Yan Prince's Mansion.

Meng Ke had just received Shi Miyuan's letter from Fei Ge, and was summoning his confidant Ji Wumou to the mansion to discuss matters. After reading the letter, Ji Wumou's face immediately became serious. Shi Miyuan briefly explained the situation in the western provinces in the letter. The Mingyue Empire army had all withdrawn, but the three prefectures in the south of the western provinces were bloodbathed.

Meng Ke frowned and paced back and forth in the study for a few steps, then suddenly stopped and asked, "What do you think about this?"

Ji Wumou pondered for a moment and replied: "This time Situ Rui robbed Sanjiang, Hedong and Henan in the south of the western provinces. Bei Zhi thought it was worth pondering. Situ Rui did this to plunder money and grain, but there are two possibilities for plundering money and grain."

Meng Ke asked, "What two possibilities?"

Ji Wumou said: "The first possibility is that Situ Rui is purely trying to vent his resentment. After all, his Eastern Expedition failed. However, Beiyi thought that this possibility was minimal. Situ Rui was a veteran general who had been through many battles, and there was almost no possibility of acting intent, so there was only another possibility left."

Meng Ke said again: "Speak."

Ji Wumou said: "Other possibility is that Situ Rui had foreseen that the Empire would launch a large-scale counterattack, so he began to prepare for the pre-war in advance. The looting of the three prefectures of Sanjiang, Hedong and Henan was part of the preliminary preparations. Unfortunately, the Second Highness and Mr. Miyuan were too cautious, so Situ Rui succeeded."

Meng Ke didn't say anything, but his face became more and more serious.

Ji Wumou continued: "The western provinces are the empire's major grain-producing provinces, and the three southern prefectures are particularly rich. After the Mingyue Imperial Army invaded, most of the nobles in Henan and Sanjiang prefectures had not had time to evacuate, so the money and food left in the local area were very considerable. Situ Rui and Mingyue Imperial Army had this batch of money and food, which may have been able to last for a long time."

Meng Ke asked in a voice: "You mean, will the Mingyue Empire last longer for resistance?"

"Yes." Ji Wumou replied with great certainty, "If there were no such batch of money and grain, the Mingyue Empire Army would collapse for up to six months. With this batch of money and grain, the Mingyue Empire Army would be able to last for at least one year. Of course, if the prince could contact the Galaxy Empire to send troops together, the Mingyue Empire would not last for six months!"

Meng Ke shook his head and said, "Don't think about the matter of the Galaxy Empire sending troops, it's impossible."

Ji Wumou nodded with a deep expression of agreement. In fact, he and Meng Ke were both worried that the Galaxy Empire would fall to the Mingyue Empire, because the three empires of Mingyue, Guanghui and Galaxy have always checked and balanced each other. One of them was too strong, and the other two countries would immediately join forces to suppress them.

Before the Eight Kings Rebellion, the national strength and military strength of the Mingyue Empire were significantly stronger than the Guanghui Empire and the Galaxy Empire. Due to the situation, the Galaxy Empire had to form an alliance with the Guanghui Empire. Now, the Mingyue Empire has experienced the national strength and suffered great losses after the Eight Kings Rebellion. This time, Situ Rui's Eastern Expedition ended in failure. The Mingyue Empire's national strength and military strength have been seriously weakened.

All signs indicate that the position of the Galaxy Empire is gradually becoming ambiguous, and the alliance between the two countries is no longer unbreakable.

Meng Ke thought about it again and again, "Without strategy, is it possible for the empire to mobilize more troops to fight westward? It seems that only five legions are sent to conquer the westward force is still a bit weak."

Ji Wumou shook his head and said solemnly: "Prince, the Southern Legion must stay on the southern border to deter the group of jumping clowns in the south. The Southeast Legion cannot be transferred easily. Although there is no movement in the Desert in recent decades, no one can guarantee when those pagans will come here?"

"In addition, the Eastern Legion and Northeast Legion secretly transferred to the northern provinces is a predetermined arrangement. This is a necessary arrangement for the Galaxy Empire. These two legions must not be moved without action. Apart from these four legions and the five legions originally scheduled to expedition in the west, there are only the imperial guards who guard the imperial capital."

"Then we will draw four divisions from the Imperial Guards to participate in the Western Expedition!"

Meng Ke gritted his teeth and said in a narrow voice, "This battle is related to the destiny of the empire. Even if the Mingyue Empire cannot be destroyed, we must fight until they ask for peace!"

Ji Wumou responded respectfully: "The prince is wise."

While the two were discussing the matter, the sound of rapid footsteps suddenly sounded outside the study.

Meng Keluo listened and heard Meng Yan's footsteps and said to Ji Wumou: "It's Yan'er who is back."

Ji Wumou clasped his fists to Meng Ke and said, "Then you will take your leave first."

Meng Yan happened to come in, Ji Wumou left after seeing her.

Meng Ke asked Meng Yan with a smile: "How about it, are you having fun in the hunting trip on Tiandang Mountain?"

Meng Yan said angrily: "I'm still happy. Yan'er almost couldn't come back, and she almost couldn't see the emperor's uncle."

"Uh..." Meng Ke was shocked and asked anxiously, "Yan'er, please say slowly, what did you say?"

Meng Yan then told the assassination in Tiandang Mountain before and after that, Meng Ke was already so angry that his face turned pale. He punched him hard on the table and shouted in a muffled voice: "Who has eaten the courage of Xiong Xin and Leopard, how dare he attack the royal princess? Humph, once the real culprit behind the scenes is found, I must destroy his nine clans!"

Meng Yan stuck out her tongue and said in a sweet voice: "But fortunately General Meng Hu is here."

"Yes." Meng Ke said with great emphasis, "I have to thank General Meng Hu for this matter. In this way, the emperor will hold a banquet in the palace in the evening and express his gratitude to General Meng Hu in person."

Meng Yan nodded lightly, not knowing what she remembered, two red clouds suddenly appeared on her pretty face.

Meng Ke's thoughts turned to the question of Meng Yan's assassination and asked again: "Oh by the way, didn't you just say that you even caught a living person? Where is the living person now?"

Meng Yan said: "I guess Meng Hu will be allowed to go to the Guards' garrison."

Meng Ke said: "The king must ask about this matter himself. It's really a rebellious thing. How dare he attack the royal family!"

Meng Yan suddenly said, "Uncle Emperor, could that person hear some news and sent someone to assassinate?"

Meng Ke shook his head and replied, "Impossible. If the person behind the scenes is him, the person who wants to kill can only be Meng Hu, how could he even attack you?"

Meng Yan nodded and said, "That's true, who will it be?"

Meng Ke didn't say anything, but his face gradually became gloomy. Although he told Meng Yan that that person was impossible and believed that the person would not attack Meng Yan, it was difficult for the people around him to say that person. As for that person, of course, he was the eldest son of the Galaxy Empire, and Qin Changwei, the martial arts tutor of the Royal Military Academy.

Qin Changwei's residence.

Jia Wudao hurried into the backyard and said to Qin Changwei who was practicing swords: "Your Highness, something happened!"

Qin Changwei put his sword back into the sheath, took the towel from the maid and wiped the sweat from his forehead, then asked, "Sir, what happened?"

Jia Wudao said anxiously: "Meng Hu and the eldest princess are back!"

"What did you say!" Qin Changwei's face changed drastically when he heard this, and he said, "Meng Hu is back? How is this possible!"

"Yes, I don't think it's possible." Jia Wudao spread his hands and said disbelief, "But that's the truth. Meng Hu came back without any damage, but the four guards were full of news!"

"Sir, do you mean that the four major guards failed? Not only did they fail to kill Meng Hu, but they were killed by Meng Hu?"

Qin Changwei shook his head repeatedly and said, "Impossible, this is absolutely impossible. The four major guards attacked each other. Who can resist in this world? Even if Meng Hu has the ability to penetrate the sky and the earth, he would not be able to escape this disaster!"

"Your Highness." Jia Wudao said anxiously, "We must accept this fact no matter how unwilling we don't want to believe it. The four guards are afraid that they are in danger! Meng Ke and Meng Hu will never give up. Once they are investigated, they will be reasonable and cannot be explained clearly. Therefore, Your Highness must leave Luojing immediately and return to the capital of Snow and Snow on a fast horse."

"Nonsense!"

Qin Changwei disagreed, "It is certain that Meng Hu was assassinated and refused to give up, but what does this matter have to do with Meng Ke? As for Meng Hu, does he have any evidence? Xiao Wang has not taken him seriously yet, let alone the chariot competition will be tomorrow, and no matter what, Xiao Wang will win tomorrow's competition!"

Jia Wudao could only smile bitterly. He ordered the assassination of Meng Yan privately on his back. He dared not let Qin Changwei know about this matter, otherwise Qin Changwei would have to peel him off.

The guards’ garrison in the east of the city.

In the simple barracks, the assassin who lived at the end was naked and hung upside down on the beam of the house. Zhang Xingba stood in front of the assassin holding the front half of the burnt red iron bar, staring at the beads and shouting: "I'll ask you again, who is the person behind you? If you want to answer, nod to avoid the pain of flesh and blood!"

The assassin looked at Zhang Xingba without any reaction.

Zhang Xingba groaned and directly poked the red iron bar in his hand into the assassin's anus. With a sound of puff, a stream of blue smoke emerged from the assassin's anus. The air soon filled with the smell of burnt skin and flesh and the smell of dry feces, which made people vomit.

The assassin just twitched his face twice, then he fainted after his eyes turned and the yellow gallbladder, who was guarding one side, picked up a bucket of cold water and poured it down. The assassin shivered excitedly and woke up from his coma again. Then the face muscle twitched slightly again and fainted again.

The yellow gallbladder was splashed with water. After repeated this several times, the iron bars inserted into the assassin's anus would have no firepower.

Zhang Xingba pulled the iron bar out of the assassin's anus and turned around and scratched his head with a bitter smile. The assassin's will was very tenacious. He had tried all his tricks and had no choice. Meng Hu, who was standing not far away, coldly made a hand-cut position, indicating that Zhang Xingba could take action. The assassin's will was very tenacious, and it would not make much sense torture it any longer.
Chapter completed!