Chapter 637 Retreating to Advance
Eighteen miles south of Luoyang City, there is a towering hillside with lush forests on it, and swallows often build nests there, so it was named "Swallow Hill".

After crossing this slope, the road to the south is flat, so when the people of Luoyang see off their friends and guests, they often use Yanzipo as the boundary, a distance of about eighteen miles.

At noon, a group of golden sword captains led by Zhao Yuan and the disciples of the Xianwang Palace led by Liu Xunyi slowly arrived in front of Yanzipo.

"After sending you a thousand miles, we must finally say goodbye. Liu Zhishan and the others will send you here!"

"Master Zhao, it's a long way to Lin'an, take care!"

Facing Liu Xunyi's greeting, Zhao Yuan smiled slightly, then turned to look towards Yanzipo, and said with emotion: "I came here in a hurry, and I will leave in a hurry. I have failed the emperor's grace on this trip. I really have no face to face His Majesty."

"Xu Heng, Ling Qing, prepare wine and food to send off the gentlemen!"

"As ordered!"

Before setting off, Xu Heng and Ling Qing followed Liu Xunyi's instructions and brought good wine and food. At this moment, Liu Xunyi gave an order, and they immediately asked all the disciples to set up tables and chairs and display the wine and food.

Looking at the bustling crowd, Zhao Yuan pointed to Yanzipo Slope and said with a wry smile: "I have many feelings on this trip, but I can't find anyone to talk to. I have to go back today, and I don't know whether I will live or die. I still have a lot of troubles in my heart, and I can't feel relieved until I express them. I wonder if Liu Zhishan has the leisure time to walk with me on the slope? And listen to my chatter."

"This..." Liu Xunyi looked back at Xu Heng and others who were busy preparing wine and food, hesitated for a moment, and then bowed and replied: "Most of the time, things are not satisfactory, but you can tell others about them. Fortunately, you have been praised by the adults, and I will respectfully obey your orders!"

"Very good, please, Liu Zhishan!"

"My lord please!"

After saying this, the two of them walked towards Yanzipo leisurely as if they were strolling in a garden.

After walking a hundred meters away, Liu Xunyi put down the "Black Fan" and asked hurriedly: "My Lord, why did you leave so suddenly?"

"If I don't leave, how can Luo Tianjin let down his guard?" Zhao Yuan said, "You once said that when I was in Lin'an, you and Qin Wei often met secretly. Now that I'm in Luoyang City, it's harder than heaven to meet you. Instead of being trembling with fear under Luo Tianjin's nose all day, it's better to retreat in order to advance. This way you can be relaxed and act boldly."

"I see."

After hearing Zhao Yuan's explanation, Liu Xunyi couldn't help feeling a sense of inexplicable loss in his heart.

"I received a secret letter last night. The remaining seven guards of Tianji Pavilion led 300 golden sword officers to travel day and night on horseback. According to this, they are less than 200 miles away and will arrive within three days." Zhao Yuan looked down at the people eating and drinking at the bottom of the slope, and said without looking away, "I have decided to help the court suppress the rebellion on the seventh night of the twelfth lunar month."

"hiss!"

Zhao Yuan's words were like a sharp sword that pierced deeply into Liu Xunyi's heart, causing him to feel an unprecedented sense of uneasiness deep in his heart, as if his heart had fallen into an endless abyss, empty and uneasy.

Although he had expected this day to come, when it finally came, Liu Xunyi was still overwhelmed with mixed feelings and indescribably nervous.

"My Lord...what do you want me to do?"

"According to the plan, you only need to do three things. First, try to transfer the elite disciples of the Xianwang Mansion out of the mansion. Second, infiltrate our people into the Xianwang Mansion. Third, lead Luo Tianjin alone into our ambush." ​​Zhao Yuan said word by word, "If these three things go well, great things will be accomplished!"

"Now, heroes from all walks of life have arrived at the Xianwang Mansion one after another. On the night of the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, the mansion will surely be crowded with experts and very lively." Liu Xunyi said worriedly, "Even if I can transfer the disciples in the mansion, what about the experts from other sects?"

"You don't need to worry about this." Zhao Yuan evaded the question, "Someone will take care of it for us."

"My Lord, are you talking about Ling Xiaoxiao?" When Ling Xiaoxiao was mentioned, Liu Xunyi couldn't help but get furious. "This person is despicable and vicious, and can never be trusted. My Lord, you don't know that she tricked me into going to Xuzhou to assassinate Yun Jianping the day before yesterday, and almost caused me to lose my life..."

"It is precisely because she is despicable and vicious that I can use her for my own benefit." Zhao Yuan seemed indifferent to Xuzhou's affairs. He waved his hand with a lack of interest and said, "Xunyi, no matter how much hatred you have for Ling Xiaoxiao, you must be patient for now, because she is the key to our success. Now, nothing is more important than getting rid of Luo Tianjin! Therefore, you just need to do your own thing..."

"No!" Liu Xunyi said stubbornly, "If this matter is not explained clearly, I will never feel at ease. Please forgive me for being so presumptuous, but I dare to ask you to explain it clearly!"

"you……"

Looking at Liu Xunyi's firm attitude, Zhao Yuan wanted to get angry, but thinking of the current situation, he couldn't help but sigh and compromised: "I can tell you, but you must promise me that you will never interfere in this matter."

The more serious Zhao Yuan was, the more uneasy Liu Xunyi felt. He said in a serious tone, "I swear not to interfere with Ling Xiaoxiao's actions."

"Well then!" Zhao Yuan couldn't resist Liu Xunyi's insistence, and nodded slowly, "On the night of the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Ling Xiaoxiao will try to put a knockout drug in the guests' meals. By then, everyone will be fast asleep, so naturally no one will jump out to get in the way."

"This……"

"Although Ling Xiaoxiao has fallen out of favor with Luo Tianjin, she is the mistress of the Xianwang Mansion after all, so it would be easy for her to tamper with the food." Zhao Yuan ignored Liu Xunyi's reaction and said, "This matter has already been discussed with Ling Xiaoxiao, you don't have to worry about it."

"Ling Xiaoxiao is cunning and vicious. My Lord, you must be extremely careful when you join forces with her." Liu Xunyi nodded absentmindedly and added, "Even so, there is no guarantee that there will not be fish that slip through the net that night. At least, Xie Xuan, Deng Changchuan, Huang Yulang and others are veterans of the martial arts world. What if they..."

"If you want to accomplish great things, there must be risks. Being submissive will only disrupt your own formation." Zhao Yuan interrupted, "That night, not only did I have Ling Xiaoxiao's secret help, but I also had ten young guards and three hundred golden sword lieutenants in charge. How could I be afraid of a little Luo Tianjin? Xunyi, you were born in Tianji Pavilion, you should have confidence in your comrades, why do you want to boost others' ambitions and destroy your own prestige?"

"Yes." Facing Liu Xunyi's worry, Zhao Yuan raised his eyebrows and said, "There is one more thing you may not know."

"What's the matter?"

"When you released Xunzhen privately, all kinds of rumors had already spread to Lin'an City thousands of miles away." Zhao Yuan sighed, "Now, many people in the court are talking about you..."

"what?"

Liu Xunyi was shocked. Although he knew that releasing Xunzhen privately would inevitably lead to criticism, he never expected that the matter would spread so quickly. Even in the court far away in Lin'an, there were people discussing his mistake.

Until this moment, Liu Xunyi finally understood the fundamental reason for the gradual decline of the Song Dynasty. The ministers in the court did not know how to worry about the country and the people, but were always thinking about eliminating dissidents, playing tricks, and using means. In this way, the court was in constant infighting, and how could the real loyal ministers and generals have a place to stand?
"But don't worry, the Prime Minister has suppressed this matter for you, and the emperor will not believe those nonsense for the time being." Zhao Yuan said with a hint of meaning, "But to prove your innocence, you still need to do it yourself and shut up the world with facts. Xunyi, do you understand what I mean?"

Liu Xunyi felt sad in his heart and nodded slowly: "I understand!"

"As long as you help me get rid of Luo Tianjin, you will be the first major contributor to the suppression of the rebellion. By then, any rumors will be self-defeating and will not be able to shake your position in the emperor's heart." Zhao Yuan encouraged, "As long as you are appreciated by the emperor, your future will be limitless."

"Yes."

"From now until the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, all actions in Luoyang City will be arranged by you. If my guess is correct, Luo Tianjin will send people to secretly monitor my whereabouts, so in order to conceal my whereabouts, Qiu Han will pretend to be me and lead a large group of people south to Lin'an. At the same time, Qin Wei will sneak back to Luoyang City secretly and respond at any time according to the code you used to contact each other. No matter what help you need, just ask, and I will do my best." Zhao Yuan said earnestly, "Remember, be careful in everything."

"I will obey the order of the Marquis!"

"Xunyi, I treat you as my own son. In the future, you will have the brightest future among all the people in Tianji Pavilion." Zhao Yuan put his hand on Liu Xunyi's shoulder and said kindly, "Now, victory or failure depends on this one move. You must seize the opportunity and soar to the sky!"

"As ordered..."

At this moment, Liu Xunyi had no interest in promotion. The only things that supported him to go against his principles and assassinate Luo Tianjin were three things.

The first was Zhao Yuan's upbringing and promotion. The second was Zhao Xin, whom he missed day and night. The third was the "loyalty to the emperor" that had been instilled in him for many years.

"Let's go back so that no one will get suspicious."

Seeing that everyone at Yanzipo had eaten and drunk their fill, Zhao Yuan and the dazed Liu Xunyi walked down the slope together.

"Liu Zhishan, goodbye!"

"Master Zhao, take care!"

After some polite greetings, Zhao Yuan and Liu Xunyi parted ways, each leading their men to the south or north.

After crossing Yanzi Slope, Zhao Yuan looked around, then quickly took off his cloak, handed it to Qiu Han, and whispered, "Quickly change into my clothes, then get in the carriage and return to Lin'an with everyone else. Remember, you cannot stay in an inn along the way, and you must travel day and night to show your urgency. In addition, don't show up easily, so as not to be discovered by others."

Qiu Han worriedly asked, "If we all leave, who will protect the Marquis' safety?"

"Now, the more alone I am, the safer I am." Zhao Yuan chuckled, "No need to say more, just follow the plan."

"As ordered!"

Watching Qiu Han walking away reluctantly, Qin Wei rode forward and asked curiously, "Where is the Marquis going now?"

"There is a mass grave on the outskirts of Luoyang City, and Yun Zhuiyue has been waiting for a long time." Zhao Yuan pondered, "If we want to accomplish great things, we can't do without this person's help."

"Brother Liu, do you know?"

"The more he knows, the more confused he becomes." Zhao Yuan shook his head slowly. "Yun Zhuiyue has a bad reputation in the martial arts world. Liu Xunyi has an upright personality. If he knew that we were working with Yun Zhuiyue, I'm worried that he would act on impulse and do something stupid again."

"Yes!" Qin Wei said with emotion, "Brother Liu has been with Luo Tianjin through thick and thin for such a long time, and Luo Tianjin has treated him well. Now it is really a bit unreasonable for him to be ruthless and get rid of Luo Tianjin."

"A real man should be loyal as the sun, have lofty ambitions, be able to take on and let go, and not have to feel pity for others or look to their shadows for pity."

"Please calm down, my Lord. I just said something wrong."

"Qin Wei, before sneaking back to Luoyang City, you must first fly south to meet the Tianji Pavilion's troops at Yanzipo to await orders." Zhao Yuan reminded them, "Remember, the large group of troops must be divided into smaller groups and disguised. Don't let the people in the martial arts world who come and go here notice anything strange, so as to avoid any complications."

"As ordered!"

……

　Recently, I heard my wife mention the book friends in the group. I feel very ashamed. I am busy every day, confused, and have too many chores to take care of other things. Therefore, I have been bothering my wife to take over as the group leader. My wife also has her own work, which is very hard. It is inevitable that she is too busy to take care of the book friends in the group. I hope you will forgive me. I would like to thank you!

　　I am almost thirty years old, shouldering a heavy responsibility that connects the past and the future, so I am extremely nervous and have been treading on thin ice all day long. Fortunately, you have not abandoned me and are willing to travel with me in the martial arts world. I am so grateful that I don’t know what to say. I can only focus on creation and dedicate the most exciting stories to everyone, to express my gratitude!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)