Recalling the self-cleverness and ignorance of Hu Yan Che, who had been fooled without knowing it, and the selfish arrogance of Hu Yan Zheng, who squandered the foundation of Yun Qiang as if it were his private property, Lu Qing Wan nodded again.
However, "Even so, aren't Xiliang and Beiwai difficult to deal with? As the strategist knows, Xiliang is now ruled by Xie Shi Luan, a woman who can lead troops in battle, has a clear mind, and can also do accounting. She is not easy to deal with."
"And Beiwai, Beiwai's cavalry is strong and its horses are swift, and it is known to be brave and difficult to handle. Now that they have the assistance of the Turks and have obtained firearms, facing two powerful enemies like Xiliang and Beiwai simultaneously, the strategist, have you ever considered that if either battle goes poorly, we will have no reinforcements?"
"A single misstep could lead to a complete loss, and for us, it's more than just a saying."
Lian Yu smiled upon hearing this, "What if Beiwai no longer has firearms?"
Lu Qing Wan's spirit immediately rose, "What, can the strategist control Beiwai's military equipment?"
Lian Yu smiled with a carefree air, but his words caused Lu Qing Wan's heart to rise.
"Does the Princess Consort remember where Beiwai's firearms came from?"
"Didn't the Turks give them to you?"
Lu Qing Wan raised an eyebrow, "Is there something I don't know about this?"
Before Lian Yu could speak, he couldn't help but laugh himself.
"Just received news, Nie Wu Ming exchanged the gunpowder formula stolen from you for the support of the Great Prince of the Turks, Ashina Hun. But he doesn't know that the Turks' firearms are personally supervised by Khan Helu, and Ashina Hun's transaction with him was just to get something for nothing, to deceive him out of the gunpowder formula."
He had not expected someone as self-proclaimed clever as Nie Wu Ming to be so foolish. Lian Yu did not hide his schadenfreude when he spoke.
"The firearms provided to him this time are all defective products from the Wu An Palace's attempts to cast firearms. Among them, only the first batch of firearms sent to fool him are usable. If the other firearms are actually used, who knows if they will kill our Xuan Jia Army soldiers or their own people!"
Lu Qing Wan was stunned, "Nie Wu Ming, who claims to be smart, how could he be so miserably tricked by the Turks, who are usually considered barbarians?"
"Perhaps it's because the Turks looked too honest, which is why Nie Wu Ming fell for it."
Lian Yu said with schadenfreude, "Nie Wu Ming still doesn't know that batch of firearms is problematic, but the Emperor of Beiwai will soon find out."
Lu Qing Wan saw a hint of unspeakable meaning in Lian Yu's meaningful smile.
"You deliberately had the news about Nie Wu Ming sealed off, yet you let someone leak this news to the Emperor of Beiwai. What is your plan?"
Lian Yu sighed as if resigned, "Indeed, nothing can be hidden from the Princess Consort."
Lu Qing Wan rubbed her face, trying to appear more serious.
"Enough joking. This matter concerns the upcoming combat plan. Be serious. What exactly are you thinking?"
Lian Yu then became serious, "Reporting to the Princess Consort, an hour ago, Shen Tang Zhou sent word that Nie Wu Ming relied on your gunpowder formula and the support of the Great Prince of the Turks to return to the Beiwai court, where he was appreciated by the Emperor of Beiwai and was made Crown Prince. When this news gets back, the Emperor of Beiwai may not depose Nie Wu Ming as Crown Prince, but he will definitely develop a rift with Nie Wu Ming. At that time, Nie Jin Tang, who was strongly recommended by Nie Wu Ming, will surely be affected. And according to my information, the Emperor of Beiwai has been suspicious for years. Apart from Nie Jin Tang and Cheng Nan Liu, there are not many people in Beiwai who can lead troops in battle."
Lu Qing Wan immediately understood.
"The highest art of warfare is to attack the enemy's strategy. Lian Yu is making Beiwai consume itself from within!"
Thus, Lian Yu's seemingly bold combat plan did not seem so risky anymore.
"No wonder the strategist is so confident. It seems that you, the strategist, are now qualified to truly command the three armies."
Confident that the combat plan could be implemented, Lu Qing Wan no longer wanted to be a mascot at Bei Xiao Pass.
"With the strategist on the battlefield, I can retire with honor."
Saying this, she looked as if she would turn and leave at any moment.
Lian Yu was confused, "Where is the Princess Consort going? Aren't you staying here to oversee the overall situation?"
Things were different now. Si Feng Wu's identity was different. As the future ruler of Da Gan, he was no longer just a general who only cared about victory or defeat in battle, but a monarch. Therefore, even though there were frequent border conflicts, he had to remain in Shang Jing to coordinate the overall situation. Everyone knew that Lu Qing Wan, despite not being able to lead troops in battle, had personally gone to the Northwest precisely to stabilize the morale of the army for Si Feng Wu. Yet, on the very first day of the battle, Lu Qing Wan wanted to leave. How could Lian Yu remain calm?
Lu Qing Wan saw his anxious look and almost couldn't help but laugh, "What is that expression, strategist?"
Lian Yu didn't know what his expression was, he only knew that Lu Qing Wan could not leave now.
Lu Qing Wan rarely saw such a lively expression on Lian Yu's face and couldn't help but be amused.
"We have both seen it. As long as the battle goes smoothly and the combat plan is arranged reasonably, the Prince's presence or absence actually has no impact on morale. Me standing here doing nothing is just a waste of fighting strength, with no practical effect. I have my own things to do. Strategist, let's go our separate ways and keep in touch!"
Saying this, without waiting for Lian Yu's consent, she quickly ran down the city wall.
Lian Yu couldn't do anything to Lu Qing Wan, so he grabbed Li Su, who was about to chase after Lu Qing Wan, "Wait, tell me, what is the Princess Consort up to this time? If something happens to her, how will I explain it to the Prince?"
"What's the use of you grabbing me? Can I stop the Princess Consort? If I'm not mistaken, the Princess Consort is going to find Xie Shi Luan. Instead of wasting time here, why don't you send a golden eagle to ask the Prince what to do? Or else, wash your neck and wait for the Prince to chop it off..."
Li Su said this, broke free from Lian Yu's grasp, and hurriedly chased after her. Although following the Princess Consort to find Xie Shi Luan would likely result in punishment from the Prince, at least the Princess Consort would intercede when the Prince punished him. If he dawdled and delayed the Princess Consort's affairs, no one would dare to intercede if the Princess Consort punished him.
Lian Yu watched helplessly as Li Su caught up with Lu Qing Wan, and the group quickly disappeared from view. He was completely stunned.
"Shadow guards! Quickly, follow them, confirm the Princess Consort's direction of travel, and report back immediately."
Lin Feng Mian's army was already close to the Xiliang border. Lu Qing Wan was going to find Xie Shi Luan at this time. He couldn't even imagine what a tragic scene it would be when those two wolf-like women collided.
Li Su guessed correctly, Lu Qing Wan was indeed going to find Xie Shi Luan. However, she was not completely unprepared, charging into Xiliang city with clenched fists. When the convoy entered Xiliang, Li Su was stunned, "Princess Consort, how do you have Xiliang's transit documents?" If she wasn't mistaken, that golden flower pattern on it was a golden token only the Xiliang royal family was qualified to use, wasn't it?