Even women who travel through time can become prime ministers and nobles.

Chapter 501 Internal and external cooperation

He paused, looked at Shi Wanxia, ​​and lowered his voice: "But... the guards at the large granary are three times as many as those at the small granary, and there are also quite a few crossbowmen. You must be careful."

Shi Wanxia nodded, reached into her sleeve and touched the small knife inside. The blade was cold, but it gave her more confidence.

She looked at the women huddled to the side and said, "Tonight's operation is dangerous. If you don't want to go, just stay in the temple and wait. I won't force you."

No sooner had she finished speaking than the girl in the blue cloth dress who had spoken earlier stood up. Her younger sister gripped her clothes tightly, but she straightened her back and said, "I'm going! My mother is still in the granary. I have to go save her!"

"I am coming too!"

Another woman stood up; her husband had been taken by the rebels to be cannon fodder and there had been no news of him since.

"The more people there are, the more help we can provide. Even if it's just to help deliver things or distract the rebels, it's all good!"

Among the dozen or so women and children, seven girls and women finally stepped forward. The remaining elderly people held the children, their eyes filled with gratitude and guilt: "You must come back safely... We will stay here and guard the temple for you, waiting for you."

Looking at them, Shi Wanxia felt both bittersweet and warm inside.

She knew that these girls, like her, were enduring desperate situations, and that they would not back down even if they were covered in wounds, all for the sake of the people they wanted to protect.

In the military camp outside the city, candles burned all night. Lin Yongnan held the letter Cui Jiu had sent him, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly.

He handed the letter to Shen Yanzhou, his voice heavy: "Lord Shi and his men plan to take action at midnight tonight, but they have less than twenty men in total, and half of them are wounded. The granary is heavily guarded; this is practically suicide."

Shen Yanzhou took the letter, his finger tracing the three characters "Shi Wanxia" on it, his eyes instantly turning cold.

He recalled that in the capital, Shi Wanxia, ​​dressed in a light blue dress, smiled and said to him, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will definitely investigate the matter of the prefecture."

Thinking of how she was clearly afraid of pain, yet always gritted her teeth and kept quiet when she got hurt, my heart ached as if it were being cut by a knife.

"We have too few men. A frontal assault on the city can only attract some of the defenders, and we can't spare any troops to help them."

Lin Yongnan sighed and tapped his finger on the map. "Unless... we send a small team with excellent light-footed skills to sneak into the city and meet up with Lord Shi and the others, so that we can cooperate from the inside and outside, we will have no chance of winning."

"I will take my men there."

Shen Yanzhou suddenly spoke, his tone firm and leaving no room for argument.

Lin Yongnan was taken aback for a moment, then quickly dissuaded him: "Your Highness! You mustn't! The city is full of rebels. If something happens to you, how can this old minister explain it to His Majesty?"

"Let Cui Jiu lead the team. He is familiar with the terrain of Chuzhou and his lightness skill is also quite good."

"I am worried about Cui Jiu's departure."

Shen Yanzhou stood up, walked to the entrance of the tent, and looked in the direction of Chuzhou City.

In the darkness of night, the shadow of the city gate tower was blurred, yet it felt like a stone weighing on his heart.

"General Lin, you know how important Shi Wanxia is to Cang Ling—she is my woman, and I must personally go and bring her back."

He turned to look at Lin Yongnan, his eyes filled with determination: "It's settled then. You select five hundred soldiers with good lightness skills and agility, and prepare a set of night clothes for me. Before midnight, we will enter through the secret passage of the North Gate and meet up with Lord Shi and the others on time."

Lin Yongnan watched his retreating figure and knew he couldn't persuade him anymore.

He sighed and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I will obey your command and make all the necessary arrangements to ensure your safety."

Shen Yanzhou didn't speak, but simply gripped the sword in his hand tighter.

He recalled Shen Yanchu's disheveled state when she was ambushed, and Shi Wanxia's danger in the city. He had only one thought in his mind—hurry, hurry, we must get to the granary before midnight, we must ensure her safety.

Inside the dilapidated temple, a carrier pigeon flew back with Lin Yongnan's reply. Cui Zhihao opened the letter, and after reading it, his expression became complicated.

He looked up at Shi Wanxia, ​​his voice trembling slightly: "General Lin... has agreed to our plan, and His Highness the Crown Prince will personally lead five hundred men into the city to join us."

"His Royal Highness?"

Shi Wanxia suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with shock and a hint of barely perceptible panic.

"How could he come? The city is so dangerous, what if something happens to him..."

Before she could finish speaking, she started coughing violently, her chest heaving. Wang Ying quickly patted her back to help her catch her breath, but then noticed blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

“I also think it’s inappropriate. Keli said that His Highness the Crown Prince has already made up his mind and there’s no way to stop him.”

Choi Ji-ho sighed, his eyes filled with worry.

He also said that we should meet at the alley entrance on the east side of the granary at midnight, and that we should pick them up then.

Lin Yiyu leaned on his cane, frowning: "His Highness the Crown Prince coming in person will certainly increase our chances of winning, but it will also attract the attention of the rebels."

“Once the rebels discover that the Crown Prince is in the city, they will definitely search for him like crazy. At that time, let alone rescuing the people in the granary, we ourselves may be trapped.”

Shi Wanxia slowly stopped coughing, leaned against the wall, her eyes full of exhaustion, but still determined: "No matter what, the plan cannot be changed. Now that His Highness the Crown Prince has come, we must protect him and save the people in the granary."

She looked at the seven girls and the woman, then at Lin Yiyu: "We'll set off promptly at midnight tonight."

“Brother Lin, since your leg is injured, you'll be in charge of keeping watch at the alley entrance. If any rebels come, use your whistle to warn them. The girls, follow me, split into two groups: one group will set fire to the granary, and the other group will open the back door.”

"Sister Wang, you stay at the alley entrance. Once we've rescued them, we'll lead them to the ruined temple."

"What about His Highness the Crown Prince and the others?" Wang Ying asked.

"I'll go pick them up."

Shi Wanxia said in a soft voice, but with an undeniable power.

“I am familiar with the terrain near the large granary and can avoid hidden sentries.”

Choi Ji-ho looked at her, wanting to say something more, but then he coughed and could only swallow the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

He understood that once Shi Wanxia made a decision, no one could change it—just like how she had gone to save the people at the small grain warehouse even though she was so badly injured.

She always puts the safety of others before her own, even when she is already covered in wounds.

Ya Ya sat next to Cui Zhihao, her little hands tightly gripping the hem of his clothes, her big eyes filled with fear: "Sister Shi, will you come back tonight?"

Shi Wanxia walked over and touched her head. Her fingertips touched the child's soft hair, and her heart ached.

She wanted to laugh, but couldn't manage a smile: "Yes, Yaya, be good. When your sister comes back, I'll take you to eat some sweet candy."

Ya Ya nodded, took out a half-melted candy from her pocket, and stuffed it into Shi Wanxia's hand: "Sister, keep this with you, it will make you feel better after you eat it."

Shi Wanxia clutched the candy, its warmth seeping through her fingertips and making her eyes sting.

She put the candy in her bosom, leaned back against the wall, and closed her eyes—she needed to gather her strength.

Tonight's operation is destined to be difficult. She doesn't know if she can return safely, or if she can protect the Crown Prince and save the people in the granary, but she knows she cannot back down.

As night deepened, the candlelight flickered in the dilapidated temple, illuminating the weary yet determined faces of everyone present.

In the distance, the occasional sounds of rebel patrols drifted by, like the urgent beat of a death knell striking everyone's hearts. The midnight bell would soon toll, and they were about to embark on an adventure where life and death were uncertain.