My wife has a secret

Chapter 216 Past
There is an inner hall in Yang's mansion for discussing tactics, and only members of Yang's family and trusted generals are allowed to enter.

Xu Qing did not have the right to enter the inner hall of the Yang family. After returning to the Yang Mansion with the second lady of the Yang family, he first went back to the guest room to report to Shen Shuangxu.

Upon learning that the Liao army on the front line actually regarded refugees within the country as human shields, the usually cold-faced Shen Shuangxu couldn't help but be moved.

"The Liao army's tactics are so radical... This is unreasonable. Although Xiao Chong is a man of swift action and arrogance, he always knows how to do things and pays close attention to the impact of the war on the Liao Kingdom."

"is it?"

Sitting on the bed in the guest room, Shen Shuangxu was like a bright pearl, graceful and beautiful, with an extraordinary temperament. Her conversation and behavior revealed an elegant atmosphere, like a poem or a painting, intoxicating.

She placed her slender hands on her knees and explained in a calm voice: "Although Xiao Chong was born into the Xiao family, a prominent family in the Liao Kingdom, his experience in his youth was not smooth sailing, but full of setbacks."

"The Xiao family is one of the three great noble families of the Khitan people. The family's power is comparable to that of the royal family, and its influence in the military is even greater. Xiao Chong has not been valued since he was born, and was arranged by his father to live in a remote town. Until he grew up, he did not understand the significance of the Xiao family."

Xu Qing frowned slightly and asked, "Xiao Chongcheng had never participated in clan affairs before, so how could he become such a giant today?"

"The Xiao family was in fierce internal strife. Xiao's father died of malaria during the war, leaving behind two sons competing fiercely, comparable to the struggle for the throne in an imperial family. However, because the second son killed his brother with his own hands and his methods were cruel, the retainers thought of Xiao Chong in the countryside."

Shen Shuangxu's eyes flickered as he continued, "Xiao Chong, who was taken to the master's house, executed his half brother. He showed unparalleled talent in military and power, and mastered the backbone of the Xiao family in just three years. Not only that, at the critical moment of the Liao Kingdom's survival, he repelled the Qi army's probing and severely damaged the Jin army. After that, he led the three armies of the Liao Kingdom and rarely suffered defeat."

"Because Xiao Chong grew up in a less affluent town, he knew the hardships of ordinary people the best. When he led his troops to fight, he would deliberately take care of them and imagine the plight of the lower classes... I still remember that when he encountered the Jin army in the Battle of Yuxi, he rejected his subordinates' proposal on the grounds that the upstream river water would affect the lives of the people."

After listening to the examples given by Shen Shuangxu, Xu Qing became more and more confused.

"From what he did when he debuted, Xiao Chong doesn't seem like a bad guy, but more like a hero."

Shen Shuangxu said: "Yes, so I am confused about what he has experienced in these years to make his temperament change so drastically and use the refugees in the country as human shields."

Xu Qing shook his head and reported the whereabouts of Shen's father to the other party.

"Now the two armies have set up their positions at Huangling Pass and the border plain below, ready for the next battle at any time... The probability of the delegation returning along the original route is extremely low. The Prime Minister may turn to the southeast and take the water route back to Qi."

Shen Shuangxu had been mentally prepared. The situation during war was different from usual times. However, due to the traitor in Chengxuanfang, she did not dare to use this huge intelligence agency to find her father.

"It's okay. My father is so wise, it's unlikely that anything will happen to him."

Shen Shuangxu's words seemed more like comforting herself, and her eyes became a little dazed.

For some reason, Xu Qing reached out and held the other person's hand. It was not until he touched the smooth, soft and elastic skin that he realized he had crossed the line.

The relationship between the two was in name only, and Shen Shuangxu didn't like to interact with others, so doing this would only make people dislike her.

However, contrary to Xu Qing's expectations, Shen Shuangxu did not object to the contact of their skin, but tilted her head, wondering what she was thinking.

But Xu Qing could feel that the other person's palm was somewhat warm, and he was quietly clenching his five fingers. ...

Somewhere within the territory of Liao.

A caravan stopped outside a small border town, which was close to the State of Qi. As long as they crossed the suspension bridge outside the city, they could reach the territory of Qi directly.

But after a caravan attendant got off the car and communicated with the city guards, he hurried back to the leading man and pulled his ear and said, "Sir, the road ahead is blocked. The routes from various counties to Qi are all in trouble. And I heard from the officer that Prince Xiao has led his troops to start the war."

The leading man was middle-aged, with gray hair at his temples and worried eyes.

He was Shen Nianyan in disguise, and this caravan was also disguised as a delegation from the State of Qi.

After a night banquet in Shangjing City, Shen Nianyan, who realized that something was not right, personally led the last group of envoys out of the city in the dark of night and surrounded the mountain city in the east, intending to return to Qi State. However, he did not expect that Liao State had stationed border troops here.

"This place is already the most inconspicuous place on the border of Liao State. It often takes five or six days to convey orders. It seems that... Xiao Chong has made up his mind this time and is determined to fight to the death with our country."

The people who have been accompanying the delegation until now are basically the confidants cultivated by Shen Nianyan.

After listening to the analysis, the man was not worried about the safety of his group, but asked: "Sir, will the young lady and Marquis Guangping be in danger?"

"No, they left early. No matter how fast Xiao Chong is, he can't gather troops, march to the border, and block the trade route in three days. Moreover, the Yang family of Huangling Pass are not fools. The head of the Yang family, the daughter, is sensible and can guard the border for more than ten days."

"More than ten days?"

The other party was slightly stunned and asked, "Sir, are you wrong? The Yang family, the Zhennan Zhongwu Army, and the Yinshan Tiger and Leopard Cavalry are all elite troops of Qi State. Huangling Pass has the advantage of natural dangers. How can they only hold it for more than ten days?"

Shen Nianyan sighed and explained, "Although the Yang family claims to have 40,000 troops, one-third of the soldiers are female soldiers, and there are few men in the border areas... And the elite troops are not the 40,000 troops under the Yang family, but the heavy armored cavalry composed of their own troops. The war between two countries is also a battle of national strength. I say more than ten days is the limit."

"Then, sir..."

Shen Nianyan smiled bitterly, showing a helpless look on his face, and said: "At this point, we are trapped in the territory of Liao and have nothing to do. We can only place our hopes on the younger generation... I hope the saint will not cause trouble for the Yang family at the critical moment."

……

After the previous day's raid and defeat, the Liao army suddenly fell silent.

But Yang Xianning, who was familiar with the Liao army's behavior, knew that this unusual silence was actually a prelude to the Liao army's preparations to take real action and start a formal war.

Sure enough, in the early morning of the next day, there were flags fluttering, cavalrymen rushing like tides, and the infantry phalanxes lined up in front of the army were so long that the horizon stretched as far as the eye could see.

(End of this chapter)