Chapter 283 Recapture
After Bai Su finished speaking, he carefully examined Mu Xi for a while, and his expression suddenly became solemn: "Ever since I parted ways with the young master last time, I have been keeping an eye on his whereabouts. I never expected that the young master would go through so many things... I had imagined that the young master had suffered a lot, but now that I see him, I'm afraid he has really suffered a lot."
Mu Xi was unwilling to dwell on the unpleasant past, and instead asked, "Although General Bai recently achieved a minor victory over Mu Heng, I'm afraid that the Zhennan Army, this 'fat piece of meat,' is not only being eyed by one wolf, is it? It will probably be even more difficult to go forward."
Bai Su looked up with delight, as if he had heard a kindred spirit, then suddenly realized, "Mu Heng is born with a rebellious nature. The Western Border troops should have belonged to the Crown Prince. If it weren't for his wolfish ambition and rebellion against the Crown Prince, he wouldn't be here today. Right now, the Xuanyou Army and the Hanhai Army in the north are locked in fierce fighting and have no time to look south. But the threat to the west is imminent. All this is because although I temporarily hold military power in the south, I have lost my support. Now that the Crown Prince has arrived, isn't this perfect?"
Mu Xi was waiting for Bai Su's last words: "I wonder if General Bai's words of 'just right' coincide with my own."
Bai Su clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "Mu Heng imprisoned his father and usurped the throne, and acted perversely in the Western Territory. How can he truly win the hearts of the people? The troops in the Western Territory should rightfully belong to the Crown Prince. This humble general is willing to lend the Crown Prince a hand and take back the troops in the Western Territory."
The saying goes, "If the name is not correct, the words will not be proper," and if the words are not proper, the cause of the cause will be without justification.
Bai Su, a woman, held the power of the Southern Border Army. Previously, she relied on the "royal mandate," but now that the "royal mandate" itself is gone, her reliance has automatically disappeared.
If she were a man with sufficient prestige, she might have seized the opportunity to rise up in rebellion or establish herself as king. Unfortunately, she lacked both, so the military power in her hands indeed became a piece of meat in the eyes of various forces.
She struggled to cope during this time, caught in a dilemma, and was already exhausted.
Now that Mu Xi has appeared, and is the same person who was his "former master" back then, he can use the title of "Prince Jin Fang" to attach himself to him.
Mu Xi shared the same sentiment and returned the greeting with clasped hands: "General Bai is of such noble character, and that is exactly why I came. Thank you in advance."
“Why are you saying ‘thank you’, Your Highness? If it weren’t for you back then, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” Bai Su said respectfully, “Back then, I made a vow that I would serve Your Highness at all costs whenever you summon me.”
Mu Xi sighed inwardly, never expecting that the "forced" action of that year would sow the seeds of good fortune today. This also required Bai Su to be loyal enough. Thinking of this, she was even more moved: "General Bai's loyalty and courage are my good fortune."
The two finalized their cooperation agreement, and the next step was to discuss the follow-up matters.
Mu Xi must have always held the title of Prince of Jin Fang, and most of the troops in the Western Border should still be former subordinates of Prince Mu Zhen and Mu Xun of Jin Fang.
Since Mu Heng is leaving his stronghold in the western border, he must have left behind trusted troops. Therefore, most of the tens of thousands of troops he brought with him should be former subordinates of Jin Fangjun Mu Zhen and Mu Xun.
The best military strategy is to win hearts and minds.
Since Mu Xi has a legitimate claim, he can directly raise the banner and start a campaign to "purge the court of corrupt officials and restore the emperor's throne."
Bai Su was also a strict commander, and his soldiers all obeyed him. He was well-versed in the essentials of military strategy and could fight steadily or achieve unexpected victories.
Instead of engaging in a direct confrontation with Mu Heng's well-rested western border troops, the Zhennan Army maximized the mobility and ferocity of its elite "white-bladed" infantry. This formidable force, under her command, became an impenetrable dagger, as if controlling her own arm. They burned their supplies at night, cutting off their foundation; ambushed a flank, blunting their morale; and, in front of the enemy lines, hundreds of deep, rugged men publicly denounced Mu Heng's crimes of disloyalty to his former master and the imprisonment of his parents.
Every word was like a thunderclap, resounding in the hearts of every former member of the Western Frontier.
The news that Prince Jin Fang was still alive, along with the righteous declaration of rebellion, stirred up undercurrents within Mu Heng's army like boiling oil being poured into ice water.
Many soldiers from the Western Frontier who still held old friendships with Jin Fangjun, Mu Zhen, and Mu Xun witnessed firsthand the once legendary "frail and sickly" crown prince. Mu Xi, clad in light golden armor, could not conceal the sharp spirit of someone reborn from the ashes.
Although Mu Xi was still physically weak, she always held on to her last breath when she went to the battlefield, her figure on horseback like an unyielding spear. She no longer deliberately dressed as a man, but simply tied her hair with a jade crown and let her thick, black hair flow freely. Beneath her golden armor, her clothes fluttered and rustled. That long-lost nobility and majesty, mixed with the tempering she had undergone through hardships, were perfectly integrated into her.
Many veterans of the Western Frontier seemed to see a glimpse of the former Jin Fangjun Muzhen, who once dominated the battlefield.
Loyalty and pent-up resentment, after a series of defeats, turned into a raging fire. Some defected on the battlefield, while others mutinied within the camp. In less than three months, Mu Heng's western border troops collapsed from within.
Mu Heng led only a thousand or so remaining soldiers, abandoning their armor and weapons, and fought his way out of the encirclement in a sorry state, fleeing in panic to the west.
Mu Xi naturally wanted to press her advantage and avenge the betrayal and pursuit she suffered in the Western Frontier, but Bai Su's Zhennan Army had also suffered heavy losses and was now operating under her banner as the "Prince of Jinfang," so morale was somewhat unstable. Therefore, she had no choice but to give up.
On the other hand, Mu Xi's actions were mainly to find Mu Xun better after she gained some strength. Her recent experiences made her realize that without money or connections, it is difficult to do anything.
Therefore, defeating Mu Heng and bringing most of the lost and bewildered Western Border troops under their command was already a great achievement.
After that, the banner of Prince Mu Xi of Jin Fang flew high in the war-torn land where the western and southern borders met. She not only recovered a large number of the old troops of the western border in one fell swoop, but also effectively controlled this powerful military force composed of soldiers from both the western and southern borders, and her prestige soared.
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In the eighth month of the twenty-fifth year of the Xuanhuang era of the Great Yu Dynasty, the summer heat in the southern border had not yet subsided. Mu Xi and Bai Su returned to Jiping Prefecture, the capital of the southern border.
The former residence of Zhu Mingjun has been renovated and transformed into the new "Jin Fangjun Residence".
Inside the main hall, Mu Xi, dressed in a dark brocade robe with subtle patterns and his black hair tied up high, was intently listening to his generals report on the reorganization of defenses in the various prefectures of the southern border.
Since escaping from Moyang, several months have passed since I arrived here. The forbearance and struggle of the past seem like a distant dream. I have incorporated Bai Su's troops and integrated Mu Zhen's old forces. In this time of chaos and turmoil caused by the fall of King Yu Mu Ji, I have managed to find a foothold in the southern region.
The stability was only temporary. The consumption of military equipment and supplies was enormous, the newly recruited soldiers needed pay and rewards, and the construction of the coastal defense line was an enormous money-devouring beast.
Since she is using the name of the Prince of Jin Fang, Mu Heng of the Western Region must feel threatened, so how could he not seize the opportunity to make a move?
Furthermore, the title "Golden Square Lord" implies the West. Although she now controls the Southern Territory, she is still only the heir of the Golden Square, which is somewhat illegitimate and has led to backlash from some local forces in the Southern Territory.
It's impossible to manage everything on one's own; what's most lacking is money.
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