Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

"What?"

Chen Shao was startled and immediately took the secret letter.

The letter was delivered by Liao Hua using the fastest courier service, which covered 800 li (approximately 4

The words are like chicken scratching, but the meaning is clearly expressed.

Li Bozhao, the military governor of Pinglu, mobilized his entire army, and his forces have already reached the border of Hedong.

Prepare to act when the opportunity arises.

"The east bank of the Yellow River has just been pacified, and now they're about to turn on us again? I barely left, and their army is already pressing in?"

"He's been waiting for this day for a long time."

Chen Shao slammed the letter on the table.

"I don't believe that Li Bozhao didn't collude with Helian Yunni."

Yu Qi'an nodded:

"Your Majesty, Li Bozhao has been entrenched in Pinglu for twenty years. His troops are well-trained and well-supplied, especially his cavalry, which are known as the Iron Falcons and move like the wind."

"When the Northern Barbarians invaded, he hid in Pinglu and did not send out a single soldier. Now that he sees Hedong is undefended, he immediately wants to take advantage of the situation. His intentions are despicable."

"He only dared to be so blatant because he knew we wanted Gu Hai."

"Your Majesty, I request permission to proceed to Hedong!"

Chen Shao did not agree immediately.

Chen Yue's navy is at sea. The Northern Barbarians have already captured Lulong and may march south at any time. Now, Pinglu wants to attack from the west.

Three sharp knives stabbed in from the northeast and west at the same time.

The only thing he was certain of was that Helian Yunni wouldn't easily head south.

Chen Shao had no naval forces under his command, so he had to personally lead the voyage.

Zhao Yun is being held back by the Song dynasty in the north, and cannot be recalled for the time being.

Liao Hua is stationed in Hedong. Can he shoulder this great responsibility?

Yu Qi'an was Chen Shao's pillar of strength; the capital had to be entrusted to him, as he wouldn't trust anyone else.

Dian Wei was his personal bodyguard, while Li Jinglong was a general who was constantly defeated...

It seems there's no one else available to serve.

"You must not move. I am about to launch an eastern expedition. I will only feel at ease if you are in the capital."

"What about Hedong? Although General Liao Hua is powerful, he may not be a match for Li Bozhao."

"Let me think about it some more..."

Just then, Eunuch Wei tiptoed in and whispered:

"Your Majesty, Qin Ling Shuang requests an audience."

"Let her in."

Qin Ling Shuang was still dressed in a neat black outfit, except that she now had a plain white cloth belt around her waist.

She entered the hall and, without saying a word, bowed deeply.

This kneeling was very heavy.

At the same time, Chen Shao heard a system notification.

[Ding! Congratulations, host! Qin Ling Shuang has triggered the "bowing down in obeisance" effect, loyalty level 100!]

"His Majesty."

Qin Ling Shuang's voice was still hoarse.

"The Qin family has suffered injustice for ten years, but today their name has been cleared. On behalf of her father and the entire Qin family, Qin Ling Shuang thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

Chen Shao looked at her but didn't speak immediately.

After a while, he walked around the imperial desk, stood in front of her, bent down and helped her up.

laughed:

"I killed Han Cao not just for the Qin family, but for the justice that the Great Yan deserves. Whether you thank me or not, I will do it."

Qin Ling Shuang's eyes were still a little red, but she stubbornly raised her head:

"Your Majesty may not ask for thanks, but I cannot fail to express my gratitude. From this day forward, my life, Qin Ling Shuang's life, belongs to Your Majesty."

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door again, and Shen Qingci stepped across the threshold.

"Your Majesty, your subject Shen Qingci requests permission to fight!"

Chen Shao was stunned for a moment.

"What kind of war?"

"I lived in Pinglu for a period of time and am very familiar with the place. I know who Li Bozhao is and what tactics the Pinglu army uses."

"Your Majesty is not qualified to fight on the front lines, but you can still follow the army to procure supplies, choose routes, and make decisions. I will go and help General Liao Hua stabilize Hedong."

Chen Shao instinctively wanted to refuse.

But as he was about to speak, he suddenly glanced at Qin Ling Shuang.

One in literature and one in martial arts.

One was an expert on Pinglu, and the other was a fierce general who had built up the Black Wind Stronghold in the mountains.

It doesn't seem like a bad idea...at least it could solve the immediate problem.

He doesn't seek victory, but only to make Pinglu hesitate to act, so that he can free up his resources once he has dealt with Chen Yue.

Having no generals under his command meant that Chen Shao had to personally handle everything when he went on campaigns.

He was silent for a moment.

He secretly sent the entry for "Guo Jia's Last Plan" to Shen Qingci.

Only then did he speak:

"Okay, approved."

Then he looked at Qin Ling Shuang: "Chief Qin, I have a favor to ask."

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"Chief Qin is a heroine among women, and her martial arts are unparalleled. Now that there is chaos in the west, I have no one else to rely on. I wonder if Chief Qin... would be willing to serve the court once?"

Qin Ling Shuang did not hesitate at all.

"If His Majesty dares to establish three laws with the people, who wouldn't be willing to die for him?"

Chen Shao laughed loudly.

"Very well! I hereby appoint Shen Qingci as the Pacification Commissioner of Hedong, in charge of all provisions, civil administration, and military discipline, and appoint Qin Lingshuang as the General Who Pacifies the Barbarians, to assist Liao Hua in commanding the army."

"You two will lead 20,000 troops north immediately to join Liao Hua. If there is an opportunity, pacify Pinglu for me. If there is no opportunity, you can hold off Pinglu."

Shen Qingci and Qin Ling Shuang exchanged a glance and simultaneously clasped their hands in a fist salute:

"Your subject obeys!"

The two bid farewell and left. Chen Shao immediately ordered Yu Qi'an to prepare ships, as he intended to personally lead the expedition.

Yu Qi'an responded and was about to take the order, but after taking two steps, he turned back and stood there, hesitant to speak.

"What is it, Lord Yu? Is there something else?"

Yu Qi'an coughed lightly:

"Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should."

"Then let's not talk about it."

Yu Qi'an was momentarily speechless, but still forced himself to speak:

"We only have a little over two hundred ships at most. Among them, the number of large ships that can actually go to sea to fight is probably even smaller."

"Most of the remaining ships were converted from cargo ships and merchant ships. They had shallow drafts and dared not sail far."

"Your Majesty, the sea is not the same as the land. Chen Yue's more than a thousand warships are the core of the Jingxiang Navy, which trains on the river all year round. If our ships go there, it will be like lambs to the slaughter."

Chen Shao then suddenly remembered something and asked:

"Lord Yu, have the ships that I ordered the craftsmen to build been completed?"

Yu Qi'an knew this, and although he didn't understand it, he did as instructed.

It's still a boat, only it's shaped like a donkey.

"Created..."

"Also, put several boxes of plums on all the boats."

"His Majesty?"

"Do as I say. There are two hundred ships, so there's a different strategy. Divide these ships into two groups. The main fleet should leave port ahead of time and head to deeper waters to await my orders."

Yu Qi'an was stunned again.

"Your Majesty, what about you?"

"Disguise the remaining dozens of ships as a merchant fleet, and I will set sail with these ships."

Yu Qi'an almost thought he had misheard.

"Your Majesty, this...this is far too frivolous!"

"Lord Yu, you've served me for so long, when have I ever treated this lightly?"

Yu Qi'an thought about it and realized that there really wasn't one. This emperor might seem unreliable, but in reality, no one in the world was more reliable than him.

"Oh, by the way, on my ship, the fore cabin needs to be cleared out to house a donkey and a camel."

Yu Qi'an could understand that.

Riding a donkey is His Majesty's signature skill, and it seems that riding a camel is as well. In Liaocheng, His Majesty rode a camel and slaughtered his way through the enemy lines, defeating 20,000 with only 800 men.

Standing beside him, Eunuch Wei grinned. Fortunately, he had a high tolerance for such things; he'd endured things like slaughtering pigs in the palace, licking gall bladders, and releasing snakes...

In naval battles, shouldn't we bring donkeys and camels along?

Yu Qi'an skipped over these questions: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will do it immediately, but there are still some other matters to attend to."

"What is it?"