Chapter 157: Where the sword points, the troops follow

Xiexiezi was stunned, always feeling that he and Jiang Jinshi were not talking about the same thing.

"When Great Leader Jiang robbed Jiangcheng before, wasn't it just grabbing food and robbing silver? Why is it different this time?"

Jiang Jinshi got up and heated a pot of tea, "When we robbed Jiangcheng before, Yangguangzhai didn't rob ordinary commoners! Didn't we all aim at the wealthy families?"

Hearing this, Xiexiezi nodded as if he understood, "So as long as you don't touch the commoners, will it become like this?"

"How can it be that simple! Not touching the commoners is because they don't have much money either; they are all poor people, why make things difficult for each other!" Jiang Jinshi always felt Xiexiezi was strange!

It seems...

He has become less spirited!

To put it bluntly, he's stupid!

"But... this is unreasonable! A mountain bandit is a mountain bandit, so how can he be loved by the commoners?"

Xiexiezi seemed to be obsessed, urgently wanting to know how Jiang Jinshi did it.

Jiang Jinshi noticed that the other party seemed to be trapped in some kind of obsession, and for a moment didn't know how to explain, so he could only make a suggestion.

"Otherwise, why don't you follow my people and adapt for a few days? I can't explain this thing just by talking!"

"Okay!"

Xiexiezi didn't hesitate and agreed immediately. His purpose in coming was to find a place to stay, so he would do whatever Jiang Jinshi arranged.

"That's good. You've been running around and are tired, so rest for a while! Tonight I'll introduce you to our Captain Luo Feng."

The wind outside Shuo Fang Jun carried sand and withered grass, whipping the continuous camps, while the city was silent, and the will to fight permeated every inch of the air.

The Prince of Zhenbei was in black armor, his bright red cloak rolling behind him. He stood alone on the high platform, his gaze passing over the trenches and watchtowers, casting toward the distant wilderness.

There, the Xiongnu's campfires flickered in the twilight!

He took a deep breath and walked down the high platform. His iron boots stepped on the ground, and in the excessive silence, the sound was exceptionally clear.

The Crown Prince's decision would kill many people. The Prince of Zhenbei knew that kindness does not command troops, but would taking the initiative to attack really have any meaning?

Perhaps the years of fighting with the Xiongnu had long since worn away his ambition. He was old and was no longer the number one warrior of Da Qian!

The Prince of Zhenbei didn't return to the main tent, but turned to the wounded camp on the west side. The atmosphere here was extremely oppressive.

Soldiers silently checked their horses and moved arrows. The wounded lay scattered, and the air was filled with the bitter smell of medicine mixed with blood. A young soldier with a broken arm bit his lower lip tightly, letting his teammates bandage him, cold sweat dripping, but he didn't make a sound.

The Prince of Zhenbei stopped beside a white-haired old soldier wiping a ring-headed knife.

"Old brother, where are you from?"

The old soldier looked up, recognized the armor, and wanted to get up, but was pressed down by the Prince of Zhenbei.

"Shuo Fang Jun!"

"Have you been home to see?"

The old soldier's eyes were dim and lusterless. He lowered his head and wiped the knife harder, "My family is all gone."

The Prince of Zhenbei remained silent, just gently patted his shoulder.

"Both my sons died, died on the battlefield!" The old soldier seemed to be talking to himself, "Killed by the Xiongnu. After my wife found out, she was overcome with grief and also passed away...

This old man doesn't have much ability, but I still want to try!"

"Try what?" The Prince of Zhenbei's voice was calm, the tremor in it hidden very well.

"Revenge!" The old soldier raised his head again, pretending to be relaxed and grinning with his teeth.

The Prince of Zhenbei suddenly remembered a sentence—knowing why you are fighting is more important than not being afraid of death.

After the inspection, he returned to the main military tent. The Prince of Zhenbei looked at the Beijiang map and thought deeply, feeling a headache when thinking about the scout's report today.

Wei Xikang came in armor and said to the Prince of Zhenbei: "Uncle, how are the preparations?"

The Prince of Zhenbei nodded: "Each camp is gathering, and we can set off on time when the time comes!"

"Just received bad news!" Wei Xikang took off the helmet on his head and put it aside.

"What?" The Prince of Zhenbei didn't expect that at this juncture, there would still be bad news.

Wei Xikang's face was very ugly, even somewhat iron-blue, "The food in Beijiang all relies on transportation by merchants from Zhongyuan, which is also the reason why food prices remain high. But now...

Guansongling, before entering Beijiang, has closed the pass!"

The Prince of Zhenbei stood up abruptly, "This... what does this mean?"

Wei Xikang clenched his fists and slammed them on the table, "Si Gui, that beast, must have learned of the orphan's news in Beijiang, so he closed the pass to cut off the food trade. This is to make the entire Beijiang die!"

Now it is the autumn harvest season, but the land in Beijiang has no harvest, and after experiencing this, food is truly eating one grain less.

Hearing this news, the Prince of Zhenbei's heart could not calm down for a long time. Only now did he know that the Crown Prince's strategy was correct.

If the Zhenbei Army cannot fight for a bright future for the people of Beijiang, then the only thing waiting for them is a dead end.

"Uncle, this battle must succeed, not fail!" Wei Xikang's determined face was full of resolution.

As soon as the words fell, the clappers in the city sounded.

"Dong!"

"Dong—dong!"

"General, all camps have gathered."

The Prince of Zhenbei opened his eyes, and the last trace of hesitation was completely collected. Since that's the case, let the Zhenbei Army burn completely!

Wei Xikang put on his helmet again, "Uncle, let's go!"

The Prince of Zhenbei nodded, took his weapon, and followed behind Wei Xikang.

Under the general-pointing platform was a boundless square formation made of iron armor and silence. The suppressed breathing of tens of thousands of people gathered together to become a low roar before the tiger woke up.

The two walked up to the high platform step by step. Wei Xikang stood still, and according to the plan the two had previously made, Wei Xikang would do the pre-battle encouragement.

"Brothers!"

Wei Xikang's voice was steady, and the majesty belonging to the Crown Prince erupted.

"Look at those beside you!"

The array moved slightly, and the soldiers looked at the familiar faces beside them.

"They are your comrades! They are brothers who eat from the same pot, keep warm in the same tent, and can block arrows for you on the battlefield! They are comrades-in-arms whose backs you can safely hand over!"

The tone rose, carrying a passionate clang:

"What is behind us?"

He waved his arm back sharply:

"It is the Northern Frontier! It is our homeland! It is your parents, wives, and children! It is even more so the grievances of the soldiers who have died in battle over the years!"

The words pierced into the softest part of the heart, and the old soldier of Shuo Fang Jun gripped his knife tightly.

"But now!" The voice turned cold, and the anger was monstrous, "There are jackals coming from the north! They want to step over the pass wall, burn houses, humiliate sisters, turn our elders into slaves! And grind everything we have guarded for generations into dust!"

"Tell me!" He took a step forward, his voice like thunder, "Do you agree?!"

"Don't agree!"

"Don't agree!!"

The roar shook the heavens and the earth, and the suppressed emotions turned into monstrous hatred.

"Clang!"

The long sword at Wei Xikang's waist was unsheathed, carrying a cold light.

"The orphan! I am the Crown Prince of the Da Qian Dynasty, Wei Xikang!" The sword pointed to the sky, and the voice stood firm in the aftermath of the roar, "Like everyone else! There is also a home behind me! In this battle, I will be at the front of the formation! Where the sword points, the troops follow!" ===== CHAPTER 158 =====