Chapter Forty-Eight: Once upon a time... an opportunity was placed before you.
"Boo..." The council hall turned into a chaotic marketplace, with everyone blushing and shouting as if they were drunk.
Neither Chen Xuanji nor Li Zinian spoke up to stop them. They smiled and enjoyed the glory of the Great Xia Empire with these young people.
Qin Mo was also shocked when he heard the news, but unlike these excited guys, his first feeling was not excitement, but panic.
The status of Maimai City among the orcs was equivalent to that of Ulan City in the Great Xia Dynasty. It served as the starting point for the orcs' southward invasion of the Great Xia, and also as the defensive center against any counterattack from the Great Xia. Maimai City was surrounded by several large cities, serving as defensive strongholds, while Maimai City itself was fortified with high walls and a large army.
For the past two or three years, the Great Xia army has invaded the orcish territory, repeatedly breaching major cities such as Darhan and Erdent surrounding Maimai City. They have even reached the walls of Maimai City several times, but have suffered hundreds of thousands of casualties without ever breaching its city walls.
Now that Zhao Qirui has actually breached and occupied the city of trade in winter, the orcs' counterattack next year will definitely be more ferocious than ever before. Is he going to have to fight a life-or-death battle on his first expedition?
"Gentlemen, Duke Wu'an is a man of brilliant strategy and has made unparalleled contributions. However, the orcs are fierce and cunning, and they will not let this go easily. It will not be long before they return with a vengeance. Now, an opportunity to make a name for yourself in history is presented to you. I wonder which hero will seize it?"
Li Zinian's words ignited the fervor of the nobles, while completely chilling Qin Mo's heart. He watched the young nobles howling madly, and silently mourned for them... "An opportunity to die for your country is before you. If you want to be heroes, seize it. I'm going to take a nap." Qin Mo imitated their howling while trying to find an inconspicuous corner to hide in, but his seat was in the first row—obvious no matter how he looked at it. Damn it, is high status sometimes a sin?!
"Duke Wu'an devised a strategy: to use Maimai City as bait to lure the orc army into attacking, thus blunting their morale. Then, Wulan City would send troops to Maimai City to launch a pincer attack from the north and south, completely defeating the orc army." Chen Xuanji dropped another bombshell, further intensifying the fervent atmosphere in the hall.
"Now, Duke Wu'an needs 50,000 warriors to go to Maimai City and submit to his command. Which young hero is willing to go?" Li Zinian looked at the noble sons in the hall whose blood he had ignited and finally revealed his ultimate goal.
"Your subordinate is willing to go..."
"This captain is willing to go..."
"Wu Shenghuan of the Wu family in Huzhou is willing to go to Maimai City to fight for the country..."
Qin Mo observed coldly and noticed that the heat in the hall instantly cooled by half after Li Zi read out the last sentence. Although many people responded loudly, expressing their willingness to marry Maimai City and serve the Great General, almost all of them were noble families, and none of the leading figures of powerful clans spoke up.
"Are there any other outstanding talents willing to go to the trading city to lend the general a hand?" Li Zinian was somewhat disappointed and helpless. The eldest sons and sons of the powerful families were not fools. The passionate cheers just now were just a facade. When it came to actually risking their lives, not a single one of them stepped forward to support him.
The princes were conscripted with 10,000 private troops, dukes with 6,000 to 8,000, and marquises with 3,000 to 5,000. Earls only had 1,000 to 2,000 men. As for the county gentry and barons who were most enthusiastic about military achievements, they only brought a few hundred men to the north. Could they possibly muster tens of thousands of soldiers? And how much fighting strength would they have?
"Is there anyone else willing to go to Maimai City to serve the country?" Li Zinian's voice suddenly rose, and the hall fell silent. The noble families looked around, wondering why Governor Li had suddenly become so angry, while the aristocratic families all wore the same expression, keeping their eyes down and remaining silent.
"General Qin Mo of Ningyuan, would you be willing to go to Maimai City?"
Qin Mo hadn't stood out too much; he knew that going with the flow was the best course of action. He might not have spies in Wulan City, but that didn't mean other aristocratic families didn't. None of the major families seemed inclined to go to the trading city, so he figured he could just follow suit. Surprisingly, Li Zinian was the first to choose his general.
"My troops are all from the south. They've already lost half their lives just making it to Wulan City. In this state of affairs, they simply don't have the strength to make it to Maimai City. I hope Governor Li will understand."
Li Zinian addressed Qin Mo as General Ningyuan, clearly intending to resolve the matter through military law. Unfortunately, he wasn't a member of the General of the Northern Expedition's office and had no direct authority over Qin Mo. Qin Mo, on the other hand, was the heir of the Prince of Heng, a first-rank nobleman, a rank higher than Li Zinian, the governor of Wulan City, and naturally had no fear of Li Zinian, the second master of the Li family.
Li Zinian is the second master of the Jinxi Li family, and his elder brother, Duke Jinyang Li Zichu, is the current head of the family. The Jinxi Li family is considered a powerful clan in the Great Xia Dynasty. Both Li Zichu and Li Zinian are at the Earth Realm cultivation level, making them a formidable force with two members at the Earth Realm. However, compared to the powerful officials, they are still no match. Even disregarding Allen and his group's martial prowess, Qin Mo's status as a prince's heir alone is enough to make them wary.
"Qin Mo, you have received imperial favor for generations, and the Emperor has even appointed you as General Ningyuan. You should serve the Emperor, so how can you shirk your duty like this?" Li Zinian once again brought up the royal family. I may not be able to control you, but surely the Emperor can, right? This time, you have been appointed as a general by the Emperor.
"A country has its laws, and an army has its regulations. Commander Li, do you have a warrant from the General's Mansion?" Qin Mo was too lazy to argue with him anymore. If he wasn't careful, the commander would seize on a slip of the tongue, and he would be speechless. He had already decided that without a military order, he would not obey. If the commander pushed him too far... hmph... he would immediately find a top family in the Great Xia Dynasty to propose marriage. With his handsome looks, he could immediately form the strongest alliance with a top family. The Li family of Jinyang was just a second-rate family, and he would make them kneel down and sing "Conquer" in no time.
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