Chapter 235: The Battle - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter

 Chapter 235: The Battle

“The Ninth Prince and the main army had just arrived in Ganzhou when they heard that Liangzhou was in battle. Thus, he stayed behind with the central troops while I led fifty thousand men to provide support. However, when we reached the Lan River, the Stone Hole Bridge was blown up. Now, Deputy Zhen is there searching for the soldiers who fell into the water…”

Hearing this, Xiao Ji fell into silence.

With bad news coming one after another, Xiao Ji looked at the cavalry behind him, his eyes filled with despair.

The destruction of the bridge meant that the army could not cross the Lan River. Even with all the reinforcements combined, they would number no more than fifty thousand.

Including the city defenders, there were only about a hundred thousand men. Facing the fierce and numerous Northern Di, even Xiao Ji felt there was little chance of victory.

But he could not show any sign of weakness in front of the soldiers.

They still had the city of Liangzhou and, at the very least, their own flesh and blood.

If Liangzhou fell, it wouldn’t be long before the disaster spread to Ganzhou and the cities behind it.

The civilians of Liangzhou would have to join forces with them to resist the enemy.

Xiao Mu Qian stepped forward, kneeling on one knee and clasping his hands, and said, “General, don’t worry. As long as the city stands, so will we. If the city falls, we will die defending it with all our might!”

His words were passionate, and many soldiers behind him admired his resolve.

The long-standing tacit understanding between the uncle and nephew allowed them to understand each other without much need for words. Hearing this, Xiao Ji immediately ordered that the accompanying cavalry should camp outside the city to rest while the main commanders entered the city to assess the situation.

As they walked, Xiao Mu Qian whispered to Xiao Ji.

The Stone Hole Bridge had been blown up, and at the time, Xiao Mu Qian had to pretend he was unaware as they rushed forward day and night.

But as they traveled, he wondered if anyone other than the Northern Di spies was stirring the pot.

The bridge was thick, wide, and long; ordinary explosives could not have destroyed it, let alone the Jizhou army that had traveled thousands of miles.

Thus, the only explanation was that explosives had been prepared in Ganzhou specifically to destroy the bridge.

Who the traitors in Ganzhou and the Jizhou army were, and what deals they had made with the Northern Di, was still unknown.

But it was clear that the current crisis in Liangzhou was caused by outsiders collaborating with internal traitors.

With the bridge destroyed, it would take at least two months to temporarily restore passage with a wooden bridge, and repairing the stone bridge could take three to five years.

In that time, the lands north of the Lan River might fall entirely to the Northern Di.

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This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com

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Once they became accustomed to it, how would they be able to retreat back to the prairie to live a nomadic life?

The future was too daunting to consider. The only thing the uncle and nephew understood was that they had to hold Liangzhou at all costs, or they would lose this precious land for good.

The troops rested outside the city. Having traveled through the night, most of them were exhausted and quickly fell asleep.

Aside from Xiao Mu Qian, four other officers accompanied Xiao Ji into the city.

One was his trusted aide, while the other three were seasoned veterans sent by Prince Ding, who had been fighting for years. Together, they ascended the city walls.

The sunlight gradually rose from the horizon, casting golden light across the land.

Xiao Mu Qian had seen this scene countless times over the past decade, once finding it breathtakingly peaceful. But now, it was different. Under the holy sunlight, the Northern Di army loomed ominously.

Near the city walls, the ground was littered with corpses.

“Our arrows are running low and we can’t launch long-range attacks anymore. We can either send troops out to fight the Northern Di directly or hold the city to the end. I’ve ordered oil to be prepared. If they dare to advance, we will set fire to them.”

There was no trace of pity in his eyes, only determination!

Although the Northern Di were human, in the current dire situation, it was either they die or the enemy dies. There was no room for mercy.

“But the oil will run out eventually, won’t it?”

Liangzhou was not a place that produced tung oil, so having this amount was already a challenge. Unfortunately, facing the endless Northern Di army, it might not even last half a day.

“Uncle, have you seen the Iron King’s Eagle Team?”

When they first received the news, Prince Ding had sent this elusive elite force more than half a month before their arrival. By now, they should have reached Liangzhou. Why haven’t they been seen?

“No.”

What was Prince Ding hiding? Why were they still absent at this crucial time?

“Don’t place your hope in others. Since I’ve protected Liangzhou for twenty years, I can certainly protect it for a bit longer.”

“He Qiu!”

“Yes, General.”

“Choose five thousand elite troops and be ready at all times. If the Northern Di attack again, I’ll lead them out and fight! I refuse to believe that these Northern Di aren’t made of flesh and blood. Can’t they be cut down or pierced?”

“Understood!”

His determined tone made the four officers accompanying him take him seriously.

Especially the three sent by Prince Ding, who initially thought the city defenders and Jizhou troops were as weak as they appeared. After all, they had once fought against seventy thousand troops from Nanyue and hadn’t been intimidated.

Hearing Xiao Ji’s words, they realized he was a courageous commander who led by example. They adjusted their previous arrogance and knelt on one knee, clasping their fists and said, “We will follow General Xiao’s orders!”

“Good, good. We are all loyal soldiers of the Great Jin. Let’s defend our land together!”

“Yes!”

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the Jizhou troops outside the city had barely slept when the Northern Di army launched a new wave of attacks, accompanied by the sound of drums, whinnying horses, and roaring.

This time, they charged forward without fear!

The Northern Di’s reputation for bravery on the battlefield was a nightmare for the city defenders, but the Jizhou troops had only heard of it and were still somewhat hopeful.

However, after feeling the earth tremble, their confidence began to wave.

Both sides were cavalry, but the difference in their power was evident even before they met. The mere sound was enough to intimidate the Jizhou soldiers.

Some soldiers, already timid, began to feel fear. But there was no way to retreat; they had already come this far.

Xiao Mu Qian continued to shoot arrows from the city walls at the advancing Northern Di cavalry, while He Qiu slightly opened the city gate. Xiao Ji positioned the five thousand elite troops in formation in front of the gate, waiting for the Northern Di to arrive.

“Ha ha ha! Look, brothers! The fat sheep of the Great Jin have come out of the city. Hurry up, whip the horses faster and slaughter all these fat sheep to avenge our fallen comrades!”

“Oh…”

The iron cavalry rode faster and faster, unfazed by the torrential rain of arrows, roaring like beasts.