Li Man'er said, "If it were only this, it would be bearable. What's even more infuriating is that Father received news earlier that the barbarians will launch a sneak attack tomorrow night, on New Year's Eve, while we are celebrating the festival."
One of them said, "Miss, you needn't worry. I've inquired from others. This is a common tactic of the barbarians, merely a way to disrupt our morale. They've done this many times in the past few years without any major incidents."
Li Nian shook his head, "That's not necessarily true. I believe the barbarians might be coming with great force this time."
"Does Third Master have any high insights?"
Li Shu's personal guards were naturally loyal to him and were wary of Li Nian.
"I wouldn't call them high insights, but the Xiao family's reaction is quite strange. Think about it, the Xiao family has occupied the northern desert for many years, managing both the old and new cities, and they are quite familiar with the barbarians. If the barbarians were merely making a small show of force, attacking the city as a pretense, would they have to evacuate all their troops overnight and hand over a city to us without so much as a word?"
This...
The two guards exchanged glances, both finding some sense in Li Nian's words.
The Xiao family had guarded against Li Shu as if he were a thief! They knew Li Shu was sent by the Emperor to check and balance the Xiao family. If they were in the Xiao family's shoes, they wouldn't generously hand over the city so readily.
Unless, there had been a major change recently, and the Xiao family, being well-informed, got the news first. To frame Li Shu, they had withdrawn all their defending troops, forcing Li Shu to take over and ultimately become their scapegoat.
This way, they could get rid of Li Shu and also show their stance to the Emperor, killing two birds with one stone.
Unfortunately, this meant that Li Shu and these tens of thousands of soldiers were destined to be cannon fodder.
"Damn it."
"What should we do now?"
A cloud of worry hung over everyone's faces.
Li Man'er said, "Gentlemen, please move Father indoors first. I'll have the military doctor prescribe medicine and take care of Father."
"Yes, yes, how could we forget this?"
He was still lying on the ground!
Thus, Li Shu's guards carried the unconscious Li Shu to a bed inside, leaving one military doctor to care for him and another to deliberate over a prescription.
Li Nian glanced at Li Man'er subtly. The latter nodded slightly, signaling that they could proceed to the next step.
"Gentlemen, the commander of the army is unconscious. If this news spreads, it is likely to cause unrest and instability among the troops!"
"Third Master is right. However, under the current circumstances, we two have no other recourse. Please instruct us, General."
Li Nian hesitated and said, "Although this general and your Marquis are from the same clan, matters of the army cannot be taken lightly. Even brothers cannot overstep their bounds. I believe there is a deputy commander and other generals in the army. Why don't you two quietly invite the various generals here to jointly discuss a plan to repel the enemy?"
Upon hearing this, the two agreed and went their separate ways.
Li Nian's move was indeed clever. By not seizing power himself, no one could fault him. He was now just a younger brother concerned about his elder brother's health, and other matters were not his concern.
Li Man'er secretly praised him, thinking that Li Nian was much more magnanimous than her original scumbag father. If it were Li Shu, he would probably eagerly snatch the command seal and want to bring everyone under his command immediately.
Just then, the military doctor finished writing the prescription and handed it to Li Man'er for her review.
Li Man'er glanced at the medicine prescribed by the doctor and sneered. These doctors were afraid of the medicine being too strong and harming Li Shu's fundamental health, so they used very mild herbs with careless dosages. How long would it take to recover with this prescription?
However, Li Shu wasn't truly suffering from a stroke. The medicine, while potentially harmful, wasn't overly potent and could be taken.
It would just pass the time.
"This prescription is very appropriate. Thank you for your trouble in fetching the medicine."
The military doctor's wrinkles deepened. "Since Miss has reviewed it, I shall have the apothecary fetch the medicine."
"No, please fetch it yourself! The fewer people who know about this matter, the better."
The military doctor realized his mistake and almost slapped himself. Such a major event, and he was so careless! If the news of Li Shu's stroke spread, would his life be spared?
"Yes, yes, Miss's considerations are thorough. I will go fetch the medicine myself." The military doctor trembled as he took the prescription and left.
Li Man'er felt bored. If Li Shu truly collapsed, she would be happier than anyone. However, the main act had just begun, and she had to feign extreme grief to fit the persona of a filial daughter.
It was truly agonizing.
Soon, the deputy commander, deputy generals, junior officers, and strategists of the army gathered in Li Shu's courtyard.
Li Nian showed them the letter from the Xiao family and put on a sorrowful expression, saying, "The Xiao family's actions not only disrespect Marquis but also gamble with the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers. Without intelligence and preparation, if the barbarians launch a full-scale attack, how many casualties will we suffer?"
"Is Third Master Li's statement somewhat alarmist?" A general with a goatee, tall stature, and a brutish face suddenly spoke up. "The barbarians attacking the pass was more than ten years ago! In recent years, you can inquire as much as you want; do the barbarians dare to come?"
Li Nian immediately asked, "May I ask which general you are..."
With his polite attitude, the man could no longer glare. He replied, "Jia Er of the Cangying Guard."
"General Jia, I am aware of what you said. However, my elder brother had previously sent people to investigate, and the barbarians' movements this year will not be insignificant. That's why, upon learning that the Xiao family had abandoned the city, he became enraged and collapsed." Li Nian said helplessly, "We have just arrived here, unfamiliar with the terrain. We don't know the status of reinforcements, nor the supplies, nor the armaments. If the enemy attacks, how can we defend?"
Jia Er, however, said, "I wonder who Marquis sent to investigate? Does Jianmou know them?"
Li Nian's face hardened, "How would I inquire about such matters? I am escorting my niece to the northern desert to rescue her father. If not for this, Li Nian would never have stayed until now."
The implication was that he had no intention of coveting Li Shu's military authority.
A hint of awkwardness flickered across Jia Er's face. He thought about it; if Li Nian truly had any ulterior motives, he wouldn't have bothered escorting Li Man'er to the northern desert. If Li Man'er had arrived a few days later, Li Shu would have already met Buddha, and then Li Nian could have done as he pleased.
Jia Er fell silent. However, several strategists under Li Shu's command could not sit still.
"Although the Xiao family's actions can harm Marquis, they also offend the Emperor! By doing this, they are abandoning the people of the northern desert. Are they not afraid of the Emperor's wrath? Are they not afraid of losing the hearts of the people in the northern desert?"
"I believe this matter should be discussed at length."
"I fear there is no time."
Li Nian said loudly, "Precisely because time is pressing that I have summoned everyone here. For now, the matter of Marquis's stroke must be concealed. I request the generals to come up with a plan and quickly devise a solution."