"There might be a spy among the Shanzhou Five Armies," Tang Xiaobai did not hide her thoughts, "We can’t tell now, so we might as well take everyone out."

"But leaving Shanzhou an empty city is indeed very dangerous," Xin Yi remarked.

Tang Xiaobai gave a slight smile, "Don’t worry, there are arrangements."

Xin Yi, hearing her say this, knew it was something unspeakable and did not inquire further, changing the subject, "Is Second Miss going out as well?"

Originally entering Turkic territory is dangerous, but since the Shanzhou army is leaving, Shanzhou itself is dangerous too, unsure whether to bring the young girl.

But she doesn’t need to know; Second Miss always has her own mind.

"Of course!" Tang Xiaobai said.

"When the time comes, let Ah Jin lead a squad of elite soldiers to protect Second Miss," Xin Yi said.

"There’s no need," Tang Xiaobai said nonchalantly, "I have plenty of skilled experts around me!" Just having Li Xingyuan was enough to protect her.

Xin Yi paused, glancing around, and asked, "Last time I saw a strange girl by Second Miss’s side, didn’t she come from Capital City?"

"Her...," Tang Xiaobai was pondering how to reply when suddenly a shadow flashed before her eyes, and her bearded guard appeared.

"That Zhang Yichao left with his men!"

...

Zhang Yichao’s departure in anger didn’t affect much.

The troop order came down the same day, and although the remaining four armies were reluctant, none had the defiance of Zhang Yichao, accepting the orders and returning to gather troops.

After resting thoroughly for three days in Shancheng, Tang Xiaobai set off westward towards Shibao City.

Shibao City is on Shicheng Mountain, a military stronghold close to Turkic territory.

Tang Ziqian left from here, leading the great army to campaign against the Turks.

Now Tang Xiaobai also plans to leave from here.

The guarding troops of Shibao City are the Zhenwu Army.

When Tang Xiaobai and Xue Shaojian arrived outside Shibao City, the other four armies had already arrived at the arranged time, a dense mass of four thousand people looking up at the solid walls of Shibao City.

The scene even seemed slightly comical.

The city gates were tightly closed, and the soldiers guarding the gates stared straight ahead.

Xue Shaojian was about to order someone to shout at the gate but was stopped by Tang Xiaobai.

Tang Xiaobai squinted and gave a signal.

From behind her, a tall and sturdy man rode forward.

This man had a full beard, only his bright and spirited eyes were visible.

The man took down the large bow from his back and took arrows from his quiver.

He bent the bow and nocked an arrow.

His somewhat nonchalant posture instantly became taut, like a drawn bowstring, ready to go.

"Whoosh—"

The arrow flew like a meteor, hitting the flag on the city wall.

The city head became chaotic immediately.

Our side also started bustling, everyone curiously examining the bearded guard.

"Good!" Cheng Zhidu couldn’t help but applaud, stepping closer to carefully examine the man.

Though his beard covered half his face, the handsome features were still visible.

"Young man, great arm strength!" Cheng Zhidu sincerely praised, turning to Xiao Bai and asked, "With such a good archer, where did Second Miss find him? He’s not part of the eldest son’s retinue?"

Tang Xiaobai thought for a moment, then said, "Picked up on the road."

Cheng Zhidu’s face looked even more surprised, turning back to the bearded man, "With such arm strength and archery, you should be fighting on the battlefield, amidst thousands of soldiers, taking the enemy general’s head, being a guard is really a waste, why not follow me? With your courage, you shall achieve outstanding military feats and be granted a noble title."

Tang Xiaobai: ...

I suspect you’re trying to recruit him, stealing my talents.

The bearded man chuckled heartily, "Protecting Second Miss is my honor, humble skill, pardon the laughter, generals."

Humble skill...

The generals all turned away, losing their thought of valuing talent.

Such an arrogant person would only cause trouble if he came.

Yet Cheng Zhidu didn’t give up, frowning, "Young man, how can you lack ambition—"

As he was speaking, the city gate of Shibao opened, a man on horseback rushed out, not even close yet, he began cursing, "You motherless dogs, dare to shoot arrows at me—"

Before he finished, Li Xingyuan suddenly pulled a long spear from someone nearby and thrust it forward.

Only two moves and the man was flung to the ground, rolling twice before scrambling back up, still cursing, "Pointing blades at your own kind, want to rebel?"

Li Xingyuan gave a cool smile, "Seeing the Inspection Envoy yet keeping the gates closed, you’re the one who wants to rebel, aren’t you?"

Zhang Yichao gave him a fierce glare, finally shutting his mouth.

...

The command in Xue Shaojian’s order carried the Jade Seal; if Zhang Yichao didn’t obey, the main general would be replaced by a vice general to lead the troops all the same.

Yet Zhang Yichao actually stiffened his neck and refused to accept the order, "If you all want to leave, go, but I, Zhang Yichao, have pledged before General Tang, even if fighting to the last man, will die defending Shibao City!"

Tang Xiaobai thought for a moment, missing one person didn’t matter, and she quietly nodded to Xue Shaojian.

...

On May 15th, the vice envoy of the five armies led five thousand soldiers out of Shibao City, down the mountain, and entering Turkic territory.

Before Tang Ziqian’s expedition, for each army, he left a thousand soldiers and a hundred horses.

However, there are differences among them.

For instance, the Lintao army originally had fifty-five thousand soldiers, fifty-four thousand taken away, leaving one thousand.

While both the Zhenwu Army and the Weirong Army only had a thousand soldiers originally, Tang Ziqian didn’t take any.

Since the Zhenwu Army guards Shibao City, not even the commanding officer was extracted.

These five armies not only differ greatly in the number of troops and horses, but their other components are also quite delicate.

"...Half of the Lintao Army was transferred by the Duke, and the other half recruited personally by the eldest son, also the main force stationed in Shanzhou; the Bai Shui Army was also placed by the eldest son, and the commanders of these two armies are confidants of the eldest son;"

"And the He Yuan Army was placed by the previous Left Guard Middle General Li Yi, the Weirong Army by Shanzhou Governor Du Xi, and the Zhenwu Army by the Old Changshan King—"

Tang Xiaobai heard until this point and glanced at Li Xingyuan.

He gave a barely noticeable nod.

The Old Changshan King is Li Mingyi’s father, Li Xingyuan’s grandfather.

Unexpectedly, the Zhenwu Army comes from the lineage of Prince Changshan.

The list found by Changshan Prince Mansion indeed includes a middle-level element of the Zhenwu Army but does not mention Zhang Yichao.

Is it a more confidential concealment, or truly irrelevant to Zhang Yichao?

Is there really a spy hidden among Shanzhou Five Armies?

Tang Xiaobai surveyed her surroundings.

She and Xue Shaojian were in a group, surrounded by guards and imperial guards, with the He Yuan Army in front and the Weirong Army behind.

Before He Yuan Army was the Lintao Army, behind Weirong Army was the Zhenwu Army, Bai Shui Army was at the back.

She privately hoped the spy was among these people, meaning the armies of her father and brother were safe.

Coming out of Shibao City is a narrow valley path.

After the valley path, it opened up suddenly.

Mid-May, the height of summer.

Before them lay grassy fields, wildflowers, the waters fragrant, newborn vegetation even covered the traces of horses’ hooves.

"This is the Weichi River, going further ahead is the Kuba Sea, and in non-war times, Shanzhou scouts explore up to the Kuba Sea," Ah Jin stated.

Xue Shaojian looked up at the sky and said, "It’s half an hour until noon."

"How much farther to Moli Post?" Tang Xiaobai asked.

"At the current marching speed, approximately one more hour."

No time!

Tang Xiaobai’s gaze turned serious, she spoke to Xue Shaojian, "May I trouble Mr. Xue to take a rest here—" She paused, exchanging a look with Gu Yuan, "We will head to Moli Post!"

--------------

Still following the storyline today, once this part is complete, the little ancestor will arrive, ahhhh, I can finally write romance scenes!