Serving the people of the world
A few days ago.
The cold wind swept across the withered and yellow meadow, making a whimpering sound. Beishuo Khan Tuoba Hong reined in his horse and stood on a leeward hillside, his eyes cast towards the distant horizon. There was the land of Heshuo.
Behind him were 30,000 elite Beishuo cavalrymen, all wrapped in thick fur coats. Their swords and armor shone coldly in the dim light of the sky, like a pack of wolves lurking in the snow.
Tuoba Hong is very patient.
He was waiting, waiting for the Western Qiang people's morale and military strength to be worn down. The more frantically the Western Qiang people attacked the city, the lower the cost for his Beishuo cavalry to march south to reap the fruits of victory, and the greater the chance of success.
He wants to take back the fat piece of Heshuo, the part bitten off by Xiqiang, skin and bones!
"Khan!"
A scout leader came galloping over, dismounted from his horse, and his voice was filled with a hint of surprise.
"We captured several suspicious-looking Southern Dynasty people in a snowy valley thirty miles to the east! They claim to be envoys from the Southern Dynasty and demand to see the Khan!"
"Messenger?" Tuoba Hong frowned.
"When the war is about to begin, the Southern Dynasty envoys? What do they look like? Do they have a token?"
"Reporting to the Khan, those people are in rags and are freezing. The leader looks like a scholar, and the others look like guards. They said they have an important letter that must be presented to the Khan in person." The scout reported truthfully.
Tuoba Hong pondered. The Southern Dynasty? Why didn't they hide in Jiangnan at this moment, but sent envoys to this Shura battlefield to die? His intuition told him that something was fishy.
“Bring it here!”
Soon, the three people who were almost frozen to death were brought to Tuoba Hong's horse.
The leading scholar was none other than Nong Zishi. His face was covered with thick frost and snow, and his lips were frozen purple. On his left was Wang Dayong, a man as tall as an iron tower with his hair and beard covered in ice. On his right was Niu Zhuang, a younger man who gritted his teeth to endure the cold. The other guards did not follow.
The clothes of the three men had long been soaked by the wind and snow and were in tatters, forming a sharp contrast with the surrounding Beishuo knights who were wearing distinctive armor.
Tuoba Hong looked down at them. He had seen countless people and could tell at a glance that these three were definitely not the pampered envoys of the Southern Dynasty court. Especially the burly man, he could not hide the bravery of someone who had experienced life and death battles.
"Envoy from the Southern Dynasty?"
"Just look at your appearance? I'm afraid you are spies from the Western Qiang. Push them down and chop them off!"
He waved his hand and spoke in a grim tone.
The guards on both sides immediately stepped forward and tried to drag the three away.
"Khan, please allow me to report." Wang Dayong broke free from his guards' hands and took a step forward. He wiped the ice from his face and shouted, "We are not officials of the imperial court, but we are indeed envoys! My name is Wang Dayong, and I am the personal guard of Her Royal Highness Princess Mingzhu! I am honored to meet you, Khan!"
Tuoba Hong's eyes narrowed. Ning Lingyi's personal guard?
He waved his hand to stop the guards: "Have you seen me?"
"That winter, under the Anji Bridge in Mingzhou!" Wang Dayong's voice was filled with memories. "You saved our princess! I was right under the bridge at the time. I saw it clearly. It was you!"
He pointed at Tuoba Hong and spoke in a firm tone.
Mingzhou? Anji Bridge? Tuoba Hong's memory was pulled back to several years ago. He had accompanied Ning Lingyi to Mingzhou and rescued her after she was attacked.
Her? Why is she here?
Tuoba Hong's eyes swept over Nong Zishi and the other two again, his suspicion growing even heavier: "Princess Mingzhu, is she here?"
Nong Zishi took a deep breath of the cold air and pulled out a small bamboo tube wrapped in layers of oilcloth from his bosom. His movements were a little stiff, but he presented it with both hands with great solemnity. "Your Majesty, we are here to see you on the orders of Her Royal Highness Princess Mingzhu. This is a letter written by Her Royal Highness herself. Please review it."
The personal guard stepped forward to take the bamboo tube, checked it and presented it to Tuoba Hong.
Tuoba Hong crushed the wax seal on the bamboo tube and pulled out a thin piece of silk from it. A familiar and beautiful handwriting came into view. Although it was a little hastily written, the force was so strong that it could be seen through the back of the paper. It was exactly the handwriting of Ning Lingyi.
The letter contained only a few words, stating that Qinghe was in danger and the Western Qiang were powerful. It earnestly requested the Khan of Beishuo to remember the alliance and old friendship and send troops to help, so as to repel the Qiang invaders and protect the people of Heshuo.
She was actually in Qinghe! She was actually guarding the isolated city with her army of refugees? Tuoba Hong's heart was filled with shock and his heart tightened.
"Is she in Qinghe City now?" Tuoba Hong's voice became deep.
"That's right!" Nong Zishi looked at him calmly.
"Qinghe is under attack from the Western Qiang. I implore the Khan to consider the alliance between our two countries and the friendship between Your Highness and the Khan. Send reinforcements quickly to lift the siege of Qinghe and jointly defeat the Western Qiang!"
"Hmph! What a big tone!" A Beishu minister with a thick beard and wearing a gorgeous fur coat beside Tuoba Hong couldn't help but sneer.
"A princess of the Southern Dynasty, why would she run to this land of war instead of embroidering in the inner palace? And she even wants to force our Beishu warriors to fight for her? It's simply a foolish dream! Khan, the Southern Dynasty court has abandoned her like a worn-out shoe, why should we save her? Let her fend for herself!"
"That's right!" another minister echoed. "The Western Qiang are powerful. Although our army is strong, if we intervene rashly, we will suffer heavy casualties and become a scapegoat for others. The best strategy is to let the Western Qiang and the Southern Dynasty fight it out at Qinghe, while we sit back and reap the benefits."
Several other Beishuo noble generals under their command also nodded with disdain on their faces. In their opinion, it was foolish to fight against the Western Qiang for a Southern Dynasty princess who could hardly protect herself.
Tuoba Hong was silent, his eyes were deep and unfathomable, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.
Wang Dayong and Niu Zhuang's hearts were in their throats. They looked at Tuoba Hong nervously, and then looked at Nong Zishi anxiously. What should they do? His Highness didn't say anything. What should they do now?
Nong Zishi showed no fear on his face. Instead, he took a step forward and glanced at the opposing Beishu officials: "What you gentlemen said may seem shrewd, but it is actually short-sighted!"
"Short-sighted?" General Beishu glared.
"How dare you, a sour scholar from the Southern Dynasty, speak so arrogantly here?"
"May I ask the general?" Nong Zishi asked calmly.
"If the Western Qiang take over the three towns of Heshuo, given their ferocious and greedy nature, where will they target their forces next? Will they head south to the prosperous Jiangnan region, or head north to covet the lush grasslands of the southern desert? Will the Western Qiang be content with the mere Heshuo region?"
The man was speechless. They were not unaware of the ambition of the Western Qiang, and this trip south was also for this purpose.
Nong Zishi continued, "This is one of them."
"Secondly, the Khan is a man of great talent and ambition, with ambitions for the whole world. Heshuo is the key to the Central Plains. If he seizes it, he can intimidate the other tribes to the north and threaten the Southern Dynasty to the south. To sit back and watch the Western Qiang swallow up Heshuo and allow them to grow stronger is tantamount to creating a powerful enemy for the Khan's future unification. If he waits until their foundation is solid before trying to eliminate them, the military effort will be far greater than it is today!"
He turned to Tuoba Hong and spoke earnestly, "Third, Princess Mingzhu is no ordinary princess. As a woman, she dared to lead an army of thousands of refugees north to fight against the Qiang. Furthermore, she is the Khan's fiancée. If the Khan were to send troops to aid you now, it would be a timely help. If the Khan were to abandon you, how would the world judge him? Are you so afraid of the Western Qiang that you dare not speak up for your fiancée?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the officials of Beishuo were filled with anger.
"Fourth," Nong Zishi continued. "The Western Qiang lord has been besieging the city for days and is now exhausted. The Beishuo cavalry can take advantage of their fatigue and launch a thundering attack. This is a godsend opportunity. With such a huge profit, how can you all say you are preparing a wedding dress for others? This wedding dress is clearly worn by the Khan, by Beishuo!"
The words are linked together.
The few Beishu officials who were shouting just now gradually lowered their voices. Although they were still unwilling, they could not find any strong words to refute.
Tuoba Hong looked at Nong Zishi who was talking eloquently, with a hint of admiration in his eyes. Such knowledge, such eloquence, and such courage, he was truly a man of extraordinary talent!
Lingyi, how did you get this person's help?
He was silent for a few breaths, and when he saw that the people of Beishuo had no more words to say, he said, "Mr. Nong is eloquent, but Ning Lingyi is, after all, just an unmarried princess of the Southern Dynasty. What does she mean to me? Her life and death, her Qinghe River, what do I have to do with her?"
"I will not go."
"What?" Wang Dayong and Niu Zhuang were struck by lightning, nearly jumping up and down in anxiety. Mr. Nong had spent so much time persuading the ministers, and now the Khan of Beishuo had flatly refused. The two men were immediately anxious.
Upon hearing this, Nong Zishi suddenly bowed, a knowing smile on his face. "In that case, on behalf of Her Royal Highness Princess Mingzhu, I would like to thank the Khan for sending troops to help us!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the tent was shocked!
Tuoba Hong's pupils shrank slightly: "When did I say I would go?"
Nong Zishi stood up straight and looked at Tuoba Hong with an open gaze: "Khan, what you said is just bargaining. Sending troops must be profitable. I deeply agree with this. Sending troops at this moment will benefit the Khan in every way and will not cause any harm."
"Although I am a humble commoner, I do know a little about judging people. The Khan has great ambitions, and what he seeks is not just this Heshuo land, but the vast land of China."
He said with absolute certainty, "The Khan always plans carefully before taking action. He is definitely not a reckless man like the Western Qiang who only knows how to slaughter and plunder. If the Khan wants to take over the Southern Dynasty, he must be well aware that although the Han people may be weak in the eyes of foreigners, they are actually very resilient in their bones!"
"If we blindly rely on force to suppress, even if we can occupy it temporarily, we will face endless resistance, which will drain our national strength and bring us endless peace!"
Nong Zishi continued, "However, if the Khan can demonstrate a gentle heart and practice benevolent and righteous governance, the people will naturally gravitate towards him! If the Khan sends troops to lift the siege of Qinghe today, it will be a clear message to the world that the ruler of Beishuo is a wise leader who can protect and bring peace to the region! This reputation for benevolence and righteousness will win the hearts of the people far more than even a hundred thousand strong soldiers."
"In the future, if the Southern Dynasty collapses and the Khan takes control of the Central Plains, then perhaps the territories of the Southern Dynasty will surrender without a fight!"
He stared at Tuoba Hong with a burning gaze. "So, Khan, this trip isn't just for Ning Lingyi? It's also for the future of Beishuo, and for your grand ambition to become the common ruler of the world! This is a golden opportunity to seize the opportunity. Khan, with his great talent and vision, how could he miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?"
The tent was quiet, with only the whistling sound of the cold wind passing through the tent.
Wang Dayong and Niu Zhuang were stunned, their hearts racing. Mr. Nong's words sounded like he was plotting for the Beishu Khan. Whose side was he on? Could it be...
Tuoba Hong stared at Nong Zishi closely, his eyes were complicated and difficult to understand, with surprise, scrutiny, and even a hint of shock as if his heart was touched.
After a while, he uttered an ambiguous sneer, "Mr. Nong's grand speech, those who are not in the know might think that you serve me as your master, and not Princess Mingzhu. By planning for me like this, where do you put your master?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Dayong and Niu Zhuang also looked at Nong Zishi with surprised and doubtful eyes.
Nong Zishi's expression was calm, without a trace of shame. He said loudly, "Khan, you are wrong. The world has been in turmoil and division for a long time, but the will of heaven will eventually lead to unification. Whether it is the Ning family of the Southern Dynasty or the Tuoba family of the Northern Shuo Dynasty, it makes no difference to me."
He faced the Northern Shuo emperor and his ministers, as well as the Southern Dynasty soldiers, with a frank attitude, saying, "I serve not one person, one family, one dynasty, or one nation, but the common people of this world! Whoever can establish a mission for the people and bring peace to the world, Nong Zishi will serve him with all his might!"
He turned his gaze to Tuoba Hong, his words frank and passionate: "Today, if the Khan has the people of the world in mind, Nong Zishi will welcome him with open arms and be willing to serve as a pawn in his tent! However, Khan, ask yourself, is the Beishuo army's attack right now for the people of the world, or for the Tuoba clan's ambition?"
After these words were spoken, Tuoba Hong's expression became more serious.
Nong Zishi changed the subject, speaking with unwavering determination, "Princess Mingzhu, as a woman, journeyed upstream not for the Ning court, nor for her own honor or disgrace, but solely to protect the tens of thousands of civilians behind her. Therefore, Nong Zishi is willing to die for Your Highness. Today, I journey north, not just for the princess, but for the lives of tens of thousands of people in Qinghe City."
These words were earth-shattering! Such pure hearts are rare among the people of the world.
Tuoba Hong was even more shocked. It was not like he had not been to the Southern Dynasty. The capital city was as prosperous as a fairy palace, but everyone was scheming for power and profit. He had long been disgusted with those hypocrisies, so he had the desire to seize the Southern Dynasty.
But I didn't expect to hear such remarks today.
Tuoba Hong, a self-proclaimed hero, was truly concerned with the Tuoba clan's ambitions. Yet, Ning Lingyi, a woman, was actually practicing the supreme principle of serving the people that Nong Zishi had spoken of. Comparing the two, the difference was clear; he had underestimated her once again.
He was silent for a long time.
On the entire hillside, the only sounds were the whistling of wind and snow and the occasional snorting of war horses, and all eyes were focused on the heroic lord of Beishuo.
Finally, Tuoba Hong slowly raised his hand without hesitation:
"Send the message!"
"The whole army is breaking camp!"
"Target Qinghe! Defeat Helian Bo!"
*
To the north of Qinghe City, the wilderness has become a Shura field.
Ning Lingyi led the only remaining remnants of the Mingzhu Guard and was nailed to the front of the Western Qiang vanguard, enduring the impact of a violent storm. Every time he swung his sword, the wound on his arm would be affected, and the blood had already soaked through the lining.
The number of soldiers around her was dwindling, and those who fell never got up again.
Just as she felt her arms becoming so heavy she could barely lift them and her vision began to blur from blood loss and exhaustion.
"Woo woo woo."
The Beishuo horn sounded like the sound of nature, and then, like a divine soldier descending from the sky, the situation of the battle was reversed.
Helian Bo was in the center of the army, watching the unfamiliar Canglang banner rushing towards him as if it was in an empty space, and watching his proud cavalry falling in large numbers under the enemy's attack. He was filled with shock and anger, and his eyes were bloodshot!
"Beishuo! It's Tuoba Hong! How dare he..."
His furious roar was drowned out by the deafening roar of killing.
Thirty thousand Beishuo fresh troops faced the Western Qiang siege troops, and the result was almost a one-sided massacre! Iron hooves were like thunder, and scimitars were like snow!
The Beishuo cavalry galloped through the Western Qiang army, leaving men and horses toppled and blood and flesh flying everywhere they passed! The Western Qiang soldiers' resistance quickly collapsed, and everyone from generals to soldiers was terrified by this sudden and terrifying attack.
The intensity of the battle was beyond imagination, but it ended at an astonishing speed.
In less than half a day, the plains were littered with corpses and blood. Helian Bo's central army banner was chopped down, and he himself, under the desperate protection of his personal guards, fled in panic to the northwest with the remaining thousands of cavalry, abandoning their armor and weapons.
"Chase!" Tuoba Hong ordered without hesitation.
An elite Beishuo cavalry immediately gave chase, their horses' hooves stirring up a cloud of blood and mud.
The deafening shouts and cries of killing gradually subsided, leaving only the wailing of the wounded.
Ning Lingyi leaned on her sword, breathing heavily and almost unable to stand.
She looked at the hellish scene in front of her. Her heartstrings had been tense for more than ten days, and at this moment she finally relaxed, followed by overwhelming fatigue.
At this moment, a horseman broke through the thick smoke and galloped towards her. The figure on the horse was Nong Zishi.
He ran closer, jumped off his horse, and his movements were a little unsteady. He looked much thinner and no longer calm.
He walked a few steps to Ning Lingyi, ignoring the blood and body parts on the ground. In full view of everyone, he lifted up his tattered robe and knelt down on his knees in front of Ning Lingyi.
"Your Highness! I have fulfilled your mission!"
Ning Lingyi looked at Nong Zishi who was kneeling in front of her, at the cracked wounds on his face and the bloodshot eyes. She had a thousand words to say, but none of them spoke to her.
It was her fortune to obtain the Nongzi Stone.
The cold wind blows across the fields covered with corpses and blood, but the war is not over yet.
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