Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 1030 - 641: Counterattack

Chapter 1030: Chapter 641: Counterattack

The sudden activation of the Protective City Formation thrust Zhenxi Prefecture City, a city long distant from the rhythm of warfare, into inevitable chaos. However, as the commanding officers returned to their posts and orders were issued one after another, the efficiency of military governance quickly stabilized the situation.

Yet, in Xu Yuan’s plan, this was merely the beginning.

If Mu Xingchen’s intelligence was accurate, the adversary would begin their assault on the city in two days at the earliest.

To defend this fortress from the Saints’ grasp, every resource within the city must be utilized exhaustively, whether it be the stationed Xia Groups and merchant caravans or the war reserves of the noble clans—all had to be requisitioned under military governance.

This, however, was Xu Yuan’s true headache.

Back in Northern Border City, when the Barbarian Tribes’ army had already reached the city gates, the Wrapped Chest Princess had the absolute loyalty of the Northern Border Army, relying on her overwhelming might to suppress all opposition—a feat that still required considerable effort to unite the city’s resources.

As for the current state of Zhenxi Prefecture City, compared to Northern Border, it could only be described as a fragmented mess.

The noble clans in the city were deeply intertwined with Zhenxi Prefecture, with some mid-ranking commanders hailing from these families; it was nearly impossible to consolidate everything within two days.

Fortunately, Zhenxi Prefecture’s aide group had long prepared contingency plans for such scenarios.

How to requisition, how to dispatch, how to compensate—methods for each were mapped out.

Upon learning this, Xu Yuan decided to refrain from interfering.

Despite having studied numerous similar cases in the Prime Minister’s Mansion’s references and possessing the requisite knowledge, his understanding of Zhenxi Prefecture City was far too shallow. Mimicking these strategies without real insight would easily devolve into mere armchair theorizing, so he left professional matters to the professionals.

Thus, at this critical juncture, Xu Yuan unexpectedly found himself with some leisure time, privately perusing confidential matters of Zhenxi Prefecture in the Military Hub Hall.

Li Junwu followed the plan to convene a pre-battle meeting.

Tian Ye, on the other hand, went off to tease the dog. She seemed to have had a good relationship with that Qilin Wolf in the past—it was perhaps the only remaining "old companion" of this enchantress in the mortal realm.

As for Jia Yi, Xu Yuan avoided meeting her for now.

It wasn’t out of fear of retaliation for tying her up for an entire day; rather, he found it unnecessary to provoke any conflict.

However, this brief moment of peace before the storm was soon shattered.

Li Junwu returned.

Footsteps echoed in the silent hall as Xu Yuan lifted his gaze, tossing out a casual greeting, only to see her face clouded with an oppressive gloom.

She looked at him, trying to maintain a softened tone:

"I’m planning to visit the Xuanting Barracks."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan felt a jolt in his heart, instinctively standing up:

"Trouble arose during the pre-battle meeting?"

Li Junwu turned around, her voice laden with restraint:

"Lu Bozou didn’t show up at all."

...

...

...

Xuanting Barracks.

After Zhenxi Prefecture City transitioned from a military fortress to an economic hub, in order to prevent soldiers from disturbing civilians, all barracks within the city were relocated to its periphery, surrounded by high walls and guarded pavilions to separate them from the residential zones.

According to usual routines, four marks past the hour of Chen should have been the time for soldiers to convene at the drill ground for training. However, owing to the City Defense Canopy overhead, the barracks were engulfed in a chilling atmosphere, eerily silent.

Inside the main commander’s quarters, gentle murmurs of conversation drifted over a sand table, skimming past racks of weapons, and settled softly at the room’s center.

"Mr. Wen, I require an explanation."

Lu Bozou, clad in heavy armor with his helmet on, sat in the seat of power, staring at the middle-aged man opposite him: "Why was I never informed prior that Zhan Xian’an is one of your people?"

The middle-aged man, dressed in a black-and-white Confucian robe, casually fanned himself with a folding fan adorned with a red diamond tassel, chuckling softly:

"Commander Lu, although the Marquis of Zhenxi is merely a martial artist, he’s a shrewd one at that. Revealing such information to you might expose our plans if he catches wind—what would be the point? Besides, is it even necessary to discuss this now?"

Lu Bozou’s gaze slightly lowered as he responded in a somber tone:

"Defiance of the decree—surely the one behind the Commandery Princess would incite him to attack me."

The middle-aged man of the Wen surname fixed his eyes on the aged general behind the records, maintaining his composed smile:

"Commander Lu, you don’t suppose that once you went to the Government Office, the person supporting the Princess would fail to recognize your betrayal of the Marquis of Zhenxi, do you?"

Lu Bozou narrowed his brows slightly, his voice tinged with anger:

"Youngster, mind your words—this old man has never pled allegiance to you, nor have I committed any acts of betrayal against the Marquis."

The Wen surnamed man scoffed audibly:

"Commander Lu, stop deceiving yourself. The fact that I’m still alive and here at your side is the greatest betrayal you’ve committed against the Marquis of Zhenxi."

"Bang!"

Lu Bozou slammed his fist onto the desk before him, glaring coldly at the Confucian scholar whose respectful facade had faded: "One thing I’ll say from the start—the Marquis is alive, and as long as that remains true, this old man won’t yield to the likes of you."

The Wen surnamed Confucian’s smile slightly dimmed as he stepped forward: "I understand, Commander Lu, that your loyalty to the Marquis stems from your inability to change the internal rot of Zhenxi Prefecture—you only seek a fallback route.

"But that fallback route has now been severed.

"Surely you’ve realized by now—the one who manipulates the Princess is ruthless and decisive. Even a district commander like Zhan Xian’an can be executed without prior approval. If you submit to the decree and approach the Government Office, you’ll certainly be detained. Do you really think your fate will be any better than Zhan Xian’an’s? Trust me—this is me saving your life."

Hearing this, Lu Bozou remained silent for a long while, his weathered face reflecting fatigue as his calloused fingers drummed lightly against his chair’s backrest:

"If that person is so resolute, wouldn’t such overt actions amount to suicide? That girl’s cultivation may be shallow, but she has already stripped away my Military Array Force."

The Wen surnamed scholar grinned faintly:

"Which is why there’s only one path left for you."

Lu Bozou’s gaze sharpened: "What path?"

The Wen surnamed man flashed an eerie smile:

"Activate the military formation, break through the defenses, and welcome the Saints."

"Buzz—"

Before the sound had even faded, the view of the old general seated at the master’s position vanished like a phantom from the Wen surnamed scholar’s sight.

A moment later, Lu Bozou reappeared directly before him.

The abrupt feeling of weightlessness coupled with tightened pressure around his throat told the Wen surnamed man he was being lifted up by the old general, his neck clasped firmly in a vise-like grip.

Though Lu Bozou’s eyes were hidden in the shadow of his helmet, his chilling killing intent saturated every corner of the barracks.

The Wen surnamed man, despite his reddening face and labored breaths, retained a faint smile and transmitted his words via Origin Qi:

"Commander Lu, a wise bird chooses its tree carefully. Your loyalty to the Marquis shattered the moment jealousy overtook your heart. Now, I’m merely offering you an opportunity. Besides, dismantling the array doesn’t mean destroying the city—we simply want the Princess dead."

"Thud!"

Lu Bozou flung the Wen surnamed scholar onto the ground, turning back to his seat while growling coldly:

"This city—I’ve defended it for decades. Speak of this again, and you’ll die."

The Wen surnamed man tumbled across the ground for nearly ten feet before struggling upright, rubbing his swollen neck. He chuckled lightly:

"I expected no less from you, Commander. So I’ve already prepared an alternative plan."

Returning to his seat, Lu Bozou silently watched the man as he stroked the plating on his wrist.

Seeing this, the Wen surnamed scholar spoke unhurriedly:

"While you set off to the Government Office to demand answers, I disseminated a rumor throughout the city—our Commandery Princess has ties with the Great Desert Goddess and has been bewitched by her into letting the Qilin Wolf into the city."

He paused dramatically, glancing toward the courtyard’s sundial before smiling: "By now, the rumor should be spreading across the city. The top-ranking officers in Zhenxi Prefecture must have heard of it as well."

"......"

After listening quietly, Lu Bozou hesitated briefly before asking:

"What are you implying?"

The Wen surnamed scholar spread his hands theatrically before bowing slightly:

"The Princess herself will certainly arrive at this Xuanting Barracks before long. I’ve already summoned the city’s top-ranking officers under your name. When that time comes, you need only confront her publicly, demanding she share the Formation and initiate the Soul-locking Formation to verify whether the Qilin Wolf has entered the city!"