"Remember, never tell His Majesty that Zhao Chen was not found."
"I told Your Majesty that we found Zhao Chen and he is in Cangzhou now. Zhao Chen is preparing medicine there to treat Your Majesty."
In the camp, Xu Shiji summoned a group of generals again and gave serious instructions.
"Military advisor, you are deceiving me." Niu Jinda's expression changed.
Of course he knew that Xu Shiji was trying to comfort the emperor.
It was also to allow the emperor to hold on to Cangzhou and save the army.
But when they arrived in Cangzhou, the emperor couldn't see Zhao Chen. How should Xu Shiji explain it?
If the emperor is made angry at that time, Xu Shiji will have to bear all the blame alone.
"To deceive the emperor is to deceive the emperor by myself. Our Tang Dynasty has been at a disadvantage in this war, and I cannot escape the blame."
"If your Majesty goes to Cangzhou, there will always be more hope."
"If there is any guilt, I will bear it alone. Today I am just telling you that if you are blamed in the future, you will all be forced by me and dare not say anything." Xu Shiji said to everyone.
He arched his hands deeply again.
The generals looked at Xu Shiji with complicated expressions. They all knew that if the emperor went to Cangzhou.
I found that Zhao Chen was not here.
Xu Niangjin is afraid that he will not escape death, and even his entire family...
Everyone held hands with Xu Shiji and sighed softly in their hearts.
…
Cangzhou City.
This is the choke point between the hinterland of the Tang Dynasty and the northern frontier.
Ever since the news of the retreat of the frontline troops reached here, the people of Cangzhou began to leave with their families and families.
The army of the Tang Dynasty was defeated in consecutive battles on the front line, and now it is even more necessary to retreat to Cangzhou.
The people's confidence in the Tang army has long since collapsed.
In just ten days, Cangzhou City was already deserted.
In the inn in Cangzhou, the innkeeper looked at the scattered people on the street, his heart full of sorrow.
The army has already retreated from the front line. If the army officers and soldiers are not under control by then, the inn will be doomed.
Even if the generals in the army abide by the rules, what if Cangzhou City is destroyed?
"Shopkeeper, please get a room." The shopkeeper was lamenting when he was suddenly awakened by a voice.
He raised his head and saw a man and a woman standing in front of him.
There are two big blood-red horses tied on the street in front of the inn.
"Okay, okay, you two, please."
"Boy, where did you go? Hurry up and lead the guest's horse."
"Guests, come with me!" the shopkeeper shouted, inviting the two people in front of him to enter the inn.
"You two guests, would you like to have something to eat here first? Our inn's cuisine is one of the best in Cangzhou."
"There are too few customers recently. If you two want to try it, I can give you a discount." The shopkeeper invited the two of them in and turned around to ask.
"Let's eat here." The woman nodded and put the sword in her hand on the table.
The two sat down at the table.
The shopkeeper brought a stack of peanuts and a jug of wine.
"You two are the first wave of customers in the shop today, and this is given to you for free," the shopkeeper said with a smile.
The woman nodded, but said nothing.
Seeing that the two of them were unwilling to talk, the shopkeeper didn't want to disturb them anymore, so he consciously retreated behind the counter to settle the accounts.
"Shopkeeper, did you hear when the army will retreat to Cangzhou?" The shopkeeper was calculating the accounts when he suddenly heard the male guest speak.
"Oh, this old man really doesn't know."
"But it must be these days. I heard that the army was defeated on the front line, and even His Majesty the Emperor was hit by a poisonous arrow."
"Oh, I really didn't expect that Goguryeo would be so difficult to deal with."
"Hey, two guests, where are you coming from? There are really few people coming to Cangzhou at this time. Everyone is busy leaving Cangzhou!" the shopkeeper said, walking over from the counter.
He asked the two of them where they came from.
"We are from Chang'an." The male guest said with a smile.
"Chang'an, that's the capital of our Tang Dynasty. It's very far away from here."
"But, since the two guests are staying here for a few days, it's better to go back early. It's very messy here now."
"If Cangzhou is captured that day, the people of Goguryeo will not let anyone in the city go."
"One day, I will have to abandon this business and run for my life." The shopkeeper sighed, with a look of reluctance on his face, and urged the two of them to leave as soon as possible.
"Shopkeeper, have you heard the news?"
"There are rumors now that a guy named Zhao Chen is the emperor's biological son. Is it true or false?" The woman sitting there drinking suddenly asked the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment.
He had also heard others say this.
But this news has been rumored for a long time, and it was later confirmed, right?
"This old man doesn't dare to say whether it's true or not. After all, this news has been circulating for two years, but there is no evidence to prove it."
"But this time, it seems that His Majesty the Emperor felt that his situation was very bad, so he mentioned this matter to the generals."
"The credibility is still very high." the shopkeeper said.
The woman looked at the male guest in front of her, with a smile on her lips.
"Hey, let me tell you, if that's really the case, what are you going to do?" the woman and the male guest asked.
The male guest frowned, slapped his chopsticks on the table, and said, "Sir, when will this dish be served?"
The shopkeeper was startled, and immediately smiled apologetically, and hurried to the back kitchen to urge the cook.
"Cut!" the woman said.
…
"Madam, Cangzhou City is ahead of us. After traveling for so long, we finally arrived."
"It is said that the frontline army has reached fifty miles outside Cangzhou City, and it is expected that they will be able to enter the city tomorrow."
Outside Cangzhou City, Li Jing finally had a smile on his tired face.
They drove non-stop for a long time.
Now that Cangzhou City is within sight, my heart feels relaxed.
"I just don't know where Zhao Chen and Ruoshuang are. Are they in this transport team?" Hongfu Nu sighed.
What she is most worried about now is the safety of Zhao Chen and Li Ruoshuang.
I didn't see the two of them alive, so I felt uneasy no matter what.
"It's okay. I feel inferior to that boy Zhao Chen for his abilities. Nothing will happen to him."
"Let's go into the city." Li Jing and Hongfu Nu comforted each other.
The two men led Xuan Jia's army into the city. The gates of Cangzhou City were wide open, and there were only a few scattered soldiers guarding the entire city.
"This is that army. It looks very different from the ordinary army." After the Xuanjia Army entered the city, the soldier asked his companions in a low voice.
"I don't know. I haven't seen him before. I guess he is here to support Cangzhou. After all, the frontline army will enter the city in the next two days."
"Goguryeo's army has already caught up to us."
"Sigh, I don't know if we can win this war."
"If we lose, Datang will really be doomed."
"After all, if Datang is going to lose, then we can wait until I die first!"
When the Xuanjia Army entered the city, it naturally caused quite a stir.
Although not many of the people in Cangzhou City have escaped, some still remain here.
"Two guests, it has just been reported that the Duke of Wei, Li Jing, and his wife led a cavalry team into the city."
"Okay, now, Duke Wei is the military god of our Tang Dynasty. As long as he is here, nothing will happen to Cangzhou City." The shopkeeper said to the only two guests in the inn.?