At the beginning, I became a county magistrate with greed of 500 million. The empress asked me to be

The next morning, when the sun's rays illuminated the entire city of Hangzhou.

Xia Yun led a large group of troops and left the city gate in a mighty manner.

This time I’m away, and it will take at least a few months before I can come back here again.

Before leaving, Xia Yun kept reminding Xiao Haiyang of various precautions.

When the team walked out of the city gate, Xiao Haiyang knelt at the front of the team, his eyes filled with tears.

"Don't worry, sir! I will definitely protect Hangzhou City for you! I look forward to the day when the army returns victorious!"

As Xia Yun led the team farther and farther away, Xiao Haiyang uttered words of great respect.

He asked himself if he would never have reached this point today without Xia Yun's appreciation and reuse.

It is no exaggeration to say that it was Xia Yun who saved his political career and brought him a new life!

……

As the team walked on the road leaving the city, Xia Yun kept looking to both sides.

The team he led had about three to four hundred people, all of whom were personal guards under Chong Heihu.

Safety will not be a problem when going to Southern Zhili.

However, not long after the group left the city, a fast horse suddenly came rushing from a distance and soon appeared in front of Xia Yun.

"Your Excellency! General Qin Tianye has sent an urgent letter from eight hundred miles away! Please check it immediately!"

The man looked panicked. When he rolled off the horse, he was not careful and even fell to the ground.

Hearing this, Xia Yun immediately took the letter and opened it.

After just a few breaths, an extremely gloomy look suddenly appeared in Xia Yun's eyes.

"Sir, what happened?"

Xu Wan'er, who was standing by, saw Xiang Yun's expression change and a look of worry immediately appeared on her face.

However, when Xu Wan'er took the letter from Xia Yun and took a closer look, a gloomy look suddenly appeared on her face.

There is no other reason.

The 500,000-strong imperial army commanded by Xiao Zongnan suffered a great defeat in the battle with the Japanese pirates.

As a result, 80,000 troops were annihilated, and more than 100,000 soldiers suffered heavy casualties.

According to the content of Qin Tianye's letter, if Governor Lei Zhenning had not remained calm in the face of danger and commanded the army to withdraw to Wangbei City in an orderly manner, the number of casualties would have been even greater.

"One incompetent general can lead to the death of the entire army."

Xia Yun was silent for a moment, and a sigh slowly came out of his mouth.

"How dare Xiao Zongnan take the initiative to attack without caring about the rear? Where does he get such courage?"

The huge casualties made Xu Wan'er's face remain gloomy for a long time.

The cause of this defeat was simple. Xiao Zongnan ignored Lei Zhenning's dissuasion and rashly led the army to launch an attack when the Japanese pirates already had the advantage.

Coupled with Xiao Zongnan's series of actions that disregarded human life, this shocking defeat was brewing!

"Sir, what should we do?"

Xu Wan'er then turned her gaze away and focused on Xia Yun again.

"No matter what, continue to head to Nanzhili."

Xia Yun shook his head.

Although he is now the governor of Zhejiang and Southern Zhili, and also serves as the first-rank general of Hangzhou, he is not the commander-in-chief of the imperial court's 500,000 troops.

What he can do now is, on the one hand, to ensure the bottom line of the anti-Japanese battlefield and ensure that the Japanese pirate army will not invade Zhejiang Province.

On the other hand, the construction of new warships was stepped up.

As long as the new warships are built, he will no longer have to worry about Xiao Zongnan's identity as the commander-in-chief of the imperial court's 500,000 troops.

He could completely rely on the power in his hands to crush the Japanese pirate army on the southeast coast in one fell swoop!

"Yes, my lord!"

After receiving Xia Yun's order, Xu Wan'er simply ignored the great defeat in the anti-Japanese battlefield.

"All troops, speed up your march! We must reach Nanzhili within three days!"

Immediately afterwards, Xu Wan'er issued an order to urge the march.

If they marched at an accelerated speed of 800 miles, they would only need one day at most to reach Ningdu City, the capital of Nanzhili.

But the accompanying team this time was also transporting a full 200,000 tons of food and fodder!

These grains and fodder are life-saving food for millions of disaster victims throughout Nanzhili!

……

Time passed quickly, and the team led by Xia Yun finally arrived at the edge of the Nanzhili area after rushing.

"What is the name of this mountain?"

Xia Yun looked at the mountains that stretched before him, and a deep light flashed in his eyes.

Just cross this last mountain and you will reach the territory of Southern Zhili.

"To answer your question, this is Huwei Mountain. After crossing Huwei Mountain, we will enter the city of Ningdu."

Xu Wan'er took out a map from her arms and looked at it carefully.

At this moment, Xia Yun looked at the Huwei Mountain in front of him and saw that it stretched for at least tens of kilometers.

The highest point of the mountain range is about six to seven hundred meters high.

"Sir, judging from the route, if the team wants to successfully cross Huwei Mountain, there is only one road into the mountain. If they want to go around from both sides, it will take at least two more days to travel."

Xu Wan'er analyzed in a deep voice.

"Pass on my order. Everyone, stay alert. The team will enter the mountain from the front. We must reach Nanzhili in the shortest possible time!"

Xia Yun did not choose the detour that would take more time.

For him, the earlier he could reach Ningdu City, the earlier he could gain control of the resources of the entire Nanzhili region.

You know, the land structure of Nanzhili is different from that of Zhejiang, which has seven mountains, two rivers and one piece of land.

There are vast areas of plains and paddy fields throughout the province of Nanzhili. If they could be concentrated for cultivation, it would be a huge granary given by God!

This is also one of the reasons why Xia Yun wanted to reach Nanzhili as soon as possible.

Soon, under the command of Xu Wan'er, a grain transport team of nearly 400 people marched into the mountains in a mighty manner.

Just as Xia Yun and his group were leading the team through the mountains.

The news of Zhejiang's defeat finally reached the court in the capital.

When the Cabinet Chief Minister Xu Jinsong reported the results of the anti-Japanese war in Zhejiang in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, all the civil and military officials showed a grim look on their faces.

"Eighty thousand soldiers were wiped out, and hundreds of thousands more were killed or wounded. What is Xiao Zongnan doing for a living?"

After the atmosphere in the Hall of Supreme Harmony had been silent for dozens of breaths, Yang Wenzhao, the chief military commander and commander-in-chief, shouted without any warning!

Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials present looked at each other in bewilderment.

After all, Xiao Zongnan is a member of the royal family and the thirteenth uncle of the current emperor.

In the entire court, only a pillar minister like Yang Wenzhao dared to speak out in such anger.

"Marshal Yang, calm down. It is common for a large army to go to war and win or lose. This time, the Thirteenth Prince is leading the army to share the pressure for the court. I hope Marshal Yang can understand."

The Minister of Works Wei Zili spoke right after Yang Wenzhao, his words fully defending Xiao Zongnan.

Unexpectedly, his words made Yang Wenzhao even more angry.