Chapter 127: Trapped Like in a Pot

Chapter 127: Trapped Like in a Pot

This Luqi Tiesa was indeed one of a kind here.

Although they also had slaves over there.

However, their slaves all had tents to live in, and their three meals a day were guaranteed.

Their slaves were all plump and fair, and when they saw Xiao Ce attack, they were the first slaves to defend the Turks.

Seeing this, Zhang Yunqing said: “Prince, then can I have them help me? But, rest assured… I…”

Xiao Ce waved his hand at Zhang Yunqing and said: “Of course, Zhang Yunqing, I told you. I already told you about the management style here. I just need you to provide me with cattle, sheep, war horses, and a certain amount of tax money and grain later. Other than that, I won’t care who you use! Even if you bring over chiefs like Ashina and Ashide to use, as long as you have the ability, I won’t stop you.”

Zhang Yunqing nodded excitedly: “Thank you, Prince!”

Xiao Ce said with a smile: “Alright, I’ll have someone take you to find them later.”

Zhang Yunqing clasped his hands and said: “Prince, if I hadn’t come to beg you for mercy, would you have had any opinion of me?”

Xiao Ce waved his hand and said: “That wouldn’t be the case. You coming to me shows you value loyalty and remember kindness. I like such people! If you hadn’t come to me, I would think you understand boundaries, and I would also think that’s very good.”

Xiao Ce’s words were flawless.

Speaking, he called a soldier to take Zhang Yunqing to see Luqi Tiesa’s family.

Xiao Jiu asked: “Prince, aren’t you afraid that Luqi Tiesa might brainwash Zhang Yunqing later. And then betray you?”

Xiao Ce said with a smile: “Zhang Yunqing is a smart man, and also a man who repays kindness. Moreover, he should know my strength! Besides, if you want someone to be absolutely loyal to you, there’s no better way than for you to be strong enough. Just like you, you have followed me all this way, have you ever thought about betraying me!”

Xiao Jiu shook his head very firmly: “I report to you, Prince, of course not! You are my reborn parent. Even if you weren’t that strong, I would still stick by you! Even if, one day, you ended up on the streets, I…”

Halfway through, Xiao Jiu realized he had spoken carelessly, and slapped his own mouth: “Prince, forgive my offense… pah pah pah, you are wise and mighty, how could you ever end up on the streets…”

Xiao Ce was not angry either; if others said this, he might still be doubtful.

But when this kid Xiao Jiu said it, he had no doubt at all.

“Life is unpredictable, who can say for sure…”

Xiao Jiu looked embarrassed, not knowing how to respond for a moment.

Xiao Ce did not continue this topic, listening to the music and hot dance in the tent.

Xiao Ce continued to watch.

Then he returned to the sleeping area and busied himself with his own affairs.

The next day, he got up as usual for morning training.

After finishing the morning training, he saw Da Lei already waiting.

“Da Lei, you were alright yesterday, right?” Xiao Ce said to Da Lei.

Da Lei still wore a resolute expression and said to Xiao Ce: “Prince, after thinking carefully last night, I felt you were right! That is my weakness, I need to overcome it. Later, can you have those Turkic girls perform the ‘Stick Dance’ for me again.”

Seeing this, Xiao Ce thought to himself that Da Lei had finally realized the good side of women.

He couldn’t wait early in the morning.

“Alright! I’ll arrange it later. It’s been a long time since I practiced with you! Practice with me again.”

Da Lei clasped his hands and agreed.

Making a gesture of invitation, the two began to spar.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Xiao Ce still lost.

Da Lei looked surprised: “Prince, you really have improved by leaps and bounds…”

This wasn’t Da Lei forcing praise; usually, Xiao Ce couldn’t last more than ten moves under him.

Now he could fight back and forth with Da Lei for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Even in the entire army, not many could do that.

Xiao Ce wiped the sweat from his forehead, also quite satisfied: “It’s mainly because you, Master, taught well.”

After some boasting, Xiao Ce went to wash up.

He even specially made a shower, because as a modern person, he still preferred showers.

Things like soaking in a bath had to be done at a specific time, in a specific situation, and with specific people.

After finishing breakfast, seeing Da Lei somewhat impatient to challenge his own weakness.

Xiao Ce had Xiao Jiu go call those Turkic girls over.

However, what happened next exceeded Xiao Ce’s imagination.

The group of Turkic girls were performing a hot dance, and Da Lei watched them very relaxed, that expressionless cold face was already on his face.

This expression wasn’t fake; it seemed he had no improper thoughts at all about these sexy Turkic girls.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Da Lei said with a smile: “Prince, look. How did I overcome this weakness? Is there anything even more stimulating… I think I can completely overcome it too…”

Xiao Ce: “…….”

“No need, that’s not what I meant. I meant that blocking is not as good as guiding… my original intention…”

Xiao Ce wanted to explain, but looking at Da Lei’s expression, he thought his way of thinking was different from his own.

“Alright, as long as you’re happy.”

In the next few days, the initial construction here continued in full swing.

Because there were many people, the speed was not slow.

And Wei Wuji formed a cavalry team of thirty thousand men, who were also training enthusiastically.

These men could all ride horses; with the addition of stirrups, the main training was for movements on horseback.

And not two days later, Xiao Ce also received news.

It was said that a scout team went to various places to observe from a distance, then left.

Xiao Ce knew then that the fish might take the bait.

He also had to prepare!

…

In Yanbei City.

The people in the city were panicked, because in a few days they would run out of food.

Han Da was also like an ant on a hot pan, but fortunately he had just received a letter from Xiao Ce.

When he first saw the letter, he doubted if his eyes were seeing correctly.

Because Xiao Ce told them to retreat.

Even though the details of the retreat method were explained inside.

If it weren’t for using Xiao Ce’s special secret code, he would have suspected the letter was fake.

Although Xiao Ce did not say why to do this.

However, Han Da knew Xiao Ce must have his reasons for saying so…

He immediately had his men gather all the common people.

There was a Martial Arts Platform at the center of Yanbei City.

Han Da waited early on the Martial Arts Platform, as more and more common people gathered.

Deputy Generals led by Sun Qiang and Jiang Xing, on one side, said to Han Da: “General Han, why did you call so many people here? Did you receive instructions from the Prince?”

These men were here because of Da Lei’s arrival, and also because they had contact with Xiao Ce.

Han Da glanced at Sun Qiang and the others, smiling slightly. “You’ll find out soon.”

The Deputy Generals watched, full of anticipation.

Not long after, seeing the time was about right, a dense crowd of commoners had nearly all arrived.

Han Da addressed the commoners filling the city. “Everyone, I did not wish to gather you all here. But I really had to see all kinds of rumors spreading wildly! It’s making people anxious, and I feel it’s necessary to explain things to you.”

“First, as you all already know. Our subsequent relief grain, including military supplies, has been cut off for almost ten days. Now, the grain within our city is also scarce. Everyone knows, originally we had enough grain for the garrison for over a hundred days. However, the King of Northern Desert, being benevolent, ordered us to aid the commoners. We thought the subsequent grain supplies would catch up, and there would be no problem.”

“But, man proposes, heaven disposes. A large-scale plague broke out in the land of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures! So, upon the suggestion of the King of Northern Desert, all the city’s commoners are to take sufficient rations and then proceed to Lingxiao City among the Nine Cities Territory! Over there, there is enough grain… They will settle you!”

As soon as Han Da said this, the crowd erupted in murmurs, and the commoners’ eyes held a glint of excitement.

Actually, they had long been thinking of retreating. The reason they stayed was because they saw the soldiers fighting desperately for them.

If they left, it would truly be ungrateful.

But since Grand General Han Da had spoken, and it was the will of the King of Northern Desert, they naturally were willing to go to a safer place.

Some commoners at the front asked, “General Han… if we leave, what will you do?”

“Yes, you should come with us. And the stored grain here is almost gone. If we all take our rations and leave, what will you eat?”

…

Han Da continued, “Not only are you leaving, we will also leave. The reason we haven’t left yet is because if we leave immediately, once the Turks capture Yanbei City, we will have no barrier left. We will let you go first for five days! We will follow afterwards, so please travel swiftly along the way.”

The commoners asked, “General Han, after we lose this barrier! If the Turks capture our Yanbei City, can we ever return?”

Han Da said, “Of course, you are only going to seek temporary refuge. We will surely fight our way back eventually. Right now, the plague in the Four Prefectures hasn’t subsided. If we keep defending here, we’d just be waiting to die!”

“The King of Northern Desert loves his people like his own children! He said he’d rather lose land than lose any of you commoners. Because lost land can be recovered, but you are the future of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures. Once dead, you cannot come back to life. Nothing is more important than life!”

Han Da’s words deeply moved the commoners.

These commoners knelt down one after another, then kowtowed toward the direction of Lingxiao City.

“Long Live the King of Northern Desert! Long Live! Long Live!”

After all, it had been too, too long since anyone respected them!

“General Han, you have already given us much of your food supplies. You still have to defend here for several more days. We cannot take the rations you offer. We are used to being refugees; we can eat Guanyin clay cakes, we can eat tree bark, grass roots… So, we don’t want the rations!”

As one person spoke up, others chimed in.

“That’s right, we don’t want the rations.”

Han Da said, “This is the King of Northern Desert’s wish. You must take them…”

“General Han, we know very well you don’t have much stored grain left… If you give it to us, you’ll starve to death! If you insist on giving it to us, we’d rather not leave and live or die with you. We always find a way to survive. The journey to Lingxiao City isn’t that far; we won’t starve.”

“Exactly, we won’t starve. You are risking your lives to block the Turks for us. We cannot let you fight the Turks on an empty stomach…”

The commoners raised their arms, expressing their feelings.

Seeing this, Han Da did not insist. To say more would seem insincere.

He had just said they would hold out for ten days. If they gave all their rations to the commoners,

they would only have enough for three or four days at most. And these rations were only enough for one meal a day.

These refugees had years of rich survival experience. This journey truly wouldn’t cause anyone to starve.

Seeing this, Han Da bowed to the commoners. “Everyone, you have suffered. We will definitely block the Turks. Before you reach Lingxiao City, we will not let a single Turk catch up to you!”

The commoners spoke and kowtowed to these soldiers again.

“Then everyone should lose no time. Go and pack, get ready. When you pass through the Four Prefectures along the way, do not enter. They are all suffering from the plague there,” Han Da instructed.

The commoners said their words and all went back to pack.

Sun Qiang and the group of Deputy Generals asked with faces full of disbelief, “General Han, are we really leaving? Are we leaving too?”

Han Da nodded. “Yes, staying any longer would mean waiting to die! The Prince’s intention is not to let us starve to death!”

Sun Qiang said fiercely, “General Han, at worst we can send troops to the Four Prefectures to raid for supplies. Don’t we all know? What kind of damn plague is there? There’s no plague at all… If we seize enough supplies, we don’t need to run. It’s such a waste to just give Yanbei City, this natural barrier, to the Turks.”

Several Deputy Generals echoed, “Yes! So many of our men have died. If we leave and abandon Yanbei City, wouldn’t their deaths be in vain? Also, those Prefectural Assistants of the Four Prefectures are clearly in cahoots with the Turks! By then, I’m afraid even the Nine Cities Territory won’t hold!”

Han Da said, “This is the will of the King of Northern Desert! We just need to follow orders! Use your heads a little, and you should be able to see what the Prince is planning.”

“Lingxiao City has also been undergoing renovations recently. Under the Princess Consort’s direction, it has been turned into a fortress no weaker than Yanbei City. It will be very difficult for those Turks to breach.”

Jiang Xing listened and chimed in, “Once they fail to capture it after a long siege, those Turks will surely go wreak havoc in those Four Prefectures. Then, they’ll definitely turn on each other!”

Hearing this, Han Da had a sudden realization and excitedly added, “And our Prince has already attacked the Turkic rear and raised a new cavalry of thirty thousand men from the Turkic side. He ordered us to leave some hidden secret passages before we go. They will enter through those passages and occupy Yanbei City! Then, Yanbei City will be guarded by the Prince’s own main army, and Lingxiao City will be guarded by us. The Turks will be like turtles in a jar!”