After Mu Qiuye made such a fuss, Mu Xiayan, who originally had the hope of pulling Li Yi and others into his command, felt that this time there might be no chance.

If you persecute them again, it is likely that Li Yi and others will have a serious rebellious mentality.

Therefore, Mu Xiayan could only let Li Yi and the six of them leave.

Although Li Yi and the others did not participate in the operation against the grassland army this time, Mu Xiayan was not worried.

Because Mu Xiayan knew that as long as he had Mu Junhe on his side, he would still have the opportunity to see Li Yi and the others again in the future.

"Childe, now that the grassland army is already waiting for us, why don't we participate in Zongzheng Temple's conquest of them?"

When the six of them rode away, the ghost doctor asked with some confusion.

Before, he had heard that there was a feud between Li Yi and the grassland army, and he even sneaked into the base camp of the grassland army, and the general successfully killed the Tugu King and captured the Xianbei Khan.

Therefore, according to the ghost doctor's idea, Li Yi should seize this opportunity to take the initiative.

But the result was that Li Yi firmly refused the solicitation of Zongzheng Temple.

"Do you think that this time the cooperation between Zongzheng Temple and the imperial court can withstand the attack of the grassland army?"

Li Yi asked instead of answering.

"Do you think Zongzheng Temple will fail this time?"

The ghost doctor couldn't help but be shocked when he heard this.

"They were originally hostile to each other, and now although they are forced to unite because of the grassland army, on the surface it seems that they are as harmonious as ever, but when they are faced with life and death, the previous rift between the two sides will inevitably break out completely, and they are afraid that they will collapse by themselves without the grassland army attacking."

Li Yi directly pointed out the biggest drawback between the Zongzheng Temple and the alliance of the imperial court.

"Look, since we can all see the drawbacks, can't Zongzheng Temple and the imperial court understand it?"

Qi Chao also asked puzzled.

"What is the use of them being able to understand, my master once said that there are not a few people in this world who can see through the essence of things, and there are not a few people who can do things well, but there are very few people who can see through the essence of things and do things well, because the unity of knowledge and action is a necessary condition for achieving the path of saints, but you see how many people have been able to become holy since ancient times?"

Li Yi said with a sneer.

The other five were all lost in thought.

They felt that what Master Li Yi said was very meaningful.

"Childe, in that case, shouldn't we remind you of your senior brother?"

An Su thought for a moment and suddenly asked.

"Don't worry, my senior brother must have seen through the essence of this matter, and he won't take risks easily."

Li Yi shook his head.

In fact, he didn't have confidence in Mu Junhe, he just had a deep understanding of his master.

Although several of his senior brothers had very different personalities, Li Yi was sure that they had all learned from his master how to save their lives.

And Mu Jun cooperated as the number one swordsman in the world, how could he easily risk his life.

"In that case, where do we go next?"

Mi Yiren then asked.

And the other four people also focused their eyes on Li Yi.

"Let's go out of the city and find everyone before we discuss."

After Li Yi made a decision, the other five people had no objections.

So the six of them rode their horses and galloped all the way towards the west city gate.

When the six of them came to the west gate again, the guards of the city immediately surrounded them and stopped them.

Although these guards of the city recognized Li Yi, they were the ones who escorted Qin Shangshu out of the city before and then turned back.

But they still stopped them and refused to let them go.

But it's not because they're really selfless.

The fundamental reason is that they want Li Yi and the others to do some good.

In this regard, Li Yi could see what they were thinking from their greedy eyes at a glance.

However, at this time, Li Yi didn't want to make any extraneous branches, so he directly pulled the leading soldier, and then took advantage of everyone's inattention to stuff a full amount of silver into his sleeve.

The leading guard shook his sleeves carefully, and then pretended to be embarrassed, and finally let them go.

However, it was his action that made the people who were still besieged at the gates of the city and ready to escape from the city angry.

But the leading defender of the city made the people speechless with a word.

"What are you yelling about? These six people were escorting Qin Shangshu from the Criminal Department out of the city before, and they had a letter from the government, and if there was one, I would let you out of the city immediately. ”

In the face of such reasons, everyone was silent.

And when Li Yi and the others left the city, they rushed all the way in the direction of Sizhou County.

Originally, they had thought that they would have to be delayed for a very long time in the city.

but

It was because of the steppe army that the civil strife in the city was resolved at once.

Coupled with Li Yi, he had already determined that Mu Junhe was safe, and Mu Junhe himself proposed to participate in the operation against the Grassland Army, and Li Yi could only respect his choice.

Under the rapid pursuit of Li Yi and them, it only took them more than half an hour to catch up with Jing Zizheng and the others.

At this time, they were resting in a post station on the official road.

Li Yi carefully recounted the events in the city to everyone.

"I didn't expect that Zongzheng Temple and the imperial court would reconcile in such a dramatic way!"

Qin Luming said with a bitter smile.

"They're just a temporary reconciliation, and they'll definitely turn around again once the matter of the steppe army's attack is settled."

Qi Lao also thought that the relationship between Zongzheng Temple and the imperial court had reached the point of incompatibility, and there was no possibility of complete reconciliation between them before.

"Hmph, it's ironic, I didn't expect that it was the grassland people, the old enemies of the Dayu Dynasty, who made Zongzheng Temple and the imperial court temporarily reconcile."

Mr. Shangyang also smiled helplessly.

He now felt that the enthusiasm he had when he was young and that he wanted to do his best for the Dayu Dynasty was ridiculous.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I think this time they are likely to fall apart as soon as they encounter the steppe army."

Li Yi directly gave a worse conjecture.

"Oh? Could it be that their reconciliation is really so fragile? ”

Mr. Shangyang said incredulously.

In this regard, neither Qin Luming nor Qi Lao spoke.

Because they knew that Li Yi's speculation was very likely, because this time the imperial court's determination to deal with Zongzheng Temple was so great, and at the same time, the price they paid was so heavy.

And all this cannot be wasted by the imperial court.

The emperor is clear about this, the imperial court is clear, and Zongzheng Temple is also clear.

"I don't know if it's fragile or not, but I have a feeling that this time Zongzheng Temple and the imperial court are likely to be played hard by the grassland people, and in the end, the imperial court is likely to steal chickens and lose a handful of rice."

Li Yi said with a frown.

"Why do you have this speculation?"

Mr. Shangyang asked puzzled.

"As the saying goes, there must be demons when things go wrong, and now the actions of the grassland army seem too suspicious."

Li Yi then explained to everyone.

"Where did Li Gongzi see that the grassland people were suspicious?"

Qi Lao had heard Qi Ning say that Li Yi and the others had participated in the battle of the three counties in the northern border of the grassland army from beginning to end.

Therefore, his speculation about the steppe people should still be very straightforward.

"I feel that the steppe people have been very suspicious since they attacked the three counties in the northern border, so I did not hesitate to go deep into the base camp of the grassland army to assassinate their commander and find out some news by the way."

Li Yi explained to everyone.

"And when the steppe people were stationed outside the northern border for a long time, they didn't attack, and I thought it was strange at the time."

In fact, Hai Yin can explain this problem to them, but not all the people here are worthy of Li Yi's trust, so he does not plan to announce Hai Yin's identity.

Except for a few people who personally participated in the battle in the northern border fortress, most of the people at the scene did not know that the Steppe Army had been hovering at the border for many days before attacking.

This is too contrary to common sense for the grassland people who have always liked to fight quickly and run when they grab something.

"Later, when they entered the belly of Dayu, they immediately divided into three routes, and one of them was able to stay in Songzhou for several days, and when they found so many large ships that could be used to transport people, I knew that this matter was far from being as simple as I believed."

Li Yi continued to analyze for everyone.

"Later, until they sailed all the way south, it was unimpeded between the states, and I knew that the steppe people must have reached an agreement with Emperor Shengheng."

"But what does this have to do with the current actions of the steppe army?"

Qin Luming still didn't understand what Li Yi wanted to express.

"Qin Shangshu, think about it carefully, is this a big gamble for Emperor Shengheng, who aspires to become a former emperor who surpasses all emperors throughout the ages?"

Li Yi asked without answering.

"That's right, this matter is indeed a big gamble of great significance for His Majesty the Emperor."

Qin Luming thought for a moment, stroked his beard, and then nodded in agreement.

"In that case, does Qin Shangshu think that after these grassland barbarians successfully killed Zongzheng Temple, Emperor Shengheng would allow them to leave the Dayu Dynasty with a swagger like this?"

Li Yi continued to ask.

"After all, Jinling City is the land of Longxing of the Dayu Dynasty, and Zongzheng Temple was formed by the Mu clan after all, so no matter from which point of view, after the grassland army invaded Jinling City and got rid of Zongzheng Temple, it was impossible for Emperor Dayu to let them go."

Qin Luming stroked his beard and said.

"Since you and I can figure this out, can't the prairie people think of this truth?"

"Maybe the steppe people know His Majesty's intentions, but what if they think they have the ability to counter the imperial court?"

Qi Lao thought for a while and put forward his own guess.

"It's possible, but it's an extremely risky thing after all, but my master once told me that when the benefits of doing something are not enough to compensate for the risks it takes, no smart person would choose to do it."

Li Yi said seriously word by word.

Everyone at the scene fell silent.

"Before, I thought that the grassland army was divided into three ways, and the other two must have seized some important chips of the Dayu Dynasty, which were enough to ensure that the more than 20,000 people outside the Lingcheng City could leave safely after attacking Jinling City, but now I don't think so."

Li Yi continued.

"Why is that?"

Qin Shaoyan, who had been listening carefully, finally couldn't help but ask.

"It's very simple, because I just saw a lot of people sent by the imperial court in the Yaowu Army."

"Who?"

Qin Luming immediately asked.

"The Prince's Tiger Guard."

"What? Did the prince send his Tiger Guards to Jinling City? ”

Qin Luming stood up immediately when he heard this.

"Uncle, what's so strange about this? Isn't it the prince's personal guard! ”

Qin Shaojie didn't understand why his uncle would react so much when he heard the Tiger Guard.

"Shaojie, you don't understand, this prince's Tiger Guard Army is a very special existence in the army of the Dayu Dynasty, they are neither under the management of the Ministry of War and the Southern Division, nor are they in the sequence of the Dayu army."

"Aren't they like private armies?"

Qin Shaojie still didn't understand, he felt that this so-called Tiger Guard Army was actually similar to the private army of the vassal king.

"You may think that they are similar to the vassal army, but in fact there is a fundamental difference between the two sides."

Qin Luming immediately guessed Qin Shaojie's thoughts, so he explained to Qin Shaojie.

"Although the vassal army is a private army, he has to be supervised by the imperial court, and even the emperor's Praetorian Guard is supervised by the imperial court, but the tiger guards are different, they are not supervised by any department of the imperial court, they are just like the Qingjia army of Zongzheng Temple that Li Yi said just now, it is a shadow army."

"Then is there anything special about their appearance in the Yaowu Army?"

Qin Shaoyan also asked puzzled at this time.

"It seems that Qin Shangshu has already understood the trick."

Li Yi saw that Qin Luming had already understood the special features of the Tiger Guard, so he must have also understood the attitude of the imperial court towards this grassland army this time.

"I see, since the Tiger Guards are not under the supervision of the imperial court, they have no way of knowing about the grassland people, so the Tiger Guards will have a great advantage when they come to deal with the grassland army."

Mr. Shangyang immediately understood the purpose of the Tiger Guard's coming to Jinling City.

"But even so, the number of the Tiger Guards is only 5,000 people, but the grassland army has 20,000 people, how can they win the other party?"

Qi Lao was still a little skeptical of Li Yi's speculation at this time.

"Since Elder Qi said this, have you ever doubted why the old Jin King wanted to arrange all of you people from Sizhou County to Beicheng?"

Li Yi had sent An Su to inquire about the news when he infiltrated Beicheng before.

At that time, An Su came back to report that he saw some people carrying boxes to the north city gate, and Li Yi immediately deduced that what was in those boxes might be thunder.

This is the same method they used by the rebels in Shouzhou City.

Qi Lao couldn't help frowning when he heard this.

"Isn't it because the northern city of Jinling City is uninhabited at night, so they arrange us there for easy supervision?"

"If it's really just because of this, they can arrange for you to be near the garrison of the Yaowu Army and the City Guard Battalion, which is the safest."

Li Yi shook his head and said.

"I guess they're using you as a guise to attract the eyes and ears of those who have a heart, and their real purpose is to set a huge trap at the North City Gate, right?"

Jing Zizheng synthesized all the information that Li Yi said, and roughly deduced the ins and outs of the whole thing.

To put it simply, the Tiger Guards came to Jinling City this time to wipe out all 20,000 people after the grassland army destroyed Zongzheng Temple.

For this reason, they laid a trap at the north gate of Jinling City.

At the beginning, where they set up traps, in order to prevent the news from being detected by Zongzheng Temple and the grassland people, they asked the old Jin king to arrange all the people in Sizhou County to Beicheng.

In this way, these Tiger Guards have a reasonable excuse to go to the North City, and they can also go unnoticed.