Chapter 469 - 334: The Grand Strategy (Part 3)
"The seven cities and nine prefectures of Qi Country were originally all occupied by Wei Junzhuo except for Yang City. Now, the Prince has helped them reclaim two cities and three prefectures, which should be enough for Xu Ding to continue as a monarch. In my opinion, we should quickly return to the Southern Border. If we delay any longer, the Prince will truly become the traitor those treacherous ministers accuse him of being."
Last night, after the Yan soldiers had just experienced a night raid from the Wei Army within the city, Xiao Qi, suppressing his anger, looked at the busy Yan soldiers sorting things out and couldn’t help but advise.
The high-ranking court officials and the Emperor seated on the dragon throne, how could they understand the crises and dangers at the border? The Prince is striving for a way out for Dayan, yet they slander him for harboring ambitions of independence.
These days, as Xiao Qi led the troops in battles, he grew increasingly angry.
Rong Heng did not respond to Xiao Qi’s words. He lifted his head, gazing at Qingzhou City, covered with dense snow and faintly illuminated by the morning light, with calm and deep eyes.
"Wei Junzhuo is right inside Qingzhou City now, and he knows just how important this city is. Without taking Qingzhou City, the two cities and three prefectures we’ve reclaimed so far are meaningless. If Xu Ding cannot hold onto Qi Country with this city, once we leave, Wei Junzhuo will come back again," he said solemnly.
At present, although the Yan Army is assisting Qi Country in reclaiming its lost territories, they are also helping themselves.
Those who once attacked the city have now become its defenders. Wei Junzhuo commands from within Qingzhou City, and the Yan Army has besieged the city for five days, yet it remains solid as a rock.
The siege situation involved the border army from the Southern Border and the Pingnan Army striking out. The strongest cavalry from Yan Country couldn’t be utilized, only consuming resources uselessly.
Beside Rong Heng, Mu Jun was also staring at the distant Qing City, with his red-brown hair swirling in the cold wind, tightly clutching a curved blade in his hand.
"The Marquis told me to follow the Prince’s orders, so I obey," Mu Jun revealed a toothy grin, "In my heart, the Prince always has his own reasons for doing things. I believe you can protect the people of Dayan and also safeguard the Princely Heir."
Mu Jun was originally a general of the Northern Territory under Marquis Gu’s command. He came to the Southern Border for support initially and later took orders from Rong Heng to train cavalry. After half a year, he had already come to regard Rong Heng as a second Marquis Gu.
The news of the Pingnan Marquis Mansion being surrounded by the imperial guard after the old lady’s birthday banquet reached the Southern Border over ten days ago. At that time, Mu Jun wished to return to the Northern Territory immediately, to rush to the Capital City with Marquis Gu to save people, but the crisis at the Southern Border forced him to stay his hand and follow Rong Heng’s command.
He chose to trust Rong Heng, thereby choosing to defend the homeland.
Rong Heng pressed his lips together and said, "Gu Lan wants me to believe in her, and I trust her, as well as myself, so I must do what I’m supposed to do."
Beside them, Su Yi, who always remained silent, furrowed his brows, deeply inhaled, and spoke slowly:
"My Lord, you’re right, Qingzhou City is a natural fortress of Qi Country and connects with the Qing River; capturing it will allow Xu Ding to contend with Wei Junzhuo after we leave. However...
The request you made for Xu Ding to be bestowed with a barony has not yet received a response from the court, and now you’re deep within Qi Country attacking Qingzhou — these are acts of defiance against the decree. If we continue to be deadlocked here, I’m afraid you will become another Pingnan Marquis."
This usually taciturn general spoke this much for the first time.
Su Yi looked deeply at the young man wearing the silver-gray Python Robe, his thoughts drifting back to ten years ago.
The same towering achievements overshadowing the ruler, the same battles fought abroad, the same decree carrying a threatening tone brought from the Capital City. The old Marquis chose to obey the decree and enter the capital, never to return.
And the people of Dayan whom the old Marquis desperately defended turned into arrows pointing at him after the defeat in Yinzhou, everyone accused the Pingnan Marquis of treason, as if the Xiao Family’s century-old tradition, the successive generations dying on the battlefield, the countless scars from battles fought bravely by the old Marquis were all false...
Su Yi was truly afraid that Rong Heng would also be branded with such a crime or meet the same fate.
Rong Heng heard Su Yi’s words and did not respond but called Geng Gong over to prepare for today’s siege.
After Geng Gong received his orders and left, Rong Heng then turned to look at Su Yi.
His gaze vast, his voice determined, forceful in each syllable:
"I know Prince Xiang has been labeled a rebel by the court, and Rong Jing has ordered me to relinquish command and return to the Capital, but a general in the field doesn’t have to follow every order. What I desire is ten years of stability for Dayan’s Southern Border, so the people of Dayan no longer suffer from war, thus I must resist this decree and bear all the consequences alone."
Su Yi gazed at him dazedly, suddenly feeling his eyes sting and choke up, "The old Marquis said the same thing as you."
Rong Heng replied, "Then that’s right, I am his grandson."