met free Chapter 95 The Changing Flames of War
Chapter 95 The Changing Flames of War
The night was deep, and the tent was quiet except for the flickering candlelight.
Li Mao sat at his desk, his thoughts churning like a surging tide.
He knew that even if the war was temporarily won, the enemy's hidden dangers had not been completely eliminated.
For this reason, Li Mao dared not relax his vigilance in the slightest.
At this moment, the cold wind outside the camp grew even more biting, carrying the unique chill of the northern frontier, seeping into the tents in wisps. Li Mao, however, paid no attention. Gradually, Li Mao felt his body growing weaker and his consciousness becoming blurred.
The following morning, inside a tent in the camp.
When Li Mao dragged his heavy steps out, Li Jingqing immediately noticed his unusual behavior.
"Your Highness, you don't look well," Li Jingqing asked with concern, frowning.
Li Mao raised his hand slightly to indicate that he was alright, but couldn't stop a slight cough. "It's nothing, it's just a bit chilly at night."
Li Jingqing knew that Li Mao had been working tirelessly on the war, and seeing his haggard appearance, he couldn't help but feel worried.
"Your Highness, you must take care of your health. If your health fails, the Northern Frontier will truly be in dire straits."
"It's urgent, I'm fine." Li Mao forced himself to stay awake, but the exhaustion in his heart was gradually eroding his consciousness.
"Even so, the enemy's situation is still unclear, we must not panic." His words remained firm.
Seeing this, Li Jingqing immediately advised, "You should ask the military doctor to take a look. As the commander-in-chief of the three armies, you absolutely cannot have any health problems."
Soon after, a military doctor was sent by Li Jingqing to treat Li Mao.
Under Li Jingqing's persuasion, Li Mao finally had no choice but to sit down and let the military doctor take his pulse.
"Your Highness, you have caught a cold. As long as you rest and recuperate as soon as possible, you should recover," the military doctor carefully advised.
Hearing this, Li Mao felt somewhat unwilling, but he had no choice but to accept the fact. "Okay, I will take care to rest."
Seeing that Li Mao had compromised slightly, Li Jingqing ordered the military doctor to immediately prepare the medicinal soup.
During this time, Li Jingqing handled some urgent military affairs for Li Mao, allowing him to relax a little.
However, Li Mao was bedridden due to illness.
In just a few days, although the enemy did not make any moves, the news brought by the scouts was not optimistic.
Li Mao, who was bedridden in his tent, frowned deeply upon hearing this intelligence.
"Jing Qing, the enemy is definitely planning a surprise attack. We absolutely cannot wait any longer; we must strike first." Although he couldn't move, Li Mao's attitude was resolute.
If this isn't handled properly, I really might end up losing my life here.
The regional military governors held their own armies and were too powerful for the court to protect, so the court would not send reinforcements.
I had planned to take this opportunity to conquer the northern frontier and expand my strength, but I never expected to catch a cold.
"Your Highness, rest assured, this humble general will not let his guard down."
Li Jingqing stayed by Li Mao's side almost every step of the way, handling various military affairs together.
He knew very well that Li Mao was the pillar of the army, and the consequences would be unimaginable if this pillar collapsed.
"Your Highness, the medicine is ready." The military doctor brought a steaming bowl of medicine into the tent and placed it beside Li Mao's bed.
Li Mao thanked him softly, struggled to sit up, and took the bowl.
Despite the bitter taste of the medicine, he drank it all without hesitation. When he lay down again, beads of sweat had appeared on his forehead, indicating that the medicine was very effective.
"Your Highness, please rest well and relax. I believe you will recover soon," the military doctor said earnestly.
"Thank you for your trouble." Li Mao nodded slightly, his voice a little hoarse.
He knows his physical condition and responsibilities best, and he also knows that he must follow the doctor's advice at this moment.
As the night grew longer, he involuntarily closed his eyes, feeling all his strength draining away with each breath.
The cold wind outside the tent still blew in occasionally, seeping through the thin tent and making him unconsciously pull the blanket covering him tighter again.
Nevertheless, he couldn't help but repeatedly ponder the current situation: although the enemy had not made an immediate move, judging from the information he kept gathering, the situation was becoming increasingly critical.
If decisive measures are not taken soon, the situation will spiral out of control again.
Li Jingqing, meanwhile, was outside the tent reassuring the generals who had come to inquire, telling them to remain vigilant and not to panic.
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Li Mao personally summoned Li Jingqing and several key generals.
"Gentlemen, the soldiers must not lose patience. The enemy is always lurking with new offensives." Li Mao's deep voice echoed in the tent.
Li Jingqing interjected at the opportune moment: "As Your Highness said, we should seize the initiative while the enemy's forces are still unstable."
One general added, "According to current intelligence, the enemy has gathered in the northeast corner. We may be able to launch a feint attack to disrupt their deployment."
Li Mao pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "It's a good strategy. We must make sure to plan it properly so that the enemy falls into our trap."
After the meeting, the generals tasked with the mission immediately began preparations for action.
Li Jingqing continued to take on the responsibility of liaison and coordination at each stage, and devoted himself to supervising the implementation of the entire plan.
With the efficient cooperation of Li Jingqing and his generals, the plan to stage a fake attack was quickly formed.
The sudden movement caused a disturbance among the enemy troops, throwing their defenses into chaos.
The enemy forces were originally able to advance steadily and gradually erode their strength, but under the joint command of Li Mao and his generals, their formation was completely disrupted.
"General Li, the timing is perfect. We have successfully exploited their weakness to launch a thwart." One of the generals who participated in the operation reported the situation to Li Jingqing before returning to camp.
Li Jingqing smiled slightly and reassured his soldiers, "If we take advantage of the situation, the enemy will surely be defeated."
He then summoned the messenger, notified the entire army to be on high alert, and completed the next step of defensive adjustments.
This feigned counterattack caught the enemy off guard. With the tide turned and they were left helpless, they retreated one after another.
However, Li Mao did not let his guard down in the slightest, knowing that the enemy would surely gather strength for another attack.
As night fell, Li Mao was helped back to his tent by Li Jingqing.
"Your Highness, the situation at the front is progressing smoothly. You can rest assured and recover for now," Li Jingqing said softly.
Upon hearing this, Li Mao felt somewhat relieved: "Fortunately, all the soldiers are of one mind this time, so there is no great danger in the northern border."
Seeing that Li Mao had finally relieved some of his burden, Li Jingqing felt much more at ease.
"Your Highness, although the enemy was forced to retreat this time, we must take this opportunity to reorganize our defenses and reinforce our key strongholds once again," Li Jingqing reminded him.
Li Mao nodded slightly, straightened up with difficulty, looked at the map in the tent, and said in a low voice, "Although the enemy has temporarily retreated, they will never give up. We must prepare defenses in advance to prevent them from making a comeback."
“That’s right, but Your Highness, please make sure you recover your health first. With us here in the Northern Frontier, we will definitely be able to hold on,” Li Jingqing advised.
"Thank you for your hard work, Jing Qing. I estimate that after another day of rest, I will be mostly recovered," Li Mao said with a weak smile.