Chapter 450: Before the battle, the clamor fills the field

"I think I understand the meaning of perseverance." At this moment, Han Wen Jun walked over, looking at Jiang Yunchu, his eyes complex.

"Oh?"

"I now understand my father, my uncle; even though they clearly knew they would die, they kept fighting, kept struggling."

"They were never fighting for personal heroism; they wanted to protect, to see those expectant eyes behind them."

When those people were retreating, their eyes were filled with belief.

A city, no one objected, no one caused a disturbance.

As soon as the order came, the city lord began organizing the retreat, while they only saw one expectant gaze after another, one smiling face after another.

Leaving their homes behind, yet they were willing.

"But..."

"My goal is actually to farm." He smiled lightly; he liked farming, having farmed with his grandfather before, and after studying with the Dean, he felt the joy of farming even more.

Now...

Seeing those people's faces, he felt his goal was too meager; how could he live up to their expectant eyes?

"Han Wen Jun, you're wrong."

This remark was not made by Jiang Yunchu, but by Kang Zhi Xia.

"You've never gone hungry; do you know the importance of food?"

"Grain and fodder are the foundation of an army; among us eleven, not one chose farming—we have the court, the battlefield, the marketplace, medicine, strategy, yet we alone lack farming."

"When the people are fed and watered, and doors stay open at night, that is the highest dream."

"Though we call ourselves protectors, behind us we need the support of countless people, vast amounts of silver, weapons, and above all, grain and fodder."

Everyone looked at Han Wen Jun, while Jiang Yunchu, upon hearing that, silently withdrew.

These children no longer need her guidance.

Because they can guide each other, their path is already emerging; their lives, she cannot accompany them for long, but the companions around them can.

War drums beat, troops press the city walls, the end cannot be seen.

"Jiang Fengsheng, a mere woman, go home and tend your children!" The Xijiang people shouted, mocking.

Da Ning's soldiers, each expressionless, merely gripped their weapons tightly.

"Ha ha, look at Da Ning—are there no men left?" The Xijiang below kept shouting.

Da Ning's soldiers, each flushed with anger, even clenched their fists.

At that moment, a slender girl stood on the city wall, dressed in white, her eyebrows and eyes like a painting, a faint smile on her face.

In her hand she held a paper tube, tight inside, loose outside; she grasped the tight part and pressed it to her lips.

"Indeed, a backward border state, with such shallow vision."

"Think of our vast Da Ning: men and women can both go to battle; men have tolerance, women also possess the talent of generals and ministers."

"Xijiang, no, no."

That girl, refined in every way, spoke words that made the Xijiang people flush red, necks thickening.

For a moment, the situation reversed.

"Ha ha ha——"

"What a sharp tongue! When I, as commander, attack the city, I will surely take you to warm my bed, so you know Xijiang's strength, so you know the fierceness of Xijiang men."

As soon as his words were spoken, the situation shifted again.

On the battlefield, circumstances change in an instant; unfortunately, the person he faces is Kang Zhi Chun.

Never mind how outsiders judge; among their own, several companions evaluate her as a person who never gets angry, except when her kin are threatened, she never gets angry.

Even when faced with life and death, the corner of her mouth bears an instinctive smile.

This is her.

Kang Zhi Chun.

"Oh?"

No anger, no fury, no resentment, not even a sharp, cutting retort.

A faint nasal sound, from the rolled paper in her hand, carries far and far.

Even to hear her voice, not only Da Ning but even Xijiang now falls into a hush.

"Let the young lady warm my bed?"

"That's embarrassing..."

"The young lady admires strength; you… heh, still not enough!" Kang Zhi Chun's words were like two drops of water falling into boiling oil, causing it to explode.

The man who had just spoken now flushed red, gazing at the woman on the city wall, his eyes narrowed, carrying a hint of bloodthirsty impulse.

"Silence."

A voice with a special melody, seemingly able to soothe hearts; even knowing she is an enemy, one cannot help but want to hear what she says.

"Speaking lewdly in the city makes one vulgar."

"Discriminating against women in the city makes one mediocre."

"Xijiang has invaded our Da Ning territory, slain our people, insulted our women."

Utterance after utterance, sentence after sentence, unlike the earlier gentleness, now carrying a hint of inner strength; this inner force and momentum make everyone, all of Da Ning, involuntarily straighten their chests, filled with fighting spirit.

They fight for Da Ning, they fight for the people, they fight for their wives and children at home.

"What a formidable mouth."

Fighting spirit rises; at this moment, a sound comes from below.

A general in black armor finally could not hold back; Xilang looked at the girl on the city wall, appearing youthful, even still a child.

Yet she remains calm in danger, facing the arrows below, still composed; when has Da Ning produced such a formidable figure?

Which princess of Da Ning is she?

"Thanks to General Xi Lang's praise, it is an honor for Zhi Chun."

Zhi Chun!

She is not royalty.

Who is that?

General Xi Lang laughed heartily, and in his gaze upon Kang Zhi Chun there was open admiration.

"Miss, why do you aid Da Ning? With your great talent, if you came to my Xijiang, you would surely be honored as a guest of the king, slaughter the nations, and unify Xijiang."

At General Xi Lang's words, not only the Da Ning soldiers but every Xijiang person turned to look at their general.

What's going on? Why are they recruiting troops even in battle?

Kang Zhi Xia gently shook her head; the Xijiang soldiers couldn't see her movement, but how could the highly skilled General Xi Lang fail to notice?

"General Xi Lang, you jest—your heroic nature, fearless advance, mighty lion, how many cities have you conquered for Xijiang, how many people have you protected?"

"But..."

At that moment, the girl gave a light smile, her eyes showing a calm expression, even hinting at... regret?

General Xi Lang looked into her eyes, and his own heart could actually be influenced.

"The Xijiang king still does not trust you; the Xijiang princes still wish to use you; the Xijiang common folk know only the royal family—how could they realize that everything was won by General Xi Lang?"

"Therefore..."

"General, Xijiang has no place for you, but our Da Ning can!"

"Our Ning Emperor never summons border generals back to the capital, for it is a sign of trust."

"Our Ning Emperor sent grain and fodder yesterday, because it is a sign of trust."

That girl's words seemed able to bewitch hearts; for someone as resolute as General Xi Lang, it should be impossible to sway his judgment, yet at this moment he still felt a sense of loss.