"These three Princes are fighting again so soon?"
"They’ve just been resting and recuperating for half a year, how could they suddenly..."
All present, whether from Death Valley, craftsmen, or ordinary Soldiers, wore expressions of disbelief.
"Didn’t the Great General just come here for inspection a while ago? Everything still seemed so peaceful then, how can it be that they are fighting now?"
"It’s not the three Princes fighting, it’s the Ninth Prince from the Northern Lands leading his men in an attack," the newcomer sighed again.
The crowd became even more puzzled.
"Wasn’t the North-South Bridge destroyed? How could the Ninth Prince cross over?"
"Even with a broken bridge, aren’t there still boats?"
The crowd choked up and after a while continued murmuring, "Wasn’t the Ninth Prince proclaiming war against the Fifth Prince in the Northern Lands? He barely has time to prepare for war, how could he suddenly cross the river? Doesn’t this place him between two fronts?"
"Bah, I don’t know much else, and even if I did, I couldn’t tell you. Just stop asking and quickly check the Weapons and be ready to break camp at any moment. If there’s any delay, military law will take care of it."
Having said this, the person left with his men towards the supplies area, clearly intending to spread the news.
The people left behind looked at each other, puzzled by the sudden turn of events and unsure of what to do.
"Don’t just stand there, count the weapons, load the carts, and wait. If the sky falls down, someone taller will handle it. We’re the rear guard transporting weapons; nothing will happen to us."
In this critical moment, Lame Man Uncle stepped up as a Centurion, organizing work for the people while simultaneously feeding them Calming Pills.
Having listened to the newly appointed Centurion, they snapped out of their daze and got to work.
When it came to the Ninth Prince, Yuwen Jun, Bai Junjun was not unfamiliar.
This guy’s name had been omnipresent; wherever she went, his name would follow. Just when she’d had a few days of peace, now he was back!
However, Bai Junjun hadn’t expected the Ninth Prince to launch an attack against the Third Prince. Could it be that he also wanted to join the fraternal chaos and compete for the Central Plains? It was too sudden and without warning.
"Have you forgotten about his soldiers disguised as Refugees heading south to Biluo?"
With Li Wenli’s reminder, she recalled the people cutting in line on the North-South Bridge.
Linking the events together, Bai Junjun understood.
"It seems that the Fifth Prince and the Ninth Prince have truly formed an alliance. They pretend to fight each other, but in reality, they’ve been using it as a reasonable excuse to gather troops at the border. Once the timing is right, they will make a sudden push southwards.
Yet, launching a war always needs a pretext. The South is in a period of rest and recuperation, and he rashly starts a war. Unless he has a justified cause, I’m afraid he’ll be pointed at by thousands."
"Surely, the ancients would have found a righteous excuse before starting a war. Someone as proud as Yuwen Jun wouldn’t act recklessly without consideration," Li Wenli analyzed calmly.
Bai Junjun gave him a probing look.
"?" Li Wenli was perplexed, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I notice you have a lot of animosity against Yuwen Jun," Bai Junjun squinted thoughtfully, as if Li Wenli’s expression carried a hint of mockery every time he mentioned Yuwen Jun.
Even someone like her, who kept away from cutthroat competition, could feel the disdain he had for the other man.
Li Wenli sighed and nonchalantly put his arm over Bai Junjun’s shoulder.
"Miss, what kind of man is the Ninth Prince? For his sake, you once cast me aside. To me, that means he’s nothing but a despicable little cheater. Facing such a wretch, how can you expect me to have a good attitude?"
"..." Bai Junjun glanced at him indifferently and brushed his hand off her shoulder, replying, "It wasn’t me."