Chapter 77 Chapter 77 You and I form an alliance
The hall was dead silent, with only the candlelight flickering.
Jiang Ci was supported by Ji Yang, her chest tight and her head spinning. She bit her lip to calm herself, then slowly sat down, her eyes scanning the people in the hall.
On the table was a topographic map of Liangzhou, with the main city of Zichuan at the center and several important passes scattered around.
Lou Qi leaned back in his chair with a stern look on his face. Ji Yang stood beside the map, a murderous look between his brows.
After a moment, Lou Qi stood up and walked over to the sand table. His tone was less cynical than usual, leaving only a cold murderous intent. "The people of Beiting and Xiliang will not stop here. If Zichuan is lost, Liangzhou will fall. They will undoubtedly join forces to successively capture Dongyang and Hanbei."
Yin Shuang also arrived at this time. She stepped in, did not say anything, and just stood quietly aside.
Jiang Huaice followed suit, his voice calm and composed, "Prince Yan is right. If Zichuan is harmed, we will all be in danger. Regarding today's discussion, please speak frankly."
After a brief silence, Ji Yang said, "Liangzhou is now one with Dongyang, and it is also a strategic point in the world. As long as I am here, Liangzhou will not be lost. No matter how the forces of Beiting and Xiliang combine, I, Ji Yang, swear to defend this city and not give up an inch of land."
Hearing this, Lou Qi raised the corner of his lips slightly, sneered, and said with arrogance: "The governor is very courageous. However, with the current military strength of Liang Province, defending a single city is like drinking poison to quench thirst. Although Zichuan is strong, if Xiliang leads the attack and Beiting takes a detour to harass the rear, Liang Province will be attacked from both sides and will not be able to hold out for long."
Ji Yang's expression remained unchanged, and he simply said, "Then why not tell me your method first."
Lou Qi swept his gaze over the crowd and said in a firm tone, "Zichuan will be the primary force, with Heyang, Linwei, and Mengjin as auxiliary forces, forming a three-wing defense. The main force of Xiliang will surely attack Zichuan directly from the west, aiming for a quick victory. The Beiting cavalry is accustomed to circuitous tactics, and they might descend from the mountain road north of Heyang, suddenly attack Linwei, and cut off our southeastern food supply route."
Ji Yang frowned and said in a deep voice, "Outside Heyang City, the Wei River flows around the city, and the mountain roads are rugged. Although Beiting is good at riding and shooting, if it rains, the muddy roads will make it difficult to travel. We can ambush elite archers in the mountain passes to slow their momentum. Linwei City is surrounded by forests on three sides and hills on two sides. It is ideal for setting up decoys and launching night raids to harass their camp. Mengjin controls the key southwest route and is a must-pass point for Xiliang's logistics. Although there are few troops here, we can ambush our soldiers and cut off the enemy's food and forage, causing their morale to waver."
Jiang Huaice stepped forward slowly, gathered his sleeves, and spoke in a cold tone, "The Liangzhou army has not fought in recent years and is quite weak. The troops available now are less than half of what they used to be. Hanbei and Dongyang are both underdeveloped. If we mobilize all our troops, we will only invite the enemy into our territory. In this battle, we must use elite troops and cleverly utilize the terrain. If the enemy attacks Zichuan, we can secretly place decoys in Mengjin and attack the Beiting cavalry from behind at night. Heyang and Linwei must be held firmly. We must not lose them at any moment, otherwise the entire line will be defeated."
Jiang Huaice looked around at everyone with a sharp gaze and asked slowly, "Do you have any good plans to defend the three sides and save the dangerous situation?"
At this moment, Yin Shuang suddenly stepped forward and said in a steady voice, "In terms of military strength, Liang Province currently has 10,000 elite troops and 5,000 local soldiers, but only 15,000 combat-ready soldiers."
Ji Yang added, "Although Zichuan is strong, it's difficult to defend directly. I'll deploy defenses in the western suburbs, utilizing the salt pond wetlands outside Zichuan's west city to construct antlers and chevaux de frise to limit the enemy's advance. The main camp will be stationed north of the city. If Beiting turns to encircle it, we can dispatch mobile forces out of the west gate at night to support Linwei and Heyang. We must not hold on to this position."
Lou Qi pointed to a corner of the map and said, "Beiting's grain route passes through Beishan. We can send troops to attack their baggage at night. A single fire would cause chaos in Beiting. Xiliang has come a long way, and their logistics are slow. If we can set an ambush outside Mengjin and intercept their grain transport, we can delay them for three to five days, and the enemy will collapse without a fight."
A cold glint flashed in Yin Shuang's eyes as she spoke, "I can lead two hundred death warriors to explore the Mengjin Pass at night. I was born there and I'm familiar with the terrain. If there are any enemy food carts or baggage, we'll rob them if we can, or destroy them if we can't."
Jiang Huaice nodded. "So, the three cities will serve as the horns, Zichuan will be the heart, and all four will provide support. If one city is lost, we must send troops to rescue it and not abandon it. Commander-in-Chief, Prince Yan, and Yinshuang, we must cooperate sincerely in this battle. If the enemy divides their forces, our army must also adapt and not be stubbornly defensive."
Ji Yang's eyes were like torches, and he said in a deep voice: "Although the enemy is numerous, our three armies are united and may not be invincible."
Lou Qi smiled coldly, walked to Ji Yang and said, "I didn't expect that after fighting for so long, we would become allies because of Liangzhou. You and I are of the same mind. We will call it Beiting Xiliang. No matter how many come, we will bury them all."
Jiang Huaice looked around at the generals with a serious expression: "After tonight, the survival of Liangzhou depends on your thoughts!"
Lou Qi laughed loudly: "I want to see how these scoundrels from Beiting and Xiliang can chew this tough bone of ours."
Ji Yang looked at Jiang Ci, his eyes reflecting the faint light of the candle. He spoke softly, "Don't worry. As long as I am here, I will protect what you care about and what you care about with my life."
"Jiang Ci, everything I did wasn't just to get your forgiveness. I made a promise to you, and I must fulfill it. I've already sent people to garrison Liangzhou. You can mobilize their reinforcements first, and then send a letter to Tingzhou immediately, ordering Lu Linchuan to lead his troops to support us. The reinforcements will arrive in no time."
Lou Qi observed the atmosphere between the two with a cold eye and snorted, "Ji Yang, you and I were evenly matched on the battlefield before. This time, I will definitely kill more than you."
Ji Yang glanced at him and sneered, "Let's wait and see."
Jiang Ci listened quietly, her expression normal, but her fingertips tightened slightly. She lowered her eyes for a moment and whispered, "You always act on your own."
Her tone was calm, yet it held a hint of tenderness. She looked up at Ji Yang and Lou Qi, her expression extremely serious: "But no matter what, I just hope you can all return safely."
After that, she looked at Yin Shuang again and smiled slightly: "And you, Yin Shuang."
Yin Shuang nodded lightly, with a youthful and carefree expression on her lips: "Don't worry, Miss, I will definitely come back alive."
Jiang Huaice's eyes were bright, and his voice was calm but full of emotion: "You are willing to fight together for the national crisis and protect Liangzhou. Jiang has no way to repay you, so I can only thank you on behalf of the people of Liangzhou."
Before he finished speaking, he was about to bow.
Lou Qi stepped forward quickly, extended his hand to support Jiang Huaice, and said sternly, "Your Excellency, Governor, there is no need to be so polite. We must stick together and defend this place together."
Jiang Huaice's eyes moistened slightly as he choked out a sob, "In that case, I'll be troubling you all. Time waits for no man. Beiting and Xiliang are wickedly ambitious. A moment's hesitation could lead to a thousand-mile collapse. Commander-in-Chief, Prince of Yan, do you need to make further preparations? When will we depart?"
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense. Ji Yang and Lou Qi exchanged a look of determination, and both answered in unison, "Now."
The voice was sonorous and powerful, and everyone's heart was lifted.
Before leaving, Ji Yang walked up to Jiang Ci, his eyes soft and gentle. He whispered, "Wait for me to come back."
After he finished speaking, a hint of reluctance flashed across his eyes, but he turned and walked away, his back firm. Lou Qi followed closely behind him, and Yin Shuang followed with her sword in hand. Together, the three of them hurried out of the hall.
The candles in the hall flickered, and Jiang Ci stood there, his heart in a knot, and did not move for a long time.
After Ji Yang and others left, the night was as dark as ink, shrouding the entire governor's mansion in silence.
Jiang Ci felt a little uneasy. When she returned to the yard, she felt an invisible pressure coming down on her, making it hard for her to breathe.
Dark clouds quietly covered half of the waning moon. After a moment, fine raindrops began to fall, hitting the window frames.
She walked slowly to the window, pushed it open, and let the cool night breeze brush across her cheeks. She looked at the cold sky outside with a dazed expression.
Seeing this, Wanniang stepped forward with a distressed look on her face, gently draped a thick cloak over her shoulders, and said softly, "Miss, it's too cold outside, don't catch a cold. It's so late at night, you should rest early."
Jiang Ci, however, acted as if she had not heard anything. She still stood there motionless, staring blankly out the window, and murmured softly, "I can't do anything... I always have a bad feeling in my heart, as if I'm empty and can't hold on to anything." Her voice was very soft, with a hint of fatigue and helplessness.
Wanniang stepped forward and softly consoled her, trying to dispel the worry from her brows: "Young lady, the governor and the Prince of Yan are at the front. They are both veterans of battles for many years, strategists and invincible. They will surely find a way to hold on to Liangzhou. You only need to stay in the mansion and wait for good news. Don't worry too much and harm yourself."
Jiang Ci was silent for a while, then suddenly turned around and looked at Wan Niang, as if he had thought of something. The confusion in his eyes gradually faded away, replaced by a clear and unusual determination.
Her tone was soft, but every word was clear: "Wan Niang, go to the storehouse and take out all the cloths you bought a few days ago. I want... I want to make amulets for all the soldiers who fought for Liangzhou."
"Although the amulet may not be able to truly protect people, it is the only thing I can do. It can also be regarded as praying for their safety and peace of mind."
Wanniang's eyes moistened upon hearing this, touched by Jiang Ci's thoughtfulness. She readily agreed and headed to the storeroom. Soon, she and her men brought out bundles of cloth, which filled a corner of the room.
Jiang Ci looked at the pile of fabrics on the table, gently stroked them with his fingertips, and made a decision.
"Tomorrow you will come with me to the Moon Watching Tower. It's the tallest building and has the widest view."
Although Wanniang didn't understand why, seeing Jiang Ci's determined expression, she nodded and agreed: "Yes, young lady."
The next morning, the sky was slightly bright and the morning light was just beginning to appear.
Jiang Ci personally ordered her servants to neatly carry the rolls of cloth to the front of Wangyue Tower. She was dressed in dark clothing today and personally called for the women from the city's guild to come and help.
Many people soon gathered in front of the Moon Watching Tower. They were all ordinary people in Liangzhou City, including women and children.
Someone exclaimed in a low voice: "Isn't that the governor's daughter?"
"It's Miss Jiang Ci. She often helps us and is a kind-hearted girl." There was respect and curiosity in the discussion.
Jiang Ci stood downstairs, his eyes sweeping over the crowd gently and firmly, his voice soft and powerful, clearly reaching everyone's ears:
"Liang Province is in great trouble right now, with war raging abroad. It is the soldiers from Dongyang and Hanbei who have traveled thousands of miles, leaving their homes and careers behind, to protect our homeland. Although we cannot fight the enemy or defend our country, we can still do our part for them."
She paused, her eyes filled with sincerity and tenderness, as if they could reach people's hearts. "When I was in Fengdu, I saw soldiers going to war over there. The women in their families would personally sew amulets for them, praying for their safe return."
"I also hope that the people of Liangzhou today can treat all the soldiers who fought to protect Liangzhou as their own family members, sew amulets for them, and pray for their return. This is not just a amulet, but also the expectation of all the people of Liangzhou, and the strongest backing behind them." Her voice was so contagious that the people present were moved.
The women who knew how to do housework responded one after another. Some rolled up their sleeves on the spot, some went home to get their sewing boxes, and some brought their daughters to help.
Downstairs of the Moon Watching Tower, cloth was spread out, needles and threads were intertwined, and the women of the city were sitting or standing, sewing amulets together.
Sunlight streamed through the newly cleared sky after the rain, its faint light falling on everyone's pious brows. Jiang Ci was among them, head bowed, sewing stitch by stitch, as if sewing all his cares into the plain cloth.
Someone whispered, "I hope these amulets can really bless them to return safely."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ci just looked up and smiled softly at Wanniang.
For three days, needlework scurried about beneath the makeshift shed erected in front of Moon Watching Tower. Jiang Ci, with his team of embroiderers and other skilled women, sat at their desks, piled high with cut plain cloth and colored thread. Outside, the sky cleared after the rain, a chill after the rain.
The embroidered amulets grew in number, gradually forming a small mountain. Jiang Ci picked up one and saw the word "peace" embroidered in fine detail, the handwriting as smooth as jade. He then took another and saw a pattern of violets, the most common flower in Liangzhou.
There are also people with good craftsmanship who sew their blessings into the amulets with soft and colorful threads.
Jiang Ci read them one by one, and felt his heart gradually warming, as if all the wishes and concerns were flowing slowly in his palm.
At dusk, Wanniang put away the needlework on the table and asked softly, "Miss, these amulets are embroidered. Do you have any instructions next?"
Jiang Ci looked up toward the west, where the setting sun gradually stained the sky red beneath the eaves. She gathered her thoughts and spoke gently yet firmly, "I'll personally send them to the front lines to let the soldiers know that the people of Liangzhou are also concerned about their safety from afar."
"We'll set off early tomorrow morning."
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