Chapter 148 - Silent Night
TL-Checked by Sassystrawberry; Edited by Animeart
Standing on the top of the city gates, the pitch-dark mountains in the distance were completely silent, as far as the eyes could see.
Xie Zishe had already set up all the defense arrangements for Jinguan City. At this time, she unfolded a detailed map in front of her and was moving a chess piece around on it.
“Jinguan City is highly defensive and difficult to take down. The enemy will come from the direction of the Dian Nation...” she murmured, “Move Chuan, Yue, Wu... the eight city’s garrisons should bring their soldiers north.”
An old official next to her, widened his eyes in shock and was stunned for a moment. Then he was outraged and stood up. “You...intend to abandon these eight large cities?”
“Other than this, what alternatives do we have?” Xie Zishe said, “The enemy troops are coming down northwards from the direction of Dian Nation. These eight cities are isolated and helpless. They neither are naturally defensible strongholds and impregnable passes, nor do they possess sufficient guards and fortifications. If one wanted to break them down, it could be easily accomplished! However, if the eight city garrison troops were to be re-deployed together, Jinguan City’s defense would be bolstered by twenty thousand troops, we would still have a fighting chance!”
That old official glared at her furiously. “You...this is a heinous crime! This move is tantamount to handing over half the territory on a platter to the enemy!”
Xie Zishe said, “You are determined to obstruct this matter?”
The old official said, “I am determined to prevent this from happening!”
Xie Zishe stared at him coldly.
“Wei Zhou.” She said, “Bring Lord Guo out.”
Since Ling Fengxiao arranged for her to mobilize all the forces in Jinguan City, she had two Imperial Guards around her.
The Imperial Guards were directly under the command of Ling Fengxiao, every order was executed unquestioningly. At this time, they naturally, without any questions, heeded all commands of Xie Zishe.
When the old official was dragged out, he cursed, “Ignorant woman!”
Xie Zishe turned a deaf ear. She put away the map and said, “Convey the orders to the eight cities.”
When everything was peaceful, Shang Lingjian said, “Lady Xie, this is a risky “all-or-nothing” gamble.
Xie Zishe said, “If there was any other way to defend Jinguan City, would I need to take such measures?”
Lin Shu did not comment.
The capital city indeed, needed to be guarded at all costs, the core of the entire dynasty was within Jinguan City, and it could not be lost to the enemy.
Looking into the distance, Xie Zishe said, “Her Royal Highness’s going there... she will definitely bring reinforcements back. Our mission is to defend Jinguan City to death, as for the rest... it brooks no discussion!”
Lin Shu thought that although Xie Zishe wasn’t directly involved in the main battle, when push comes to shove, she was definitely a ruthless sort.
“Moreover, there wouldn’t be too many enemy troops.” Xie Zishe said softly, “Our empire is not a weak or cowardly nation. Xijiang and Dian Nation’s military force has been reduced. Even if Northern Xia could surreptitiously cross the sea under subterfuge, and throw their strength behind Dian Nation and Xijiang, how many general squadrons could be transported to Dian Nation?
She paused, and continued. “Thousands of miles apart, how can they ferry troops over? I really can’t figure it out.”
In this world, the matters that could stump Senior Sister Xie, were few and far between.
Indeed, attacking Jinguan City from the direction of Dian Nation was the most powerful and easiest.
However, Northern Xia was in the north and Dian Nation was in the south. How could an army of 200,000 people travel across the entire southern Xia territory and arrive at the Dian Nation without being discovered?
Even if this is an immortal cultivation world, it was still not feasible.
Lin Shu’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
There was nothing in the world that could not be explained, unless there was an unknown factor.
And coincidentally, there was one matter that Xie Zishe didn’t know of.
He looked towards Xie Zishe.
Xie Zishe sensed his gaze and raised her eyebrows.
Lin Shu said, “There is a type of blood poison in Northern Xia.”
Xie Zishe, “What kind of blood poison?”
“It turns a living person into an undead corpse, allowing them to be manipulated by a wizard, and it can also be.... .. be spread from person to person.”
Xie Zishe’s gaze suddenly changed.
Lin Shu laid his hand on the hilt of the sword and looked in the direction of Dian. He asked, “How many people are in Dian?”
Xie Zishe did not answer for a long time.
The moonlight was like water.
The city was ablaze with lights.
Night, silence.
Hi, everyone! I’m Rose. I’ve just finished translating Peach Blossom Debt and it’s hard for me to choose which novel I should start for my next project. Then, I figure perhaps I should ask Zaki if I can be upgraded from being an editor to a translator for this project, and here we are! So, Zaki will be posting on Tuesday and I’ll be posting on Thursday.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m