Chapter 446: Grandfather, how long can you hold out for us?

May I ask what the reason is? Everyone was silent, and Ning Hanmo asked the question.

General Jiang sighed, "You all know the situation at the border; this battle must be fought."

"The southern barbarians, Xijiang, and the northern Rong—they're not here for sightseeing or an autumn outing; they've brought troops to fight."

"In battle, there are casualties."

"You're too young."

General Jiang simply stated the objective conditions, watching each of them ponder; he smiled and continued, "Wanting to defend home and country is good, but your time hasn't come yet—we old folks can still hold on."

"You need to grow."

All the children looked toward Kang Zhi Chun, who shook his head and said, "Grandfather is wrong."

"Let me say something unpleasant: how long can you hold out? Two years, three, five, or ten?"

"How much longer do we need to grow up?"

"Without weathering storms, one cannot grow up."

After reaching the battlefield, Kang Nai Xin, who was like an invisible person, lifted her head and said, "If we flee this time, we'll be deserters; we'll never be able to stand upright on the battlefield, for when danger comes, we would have fled."

……

General Jiang looked at them, each child; their eyes held no retreat, no delight.

They didn't even say anything to persuade him.

"Grandfather, we have our advantages; we have martial arts, we have inner strength."

"Only the Dean issued an order: unless on the battlefield, martial arts are forbidden within the barracks."

"Don't underestimate us!" Kang Zhiqiu's voice was flat, without much emotional fluctuation; his wise eyes carefully discerned grandfather's expression.

"Don't say……"

This time General Jiang was truly surprised—martial arts?

"Do you know martial arts?"

"All of you?"

All the children nodded, considering it an ordinary, commonplace matter because their friends all knew it.

"Even if you're knocked unconscious on the sparring platform, would you still refrain from using it?" General Jiang said, though his gaze fell on Kang Wen.

How could any movement in the barracks escape his notice?

He was poisoned because he trusted those around him, never imagining that person would betray him and betray Da Ning.

"The Dean's order forbids it; otherwise I'd be sent back, and I don't want to go back." Kang Wen shook his head, speaking childishly, yet his words shocked General Jiang.

"Military order!"

Once the order is issued, it is carried out absolutely.

"This isn't an academy at all—it's clearly a youthful army."

"It looks like twelve people, but they're twelve great generals."

"What if they're beaten to death? Still no use?" General Jiang continued questioning.

Kang Wen thought, "That won't happen."

"Oh? Why?" General Jiang grew curious.

"My companions are right beside me; if I lose consciousness and they still attack, my companions will protect me."

"If someone resorts to foul play, then we can't blame ourselves for using martial arts."

"After all… the fault lies with the opponent." Kang Wen's words were utterly natural.

The frightening part was that General Jiang looked at the others, and everyone's expression was the same.

"Well-trained, orders obeyed—are these the products of an academy's training?"

"And these children are only a few years old."

"Grandfather, you don't need to persuade us; we've learned a lot this time. My goal is the battlefield—sooner or later we'll step onto it, and we need a trial of life and death."

"Grandfather, how long can you hold out for us? Even if it lasts longer, Da Ning still needs new people to step forward."

Kang Zhi Xia looked at his grandfather's already gray‑white hair, that general whose back was like a mountain—he's already old.

On his shoulders he bears a nation's frontier.

"Good." At that moment General Jiang realized he couldn't persuade them; instead, he was persuaded by these children.

"Grandfather, rest assured—the Kang and Jiang families still have Zhi Dong." At that moment Kang Wu suddenly spoke.

Jiang Yunchu's brow instinctively furrowed.

Ning Hanmo looked toward his mother; he said nothing, yet his gaze seemed to say a lot.

"We're leaving first." The eldest, Kang Ziwei, looked at the people inside the big tent, gave a salute, then left the barracks.

"Yun chu, I'm grateful to you."

General Jiang fell silent for a long time; no one knew what he was thinking, but when he lifted his head, Jiang Yunchu and Jiang Fengsheng noticed the old general's eyes were slightly red.

"Thanks?" Jiang Yunchu wondered.

The old general smiled, "Thank you for raising these excellent children, letting me see Da Ning's future."

"With them here, what does Da Ning have to fear for its future?"

Each of these children—some he was seeing for the first time—whether boy or girl, the resolve in their eyes is beyond what ordinary people can match.

"No, I merely did what I should; it's these children who are outstanding themselves." Thinking of a few children, Jiang Yunchu's tone softened.

"War, regardless of victory or defeat, exhausts the people and drains the treasury."

General Jiang, Jiang Yunchu, plus Jiang Fengsheng—the three of them carefully discussed and analyzed, then wrote a letter to the southern and northern armies.

Three days after the letter was sent out.

The Jiang family barracks were filled with grief.

"General!" The Vice General wiped away tears; the guards, one by one, knelt outside the tent; in an instant, the whole barracks fell into sorrow.

Report!

Jiang Jia Lao Gui, died.

Xilang sprang to his feet, looking at the person who had come to deliver the message, "Is the news accurate?"

He reckoned the timing; it should have been a few days ago. He wondered if someone had detoxified, but thinking of the witch's viciousness and that confident expression, he feared detox would be hard, yet it has dragged on until now.

Accurate. Now the whole Zhengxi City, the city full of white sails, without needing to go into the barracks, one can hear the weeping from inside the barracks.

Xilang always felt something was off, but couldn't put his finger on it.

General, what are we waiting for? Attack!

Yes, General, we in Xijiang have been waiting for this moment; we've waited years, and that old ghost is finally dead.

Heaven blesses Xijiang!

Trample Da Ning!

In Xijiang's main commander's tent, a group of people were excited.

In their hearts, Da Ning was something they had raised, letting them live this long; it was a gift from Xijiang.

Even the heavens could no longer watch; that Jiang Lao Gui has finally died.

General, what are you still hesitating about? Jiang Lao Gui is dead—this is the perfect opportunity for us to attack. A Vice General, face full of excitement, looked at Xilang with some dissatisfaction.