Li Junqing said, "Father, is there no other way? If we seize control of Wu'an County and hold this place, waiting for the Emperor's rescue, there might still be a chance."

Li Yan shook his head and said, "The Huo Family has been operating for many years, and nearly all the leaders of Wu'an County's Defender Army are his people. Moreover, there are quite a few personal guards in his Marquis's Mansion."

"With the Black Water Gang's assistance, our chances of success are slim."

Li Boxiong suddenly said, "What about the Cyan Dragon Bureau? If we can win the Cyan Dragon Bureau's help, perhaps we could contend with the Huo Family and the Black Water Gang."

"The Cyan Dragon Bureau..."

Li Yan contemplated silently.

Li Boxiong frowned and said, "Could the Cyan Dragon Bureau really dare to help the Huo Family and the Black Water Gang to rebel?"

"They don't even need to help."

Li Yan said, "As long as they pretend to be unaware, waiting for Wu'an County to fall into the Huo Family's hands, it's fine."

Li Boxiong asked, "But what's in it for the Cyan Dragon Bureau to do that?"

"It might involve a power struggle in the Capital City."

Li Zhongmou said softly.

Li Yan said, "To take a step back, even if we seize Wu'an County, we can't hold it. The Black Water Gang is just the vanguard. Once Pingzhou's governor rebels, the Black Water Country will definitely dispatch a large army for support. By then, Wu'an County will face the onslaught of the Black Water Country's army. At that point, we won't even have a retreat."

Li Boxiong and the others fell silent.

If Pingzhou rebels and the Black Water Country's army attacks, Wu'an County would be a solitary city without defensible terrain.

These soldiers in the city are definitely not enough to hold it.

At this moment, a guard reported from outside the door.

"Lord Commander, Cyan Dragon Guard Chen Tang requests an audience."

Li Yan nodded and said, "Bring him in."

"He must be here to see you."

Li Yan looked at Li Junqing and smiled slightly.

Li Junqing bowed slightly and asked softly, "Father, you knew all along?"

"It's rare to meet someone you like, how could I not know? It's just a pity, between you two, alas."

Li Yan sighed, "You're about to leave this place and may not have the chance to meet again in the future. Say goodbye to him, stay a little longer."

"Why don't you ask him if he's willing to go with you?"

Li Boxiong said.

Li Zhongmou shook his head and said, "Chen Tang has now joined the Cyan Dragon Bureau and is highly regarded by Cai Yin; how could he run to Longxi with us."

"Junqing, be careful not to let anything slip."

Li Yan advised again.

"Understood."

Li Junqing nodded.

At this moment, led by a guard, Chen Tang arrived.

Seeing Li Yan, Li Boxiong, Li Zhongmou, and Li Junqing coming towards him.

"Lord Chen is here."

Li Yan looked at Chen Tang, nodded slightly, greeted him, and said, "You all talk, I need to go to the County Governor's Mansion."

"Lord Commander, I came here to talk to you."

Chen Tang quickly called to Li Yan.

"Oh?"

Li Yan smiled and said, "Junqing is about to return to his hometown; won't you two talk a bit more?"

"Return home?"

Chen Tang asked, "Where's home?"

Li Junqing replied, "Liangzhou Longxi."

"Oh?"

Chen Tang was momentarily dazed, somewhat distracted.

The Longxi Li Clan.

It seemed there was such a family in a previous life too.

But quickly, Chen Tang snapped back to reality and suddenly asked, "Is the Lord Commander also leaving?"

"Of course, I won't go."

Li Yan smiled and shook his head.

Chen Tang looked at Li Boxiong and Li Zhongmou, then asked, "And what about you two elder brothers, are you also going back to Longxi?"

The two exchanged glances, seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.

Chen Tang's questions were a bit abrupt; it seemed he knew something!

Li Yan smiled and asked, "Lord Chen, what do you wish to discuss with me?"

Chen Tang said, "Regarding the Pingzhou governor's rebellion!"

Li Boxiong and his siblings' expressions changed.

Li Yan remained calm, still smiling, and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"I believe the Lord Commander is already aware of this."

Chen Tang said, "Otherwise, you wouldn't be arranging for Junqing to leave Wu'an County. Moreover, I believe the Lord Commander has some forces at his disposal that can rival the Huo Family and the Black Water Gang."

Having said this much, continuing to play dumb would be pointless.

Li Yan asked, "Are you representing the Cyan Dragon Bureau?"

"No, it's just me personally."

Chen Tang shook his head and said, "I don't know the position of the Cyan Dragon Bureau."

Li Yan asked, "What do you want to say about this matter?"

Chen Tang asked, "It seems that the Lord Commander wants to have his family leave Wu'an County while he stays alone?"

"As the Commander of Wu'an County, and as a court official, I have the duty to stay in Wu'an County."

Li Yan said, "But the safety of Wu'an County has nothing to do with them, there's no need for them to lose their lives in vain."

"Staying in Wu'an County doesn't necessarily mean death."

Chen Tang said solemnly, "As long as the Lord Commander can keep control of Wu'an County, he can wait for support from Qian Country. I believe that Emperor Qian will come to the rescue as quickly as possible."

"How to control?"

Li Zhongmou asked, "With our current strength, we are still unable to compete with the Huo Family and the Black Water Gang."

Chen Tang asked, "If you don't mind me asking, how many usable people does the Li Family have at the moment?"

Li Boxiong and his sister remained silent.

Li Yan calmly said, "About five hundred people or so. But the defender army at the four gates of the city each have five hundred people, totaling two thousand. The government office has over a hundred people, the Black Water Gang has upwards of five hundred, and the Huo Family has at least several hundred."

"The Huo Family and the Black Water Gang can mobilize at least three thousand people in Wu'an County! My five hundred people are hardly of any use."

Three thousand people!

Chen Tang frowned privately.

This number is quite large.

Normally, a commandery's defender army wouldn't be this many.

However, Qian Country has just emerged from decades of turmoil. Pingzhou borders the Black Water Country, separated only by the Three Thousand Snow Ridges, so in Qian Country, besides garrison soldiers, also known as border soldiers, and the Imperial Guard from the capital city, there are also state and county soldiers.

Qian Country's control over various states and counties is not as extensive as imagined.

Li Yan suddenly asked, "Was Third Young Master Huo killed by your people?"

"Sort of."

Chen Tang didn't want to expose Qingmu's identity, so he replied ambiguously.

Li Yan then asked, "So, you can mobilize the Vermilion Bird Guard?"

Chen Tang said, "The Vermilion Bird Guard in Wu'an County isn't a problem."

"Father, if we have the assistance of the Vermilion Bird Guard, we have a chance to capture Wu'an County."

Li Boxiong said in a deep voice, "The leaders of the city defender army are mostly from the Huo Family, but the soldiers below them mostly do not wish to follow the Huo Family in rebellion. As long as we capture Marquis Wu'an, Huo Zinan, and Han Lang, there will be an opportunity to take over the city defender army!"

Li Boxiong's words were correct; of the three thousand soldiers, only the thousand-plus people from the Huo Family and the Black Water Gang would be willing to follow them into rebellion.

The city defender army isn't willing to take such big risks.

Li Yan didn't answer, staring at Chen Tang and asked, "Even if we capture Wu'an County, we can't stop Black Water Country's support."

"Don't worry about that, I have my ways to cut off Black Water Country's support."

Chen Tang said with certainty.

In reality, he didn't have a plan.

It was just due to his trust in Mountain Guest that he was forced to show confidence.

If he showed even a hint of hesitation or doubt, Li Yan would definitely not trust him.

"What way?"

Li Yan didn't intend to let Chen Tang's words pass unchallenged, and immediately pursued further.

Chen Tang calmly replied, "I can't say at the moment, or else it won't work."

He could only make up something on the spot, to appease Li Yan for now.

Li Yan was silent for a while, then shook his head and said, "I can stay, but Bo Xiong and the others must leave."

Chen Tang said, "If they leave, there's no issue, as long as the Li Family's trained guards and personal attendants remain."

Li Yan shook his head, "Those people are their last resources, it's too risky to keep them in Wu'an County. If the city falls, it would be total annihilation."

Over the years, the Li Family has trained and cultivated a batch of guards, but Li Yan could not entrust their safety to Chen Tang's ambiguous promises.

Chen Tang fell silent.

With Li Yan's character, he definitely wouldn't take such risks based on just a few words from someone.

He had analyzed a lot just now, but in fact, many of them are uncertain factors.

"Father, let us stay with you and fight this once!"

Li Boxiong suddenly said.

Li Zhongmou also nodded and said, "If we can defend Wu'an County this time, and protect Pingzhou, the Li Family will surely be valued by the Emperor and become the new dignitaries of Qian Country. Although it carries risk, it's worth the gamble."

Li Junqing said, "Yes, even if we all die here, there's still Third Brother outside, the Li bloodline will not be broken."

"No, that's impossible!"

Li Yan still resolutely refused.

Li Zhongmou cleared his throat and said, "Father, actually there's another reason, you owe Chen Tang a favor."

"What favor?"

Li Yan frowned.

Li Zhongmou said, "That previous supreme earth ginseng was Chen Tang's brother's..."

"You..."

Li Yan glared at Li Zhongmou and snapped, "Didn't you say it was found by Junqing on Three Thousand Snow Ridges?"

"Yes, that's right."

Li Zhongmou said, "She found Chen Tang's brother on Three Thousand Snow Ridges, and Chen Tang's brother then gave her the supreme earth ginseng, so it was as if she found it on Three Thousand Snow Ridges."

Li Yan: "..."

Li Boxiong said, "Father, you've already eaten that supreme earth ginseng, you can't return it now."

"You three have learned to team up to deceive me!"

Li Yan angrily glared at the three, then his eyes flashed a trace of determination, and he slowly said, "Since that's the case, let's fight the Huo Family and the Black Water Gang and see who truly rules Wu'an County!"

"Commander, you're wise."

Chen Tang quickly praised.

Li Yan glanced at Chen Tang and said, "Nephew Chen, still calling me Commander? I'm willing to stay, partly because of Junqing."

"Father, you are talking nonsense again."

Li Junqing muttered.

Chen Tang chuckled and adjusted his address, "Uncle Li."

After exchanging a few more words and finalizing some details, Chen Tang took his leave.

Li Yan watched Chen Tang's back, nodding to himself, "You siblings do have a good eye, this young man is not an ordinary person, being able to cut off Black Water Country's support? I wonder if he's just making things up."

"Could he be someone from the palace?"

Li Zhongmou asked, "Vermilion Bird Guard, ordinary people wouldn't be able to command."

"Hmph!"

Li Yan snorted lightly and said, "It's not related to him, it's someone in his family who's from the palace!"

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