Chapter 401: Chapter 339: What Does the Left General Want a Skirt For?

At first, Xiao Mo thought this Xiahou Nan was somewhat reckless for engaging the Northern Wilderness Army head-on.

Later, Xiao Mo felt that the man’s audacity to clash directly with the Northern Wilderness Army meant he was genuinely confident in his ability to defeat them.

And if he did manage to break the Northern Wilderness Army in a direct confrontation...

The Northern Wilderness wouldn’t just fail in their expedition against the Wei Kingdom; they would be forced onto the defensive.

If he couldn’t break them, he would dig in and defend, just as he was doing now.

"This Xiahou Nan was always going to be trouble," Xiao Shi said, shaking his head.

"I was wondering, does the Northern Wilderness have records on the officials of the Wei Kingdom’s Imperial Court and the generals of the Eleven Southern Cities?" Xiao Mo asked Xiao Shi after a moment of thought.

"We do." Xiao Shi nodded. Without asking what Xiao Mo planned to do, he said directly, "I’ll have someone sort them out and deliver them to your tent later."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Xiao Mo said with a cupped-fist salute.

"It’s late. Everyone should rest for now," Xiao Shi said, then turned to Xiao Mo. "Xiao Mo, if you need anything, you can come to my tent at any time."

"Yes, sir," Xiao Mo replied, not standing on ceremony.

Standing to the side, Xiao Yishen clenched his fists tightly.

Ever since Xiao Mo had stolen the show in that great battle, Xiao Yishen could feel himself being marginalized, even gradually abandoned by his own father.

’And now Xiao Mo has far more influence in the camp than I do. He can even see Father whenever he wants!’

This made Xiao Yishen’s resentment deepen, but there was nothing he could do about Xiao Mo right now.

As for Xiao Mo, he didn’t even spare Xiao Yishen a glance.

After returning to his camp, he began poring over the biographical records of the generals from the Twelve Cities of the South and recent events in the Wei Imperial Court.

For the next seven days, Xiao Mo frequently went in and out of Xiao Shi’s tent.

Xiao Shi and Xiao Mo often talked late into the night.

Seven days later, Xiao Shi divided his army into twelve forces. He was no longer fixated on smashing through Bishui City, but instead sought opportunities at the other border cities.

Splitting the army to attack multiple cities had its pros and cons.

As the main city, if Bishui City could be broken, the entire defensive line of the Wei Kingdom’s Southern Realm would collapse, and the other border cities would fall without a fight.

If they split their forces to attack, the other cities could support one another, prolonging the engagement and favoring the defenders.

But the advantage of splitting the army was that it could introduce many new variables into the war.

Xiao Mo led his ten thousand Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry and thirty thousand infantrymen to attack Mati City.

Two Vice Generals were assigned to assist Xiao Mo.

One was named Zhao Guang, and the other was Li Jing, whom he had met once before.

The City Lord of Mati City was a woman from the Wei Kingdom’s Lian family, named Lian Li.

Lian Li was around Xiao Mo’s age, only three years his senior.

She also practiced a Spear Technique, her Realm was at the Perfection level of Dragon Gate, and she was still unmarried.

Lian Li was also quite attractive, possessing a valiant and heroic feminine charm.

Xiao Mo challenged her to single combat from below the city walls several times.

Every time Xiao Mo issued a challenge, she would come out to fight him.

But each time, Xiao Mo held back some of his strength, making it seem like they were evenly matched. His performance was very convincing.

After half a month of this, a rumor began to spread through Mati City—that Lian Li and Xiao Mo were secretly developing feelings for each other, and their fights were more like flirtatious sparring.

Lian Li knew the slanderous rumors in Mati City were Xiao Mo’s deliberate attempt to disrupt her army’s morale, and she suppressed them harshly.

But she never expected that before long, the Imperial Court would also learn of the matter.

The Sovereign of Wei wanted to recall Lian Li to the Imperial Court, but Xiahou Nan refused! He submitted a memorial to the Court: "General Lian is utterly devoted to the kingdom and would never collude with an enemy general."

At the same time, however, another rumor circulated in the Wei Imperial City—that Prince Zhenbei and Xiahou Nan were plotting together. The Northern Wilderness and Xiahou Nan intended to divide the Wei Kingdom between them; the Northern Wilderness would establish its own kingdom, while Xiahou Nan would take half of Wei’s territory and declare himself king!

A "treasonous" letter supposedly written by Xiao Shi to Xiahou Nan had even reached the Wei Imperial City.

And naturally, it also fell into the hands of the Sovereign of Qin.

It wasn’t just the Wei Imperial Court that was shaken; the Qin Imperial Court, which had always lacked confidence in the Northern Wilderness, was also thrown into chaos.

The only difference was that when the Sovereign of Qin flew into a rage, it was just that—a rage.

The Sovereign of Qin threatened to strip Xiao Shi of his military authority, but the secret procedures for doing so moved very, very slowly. Everything was handled with delaying tactics.

But the Wei Kingdom was different.

The Sovereign of Wei was timid and incompetent by nature. He was terrified and immediately summoned Xiahou Nan back to the capital!

But with the front lines in such a critical state, how could Xiahou Nan possibly agree?

Xiahou Nan wrote several letters in succession, stating that this was all a conspiracy by the Qin Kingdom and declaring his unwavering loyalty!

But how could the Sovereign of Wei be convinced?

’Your own niece, Lian Li, is flirting with the enemy general on the battlefield! I ordered her back to the capital, and you refused.’

’Now a letter proving your treasonous collusion with Prince Zhenbei has fallen into my hands. The Sovereign of Qin is even preparing to move against Prince Zhenbei. If this isn’t rebellion, what is?’

’If you’re not rebelling!’

’Then hurry up and fight the Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry until blood is shed!’

Under pressure from the Imperial Court and the many generals in Mati City, Lian Li grew extremely anxious.

She knew her uncle could not leave his city to fight.

’In that case, I’ll have to be the one to ride out and fight a bloody battle!’

To prove her innocence, the next time Xiao Mo led his troops to issue a challenge, Lian Li directly led the city’s main army out to meet the enemy.

Lian Li had to prove her innocence to the Imperial Court.

Otherwise, with morale in turmoil, Mati City was in real danger of falling without a fight.

But soon, Lian Li witnessed firsthand the strength that had allowed Xiao Mo to conquer twenty-one cities in the Wei Kingdom.

Xiao Mo, his face covered by an Asura mask, held a Long Spear and personally led the ten thousand Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry in a charge to break the enemy formation.

And under Xiao Mo’s command, the ten thousand Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry split apart and reformed, striking at weaknesses while avoiding strengths.

Not only that, but the twenty thousand infantrymen coordinated with the Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry, forming up in a joint cavalry-infantry assault. All of them fought at their maximum potential under Xiao Mo’s command, moving as if they were his own limbs.

"Xiao Mo! Your life is mine!"

Knowing she was doomed to defeat, Lian Li charged directly at Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo rode forward to meet her in battle.

Only then did Lian Li realize that in all their previous fights, Xiao Mo had been holding back!

After fifteen exchanges, Lian Li was knocked from her horse by Xiao Mo’s spear. Xiao Mo ordered his men to tie her up.

With their commander captured alive, the morale of the Mati City army plummeted.

"Surrender and live, resist and die."

Xiao Mo’s voice echoed across the battlefield.

Because many soldiers had heard that the Frost King, Xiao Mo, did not kill surrendering generals and even treated them well, many of the Wei Kingdom soldiers lost the will to resist, throwing down their weapons and surrendering.

After breaking through Mati City’s defenses, Xiao Mo forbade his soldiers from harassing the common people.

"Xiao Mo, you’re despicable! You’re shameless! You’re vulgar! If you have any guts, kill me!" Lian Li cursed loudly as she was brought before Xiao Mo, bound.

Xiao Mo didn’t refute her, because this had indeed been his idea.

’But I think I’m despicable at most,’ Xiao Mo thought. ’Shameless and vulgar don’t really apply.’

’Still, this Lian Li is actually quite good at leading troops. Being forced to ride out and meet the enemy was something she couldn’t avoid.’

Xiao Mo valued her talent and wanted to persuade her to surrender.

But Lian Li refused, willing to die rather than submit.

Xiao Mo said no more. He had her taken away to be treated well for a while. If she still refused to surrender, he would send her to Siyao to be dealt with.

Otherwise, the rumors about him and Lian Li "flirting" these past days would become truly impossible to explain.

After the fall of Mati City, Xiao Mo had torn a hole in the defensive line of the Wei Kingdom’s Twelve Cities of the South.

Xiao Mo then personally led his army deep behind enemy lines, launching repeated harassment attacks.

As for Xiahou Nan, after Lian Li’s bloody battle, the struggle in the Imperial Court had reached a conclusion. The Court temporarily trusted him again.

Xiahou Nan joined forces with the other cities to resist the main Northern Wilderness Army.

As for Xiao Mo, who was wreaking havoc in the Wei Kingdom’s rear, Xiahou Nan could only hope the Imperial Court would dispatch an army to block him.

But Xiahou Nan discovered he was wrong.

That guy Xiao Mo was like a sharp knife. Leading an army of fewer than forty thousand, he broke through four Wei Kingdom cities in a row.

As he conquered cities, Xiao Mo absorbed the surrendering generals and soldiers into his own ranks.

He treated surrendering soldiers who achieved military merit the same as his own men, and even publicized it widely.

Moreover, Xiao Mo never hesitated to reward his subordinates. As a result, many of the surrendered soldiers and generals even began to exhibit convert’s zeal.

Another month later, before the Wei Kingdom could react, Xiao Mo had already seized Yanmen Pass.

This meant the supply line for the Eleven Southern Cities of the Wei Kingdom had been cut by Xiao Mo!

Seizing the opportunity while Bishui City was short on rations and various Elixirs and Spirit Medicines needed to replenish its troops’ vitality, Xiao Shi combined his forces and launched a massive assault on the city!

At the same time, the Wei Imperial Court panicked and dispatched a large army to attack Yanmen Pass at all costs!

Xiahou Nan also coordinated with the reinforcements, sending troops to Yanmen Pass to cut off Xiao Mo’s own supply line.

Yanmen Pass, much like the Eleven Southern Cities that were now cut off from the Wei Imperial Court, had become an isolated fortress.

Xiao Mo stood on the city wall, his eyes as calm as still water as he looked down at the tens of thousands of enemy troops below.

"General..." Li Jing stood beside Xiao Mo, his expression complicated. "A letter has arrived from the Prince."

"What did the Prince say?" Xiao Mo asked.

"The Prince asks if the General... can hold out for thirty days."