Even the crown prince is getting a marriage of convenience? Why are you in such a hurry to stop bein

After he generously donated money, those ministers who had dirt on him also stepped forward.

"I am also willing to offer half of my family fortune in exchange for supplies."

Meanwhile, the ministers who already had private ties with the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion also took the opportunity to mingle among them, creating momentum to pressure the emperor.

The emperor had no choice but to lower his guard a little. "Since everyone in the court has worked together to donate so much, I can no longer have any doubts."

"Immediately issue an imperial decree ordering the nearest cities to send supplies at full speed."

"Furthermore, open the national treasury and allocate weapons and provisions to be transported to the front lines."

After the emergency meeting concluded, Xiao Lie and the other ministers left the palace together.

He didn't have time to exchange pleasantries with the people behind him before rushing off to see Shen Qinglan.

Shen Qinglan was woken up by Yunxiu, and hurriedly put on an outer robe before coming out.

"What urgent matter has happened that you've come over in the middle of the night?"

Xiao Lie's eyes were bloodshot, and his voice trembled as he spoke, "When foreign enemies invaded, we almost lost several border fortresses."

"Grandpa personally led his troops to fight the enemy."

"But the military has always been short of supplies, and even after we have delivered them many times, it is still not enough."

This battle is extremely difficult.

It wasn't that they couldn't win, but that the soldiers were underfed and lacked sufficient and suitable weapons.

Shen Qinglan's heart also tightened. "Young Master, don't worry, there's always a way."

Since her divorce from the Third Prince, she no longer has to devote half of her energy to the Kang Prince's residence.

After devoting herself to managing her businesses, she also began collaborating with several other businesses.

"Those owners were all patriots."

"I tested them, and they all respect the Duke of Zhenguo."

"As long as I send out the message, they will do their best to support me."

Even so, Xiao Lie was still worried.

Gathering supplies and sending them over takes time.

Can Grandpa wait?

This time, the Southern Barbarians and Northern Di had secretly plotted for so long before launching their attack, indicating they were well-prepared.

That's an army of 500,000.

My grandfather only had 200,000 soldiers under his command.

The principle of being outnumbered is a fundamental truth that everyone should understand.

"Even with everything in this state, hasn't the Emperor sent reinforcements?"

Shen Qinglan was utterly astonished. No matter how much he feared and guarded against the Duke of Zhenguo, he couldn't make such a big joke during a war between several countries.

If the border is lost and the Duke of Zhenguo is defeated, the enemy army will advance unstoppable and march all the way to the capital.

"We need to make contact privately and ask for reinforcements."

Shen Qinglan was bolder than Xiao Lie, "Your Highness, the arrow is on the bowstring and must be released."

"We've already bribed a sorcerer. The emperor took those elixirs, and he didn't have long to live anyway."

"If His Majesty is truly so confused and about to make a grave mistake, then we will rebel now."

Once the capital is besieged and the emperor is under control, Xiao Lie can mobilize troops in the emperor's name.

Xiao Lie hesitated, "Wait a little longer."

Shen Qinglan sighed and spoke again, urging, "Can the front lines wait?"

"Does the Crown Prince want the Duke of Zhenguo to die on the battlefield?"

"How tragic it would be if the Duke of Zhenguo were to die in battle like this!"

Xiao Lie, however, remained undecided, as their men now needed to go into battle and fight the enemy.

How could they possibly have the mind to plot a rebellion and besiege the capital?

"Why not hasten the emperor's death?" Xiao Lie instructed the Shadow Guard to add more potent ingredients to the elixir.

Seeing that Xiao Lie had made up his mind, Shen Qinglan stopped pressuring him. "Your Highness should decide according to the circumstances, and remember not to worry too much."

"Our major families are all standing behind the young master."

Xiao Lie understood that they were in the same camp as the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, which was why so many people's heads were hanging on his belt.

He needs to be more cautious.

Shen Qinglan didn't even sleep and immediately recalled all his subordinates.

She methodically gave instructions, telling them to do everything they could to gather more supplies and send them to the front lines.

Not only should grain be sent from the capital, but we should also try every means to obtain it from any place along the way.

Shen Qinglan's people are all shrewd business people.

His efficiency goes without saying.

In just three days, a large batch of supplies was delivered.

Over the next few days, several more batches arrived.

The Duke of Zhenguo sent a message back, which temporarily relieved the immediate crisis, but it was far from enough.

While Xiao Lie and Shen Qinglan were gathering supplies, they were also counting down the days.

The funds allocated by the imperial court should have arrived by now.

Unexpectedly, this dog emperor withheld most of it, leaving the weapons sent to the army almost unusable, and even the provisions were just stale rice.

Upon learning this, Xiao Lie was so angry that he trembled all over.

He was wrong.

"Pass down the order: the emperor must also vomit up the other half."

"Someone else will handle it," Xiao Lie thought, still seething with anger.

"The Fifth Prince's men have occupied key areas around the capital, and they've probably already gotten wind of it that the Emperor is nearing his end."

"This is a prelude to a coup at any time."

Seventeen delivered the message from Consort Yuan: "His Majesty has been overthinking the war at the front and has been taking pills as his three meals a day. He has fainted."

"All the imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy were secretly summoned to treat the Emperor."

"That person said to have our people wait outside the main hall so that if anything happens to the Emperor, we can take control immediately."

Xiao Lie was in a state of utter confusion, never expecting things to have come to this.

This empire must not fall into the hands of the Fifth Prince.

The Fifth Prince is a complete incompetent fool and has absolutely no chance of becoming a wise ruler.

After sitting there all night, Xiao Lie finally hardened his heart.

"Have our men keep a close eye on the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince." We absolutely cannot allow the Third Prince to get a chance to leave the Imperial Clan Court.

We must not allow the Fifth Prince to actually occupy the key areas around the capital.

At this time, the Duke of Zhenguo sent someone to deliver an urgent secret letter.

Although the fighting on the front lines remains tense, the enemy is wary of the Duke of Zhenguo and dares not launch a large-scale attack.

Each time, they would only send a small force to probe.

They had suffered heavy losses because they were starving.

Now that they had enough to eat, the soldiers' morale soared, and the enemy troops were utterly annihilated.

After careful consideration, Xiao Lie replied, "Grandpa, do not linger in battle. Cooperate with the enemy to first demoralize them, preserve our own forces, and reduce civilian casualties."

He wrote a long passage, and the more he wrote, the heavier his pen became.

However, the letter was intercepted before it could leave Beijing.

The messenger returned, badly wounded, and reported, "Your Highness, the secret letter was intercepted by the Third Prince's men."

"The Third Prince?" Didn't he send people to keep a close eye on Jiang Heng?

Why did Jiang Heng's men still manage to succeed?

Shen Qinglan, wrapped in a long robe, also came over. "It was my people who messed up. I didn't even realize that the Third Prince had bribed someone right next to me."

"I've already interrogated that traitor, and I beat him to death in public."