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The battle of Linguan County lasted for a day and a night. Both sides suffered heavy losses and fell into a stalemate.

We had thought that the enemy would recuperate, but unexpectedly, a second war broke out that night. The Red Guards and Linguan County Captain Zhou Dazhuang fought desperately, with countless casualties. Captain Zhou Dazhuang died, and the barely defended Linguan County was in danger!

The battle report was sent back to the capital overnight. Bei Zhenting was directing everyone in the Equipment Bureau to speed up the production of gunpowder all night long.

After that breakthrough, gunpowder was tested hundreds of times before the most powerful ratio was found.

Because the Engineering Bureau controlled gunpowder, it was very difficult to enter the bureau. There were insufficient personnel and technology. In addition, the confidentiality of technology had to be considered, and the raw materials could not be transported to the capital. Therefore, the gunpowder produced in the past ten days was very limited.

Bei Zhenting didn't dare to use this batch of gunpowder to launch it into the battlefield of Linguan County. A year ago, there were frequent battles on the border, and the troops were all on the border. The troops in the capital were less than 20,000 now, so he really didn't dare to take the risk.

Bei Zhenting's expression became very serious when he saw the battle report on the crisis in Linguan County.

Two days later, at the Temple of All Beings.

Lin Mo woke up.

Lin Mo was beaten like this by an unknown stinky businessman.

The reason was that he was caught by the businessman while pulling a slingshot in the alley, so he was beaten up for no reason.

His whole body ached, and he found himself lying on a soft bed. Lin Mo looked around vigilantly.

He hadn't slept in a bed for several years. The quilt was so soft and warm. He didn't know where he was or who saved him.

Lin Mo stretched out his hand covered in the quilt and touched someone's head. He turned his head and saw Zhang Xiaoxiao opening her eyes in a daze.

Lin Mo thinks that Zhang Xiaoxiao looks really good when she is clean and tidy.

Their eyes met, and both of them were stunned. After a long time, Zhang Xiaoxiao finally reacted, stood up, hugged Lin Mo and started crying.

Feeling suffocated, Lin Mo patted Zhang Xiaoxiao's back, and after a long time, Zhang Xiaoxiao finally stopped crying.

"Brother Lin Mo, we are so lucky to have met a good person!"

Zhang Xiaoxiao excitedly told Lin Mo how they were rescued and taken in, as if she was telling some legend.

The child was beaming with joy, his eyes shining, his hair draped over his shoulders, washed and combed, his little face white and clean, looking very pretty.

Lin Mo listened to his description quietly. As they were talking, Luo Yao pushed the door open carrying a bowl of medicine, and Li Xian and Luo Xinchen came in with him.

Li Xian didn't have a good look on Lin Mo's face, and said in a cold voice: "You're awake."

Lin Mo looked at the three people who came in with a defensive look on his face, "Who are you?"

When Li Xian heard his tone, he immediately exploded: "I carried you, a stinking thing, on my back for a long way, and even made medicine and cooked for you! What a tone! Be careful or I'll have the young master kick you out!"

Lin Mo was soft-hearted and would not tolerate hardship: "I didn't ask you to save me!"

Li Xian rolled up his sleeves and was about to go up and beat him up, but Luo Yao stopped him, "Stop arguing and take your medicine quickly."

Lin Mo's gaze shifted to Luo Yao's face. After a moment of confusion, he called out uncertainly, "Princess?"

Luo Yao opened his eyes wide and looked at Lin Mo, "Do you know me?"

Lin Mo hurriedly got out of bed and pulled his brother to kneel down, but Luo Yao quickly stopped him.

"How do you know I'm the princess?"

"Xiaoxiao and I are hanging around in the capital. Your portrait is everywhere on the notice board. Prince Yong'an has sent many soldiers all over the city looking for you!"

An emotion flashed in his eyes, Luo Yao said "Oh", and didn't know what he was thinking, and kept stirring the medicine in his hand.

Lin Mo thought of something and pointed at Li Xian and said, "Princess, Xiaoxiao and I had a rough journey to Yuanzhou. I have something important to tell you in private. Please let him go."

Li Xian immediately became unhappy and rolled up his sleeves to beat someone up again.

Luo Yao came back to his senses and stopped Li Xian, coaxing: "Xian Xian, don't be angry, he is a child, let's not bother with him."

Lin Mo's mouth twitched. He was not a child! Seeing Li Xian's aggressive look, Lin Mo imitated Luo Yao's drawn-out voice to coax Li Xian: "Xianxian, don't be angry~"

Li Xian was so angry that he was about to explode.

Luo Yao: "Momo, don't mess with him. He's a murderer... He's very scary when he gets angry~"

Lin Mo's face turned red when Luo Yao called her "Mo Mo". She twisted her neck and stopped talking.

Luo Yao: "A Xian is not an outsider, Mo Mo has something to say, just tell me."

Lin Mo kept twisting his neck. "Xiaoxiao and I encountered a group of suspicious beggars in the capital. They deliberately caused trouble and tried to escape from the capital, so we were driven out. Xiaoxiao and I followed them all the way and encountered them on Huangzhi Road, where they were trying to assassinate the emperor."

Luo Yao and Li Xian were stunned by what the little brother said.

Unexpectedly, the kid said, "Those soldiers were all asleep at night and didn't notice any bad guys sneaking in, so I woke one up with my slingshot..."

"Oh, by the way, I heard them talking about the Fourth Prince..."

Luoyao Li Xian: The kid is indeed the kid, he is so brave! Not only did he follow and eavesdrop on other people's conversations, he also dared to shoot the Dacheng Hussars with a slingshot!

Zhang Xiaoxiao was completely confused and had no idea what Brother Lin Mo was talking about. He and his brother had clearly fled all the way to Daci Mountain...

Li Xian: "By the way, Young Master, when we went down to the town a few days ago, I found that there were disaster victims in the town."

Luo Yao frowned. Didn’t Dacheng transfer a large amount of grain from all over the place and send it to the north?

How could there be disaster victims?

Thinking of the grain shop clerk's words, Luo Yao still had some doubts. "The emperor has transferred so much grain to the north, there shouldn't be disaster victims crossing the river. Could they be refugees from Jingzhou?"

Li Xian shook his head, "Young Master, disaster victims and refugees are not the same thing. You can tell them apart just by looking at their faces. Those disaster victims have been starving for a long time, their faces are sallow and thin, their cheekbones are sunken, and they are as skinny as a stick. The only thing they have is a pair of bright eyes. Ah Xian will definitely not be wrong!"

Luo Yao handed the medicine to Lin Mo with a heavy expression. If he was really a disaster victim, then Yuanzhou and Daci Mountain were definitely not places where he could save his life.

If I remember correctly, the Fourth Prince Lin Mo mentioned should be the Fourth Prince Wulima of Qi. The Fourth Prince of Qi sneaked into the capital alone to assassinate the emperor, and then a large number of rebels appeared almost at the same time. It seems that there were traitors who raised troops and colluded with Qi.

If this is true, coupled with the disaster victims in the north, then Dacheng may really be doomed!

Late at night, the lights in the main room of the guest house were turned on again, and Luo Yao sat at the desk, scratching his head.

He wanted to write a letter to Bei Zhenting.

I wanted to tell him about the disaster victims, the Fourth Prince of Qi, and...

I can't even start writing the first sentence...

I tried to continue writing several times, but stopped when the tip of the pen touched the paper.

How annoying! Looking at the paper stained with ink again, Luo Yao placed his brush on the inkstone.

His chin rested on the table, his index finger scribbling on the paper. After a moment, he suddenly sat up straight, muttering as he stood up, "Forget it! I can't write! Go to bed!"

Without even blowing out the candle, Luo Yao quietly lay back on the bed, pulled the quilt over his brother who was sleeping inside, and also pulled the quilt over himself. He turned over and lay on his side, facing the desk, staring blankly at the paper and pen on the desk.