Chapter 321 Pre-War Mobilization

The two people slowly walked down the mountain.

The security team followed from a distance, but could only see the backs of two people walking side by side, and could not hear what they were saying at all.

However, Yan Xuesong believed that the only matters that could be discussed between His Highness and Jiang Yongkang were official business.

They were probably discussing tomorrow's battle arrangements.

After a while, Jiang Yongkang was heard asking again: "After the Northern Expedition, what are your plans? Ascend the throne and become a founding empress?"

Xu Zhenying sighed, "I've come this far, I have no choice but to sit in that seat."

"You..." Jiang Yongkang raised his eyebrows in disbelief, his eyes filled with shock, "Have you really considered not taking that seat? Your Highness, do you know what that seat means?"

"I've told you before, I don't really have any big ambitions. I just want a small courtyard with a cat and a dog, or maybe a little money so I can see the mountains. I rebelled because I couldn't be content with my small fortune, not because I have any desire for power. Now that I think about it, it sounds pretty cool to leave after my mission is over, hiding my achievements and fame."

Jiang Yongkang didn't ask what "cool" meant.

She always came up with a lot of words that he couldn't understand for no apparent reason.

He simply pointed out directly: "Your idea is unrealistic."

"Yes, I know that," Xu Zhenying said resignedly. "Not everyone can retreat while the going gets tough. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. I can't."

"That's right. No one but you can shoulder the burden of millions of people. The free and fair society you desire won't be achieved in a day or a year. It'll take at least ten years. By then, when the people are accustomed to freedom and fairness, it will be time for you to retire."

Xu Zhenying sighed, "Alas, I was planning to retire before I turned 30."

"Don't think about those unrealistic things." Jiang Yongkang smiled, then he glanced at her expression intentionally or unintentionally, "Let's talk about the immediate future. What are your personal plans?"

"What else can I plan? Of course I'll just work hard day and night."

"I'm talking about you personally." Jiang Yongkang sighed, "Mr. Lin has secretly inquired about the status of all the unmarried male soldiers in our team."

Xu Zhenying held his forehead, "He's still choosing a husband for me?! I can't get over this hurdle. No, I have to give him more work. I can't let him sit idle."

Jiang Yongkang said, "But Mr. Lin's worries are not without reason. After all, you are already eighteen years old. Moreover, after we take Bian Jing, you will have to consider the issue of succession."

Xu Zhenying was speechless.

According to the average marriage age in the Zhou Dynasty, eighteen years old was considered old for an unmarried woman.

At present, Mr. Lin is not only actively arranging a marriage for her, but has even begun to look forward to an heir.

Xu Zhenying was helpless. "Let's talk about it later. There's no rush. Let's take over Bianjing City first."

Just as he said this, Xu Zhenying suddenly reached out and pulled Jiang Yongkang.

The two men took advantage of the situation and hid behind a tree trunk.

Xu Zhenying made a hushed gesture, then pointed to a spot not far ahead and said with a smile, "Let's watch the fun."

Jiang Yongkang was stunned, then looked in the direction of her finger, only to see Xu Huijia and Qian Zhenniang.

He frowned slightly. They were alone, a man and a woman, with no one around. It looked like Xu Huijia was not talking about business.

Is it possible that there is some connection between these two people?

"General Xu, are you planning to rekindle your relationship?"

Xu Zhenying laughed, "Who knows?"

"But he was the one who said he wanted to cancel the engagement!"

"People change. My cousin was naive back then, but now, after a few years of experience, he's a much different person. Besides, this is a matter between them, why should we interfere?"

Jiang Yongkang smiled bitterly.

He said he would not interfere, but he hid in the corner and watched the fun.

Only at this moment did Xu Zhenying seem not to be the cold and icy ruler he usually was, but instead had a bit more worldly air.

Qian Zhenniang originally wanted to go and see the situation of the young cadres in Jinzhou Prefecture, but unexpectedly Xu Huijia showed up on the way.

During the previous meeting, she noticed that Xu Huijia was a little strange.

Qian Zhenniang is so sharp-minded.

She thought that Xu Huijia might be too proud to let go of the broken engagement, and therefore felt uncomfortable seeing her.

She also deliberately avoided Xu Huijia.

But unexpectedly, we met again.

The man in front of him seemed thinner than the last time they met, his eyes were sharper, and his demeanor was calmer.

As for the two people in the past, well, it’s better not to mention them.

One is ignorant and stupid, the other is cowardly and confused.

Qian Zhenniang couldn't avoid her in front of Xu Huijia. After all, they were in the same officialdom, and she didn't want things to be too awkward between them, so she had to walk up to her, exchange a few words, and then leave.

But before she could say anything, Xu Huijia took out a bracelet with beads from her bosom and stuffed it into her hand without saying a word.

The man's hands were hot as fire.

Qian Zhenniang frowned slightly and stepped back, but the man was so strong that she was pulled back and couldn't break free.

She had no choice but to accept it. Then she looked up, her face showing no sign of embarrassment. She was very calm and composed. "General Xu, what do you mean by this? Bribing me? I'm in charge of publicity now. If you need it, the newspaper can reserve a promotional section for you."

"These are pearls from the Deep Lakes of the West. They are bright, round, and beautifully shaped and coloured, perfect for young ladies. I saw you don't usually wear any jewelry, so I bought them for you."

Qian Zhenniang's smile froze slightly, and she felt that the pearl flower was a little hot.

"General Xu, if you have anything to say, please tell me directly. Your gift is too valuable, I dare not accept it."

Xu Huijia sighed, his eyes fixed on her with burning passion. "I have nothing to ask you for. Just think of it as me apologizing to you for offending you when I was young and ignorant. If you accept it, you will forgive me."

Qian Zhenniang smiled, clutching her chest and saying, "I thought it was nothing. I remember General Xu apologized to me three or four years ago when he went to the western battlefield. Does General Xu have to apologize every time he sees me? That's fine, I always accept the gift."

"Okay, as long as you don't mind, I'll bring you a gift every time I go out."

Qian Zhenniang calmly took a half step back, her smile still etched on her face. "How can that be? It was just a joke, General Xu, please don't take it seriously. Besides, didn't we make it clear at the time? You're not the only one to blame for what happened during the exile. I was also ignorant at the time. If we had spoken openly, there would have been no misunderstanding. I don't blame you either."

Xu Huijia took a half step forward, closing the distance between them. "Since you don't blame me, why don't you write me a reply?"

"You wrote me a letter?" Qian Zhenniang raised her eyebrows. "When? I never received it."

"One per month. Sent to the government office."

Qian Zhenniang was startled, then smiled, "Isn't this a military report addressed to His Highness?"

Xu Huijia was stunned, thought for a moment, and frowned.

Now that I think about it, it seems that what he wrote was indeed a military newspaper—

But what else could he tell her except the battle reports from the front line?

No wonder she misunderstood it as being addressed to His Highness.

"I signed your name at the beginning!"

Qian Zhenniang said calmly, "Yes, I was His Highness's secretary at the time. It wouldn't be a problem if you signed it under my name and passed it to His Highness through me."

Xu Huijia was now in a state of silence, unable to express her pain.

So, my cousin has been reading my love letters for several years?

Could it be that Your Highness has already discovered that he wrote a letter to Qian Zhenniang?

"Forget it." Xu Huijia was a little angry, then made way. "Just pretend I didn't say that. Go away."

Qian Zhenniang glanced at Xu Huijia, who seemed a little puzzled, then bowed and left.

Turn around without hesitation.

Xu Huijia stared at the person's beautiful back, lost in thought.

Did he...do something wrong?

The more books he read and the more experiences he had, the more he realized how stupid he was when he made mistakes in his youth.

On countless tossing and turning nights, he always thought of how heartless he was when he threw a letter of breaking off the engagement in Qian Zhenniang's face.

He actually drove away a woman who was so kind to him and had no one to rely on!

Is that person really Xu Huijia?

He couldn't help but doubt deeply how he could be such a heartless villain?

When I turned around, that person was no longer there.

But he could no longer tell whether he was feeling guilty or moved.

When the two men separated, the two people behind the tree also had a look of bitterness and hatred on their faces.

Xu Zhenying looked at the people around him and asked, "Old Jiang, what do you think?"

Jiang Yongkang said in a deep voice: "I don't understand."

Xu Zhenying was instantly amused. "Why can't I understand? This is the story of me loving you, you loving him, and he loving her!"

Jiang Yongkang blushed slightly, but he understood what Xu Zhenying wanted to say. "I don't think so. This is a case of the flower falling with intention but the water flowing without emotion."

Xu Zhenying shook his head. "I think he's just being too enthusiastic. My cousin's behavior is so unpredictable. Is he trying to eat grass near his own nest?"

Jiang Yongkang saw Xu Zhenying's serious analysis and laughed helplessly, "Maybe it's a good horse that turns back to the good old days, right?"

"They're all pretty much the same."

"I don't think so. You underestimate your secretary Qian."

"You mean Zhenniang?" Xu Zhenying laughed. "I think she's completely clueless."

"Really?" Jiang Yongkang suppressed a smile. "Why do I feel like she's pretending to be ignorant even though she knows the truth?"

"Who pretends to be ignorant when they know the truth?"

Suddenly a voice was heard, and the two turned around and saw Qian Zhenniang returning.

It's obvious that he has bad intentions.

Xu Zhenying smiled awkwardly.

Qian Zhenniang glanced at Jiang Yongkang and said sarcastically, "It seems that Minister Jiang's fighting skills are not very good. I was approaching, but you didn't notice at all. If the enemy attacked from behind, Minister Jiang would be captured immediately."

Jiang Yongkang begged for mercy, glanced at Xu Zhenying, and said quickly: "Minister Qian, please spare my life. It is really because the king ordered me to watch the fun, and I have no choice but to watch. All this is the order of His Highness-"

Xu Zhenying stared in amazement as the man left her and walked away alone.

Xu Zhenying sighed: You are such a disloyal Jiang Yongkang! You actually ran away alone when you encountered danger!

Qian Zhenniang looked Xu Zhenying up and down, and Xu Zhenying kept smiling and let her look at her.

Qian Zhenniang was discouraged. "Your Highness, with the war going on, everyone is incredibly busy. If you're really bored, could you go help those young cadres write notes?"

Xu Zhenying laughed, "You make me sound like a tyrant. I just happened to walk over here and saw you. And then I saw my eldest cousin. I couldn't possibly come over and listen to you two talking."

Qian Zhenniang frowned, "So you were hiding and listening?"

Xu Zhenying coughed softly and looked at her with a smile, "Tell me, I don't believe you didn't see what my brother meant. Are you going to rekindle your relationship?"

"What a past!" Qian Zhenniang laughed in anger. "They say a good horse never turns back to the pasture it has been long since it turned back. You can't fall in the same place twice."

"My eldest cousin is not well?"

"It's not that he's bad. It's just that my heart wasn't moved. For me, that letter of cancellation severed the bond between him and me. I don't like looking back. To me, he can only remain a colleague. That's all."

Xu Zhenying nodded, "It seems my cousin will return home with regret."

Qian Zhenniang turned and left. "Tomorrow we will launch the Northern Expedition. Your Highness should think about how to defeat the enemy without fighting. As for my marriage, you don't need to worry about it—"

The next day, just after dawn, Luo Qingzhou sent people to carry out several firearms. According to Xu Zhenying's request, regardless of whether they had been debugged or not, they were directly assembled and pushed out by the soldiers.

The soldiers coming from the west naturally had never seen this thing before. When they came back from morning exercise, they couldn't walk when they saw this thing, and they rushed over to touch it.

Fortunately, Chang Zizai organized in time and sent his brothers to maintain order. He also promised to organize a firearms tour after the war, which barely calmed the excited crowd.

Chang Zi, on the other hand, was humming a little tune along the way and seemed extremely excited. He also kept asking Luo Qingzhou about firearms.

Although Chang Zizai had an emergency training session last night, he still couldn't get enough of it. He touched the barrel and then the iron wheel, sighing, "If only we could use firearms every day, we could just flatten the city of Bianjing."

Luo Qingzhou smiled, "Go tell His Highness this."

Chang Zizai shook his head, "I dare not. His Highness said that those people on the other side of the river will be incorporated into our territory in the future, which means they will all be our people. We cannot attack our own people. He who can capture a city without killing a single person, that is what a true general does."

Luo Qingzhou thought of something, "I think His Highness is right. We are lucky to have met His Highness. Otherwise, we would have died of cold and starvation like them, or died in the chaos of war. How could we have had the opportunity to achieve great things?"

Chang Zizai sighed, "Ah, so His Highness only allowed me to fire one shot today, saying it would just be a shocking effect. He also said that just one shot would make the enemy lose their armor and weapons. But I can't fire enough!"

Luo Qingzhou was speechless. "Alright, next time you come to the Xishan Camp in Jinzhou Prefecture, I'll let you be my experimenter and I'll make sure you get enough fights."

Chang Zizai immediately turned his worry into joy, walked briskly, and called on his brothers with great enthusiasm.

By the time they pushed the firearms to the flat ground on the hillside and placed them side by side with the firearms that had been moved up yesterday, with some distance between them, the brothers there had already become impatient and kept urging them to start.

Soon, there was no sound from the crowd.

Because Jiang Yongkang is here.

Jiang Yongkang was extremely powerful in the army. No matter how high-ranking the generals were, they had all gone to the Xishan Camp in Jinzhou Prefecture for further training. In the office of the Xishan Camp, a portrait of this person was hung in the middle.

There are even rumors in the military that if you pay your respects to Minister Jiang before going into battle, you will be victorious in every battle.

"Minister Jiang is here?"

"Hello, Minister Jiang!"

"Minister Jiang, there won't be a major battle today. His Highness said we'll just use firearms to scare them. Why would we bother you to come?"

Although Jiang Yongkang was intimidating and rarely smiled at the soldiers, he was not difficult to get along with.

Xu Zhenying's army always emphasizes that they are superiors and subordinates at work and comrades in life. As the first person to follow Xu Zhenying, he naturally has to align his behavior and thoughts with hers.

So he said, "Don't be nervous. Today we are just promoting the prestige of Jinzhou Prefecture. We will not be charging into battle. His Highness will also be watching the battle a hundred meters behind. Wait for my order before you take action."

Chang Zizai immediately said excitedly, "Your Highness is here too? Doesn't that mean Your Highness can also see my heroic appearance on the battlefield?"

When Jiang Yongkang thought about how Mr. Lin had secretly inquired about Chang Zizai's marriage, he felt uncomfortable all over. He glared at Chang Zizai several times, then patted him on the shoulder and said, "You're on your own!"

Chang Zizai was completely oblivious to the glare he was receiving, and even said to Jiang Yongkang from behind, "Okay, Minister Jiang, I'll make sure the mission is accomplished! Remember to have His Highness pay attention to my heroic display when I fire the cannon later!"

After Jiang Yongkang walked away, the soldier next to Chang Zizai said, "Why did I feel like Minister Jiang glared at General Chang several times just now?"

Another soldier also said, "General Xiao Chang, have you done anything recently that has displeased Minister Jiang?"

"Oh, that's impossible!" Chang Zizai waved his hand nonchalantly, staring at the firearm with shining eyes. He rubbed his hands excitedly, having long forgotten Jiang Yongkang. "Minister Jiang is like that, always with a sullen face towards everyone. It's definitely not directed at me! You're overthinking it!"

On the city wall of Fengxiang Prefecture, it was obvious that they had already seen the situation more than ten miles away through telescopes.

As the sky gradually brightened, Wang Xinde raised his telescope and cursed angrily: "Damn it, why are there still firearms?!"

This startled Deng Quanan awake. He had been sleeping on the city wall with his clothes on for the past two days, not daring to leave. When he heard Wang Xinde's loud voice, he jumped up in fright and adjusted his official hat, "Are the soldiers from Jinzhou Prefecture coming?"

“Not coming!”

"Here they come, General!" a soldier nearby pointed at the people below and said, "Here comes a man and a horse!"

"What? One man and one rider?!"

Wang Xinde pointed the telescope at the open space far away from the city wall, and sure enough, he saw a young general wearing silver armor, riding a horse, and holding a spear rushing towards them.

"Hurry, hurry, beat the drum to meet the enemy!"

Wang Xinde spat, "You little brat, barely even fully grown, dares to enter the enemy camp alone? Do you really think the soldiers of our Great Zhou Dynasty are cowards? What enemy are you going to meet? He's all alone! Bring this bow and arrow to this general!"

The soldiers nearby immediately went to get their bows and arrows.

In an instant, everyone on the city wall was facing a great enemy, and the sound of war drums, one after another, resounded throughout the mountains and plains.

But the young general from Jinzhou Prefecture stopped.

He stopped just out of range of their arrows.

Wang Xinde was furious. "What is he going to do? Damn it, are we going to fight or not? Are all the people in Jinzhou Prefecture so fussy? That's right, their master is just a woman!"

Deng Quanan walked over, squinted his eyes at the young general, and then raised his hand: "Wait, he seems to be saying something."

Wang Xinde immediately raised his hand to stop the beating of the drum.

The sound of war drums is about to subside.

Sure enough, the next moment, Chang Zizai took out a specially made oversized iron loudspeaker. He held the horse in one hand and held the loudspeaker in the other, and first said "Hey, hey, hey" a few times to clear his throat.

Then, seeing that the time was almost up, he shouted to the people on the city wall, "Everyone in Fengxiang Prefecture, listen up! We will launch a firearms attack in a quarter of an hour, including but not limited to penetrating your city walls, taking your lives, and looting your government office. If you know what's good for you, quickly find a place to hide! Our Highness said that a general who doesn't kill a single person to seize a city is a good general! I, the general, now give you a friendly suggestion to hide quickly, otherwise, if you die, your lives will be counted on my head, and His Highness will criticize me for taking human life!"

After saying that, Chang Zizai leisurely put away the loudspeaker and then rushed back without stopping.

He had to go back and look after his precious firearm.

Wang Xinde on the city wall was so angry that he almost vomited blood. "Damn it, this is too much! This is too much!"

Deng Quan'an immediately pulled Wang Xinde aside, "General Wang, calm down! Calm down! This is the enemy's provocation! They just want to lure us out of the city and kill us one by one! Didn't you say that as long as the people of Fengxiang Prefecture hold their ground, we will be able to fight when the imperial reinforcements arrive!"

But the soldier beside him said, "General, why don't we find a place to hide. I heard that firearm is very powerful and can even penetrate the city wall that is dozens of meters high--"

"Ugh! If the people from Jinzhou Prefecture really wanted to use firearms, why would they come all the way here to inform us in advance? Did a donkey kick your brains?! This is clearly a ploy to lure the enemy! Specifically to shake our morale!"

Deng Quanan also said, "That's right. If anyone tries to dodge or even deserts again, I will execute them without mercy!"

"Right! Isn't it said that firearms are powerful? I want to see how powerful this firearm is!"

Xu Zhenying, who had been watching the battle from the front line in a cyan-draped carriage, was also holding her forehead. She leaned forward slightly and said to Jiang Yongkang beside her, "I asked you to mobilize Chang Zizai before the war, and this is what you did?"

Jiang Yongkang was helpless, "How could I have known he would understand it this way."

"Then how did you explain it to him?"

"I told you that Your Highness doesn't want too many casualties. We should show off our strength and make the enemy fear us like a tiger. It would be best if Fengxiang Mansion could fall without a fight." Jiang Yongkang's mouth curled up slightly, "Chang Zizai didn't do anything wrong."

Xu Zhenying was speechless.

What Chang Zizai said just now in front of the battle line, such as "I want your dog life" and "I will rob your government office", are not warm reminders at all, they are clearly curses in front of the battle line!

It's over. She heard that General Wang Xinde was loyal and had fought on the battlefield for many years. He was a powerful general of the Zhou Dynasty. She also said that she wanted to recruit him for her own use.

Elder Lin also laughed: "Young people... just have good physical strength. If Your Highness is worried, next time let me, an old man, go to the front and yell."

Xu Zhenying glanced at him and said, "Mr. Lin, you're almost sixty this year. How can you not cause trouble? Look, General Wang Xinde is almost pissed off to death by us."

Elder Lin smiled and said, "Your Highness, don't worry. He's old anyway, and he'll die sooner or later."

Xu Zhenying was speechless again.

What kind of people are under her command?

Just as Xu Zhenying was thinking this, he heard a loud "boom".