Chapter 177: Chapter 177
The twenty-third year of Qiming.
It was also the fourth year since An Ning arrived here. Under the city gate, a vast mass of iron cavalry stretched beyond sight.
Dust billowed, flames soared skyward, and amid the blaring war horns, the sounds of brutal combat still echoed in the ears.
Inside the prefecture city, a crowd of able-bodied men had long been ready, wave after wave stubbornly defending the city gate. Among them, a few strong female soldiers could still be faintly seen. The rest—mostly elderly and weak—had all tightly shut their doors, some superstitiously lighting incense in the Buddhist hall.
Who did not know the terror of the Great Zhou's iron cavalry?
No one present had any confidence about this war.
Yet unexpectedly, despite such a dire situation, except for a few wealthy merchants with some capital who chose to abandon the city and flee, not many commoners escaped.
In fact, in many villages, some elderly elders tightly gripped their hoes and sickles. Many had even spontaneously gathered into squads, ready to step in with their old bones when the able-bodied men could no longer hold the line.
If they could just hold on a little longer, maybe there would be a chance to survive!
In chaotic times, the lives of these common folk were the most fragile. Having finally found a place to settle, no one was willing to let it be destroyed!
Unfortunately, under the enemy’s relentless and merciless assault, even the strongest walls could fall.
Amid the ceaseless sounds of warfare outside the city and the burning flames everywhere, almost everyone now had but one thought:
No retreat! They would not let their homes fall!
The city dwellers thought so, and so did those fiercely defending the frontline.
Besides Qizhou Prefecture, who else could offer such generous treatment—ample money and food, thick cotton clothes in winter, with no fear of freezing to death one day?
No need to worry about being left with no family after an unfortunate death in battle.
Everyone knew that ever since Lord Chu officially took over the financial power of the Qi region two years ago, Qizhou Prefecture had developed rapidly. While grain became self-sufficient, trade flourished even more.
Most importantly, last year, on Lord Chu’s proposal, Prince Jin personally set the rule: if a family member died in battle or in service, their family would receive a large sum of compensation, enough to live comfortably for the next ten years. Most importantly, they would gain a spot in a workshop…
It could be said that as long as they held the land today, their parents and children behind them could live peacefully in this pure land.
Just last year, they even built a new house at home!
“Protect our homeland! So that all we have today will not be trampled!”
Feeling the morale around him soaring to the sky, even Xiao Qi, who had experienced countless battles, was shaken to his core at this moment.
At this moment, though their forces in Qizhou were still vastly outnumbered compared to the enemy, Xiao Qi inexplicably felt, without reason, that even if they truly lost, he would have no regrets in this life!
No, he absolutely could not lose.
With a blast of the soaring war horn, Prince Jin took the lead, stepping forward to face the enemy commander.
However, after a round of fighting, those shocked were not only Xiao Qi and a few others. Looking at the seemingly tireless Liang army, after the battle in the military tent, Emperor Zhou Xuan frowned.
Something was wrong...
Something was very wrong... Everything was too off...
Everything before his eyes differed too greatly from their earlier expectations.
Logically, Qi land was mountainous with insufficient rainfall; grain could not be self-sufficient. Especially with a great drought in the northern regions this year, this should have been a time of great scarcity. Their initial strategy, set by him and his staff, was to surround and conquer.
Unfortunately, the facts did not bear this out. Their army had already besieged the city for a whole month, cutting off major transportation routes nearby, yet these people were not affected at all.
That would be one thing. The Great Zhou army was militarily superior; if this plan failed, a strong attack could still achieve the goal.
But now, seeing the soldiers equally well-equipped and those who seemed tireless, dragging injured bodies forward with brave resolve…
This was absolutely not the morale of a weak land…
Thinking this, Emperor Zhou Xuan’s eyes darkened involuntarily.
Even the ministers behind him no longer showed their earlier disdain.
They had thought the previous few rulers of Great Liang, including the current one, had no outstanding achievements. Xiao Qi, though capable, was but an inexperienced youth. How could he singlehandedly reverse such disadvantages?
Qizhou was just a small dish before the main course; who would have expected it to be such a tough bone to chew?
Which recluse or expert was hiding here?
Recalling the scout reports from the past two years, Emperor Zhou Xuan was filled with rage!
Looking at these neat and disciplined troops, obsessed only with commerce, their prosperity seemed superficial with a lost foundation?
Fools, trash, played for fools without even knowing it.
But what of it? Under absolute military power, strategy was meaningless. Today, Qizhou must return to Great Zhou’s territory. That expert would become a guest of Great Zhou.
Unfortunately, the ambitious emperor soon lost the mood to think about these things!
The fact proved that the nickname “Fox Xie” was not given without reason.
Though Qizhou had developed strongly in the past two years, without strong support from the central court, a single region’s manpower and equipment were still too disadvantaged…
Just as Emperor Zhou Xuan was once again organizing troops for an assault about to break through, suddenly, news arrived from the imperial city that Crown Prince Murong Dan was raising troops to rebel…
The next day, taking advantage of the old ruler’s absence, he quickly seized the imperial city, playing the role of striking directly at the heart, and intercepted grain supplies heading to the border.
Emperor Zhou Xuan, who had felt the end was near, was speechless: “...”
“Your Majesty… ah, this…”
Taking a deep breath of stale air, finally glancing at the towering city walls, Emperor Zhou Xuan bit his teeth tightly, swallowed a mouthful of old blood, and after a long moment, squeezed out a few words from his throat:
“Turn back, return to the capital!”
Only when the army completely withdrew from under the city, after multiple confirmations, did a hysterical cheer suddenly erupt from the crowd atop the city gate!
“We held! We held our home!”
“Xuniang, Acheng, I held our home!”
Amid sobs and tears, seeing no trace of the Zhou army’s return, everyone allowed themselves to be immersed in the joy of surviving disaster.
When the army returned to the city, the streets were filled with jubilant citizens cheering. Almost everyone’s face carried the most genuine happiness. Flowers and fruits were thrown freely onto the people.
At this moment, these people were undoubtedly the unmatched heroes who guarded their homeland.
Even An Ning, who had been handling affairs in the inner city, deliberately came to join the celebration.
Prince Jin built his reputation on military merit, always leading the charge in battles to share life and death with his soldiers. This moment was critical; he could not afford to slack off. As the military strategist, Xie Heng naturally stayed by his side. During the battle, all rear affairs were fully entrusted to the young An Ning, who was barely twenty.
Nevertheless, the entire city held no doubts or forgetfulness about this behind-the-scenes contributor—the backbone of Qizhou’s present.
At this moment, wherever An Ning passed, people bowed respectfully, their attitudes exceptionally reverent.
“Oh, Lord Chu, you came! This is the beef shank I just braised today. Sir, how about a change of taste...”
An Ning smiled and passed by each greeting.
Across the street, seeing this scene firsthand, Chu Wen Yuan almost had his heart leap out of his chest in excitement.
Especially watching this young man in a blue robe, revered along the way like a respected “son,” just like the countless dreams he had over the years.
Such a talent—how wonderful it would be if he were truly his son.
At this moment, Chu Wen Yuan only regretted why he had received that news long ago, making him feel as if walking on thin ice every moment, unable to fully enjoy even amidst everyone’s joy.
Seeing An Ning coming, the crowd spontaneously cleared a path. On horseback, Prince Jin disregarded protocol and rode over immediately.
The young man’s hearty laughter quickly echoed through the crowded street:
“Zi’an, Zi Gu, how fortunate I am to have met two confidants in this life!”
As the saying goes, the left and right arms…
Prince Jin knew that without either of them, he, Xiao Qi, would never have what he had today!
Ha ha ha! Even when time is not on my side, heaven ultimately stands with me.
At night was a lively celebration banquet. Amid the joyful atmosphere, even An Ning, who was not fond of alcohol, felt slightly dizzy. Xie Heng, known for his love of good wine, surprisingly only sipped a few cups today.
In the cool evening breeze, the visitor gently raised a cup toward An Ning, speaking in a voice only they could hear:
“Not to disappoint your mission!”
An Ning returned a smile, meeting the gaze without avoidance.
There was still one year left until the three-year deadline…
And everyone knew the enemy’s return was only a matter of time!
However, in fact, the situation was worse than they imagined.
Or rather, under absolute authority and military power, any resistance was merely scratching the surface, incapable of stirring a real storm.
The Great Zhou, Crown Prince Dan’s rebellion, came suddenly and ended just as quickly.
One could only say that from ancient times, experience showed that an all-powerful emperor often left little room for the heir to develop. The Great Zhou relied on military achievements, yet Crown Prince Dan never had the chance to fight.
Watching his brothers gradually earn military merits and gain positions in the army, the father’s attitude toward him grew increasingly vague day by day…
It was not impossible that one day,
Under various pressures and rumors that His Majesty intended to replace the eldest with the youngest, he had no choice but to fight desperately for his future and life. This led to the current situation.
Perhaps it was also the most daring thing Crown Prince Dan had ever done in his life.
Yet, it was limited to this only.
With the prince’s fall, in the Great Zhou capital, the other princes grew restless, but as always, under absolute power, all struggles were futile.
When the news arrived, those in Prince Jin’s mansion, who had quietly hoped for some outcome to reduce the enemy threat, gasped sharply.
Everyone knew Emperor Zhou Xuan was formidable, but no one expected it would happen so fast!
It seemed that even though he was often at war, his control over the court remained formidable.
“What shall we do now?”
The older men, all past fifty, were full of worry.
This internal turmoil was over, but next time might not wait for people like them. Moreover, after the previous battle, any smart person would not allow Qizhou to continue developing.
If there were only two who were not surprised, it was probably An Ning and Xie Heng, with Prince Jin being half.
After all, wasn’t this result already expected by the two?
Could anyone truly stop someone like Emperor Zhou Xuan? Even now, slowing him down was only possible because he was caught off guard.
Amid the dense crowd, Xie Heng’s gaze inadvertently fell on the youth standing close by.
Perhaps from drinking more today, there was a slight redness at the corners of the youth’s eyes. His usually refined and elegant face now, under the flickering light, seemed to have gained an indescribable radiance.
Sensing something was amiss, Xie Heng quickly looked away and instinctively lifted his foot slightly to block the gaze of those also looking from beside him.
Yet his mind still involuntarily followed the youth’s direction.
Xie Heng thought to himself.
Only one year left. The current Great Zhou forces and equipment were visible to all after the last battle. Indeed, Qizhou had developed remarkably in the past two years, even beyond expectations, but some gaps could not be bridged in such a short time.
Setting aside the distant issues, manpower and weapons could not be conjured out of thin air.
In such circumstances, what would you do?
How could you be so confident?
It had to be said that at this moment, compared to the dangers possibly faced half a year later, Xie Heng cared more about how the person before him would break the deadlock now.
After all, these three years, the youth had surprised him too many times—his mind, insight, and vision were like a chessboard never fully solved, a scenery never fully revealed from within…
Unconsciously, Xie Heng’s gaze had become accustomed to following him.
Knowing the crisis would return, the twenty-fourth year was not a happy new year for the prince’s mansion compared to the blissfully unaware commoners.
Inside the city, a tense atmosphere permeated everywhere, like a stretched string ready to snap with the slightest force.
Especially at the beginning of the year, Great Zhou again sent word of troop deployments and grain preparations. No one doubted that when the snow fully melted after the new year, the army would march again.
It had to be said, the deterrent power of the Zhou army last time was indeed formidable.
In this situation, even An Ning could not afford to be too lax. With the comparison group already grinding away, in her mind, the system clicked its tongue: “By the way, host, didn’t you secretly investigate all those powerful modern weapons before?”
If only one or two of those were produced, wouldn’t the problem be solved easily?
Not to mention she was a mere merchant’s daughter, sensitive to economics and agriculture, how could she understand all that in such a short time?
Technological development is a gradual process. Tell me, is building a cannon just a matter of one blueprint? Without the proper technical foundation, believe it or not, you can’t even make a fine screw.
Ignoring the system’s wild ideas, An Ning continued as two years ago—focusing her main strength on developing the economy, reforming agriculture and taxes, massively improving the happiness of the governed people.
But isn’t the important thing now military?
While the system was puzzled, several days later, outside the city, a middle-aged scholar dressed as a messenger respectfully presented a visiting card.
Upon seeing the visitor’s face, a slight smile appeared on An Ning’s face.