Lu Tianzuo instinctively felt that this matter was related to General Xiao. General Xiao had gone to Southern Fujian, while he was to lead troops directly to Southern Xinjiang.
"You may hand over all your troops to him," the emperor said gravely.
Although the King of Zhen didn't mention the outcome of Xiao Jinghan, Lu Tianzuo thought that Xiao Jinghan might be in great danger.
This was also one of the reasons why he was eager to send troops. In the past, he had Xiao Jinghan. Once Xiao Jinghan showed up, the enemy would be terrified. If Xiao Jinghan was gone, what could he do?
In the past, he always joked and scolded with Xiao Jinghan. Only now did he realize that he really relied on Xiao Jinghan.
"Yes," Lu Tianzuo bowed.
"Take carrier pigeons and send back military intelligence every day," the emperor said, allowing no room for error in this matter.
"Yes."
Before many people in the capital had even reacted, Lu Tianzuo had already mustered his troops and left the capital.
In Southern Xinjiang, Yi Qing could only sleep for two or three hours a day. Sometimes, she didn't even dare to sleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, she would see Xiao Jinghan covered in blood. She could only exhaust herself until she couldn't hold on any longer before she could fall asleep for a while.
"I sent someone to inquire. They said that Xiang Beizheng didn't retrieve Xiao Jinghan's body," Zisu whispered.
"Are you sure?"
Zisu wasn't certain. "Right after he fell, Xiang Beizheng sent people to search for him. They retrieved many intact bodies, but Xiao Jinghan's was nowhere to be found. Maybe..."
"But it's been so many days. If he were still alive, how could he not come to find me?"
"Maybe he's injured and can't move easily."
"Xiang Beizheng would surely send people to look for the injured," Yi Qing said.
Zisu knew it was true. "He didn't find him. Don't think like this. You used to always look on the bright side and even thought about becoming a widow. Now..."
Hearing Zisu say this, Yi Qing's tears welled up, scaring Zisu.
"Okay, okay. I won't say anymore," Zisu said. She had intended to comfort Yi Qing, but somehow, Yi Qing started crying. "There are still Baozi and Xiaoran."
Hearing Zisu's words, Yi Qing quickly wiped away her tears. "I know. I just..."
She just didn't know what to do. As long as Xiao Jinghan was still alive, she would search for him to the ends of the earth, even if it meant traveling through time and space.
But now, sometimes she was a bit afraid to look for him. If she didn't find him, there might still be hope that he was alive. But if she found his body, it would mean all hope was lost.
She wasn't a weak person, but now she was really scared.
Just as the two were talking, Wu Peng rushed in. He had finally changed his clothes and looked like a sunny young man.
"What you said won't work. I used the Illusionary Life Gu. It's too difficult to prevent people from dying after touching the Ruyi Grass," Wu Peng said, scratching his head as he sat on the steps.
"Dosage," Yi Qing said directly. "When you refine Gu, you get one Gu from ten thousand insects. What if you get one Gu from a hundred insects?"
"Impossible. The Gu won't be strong enough and will easily die. It won't be able to control people in the human body," Wu Peng said firmly.
"Then solve the problem of the insects dying easily."
Wu Peng thought about it and said, "I'll go." Then he left.
Yi Qing watched Wu Peng leave. In the past, she had traveled around treating patients. It was simple. But one day, she met Xiao Jinghan.
She met a man she loved, and he looked at her with adoration. When he was gone, no matter how many things there were, she felt they had nothing to do with her.
Seeing Yi Qing lost in thought again, Zisu said, "Let's go for a walk. Mendi's mother, Lati, is almost recovered. Let's go and see her."
Yi Qing shook her head. "I'd better make more wound medicine and insect repellent. There won't be enough once the war starts."
Lu Tianzuo didn't understand why the emperor had ordered them to march so urgently. He also didn't understand why they were targeting Qiao Ye, the garrison commander in Southern Fujian.
He had only seen Qiao Ye once. At that time, Qiao Ye had escorted the King of Zhen back to the capital. Lu Tianzuo had seen him from afar and didn't like him at first sight. But according to the records in the Ministry of Personnel, Qiao Ye seemed to be a capable person. Otherwise, he wouldn't have become the garrison commander in Southern Fujian at such a young age.
Southern Fujian had many insects, ants, and miasmas, but it was also rich in resources. If managed well, it could be a prosperous place.
Qiao Ye was also very shocked.
This time, the emperor's order wasn't just to assist the Crown Princess. It was to help her pacify Southern Xinjiang.
The word "help" was just a formality. It depended on how much help was provided. But directly stating the result was different.
The Crown Princess had previously promised peace between the two countries, but this promise was of no value to the Great Jin Dynasty. Could a Southern Xinjiang troubled by internal and external problems really attack the Great Jin Dynasty?
Only internal strife in Southern Xinjiang was beneficial to the Great Jin Dynasty, and it was also beneficial to Qiao Ye. The two sides in Southern Xinjiang had given him many benefits just to keep him neutral.
"It's impossible," Ping Xinian also couldn't figure it out.
"What's impossible? The army will reach Southern Fujian in two days. What should we do?" Qiao Ye looked at Ping Xinian.
"What do you mean by 'what should we do'?" Ping Xinian looked at Qiao Ye.
Qiao Ye thought for a moment. "Right! This matter has nothing to do with me."
Ping Xinian frowned. Could it be that the emperor had sent troops to Southern Xinjiang because Xiao Jinghan was there?
But she thought it was impossible. If that were the case, the emperor would have sent troops to Southern Xinjiang earlier, instead of waiting until now.
Qiao Ye looked at Ping Xinian. "Your Ping family has many informants in the capital. Find out why the emperor suddenly sent troops to Southern Xinjiang."
"Okay," Ping Xinian didn't say anything this time. "Don't let anything go wrong on your side, Commander Qiao."
"What could go wrong on my side?" Qiao Ye spread his hands.
Looking at Qiao Ye's expression, Ping Xinian thought that if something really went wrong, Qiao Ye would surely push her out first. "Your subordinates also know about the Ruyi Cake, especially those garrison commanders on the border. If the emperor finds out..."
"Ruyi Grass grows in Southern Fujian and Southern Xinjiang. Some doctors even use it as medicine. It's not a big deal," Qiao Ye said indifferently.
Ping Xinian cursed him as an old fox in her heart. "That's for the best. So many things have happened suddenly. I need to make some arrangements. I'm going to the South of the Yangtze River. I'll leave the rest of the matters to you, Commander Qiao."
Qiao Ye sized up Ping Xinian. "Why don't we set a date?"
"You're a court official, and the Qiao family is a well - known family in Southern Fujian. Would you really let me into your family?" Ping Xinian joked.
"A noble concubine. No one will say anything. As long as we love each other," Qiao Ye said, starting to get handsy.
Ping Xinian felt disgusted. He had been polite to her before, but now he directly said she would be a noble concubine. "I need to discuss this with my family. After all, I'm the eldest daughter of the family."
Qiao Ye wasn't in a hurry. Anyway, Ping Xinian was already his. "It's good to discuss. Don't worry. I'll visit your family in person. I won't make you feel embarrassed."
"Thank you for your kindness, Commander Qiao," Ping Xinian said with a forced smile, hiding her disgust.