Chapter 413: Are You Hoping for My Death?

Xiao Qiyu's thoughts were laid bare, and a bone-deep coldness flashed in his eyes.

He gritted his teeth and shouted clearly.

"If the Imperial Brother refuses to plead guilty, then I can only be a heartless man."

"At dawn tomorrow, dispatch troops to attack the rebel party! All rebels, regardless of rank, are to be executed without mercy!"

Boom, boom, boom!

Several cannon blasts resounded across the sky.

In the distance, a mountain cliff was instantly shattered by a cannonball with a 'crash' and collapsed.

Qin Zhan rode his horse behind Xiao Moting, his expression changing slightly.

"Isn't that a Red Barbarian Cannon from the Fusang People? The Imperial Army actually has them! No wonder Xiao Qiyu is so emboldened!"

Most of the Northern Frontier Army had never seen a cannon and were panicking, looking around in confusion.

Xiao Moting's expression was cold and stern.

"Qin Zhan, where is that batch of Red Barbarian Cannons we seized from the Fusang People last time?"

At that time, Bai Wei had collected the cannons and Firearm from the Fusang camp into her space.

When Yuan Zhi brought troops over, she had taken these items out again to let the Northern Frontier Army use them.

Later, Bai Wei fell into the dark river, and he had jumped in after her.

These pieces of equipment could not be retrieved back into her space.

Qin Zhan furrowed his brows and immediately cupped his hands to plead guilty.

"Prince, it is this subordinate's incompetence. The situation was urgent at the time, and I could only order men to hide them in a safe place; I failed to bring them back to Beijiang."

Xiao Moting paused and waved his hand.

"Forget it. You do not have Bai's abilities; this matter is not your fault."

All of Yannan was Yuan Canghai's territory, and since Qin Zhan was in the city, it would have been impossible to transport the Red Barbarian Cannons and firearms out of the city without alerting the Yuan Family Army.

Moreover, at that time, Yuan Zhi was already dead, and Yuan Canghai had arrived with troops not long after.

It was already difficult enough that Qin Zhan and the others only managed to escape Yannan City and hide the equipment so it wouldn't fall into the hands of the Yuan Family Army.

"Prince, why not ask Bai to send weapons over immediately?" Qin Zhan asked cautiously.

Xiao Moting pondered for a moment and shook his head.

"I will ask in a while. Let's not put pressure on Bai Wei; she must be very anxious too."

He had asked Bai Wei before, and guns and cannons in that world were very hard to come by; even with money, they were not easy to buy.

The night grew deep.

Yet the Northern Frontier Army's camp was brightly lit.

All the soldiers were not resting; they were all wide awake, urgently preparing for battle.

At dawn tomorrow, there would be a fierce fight.

Facing over four hundred thousand Imperial Court Army troops, with only fifty thousand Northern Frontier Army soldiers, the chances of victory were slim.

Furthermore, the opponent had very formidable weapons.

Xiao Moting lifted the door flap of the temporary command tent and strode inside.

The tent was brightly lit, and the Han father and daughter were still burning the midnight oil studying the sand table.

Seeing him enter, Han Guiying looked up.

"Junior Martial Brother, the Imperial Army will attack tomorrow. The soldiers are all writing their last letters; do you want to write one?"

"Shut your mouth!" The Old General was so angry he grabbed a bamboo brush holder and smashed it hard against Han Guiying. "What last letters? You are not allowed to say such ominous things."

"Dad, we can't beat the Imperial Army tomorrow," Han Guiying muttered while rubbing her head where she had been hit, clutching her board axe. "The coffin I prepared for you is still at the Northern Frontier Camp. If we die in battle, you won't be able to sleep in it."

"You... your mouth..." The Old General was so angry he pointed at her, gasping for air.

Xiao Moting stepped forward. "Old General, please calm down. I will write a letter to ask Bai Wei right now."

Having said that, he picked up paper and brush and wrote the situation to Bai Wei.

After the note was sent, Xiao Moting did not receive a reply immediately.

"Shennü Daren, why hasn't she replied yet?" Han Guiying was anxious.

Xiao Moting was calm. "Don't worry. It is not easy for Bai Wei on her side either, but she will definitely do her best to plan."

As he spoke, he looked up toward the window.

The camp was brightly lit.

The soldiers were sharpening blades or practicing martial arts; none of them had closed their eyes.

There were also many people lying on the ground writing last letters.

"... Dad, Mom, if your child does not return, please forgive me for being unfilial; I will not be able to serve you both in the future..."

"Wuu wuu, I haven't been home in three years. Mom is still waiting for me to go back. If I die in battle, how can I face my mother?"

"... Wife, if I don't return, just take the child and remarry. I have failed you; don't stay chaste for me."

The moonlight was like water, illuminating the sorrowful states of the human world.

Xiao Lujing stood silently in the shadows of a tree, watching everyone write their last letters.

He did not move.

The dozen or so members of his family had already died out in the chaos of war.

He had also forgotten many things.

Bai had said that he had damaged some brain nerve, which led to his memory loss.

Others told him that his real older brother was named Xiao Dabao and told him to write a last letter.

This time, Xiao Dabao had not come and had remained at the Northern Frontier Camp.

Xiao Lujing felt that this was also for the best.

Because in this way, Xiao Dabao still had a chance to survive.

He did not write a last will and testament, but instead took out the Triangular Military Dagger he carried with him and sharpened it on a stone until it shone brightly.

Even if he were to die in battle tomorrow, he would take enough heads with him to serve as cushions for his journey.

"Sister Bai..." the youth looked up, gazing at the distant sky, "If only you were truly my sister; if I die in battle tomorrow, could I be your younger brother in the next life?"

In the youth's clear and bright eyes, there was not a hint of fear, only moonlight.

Time passed second by second.

The night curtain gradually faded, and in the distant sky, a touch of fish-belly white appeared.

Qin Zhan lifted the curtain and walked in anxiously.

"Prince, it is almost dawn."

He had not slept all night.

Xiao Moting raised his eyes and looked calmly at the sky.

Outside, all the soldiers of Beijiang had sharpened their blades, their quivers on their backs were filled with sharp arrows, and they were fully prepared to go into battle.

The last wills they had written were tucked securely into their bosoms, close to their hearts.

In this way, when others collected their bodies, they would find the wills and take them back home.

"Bai has not replied yet." Han Guiying had dozed for a short while, but now she opened her eyes, grabbed two broadaxes with great energy, and said, "But it doesn't matter; with the broadaxes in my hands, I will at least hack five hundred enemy soldiers to death."

"You only know how to brag!" Old General glared at her, stumbled off the bed, and scolded, "A young lady, spending all day holding axes and hacking around—I don't even know who taught you that!"

"Dad, you are injured, slow down." Han Guiying hurriedly came over to support him.

Old General grabbed her instead, his eyes suddenly moist.

"Daughter, Dad didn't take good care of you; Dad didn't let you learn the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework, or embroidery like other young ladies of noble families... I only let you wield blades and dance with Long Swords; it has been hard on you. In the next life, don't be born to me; go to a wealthy and good family and be a true young lady of the boudoir."

Han Guiying's movements stiffened.

She paused for a moment, looked up, and smiled, "Dad, what are you saying? I am especially happy to be your daughter! I don't like being a lady; I just like going into battle to kill the enemy."

"What 'going into battle to kill the enemy'? Being a lady is so much better; marry into a good family, and you will never have to encounter danger in your life."

"Who said I wanted to get married? Dad, we can die together; this is also for the best. The entire Han family are heroes; this is my glory. In the next life, I still want to be your daughter."

Old General trembled, his old tears streaming down.

"Guiying..."

"Dad, the coffin I prepared for you is still at the Northern Frontier Camp!"

In an instant, the emotion Old General had just built up was immediately cut short.

He was so angry he cursed, "We are about to go into battle and risk our lives, and you girl are still wishing for me to die early! You deserve a beating!"

After saying this, he picked up his cane and chased after Han Guiying to hit her.