Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 316 - 230: The Final Preparations

Chapter 316: Chapter 230: The Final Preparations

The eastern pavilion’s side room was deathly still.

Xu Yuan sat alone behind a desk piled high with documents, repeatedly verifying some important information in the scrolls.

The overall plan could be devised by him, but whether it could be executed relied on a great deal of specialized knowledge.

Forced into this position, Xu Yuan had to learn many things from scratch.

Fortunately, he had Auntie Lou Ji by his side.

Lou Ji was far more capable than Elder Luo Daofan, who knew nothing.

For matters he did not understand, he could simply ask her. She had the answers to most questions, and for those she couldn’t answer, she could immediately seek information from others through the Tianxun Crystal Orb.

After collating all the intelligence, Xu Yuan discovered that the Barbarian King really was a desperado.

Battles that became famous through an unexpected victory were few and far between throughout history; most who attempted this tactic ended up in their coffins.

If their positions were reversed, allowing Xu Yuan to stand in the place of the Barbarian King,

he would most likely have already led his tribes back into the depths of the snowy plains, using this heavy snow and the rich spoils they had previously captured.

All things are mutually dependent,

The Barbarians’ maneuver to bypass the mountains and head south of Northern Border City not only severed Dayan’s supply line of seven hundred thousand elite troops but also cut off their own supply route.

If the defending forces in Northern Border City weren’t so depleted, or if the blizzards had let up during the month it took to cross the formidable mountains, these hundreds of thousands of Barbarians would’ve perished right below the city walls.

As Xu Yuan pondered,

"Squeak—" The door to the side room opened, and a shapely silhouette entered through the door.

Hearing this, Xu Yuan immediately raised his eyes and asked,

"How’s the situation?"

Lou Ji, with her graceful figure swaying, walked over to the opposite side of the desk and sat down. After taking a sip of tea, she handed Xu Yuan a brief:

"They’ve already withdrawn back into the city. The sudden attack we launched with our flying Demonic Beasts in the city caused quite a mess for the Barbarians, here’s a summary of the process."

Xu Yuan took the brief, skimmed it briefly, and had a rough idea in his mind.

The flying Demonic Beasts carried Source Crystal Bombs to bomb the Barbarian army formation that was unfolding in the east of the city to attract attention, while three thousand cavalry troops charged out from the south of the city to pave the way, followed by the crushing assault of seven thousand infantry in formation.

The moment the two armies clashed, despite the Barbarians being on guard, their forces were in the midst of deploying a siege around Northern Border City, and their formations were torn open.

It was a pity that once the Barbarian army gathered their war totems, they stabilized the front lines immediately and sent out their Wolf Cavalry to slaughter the attacking Black Scale forces.

Having carefully read through the report, Xu Yuan sighed,

"More than half of the ten thousand-strong Black Scale Army was lost within half an hour. It does seem the Barbarians have sent the bulk of their main force."

Xu Yuan fell silent for a moment, then asked Lou Ji,

"What about Yuan Hao?"

"He’s back, but he was detained by Wu Yuan as soon as he entered the city."

As Lou Ji spoke, she heaved a sigh, "Looking at Wu Yuan’s demeanor, if Yuan Hao can’t give a reasonable explanation, he seems intent on having him executed."

Xu Yuan frowned, "Executed?"

Issuing an attack from the city and achieving such results despite the absolute disadvantage in troops, then withdrawing half the forces—Yuan Hao’s leadership shouldn’t end with execution.

Seeing Xu Yuan’s reaction, Lou Ji offered a comforting smile,

"Of course, Wu Yuan probably just thought about it. After all, Changtian, you told Yuan Hao earlier to pin this responsibility on our Prime Minister’s Mansion’s person-in-charge in the Northern Frontier, didn’t you?"

Xu Yuan felt relieved.

As they spoke,

Lou Ji suddenly arched her brow, gestured to Xu Yuan to be quiet, and took out a Tianxun Crystal Orb from the Sumeru Ring:

"I wonder what Your Highness seeks from me?"

"Chief Lou."

Li Qingyan’s raspy voice came through the Source Crystal, simple and direct, "Was Yuan Hao’s sortie at your command?"

Lou Ji gave Xu Yuan a wink and replied with a playful laugh,

"You could say that. Is there a problem?"

Li Qingyan’s tone was impassive,

"I don’t know what you are scheming, but I do not wish occurrences like this to happen a second time."

Lou Ji narrowed her eyes, asking,

"I can’t guarantee that to Your Highness, but I am quite curious. If it happens a second time, are you planning to execute me with a Formation?"

"......"

Faced with such a provocative statement, Li Qingyan did not retaliate with any harsh threats, as empty threats were the most childish.

Lou Ji could not die.

Anyone could, but she could not.

Many of the Black Scale Guards were in direct communication with their superiors; without her, the intelligence network would be ruined.

This was well understood by both parties.

After a moment of silence, Li Qingyan’s voice cooled slightly,

"Send Xu Changtian back."

"Tsk..."

Lou Ji chuckled, "Didn’t Your Highness just lend Changtian to me? I haven’t had enough use of him yet."

Li Qingyan’s voice was measured,

"Tonight, I miss my Prince Consort. It seems inappropriate for him to spend the night at Chief Lou’s, doesn’t it?"

Lou Ji replied with a smile,

"What’s inappropriate? Changtian has always loved sleeping in the same room as me since he was little."

Li Qingyan’s expression turned completely frosty,

"If that’s the case, how about Chief Lou becomes my concubine when I get married?"

"......"

Just as Lou Ji was about to retort, she saw Xu Yuan suddenly shake his head at her.

In fact, Xu Yuan enjoyed watching the drama unfold on the sidelines.

When two strong-willed women clash, this is the result—neither willing to give an inch.

If her cultivation had allowed it, Li Qingyan would have probably fought with Auntie Lou Ji based on her personality.

However, Xu Yuan was aware of the true meaning behind their words.

It seemed like Li Qingyan and Lou Ji were fighting over him, but in reality, one wanted to take him as a hostage to keep the Prime Minister’s Mansion from acting rashly, while the other wanted to take him and flee the city directly.

Seeing Xu Yuan’s gesture, Lou Ji’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as she communicated telepathically,

"Changtian, are you really not leaving the city? If we don’t go now, we might not be able to leave at all."

Xu Yuan gave a faint smile and responded in the same manner,

"Didn’t sister say earlier that even the children of Sect leaders and Elders with such statuses were stopped by Li Qingyan?"

Lou Ji’s voice became slightly more severe,

"They were stopped because their status is not esteemed enough. It’s different for you, Changtian."

"Sister, I know I am different,"

Xu Yuan said with a light laugh. After speaking, his expression became calm as he shook his head, looking in the direction of South City:

"One must bear the responsibilities of one’s position.

"If ten thousand Black Scale Army soldiers can face death unflinchingly on my command, then naturally I cannot let their sacrifice be in vain. I need to stay in Northern Border City to take care of some matters."

Lou Ji looked at Xu Yuan with a complex expression, then cut off the Tianxun Crystal Orb and asked solemnly,

"Changtian, now that such a change has occurred, I need to personally transport the Cloud Qi Bombs and the Sumeru Rings. Afterward, I won’t be able to stay by your side. Are you sure about this?"

"Mhm," Xu Yuan nodded seriously.

"Alright then..." Lou Ji sighed lightly,

Xu Yuan smiled slightly, half-joking,

"Thank you. I thought that if I didn’t listen, sister, you were prepared to knock me out and take me away."

Lou Ji rolled her eyes,

"I did think about it. Your father asked me to support your decisions. I will inform you of the contact methods for several spies in the city. If the city falls, they will do their best to help you escape."

Xu Yuan didn’t waste any more words and tapped the desk,

"Sister, that’s enough. We’ll meet again in the future. But before you leave, I have a few things here that I need you to take care of. Can you see if they’re feasible?"

Lou Ji pursed her lips, looking somewhat resentful,

"We Changtian are becoming more and more demanding, but go ahead. If I can do it, I definitely will."

"....."

"....."

"....."

After everything was arranged, Lou Ji gave Xu Yuan a big hug before she left.

Xu Yuan, on the other hand, was alone as he took a carriage to the Government Office where Li Qingyan was.

An hour later, at the entrance to the Government Office.

This was a spacious avenue, flanked by posted newspapers and notices, with the intense movement of troops and the carriage tracks of city defense equipment grinding the snow-covered ground into slush.

After showing the Prime Minister’s Mansion’s token, Xu Yuan entered the Government Office without any obstruction.

The interior was heavily guarded, with tall, muscular soldiers gripping their weapons, stationed at their posts.

Just as he walked into the training ground outside the main hall, Xu Yuan subconsciously stopped in his tracks.

He saw several strong men in thin clothing kneeling in the snow with their hands tied behind their backs, while behind them stood several soldiers in armor, wielding large swords.

Their cultivation was not weak -- two were Fourth Grade, two were Fifth Grade.

There were Black Scale Guards officers, as well as officers from the Imperial Guards responsible for the city gates.

Two from each.

As he pondered, the blades fell.

"Swish—"

The heads hit the ground and rolled, blood spurting from the severed necks staining the stark white snow with a conspicuous red.

"......"

Seeing this scene, Xu Yuan knew it was Li Qingyan’s way of showing him who’s in charge, so he deliberately showed a hint of shock.

After three heartbeats, he composed himself and with a furrowed brow, continued to step forward.

He suddenly realized how much he had changed.

Over the past year, he had become accustomed to the sight of bloodshed, to the point where the sight of decapitations was almost numb to him.

Along the way, his hands had been stained with the blood of many people.

There was blood of enemies, of the innocent, and now, of his own people.

With a sigh,

Xu Yuan climbed the stairs and entered the military council hall....