Chapter 69

"Heave, up~~~"

Several strong men joined forces to lift the wheel stuck in the mud pit.

The cart driver waved his whip to drive the shaft horses.

Man and horse cooperated, and finally dragged the carriage out.

The retainers all around, hands on sword hilts, looked around vigilantly.

Inside the carriage, Xie Yi, having sat steady again, complained repeatedly, "The stone bandits are hateful, indulging in extravagant hunts yet knowing not to repair the roads."

"A Ye."

Xie Daoyun, eyes full of curiosity, looked out, "The Northern Lands are actually this desolate, traveling tens of li without encountering a single village?"

"Besides the vicinity of cities, where would there be any villages."

Xie Yi closed his eyes to nurture his spirit, "Everywhere reeks of mutton and blood; whether high-ranking families or commoners, all live lives worse than death."

"Cao Cao's line 'white bones exposed in the wild, a thousand li with no rooster crowing' fits the present perfectly."

Withdrawing her gaze, Xie Daoyun asked curiously, "A Ye, that Generalissimo Lin, what sort of person is he exactly?"

"This~~~"

Xie Yi stroked his beard, "Generalissimo Lin, possessed of great vigor!"

"Vigor?" Xie Daoyun was greatly curious, "How do you explain that?"

"In Jiangzuo you have also seen many scions of high-ranking families." Xie Yi spoke with a smile, "Observe their spirit and energy — how are they?"

"Hmm~" Xie Daoyun rested her chin on one hand, straining to recall, "Dissolute and unruly, slightly frivolous, eyes lacking spirit~"

"Generalissimo Lin." Xie Yi nodded, "Looking at him, vigor abounds, his whole person brims with an air of confidence."

"It is a kind of confidence and bearing that says 'under heaven, who else but me'."

"A Ye." Xie Daoyun's eyes were full of curiosity, "Could it be you're drunk again?"

"What you describe is clearly the aura of a Son of Heaven."

Xie Yi merely smiled, "When you meet him, you will naturally know."

Ye City, Xianyang Hall.

Silk and bamboo music circled the beams, wine fragrance overflowed.

Shi Hu, forcing down his emotions, raised his wine cup, "Gentlemen, drink~~~"

The civil and military officials withdrew their gazes from the gracefully dancing dance girls, raised their wine cups, "Heavenly King, please~~~"

A round of drinking finished, Shi Hu signaled everyone to enjoy freely.

Roasted lamb leg, steamed camel hump, boiled venison porridge, grilled beef.

Although Ye City's grain price reached two gold cakes per dou of millet, every day people starved to death.

But for these Later Zhao powerful nobles, the matter of scarce supplies did not concern them.

Drinking wine, eating meat, enjoying music, admiring the dance girls' graceful figures.

The powerful nobles in the hall seemed to have forgotten the ever-increasing begging-army outside the city, indulging in pleasure without restraint.

Everyone was smiling, but what thoughts lay beneath the smiles, only each person's own heart knew.

Feeling the time was about right, Shi Hu waved his hand.

The music stopped, the dance girls withdrew.

Shi Hu picked up a packet of Five Stone Powder, poured it into his wine cup, and drank it in one gulp.

His legs hurt too much; he had to use Five Stone Powder to suppress the pain.

He shook his head vigorously, Shi Hu forced a smile, "Gentlemen, I have already devised a method to break the enemy."

No matter what they thought in their hearts, everyone looked over, listening to the Heavenly King continue.

"I have decided, three days from now I will again leave the city to meet the begging-bandits in battle."

"At that time, if the begging-bandits' strange vehicles dare come out, I will ensure they have no return!"

The specific response measures, Shi Hu did not announce publicly.

He did not believe everyone was loyal through and through.

Once leaked in advance, he feared the begging-army would be prepared.

His words shifted, "Reward the armies for three days."

"Wine and food supplied amply, beautiful concubines for free enjoyment."

"Officers awarded gold, colonels bestowed silver, soldiers given cash."

"Three days later we march; whoever captures the begging-army commander, rewarded a thousand gold, enfeoffed as a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households!"

Shi Hu knew defending the city was absolutely impossible to hold.

The garrison's various departments had wavering morale; a single one colluding with the enemy, and this seemingly sturdy Ye City would be finished.

Only by leaving the city and defeating the begging-army head-on could this crisis be resolved.

Regarding the begging-army's numerous refugees and wild people, Shi Hu regarded them as dry bones from graves crawling out of tombs.

The cavalry in the begging-army, Shi Hu treated with contempt, regarded as nothing.

The armored soldiers of the begging-army, he treated cautiously, believing that relying on powerful cavalry, harassing and dividing them could still achieve victory.

What truly made him fearful was that God Carriage, like an ancient giant beast.

Fortunately, a response method already existed.

The banquet ended, the crowd of Later Zhao civil and military powerful nobles each led the beauties bestowed by the Heavenly King back to their mansions.

After dismissing and settling the beauties, Fu Hong and his son Fu Jian came to the study for secret discussion.

"Three days from now, Father will lead troops to battle; you take Fu Jian and seize the chance to leave the city for Bingzhou."

Fu Jian was confused, "Didn't the Heavenly King say he already had a method to deal with the God Carriage?"

"Heh~~~"

Fu Hong sneered, "He finds some craftsmen, makes some horn-and-iron, prepares some kindling, and thinks he can win?"

"No matter how hard the horn-and-iron, can it be harder than a body of steel?"

"Fire oil and sulfur, can they melt a steel behemoth?"

"Wishful thinking!"

"Three days from now will be the best chance to leave the city." Fu Hong's voice was low. "Father will also look for an opportunity on the battlefield; if we can run, we run directly."

"This Great Zhao is about finished."

Cheng Hou Fu.

"Already found out."

Feng Dun stepped forward and reported to Ran Min, "The craftsmen made horn-and-iron, and also prepared a lot of fire oil and sulfur."

"Ma Qiu's side has summoned many civilian laborers; it is said they intend to dig deep pits behind the battle array."

Ran Min was silent, his hand lightly tapping the desk before him.

After a moment, he spread paper, ground ink, picked up his brush, and wrote.

'Min bows to General Lin, wishing you well~'

'.'

He affixed his seal at the close, and sealed the letter with fire-lacquer.

He handed the letter to Feng Dun, "Deliver it into Grand Commander Lin's own hands."

"Tell Grand Commander Lin: I, Ran Min, will certainly capture Shi Hu alive and present him before the Grand Commander's tent!"

Qihuo Army Old Camp, main tent.

Lin Dao was receiving Xie Yi and his whole family.

"Third son Xie Quan, passably literate."

"Fourth son Xie You, has some literary talent."

"Fifth son Xie Jing, enjoys a modest reputation."

"Sixth son Xie Huo, not yet started his education."

"Seventh son Xie Xuan."

"Xie Xuan?" Lin Dao looked toward the child held in Xie Yi's arms, only two or three years old in appearance. "He is called Xie Xuan?"

Xie Yi appeared slightly surprised. "Yes."

Lin Dao rose and stepped forward, scrutinizing the little fellow closely.

This is the Xie Xuan who founded the Northern Army and crushed Fu Jian's million-strong army at the Battle of Fei River?

Speaking of Fu Jian, he's not many years old right now either, is he?

The little fellow, being stared at, grew a bit frightened, and clung tightly to Xie Yi.

"Jinglue." Lin Dao turned his head to look at Wang Meng. "I see this boy has a karmic connection with you; why not take him as a disciple?"

Wang Meng, who had been watching idly, was first startled.

He then rose and said with a smile, "Last night in a dream I saw a child carrying books enter; it turns out the omen was fulfilled right here."

The Lord said he has a connection with this child, so there certainly is a connection.

As for what exactly he dreamed last night, that is of no importance.

Xie Yi was astonished, looking at Wang Meng with doubt.

Who is this person? Never heard of him.

He had not read the history of later generations, so naturally he did not know that Wang Meng was one of the two great formidable men of this era.

Wang Meng and Ran Min, one civil and one martial, were the twin peaks of the era.

Since Lin Dao personally spoke up, Xie Yi naturally would not refuse him face.

He immediately exchanged polite greetings with Wang Meng.

They chatted a few sentences, counting as having become acquainted.

Handing Xie Xuan to Madam Ruan Shi to hold, Xie Yi introduced his eldest daughter with particular seriousness.

"Grand Commander, my eldest daughter is named Daoyun, courtesy name Lingjiang."

Xie Daoyun had been surveying Lin Dao all along.

Just as A Ye said, Lin Dao's bearing held a confidence that Jiangzuo aristocratic scions lacked.

Imposing bearing, eyes bright with spirit.

Every gesture displayed magnanimous presence.

Such bearing cannot be seen in Jiangzuo.

What one sees most in Jiangzuo are the deranged postures of aristocratic scions after taking Five Stone Powder.

"This servant, Xie Shi Daoyun, greets the Grand Commander."

A generous and straightforward salutation, without any trace of bashfulness.

No wonder she is the heroine who dared carry a sword and personally slay rebel soldiers.

Xie Daoyun's great reputation, Lin Dao naturally knew.

He gave her a few extra glances, then bade everyone to be seated.

On this side, Jin Lian and Sun Rong exchanged a glance, and both saw panic in the other's eyes.

High-ranking noble ladies — by birth alone they are a crushing existence.

Youthful and lovely, their looks still above theirs.

How can this be fought?

After brief pleasantries, Lin Dao directly asked, "What brings the Commandery Duke here this time?"

Coming yourself is one thing, but you even dragged your whole family along — what is the meaning of this?

"Xie is deeply ashamed."

Xie Yi's face showed shame. "I failed to persuade the Jiangzuo nobles to send troops on a northern expedition."

"That's nothing." Lin Dao shook his head. "The Beggar Army coming on its own is enough."

It was indeed coming on its own; by now they had already fought their way to outside Ye City.

"Grand Commander."

Xie Yi cupped his hands. "I have come this time for two reasons: first, to deliver an imperial edict commending the Grand Commander for defeating the Stone bandit forces."

This referred to the Battle of Xiangguo City.

Due to the lag in information transmission, the news Jiangzuo had received was still the Battle of Xiangguo City.

Xie Yi voluntarily took on the task of delivering the edict in order to conveniently bring his family northward together.

"Second."

He rose and saluted Lin Dao. "Xie brings his whole household to seek refuge; I hope the Grand Commander will accept us~~~"

When mentioning the Chen Commandery Xie Clan, the first ones that come to mind are inevitably Xie An and Xie Xuan.

But in reality, the one who laid the foundation for the Chen Commandery Xie Clan's leap from a middling clan to a top-tier clan was Xie Yi.

As the eldest of the six Xie brothers, Xie Yi, with his keen judgment, hitched himself to Huan Wen's connections.

The Xie Clan's rise was essentially achieved by stepping on Huan Wen and the Huan Clan to climb higher.

This time, Xie Yi likewise saw in Lin Dao a potential far surpassing Huan Wen's.

He was a decisive man; once he placed his bet, he staked his entire family fortune.

Of course, following the tradition passed down from the Three Kingdoms period, Xie Yi's younger brothers all remained in Jiangzuo.

Diversified investment — the Zhuge clan did it this way.

"This..."

Lin Dao was stunned.

He truly had not expected Xie Yi to actually bring his whole household to defect.

You must understand, Xie Yi was a Commandery Governor in Jiangzuo, and was about to enter court as a high minister.

This was abandoning office and fleeing, coming to throw himself on Lin Dao.

Comparable to Chen Gong following Boss Cao back then.

He subconsciously looked toward Wang Meng.

Unsurprisingly, Wang Meng nodded in agreement.

Wang Meng fundamentally did not consider Xie Yi a threat to himself; he had full confidence in himself.

More importantly, he knew the Young Lord distrusted high-ranking families.

Xie Yi would never rise to prominence.

"With Lord Xie's aid, like a tiger gaining wings~~~"

Amidst laughter, someone came to report: another envoy had arrived in the city.

The visitor was still the old acquaintance Li Nong.

Seeing many unfamiliar faces in the grand tent, even women and children, Li Nong was also slightly surprised.

Fortunately, he had enough composure and showed no abnormal reaction.

"Paying respects to the Grand Marshal."

"Minister of Works Li, what brings you this time?"

Li Nong produced a letter. "By order of the Heavenly King, I have come specially to deliver a challenge letter!"

"Heh~"

After reading the challenge letter, Lin Dao frowned. "Seems he has prepared some sinister schemes."

"Grand Marshal." Li Nong immediately recited the intelligence from inside the city.

Jumping ship at this moment, he naturally had to demonstrate his value.

Li Nong still remembered the verbal message Lin Dao had him deliver last time, asking for Shi Hu's Empress.

"Grand Marshal, rest assured; I will certainly present Empress Liu Shi upon the couch~"

Lin Dao subconsciously nodded. "Mm."

Then — "Mm?!!"

(End of Chapter)