Ice House Fortress
Life inside the igloo was a silent war against time, the cold, pain, and hunger.
The mountain-top medicinal herbs and advanced medical skills brought by Ling Zhan became a lifeline for those on the brink of life and death.
General Huo's broken leg bone was precisely reset and firmly secured with a splint made of tough wooden strips and cloth strips.
The broken arrow that had penetrated deep into the bone in Tiger's shoulder was carefully removed.
Under the influence of the miraculous medicine, the wound stubbornly retained its life force.
The deep, bone-revealing knife wound on Shen Yan's left arm was the most gruesome.
However, thanks to the elixir and Ling Zhan's skillful hands, the recovery speed far exceeded the limits of ordinary people.
New meat is covering the bones at a visible rate.
Shen Hong became the busiest figure inside the ice house.
He carefully tended to the wounded and watched over the precious flame—
A small piece of strange solid fuel brought down from the mountaintop burns steadily and persistently, emitting heat far exceeding that of ordinary firewood.
He would occasionally lean close to the small observation hole that had been deliberately left in the ice wall.
They whispered to the silver guardian in the snow outside.
Outside the igloo, the wind and snow still dominate the world, but the landscape has quietly changed.
The misty shadows, like a silver totem, stand firmly on the high slope near the entrance of the igloo.
After initial probing and several exchanges showcasing strength.
This spirit wolf from the mountaintop possesses overwhelming strength, a pure and chilling aura, and almost instinctive combat intelligence.
It completely subdued the unruly local wolf king with its wide ears.
The wolf pack is no longer a threat.
Instead, under Lan Ying's invisible "command," he became the most vigilant sentry outside the igloo.
The wolf king with the wide ears, along with several of the strongest snow wolves, began patrolling the more distant valley entrances and high points.
Like a silent ghost, they drove away the scattered Northern Di scouts and riders.
They would even deliver a hunted wild animal every day as a "tribute" to the new wolf king.
Lan Ying's occasional low, guttural voice was a command given.
In the wind and snow, silver-gray and gray-brown figures intertwined.
A new jungle order, centered around Lan Ying, has quietly been established on this blood-red scorched earth.
When General Huo's leg pain subsided slightly, Hu Zi also regained some of his energy.
This small ice cave became a temporary command tent.
The faint sunlight reflected off the ice wall.
General Huo used charred wooden strips to sketch a simple map of the northern frontier on the relatively flat ice surface.
Tiger leaned against the side, his voice weak but clear as he added the details.
"...The speed at which the Di people have assembled this time is unprecedented."
“The tribes were able to set aside their old grudges and gather together like wolves that have smelled blood.” General Huo’s finger traced several passes on the map. “They cunningly avoided the front lines where our army was heavily fortified and instead targeted the weakest links in the supply lines.”
Tiger nodded: "My elite squad was ambushed by a force of Di elites several times larger than ours while escorting a shipment of supplies crucial to the survival of Blackstone Fortress..."
His eyes held a mixture of sorrow and anger.
The wooden stick in General Huo's hand was almost carving marks into the ice.
"They looted the supplies and then scattered, breaking into smaller groups and disappearing into the vast grasslands like snowflakes," Tiger added breathlessly. "We couldn't catch them, let alone find their main force for a decisive battle. Once we were exhausted and relaxed, they would reappear like ghosts from another unexpected direction… It's the same every year, year after year. Like maggots clinging to our bones!"
Shen Yan, who was leaning against the ice wall, had opened his eyes at some point.
He fought his way through bloodshed.
He was a firsthand witness to this "hit and run, rob and go" tactic.
The thought of his son being trapped in such a quagmire filled him with a murderous intent that burned everything away, and he charged forward recklessly!
Hearing this, he looked troubled, and the wound on his left arm seemed to be throbbing again.
Ling Zhan used his dagger to slice off a small piece of dried meat that was frozen solid.
Her voice was calm, yet it was like a boulder thrown into stagnant water, instantly shattering the oppressive silence.
"General Huo, Xiao'er, have you ever pondered why the Di people are like weeds, impossible to burn out or drive away?"
General Huo frowned deeply: "The grasslands are bitterly cold; they lack food, clothing, and iron tools..."
"The root cause is that they cannot be self-sufficient."
Ling Zhan took over the conversation, his dagger tip precisely pointing at the vast but barren grassland area on the map.
"The grasslands may seem vast, but the areas that can stably produce enough to support a large population are extremely limited. Once a white plague strikes, the cattle and sheep freeze to death, and the entire tribe faces annihilation. The only way to survive is to raid southwards. When our army presses in, they flee thousands of miles away; when we withdraw to defend our territory, they return with renewed force. This cycle repeats endlessly, with no peace. Suppression is futile; blocking is impossible to suppress their instinct for survival!"
General Huo and Hu Zi fell silent.
This is precisely the unsolvable knot that has plagued the northwestern border defense line for thousands of years.
"so."
Ling Zhan's voice suddenly rose, clear and firm, carrying the power to pierce through the fog, "Killing won't kill them all! Blocking won't block their path to survival! The only solution is to cut off their lifeline—make them no longer need to plunder to survive, or make them feel that the losses from plundering far outweigh the gains from safe trade!"
The dagger in her hand traced the faint dotted line on the map, symbolizing the footprints of merchants.
"Build cities along the main trade routes, selecting points with stable water sources, terrain conducive to defense, and the ability to accommodate some agriculture and animal husbandry!"
Ling Zhan emphasized: "It is not merely a military fortress, but a city capable of accommodating garrison troops, merchants, artisans, and even herders and farmers who wish to settle down! A trade market will be established within the city, overseen by the government, with established rules to ensure fair trade. They can exchange cattle, sheep, horses, furs, and herbs for grain, salt, iron, cloth, and tea bricks!"
"fortification?!"
General Huo gasped, his face filled with disbelief and horror.
"How easy is that! The northern frontier is bitterly cold, with deep permafrost, making the transportation of building materials difficult and costly, potentially exhausting the nation's resources! Long-term supply after completion is an even greater challenge! Moreover, how can we convince the cunning, suspicious, and dog-eat-dog Di people, who are ingrained in their very nature, to believe in fair trade? They have long been accustomed to the risk-free profits and bloody thrill of plunder!"
"Precisely because it is as difficult as ascending to heaven, it is the foundation for a lasting and permanent solution!"
Ling Zhan's eyes gleamed with a wisdom that seemed to foresee the future.
"Although the cost is enormous, the expense of building a city is only one-tenth of the military expenditure of border garrisons over several years! The funds for building the city can be raised in installments, using war to fund construction—the wealth accumulated from the years of plunder by the major bandits who plague the trade routes can be used as the initial capital! As for the Di people's suspicions..."
Her tone turned cold, carrying the resolute determination of a demon warrior: "Initially, we must protect the market with weapons and establish trust with ironclad rules! Anyone who dares to violate the market will be killed without mercy! Once they personally experience the benefits and see that our government always keeps its word and that transactions are fair, their doubts will disappear. Habits can also be reversed!"
She paused, sketching out a vision of the future.
"The city is like a stabilizing force embedded in the grassland! In the early days, it was garrisoned by the army to eliminate bandits and protect the safety of trade routes."
She emphasized it again.
"A mixed agriculture and animal husbandry system must be developed within the city: taking advantage of the abundant water and grass in the northwest frontier during the summer, areas should be designated for herders willing to abide by city rules and participate in trade to graze their livestock; at the same time, manpower should be organized to cultivate cold-resistant fields and plant millet, wheat, cold-resistant vegetables, and cotton for warmth. Craftsmen should forge tools and process furs; merchants should circulate goods from all directions. The army should protect all of this and also benefit from this stable supply of materials, greatly reducing the burden of supplying the rear thousands of miles away. Over time, the city will form its own cycle, and its foundation will be firmly established!"
Shen Yan's spirits lifted, and he followed suit.
"Only by living together can we jointly withstand risks! Herdsmen have cattle and sheep, farmers have grain and cotton, artisans have tools, and merchants have trade. Even if the grasslands suffer from natural disasters, the city has stored grain, warm houses, and trade, which can save countless lives! If the Di people come to plunder again, they will face a well-prepared and well-fed garrison defending the city. The cost of plundering will increase dramatically, with nine out of ten people dying, making it a losing proposition! But once they have tasted the peace and stability of fair trade, food and clothing in winter, and no need to worry..."
Ling Zhan nodded, continuing his words, "If we send them back to their precarious lives of raiding, where they could be wiped out at any moment, divisions will arise within their own tribes! Time will ultimately prevail over order and survival. Remember not to rush things. Instead, we should build cities one by one, proceeding step by step, like silkworms devouring leaves, until we eventually bring the entire grassland under the order of civilization!"
The igloo was completely silent, with only the faint sound of wind and snow howling outside the ice walls.
This made the small space feel even more somber and cold.
"mother."
Tiger broke the silence in a low voice, his voice filled with worry.
“Let Lan Ying come in and warm up for a while, shall we? Snow wolves are resistant to the cold, but they're not made of iron! Besides, it grew up in the big wooden house on the mountaintop since it was a cub…”
Lan Ying has always loved sticking to Hu Zi on the mountaintop since she was a child, and this affection is naturally very deep.
Shen Yan immediately chimed in, “Yes! It’s warmer when we’re all squeezed in! Quick! Let Lan Ying in!”
Ling Zhan glanced at Shen Hong and Shen Yan, then listened to the increasingly mournful howling wind outside, and nodded helplessly.
"Let it in, but be careful not to touch the injured."
Lan Ying's enormous silver-gray body squeezed into the ice house, instantly making the already cramped space even more confined. A mixture of wolf fur, ice and snow, and a faint smell of blood filled the air.
Shen Hong and Shen Yan tried to shrink themselves in.
Lan Ying's amber eyes swept around in the dim light and immediately locked onto Hu Zi.
A low, almost whimpering sound came from its throat, and its massive body, accompanied by a gust of cold wind, carefully pushed aside the others.
He gently nestled his big, furry head into Tiger's arms—where was the wolf king's majesty in all of a shred?
They're even more affectionate and clingy than a pet dog!
Watching the two of them embrace each other affectionately, oblivious to everyone else around them.
Shen Yan couldn't help but grin and mutter under his breath.
"Tsk, brat, I've never seen him so clingy to his own father..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ling Zhan kicked him in annoyance, and the old man reluctantly swallowed back his jealousy.
General Huo had no time to pay attention to these things at the moment.
Leaning on a makeshift cane, his gaze was fixed on the simple yet significant map on the ice.
Then she slowly moved toward Ling Zhan's calm, tired face, which radiated astonishing wisdom and strength.
The initial shock and doubt.
Like ice and snow, they melted under Ling Zhan's burning gaze.
Instead, it brought a profound sense of awe and deep reflection, like a sudden awakening.
This idea is too bold, too difficult, it's practically defying the heavens!
But... what if, what if it could really happen?
A burning flame rekindled in Shen Xiao's eyes, a light of hope for the future.
Shen Yan leaned against the ice wall, her injured left arm draped casually over her shoulder.
But those deep eyes were fixed on Ling Zhan's profile as he spoke eloquently.
His lips curved upwards almost imperceptibly, then returned to their usual cold expression.
Deep within that gaze lay understanding, admiration, and a hidden pride that said, "She truly is my wife."
Meanwhile, a thousand miles away, in the warm pavilion of Cining Palace in the capital city.
The air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere, a stark contrast to the icy caves of northern Xinjiang.
The old concubine, dressed in simple everyday clothes, was General Huo's aunt.
She closed her eyes, twirling her prayer beads, listening to her trusted eunuch's almost whispered report.
"...At the court assembly today, Vice Minister Li of the Ministry of Works once again brought up the issue of the decadent and wasteful military affairs in the northern frontier. He mentioned that General Huo had underestimated the enemy and advanced recklessly, and his whereabouts had been unknown for nearly two months, with the fear that he had died for his country. His troops were temporarily led by a deputy general, but without a leader, morale was low, and the situation was critical. Vice Minister Li strongly advised the court to quickly send a capable general to take over and reorganize the defenses to prevent the Di people from taking advantage of the situation and causing a great disaster."
The eunuch's voice was kept extremely low.
The Dowager Consort's fingers, which were twirling the prayer beads, paused slightly. Her eyes remained closed, but her voice was as deep as an ancient well: "What does Your Majesty mean?"
"Your Majesty... seems to be considering it."
"It is true that there has been no news from the northern frontier, and General Huo has disappeared without a trace. However... due to your and the Huo family's generations of meritorious service, the Regent has not yet expressed his opinion, so no decree has been issued. However, several officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue have been secretly colluding, and many have voiced their support. Moreover..."
The eunuch's voice was even lower.
"It is mentioned that Shen Yan, the owner of Shen's Workshop, suddenly left the capital recently and his whereabouts are mysterious. It is likely that he is also related to the changes in the northern frontier. He should be investigated thoroughly."
"snort."
A cold, soft snort escaped from the Dowager Consort's nose, carrying undisguised mockery.
"A pack of hyenas, unable to resist the smell of blood! The Huo family has shed blood in the Northern Frontier for a hundred years; their bodies are barely cold, and they're already eager to devour them? That brat Shen Yan..."
She paused slightly, but subtly quickened the speed at which she twirled the prayer beads.
The eunuch held his breath and hung his hands, not daring to say a word.
After a long while, the Dowager Empress slowly opened her eyes.
Those eyes, which had seen the vicissitudes of life, showed no sorrow or grief, only a sharp insight into the ways of the world and a hint of deep-seated worry.
She gazed at the orange flames leaping in the fireplace.
It was as if I had traversed thousands of mountains and rivers to see the endless snow and ice-covered fortresses of northern Xinjiang.
“Go,” the voice was not loud, but it carried the authority of a rock, “find my ‘Gold-Inlaid Jade Ruyi’.”
The eunuch was slightly taken aback: "Your Highness, are you going to...?"
"Tomorrow, I will go to the Imperial Study to present His Majesty with a ruyi scepter."
The Dowager Empress's lips curled into a faint yet meaningful smile.
"By the way, let me tell you something, Your Majesty. I dreamt of the late Emperor last night. He said that although the snowstorms in the northern frontier are fierce and can break grass and trees, they cannot freeze the deep-rooted old trees. He told Your Majesty... to be patient and not let the snowstorm cloud your vision. Also,"
She abruptly changed the subject, her tone sharp as a knife, "Ask Your Majesty, the Ministry of Works cries poverty every year, saying that building cities wastes the national treasury. But the Northern Barbarians invade every year, stealing grain and goods, burning villages and cities, wasting huge sums of military funds, and paying for the deaths of soldiers... all these things combined, how many fortified cities could they build? This muddled account is beyond my understanding now that I'm old. Tell the Ministry of Revenue to do a proper calculation, draw up a clear account, and present it before the Emperor! Let all the civil and military officials see it!"
The eunuch was shocked, and instantly understood!
This is to use the late emperor's dream to awaken the sage's wisdom.
Using the Huo family's merits to exert pressure is a direct attack on the Ministry of Works and others for only caring about short-term gains and disregarding the long-term interests of the nation!
That imperial gift of a "gold-inlaid jade ruyi" serves as a silent reminder—never forget old friendships, and never let the hearts of loyal and virtuous people grow cold!
"Yes! This servant will do it immediately!" The eunuch bowed and quickly retreated.
Inside the warm pavilion, the sandalwood incense still burned.
The Dowager Empress closed her eyes again and began to pluck the prayer beads. An invisible tension had already begun to permeate the fragrant mist.
------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
