It's just a simulation game, how did the fairy become real?

"I need to make preparations before heading to Zhenbeiguan."

"I'll go as well."

Pei Yichen: ? ?

"You snuck out again?"

"Make good use of body doubles~"

Feeling Pei Yichen's interrogative gaze, Jiang Li finally couldn't take it anymore.

"I'm in the palace every day, with a bunch of people staring at me. It's driving me crazy."

Anyway, there's no danger if I stay by your side.

"Just take me with you~"

Jiang Li, like a pitiful little girl, begged Pei Yichen.

If the people in the palace saw this scene, they would probably glare so hard their eyes would pop out.

"no.

According to the information sent back by Gray Feather, the northern barbarians would have at least 200,000 elite troops pressing in.

Zhenbeiguan only had 30,000 troops.

In a short period of time, only 20,000 can be gathered to go there.

Moreover, these 20,000 troops were not elite soldiers.

"With 50,000 against 200,000, Zhenbeiguan is in grave danger."

Zhenbeiguan Pass, as a strategic pass in the north, is a formidable stronghold that is easy to defend and difficult to attack.

The barbarians have never attacked this place in the past years.

Therefore, no large number of troops were stationed either inside the pass or in the vicinity.

Now, the barbarians have produced a second prince with extremely strong combat abilities.

On the first day of facing the enemy, Zhenbeiguan almost fell.

Afterwards, Zhenbeiguan simply became a coward, waiting for the dynasty to come to their aid.

Even so, under the fierce attack of elite troops, no one could say for sure how long Zhenbeiguan could hold out.

However, if it turns into a positional war of attrition, Zhenbeiguan can hold out for one or two months without any problem.

"Alright then, I'll do whatever you say!"

If there's any danger, I'll be the first to run!

What you learn from books is ultimately just theoretical knowledge.

How can you know if what's written in military books is correct if you don't see the troops deployed with your own eyes?

Please take me with you, I promise I'll be good!

Jiang Li clung to Pei Yichen's arm, her eyes filled with longing.

Pei Yichen felt the soft touch and subtly twitched his arm.

To his surprise, Jiang Li hugged him even tighter this time.

"What about the master? Is he not approving the memorials? And is the old fox abandoning his duties?"

"Hehe, I've snuck out so many times, I already have a perfect solution!"

Pei Yichen looked at Jiang Li's smiling face and pondered the rationale for taking her to Zhenbeiguan.

With Mo Yu from Mo Yu Tower holding the fort inside the palace, any situation can be relayed to him immediately.

All the noble families outside the palace have Gray Feather lurking in the shadows.

Generally, they know what they are about to do before they even begin.

The situation at Zhenbeiguan looks critical; if we hold out a little longer, we should be able to manage.

"Fine.

However, you can only listen to me along the way.

And you can only be Cuiping.

Pei Yichen carefully considered the details and concluded that bringing Jiang Li along was still feasible.

As long as her identity remains hidden, everything else is negotiable.

Once the barbarians find out that Jiang Li is in Zhenbeiguan, something might happen.

"okay!"

Jiang Li was very happy; she could go out and play with Pei Yichen again!

"From today until we arrive at Zhenbeiguan, it will take about ten days."

Being idle is also idle.

Shall I teach you self-defense techniques?

"Let's see how you're doing with what I taught you before."

Chapter 13 Pink Feather

Jiang Li has a strong learning ability; she has applied everything she was taught before very well.

If an ordinary assassin had mistaken her for a defenseless little girl, they would have been in serious trouble.

[You've been involved with Lonely Shadow for almost ten years, but in the final stage, you still feel like you're trying to see flowers through fog or catch the moon's reflection in water, unable to get on the right track.]

[Your master has been missing for years. You have repeatedly mobilized the Ink Feather Pavilion to search for your master's whereabouts, but to no avail.]

[With the master absent, you dare not accept disciples on his behalf.]

[For now, I can only teach Jiang Li other similar mental techniques based on my understanding of the Lone Wild Goose Shadow technique.]

After more than a decade of sword practice, you've come to understand more and more clearly that the number of moves isn't important; the key is effectiveness.

[In terms of swordsmanship, you designed several moves specifically for Jiang Li.]

[With the right mental cultivation technique, and practiced to a high level, anyone below the Grandmaster level should be unable to defeat Jiang Li.]

The weapons the Zhou family mentioned will join your northward-bound convoy on your way to Zhenbeiguan.

As described in Moyu Tower's intelligence, the quality of the weaponry was so poor that it could hardly be called weaponry.

[Such items entering an armory are like ticking time bombs.]

You've already formed a plan in your mind over the past few days.

However, the Zhou family is being exceptionally cautious, and you cannot guarantee the plan's success.

[With your continued guidance, Jiang Li's posture has become much more standard.]

Jiang Li is gradually able to complete many of the more difficult moves.

In actual combat, Jiang Li's fighting ability far surpasses that of an average martial arts practitioner.

[After all, the little empress has more than just martial arts skills; she also has a set of hidden weapons that you tailored specifically for her.]

Information about Zhenbeiguan will be delivered to you daily through various channels.

The barbarians already have over 100,000 troops pressing on the border, with another 100,000 to reinforce them.

[Zhenbeiguan is under immense pressure!]

[With the defenders holed up and unable to come out, the daily raids by the barbarians made life extremely difficult for them.]

The messengers from Zhenbeiguan, pleading for help, raced daily along the official road to deliver the message to the palace that had no emperor.

In your assessment, even if Zhenbeiguan only has fewer than 30,000 troops, given its formidable defenses, it shouldn't be facing constant threats.

Most of the White Feathers in Moyu Tower are low-ranking military personnel, making it difficult for them to gather much valuable intelligence.

However, you still managed to analyze the situation from the overwhelming amount of information.

The vast majority of lower- and middle-ranking military officers are controlled by powerful families.

Nobody wants to exert themselves to the death in this situation!

The personnel planted by each side are all thinking about how to preserve their own strength.

Furthermore, the generals guarding the pass also lacked the desire to achieve merit.

[When the barbarian army presses in, the troops guarding the pass will shirk their duties.]

"The army of the northern barbarians pressing down on Zhenbeiguan is not their entire force."

There are about 100,000 troops behind them, gathering towards Zhenbeiguan.

Pei Yichen looked at the map in front of him and waited for the two groups of troops to merge.

If the less than 30,000 troops guarding Zhenbeiguan are highly motivated and well-trained, they are not afraid of the 200,000-strong army, even with the formidable pass behind them.

But now the troops inside Zhenbei Pass are no different from the common people.

Powerful factions vie for influence, and everyone wants to claim credit.

If a battle breaks out, avoid it if possible.

Such an army, when faced with a desperate battle, may collapse much faster than imagined.

With 200,000 troops pressing in, Zhenbeiguan Pass might fall after just a few battles.

"The situation at Zhenbeiguan is complicated. I suggest you go back now."

Pei Yichen looked up at Jiang Li beside him. As a grandmaster, he had no chance of winning against an army of 200,000.

Once they entered Zhenbeiguan, their lives became intertwined with this formidable pass.

"We've already covered more than half the journey, and you want me to go back now?"

Is that possible?

Jiang Li took a big bite of the pastry in her hand. Zhenbei Pass was right in front of her. How could she possibly go back now?