Who says the prince is weak and can't take care of himself?

Chapter 185 I'm not discussing this with you

Qi Xiao had just used this method to attack Jialin Pass. After Chi Yue and Zong Sheng delivered the message to Qi Xiao, they quietly sneaked into Jialin Pass and ambushed him in the dark. They calculated the time and killed the sleeping guards and sentries when Qi Xiao approached Jialin Pass, then opened the city gate and let Qi Xiao in.

Qi Xiao's vanguard troops consisted of only 200 people, divided into ten teams. As soon as they entered the pass, they massacred Jialin Pass, and then the main force advanced.

But it was clearly impossible for Chi Yue and Zong Sheng to capture Xingtian Pass alone. There were three hundred guards on the Xingtian Pass tower alone, and even if Chi Yue killed them quickly, it would still cause chaos. With such a commotion, the entire city would be awakened in less than half a minute.

Tang Ling looked at Yu Ran, pointed at the sheepskin map, and asked, "As far as I know, there's only one sentry post between Xingtian Pass and Jialin Pass because of the miasma forest. How many people are there now? How are the guards rotated?"

Yu Ran looked at Tang Ling, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Was this son of the Marquis of Xun'an really as talented a commander as the rumors said? He hadn't even had a chance to speak to the two Xingluo Guards since he arrived, but he already knew there was a sentry post between Xingtian Pass and Jialin Pass. It was marked on the sheepskin map, so it wasn't surprising to notice it. But he was asking about the rotation of guards, suggesting he had a plan in mind.

"In reply to Young Master Tang, there are only thirty people at the sentry post, and the rotation is every three days. A team of ten people will leave Xingtian Pass, go to this sentry post, and then ten people will be replaced and return to Xingtian Pass, and the cycle will repeat."

"When is the next rotation?"

"In two days."

Tang Ling turned to look at Qi Xiao.

Qi Xiao nodded: "It's still in time."

Yu Ran was shocked. In time? Did this mean they had to cross the miasma forest in two days?! Qi Xiao's six thousand men had been squatting in the snow and ice of Fenglin Mountain for three months, starving and freezing. They didn't even get a good night's sleep, and they were going straight into the miasma forest?!

Although this miasma forest is not very big and can be walked through in half a day, they have never been to Qi territory, so it is inevitable that they will have some problems with the climate and water. Moreover, the miasma forest can be fatal if one is not careful.

"Your Highness, won't you take a few days' rest?"

Qi Xiao waved his hand and said, "Let's stick to the original plan. Chi Yue and Zong Sheng will follow me. Yu Ran, you lead the way. We will set off at noon tomorrow. The others will rest for a day and then follow."

"……Yes."

Since Qi Xiao had already given the order, Yu Ran could not say anything more. However, he was somewhat uneasy about the King of Chu. Before receiving the secret letter from Xuanjiying, he didn't even know that His Majesty had such a son. The first time he heard the title of King of Chu was that His Majesty wanted him to lead the army to attack Qi. After further questioning, he could not get anything out. He only knew that this Ninth Prince was not yet eighteen years old and had never led troops in battle before.

Yu Ran couldn't help but secretly glance at Qi Xiao again. He hadn't expected Qi Xiao to actually bring someone to Qi territory. Jialin Pass was freezing cold, and Fenglin Mountain was probably even worse. Crossing Fenglin Mountain in the snow was truly astonishing, yet admirable.

Tang Ling suddenly spoke up and said to Qi Xiao, "Take one of the Xingluo Guards with you. Father has arranged for someone at Xingtian Pass who might be able to help you."

"The Xingluo Guards are there to protect you, but I don't have to."

Tang Ling said softly, "I'm not discussing this with you."

Tang Ling's voice was very soft, but everyone present was a martial artist, with sharp ears and eyes. Yu Ran and the other four who were unaware of the situation were stunned, but the others showed no surprise.

Qi Xiao couldn't help but smiled softly: "Okay."

The two Xingluo Guards waiting for Tang Ling at Jialin Pass were cousins, one named Cao Xin and the other named Cao Geng.

After the meeting in the lobby, Tang Ling brought the two Cao brothers back to their room. They had a secret letter from Xun Anhou to give to Tang Ling.

***

Qi Xiao left the room of Yan Zhaonian, the commander of Jialin Pass, to Tang Ling. Although it was not very good, it was the most spacious room. There was no smell of blood. The brazier was always burning, and the room was very warm. There was also a pot of water boiling on the brazier.

"Where's my father's letter?"

Upon hearing the voice, Cao Geng handed the letter from Xun Anhou to Tang Ling.

The letter was ordinary, like any other family letter. It began with the promise that everything was fine at home, then went on to ramble on about household matters. The son was away, leaving the family short of labor, but they would do their best to prepare the land for the plowing before the Waking of Insects, and if they were planting the melons and vegetables, they should be able to do it before the Qingming Festival. After discussing farm chores, the letter ended with a question about whether he'd been away for so long and whether he could return during the Grain in Ear Festival...

Tang Ling's thumb gently brushed across the last two words "盼归" (hoping for your return) and put the letter away.

Tang Ling read Xun Anhou's letter very clearly: three time points and three things.

The first thing is to prepare the land for farming during the Jingzhe period. Da Zhou will deploy troops on the border with Qi in accordance with the agreement with Chen State to put pressure on Qi State.

The second thing is to plant vegetable seedlings before Qingming Festival. If Qi Xiao can cause unrest in Qi within a month, forcing Qi to send troops to support the north, Xun Anhou will take the opportunity to attack and force his way to Liujiang Lingshan.

The third thing was to return home during the Grain in Ear season... Regardless of the outcome of this battle, Tang Ling should return...

Tang Ling quietly put away the letter from home, and couldn't help but think of the letter that Xun Anhou had sent to Yuanjing City and asked Huang Zexian to give it to him alone. Tang Ling didn't dare to read it until he was about to leave Yuanjing City. He opened the letter and saw that there was a blank piece of paper inside. There was nothing. There was no special technique to hide the text. It was just a blank piece of paper, just like his father's silence to him, which was like a heavy hammer hitting his chest, causing a dull pain.

My father must be very angry...

Tang Ling took a deep breath. Now was not the time to think about that. She turned around and asked Cao Geng, "How many people has father arranged in Xingtian Pass?"

"Sir, we have twenty men, all skilled fighters. The Marquis has ordered us to protect you every step of the way."

Cao Geng said this because Tang Ling was about to lend the Xingluo Guards to Qi Xiao. Why would the Prince of Chen need their protection and help? Besides, weren't the people from the Xuanji Camp also there? They must have deployed troops at Xingtian Pass as well. Maybe the Tiance Camp was there too. Zhou and Chen had been enemies for a hundred years, so why would they care about the life and death of the Prince of Chen?

Tang Ling glanced at Cao Geng and said, "The situation in the Three Kingdoms is changing rapidly. I'm taking this risk by following the Chen army into Qi, determined to conquer Qi. If we win this battle, the world will be divided between Chen and Zhou. If we lose, the survival of the Great Zhou will be in jeopardy. Father sent you here because he trusts you to do a good job. If you can understand and follow my instructions, then you can stay. Otherwise, I don't need you anymore."

Cao Geng was startled and knelt down hurriedly: "Sir, Cao Geng has no other intentions. We will obey your orders."

"Tomorrow, Cao Geng, you will follow the King of Chu to Xingtian Pass. If he needs you, he will tell him. If not, just stay with him. If anything goes wrong, you don't have to come see me again."

"Yes, Cao Geng understands."

Tang Ling waved her hand to let the brothers Cao Geng and Cao Xin go out, and sighed softly.