Chapter 346: Peace
Editor: Atlas Studios
Just like that, Mu Yangling sat on the city wall for the entire night. Fortunately, with her around, the military camp did not fall into chaos. Song Zhi sent all the bailiffs to the streets because Mu Yangling had told him, “It’s better to release the news so that people will know what to do. Otherwise, it will only make people panic.” Song Zhi beat the gong and drum to inform everyone that General Qi wanted to recover their homeland that had been occupied by the Hus. Therefore, in order to express their support for this great cause, he hoped that everyone would donate money and items to the soldiers at the frontline.
If Song Zhi had simply beat the gong and drum on the streets, everyone would definitely be suspicious. If the rich wanted to escape, they would still escape. However, now that Song Zhi asked for a donation, the squires who had the intention to retreat immediately stopped.
Since they were requesting donations, it must be true. Since it was not the Hus attacking them, but they who were attacking the Hus, why should they escape?
With the example of Qi Xiuyuan conquering Hanzhong Prefecture, the squires confidently donated money. It was not much, but it was a signal.
When the commoners saw that the squires had all donated, they knew that it must be true, considering the connections the rich had. Hence, they also contributed money and items. Those who were rich threw dozens of copper coins into the donation box, and those who were poor sent their old cotton jackets over. Song Zhi accepted all donations and asked someone to note down their names. He said that it might be recorded in the county’s official records in the future.
As soon as he said this, everyone’s enthusiasm soared. The people who went to the government office to donate money and items lined up all the way to Qianmen Street.
When the county magistrate of the neighboring county saw that the squires had already begun to pack up and plan to escape south, he immediately copied Song Zhi’s method. Seeing that the squires were still skeptical, the county magistrate quickly thought of something and shouted, “Our county is not inferior to Mingshui County, so we mustn’t lose to them. Get someone to go to the village and beat the gongs and drums to get everyone to donate generously. Later, the donor that donates the most money can go to the military camp as our county’s representative.”
No one was willing to go to the military camp. However, this was an honor after all since it was contributing to the recovery of their homeland. This was a huge temptation.
The citizens of Great Zhou had already become obsessed with reclaiming their homeland.
As soon as these words were spoken, the squires, who had already packed up half of their belongings, immediately changed their minds about leaving. They gathered their families to discuss how much they wanted to donate.
Seeing this, the county magistrate of the neighboring county heaved a sigh of relief. This method quickly spread. As two counties had already stabilized the situation, the squires of the other counties stopped making a fuss about leaving. They began to think about donating money and items. The bailiffs in the government office were all sent to the streets to maintain order. The flames of war were flying in front, but at least things were not in chaos in the background.
The commotion in the direction of Xingcheng Pass did not stop. By dawn, the messenger had already made three trips back and forth and brought back the latest news. Qi Xiuyuan was not at Xingcheng Pass at all. It should be said that all the assistant commanders were not at Xingcheng Pass. The one guarding Xingcheng Pass was Mu Shi, who was leading merely 2,000 men. In contrast, there were 6,000 elite Hu soldiers. At this moment, they could only guard the pass and wait for reinforcements from the Jingzhao Prefecture.
However, Mu Yangling knew that the Jin soldiers in the Jingzhao Prefecture definitely had a lot of garrison troops. Considering Jingzhao Prefecture was easy to defend and difficult to attack, it would be very difficult for Qi Xiuyuan to take down Jingzhao Prefecture quickly.
She frowned as she looked at the map. Just then, Song Zhi rushed in and said, “Miss Mu, the county has already settled down. How’s the front line?”
Mu Yangling had already heard that Song Zhi had asked for monetary donations to calm the people down. At that time, she even praised Song Zhi’s wit in her heart, but now, she was no longer in the mood. This was because the latest news brought back by the messenger revealed that the West Camp had suffered a lot of losses, and the Jin soldiers’ attacks were getting fiercer.
It was obvious that the Jin soldiers wanted to force Mu Shi to send troops out to ask for help so that they could resolve the crisis in the Jingzhao Prefecture.
Since Qi Xiuyuan had staked everything and left only 2,000 men at Xingcheng Pass and transferred all the West Camp soldiers stationed at the back, it meant that he was determined to take down Jingzhao Prefecture. Not to mention whether he was willing to return, his father would not easily send out a distress signal.
However, if Qi Xiuyuan did not return to help, once Xingcheng Pass was breached, the enraged Jin soldiers would not let off anyone in the pass. Not only Xingzhou Prefecture, but even Mingshui County and Changju County would not be able to escape the fate of being massacred. Xingcheng Pass had to be defended.
Mu Yangling walked two rounds in the room with a solemn expression. The regiment commander gritted his teeth and requested, “Miss Mu, please allow me to bring men to provide reinforcement.”
“No.” Mu Yangling said, “Once you leave, the county that has just settled down will definitely be in chaos. Besides, you won’t be able to do much.”
Most of the people who were left behind were soldiers who had just been recruited this year and had only undergone half a year of training. How could they go to the battlefield?
If they went, they would only be cannon fodder.
As for the 2,000 elite soldiers at Xingcheng Pass, they had been tempered on the battlefield after all, although the 5,000 Jin soldiers had also been tempered thousands of times.
Mu Yangling turned to ask the messenger, “My father, I mean, how is Battalion Commander Mu guarding the city now?”
“Battalion Commander Mu divided them into two teams and let them take turns to guard the city. However, the Jin soldiers’ attacks were too fierce, so he simply divided them into five teams and let them take turns. From yesterday until now, there are only about 1,700 people left. Although the general left behind a lot of supplies, there are too few people…”
At the thought of the tragic scene he saw on the city wall, the messenger wiped his tears and said, “I told the battalion commander that I didn’t expect there to be so many Jin soldiers. Previously, General Qi estimated that it was already not bad if they could break out of the encirclement with 3,000 soldiers…”
“How’s the wall?”
“It was repaired last year. It’s solid.”
Mu Yangling said with a dark expression, “Go. Hurry up and tell Battalion Commander Mu that as long as he can hold on until seven o’clock, it’ll be fine.”
“Miss Mu, the Jin soldiers don’t rest at night. They will take turns attacking.”
Mu Yangling’s expression looked a little gloomy under the sunlight. “No, it’s already been a night. As long as we hold on till night time, they will definitely have a pep talk for their soldiers during dinner and give them time to rest. It’s safe between seven o’clock and nine o’clock.”
Mu Yangling turned to ask Song Zhi, “Magistrate Song, don’t you think it’s even colder today than yesterday?”
Song Zhi was stunned. He didn’t know why Mu Yangling was suddenly talking about the weather, but he still replied, “This is a cold current. It’s almost the new year. There’s a cold current every year before the new year.”
As he spoke, he sighed slightly. The general had not chosen the right time. Fighting in such cold weather was simply a disaster.
However, Mu Yangling said, “It’s a disaster for us and for them, but it might not be a disaster for Xingcheng Pass.”
“Regiment Commander, I’m going to make a trip to Xingcheng Pass. I’ll leave my family to you. Without the order of the garrison general of Xingcheng Pass, you’re not allowed to leave the north city gate. If Xingcheng Pass can’t be defended, escort the commoners into Chef Mountain. At least there’s a chance of survival there.”
The regiment commander and Song Zhi’s expressions changed.
However, Mu Yangling took out a seal that she had never used before. After dipping it in mud, she imprinted it on a piece of white paper. When the regiment commander and Song Zhi saw the words on it, their eyes narrowed.
Mu Yangling handed the white paper to the regiment commander and Song Zhi. “This is an order.”
The regiment commander could only take it. If it was Qi Haoran’s seal, he could still reject it on the grounds of the young couple’s relationship, but that was Qi Xiuyuan’s.