The Slender Waist-Chapter 230 - 163: The Battle of Bingzhou_3

"Your Majesty..."

-

Bingzhou City.

Daman and Xiaoman had not slept either. They were sitting on stools, braced against the door, listening to the deafening noise until night fell.

"The lady said last time that when people are tired, they need to rest. The Qi Army can’t keep attacking without stopping for a rest. Why haven’t they stopped yet?"

Xiaoman’s voice was low, tinged with confusion.

Daman shook her head, "I don’t know either, perhaps His Majesty is determined to make a final stand."

She still referred to him as His Majesty. Xiaoman’s lips twisted slightly, but she said nothing.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"It’s the Left Guard." Xiaoman stood up excitedly and rushed to open the door.

The door creaked open.

Ye Chuang’s face was tense, his expression unusually somber.

"Where is the lady?"

He did not call her maiden anymore.

From the moment the Great General had insisted on a formal marriage before donning his armor and going into battle, they all knew that Feng Yun had truly become the General’s wife.

Seeing that it was not Zuo Zhong, Xiaoman’s expression fell slightly, and her voice became urgent,

"The lady has retired for the night, Guard Ye... What about outside? Is everything alright?"

Ye Chuang noticed Xiaoman’s anxiety.

His expression softened slightly, "There has been a complication, and I must see the lady immediately. Sister, would you please inform her?"

Xiaoman was slightly stunned and had no chance to answer before Feng Yun’s voice came from the inner chamber.

"Guard Ye, what has happened?"

She opened the door and immediately fixed her gaze on Ye Chuang.

Looking into those bright, spirited eyes, Ye Chuang’s anxiety eased somewhat. He stepped forward, bowed to Feng Yun, and said:

"Lady, there has been an unusual situation with General Deng. I have heard distressing news..."

When Pei Jue left the city to meet the Qi Army in battle, he left Deng Guang and his Orange Crane Army to guard the city, intended to provide mutual support. Unexpectedly, soon after Pei Jue’s departure, Deng Guang quietly replaced the guards at all four gates with his own loyal soldiers.

"Almost everyone in the city now is General Deng’s man. If General Deng truly harbors ill will, it would be disastrous..."

Deng Guang?

That was Pei Jue’s confidant, someone he trusted deeply. By all accounts, he ought not to be disloyal...

But Ye Chuang had been with Pei Jue for many years, and Feng Yun trusted his instincts and judgment.

This was tantamount to having an enemy within the ranks while external foes were still at bay.

If Deng Guang were to stage a rebellion at this time, Bingzhou City would be the most vulnerable regardless of whether Pei Jue or the Qi Army won or lost. Returning to the city would be obstructed, there would be no supplies for continuation, and with enemies on both sides, death would be inevitable.

And then there were all of these people.

Trapped inside the city, they would be like turtles caught in a net, utterly at the mercy of others.

At this moment, it was hard for Feng Yun to guess what Deng Guang was thinking—whether he had long since conspired with Xiao Cheng to betray Pei Jue, or if he intended to seize Bingzhou for himself, or whether he had reached some understanding with the Great Jin Imperial Court for other reasons...

But she could not be complacent.

Feng Yun inquired, "How many are Deng Guang’s personal soldiers?"

Ye Chuang replied, "At least three thousand."

Not all of the Orange Crane Army would follow Deng Guang’s commands, but after many years of deep influence in the army, having three thousand loyal soldiers was enough to shake the resolve of other soldiers who were uncertain and wavering.

In times like these, the destructive power was too great.

"What do you suggest we do now, Guard Ye?"

Ye Chuang said, "We should leave through the north gate. If the guards there refuse to let us pass, we can confirm Deng Guang’s betrayal. I and others are prepared to die protecting the lady’s escape..."

Feng Yun narrowed her eyes slightly, "Leaving through the north gate, once past the ferry, leads straight to Hongye Valley... Isn’t that just as deadly?"

"No..."

Ye Chuang hesitated for a moment, then gave a respectful bow.

"The lady may not be aware, but the Great General had already planned that when the Qi Army lays siege, he would coordinate with the forces of Han Chuhu in Hongye Valley to encircle and wipe out Xiao San..."

Hadn’t Han Chuhu and the others betrayed Pei Jue?

Could it be that was also part of Pei Jue’s strategy?

The traitors of her previous life hadn’t betrayed this time?

The faithful of her previous life had suddenly turned traitor, and with things not unfolding as they had before, Feng Yun felt an uncomfortable sweat at her back...