During such a siege, when soldiers approached the city, specially trained falcons played an unprecedented and unique role. It was something that Zhou Gu had never considered when he was reading military books.
Releasing the falcon, he sighed once more, "This falcon is extremely useful."
He wondered why he hadn’t thought of training a falcon during his childhood, which could have been useful in future wars.
"After my mother’s departure, I ran away from home once, and Uncle Xie had people train falcons. I played with them every time I went to the Xie Residence. At that time, I didn’t understand and thought that Uncle Xie was training these creatures for the purpose of locating me if I ever ran away again," Su Rong recalled, for a long time, believing in this assumption because the falcons were initially trained to get used to her smell and, no matter where she was, they had to find her.
One type of falcon has a sense of smell that can bypass any fragrance and detect each individual’s unique scent, which can’t be concealed. Anyway, she didn’t understand very well and had no patience to train them. But after she learned the truth, she never ran away from home again. After all, running away would be fruitless as she would be found and brought back enjoying unnecessary efforts.
Zhou Gu expressed his admiration, "Master Xie is impressive."
"Uncle Xie is always thinking ahead for me," Su Rong looked at the falcon disappearing into the night sky, "He had long been preparing for my departure from Jiangning County."
What ordinary family would train falcons? He must have considered the great advantage it would bring her if it succeeded, right?
Zhou Gu nodded. When it came to early planning, Xie Yuan was still indispensable. Without him, today’s Su Rong — the little girl he was very fond of — wouldn’t exist.
Inside Nanping City, the falcon quickly located Ning Chi after a familiar round trip.
With the falcon in his arms, Ning Ze untied the message from its leg. After reading it, a sincere smile appeared on his face.
Jiang Zhu, who had been watching closely, asked, "Good news? Have reinforcements arrived?"
"Not reinforcements, but it’s still very good news. Brother Zhou and Lady Su Qi successfully poisoned the Jibei Army," Ning Chi handed the message to Jiang Zhu, who was lying on the couch.
After reading the message, a smile also spread across Jiang Zhu’s face, "This is indeed good news."
He complemented, "Impressive."
From this, it is clear that there are no difficulties that ardent souls can’t overcome. If such things can be achieved, what else should they worry about not being able to achieve?
Although he hadn’t met Su Rong yet, he was more determined in his decision to follow her. "Let’s go," he sat up, "Let’s prepare. Let’s notify the entire city of this news and have everyone withstand the attack of tens of thousands of soldiers. As stated in the letter, as long as we withstand this round, the danger to Nanping City will be resolved."
Because, as long as the Jibei Army doesn’t enter the city, it can’t obtain the antidote within a hundred miles. Fen Ling had led people to search and clean it out. If the Jibei Army wants to get the antidote, it has to transport it from a far-off place. In the most ideal case, it will take at least three days for a round trip.
In three days, Zhou Che might have brought the Duke Residence’s soldiers and horses. As for the people in the city, they already have uncontaminated water stored, so they can hold on for a few more days.
Ning Chi nodded and immediately ordered to announce the news to the whole city.
With the announcement, the panicked civilians were immediately half relieved. Although they were still fearful, they saw hope.
Especially the wounded soldiers, they regained courage and fighting spirit, tightly gripping the long spears and broadswords in their hands.
After receiving the news, Ning Ze was overjoyed and ran to the secret cell again to chat with Zhang Mao, "Zhang Mao, do you know? Lady Su Qi succeeded! She succeeded! Her plan to poison the Jibei Army was a success. Now, only tens of thousands of soldiers from the Jibei Army have not been affected. The rest of the forces have fallen."
Zhang Mao was stunned, "That powerful?"
"Yes, just that powerful!" Ning Ze couldn’t contain his joy, "I told you, Lady Su Qi is great, isn’t she? There’s nothing she can’t overcome." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
Zhang Mao nodded. The day he was captured, he had witnessed the prowess of Su Rong and her people. But listening to Ning Ze talk about her day after day in front of him during these past few days, he understood her abilities more profoundly.
"So, are you going to join her?" Ning Ze asked.
"Once my words are spoken and water is spilled, there can be no changes," Zhang Mao said, "If you trust me, during the next wave of attacks, I’ll follow you to the city wall."
Ning Ze looked at him, "Why follow me to the city wall? To turn against the Jibei Army?"
"Although I am reluctant to kill a single soldier, I can take action if necessary," Zhang Mao remained emotionless, "After all, even if I stay alive in the future, I will no longer be called Zhang Mao. If Nanping City withstands this siege, Zhang Mao will die, and subsequently, I’ll change my surname and start anew."
If he doesn’t die, he won’t be able to return to the Zhang family. If he stays alive, he doesn’t have the right to bear the Zhang surname anymore. Since he has decided to give up, he might as well abandon everything, his surname, his name, and bury it all in Nanping City.
"Haha, alright then." Ning Ze decided to trust him. After such a long time, he felt that Zhang Mao was just like he said, with no way out. Even if Zhang Mao stays alive, he can no longer be called Zhang Mao. Living a life despised by everyone, or a life discussed and praised by everyone for sacrificing oneself for the greater good, is probably not what he wants, "I’ll let someone take you to see my older brother right now. If he agrees as well, then it’s settled."
Zhang Mao nodded.
So, under the escort of the dark guard and Ning Ze leading the way, Zhang Mao was led to Ning Chi.
After hearing what Ning Ze had to say, Ning Chi knew that his younger brother had been visiting the secret cell chatting with Zhang Mao every now and then. He didn’t know what they were talking about, but he didn’t bother to interfere as long as Ning Ze didn’t set Zhang Mao free.
Now hearing that he was willing to trust Zhang Mao and let him go to the city wall with the city’s soldiers to face the Jibei Army, he raised his eyebrows, inspecting Zhang Mao from head to toe without uttering a word.
Ning Ze was cautious, "Brother, is it not okay?"
Was he being too naive? Was he actually thinking that Zhang Mao truly wanted to defect?
Ning Chi didn’t make the decision himself, but asked Jiang Zhu. After all, Jiang Zhu, like Ning Ze, had pledged allegiance to Su Rong. While Ning Ze’s allegiance was agreed upon by Su Rong herself, Jiang Zhu had Zhou Gu’s guarantee and recommendation. As long as these two people didn’t mess up, they would be Su Rong’s trusted aides in the future.
But Zhang Mao wants to defect not to the Daliang Imperial Court, not to the crown prince Yan Huisheng, but to the Nanchu Princess, Su Rong.
Jiang Zhu looked at Zhang Mao, a man he had met and interacted with. He asked Zhang Mao, "Eldest Brother, are you thinking of sacrificing your family for righteousness? Even if it means the downfall and demise of the Zhang family?"
Zhang Mao shook his head, "I, a captive, don’t have the power to decide the fate of my family. I want to join Lady Su Qi to seek a way out for myself. Although the ancient saying states, ’A gentleman is kind-hearted and does not seek to live at the expense of righteousness, he will die to achieve righteousness.’ And it also states, ’Life is what I desire, but there are things I value more than life, hence I won’t compromise for it.’ But I don’t want to die, and I’m not willing to perish from this world just yet. Therefore, Zhang Mao may die, but I, as an individual, want to live. Pledging allegiance to Lady Su Qi is my only way out."
"Even if it means fighting against the Jibei Army and the Zhang family?" Jiang Zhu asked.
Zhang Mao nodded, "Yes, even if. In a do-or-die situation, I want to find a way out even if I am the only one."
Jiang Zhu laughed and turned to Ning Chi, "My Lord, I think it is feasible."
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