I transmigrated to ancient times and became a king with a title equal to mine.

Long Bin was very excited when he heard the king's decree. His adoptive father in this life was not actually confused. He had been blindly listening to others before, and it was all because Empress Xiao had coerced him with poison.

After King Long Yunfu visited Lishui incognito, Long Bin spent ten days eliminating the Gu poison from him.

From then on, the Emperor of the Great Xia Kingdom regained his former shrewdness.

His father's verbal decree was almost a death edict, instructing him to preserve the Xia dynasty's kingdom and state.

Long Bin knelt down with a thud, choking back tears, and said, "If anything happens to you, I swear to wash the capital in blood!"

Lan Tianpeng suddenly realized that his beloved son-in-law had a physical problem, and quickly said, "Give me your right hand."

Long Bin stood up and sat down, extending his right hand.

Lan Tianpeng's expression changed drastically upon hearing the pulse diagnosis, and he immediately knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, his head bobbing like a chicken beak.

"I deserve to die a thousand deaths. I shouldn't have raised this wicked woman and harmed you..." He was filled with remorse and panic, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

“You don’t need to blame yourself. Long Yingkun forced Yue’er to do this by taking the lives of more than a hundred people in your family.”

"Is this true? How do you know?"

"Father-in-law, if it weren't for Yue'er's sake so I could report back, would I have bothered to play dead?"

"Your Highness, Prince of the South, you...you're not trying to comfort this old man, are you?"

“A ruler’s word is law. Please rise.”

Lan Tianpeng was terrified when he learned that the Southern King had lost all his internal strength.

Although Lishui County is now called a county, it is actually a state.

After conquering the vast lands across the Jiupai River, the territory of Lishui Commandery was already the size of the Kingdom of Wu.

In less than two years, such a vast territory has been expanded. Besides the hard work of the soldiers, the most important factor is the Southern King's literary and military prowess, as well as his unfathomable cultivation level, which is enough to awe all martial artists.

However, now that the Southern King has lost all his internal strength, if the news leaks out, the world of Lishui will likely be thrown into chaos.

Lan Tianpeng was a grandmaster of martial arts, and he racked his brains to come up with one plan after another, asking Long Bin to try them one by one.

However, it never succeeded.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door, like thunder in the dark night, breaking the silence of the room. Immediately afterwards, a middle-aged man dressed in black rushed in like a whirlwind, his expression tense and stern, as if he were carrying a heavy burden.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! A large number of unidentified armed men have suddenly appeared on the west bank of Lihu Lake. They are acting suspiciously and seem to be brewing a storm against us." His voice was low and urgent, and every word struck the hearts of everyone like a heavy hammer.

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng's face instantly turned ashen, as if chilled to the bone. He glared at Long Bin, his eyes filled with anxiety and helplessness, as if asking, "The Southern King's arrival here was supposed to be a secret operation, so how did the outside world manage to detect it so keenly?"

Lu Yuan frowned, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, as if he could see into people's hearts. He said in a deep voice, "His Highness the Southern King's trip was secretive, yet it was still detected. I'm afraid there are spies lurking around us. At least in Lishui City, the enemy's spies are everywhere."

Lan Tianpeng sighed deeply and said with great concern, "The Southern King has lost all his internal strength. If the enemy attacks now, wouldn't the Southern King be in imminent danger?" His tone was full of worry and helplessness.

However, Long Bin appeared unusually calm. He slowly stood up, his gaze firm and profound, as if he could pierce through the fog and see hope for the future. He said in a deep voice, "Father-in-law, do not be anxious. Although I have lost all my internal strength, my wisdom and strategy remain. As long as we can devise a clever plan, we may not be unable to defeat the enemy."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Moreover, we have the naval forces protecting us; they are our strongest support. As long as we are united, we will surely overcome this difficulty together."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed in Lan Tianpeng's eyes. He nodded quickly, indicating his willingness to fully cooperate with Long Bin's actions. His tone was firm and resolute: "Rest assured, Your Highness, we will do our utmost to protect the peace of Lishui County."

The group immediately began discussing countermeasures, their expressions focused and serious, as if engaged in a life-or-death struggle. Outside, the faint sound of war drums could be heard, their stirring rhythm inspiring everyone like a battle song. A battle concerning the fate of Lishui County was about to begin, and they would use wisdom and courage as their weapons to meet the impending challenge.

Lu Yuan quickly ordered his men to strengthen the defenses of the naval camp, and at the same time sent his trusted confidants to secretly investigate the enemy's strength and weaknesses.

Long Bin, taking advantage of his familiarity with the terrain of Lishui County, designed a series of ingenious traps and ambush points, preparing to catch the enemy off guard.

“We must utilize all available resources, including terrain, weather, and morale,” Long Bin said calmly. “Father-in-law, you are responsible for allocating the troops in the city and ensuring smooth logistics. Lord Lu Yuan and I will lead an elite force to launch a surprise attack on the enemy’s rear and disrupt their formation.”

Lan Tianpeng was impressed by Long Bin's decisiveness and wisdom, but he was very worried about the Southern King's serious injuries and asked the Southern King to stay on Niang'er Island to command.

The King of the South said, “The enemy is looking for me. They will definitely rush here in a moment. So, you have a heavy responsibility.”

"But I was actually safer when I quietly went to the outside."

Lan Tianpeng thought about it and agreed with what Nan Wang said, so he supported the plan.

After further discussion, the group immediately split up and took action, plunging the entire Lishui County into a tense but orderly state of preparation for war.

The sound of war drums grew closer, as if foreshadowing an impending bloody battle.

As night fell, Niang'er Island was brightly lit, but the atmosphere was unusually oppressive. Nan Wang Longbin changed into a set of light night clothes, preparing to lead an elite force on a surprise attack.

Before leaving, he looked at Lan Tianpeng with deep affection: "Father-in-law, Lihu is a vital place for our navy. I entrust the safety of this place to you."

Lan Tianpeng nodded heavily, his eyes filled with determination: "Don't worry, Prince Nan, I will definitely guard this place and wait for your triumphant return."

Long Bin then turned to Lu Yuan: "Lord Lu Yuan, I'm entrusting the battle to you."

Lu Yuan bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my utmost."

Long Bin nodded, and together with Lu Yuan, led the elite troops and quickly disappeared into the night.

They moved like ghosts through the forests and mountains, stealthily approaching the enemy's rear.

Meanwhile, Lan Tianpeng was busy deploying troops to ensure the smooth flow of logistical supplies, while also sending someone to Lishui City to report the danger at Lihu Lake.

After making the arrangements, he climbed onto the island's observation deck, overlooking the entire Lihu Lake, and silently prayed, "Long Bin, you must return safely."

Just as they were preparing for battle, the enemy finally launched their attack.