Who says the prince is weak and can't take care of himself?

Chapter 190 The plan is set

Tang Ling returned the barbecue to Qi Xiao, then took out everything from the secret compartment. She walked to the couch at the other end of the room and said, "I took a quick look when we came here. There's no room between this room and the rooms on the left and right that could be used as a secret room, so it has to be a secret compartment."

"Well. And then?" Qi Xiao nodded. He had thought of this as well, but there were many ways and locations to make secret compartments, such as on the wall, underground, and even on the beams, but Tang Ling only looked for this wall.

"The room is huge, and there are a lot of books, but they're all piled up at one end, leaving this side of the room completely empty." Tang Ling pointed toward the bookshelf. "If there really are too many books to fit, they should have built two more bookcases instead of cramming them all together. Besides, the books are arranged in no particular order. Aside from a few military manuals on the desk, ninety percent of the books on the shelf are new and unopened. This shows Xu Zheng isn't a book lover at all; it's just a deception."

"You're trying to cover up your mistake." Qi Xiao laughed. "Xu Zheng is really stupid."

Xu Zheng wasn't stupid. Those were just Tang Ling's reasonable guesses. Xingtian Pass was heavily guarded, so if Xu Zheng's study was locked, it couldn't just be for a few volumes. His father, Xun Anhou, also served as a military commander, had a secret compartment in his study. However, his father also controlled both the military and the Xingluo Guards, so his secret compartment was far more sophisticated than Xu Zheng's. Even Tang Ling didn't know how to open it. If she tried to forcefully remove it, it would trigger the saltpeter detonator, destroying everything.

Tang Ling smiled without saying anything, and laid out the things in the secret compartment one by one: a few letters, a roll of sheepskin drawings, a small pearwood box, and three books.

Qi Xiao finally put down the half-eaten barbecue and reached out to unfold the sheepskin drawing to take a look.

"Hey, it really is a defense map. It was easy to get."

Isn't it labor-intensive?

They traveled all the way from Yuanzhou to Fenglin Mountain, hid in the ice and snow for three months, their noses were almost frozen off, and they arrived in Qi territory with starving stomachs. They fought their way into Jialin Pass, passed through the miasma forest, and captured Xingtian Pass. This nearly 100-day effort could not be described as "easy".

"Is there a secret passage leading to Bashan Mountain?"

Qi Xiao turned the map towards Tang Ling and pointed at it. "Yes. There are soldiers stationed inside and outside that creek. There must be no mistake."

Tang Ling opened the pearwood box, revealing half a tiger talisman for mobilizing troops. She pushed the box toward Qi Xiao, "Keep it. It might be useful in the future."

Qi Xiao glanced at it and said, "The other half should be in Xu Zheng's hands. Only by killing him can we get the other half. If Xu Zheng can be killed, even if Qi is buried up to its neck in yellow earth, it will not matter whether it wants this tiger talisman or not."

Tang Ling smiled and said, "Then I'll keep it."

As she spoke, Tang Ling had already opened the three volumes and took a quick look before becoming absorbed in them.

Qi Xiao noticed that Tang Ling's expression had changed, and immediately asked, "What is it?"

"These two volumes are border records from the past two years, and this one is the account book from last year."

"Ha!" Qi Xiao couldn't understand the account book, so he flipped through the second border minutes, which recorded the exact time and number of guard changes, and which soldiers were in charge of which outposts.

"Hmm...it's a good thing, but unfortunately the Xingtian Pass has been broken, so it's useless."

Upon hearing this, Tang Ling handed the scroll in her hand to Qi Xiao: "This one is useful. It belongs to Bashan."

Qi Xiao was very happy when he saw it, and his mouth was almost grinning to his ears. With the military defense map and the military defense minutes, they would have at least a 30% chance of success in their sneak attack on Bashan.

Tang Ling had already opened the account book and was looking at it very carefully, but there was not much joy on her face.

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with this account book?"

Tang Ling shook her head. "There's nothing wrong with the account books. I'm just wondering how long Bashan's food and fodder will last us."

The joy on Qi Xiao's face faded with Tang Ling's words, and he became solemn. He couldn't help but sigh softly: "Tang Ling..."

They only had 6,000 men, and it was impossible for them to conquer Shuoliang with only 6,000 men. It wouldn't be long before the Qi court learned of their invasion, and a large army would soon arrive to support them. 6,000 men trapped in Qi would be like trapped beasts. Without a place to hold, they wouldn't survive even a month. Therefore, they had to capture Bashan and hold on to it.

But they couldn't just defend Bashan, they had to continue moving south.

Tang Ling and Qi Xiao had decided on a plan to attack Qi early on. After taking Bashan, Tang Ling would guard Bashan and delay the Qi army, while Qi Xiao would lead a team to continue southward and attack Shuoliang during the chaos.

Tang Ling wanted to be a rabbit in a cage, luring the wolves to surround him and attack him. Either Qi Xiao could kill the leader of the wolves to free him, or the cage would be broken and he would be bitten and torn to pieces.

"The Qi court wasn't wealthy to begin with, and the military pay and rations provided to Xu Zheng were modest. Based on the records in the account books, Bashan's grain reserves shouldn't be much. As usual, Qinzhou will ship grain and fodder to Bashan in early March, so Bashan's grain reserves will only last until April at best. However, we have fewer people, so we can save significantly more food than the Bashan defenders. I'll try to hold out until May and await your return."

Tang Ling said so much at first, which made Qi Xiao flustered. But when he finally said that he would wait for him to come back, his heart was filled with both bitterness and sweetness. Tang Ling's gentle words entrusted her life and death to him, which was more important than any oath.

April, April 22nd is the Grain in Ear Festival. Tang Ling looked at Qi Xiao, thinking silently in her heart, at least I have to wait for him to come back, and he must come back before the Grain in Ear Festival.

At that time, Qi Xiao still understood what kind of thoughts were hidden in the hope in Tang Ling's eyes. He thought that they would be separated for several months, and each would face their own dangers. Worry, concern, and uneasiness, all kinds of pain were already burning his heart and lungs before they even parted. Qi Xiao didn't want to leave Tang Ling for a moment.

"I will definitely be back before May." Qi Xiao reached out and held Tang Ling's hand, adding, "I've already sent a message back to Yuanzhou Prefecture. Your Majesty will definitely order an attack on Qi and send the Dingyuan Army to lift the siege of Bashan."

Tang Ling nodded and slowly took a deep breath.

The plan has been decided, and they can only do their best and leave the rest to fate.