Chapter 465: Probably the thief shouting 'catch the thief

But the army they dispatched now numbers only ten thousand or so, scattered and scattered, looking utterly defeated.

"On the way to Xijiang, we came under attack, later suffered battle losses, and only this many people remain."

The Vice General leading the troop sighed helplessly.

"The commander-in-chief has fallen in battle."

As soon as those four words were spoken, the person who had just come to report furrowed his brows even tighter.

"The Three Kingdoms are united; only we three kingdoms know about it—how could there be an ambush midway?"

"What does Xijiang have to say?"

This time the person leading the troop looked at the Vice General, his eyes sharp.

"The Northern Barbarians also suffered an ambush; it was Da Ning's doing."

"Da Ning's doing?"

"Hmph! The Three Parties Allied Army—only the three parties know about it—how could it be Da Ning's doing?"

"What does the General mean?" that Vice General looked toward the messenger, his eyes widening.

"It's likely a case of the thief shouting 'catch the thief!'"

"Rally the troops and return with me to the Southern Barbarians."

This grudge, the Southern Barbarians have remembered; they will surely repay it in the future.

Xi Lang brought a group of elders and arrived at the Southern Barbarians' camp.

"What are you doing, General?" As Xi Lang spoke, his eyes narrowed slightly, and a fierce aura surrounded his whole person.

The current situation of Xijiang is being attacked from front and rear; the Southern Barbarians' withdrawal not only took away troops but also represented the Southern Barbarians' stance.

The Southern Barbarians' stance is very likely to affect the Northern Barbarians.

The Northern Barbarians are brave and skilled in battle, a horseback people; for so many years they have been able to contend with Jiang Wen Fu, unable to leave the far north, precisely because of the Northern Barbarians.

The Northern Barbarians' retreat, to the present Xijiang, is like pulling the firewood from under the cauldron.

Only then did the people of Xijiang begin to realize the seriousness.

"General Xi Lang, let me tell you this way."

"The situation of the Southern Barbarians is not good; the Da Ning Wang Fu army seems to have gone mad, and the Southern Barbarians have already retreated three hundred li."

"The Three Kingdoms Allied Army—we Southern Barbarians are withdrawing."

The Southern Barbarians' leading general clasped his fists, his face showing no expression, making it impossible to tell true from false.

Most importantly, the situation now is different.

If one wishes to enter Xijiang's territory, one must either pass through the Southern Barbarians or go through the Northern Barbarians.

"Withdrawal? But we have signed the Three Kingdoms Treaty—are you Southern Barbarians intending to violate the agreement?"

The speaker was not Xi Lang, but the shaman.

The shaman's icy voice carried an unquestionable tone.

That general gave a cold chuckle, "In a parley between the two armies, you—a monster—what are you doing out here? Do you even get to speak?"

Xi Lang laughed heartily, "General, you've misunderstood; in this Xijiang army, even I, the Grand General, have to listen to him!"

That frivolous tone still carried a hint of covert mockery.

Since the news of Xijiang's royal city spread, the shaman's movements have increased, and his control over the army has grown ever stronger.

Within Xijiang, rumors have begun to spread incessantly.

"The Three Kingdoms Treaty ends here; is the shaman trying to block us, preventing our departure?"

That general is also hot-headed, directly gripping his long sword before his chest, always ready for battle.

The meaning is expressed clearly enough: if we aren't allowed to leave, then we'll fight our way out!

Shrouded in black robes, no one knows what expression the shaman wears, let alone his overall condition.

"Heh heh, since the general wishes to leave, our Xijiang will naturally not stand in the way."

"But after that, whatever happens will have nothing to do with the Southern Barbarians."

Xi Lang's pupils contracted slightly, yet he said nothing further.

A bone that bullies the weak and fears the strong—if we let the Southern Barbarians go now, can the Northern Barbarians still be held?

Xijiang was able to sign the Three Kingdoms Treaty because of its former capital; now the royal city has been destroyed, with no reinforcements returning to the city.

What qualifications does Xijiang still have for negotiation?

Confused!

But… Xi Lang hasn't said anything at all.

"Rally the troops." That general gave a cold smile, glanced warily at the shaman, and said, "Go!"

When the Southern Barbarians' army arrived, they were miserable and bleak, but when they left, they became stubbornly strong.

"Report, has the Southern Barbarians' army withdrawn?"

In the Jiang Family Army's main tent, the scout came to report quickly; even while making the report, he himself was somewhat uncertain.

Jiang Yunchu and Jiang Fengsheng exchanged a glance; each felt some speculation in their hearts.

The ice on the city wall has already begun to drip; now we cannot add water, or else the ice will melt even faster.

The Xijiang troops below, watching each drop of water fall, all seemed to see hope.

That day, the Northern Barbarians' army showed signs of movement.

"Return to the city."

"Yes!"

A secret order appeared in the Northern Barbarians' army; the original Three Kingdoms Allied Army now left only the solitary Xijiang.

"Trash!"

「Northern Rong and Southern Man, this is bullying my Xijiang as if there's no one! 」 Shaman slammed the table, the solid wood table, suddenly shattered.

Xi Lang sat to one side, a hint of smile appeared at the corner of their mouth.

Wanting to control others, yet unable to offer conditions, and lacking ruthlessness.

Heh!

「What is the grand general laughing at? 」 Shaman looked toward Xi Lang, the eyes beneath the robe like a venomous snake, fiercely staring at Xi Lang.

Xi Lang swayed his wine pot, adopting a somewhat drunken, dreamy demeanor.

「Laugh? 」

「This general does not dare. 」

His drunken, hazy gaze carried a hint of a smile; Xijiang, it's over.

With the shaman in power, Xijiang falls.

Within Xijiang, rumors constantly spread.

Everything about Xijiang is due to the shaman being in power.

「Report, Northern Rong army Retreat. 」 In the scout's eyes, there was a glimmer.

Of the three states, two have fallen, leaving only Xijiang.

The current situation has undergone a change.

Jiang Yunchu's brow furrowed involuntarily.

Jiang Fengsheng saw this and asked, "What's wrong? What's amiss?"

Jiang Yunchu shook their head and said, "Xijiang is caught between a rock and a hard place; prepare for a counterattack."

「Tomorrow I will guard the medical tent; I won't come over to the main tent. 」

She sighed; Zi Wei is still unable to stand alone, she needs to guard the medical tent.

「Old General Jiang, these days you can prepare to appear. 」 Jiang Yunchu gave a light smile.

When people have no retreat, they will counterattack, they will give their all; this is also why Xi Lang has persisted to this day.

Since the shaman wants to take the lead at this time, he will naturally let him have his wish.

He needs to burn his boats; with the reinforcements withdrawing and the royal city breached, they have only one path forward.

To defeat the enemy, one must first drive oneself to desperation.

「Attack! 」

That day, less than half of the ice remained on the city walls, the scaling ladders were crowded with people, and the catapults incessantly bombarded the city walls.

「Jiang Fengsheng, this general appreciates your tactics; you won't be able to hold out much longer—if you surrender, this general will spare your life. 」

Xi Lang used inner strength, his voice carrying far and far.

「Grand General Xi Lang, have you not considered whether this general will spare your life? 」

A clear, bright female voice; she stood upon the city walls, clad in silver armor, holding a long spear, her whole person like a poplar tree, motionless.

「I never expected that the godlike commander Jiang, the acting general, would have such a heroic bearing. 」

Xi Lang's gaze tightened slightly; when looking at Jiang Fengsheng, the usually languid person was filled with fighting spirit.