Chapter 143

"Not yet, I can't tell you just yet." Li Miao smiled mysteriously, deliberately leaving them in suspense. However, when Huang Yi saw that familiar smiling face, a shudder ran down his spine. *Oh, Lord, whenever Brother Miao smiles like that, nothing good ever comes of it!* Huang Yi suddenly began to pity himself.

Consequently, Huang Yi started crying even harder. A moment ago, his tears had been tears of being moved, but now they were tears of pure terror. This earned him a volley of eye-rolls from Yang Hong, Li Yin, Zhang Xun, and Chen Dao. The newcomer, Wu Anguo, glanced at Huang Yi, utterly baffled as to why his brilliant and mighty lord commanded such an absolute eccentric.

"Is there any news from Shangliao?" Li Miao asked, frowning. This was the most crucial piece of the puzzle. If Shangliao hadn't acted as it did in history, Li Miao would be completely stranded.

"Your Majesty, the scouts have sent word back. Shangliao is now... a ghost town." Li Yin lowered his voice, terrified that the walls might have ears and that Liu Xun might overhear them.

Li Miao let out a long sigh of relief. As long as his foreknowledge hadn't failed him yet, coming to Lujiang in the first place had been a terrible mistake that had nearly trapped him here to death. He resolved that if he ever did anything this brainless again, he would be a complete idiot.

"Your Majesty, since Shangliao is devoid of troops, what is the point of us joining forces with Liu Xun to march on Shangliao?" Zhang Xun was thoroughly confused; in truth, he had never understood Li Miao's intentions.

Li Miao looked around, making sure no one was watching or listening, and said, "Once Liu Xun decides to move his troops out, he will never return."

Everyone was struck with sheer terror. *Your Majesty, where on earth do you get such confidence?*

"Sun Ce will launch a surprise attack on Lujiang, cutting off Liu Xun's retreat, and then proceed to strike Huang Zu. Tell me, doesn't Sun Ce's plan sound wonderfully calculated?" Li Miao sneered.

Li Yin was the quickest to react. "Your Majesty, you mean to say... the withdrawal of the Shangliao garrison was also part of Sun Ce's scheme?"

"Precisely!"

"Wait, Your Majesty, following your logic, wouldn't it be easier to trap Liu Xun if the Shangliao garrison hadn't abandoned the city?" Wu Anguo chimed in with his own perspective, adopting local customs. This was his first time participating in strategic discussions alongside his lord and senior civil and military officials.

Of course, the primary reason was that Li Miao simply had far too few men under his command—every single person had to be stretched to do the work of two.

"Tenglan, think about this: if we first throw Liu Xun's battle array into absolute chaos and then launch a surprise attack on him while he is disorganized, wouldn't that shorten the time it takes to wipe him out?" Li Miao posed a question to Wu Anguo, feeling quite pleased. It seemed Wu Anguo had already integrated himself into this band of refugees.

Such a drastic downfall in fortune was not something ordinary people could easily endure. Moreover, Wu Anguo had originally been a prominent general; yet now, because of Li Miao, he had become little more than a prisoner under guarded watch.

"Indeed," Wu Anguo nodded. It was true—whether defending or ambushing, speed was everything. If Liu Xun could be eliminated in a short span of time, Sun Ce could attack Huang Zu in Jiangxia much faster. As a result, Sun Ce's military expenditures would be kept to a minimum, and the advantages for Sun Ce's army were self-evident.

"Your Majesty, what should we do then?" Huang Yi spoke up again. If Sun Ce really planned to attack Lujiang just as Li Miao predicted, they would undoubtedly be counted among the targets. Therefore... thinking of the five hundred Imperial Guards stationed in Lujiang, Huang Yi couldn't even bear to imagine it.

The forces of Jiangdong attacking Lujiang, with Li Miao's five hundred Imperial Guards merely serving as a light snack...

Faced with this situation, Huang Yi felt utterly helpless and wanted nothing more than to sprout wings and flee. Why on earth should they stay here and smash pebbles against Sun Ce's solid boulders?

"We are going to follow Liu Xun and attack Shangliao," Li Miao said with a smile, pointing successively at Zhang Xun, Yang Hong, and Chen Dao.

"What?" Huang Yi was startled out of his wits. "Then what about me?"

Wu Anguo was much calmer. After all, his life now belonged to Li Miao, and even if the lord demanded it right then and there, he wouldn't blink an eye. Yet, he had a lingering premonition that despite having just arrived, Li Miao was about to entrust him with a heavy responsibility.

"Your Majesty? What do you mean by this?" Li Yin was equally shocked. Could it be that His Majesty intended to leave his old bones behind in Lujiang? *Good grief, I've already submitted to you, haven't I? Why must you push us to the brink of destruction?*

"Your Majesty, I admit I offended you in the past, but I have seen the error of my ways. From now on, I obey your every command. But if you do this, what will the others think?" Li Yin assumed that Li Miao had been harboring a grudge for a long time and was finally settling personal scores. Abandoning all pretense of saving face, he let loose a torrent of rambling complaints that instantly stunned everyone present.

"Uncle, what on earth are you talking about?" Li Miao was torn between laughter and tears. His uncle was truly an absolute character; leaving him and Huang Yi behind was turning out to be the right decision indeed.

"Huh?" Li Yin's frantic muttering cut off abruptly. *What? That wasn't what His Majesty meant?*

"Your Majesty, please speak," Li Yin said, his old face flushing red with intense embarrassment.

"After I set out on the expedition with Liu Xun, and before Sun Ce attacks the city and captures Lujiang, the two of you must find a way to escape Lujiang and return to Jiangting. Do you understand?" Li Miao said in a solemn voice. "I will order Tenglan to escort you back to Jiangting so that you can join forces with Lu Mian to resist Sun Ce's pursuing forces. It will be dangerous, but this is the very foundation of our foothold in Jiangting. You must accomplish this task."

Li Yin and Huang Yi immediately perked up. Judging from His Majesty's words, did that mean the greatest merit in this endeavor would fall upon the two of them?

"Brother Miao, just say the word! His Highness Prince Fu, General Wu, and I will face death without the slightest hesitation!" Huang Yi instantly found a renewed sense of purpose in life.

"Your Majesty, Anguo will face death without hesitation!" Wu Anguo felt deeply moved. Li Miao truly did not care that he was a newly surrendered officer and fully trusted his capabilities.

"Uncle, once you return to Jiangting, you will be the sole strategist there. You must handle the relationship between Jiangting and Sun Ce's pursuing forces with the utmost prudence. I will hold back Sun Ce's army from the rear," Li Miao added.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, I understand," Li Yin nodded in acknowledgment, then asked, "Your Majesty, what exactly is this heavy responsibility you mentioned?"

Li Miao nodded gently.

"Do you remember when I said I would take Lujiang?"

Everyone nodded in assent. It was not long ago—perhaps barely a month had passed. Li Miao's words were still echoing in their ears, and that scene remained vivid in their minds.

"What I need is for the two of you to help me evacuate the entirety of Lujiang!" Li Miao declared, raising his arms.

"What?" Everyone was utterly mystified, staring blankly as Li Miao continued.

Li Miao coughed twice and spoke at a rapid pace, as if feeling slightly awkward himself.

"The garrison Liu Xun left behind in Lujiang cannot possibly be large, and when Sun Ce attacks, the city could fall within a single day or night. What you need to do is, during this window of time or right before it, take as much of Lujiang's wealth, grain, and warhorses as you can get your hands on, and transport them to me in Jiangting."

"Rest assured, when Sun Ce attacks Lujiang, the city walls are sturdy enough to hold out for a while. The most likely scenario is internal treachery, meaning Sun Ce will not fully encircle the city. That will give you the opportunity to escape with the five hundred Imperial Guards."

Everyone was struck speechless, Li Yin and Huang Yi most of all. Wu Anguo stared wide-eyed, pondering the feasibility of the plan, because it sounded utterly absurd.

Li Miao emphasized once more, "Your mission is simply this: take the wealth and grain, and run! Every extra day you manage to run buys you another day; every extra two days, another two. I have already sent word to Lu Mian, and he will have troops deployed along the road between Lujiang and Jiangting to meet and escort you."

Fleeing for their lives with five hundred soldiers was manageable enough, but trying to escape while hauling Lujiang's massive stores of wealth and grain was an excruciating task. First of all, they would need a multitude of grain carts, and the five hundred soldiers would have to be split up to guard the transport. Huang Yi was already swallowing hard at the thought.

With the demeanor of a true lord, Li Miao added, "Of course, grain and provisions are not the most critical things. If the situation becomes completely untenable, you may abandon the grain and simply run away with the treasure." After a moment of reflection, he amended, "Then again, even if you run, we cannot leave the grain for Sun Ce. Burn it all to the ground."

"Your Majesty, what are the odds of this succeeding?" Huang Yi's fears flared up again. What if they really managed to slip away with the wealth and grain, only for Sun Ce to discover the theft and give chase, slaughtering every last one of them? Huang Yi had no desire to die just yet.

"Lujiang's wealth and grain... Lujiang's wealth and grain!" Although Li Yin was also afraid of death, the thought that these supplies would provide a timely lifeline to Jiangting—which currently lacked almost everything—overshadowed his fear. With wealth and grain, they could recruit troops and secure a firm foundation for the future. Li Yin knew that thanks to Jiangting's recent period of recuperation, their forces had grown from two thousand to over four thousand men, but the grain reserves brought by His Majesty were rapidly running out.

Regardless of whether these provisions were remnants of the late emperor's hidden treasures, treasures would eventually run out. However, acquiring Lujiang's wealth meant they could raise an army; an army meant the capacity to seize territory and subjects; and territory meant sustainable tax revenues and provisions—this was precisely what the Zhong Dynasty should be focusing on right now.

If Lujiang's wealth and grain were all brought back to Jiangting, it would be equivalent to moving the entire city of Wan directly to Shouchun.

The benefits of this were self-evident.

"What are the odds?" Li Miao smiled. If he were entrusting this to anyone else, he wouldn't feel confident at all, but in the hands of Li Yin and Huang Yi, he felt entirely at ease. "Brother-in-law, if it were anyone else, I wouldn't give it much of a chance, but since you and my uncle are here, I consider the success rate to be a full one hundred percent!"

Li Miao said with absolute conviction, then looked into Huang Yi's bewildered eyes. "Brother-in-law, first of all, you must understand that among all of us here, you are the most exceptionally talented at weaving fabricated nonsense."

Huang Yi wore an awkward expression while the generals roared with laughter. *Our lord certainly has a way with words—is he praising someone or insulting them?*

"Don't forget, brother-in-law, you're practically a certified expert!" Li Miao blinked playfully. The memory of Huang Yi verbally abusing his opponents until they were utterly speechless had left a profound impression on him.

Those people's faces had been stripped of every last shred of color by his tongue.

"Brother Miao, you can't put it that way... I, I wasn't even..." Huang Yi stammered, thinking inwardly, *Wasn't I just learning from a fraud like you?*

"Brother-in-law, what kind of attitude is that? Have you no sense of propriety?" Li Miao feigned sternness as he spoke to Huang Yi.

"Your Majesty, yes, yes, your subject knows his mistake." Huang Yi suddenly remembered that there were still many people present. Usually, the moniker 'Brother Miao' was only used in private; to address him thus in front of so many people—no wonder His Majesty was displeased.

Yet the playful glint in Huang Yi's eyes showed not the slightest trace of genuine remorse.

Nearby, Li Yin heard the exchange between Li Miao and Huang Yi and thought, *Is the lord speaking in metaphor to scold me?* His old face flushed red. *This eldest nephew of mine is speaking rather inappropriately. Where does that leave my dignity?* Li Yin pondered to himself, *If that's the case, doesn't it mean my talent for weaving nonsense is also the highest? Otherwise, why pick me instead of Yang Hong?*

Seeing Huang Yi's expression, Li Miao laughed heartily and patted him on the shoulder. "Brother-in-law, I was only joking."

Huang Yi looked deeply reluctant. Ignoring him, Li Miao turned his gaze to Li Yin, whose face had lengthened in a scowl.

Li Miao instantly understood what was going on in Li Yin's mind. His uncle was probably stung by the implication of his previous words, which was why he was pulling such a long face—much like the donkey he had ridden earlier.

"Brother-in-law, transporting Lujiang's wealth and grain is a formidable mission. It demands rare eloquence and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances on the spot. Only someone who combines both traits can be entrusted with such heavy responsibility, and among all of us present, you and my uncle are the only ones who truly fit the criteria."

Li Miao persuaded soothingly. In matters like this, Li Miao was quite unlike Zhou Yu; he projected an image of greater benevolence and virtue, leaving Wu Anguo utterly mesmerized. *To serve a lord like this, what more could one ask for?*

"Minister Yang is upright by nature. While he possesses top-tier intellect, his ability to improvise doesn't measure up to you and my uncle, which is why I had no choice but to select the two of you." Li Miao paused, then continued, "Furthermore, when Liu Xun wanted me to accompany him earlier, he undoubtedly harbored the intent of using me as a hostage. I had to bring several people along to lower Liu Xun's guard so that I could seize an opportunity to escape." Li Miao explained earnestly.

In Li Miao's mind, future diplomatic missions would fall squarely on the shoulders of Li Yin and Huang Yi. These two fellows were the primary driving force behind pulling off scams.

Li Yin was moved to tears of gratitude. *So that's how it is! So that's how it is! His Majesty truly has full faith in my capabilities!*

"Your Majesty, I have no way to repay this trust, and I will surely accomplish a great feat for Jiangting!" Knowing the gravity of the task, Li Yin dared not decline and replied in a deep, resolute voice.

Huang Yi, on the other hand, remained unimpressed, standing to the side in silence without making any statement, leaving Li Miao utterly speechless.

Meanwhile, Yan Xiang, who had remained silent all along, felt somewhat depressed. Back then, he had been the one tricked by Liu Xun, plunging His Majesty into danger. Because of this, Yan Xiang had never dared to ask Li Miao for another assignment. Seeing himself so magnificently overlooked, Yan Xiang felt thoroughly grieved.

Yan Xiang blinked his eyes and asked Li Miao with a puzzled expression, "Your Majesty, what about... what about me?"

Li Miao signaled Yan Xiang to lean closer, whispered a few instructions into his ear, and then dismissed him. Neither Li Yin nor Huang Yi had any idea what scheme Li Miao was hatching. They only saw that when Yan Xiang departed, his face was glowing with radiance, and an expression of boundless excitement was written all over him.

"Uncle, I am forced to put you in grave danger, but for the sake of the realm of our Zhong Dynasty, for the restoration and self-reliance of Jiangting and Shouchun, if I could not entrust this heavy responsibility to you, I would truly be helpless," Li Miao said with deep emotion, his tone laden with profound helplessness.

"Minister Yang is supremely loyal and righteous, but for all his status as senior advisor, Yang Hong's capabilities don't equal even half of yours, Uncle," Li Miao praised. "And you, Uncle, are the true pillar of our Zhong Dynasty!" Li Miao could say one thing to someone's face and another behind their back without the slightest blush.

"Your Majesty... I, I..." Overwhelmed by Li Miao's heartfelt words, Li Yin was moved beyond measure. In truth, he had long found Yang Hong an eyesore.

Back when Li Shu was in power, Yang Hong was always whispering slanderous suggestions. In terms of ability, Yang Hong was essentially useless—anything Yang Hong could think of, Li Yin had already thought of long ago; and things Yang Hong couldn't think of, Li Yin could. Receiving such strong affirmation of his abilities from Li Miao made him willing to lay down his life for the lord right then and there.