Chapter 523: Splitting Up
Editor: Atlas Studios
After the Great Zhou officially proposed peace talks to the Jin Kingdom and West Xia, the Jin Kingdom only hesitated for a moment before agreeing. They retreated their army and stationed it three miles away, then their army glared at the Great Zhou army while waiting for the ambassador to arrive.
They had been attacking for more than a month, but they had not been able to occupy a city or a town. Instead, they had lost many warriors. It could be said that they were extremely aggrieved.
Compared to West Xia’s unstoppable momentum, the Jin Kingdom was also a little flustered. Looking at General Yuan and Qi Xiuyuan’s strict defense, it was very difficult for them to gain an advantage. Hence, they might as well ride on West Xia’s momentum and make a peace treaty in order to obtain more benefits like money, satin, and tea leaves.
The Jin Kingdom was willing to stop the war, but West Xia was unwilling. Having already occupied a lot of territory and invested a lot in this war, how could they stop the war just like that?
They had the intention to destroy the Great Zhou Dynasty, but they did not reject the peace talks immediately. Instead, they said that they could not make the decision and had to wait for their ruler’s instructions, which was just a delay tactic. However, they continued to attack and take down cities when they saw fit.
The ministers of Great Zhou and Emperor Jingyan gritted their teeth in anger, but they could not stop it. The Great Zhou Dynasty was capable of fighting verbally, but how could they possibly make the West Xia go back when they were so intent on attacking the cities? Sure, Great Zhou could be thick-skinned and shout for West Xia to come back, but would the latter listen?
However, since there were not enough troops in the country, the Great Zhou could neither intimidate West Xia nor stop them. In addition, Emperor Jingyan’s main troops had been focused on fighting the rebels in the country. For a moment, it was as easy for West Xia to enter the Great Zhou territories as though they were uninhabited. In fact, some of West Xia’s armies even managed to take down two cities a day.
Although Emperor Jingyan was more fearful of the rebels, he could not allow West Xia to attack the cities so freely. Otherwise, even if he successfully suppressed the rebellion but the Great Zhou was taken over by West Xia, how could he still be the Emperor?
In the end, Emperor Jingyan ordered for General Yuan’s 100,000-strong army and Qi Xiuyuan’s 50,000-strong army to be transferred back. They would be divided into two routes to block West Xia. The west route would be governed by the generals of Qi Xiuyuan’s faction. They would enter Tongchuan Prefecture to block West Xia’s eastward descent. Meanwhile, General Yuan would lead the 100,000-strong army down the east road and pass through Huainan West Road to enter Jinghu North Road to block West Xia’s army.
Emperor Jingyan had wanted to send a general from the Imperial Court to lead the army, but he gave up after thinking about it. Now was not the time to weaken General Yuan and Qi Xiuyuan’s power. It was better to let the two of them lead their troops on their own. Besides, there truly was no capable general in the Imperial Court for the Emperor to deploy. Otherwise, he would not have used Qi Haoran back then.
After receiving the imperial decree, Qi Xiuyuan thought for a long time before calling Rong Xuan over for a discussion. After a while, he decided to send Mu Shi and Jiang Ze to lead the troops. Mu Shi would lead 20,000 troops, and Jiang Ze would lead 30,000 troops.
Only the five of them knew that Qi Xiuyuan wanted to rebel. Mu Shi and Jiang Ze had no idea.
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Jiang Ze had been by Qi Xiuyuan’s side for a long time, so he naturally trusted him. However, when it came to rebellion, things might not be the same. Hence, after thinking for a long time, Qi Xiuyuan decided to hide this matter first and split the army into two. Jiang Ze only needed to focus on blocking the West Xia army.
As for Mu Shi, the Qi and Mu families were in-laws. Qi Xiuyuan took it that Mu Shi had already boarded the pirate ship and decided to tell him the matter. He wanted him to take in refugees and recruit troops when he repelled the West Xia army. No matter what, he had to ensure their source of troops.
Qi Xiuyuan called Mu Shi over and chatted in the study for half a day. When he left the Qi Residence, his face was expressionless as he rode home.
Jiang Ze only thought that Qi Xiuyuan was explaining to Mu Shi why he led fewer troops than him and did not think too much about it. In private, he was even a little smug. He had been with General Qi for so many years. Even if Mu Shi was General Qi’s in-law, he could not compare to him.
This made him even more convinced of Qi Xiuyuan.
When Mu Shi returned home, he was so angry that he picked up his pen and wrote a letter to scold his daughter. How could she hide such a huge matter from him?
He wasn’t very angry or anxious. Although he wasn’t very literate, he had traveled extensively in his early years and had seen a lot. In his opinion, since the Great Zhou was already on the verge of collapse, so what if they rebelled? Anyway, his wife and family were in the north, and this was Qi Xiuyuan’s base camp. Even if Qi Xiuyuan couldn’t become the Emperor in the future, their Mu family wouldn’t die. At most, they could go home and hunt again.
However, his daughter was different. Since Ah Ling was married to Qi Haoran, they would definitely share the same fate. He could escape with his family, but he could not take Ah Ling away. Moreover, before they even started to rebel, she had already been detained in the palace.
How could Mu Shi not be angry and nervous?
Seeing him come back angrily, Shu Wanniang went to the kitchen to prepare some snacks for him and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
Mu Shi put down his pen and acted nonchalant as he put away the letter. “The general sent me to lead the troops to resist the West Xia army. When the time comes, only the few of you will be left at home. I’m a little worried, so I’m thinking of calling Cousin and Cousin-in-law to stay over for a while so that they can take care of you.”
Upon hearing this, Shu Wanniang smiled and said, “Bowen is already old enough to start a family. How can we always impose on Cousin and Cousin-in-law?”
Shu Wanniang placed the plate in front of him and sighed. “It’s a mess outside now. I wonder if Ah Ling is doing well in the capital.”
“Don’t worry, considering that’s where the Emperor stays, that’s the safest place in the world.”
Hearing this, Shu Wanniang heaved a sigh of relief and smiled again. “You’re right. Since the place where the Emperor is staying is tightly guarded, Ah Ling should be safe. Otherwise, I would really be worried about her taking care of our grandson alone. Unfortunately, the trade caravan in the north and south has been cut off recently. Even Young Master Fan’s workshop can’t deliver goods. Otherwise, I could ask them to bring some baby clothes to our grandson.”
The more Shu Wanniang spoke, the more melancholic she became. How could her daughter already have a child when she was clearly still so young? It seemed like only yesterday when Ah Ling was still pestering her father to go hunting in the forest with her. But in the blink of an eye, their family moved to Hanzhong Prefecture, Ah Ling had gotten married and had a child, and Bowen had grown into a young man.
Seeing that Shu Wanniang was in a daze, Mu Shi knew that she was letting her imagination run wild again. He quickly took a book and pressed the letter down before hugging her to comfort her.
General Yuan also split his troops into two groups. One was led by a general, while the other was led by his eldest son, Yuan Zhao. They headed south together.
As the armies from the east and west went south, the progress of the West Xia army slowed down a little, but the attacks became more and more violent. The battle immediately became a stalemate. The Jin Kingdom, which had already settled down, became restless again. However, because General Yuan and Qi Xiuyuan were suppressing them, the other party did not manage to have their way.
Seeing this, the Emperor heaved a sigh of relief. Only then did he consider letting the generals’ families out of the palace.
This was because they had lived in the palace for long enough. If they stayed any longer, not only would the officials have objections, but the commoners outside who had nothing better to do and kept a keen eye on the royal family would also spit at him.
Fortunately, Qi Xiuyuan and General Yuan’s military strength had been reduced. Coupled with the Jin Kingdom’s army holding them back, the Emperor felt that it was not impossible to let them leave the palace. After all, they were still in Lin’an City.
Therefore, although Mu Yangling and the others could leave the palace, their range of activity was restricted. As long as they did not leave the city, they could go anywhere.
The reason was also very simple—this was to protect their safety. Even though the first group of West Xia soldiers who wanted to assassinate them had already been captured, they were not sure if any of them had escaped. In addition, they had yet to confirm if West Xia had sent out any other assassination teams. Therefore, in order to protect their safety, they could not leave the city. There was also a circle of imperial guards outside their residences to protect them.