Thump, thump, thump!
Urgent drumbeats echoed throughout Great Python Slope.
Immediately afterwards, three red smoke pillars rose into the sky!
This was the highest level of alert!
“Sir, where did the Tubo have so many men left?”
Qing Mulan stared down the mountain, her face showing both tension and puzzlement.
Six thousand men might not sound like many, but seeing them in person was extremely impressive.
On the open ground between the Tubo main camp and Great Python Slope, running figures were everywhere, appearing dense and packed, almost covering the entire area.
“Danzhu must have gathered all the men he had left for a desperate gamble!”
Jin Feng also frowned deeply.
Hearing this, Qing Mulan quickly aimed her telescope at the Tubo main camp: “It really is, the Tubo main camp is empty now, not a single person can be seen!”
“Your Highness, there are too many Tubo troops, you should leave!”
Jin Feng had guessed that Danzhu might act desperately, but he had not expected the opponent to move so quickly.
So quickly that Jin Feng felt somewhat caught off guard.
Great Python Slope had no natural defences, only some temporarily built simple fortifications. If a real fight broke out, it would soon turn into close-quarters hand-to-hand combat.
The Tubo soldiers that Danzhu had brought were all battle-hardened veterans, their fighting strength completely incomparable to the Weisheng Army under Meng Tianhai.
Now that neither the Iron Tiger Battalion nor the Black Armoured Team was present, it was only a matter of time before Great Python Slope fell!
Fortunately, before coming to Great Python Slope, Jin Feng had considered this possibility and had long prepared for withdrawal.
In the camp down the slope, there was a specially made carriage, impervious to blades and arrows, equipped with three fast horses. If they travelled at full speed, it would take at most half an hour to reach the banks of the Golden Horse River.
Once they reached the Golden Horse River, the Tubo troops would no longer be able to do anything to them.
Meng Tianhai also rushed up the slope, just in time to hear Jin Feng’s words.
He quickly nodded in agreement: “Your Highness, you should leave at once. I will cover your rear!”
The Tubo main camp was too close to Great Python Slope. Without waiting for the Ninth Princess to respond, Jin Feng turned his head and began arranging matters:
“Da Liu, send someone quickly to prepare the carriage and dispatch scouts to check the road ahead!”
“Lao San, go now!”
Da Liu also knew the situation was urgent and immediately sent a escort master away.
But the Ninth Princess shook her head firmly: “No, this palace will not leave!”
“Your Highness, this is not the time to be wilful. If you do not leave now, it will be impossible later!”
Jin Feng stepped forward, grabbed the Ninth Princess’s arm, intending to drag her away by force.
Who would have thought that the Ninth Princess, who appeared soft and weak, actually had considerable strength and seemed to have learned some martial arts techniques.
With a light twist, she broke free from Jin Feng’s grasp.
“Sir, we have finally won a victory and boosted the morale of our officers and soldiers. If this palace flees now, their morale will completely collapse, and they will be slaughtered by Danzhu!”
The Ninth Princess said: “Once morale scatters, it will be difficult to regroup. How could we confront Tubo again in the future?”
“That will not happen. Liang Ge and I have already surveyed the terrain and made a withdrawal plan.”
Jin Feng said quickly: “After you leave, I will arrange for the escort masters to cover the Weisheng Army’s withdrawal from Great Python Slope, heading northwest to Kan’er Mountain. There is a valley there that is easy to defend and hard to attack. We have trebuchets and heavy crossbows, so if Danzhu pursues with however many men, it would be sending them to their deaths!”
“In that case, sir, why must you insist that this palace leave!” the Ninth Princess countered.
“I have no time to argue with you about this now!”
Jin Feng found he could not pull the Ninth Princess away, so he turned and shouted at Qing Mulan: “Qing Mulan, what are you standing there for? Bring A Mei over and carry her down for me!”
“Sister Mulan, do not interfere!” the Ninth Princess shouted.
Qing Mulan looked at the Ninth Princess, then at Jin Feng, and was completely stunned.
If Jin Feng ordered her and A Mei to bind someone else, even if it were a duke, given Qing Mulan’s personality, she might do it without a second word!
But the Ninth Princess held a very important place in her heart, and she truly feared that the Ninth Princess might fall out with her.
Jin Feng glanced down and saw that the vanguard of the Tubo army was almost at the foot of Great Python Slope. He stamped his foot in anxiety.
He was still waiting to send the Ninth Princess away before arranging other battle matters.
With the situation critical, Jin Feng no longer cared about princess status or distinctions between men and women. He shouted to Da Liu: “All of you, come over and bind her for me!”
The personal guards would not hesitate like Qing Mulan. When Jin Feng ordered them to bind the Ninth Princess, Da Liu immediately led men over.
“Insolence! If you dare touch a single hair on Her Highness, do not blame us for being impolite!”
Qin’er and Zhu’er simultaneously stepped in front of the Ninth Princess.
They could tolerate Jin Feng pulling at the Ninth Princess, since physical contact between the two had happened more than once or twice, and the Ninth Princess had even reminded them not to interfere.
But they absolutely could not allow Da Liu and the others to touch her.
Even if they knew it was for the Ninth Princess’s safety, it was still unacceptable.
Qin Ming also led the Ninth Princess’s original guards, positioning themselves on both sides.
“Lao Liu, take men to block Old Qin and his group. Lao Wu, you few block Misses Qin’er and Zhu’er.”
Da Liu completely ignored Qin’er’s threat and directly began assigning tasks: “Old An, come with me to escort the princess down the mountain!”
“Sir, this palace will absolutely not leave! Tell Da Liu and the others to stop at once, or Wenyang will die right in front of you!”
Seeing Da Liu and his men continue to approach, the Ninth Princess directly drew a small dagger from her sleeve and pressed it against her own neck.
“I…”
Jin Feng, seeing this, nearly swore aloud.
He stamped his foot and had no choice but to signal Da Liu to stop.
“Your Highness, if you leave now, I can guarantee your safety. Later, it may not be possible!”
Jin Feng stared intently at the Ninth Princess: “Do not regret it afterwards!”
“This palace never regrets her actions!”
The Ninth Princess said firmly.
“Very well, I respect your decision! Put the dagger away.”
Seeing the Ninth Princess’s resolute attitude, Jin Feng no longer insisted.
At the same time, he felt some admiration and gratification in his heart.
If all members of the imperial family were like the Ninth Princess, how could Great Kang have fallen to its current state?
The Ninth Princess smiled and slipped the dagger back into her sleeve.
Jin Feng ignored her and turned to Qin’er: “If we cannot hold the position, I hope you will not let Her Highness fall into Danzhu’s hands. If there is truly no way out in the end, then… give her a quick end.”
Hearing this, Qin’er’s eyes instantly sharpened.
From childhood, she had been taught to protect the Ninth Princess’s safety, even unto death.
Now Jin Feng was asking her to kill the Ninth Princess…
A surge of anger instantly rose in Qin’er’s heart.
But in the next moment, she suppressed it.
Because she understood Jin Feng’s meaning.
If the Ninth Princess fell into Danzhu’s hands, her fate would be far more miserable than death.
“Sir, rest assured. If it truly comes to that, this palace will not need Qin’er to act.”
The Ninth Princess bowed deeply to Jin Feng: “During this time, thank you for your care, sir. If Wen’er truly dies here, I fear I will be unable to fulfil the promise made to you. In the next life, Wen’er is willing to serve as your ox or horse to repay the debt!”
“Settle this life’s accounts in this life, do not drag them into the next for me!”
Jin Feng said coldly: “When the fighting starts later, do not throw your princess tantrums again. Stay here obediently and do not cause trouble for me, understood!”
“Wen’er obeys!”
The Ninth Princess gave Jin Feng a charming smile and nodded in agreement.
Jin Feng waved his hand and hurried down the mountain with Da Liu.
“Hey!”
Meng Tianhai stamped his foot and followed Jin Feng down.
After they left, the Ninth Princess put away her smile, her expression turning serious.
“Qin’er, Zhu’er, help this palace change clothes!”
