Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law-Chapter 488: Xiao Jing – Achievements from Serving the Dragon
"If not the north, then where could it be?" Xiao Quan was taken aback.
"The smoother things go in the north, who do you think gets more anxious?" Xiao Jing replied.
"Of course it’s Jin Xia..." Xiao Quan immediately thought of Jin Xia, but then he recalled something else and said, "Prince Huai?"
"Correct." Xiao Jing, with his hands behind his back, stepped out of the room and looked up at the azure sky, saying, "Last time, when Chen Mo was at war with Jin Xia, Prince Huai took the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Huai State. To his surprise, not only was the plan foiled, but he also suffered a crushing defeat, with even Li Mingfan and Li Mingzhong defecting to Chen Mo.
You could say that Prince Huai is now at the end of his rope; once the northern battles conclude completely, Chen Mo will surely settle scores with him. If I were Prince Huai, I would definitely not sit and wait to die."
"Patriarch, you mean that Prince Huai might attack Huai State again, and Geng Songfu is asking you to help deal with Prince Huai." Xiao Quan’s mind worked quickly, but immediately he was a bit worried and said, "But Patriarch, you are of an old age, and you have an ailment. What if something happens to you, the Xiao family..."
Xiao Quan hesitated.
At the same time, Xiao Quan still harbored some resentment towards Chen Mo.
The Xiao Family had agreed to take his side.
But in March, he still stationed the navy in Jiangnan, and although it has withdrawn now, it clearly showed distrust towards the Xiao Family.
Given that, before the young lady gets pregnant, the Xiao Family doesn’t really need to go this far to help him.
Xiao Jing understood Xiao Quan’s concerns and said, "If something should truly happen to me, I leave the Xiao Family in your hands."
Xiao Jing had only a son and a daughter, and after Xiao Chongrong’s death, Xiao Jing had no successor. In a hundred years, the role of patriarch would inevitably go to another family member.
"Patriarch..." Xiao Jing’s words left Xiao Quan both excited and worried, "Is it worth it?"
"It is." Xiao Jing turned around, answering decisively, "Do you know why our Xiao Family became one of the Seven Great Noble Families?"
"It’s because our ancestors made contributions alongside the founding emperor." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
"Exactly. Our forefathers chose the right person, and I have a hunch that an opportunity to restore the Xiao Family to its former glory is right before us," Xiao Jing said.
Xiao Quan: "..."
"Looking at the current situation, it’s almost certain that Chen Mo will drive the Jin Xia Barbarians out of Great Song. By doing so, the entire north will fall into his hands, Huai State is under his control, and Jiangdong depends on him. You could say that half of Great Song is in his hands. At that time..."
When Xiao Jing suddenly stopped, Xiao Quan understood his implication that at that point, Chen Mo would become the greatest Duke under the heavens, one step away from replacing the Emperor Song and founding a new dynasty.
The Xiao Family, as followers, and especially as major contributors, would naturally share in that glory.
Xiao Quan’s breathing quickened.
...
Youzhou, Bing City.
As the far northern region of Great Song, temperatures began to cool after entering October.
However, outside Bing City, the common people were still drenched in sweat. The sounds of their busyness blended with the shouts of the Jin Xia Barbarians.
"Hurry, everyone speed up, don’t slack off."
"Slap, why are you dawdling, do you want to taste the whip?"
"I’m talking to you, move faster."
...
Ever since Tuoba Zhu fled from Long County, he had rushed back to Youzhou, just in time to meet Gale, who came to support him on the road.
Tuoba Zhu informed Gale of what had transpired in Long County.
Although he hadn’t witnessed Tie Muer’s death with his own eyes, Tuoba Zhu assumed him dead, given the terrain and environment at Shishan at that time.
Moreover, so many days had passed without any news of Tie Muer.
Thus, after discussing with Gale, Tuoba Zhu returned to Bing City, adopting the defensive strategy Tie Muer had planned before his death, waiting for Wanyan Xiaji to make a move.
To counter the "Strange Thunder" of the Chen Army, Gale decided to widen Bing City’s moat and reinforce the city walls and gates, determined to withstand the siege like a turtle.
On the city wall, Gale looked at the busy Song people below and said, "It’s been widened to eighty zhang now; isn’t that enough?"
Generally, moats are about ten to twenty zhang wide.
Eighty zhang is already wide enough, beyond the reach of ordinary catapults.
As for arrows, they can’t even reach that far.
"Of course, it’s not enough. General Gale, you haven’t seen that Strange Thunder in action and don’t know how terrifying it is. Our army was six or seven hundred paces away from the Chen Army and was still injured by that Strange Thunder; eighty zhang is still within its reach." Tuoba Zhu said with lingering fear.
"Six or seven hundred paces..." Gale was shocked, almost two hundred zhang, and that Strange Thunder can reach so far?
"Prince, to expand the moat to the desired distance is not something that can be achieved overnight. For now, eighty zhang is the maximum," Gale said.
"The maximum?" Tuoba Zhu sighed and then asked, "How’s the reinforcement of the city walls?"
"Time is tight, and some materials haven’t been transported in, so progress is slow. But winter is fast approaching; once it sets in, pouring some water on the walls will freeze, making them more solid than any reinforcement." Gale said.
"It’s only mid-October now; to rely on water freezing into ice will take at least another month. Will it be in time..."
As Tuoba Zhu was speaking, a scout ran up to Gale and reported, "General, traces of the Chen Army have been spotted fifty li away."
Though Tuoba Zhu was a Prince of Jin Xia and an Upper-Grade Martial Artist, he only served as a military supervisor for the Eastern Army. After the deaths of Yelv Nuku, Kuimu, and Tie Muer, Gale became the actual commander-in-chief of the Eastern Army.
"What?"
Upon hearing this, Gale’s expression changed slightly, and he promptly ordered, "Order them to stop work immediately and prepare to defend the city."
"Yes."
After giving his orders, Tuoba Zhu, feeling a bit pessimistic, said, "It seems the Chen Army gives us no chance."
Gale thought Tuoba Zhu was too pessimistic and said, "Although I haven’t seen the Strange Thunder of the Chen Army myself, no matter how powerful it is, an assault still requires men. With the moat this wide, as long as we don’t let the Chen Army get close, they can’t break through."
Knowing he couldn’t change things much, Tuoba Zhu said, "You’ll see when the time comes."
Hearing this, Gale’s face grew serious, and he muttered, "Then tomorrow’s siege defense, I shall see for myself."
The Chen Army was only fifty li away; if they moved swiftly, the attack would be as soon as tomorrow.
...
Meanwhile, a few li outside Bing City, Xia Zhining, holding a captured Thousand-Mile Mirror, observed the movements outside Bing City.
"These barbarians are reinforcing the defenses of Bing City, intending to huddle inside and drag things out with us." Xia Zhining said, putting down the Thousand-Mile Mirror.
