Xiao Jingnan and Li Wanming exchanged a glance and fell into deep thought.
From the perspective of national righteousness, Liu Yiyi's words were not wrong.
Once the war started, there would surely be countless casualties and blood would flow in torrents. The demand for medicinal herbs in the rear would be extremely high. There was no reason not to buy the herbs when they knew where they were.
But...
"Don't be afraid. With the skills of the young master and General Gao, are we still afraid that they can't protect us?"
Liu Yiyi took Li Wanming's hand and smiled brightly. "Moreover, I've observed in the past few days that although war is imminent, the trade between Lingxi and Jiangzhong has not been cut off. As long as we disguise ourselves as ordinary merchants and go in, the Anluo people will surely not recognize us!"
She then pointed at Zhao Yanke. "Besides, can you rest assured leaving him alone in Shou'an? Those people even dared to kill the young master. What else can't they do!"
Li Wanming still hesitated. After all, it was too risky. A single mistake could lead to great disaster. But Liu Yiyi grabbed her hand and shook it. "Don't waste any more time. It's the right thing to stock up on a batch of hook-grass quickly! In a few days, if those barbarians in the Anluo Kingdom who don't understand pharmacology react, we may not even be able to stock up!"
Her words were reasonable and well - argued, leaving Li Wanming and Xiao Jingnan with no way to object.
Zhao Yanke grinned. "Did you hear that? We all have reasons that we must go!"
After saying that, he turned around and strode towards the city gate. "Why aren't you moving? If we don't set off now, we won't be able to reach Yanchuan before dark!"
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Yanchuan City in Jiangzhong County, although it had been ceded to Anluo more than a decade ago, still had a large number of Sheng Dynasty people. Therefore, the scene in the city was no different from that in Shou'an. It still looked like a town in the southern border of the Great Sheng Dynasty.
However, Yanchuan was much more desolate.
At the city gate, the black flag of Anluo fluttered high, blatantly declaring its rule.
There were still many teahouses and taverns in the city streets, but all the shops of the Sheng Dynasty exuded an air of cautious survival.
And the most prosperous areas were all occupied by the Anluo people without exception.
The Anluo caravans swaggered through the streets, making the people of the Sheng Dynasty look like mice afraid of cats.
In the dark alleys, however, were crowded with homeless refugees. They were all huddled in the shacks in the corners of the walls, their faces yellow and emaciated, and their expressions numb.
This once great city in the southern border was now like a trapped beast with its claws and teeth pulled out. It sat limply in the grayish sky with its bleeding wounds.
...
Xiao Jingnan's expression remained as calm as water.
He had served in the army in the southern border in the past and was already used to seeing the cities after being ravaged by war - the charred broken walls, the empty and lifeless eyes, and the stooped backs of people searching for their relatives in the ruins...
The dilapidated streets, the cowering shops, and the refugees huddled in the corners of Yanchuan City were just another familiar picture in his memory.
However, Zhao Yanke's fingertips trembled slightly in his sleeve.
This was his first time seeing a border town.
He had never left the capital in his life. The war, the desolation - to him, were just a few cold numbers in the war reports.
It was not until he saw it with his own eyes that he realized that the court's light - hearted order of "withdrawing troops" would be like a mountain weighing on the heads of the common people, a chasm of displacement and life - and - death separation.
However, although Yanchuan was desolate, it had once been one of the most important cities in the southern border. Even in its decline, one could still glimpse its former glory.
As Liu Yiyi had said, although the two sides were at war, the trade route had not been cut off.
Moreover, under the rule of the Anluo people, there was no curfew in Yanchuan. As the night gradually deepened, it actually showed a kind of vague bustle that Shou'an did not have.
Torches and candles were lit one by one. There were caravans coming and going on the streets, and their group did not seem out of place.
Liu Yiyi stood on tiptoe, looking at the horse caravans carrying goods in the night, and couldn't help muttering, "It's really strange. The two sides are at war. Even if they don't seal the city, the caravans shouldn't be so unimpeded. Aren't they afraid that some spies will sneak in?"
Xiao Jingnan smiled faintly but said nothing.
This matter involved the court situation of the Great Sheng Dynasty and was also related to the Empress Dowager. He didn't want to say much.
However, Pei Yanqi glanced at Liu Yiyi, with a hint of arrogance in his eyes and eyebrows. "Can't you even figure this out? Of course the caravans are unimpeded... because the Anluo people never really wanted to fight!"
"Ah?" Liu Yiyi was stunned and asked doubtfully, "Don't want to fight? If they don't want to fight, why did they harass Shou'an? I heard that they even burned a granary in Shou'an..."
"To make the Great Sheng send troops." Pei Yanqi said calmly, "If there was no such an excuse, how could the Empress Dowager send General Feng to the southern border? If she didn't send General Feng to the southern border, how could she take back the military power?"
"You mean..." Liu Yiyi stopped in her tracks. She stood there stupidly for a while before screaming, "The Empress Dowager colluded with the Anluo Kingdom and deliberately set a trap for General Feng's army?!"
"Don't put it so harshly as 'colluded'." Pei Yanqi frowned slightly, looked up at the sky, and said, "According to the Empress Dowager's thinking, this should be regarded as the art of emperorship... Well, it's just the way of balancing the court situation."
Xiao Jingnan glanced at him imperceptibly, his heart slightly shaken.
The matter that Empress Dowager Kang had secret dealings with Anluo, he knew, Feng Xiao knew, Feng Yuanji knew, and Zhao Yanke also knew... In fact, the old foxes in the court should all know.
But Pei Yanqi shouldn't know.
He was just a Hanlin scholar. Although he was noble, his official rank was not high, and he was not from a prominent family. Logically speaking, he would never have the chance to know the secrets hidden in the hearts of the important officials of the Great Sheng Dynasty...
But now, he was absolutely right.
"Bullshit art of emperorship!" Liu Yiyi was so angry that her little face turned red. "Isn't she just sending General Feng's army to their deaths for nothing?"
At this point, a trace of doubt welled up in her heart. "The Empress Dowager... Would the Empress Dowager do such a thing? You're not just making this up to fool me, are you?"
"Why would I fool you?" Pei Yanqi said angrily, "On the day when the military report of the Anluo's invasion of our border reached the court, the Empress Dowager sent Xiao Jingnan as the army's staff officer. Later, she personally appointed General Feng as the commander - in - chief and also made the Marquis of Xuanping the supervisor... She had ignored the southern border for so many years, but suddenly she took such swift and decisive actions. If you say there's nothing fishy going on with Anluo, who would believe it?"
He simply decided to go all the way. He pointed at everyone present one by one. "To tell you the truth, I know about this, he knows, he knows, and she also knows! You're the only one in the dark here!"
"Otherwise, do you think why they all came to Yanchuan in such a hurry? They've staked the safety of the court and their own lives on this war!"
"If they win, they live; if they lose, they die!"
These words, like a volley of cannonballs, exposed all the shady thoughts and tricks in the court.