Chapter 62: Remuneration

Jiang Xiaomu raised an eyebrow, took a sip of wine, and looked at him.

"This… this eighty percent tax revenue is already… already enough…"

Yunjinnian had a mournful face, an expression of having nothing left to live for.

"My lord City Lord, your words are mistaken," Jiang Xiaomu explained slowly and clearly.

"This eighty percent tax is my hard-earned fee; what does it have to do with military provisions?"

"My brothers under me are those who have their heads tucked in their waistbands, sharing life and death with me amidst blades and swords."

"Are we supposed to let our brothers fight on empty stomachs? Wouldn't that chill their hearts?"

"If this gets out, who will still be willing to risk their lives for the City Lord?"

Yunjinnian nearly fainted from lack of breath.

"This little bastard is nothing but a bandit! Even bandits are better than him!"

He silently cursed: "This isn't calling for reinforcements; it's clearly inviting a plague god!"

But now, he has no choice but to rely on Jiang Xiaomu.

Yunjinnian took a deep breath and squeezed out a smile uglier than crying.

"Jiang… General Jiang is right; I failed to consider things thoroughly—military provisions will naturally be borne by me."

"That's more like it!" Jiang Xiaomu laughed heartily and patted Yunjinnian's shoulder.

"City Lord, you're indeed straightforward! Come, let's have another drink!"

The two clinked glasses again, but Yunjinnian felt as if he'd drunk coptis, his mouth full of bitterness.

"By the way, City Lord," Jiang Xiaomu set down his cup, as if suddenly remembering something.

"My sister Xiao Yu likes the osmanthus cake from Li's Pastry Shop in the south of the city; please have someone send some over tomorrow, City Lord."

Yunjinnian's mouth twitched; this kid really doesn't treat himself as an outsider!

"Of course, certainly, certainly."

He forced a smile, but his heart was bleeding inside.

Jiang Xiaomu nodded satisfactorily, rose, and took his leave:

"Then I won't disturb the City Lord's rest; tomorrow I will personally lead troops to guard the city."

"I guarantee that as long as I, Jiang Xiaomu, am here, even the heavenly king himself couldn't set foot inside the city!"

Having painted a grand pie for Yunjinnian, Jiang Xiaomu turned and left with nonchalance.

Watching Jiang Xiaomu's retreating back, Yunjinnian collapsed into his chair, as if drained of all strength.

He silently sighed: "This Yun Cheng is likely to be emptied out by this little bastard!"

The next day, Jiang Xiaomu led his troops out toward Yun Cheng.

"Brother, you must be careful!"

Xiao Yu's voice trembled as she gripped the battlements of the city wall, her eye sockets slightly red.

Jiang Xiaomu gave a faint smile, showing an expression to reassure her:

"Don't worry, Xiao Yu; I'll be back soon. When I return, I'll bring you osmanthus cake from Li's Pastry Shop."

"Mm!"

Xiao Yu nodded firmly.

Jiang Xiaomu mounted his horse, gave an order, and the troops set off mightily toward Yun Cheng.

The journey from Wangjiang Cheng to Yun Cheng is less than half a day; upon seeing Jiang Xiaomu, Yunjinnian hurried forward, his face full of obsequious smiles.

"General Jiang, you've worked hard on your journey! Yun has prepared some modest wine to welcome and cleanse you."

Jiang Xiaomu gave him a cold glance, his tone tinged with disdain:

"City Lord, you'd better first think about how to defend this city."

"No need for the wine; I'm afraid if I drink yours, I won't be able to take the battlefield tomorrow."

Yunjinnian's smile froze on his face as he silently cursed:

"This little bastard really gives no face at all!"

But he dared not show it on his face, so he could only reply with an apologetic smile:

"General Jiang is right, is right."

Jiang Xiaomu ignored him and directly ordered the soldiers to begin reinforcing the city defenses.

"These cracks must be repaired immediately!" Jiang Xiaomu pointed at the cracks on the city wall and said sternly.

"Also, reinforce the city gate and prepare more rolling logs and stones."

"Assign all archers to the city towers, ready to meet the enemy at any moment!"

The soldiers received the orders and immediately went about their tasks.

He summoned a personal guard and instructed:

"Go, send a few clever scouts to investigate Lixiongtu's troop movements and report back to me at any time!"

"Yes!" The personal guard departed with the order.

Having arranged everything, Jiang Xiaomu walked to the edge of the city tower and gazed into the distance.

"Lixiongtu..." Jiang Xiaomu murmured the name softly.

At that moment, a scout rushed up to the city tower, knelt on one knee, and reported:

"Report, sir: the enemy army has already reached ten li outside the city."

"The commanding general is Li Zhen; they are expected to reach the city walls by noon tomorrow!"

Jiang Xiaomu played with the bead in his hand, the corner of his mouth slightly lifting: "Finally here..."

He reached out to touch the saber at his waist, a bloodthirsty desire surging in his heart.

Pass the order: tonight everyone will rest and recuperate; tomorrow I will make Li Zhen come and never return!

Xiong Kuohai, you say, how will that brat Li Zhen fight?

Jiang Xiaomu turned his head and asked the Xiong Kuohai beside him.

Xiong Kuohai scratched his head and said:

I reckon that brat will definitely send people to scout the road first, then the main army will press the border, to catch us in a jar.

"Catch us in a jar?" Jiang Xiaomu let out a cold laugh.

"He doesn't even look at what he is, and thinks he's fit to catch me?"

Just as he was speaking, a mechanical voice of the system suddenly sounded in Jiang Xiaomu's mind:

【Warning! Warning! Detected that the enemy vanguard officer 'Blood Slaughter Blade' Huo Yuanba is about to attack Yun Cheng.】

【The host leads troops to resist, but is wounded by enemy arrows, the host retreats to the rear, and the Yun Cheng garrison is outnumbered.】

【The vanguard officer breaks through Yun Cheng, the host dies in battle, Lixiongtu, seeking revenge, continues to attack Wangjiang Cheng.】

【Wangjiang Cheng is breached, Jiang Xiaoyu is beheaded!】

Jiang Xiaomu's heart jolted; this damn system, dropping the chain at a critical moment!

"Damn it, I haven't lived enough yet!"

Jiang Xiaomu cursed silently, quickly calmed down, and began to think of countermeasures.

"Xiong Kuohai!" Jiang Xiaomu shouted sternly.

"Pass the order: all archers prepare, target five hundred meters outside the city, and shoot fiercely for me!"

"Huh?" Xiong Kuohai blinked.

"Sir, it's pitch black, we can't see anything!"

"Just shoot when I tell you, why so much nonsense!"

Jiang Xiaomu glared at him and said: "I have my own arrangements!"

Xiong Kuohai dared not ask again, and hurriedly went to pass the order.

Jiang Xiaomu took a deep breath and looked toward the distance again.

Rather than sit and wait for death, it's better to take the initiative!

Not long after, a noisy clatter of horse hooves came from the darkness outside the city, growing nearer and clearer.

"Release arrows!"

At Jiang Xiaomu's command, a sky-full of arrow rain whistled out.

"Ah!" "Ah!" …

Wails of misery came from outside the city; evidently Jiang Xiaomu's volley of 'blind shooting' achieved good effect.

"Sir, amazing! We actually hit them!"

Xiong Kuohai came running over, face full of excitement.

Jiang Xiaomu's mouth curled into a cold smile; this isn't just good luck.

The vanguard troops, eager for merit, will follow closely; thus, this five-hundred-meter distance is exactly where the enemy vanguard troops are most densely packed.

"Keep shooting arrows!"

Jiang Xiaomu gave the order again.

After several more rounds of arrow rain, the commotion outside the city gradually dwindled, leaving only sporadic cries of misery.

"Sir, they seem to have retreated!"

Xiong Kuohai said.

"Retreated? How could that be!" Jiang Xiaomu let out a cold snort.

"That guy Huo Yuanba isn't one to give up easily."

Just then, a soldier came running over in a panic, saying:

"Report! Sir, the enemy vanguard officer Huo Yuanba is coming alone on horseback!"

"He's here!" Jiang Xiaomu shouldered his spear.

"Finally he's come!"

He turned and said to Xiong Kuohai:

"Xiong Kuohai, you lead people to guard the city gate; without my order, no one is to leave the city!"

"Sir, what about you?"

Xiong Kuohai asked anxiously.

"I'll go meet this 'Blood Slaughter Blade'!"

Jiang Xiaomu let out a cold snort, lifted his spear, and leapt down from the city tower.

Huo Yuanba charged all the way; the Yun Cheng garrison could not stop his advance.

"Jiang Xiaomu! Get out here and die!"

Huo Yuanba raised his head and let out a long howl, the sound deafening.

Jiang Xiaomu's figure appeared before the city gate, standing opposite Huo Yuanba.

"Huo Yuanba, I will take your life!"

Jiang Xiaomu said coldly.

"Arrogant brat! Die!"

Huo Yuanba roared angrily, brandishing his guillotine blade, and fiercely chopped at Jiang Xiaomu.

Jiang Xiaomu remained calm, shook his spear, and went forward to meet him…