su Xiaochen was really stupid and wanted to take 4,000 people to hit the stone with eggs, then at most he would disobey the order. Anyway, Su Xiaochen has no military position, and the saint deliberately only said that he would help him instead of obeying orders, so he could not be regarded as resisting the military order.

However, Xu Fu soon discovered that Su Xiaochen had no intention of fighting at all.

When he arrived in the valley near the outskirts of Beijing, he ordered the soldiers to start camping and cooking, while he hid in the camp and slept soundly. According to the report from several guards and soldiers placed around Su Xiaochen, in the dead of night, Su Xiaochen would write and draw there, and he would fall asleep during the day.

What's going on?

"What did he paint?"

"It's like a pattern, I've never seen it before. Some of the patterns look like the exorcism charms used by Taoist priests. ”