Wenren Jia held the hot drink that had just been brought up in front of her, smiling as he waited for her to continue.

Tang Xiaobai’s face suddenly reddened with guilt, but she tried hard to maintain a serious demeanor: "I want to learn cartography from you, sir!"

Last time, the map of Longmen Mountain drawn by Wenren Jia truly amazed her.

Moreover, the letter she received yesterday from her little ancestor said that the plan used this time was her battle strategy, which was entirely based on Wenren Jia’s map.

Map data are incredibly useful in ancient military affairs, and she wanted to learn!

Besides, learning from the gentle brother Wenren was also great!

Wenren Jia was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then chuckled and shook his head: "How could I be skilled at cartography? I merely visited Longmen Mountain and sketched it from memory. If you, Second Miss, wish to learn map-making, you could study at the Cartography Department of the Ministry of War, or perhaps your father’s subordinates might know some experts in map-making."

"Then could you teach me how to sketch casually?" Tang Xiaobai looked at him eagerly.

How could she get into the Ministry of War?

If her father had any intention of letting her learn, he would have arranged it long ago. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Furthermore, she just wanted to learn from Brother Wenren!

Wenren Jia smiled and said, "I merely read some books and drew a few places I’ve visited; I don’t dare to call it teaching. If you have an interest, Second Miss, we can exchange tips."

This was tantamount to agreeing.

Tang Xiaobai nodded with a big smile, smoothly changing the topic: "Do you like traveling through mountains and rivers?" It seemed as though Wenren Jia’s drawings existed more as travel guides.

"When I was young, I accidentally read ’Shui Jing Zhu’ and was deeply fascinated by it; I even made a vow, wanting to trace the source of the Yellow River." His smile slightly faded, his gaze distant, as if in some reflection.

"Trace the source of the Yellow River?"

Wenren Jia nodded, his eyes seemed to brighten a bit, and said, "’Yu Gong’ mentions Yu diverting the river at Jishi, so it was believed since ancient times that the source of the Yellow River was at Jishi Mountain. Later, Zhang Qian was sent to the Western Regions and claimed that the river originated from Kunlun. However, Jishi Mountain and Kunlun Mountain are separated by thousands of miles. In the early Yuan period of our dynasty, a general discovered during the campaign against Tuyuhun that Xingxiu River was actually the true source of the Yellow River. Thus, I wanted to visit upstream along the Yellow River to see if Xingxiu River is indeed the true source!"

When he said this, he was noticeably different from usual.

His speech was faster, and his tone a bit more enthusiastic, his eyes sparkled.

A brother with dreams shines!

Tang Xiaobai watched him with her face cupped in her hands, slowly saying: "Mr. Wenren even knows about the discovery made by the general about the campaign against Tuyuhun..."

This kind of discovery probably hasn’t been documented yet, right?

A commoner, does he know a bit too much?

Wenren Jia was slightly taken aback, his expression returning to normal as he smiled and regretfully said: "But the Xingxiu River area is still within Tuyuhun’s territory, and in recent years Tuyuhun has not had diplomatic relations with our dynasty, which is unfortunate—" Saying this, he suddenly noticed the girl’s changing expression, "Second Miss?"

"I suddenly remembered something..." Tang Xiaobai murmured, suddenly standing up, causing the cups and dishes on the table to clink together.

Wenren Jia quickly reached out to steady the cups and dishes, saying, "If Second Miss has urgent matters, feel free to leave first."

Her face had turned a bit pale, but she hesitated for a moment when looking at him, slowly sat back down: "It’s not that urgent..."

But she just sat down and immediately stood up again: "Forget it, I should leave quickly!"

Saying this, she hurriedly bowed and then rushed out.

Exiting the private room, she quickly went downstairs with determined steps, her heart burning like fire.

She remembered!

In the original storyline, the ending of the Duke Yan Mansion was tragic.

And the reason for the Duke Yan Mansion’s tragic end was because both the Duke Yan and his son died in battle.

Killed on the battlefield against Tuyuhun.

In the book, the time of the Duke Yan Mansion’s tragic end was next year.

It’s already nearing the end of the year!

The trouble was, she couldn’t remember when the campaign against Tuyuhun started!

She needed to get home quickly and ask her father!

Exiting the eatery, since the carriage was parked some distance away, Tang Xiaobai became impatient and decided to walk.

Just a few steps out, the sound of horse hooves like rapid rain suddenly came to her ears.

"Get out of the way!" Someone shouted.

"Second Miss!"

Tang Xiaobai held her breath and instinctively stepped back.

Her foot had just lifted when a strong force pulled her back.

"Are you alright?" Wenren Jia’s voice sounded in her ear.

Tang Xiaobai’s heart hadn’t yet settled when she saw a figure on a horse speed past her like a fierce wind, almost brushing her face.

After passing her, the rider abruptly halted, turned back to look at her.

The armor was dusty, face unclear.

With just a quick glance, the rider then swiftly galloped away towards the Imperial City.

"It’s the Liangzhou Army!" Wenren Jia exclaimed.

At this point, confusing and chaotic shouts along with distant hoofbeats rang out: "Urgent report! Urgent report! Urgent news from Liangzhou—"

...

"It’s Tuyuhun—"

When Tang Xiaobai hurried back home, her father was leisurely sitting in the courtyard basking in the sun.

Upon mentioning the urgent news from Liangzhou, he seemed to have already received the news, responding unhurriedly.

Although the urgent news from Liangzhou had just arrived in the Capital City, one couldn’t stop him from being the person in charge of Liangzhou.

"Tuyuhun has occupied West of Linxian City since the previous dynasty, spanning from the Qiemo to the south of Qilian, and north of the Snow Mountain, east to west spans four thousand miles, north to south two thousand miles;"

"At the founding of our dynasty, we sent generals to attack Tuyuhun, reaching as far as Qinghai Lake. At that time, the King of Tuyuhun fled with his courtiers, but during the years when the late emperor was gravely ill and passed away, the Court had no time to manage the Northwest. Tuyuhun returned secretly, and due to the Western Turks causing trouble, we couldn’t deal with Tuyuhun," Tang Shigong smiled, "I didn’t expect they had the nerve to invade Liangzhou."

Although the Duke Yan and his son were not present, Liangzhou was not a place Tuyuhun could easily invade.

On November 19, Tuyuhun disturbed Liangzhou but was repelled by the Liangzhou defensive general.

Therefore, Tang Shigong was not anxious, nor did he regard Tuyuhun as a significant threat.

But Tang Xiaobai was terrified: "Is father going back to Liangzhou?"

Tang Shigong sighed lightly: "Yes, I have to leave again..."

He had been back for less than a year and had to leave once more.

"Is Ah Xiao going too?"

Tang Shigong laughed: "That depends on what Your Majesty thinks."

"Your Majesty might want him to go, right? Ah Xiao has already captured Longmen Village."

Since Qin Xiao could capture Longmen Village, the emperor might think there was no need to keep Tang Ziqian in Hedong.

Tang Shigong chuckled and nodded: "You’re right."

At this time, a servant hurriedly came to report: "Duke, an urgent summon from the Palace!"

It must be for the urgent report from Liangzhou!

Tang Shigong got up and went inside to change clothes before coming out again, only to see his youngest daughter still standing in the courtyard, looking at him eagerly, both cute and pitiful.

He couldn’t help but raise his hand gently and pat her on the head, saying, "After the New Year, you’ll be twelve, help your sister more, she’s got a quick temper—" Various emotions flickered in his eyes, but in the end, he only said, "Take good care of your mother."

As he was about to leave, his sleeve was suddenly tugged.

Turning his head, he saw his sleeve held by a soft, fair little hand of the girl.

"Father..." She seemed to muster up the courage, but still lacked confidence, "Can I... also go to Liangzhou?"