Xu Di gently put his arm around his mother's waist, rested his head on Zhang Zhaoci's shoulder, and said, "War is too terrible."

No matter how much training Xu Di received, he had never actually participated in any missions. Naturally, he didn't know how terrifying and frightening it was for two armies to truly clash face-to-face. For someone like Xu Di, who was born in a peaceful era and had never experienced any hardship, it was only natural that he felt sad when he saw such a scene for the first time. In Xu Di's eyes, both those inside and outside the walls were living, breathing people. He knew very well that those outside the walls were invaders, but even if he could mentally accept seeing them being killed and bloodied beneath the city walls, he still couldn't bear it.

Zhang Zhaoci gently patted Xu Di's shoulder and said, "Okay, you did a great job. Everyone said you were very brave. Several injured people were carried down from up there, and they all gave me a thumbs up. They said you're amazing. Mom is proud of you."

Xu Di nodded and said, "Mom, you need to take care of yourself and don't overwork yourself."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "I'm a doctor, how could I not know my own body's condition? It's you who's feeling unwell, come talk to me, don't keep it bottled up inside."

Xu Di knew why he felt uncomfortable, but the war was still raging and there were many things he needed to do. He didn't want his emotions to affect other things.

After this round of war ended, Wei Lang rode over on horseback. After talking with Xu Rao and Xu Di in a room for a long time, Xu Rao hurriedly went to the county government office, gathered the people there, and asked them to organize the county's people to begin evacuation.

Knowing that the fifth prince of the Northern Di had personally led his troops, and that he only had 20,000 men, Wei Lang decided to lure the enemy into the city and then trap them there.

Xu Rao initially disagreed. Although the city was not large, he had built it up bit by bit. If the Northern Di people were brought into the city, he didn't know what kind of trouble they would cause. However, Wei Lang persuaded him that if the Fifth Prince could be captured this time, the border would be stable for at least ten years. This time, the Fifth Prince of the Northern Di, Uliji, led the most elite troops of the Northern Di. In order to succeed, the First Prince was also stationed outside Yanmen Pass. Wei Lang was confident that he could annihilate all the Northern Di people outside the pass.

Xu Di was very interested because he wanted to test the effectiveness of the tunnels he had dug in the city. He and Wei Lang persuaded Xu Rao, and Xu Rao was eventually convinced by the two young men. They reasoned that if they used their current achievements to inflict a heavy blow on the Northern Di people and prevent them from invading again for the next ten years, it would give Hexi more time. If they used those ten years to build up the county town of Hexi, Xu Rao was confident that he could double the size of the town and reinforce and raise the city walls. By then, if the Northern Di wanted to attack the city again, it would be absolutely impossible for them with their current equipment.

The constables and yamen runners were all assigned to their posts, and Xu Rao sat in Xu Rao's office with Li Zhubu and Qian Xiancheng.

Every winter, Qian County Magistrate's family would return to their ancestral home in Ganzhou to spend the winter, and then return the following spring. This year was no exception, and now Qian County Magistrate was the only one left in Hexi City.

Both Xu Rao and Li Zhubu had children, and their children were now in-laws. They shared the same idea regarding their children's future: let the children go first, and stay behind to cover the rear, determined to leave hope for their children.

County Magistrate Qian looked at Xu Rao and Registrar Li, sneered, and said, "I have to say, you two are really something, actually going to destroy this city. If those Northern Di people come in and see that there is no one in the city, they will definitely burn it down. You spent so much money to build this city, and you just want to throw it away like that."

Xu Rao patiently explained, "We made this decision with a long-term perspective, Lord Qian. Right now, money is important for Hexi, but time is even more important. This city suffers from the invasion of the Northern Di people every year. If we want to build it bigger and better, we need time. As long as you give me time, I will definitely build it even better."

Clerk Li looked down on Magistrate Qian and said, "Yes, Lord Qian, Lord Xu is right. Didn't the Crown Prince Wei say that as long as we vacate the land for him, the rest is his business? Once we've wiped out the Northern Di people, when we come back and want to use people, we'll go to the Crown Prince Wei. Wouldn't the Crown Prince Wei send people to help us?"

Magistrate Qian said, "You two are now in-laws, so you're practically inseparable. Let me tell you, I'm going to Ganzhou after I leave the city. You can do whatever you want with me after that; it has nothing to do with me."

Xu Rao had lost his patience. There were still many things outside that needed his coordination, and he really didn't have the time or energy to argue with Magistrate Qian. He stood up and said, "Lord Qian, if you don't cooperate with our arrangements and act on your own, we will not be responsible for any accidents that happen. The city is surrounded by the Northern Di people on all sides. If you want to go to Ganzhou, you'll have to find your own way. We're short-handed here, and I won't be sending anyone to escort you. That's all I have to say. I have many things to do. That's all." With that, he turned and left.

Looking at Xu Rao's retreating figure, Clerk Li stood up and said to Magistrate Qian, "Lord Qian, you are the official in charge of the people of Hexi. How could you go to Ganzhou at this time? This is desertion in the face of battle, and you will be held accountable according to the law."

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