Chapter 87: Xiao Moting Returns to Shengjing

Xiao Moting nodded slightly.

Just now, he had fought a round with Wu Da and tested that the other man was actually quite skilled and strong, but because he was too hungry to lift his axe, he couldn't cut anyone.

Otherwise, if he had used his full strength, he could have shattered Qin Zhan's Heart-Protecting Helmet with a single axe blow.

Wu Da was skilled, loyal, and righteous, very well-liked, and the villagers supported him greatly.

If he were allowed to train in the Northern Frontier Army, he would surely be a fierce general in the future.

Wu Da raised his head.

"Prince, there are five hundred post soldiers and about twenty thousand refugees nearby."

"I will go notify the villagers now and gather those willing to go to Beijiang."

"I also have a younger brother who is a Post Horse Supervisor responsible for raising post horses in the Yuan Family Army; can I take him with me to Beijiang?"

Xiao Moting raised an eyebrow.

"You have horses here? Take this Prince there!"

There were many elderly, weak, sick, and disabled among the refugees; having horses would make things much easier!

Wu Da hurriedly led the way.

Not far away was a Post Station, with over a hundred post horses tied up in the stables.

Without water, the horses could only eat dry grass, and they were all thin as skeletons and listless.

If it weren't for the fact that privately killing post horses was a capital crime punishable by the confiscation of one's family property, the nearby villagers would have already slaughtered the horses for meat.

Xiao Moting glanced at the post horses, his brows furrowing.

The post horses were too thin and weak; he feared they would die on the road before even reaching Beijiang.

Just then, over a dozen sacks suddenly poured out of the minivan.

The sacks were filled with bean pulp for feeding horses.

On the wardrobe, there was a note from Bai Wei.

"There is plenty of water and feed; let the horses eat their fill and take all the horses away!"

Xiao Moting was speechless.

He did not know why, but he always had a feeling.

He felt that no matter what he did, the Goddess could know.

It was as if she could communicate with his heart...

Xiao Moting's heart stirred, and his earlobes flushed red.

Wu Er ran over, looked up, and was instantly shocked into speechlessness.

High-quality bean pulp—that was top-notch food!

The Northern Frontier Army actually used it to feed horses!

The water troughs were filled with fresh water, and the feed troughs were filled with bean pulp.

The horses, which had been listless just moments ago, seemed as if they had been injected with adrenaline, scrambling to the feed troughs to eat and drink desperately.

Wu Da stepped forward and explained the situation to Wu Er.

After a moment of hesitation, Wu Er readily agreed.

Since the other party even used bean pulp to feed horses, it was clear their provisions were abundant!

If they went to Beijiang, the commoners could survive, and the horses wouldn't starve to death!

Seeing the deep bond between the Wu brothers, Xiao Moting changed his mind.

"Wu Er will take the horses and lead the villagers to Beijiang."

"Wu Da will accompany me to Shengjing."

He kept Wu Da as a hostage.

Qin Zhan patted Wu Er on the shoulder.

"You are responsible for leading the villagers there; if the Prince's whereabouts are leaked, your big brother will die, and you won't survive either."

Wu Er hurriedly knelt on the ground to pledge his loyalty.

He was not stupid; joining the Northern Frontier Army had more prospects than being a stable hand here.

The sun set in the west.

Wu Er gathered the villagers from the nearby villages, led the well-fed post horses, and set off on the journey north in a grand procession.

The number of villagers was about fifteen thousand.

The surrounding villages were all deserted, and there were frequent raids by bandits, causing many deaths; the remaining villagers were just barely hanging on.

In an era of war and chaos, people didn't care where they went; they only wanted to survive.

The Prince of Northern Zhen promised them that once they reached Beijiang, they would have land to farm, work to do, and that strong young men would be selected to join the Northern Frontier Army!

Many young men became excited upon hearing this.

They had all seen the treatment in the Northern Frontier Army; it was ten times better than the Yuan Family Army, and they wanted to enlist!

Wu Er led the villagers and set off for Beijiang.

The Wuling Minivan convoy continued along the Post Road at full speed, driving toward Shengjing.

The sun set and rose again.

The convoy departing from Beijiang traveled day and night for four days and five nights.

Finally!

"Prince, we have arrived at Shengjing!"

Xiao Moting suddenly raised his head and looked at the imperial city in the distance under the night sky!

His heart surged with emotion, his throat parched!

This was the place where he was born!

Having left Jingcheng for over a decade, Xiao Moting had never been permitted to return!

Following his gaze, Bai Wei finally saw the capital of the Daliang Kingdom as well!

Under the night, Shengjing was magnificent and towering!

With brilliant lights, layer upon layer of buildings stood in orderly rows, possessing a majestic aura!

Compared to the icy cold of Beijiang and the arid desolation of Yannan Pass, the prosperous and peaceful Shengjing felt like another world.

The Northern Frontier Army behind Xiao Moting was already stunned.

Born in Beijiang, they had never seen such a prosperous city.

"Shengjing is truly huge," Xiao Dabao said, his face full of envy, unable to help blurting out, "And it's built so gorgeously, just like the Heavenly Palace; if I could live in such a beautiful palace for even one day, that would be great."

Xiao Moting regained his composure, his tone indifferent.

"It is all piled up from the fat and blood of the people, so naturally it is luxurious and beautiful."

With one sentence, the group of Northern Frontier soldiers was instantly brought back to their senses.

The prosperity of Shengjing was built upon the foundation of the blood and sweat of the common people and the soldiers!

They fought to the death at the border, while the nobles enjoyed song and dance in Shengjing!

Xiao Moting turned around and said in a deep voice.

"It does not matter; one day, we will conquer this land and take back this world!"

His voice was resonant and firm!

The group of Northern Frontier soldiers before him had determined gazes and roared in unison.

"We are willing to follow the Prince of Zhenbei to conquer the world!"

The night was quiet.

Xiao Moting ordered everyone to park the Minivan in the dense forest outside the city.

He took one hundred Northern Frontier warriors, changed into night-traveling clothes, put on Infrared Night Vision Goggles, threw out the Flying Grappling Hook, and climbed the city wall to sneak into the Imperial Palace.

The wardrobe was also carefully bundled and hoisted in, inch by inch, along the city wall using ropes.

This was the only item they had to communicate with Shennü Daren; it was precious beyond compare and had to be kept with them at all times.

The Purple Emperor City, where the Emperor Xuanjing lived, was beautiful and vast.

Ahead was Yunyang Hall, where the ministers held court; the eaves were painted with gold lacquer, remaining resplendent under the night.

Behind Yunyang Hall was the inner palace where the Imperial Concubines resided.

Further back in a remote corner was the Cold Palace.

The Cold Palace was where Imperial Concubines who had committed faults lived, and it was exceptionally desolate.

The high courtyard walls were effortless for Xiao Moting to scale.

He leaped up, flipped over the wall silently, and jumped behind the trees in the palace.

Qin Zhan and the others worked together to send the wardrobe in as well, just in case.

The remaining Northern Frontier soldiers spread out outside the wall, hiding in the trees and the shadows behind the corners of the wall, remaining vigilant.

Xiao Moting looked up.

The palace walls were deep, the ground paved with blue bricks, covered in fallen withered branches and yellow leaves.

The weeds by the wall had already grown to the height of a person.

Dilapidated, desolate...

The corners of Xiao Moting's eyes were slightly moist, his slender fingers gripping the hilt of his Long Sword tightly.

He spoke in a low, hoarse voice.

"Mother, I have been at the border for decades; have you been living in a place like this..."

Suddenly, a faint coughing sound came from the Cold Palace.

Xiao Moting's pupils shrank abruptly, and his heart began to beat violently.

This familiar voice...