Chapter 352: Defending the City (3)
Editor: Atlas Studios
The Xu family had long fallen asleep. When they heard the knock on the door, a servant picked up a stick asked loudly behind the door, “Who is it?”
So cold that he couldn’t speak properly, Xu Shoutu shouted while trembling, “I’m your young master! Open the door for me quickly!”
The servant opened the door a crack and saw his young master covered in a blanket. He exclaimed and hurriedly opened the door. “Young Master, why did you come back overnight?”
Everyone in the Xu family immediately moved and pulled him in. They quickly fetched him a heater, hot water, and soup. Even the guards were arranged to rest on the other side.
Xu Shi also put on his clothes and got up. When he saw his eldest grandson rush back overnight, he asked with a frown, “Has Xingzhou Prefecture fallen?”
Xu Shoutu shook his head. His mouth kept trembling and he could not speak at all. Although they had been sitting in the carriage with a heater and a blanket draped over them, the wind seemed to be everywhere, causing their bones to hurt.
Xu Shi glared and said, “If not, why did you flee? Will it kill you to make the trip back after the sun rises? In such weather, even a bear can freeze to death. Wait a minute, how did you enter and leave the city at such an hour?”
Xu Shoutu’s parents had also run over. They had long noticed Wu Jin at the side. Since Xu Shoutu couldn’t speak, they looked at Wu Jin, indicating for him to explain.
Wu Jin was in an even worse state than Xu Shoutu. In fact, he had to be carried out of the carriage by the guards. He had never suffered like this in his life, but he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, so he asked with a trembling voice, “Old Master Xu, Shoutu said that you have a ten-picul bow?”
Xu Shi nodded with a frown.
Wu Jin’s eyes lit up, and he asked expectantly, “I wonder if the bow is still there?”
“It’s hanging in the central room.” Xu Shi said impatiently, “Young man, what does this have to do with you escaping back late at night?”
“Grandpa, we didn’t escape.”
“Old Sir, please save the citizens of Xingzhou Prefecture!”
Their voices sounded at the same time, but Xu Shoutu’s voice was displeased while Wu Jin’s voice was loud and sonorous.
Xu Shi looked at the two of them like a lunatic and said seriously, “I really want to save them, but I’m too weak to even truss a chicken…”
“As long as you contribute that bow…”
Xu Shi stared at Wu Jin and asked, “Don’t tell me that there’s someone in Xingzhou Prefecture who can draw a ten-picul bow.”
Since ancient times, only the famous general of the Sui Dynasty, Chang Sunsheng, could draw a ten-picul bow. General Yuan was considered powerful, but even he could only draw an eight-picul bow. Moreover, he could only pull it but not nock an arrow.
“I don’t know, but we have to give it a try.” Wu Jin looked at Xu Shi eagerly and said, “Old Sir, if Miss Mu can draw a ten-picul bow, then Xingzhou Prefecture will be saved.”
“Miss?” The excited expression on Xu Shi’s face disappeared. He asked disappointedly, “It’s a girl?”
“Old Sir, don’t belittle her just because she’s a girl. She’s very strong. She can carry two wild boars without panting.”
Xu Shi doubted this, but he did not argue with them. He only turned around and asked someone to retrieve the bow from the central room.
The butler asked carefully, “Master, should we take out the arrow?”
“Arrow?”
“Master, have you forgotten? That master who gave you the bow also gave you a box of arrows back then to pair with that bow. That box of arrows has been left in the storeroom.”
The corners of Xu Shi’s mouth twitched. He waved his hand and said, “Bring it over. Take it with you.” Considering it had been 18 years, who knew if it could still be used? Xu Shi did not have much confidence in that archer to begin with, so he was no longer anxious.
The arrows were found. When he opened the box, he saw that the arrowhead was still shiny.
Xu Shi got someone to replace the horse and add two blankets to the carriage. He got someone to carry Wu Jin into the carriage before climbing in himself.
Stunned, the butler immediately wailed in his heart that his Old Master was being silly again. Just as this thought flashed across his mind, the butler also wailed and hugged Xu Shi’s leg. “Old Master, you can’t go. You’ll freeze to death in such cold weather.”
Xu Shi kicked him gently and scolded angrily, “Get lost. The soldiers at the front line are still fighting. If they don’t find it cold, why should I be afraid of the cold? Go and call those guards out. We’ll set off now.”
With the butler’s wail, the entire Xu family fell into chaos.
At this moment, the Jin soldiers’ camp was also in chaos. The soldiers with injured eyes were still in pain after washing up. When they opened their eyes, they could only vaguely see a short distance ahead. There were too many injured people, causing their combat strength to decrease greatly.
The Jingzhao Prefecture also sent an order, ordering Tudan to force the people of Xingcheng Pass to send a distress message tomorrow no matter what. The damned Han people had actually attacked the Wu pass and were now surrounding the city of Jingzhao Prefecture, but their reinforcements had yet to arrive.
Tudan gritted his teeth and said, “Let everyone rest well. We’ll go into battle tomorrow. No matter what, we have to attack the city tower. Even if we can’t take down Xingzhou Prefecture, we have to force them to send out a distress signal.”
Mu Yangling slept soundly. When she woke up, she washed up happily and tied up her hair. Wearing light clothes, she went out and sat cross-legged on the ground with the soldiers to eat meat buns.
One of the veterans said happily, “This is the best meat bun I’ve ever eaten.”
A company commander beside him said with a smile, “If we win this battle, I’ll treat you to meat buns for a month later.”
“Sir, you said it yourself.”
After Mu Yangling finished eating the buns, she clapped her hands and went up the city tower. Mu Shi was already standing there and talking to his subordinates. When he saw his daughter coming over, Mu Shi waved his hand. “Ah Ling, come and take a look. The water you splashed out last night has all frozen.”
Mu Yangling walked over and reached out to touch the city wall. It was cold and slippery. Upon exerting a little force, her hand was covered in ice shards.
“I’m afraid it won’t be easy for them to set up their ladder. When our men pull it down, this ladder will be easily overturned and we can also topple the other ladders.”
Mu Shi ordered, “Find someone bold and strong. When the time comes, have him squat there and wait for the enemy to climb halfway before toppling the ladder.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the scout came to report, “Battalion Commander Mu, the Jin soldiers are already ten miles away.”
“Get our men to start preparing.” Mu Shi turned to ask his daughter, “Is Wu Jin not back yet?”
“No, but I think it’s about time.”
Wu Jin was probably caught by his family as soon as he entered the city gate. That guard with him had been running for the entire day and had been freezing from the cold the entire night. As such, he was no match for the magistrate’s servants who had the advantage in numbers. He only resisted for a while before being caught as well.
Xu Shi was also dragged back to the magistrate’s place with the duo.
Wu Shancai had already sent his first wife, grandson, and daughter-in-law away yesterday. He had also given some property to his concubine’s son and asked him to take his mother to escape via another path. He had no choice. Considering how cruel the Hus were, it was better for his family to split up and walk separately.
Originally, he had planned to escape with his family, but since his eldest son refused to leave, he could only stay for another night. No matter what, he had to forcefully take him with him.