Tang Dynasty Swordsman.

However, Lu Jiong's defense of Nanyang was not sustainable. After a year of fierce fighting, the city finally fell, forcing him to flee south to Xiangyang. Moreover, judging from his experiences during the war and later, he was not a true military genius. Only Zhang Xun, because Suiyang was strategically located on the Bian River, defended it to the death for the greater good, even when the city fell. Furthermore, he led exhausted and starving soldiers against an enemy a hundred times their size, yet managed to inspire the city's people to fight to the death for him. He also repeatedly devised ingenious counterattacks, decisively defeating figures like Yin Ziqi. The ultimate fall of Suiyang was not due to Zhang Xun's lack of ability, but purely to the lack of internal supplies and external reinforcements. Had he been given three more days' worth of provisions, the city would not have fallen and he would not have perished!

Just three days after the city fell, the newly appointed military governor of Henan, Zhang Hao, finally arrived with his army, defeated Yin Ziqi, and recaptured Suiyang City...

Just three days! History is so merciless!

Suiyang fell and was then recovered, but sadly, Zhang Xun, Nan Jiyun, and Lei Wanchun did not live to see this moment... I wonder if Xu Yuan, imprisoned in Luoyang, received this news before his death. If he did, perhaps he could die without regret and close his eyes with a smile...

So how could Suiyang ignore it? How could Zhang Xun not come to the rescue? How could they not help General Lei, who remained unmoved despite being hit by six arrows, and Nan Ba, who had lost a finger and was pleading for help?! Even if the protagonist didn't know this part of history, upon hearing their cries from afar, he should still do something!

That's why the second volume begins with the rescue of Suiyang, both to satisfy the readers and to put my own conscience at ease. History cannot be rewritten, and the blood of the loyal cannot be recovered, but I hope that in the novel, I can give the eternal heroes of the Chinese nation a better ending. If their spirits can be enshrined in the book, perhaps it can offer some solace to their hearts.

Just like Zu Ti, whom I described in "Lehuma".

If time is tight, then I'll just make some minor revisions. After all, it's a novel, and the butterfly effect of a time traveler will always create some ripples different from before. For example, some people actually say that the Spanish colonization of the Americas caused Emperor Chongzhen to hang himself on Coal Hill... If this is used to study history, it's pure nonsense; but if it's used to structure a novel, it's not entirely unreasonable.

For example, didn't Li Ji shoot and kill a bandit after leaving Tanshan? Perhaps his men, terrified, fled east and joined the rebels, and later, dissatisfied with their treatment, their camp rebelled, thus tying down Yin Ziqi's forces and easing the siege of Suiyang.

……

I've inadvertently written so much about the events in Suiyang, and it has absolutely nothing to do with whether it's published or not... Please forgive me, dear readers; I simply had something on my mind that I had to get off my chest. In short, what follows is the plot about saving Suiyang, and I'm taking this opportunity to publish it. It didn't cost much, and I hope you'll be generous enough to support me with a small donation.

Just imagine, if Zhang Xun had survived, with his talent and the bravery of Nan Jiyun and Lei Wanchun, even without a protagonist, wouldn't the future Tang Dynasty have been completely transformed? In my opinion, Zhang Xun, as a military commander, was on par with Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi, and might even have been superior.

Starting tomorrow, I'll be updating paid chapters. I'll try to update more frequently in the first few days, so please look forward to it.

Chapter Six, The Offspring of the Xianbei

According to Nan Jiyun, the rebel army this time claimed to have more than 100,000 troops, with Yin Ziqi as the main general and Yang Chaozong as the deputy general. It also included cavalry from the Turkic, Tongluo, and Xi tribes, and their advance was fierce. Zhang Xun led them to fight desperately and also seized opportunities to go out of the city to counterattack on several occasions. They killed countless rebel soldiers and captured a large number of carts, horses, cattle, and sheep.

However, killing over 100,000 people was not so easy. The rebels regrouped after their initial defeat, surrounded the city on all sides, and attacked day and night, causing heavy casualties on the defending side. In particular, Suiyang originally had enough grain to last a year, but half of it had been diverted by Li Ju, the former military governor of Henan, to aid Puyang and Jiyin. Xu Yuan repeatedly pleaded with Li Ju, but Li Ju ignored him. As a result, after more than half a year of siege, even with occasional spoils, the food supplies within the city gradually ran out.

Nan Jiyun said that when he came out of the city to ask for help last month, the soldiers could only get a spoonful of rice a day and had begun to slaughter their warhorses; as for the civilians, they could only peel tree bark and even eat straw paper...

Seeing that the supplies were running out, Zhang Xun knew that he could not defend Suiyang City on his own, so he ordered his brave general Nan Jiyun to break through the siege and seek reinforcements.

So where could they seek reinforcements? The closest was Xu Shuji, the prefect of Lingchang. Since the fall of his territory, he had led his troops south and subsequently incorporated several defeated armies, now encamped in Pengcheng. Nan Jiyun went to plead with Xu Shuji, emphasizing that the rebel army was exhausted and, despite their numbers, seven or eight thousand fresh troops could be mobilized to coordinate with Zhang Li and potentially lift the siege. Xu Shuji, with tens of thousands of troops, could certainly provide seven or eight thousand men.

To everyone's surprise, Xu Shuji showed no intention of sending troops, instead bestowing upon Nan Jiyun several thousand bolts of cloth as military supplies. Nan Jiyun was furious. The city was currently short of food; what use was he to cloth? Moreover, how was he supposed to break through the encirclement and bring this cloth into the city?

Enraged, Nan Jiyun spurred his horse, brandished his spear, and cursed Xu Shuji, demanding a duel. Xu Shuji, of course, dared not refuse and ordered his men to drive Nan Jiyun out of the city…

After returning empty-handed, Zhang Xun had no choice but to order Nan Jiyun to leave the city a second time the next day to plead with Helan Jinming. The reason he hadn't sent anyone to find Helan Jinming before was because the location of that military commander was too remote.

Helan Jinming was stationed in Linhuai. The Henan Circuit of the Tang Dynasty covered a vast area, roughly encompassing what is now eastern Henan Province, Shandong Province, and northern Anhui Province. It bordered the sea to the east, the Yellow River to the north, and the Huai River to the south. Linhuai, as its name suggests, was located on the banks of the Huai River, at the southeasternmost tip of its jurisdiction…

Nan Jiyun led thirty elite cavalrymen out of the city. The rebel army came to intercept them, but he shot them from both sides, killing those hit instantly. He successfully broke through the encirclement. He then rode day and night, covering a distance of eight or nine hundred li, and arrived in less than three days—of course, most of the warhorses were exhausted by the journey—to a Buddhist temple in Linhuai to see Helan Jinming.

However, Helan Jinming refused to send reinforcements, saying, "The fate of Suiyang is already decided, what benefit would there be in sending troops?"

Nan Jiyun kowtowed and wept, saying, “Suiyang has been besieged for more than half a year. At first, there were five or six thousand soldiers and tens of thousands of civilians in the city. Now, most of the soldiers have died in fierce battles with the rebels, and the women, children and the elderly have almost all eaten each other. There are only one or two thousand left... We should have used ourselves as bait to restrain the rebels so that the Grand Master (He Lan Jinming was originally the Grand Censor) could slowly gather supplies. However, if Suiyang is lost, Linhuai will be next. We are as close as skin and hair, as interdependent as lips and teeth. How can we not save it?”

"Ji Yun braved the enemy's blades, broke through the encirclement, and prostrated himself here to beg for your help. You should have responded immediately, but why have you made so many excuses? Is this what a loyal and righteous man should do? You say that the fate of Suiyang is sealed, but I believe that the city may not have fallen. I earnestly request that you send troops to its rescue. If the city has already fallen by then, I am willing to die to atone for your sins!"

Despite repeated pleading and weeping, Helan Jinming remained unyielding, refusing to agree. However, seeing Nan Jiyun's loyalty and bravery, he offered him food and drink, hoping to recruit him. Nan Jiyun said, "When I left Suiyang, the soldiers were subsisting on tree bark and straw paper for nearly a month. Since you, sir, refuse to send troops, even the best food and drink cannot be enjoyed alone—and even if I did eat it, it would be difficult to swallow." He then bit off his left middle finger and gave it to Helan Jinming as a token—to show that he had indeed been there—and left without eating.

But the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. After mounting his warhorse, Nan Jiyun could no longer hold back. He drew his bow, nocked an arrow, turned around and shot, hitting the temple pagoda squarely and embedding it more than an inch deep in the brick. He then swore, "Once I have defeated the enemy, I will surely destroy Helan!"

Although he said he would "return after defeating the enemy," he was actually prepared to perish with Suiyang. However, after days of riding, he and his horse were exhausted and collapsed. If he returned, he wouldn't even be able to break through the city's siege. Therefore, he took a detour on his return journey, first going to Zhenyuan, where Zhang Xun had started his career. Zhenyuan's magistrate, Li Ben, gave him a hundred horses. Ningling, northwest of Suiyang, had not yet fallen, so he rushed to Ningling. The garrison commander, Lian Tan, mobilized all the city's soldiers, gathering nearly three thousand men, to come and rescue Suiyang.

Or rather, let's all die together with Zhang Xun and Nan Jiyun!

Nan Jiyun and Lian Tan, with tears streaming down their faces, then beat their chests and stamped their feet, drawing their swords and striking stones, recounting their past to Li Ji in a mixture of sorrow and anger. Li Ji, who had been waiting for this story, was immediately enraged upon hearing it, his anger rising like boiling oil, reaching the very top of his head!

Unable to contain himself, he burst into a tirade: "Helan Jinming, that damn bastard... a Xianbei bastard, a cowardly scoundrel! When he received his orders, the military clerk reminded him that the key to the Battle of Henan was Suiyang, and asked him to make sure to save Suiyang. Who would have thought that this fellow... this is intolerable!"

He almost blurted out, "I'll go into Suiyang City with you! I'll die with you!"

Unexpectedly, Jia Huai secretly tugged at his collar.

Jia Huai was worried that Li Ji might act impulsively and join forces with Nan Jiyun and others.

They were going to their deaths together. Although he was just a江湖人士 (jianghu person, a person of the martial arts world) with no great ambitions, after listening to Nan and Lian's account, he couldn't help but be furious. He thought to himself, "So all officials are like this? What's the point of the Tang Dynasty protecting them?!" What about Li Ji?

Because Li Ji was so well disguised, in Jia Huai's mind, he was still a naive young man—although he had taken his poison, this little bit of cleverness couldn't cover up his recklessness—plus, he was confident in his martial prowess and was said to have little experience in battle, so he might as well go and charge into the 100,000 or so rebel troops under the walls of Suiyang... If he went, what should I do? If I followed, I would also die, and I would definitely die faster than him; if I didn't follow, and Li Ji died because of this, how could the Marshal and the Sima let me off so easily?

So he quickly tugged at the other person's clothes, reminding Li Ji—please stay calm, we don't have a mission, we can't risk our lives here.

After being told off like that, Li Ji calmed down a bit. After a moment's thought, he said, "You are sending three thousand men to break through the enemy lines. The chances of success are slim... I'm afraid less than half will be able to enter the city. Moreover, even if we enter Suiyang, we will lack food and supplies, and we will still be unable to defend it. To be honest, our army has just recaptured Xijing and needs to rest and recuperate before we can attack Dongjing. I'm afraid Suiyang will not be able to wait until then..."

Nan Jiyun blew his nose, flicked it onto the ground, and his expression softened slightly. He sighed, "It was expected. Knowing that Xijing has been recaptured and Dongjing will soon be taken, even if Nan Ba ​​dies, he can rest in peace—our arduous defense of Suiyang was not in vain! It's just a pity that we have no chance to meet again, and I can't have another proper duel with Li Zhiguo..."

Li Ji encouraged him, saying, "A true man should not be discouraged until he has reached the end of his rope... Even if he has reached the end of his rope, he should still look for any chance he might have. I will go to Linhuai now and try to persuade General Helan to change his mind and send reinforcements..."

Lian Tan sneered, "I think the commander is determined not to send troops, so what use would it be for you to go? Even if you have the official documents from the commander's office, you can't control the regional officials. Do you think Helan Jinming will listen to you?"

Li Ji said, "It is not certain... To be honest, I and the military commander are old acquaintances."

"Oh, could it be the son of an old friend of the military governor?"

Li Ji shook his head and said no—"My cousin and the military governor are quite close, and I also met him once through my cousin."

"May I ask who your brother is?"

"Marshal's Chief of Staff, Li Bi".

Nan Jiyun's large, copper-bell-like eyes widened even more: "Could it be Mr. Li Changyuan?"

Li Ji thought to himself, "Wow, Li Bi's reputation has spread quite far." He immediately nodded and said, "Before the military commander took office, my elder brother told him about the Suiyang incident, hoping he could save the day. I will use my elder brother's words to rebuke him. Perhaps the military commander will feel ashamed and repent..."

Although Li Bi claimed he wanted to resign, the news hadn't yet reached him. He remained the chief military secretary to the marshal, Li Chu's right-hand man, and deeply trusted by Emperor Li Heng. Li Ji thought to himself, "If I use Li Bi's words to shut up Helan Jinming, perhaps he won't dare disobey. But if I offend Li Bi, or even Li Chu, and he says a few words to the emperor, will my career still have any hope?"

Of course, Li Bi might not speak ill of Helan Jinming—especially since he's considering resigning—and Li Chu would be even less likely to cause trouble, but I can use that to intimidate him. Whether it succeeds or fails is hard to say… perhaps there's only a 50% chance, but even if the hope is slim, as I just said, I must strive for it, I must fight for it.

Furthermore, faced with Nan Jiyun's deep grief and indignation, and hearing of the tragic scene of starvation and cannibalism in Suiyang City, I would find it hard to forgive myself if I did not do something for them! They did not shy away from death, yet I dare not go with them to face the national crisis. Do I not even have the courage to defy Helan Jinming?

I should have known better than to come to Suiyang. Now that I'm here, and now that I've seen and heard it, how can I just ignore it?

He immediately stood up, patted his chest, and pleaded, "I wish to have a guide to lead me south to Linhuai to persuade the military governor. If it succeeds, Suiyang may be saved; if it fails, I will fulfill General Nan's long-cherished wish and assassinate Helan Jinming to appease the world!"

Nan Jiyun stammered, "There's no need for that..." I was just extremely angry that day, and that's all I said... Then I raised my voice, "If Suiyang can be saved, you will be our great benefactor. If Nan Ba ​​lives, I will serve you like a cow or a horse; if he dies, I will repay your kindness with my life! If not, in the future, kill a few more traitorous generals on the battlefield, and that will be enough to appease us. A true man should not die as an assassin!"

Chapter Seven, The Insolence of a General

Li Ji asked Nan Jiyun to assign him a guide who was skilled in riding and familiar with the roads to lead him to Linhuai—because the military situation was urgent and he was not very familiar with the roads heading south, it would be terrible if he got lost along the way… As for Jia Huai, his riding skills were not as good as Li Ji’s, so he did not plan to bring him along.

He instructed Jia Huai to go to Luoyang ahead of time to meet up with Chen Fu and the others, or to find a place to hide near Suiyang and wait for his return.

However, Jia Huai resolutely refused to agree.

Jia Huai thought to himself, "What if something happens to you, like if you really go and try to assassinate Helan Jinming—of course, that's probably just something you said in anger, don't take it seriously—then I'll be all alone on my way to Luoyang, and I won't be able to explain myself no matter what. As for the area around Suiyang, it's a battlefield, with hundreds of thousands of rebel troops gathered there. Where do you think I can hide? Even if I hide well, you won't be able to find me when you come back."

Therefore, after agreeing on the route south, he asked to follow behind Li Ji. He said, "I may not be able to catch up with you, but as long as we don't lose our way, we will naturally meet again when you return." Li Ji agreed.

The man Nan Jiyun assigned to Li Ji was named Chen Ruo, one of the thirty riders he had brought from Suiyang City—now only eleven remained. Originally from Ye County, his family had modest wealth, but due to the rebels' looting, his entire family was wiped out. He then went to join Yan Gaoqing, the prefect of Changshan. After Yan Gaoqing's defeat, he fled south across the river and joined Zhang Xun's forces—his hatred for the rebels was truly blood-soaked.

Without resting or waiting for dawn, Li Ji lit a torch and set off alongside Chen Ruo; Jia Huai had no choice but to follow behind. Nan Jiyun, Lian Tan, and the others watched the three gradually disappear into the darkness, and Lian Tan asked, "General, do you think Li Ji can persuade the commander-in-chief on this trip?"

Nan Jiyun shook his head: "He has to do his best; we can only leave it to fate. Chen Ruo has been with me for a long time, a survivor of countless battles, and is still young. If he can escape death because of this, he can avenge us in the future... That's good, that's good." He then ordered everyone to rest immediately. Tomorrow at dawn, we will attack the rebel army and try to break through the siege and return to the city!

The route Li Ji and his men had planned was actually quite simple: they would head southeast along the south bank of the Bian River—frankly, they didn't need a guide. Nan Jiyun had led thirty riders in a breakout that day, and now only eleven remained with him. He had pleaded with them, saying they didn't need to return to the city to their deaths, but none of the riders were willing to leave… So, when Li Ji asked for a guide, he feigned entrusting Chen Ruo with the important tasks of leading the way and protecting him, hoping to save even one of his men's lives…

Meanwhile, Li Ji and Chen Ruo traveled day and night, galloping at full speed. By the early morning of the second day, when they turned back, Jia Huai was nowhere to be seen—the difference in riding skills was obvious. In truth, Li Ji's riding skills were only average, but he was ultimately stronger and had better stamina. He gritted his teeth, squeezed his horse's flanks tightly, and endured the discomfort in his chest and abdomen caused by the jolting, barely managing to keep up with Chen Ruo's pace. As for whether Chen Ruo deliberately slowed down to wait for him, that's unclear…

Probably not, because Chen Ruo's mount is far less magnificent than Li Ji's fine horse from Guanzhong.

They had been running for half a day and a night, even eating and drinking on horseback at a slightly slower pace. By afternoon, probably past Linhuan, Chen Ruo's mount finally couldn't take it anymore and almost stumbled, throwing him off. He had no choice but to slowly rein in the horse and slow down, turning to Li Ji with a wry smile, "No, if we don't rest and let the horse eat some fodder, it might break down..."

Li Ji agreed to rest for a while, but his lower body was almost completely numb, and he nearly couldn't dismount. Chen Ruo had to help him. The two let the horses graze, while they walked around by the roadside to loosen their muscles. Li Ji looked at the Bian River not far away and asked Chen Ruo, "Would it be faster to take a boat?"

Chen Ruo shook his head: "It's not as fast as a galloping horse, but it can at least provide a rest... However, I heard that all the ships have been transferred to transport grain by an official surnamed Third or Fifth, so they are not easy to find."

Li Ji thought to himself, "That must be referring to Fifth Qi, the governor of Henan and other five circuits and the salt, iron and coin casting commissioner of all circuits. I heard that he was originally a subordinate of Helan Jinming."

After a short rest, they mounted their horses again and galloped until evening, when they were forced to rest once more. After nearly a day and a night of riding, Li Ji's anger subsided somewhat, and he was no longer so impulsive. He said to Chen Ruo, "Let's find a place to camp for the night. Even if people can endure it, horses can't go without rest. Besides, riding at night is too inefficient. It's better to conserve our energy and strength and wait until dawn to continue."

They finally arrived in Linhuai at the beginning of the third day. As soon as they reached the city gate, they presented the official document from the military headquarters, and a general quickly led them to see Helan Jinming. Presumably finding the county office too cramped, this Helan military commander resided in a large temple in the west of the city. Li Ji followed them into the temple, deliberately craning his neck and staring intently at the pagoda, searching for the arrow that Nan Jiyun had shot that day—he couldn't find it; it had probably been removed long ago.

When Helan Jinming heard that the Marshal had sent someone all the way to Linhuai, he wondered what important matter it was for and naturally dared not neglect him, so he immediately summoned him. Upon seeing him, he recognized him immediately – wasn't this Li Bi's cousin? He asked, "Li Ji, why have you come from so far? What are your orders, Marshal?"

He found it strange. Logically speaking, when a military commander issues an order to a regional governor like him, a formal document is required. Why hasn't it been presented? Could it be some confidential matter, so Li Ji intends to deliver it in person? Let's wait and see.

Li Ji clasped his hands in greeting and replied, “The Marshal sent me on official business to Guandong. Before I left, my elder brother asked me to take the opportunity to observe the situation in Suiyang. Now Suiyang is in imminent danger, yet you, as the military governor of Henan, are stationed far away in Linhuai and unwilling to go to its aid. I wonder what your intentions are? I must find out the truth before I return to Chang'an to report to my elder brother.”

Helan Jinmingwen

Yan paused for a moment, then beamed with joy: "Changyuan is in Chang'an? Does that mean Xijing has already been recovered?" Li Ji and his men set off eastward only two days after the recapture of Chang'an. With their fast horses, the messenger who came to Linhuai to report the military situation hadn't even arrived before him.

Li Ji nodded: "The Western Capital was recovered on the day of Guimao. The Marshal is currently residing at his old residence. We respectfully request that Your Majesty return to the capital..."

Helan Jinming leaned forward slightly, interrupting him, and asked with a smile, "Were you by the Marshal's side that day? How was the battle fought, and what were the results? Tell me about it."

Li Ji frowned slightly and replied, "Detailed reports on the battle to retake the capital should arrive soon. The military situation is urgent; Suiyang has been besieged for half a year. Why haven't you sent reinforcements, Doctor?"

Helan Jinming said angrily, "This is not something you can understand. I have my reasons for not rescuing Suiyang. Who are you to dare to question me?"

Li Ji's attitude remained respectful, but his tone gradually became more intense: "On the day you took your leave, my elder brother asked you to keep an eye on Suiyang, but unexpectedly you stayed in Linhuai, observing without advancing. I was sent by my elder brother to ask you what happened..."

"I will personally submit letters to the Marshal and Changyuan; you don't need to ask me!"

Li Ji pressed on relentlessly, saying, “Your Excellency is mistaken. If Your Excellency is facing any difficulties, I, Li Ji, though unworthy, may be able to help you. But if we wait until the letter is presented to the Marshal, the thousands of soldiers and civilians of Suiyang will all turn to dust! If Your Excellency raises troops to aid us today, you can not only save a city but also win the hearts of the people throughout Henan. If we delay, how will we explain this to the Marshal and my elder brother in the future?!” As he spoke, he took a step forward.

"I will explain myself, no need for you to worry—get out of here!" Helan Jinming's face was already very ugly. To be honest, if Li Ji hadn't been Li Bi's cousin, and if they hadn't met once at the imperial camp, he would have ordered his men to beat him out with sticks long ago—how dare you, a mere seventh-rank military officer, question a third-rank censor like me? Does this country have no hierarchy?!

Instead of retreating, Li Ji advanced and continued, "My elder brother once said that you, sir, are knowledgeable in military affairs and possess great integrity. Compared to Prince Guo (Li Ju), you are worlds apart. Prince Guo is like a firefly in rotten grass, while you, sir, are like the bright moon in the sky..." Before Helan Jinming's expression could soften, he stepped forward again and loudly questioned, "With your knowledge, sir, surely you know that if Suiyang falls, the Huai River will be in grave danger. Yet you stand here refusing to save it. Are you jealous of Vice Minister Zhang (Zhang Xun was originally the Censor-in-Chief) and happy to see him die?!"

Upon hearing this, Helan Jinming flew into a rage. He was about to slam his fist on the table and order Li Ji to be thrown out when he suddenly realized that Li Ji was less than three steps away from him... and why was this young man's right hand on the hilt of his knife?

Li Bi had once introduced him to his younger cousin, saying that he was incredibly strong and brave, but his temper was a bit bad; he would get angry at the drop of a hat and pick fights... At that time, Helan Jinming casually said, "We can put him in the army so that he can know the ruthlessness of military law and perhaps temper his character." He even jokingly asked if he should bring him to Henan with him.

Damn, this kid's expression is hostile, and his tone is aggressive. Could he be planning to attack me? Besides, Li Bi said he was a rough man, but he spoke very logically today. Could Li Bi have taught him that? What is this kid's true purpose in coming to Linhuai today?

He was actually half right. Li Ji couldn't possibly be truly interested in assassinating Helan Jinming to avenge Nan Jiyun and the people of Suiyang—besides, even if he killed this man, would he be able to protect Suiyang? But he had originally planned to reason with this military commander and use the names of Li Chu and Li Bi to put pressure on him. Unexpectedly, the other party was unmoved, and Li Ji's anger flared up again.

Over the past year, he had repeatedly succeeded in abducting people by force—first, he captured Li Fuguo in Ding'an to persuade Li Heng, then he captured Tian Qianzhen alive near Weinan, then he beat up the Crown Prince of Yehu outside the East Gate of Chang'an, and finally he chased Yu Chaoen in Yong County—so he instinctively thought, why don't I capture Helan Jinming and force him to send troops to save Suiyang!

Unexpectedly, Helan Jinming was also very perceptive. Noticing Li Ji's unusual expression and unfriendly demeanor, he glanced at him and guessed that something serious had happened and the guards couldn't arrive in time to help... His expression immediately changed, his anger vanished, replaced by sorrow, and his tone softened as he said, "Don't talk nonsense. How could I be jealous of Zhang Xun? Changwei, you don't know, I truly have my reasons for not being able to save Suiyang..."

Chapter Eight, Willing to be Zhu Hai

He Lan Jinming's refusal to rescue Suiyang was indeed due to his own difficulties; it was neither simply out of cowardice at the sight of the enemy, nor out of jealousy towards Zhang Xun.

However, these predicaments were not something he could openly discuss. He figured only a few of his trusted advisors knew the truth, but even they were powerless to help. When Nan Jiyun came seeking help that day, Helan Jinming had wanted to pour out his troubles, but in front of so many people, he simply couldn't bring himself to say it…