Chapter 196 Military Camp
As dawn broke, the servants of the general's mansion began to sweep.
The weariness in Xie Sangning's eyes was forcibly suppressed by the cold water, replaced by her usual calmness.
She went to see her father, Xie Zhenting, first.
Xie Zhenting, who was suffering from a hangover, had already woken up and was sitting at the table drinking strong tea to refresh himself.
Seeing his daughter come in, he put down his teacup and rubbed his still slightly swollen temples.
"Ning girl is here? Last night... Father drank a bit too much."
"Yesterday was a good day, Father, it's alright if you drank a little more. I've come here to ask you to take me to the military camp outside the city."
Xie Zhenting was stunned for a moment, then a smile spread across his face: "Go! Of course we should go! I was just about to take you! Over the years, if it weren't for your clever ideas, your concern for these rough men, your efforts to improve military rations for easier storage, your methods for processing furs to keep them warm, and your connections with caravans to transport grain over thousands of miles... these bastards would have starved and frozen to death in this desolate wilderness long ago! They wouldn't have the strength to guard the country's borders!"
As he spoke, his chest unconsciously puffed out, and the pride of a general and a soldier guarding the border was once again evident in his expression.
Looking at the pure pride of a soldier on his face, and the light that shone in his eyes when he mentioned guarding the country's borders, Xie Sangning felt a pang of sadness, a bittersweet ache.
Father... Do you know what kind of beastly king sits behind the gate of the country that you risked your life to protect?
She lowered her eyes, concealing the complex emotions surging within them, and whispered, "Father, you flatter me. The soldiers who fought valiantly are the true backbone. I was merely fulfilling my duty."
Xie Zhenting patted her shoulder with such force that Xie Sangning swayed slightly: "Let's go! Let's go now! Let them meet the female strategist of our Xie family!"
The two set off immediately, their carriage speeding along until they emerged from the grand city gates of the capital, where a breathtaking view unfolded before them.
After traveling for about two hours, a well-organized camp came into view.
Black banners fluttered in the cold wind, and the huge character "谢" (Xie) resembled a crouching beast.
The carriage did not drive directly into the camp gate. When it was still several hundred paces away from the camp, Xie Zhenting signaled to stop.
"Get out of the car, let's walk over," he said in a deep voice. "That's the rule in the military."
Xie Sangning understood and, with Ru Chun's help, stepped down from the carriage.
A cold wind instantly rushed into her clothes, and she wrapped her fox fur coat tighter around herself.
Just as her feet touched the ground—
"Thank you so much, Miss Xie, for saving my life!!!"
A unified roar, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, suddenly erupted from the camp ahead!
The roar surged and soared into the sky, making the ground seem to tremble slightly!
Caught off guard, Xie Sangning was startled by the sudden thunderous sound and stopped in her tracks, instinctively grabbing Ru Chun's arm tightly.
She looked up and saw a dark mass of people in front of the camp gate!
It wasn't a well-prepared military formation, but rather a dense mass of soldiers that stretched as far as the eye could see!
They weren't standing; they were all kneeling on one knee!
The armor on their bodies clashed, producing a dull metallic clang!
Tens of thousands of eyes were focused on her!
His eyes were filled with gratitude and respect that were almost overflowing!
Ru Chun was also stunned by the scene. After a while, she came to her senses, smiled, and gently helped the still somewhat dazed Xie Sangning to take a few steps forward and stand in front of the tens of thousands of kneeling soldiers.
The wind lifted the fur collar of her fox fur coat, revealing her slightly pale but serene face.
She was deeply shaken as she looked at the kneeling gratitude that weighed on her heart.
"All soldiers, rise at once!"
An old soldier kneeling at the front, missing an ear, suddenly raised his head, tears welling in his eyes, and hissed, “Young lady! Without the provisions, thick coats, and frostbite ointment you’ve managed to raise over the years… our brothers would have starved and frozen to death on the ramparts long ago! How could we still be alive to guard this border for the general?! You deserve this kneeling!”
As soon as these words were spoken, a chorus of genuine agreement erupted from behind.
Xie Sangning's gaze swept over those fervent faces, and a corner of her heart seemed to melt. She spoke again, her voice solemn:
"My lords! You are mistaken!"
The entire venue fell silent instantly, and tens of thousands of eyes were focused on her.
"This border is not guarded by me, Xie Sangning! Nor by my father alone!"
"It was you! It was you who, with your flesh and blood, with your frozen fingers, gripped the cold swords and spears, and with your hungry bodies, braved the biting winds of the frontier, repelling the invading enemy time and time again! It was you who gave your lives to bring peace to the millions of people in the rear!"
"What I, Xie Sangning, have done is merely the meager contribution that women and children in the rear should do! Compared with the achievements of you all who have sacrificed your lives on the front lines, it is insignificant!"
Her gaze was intense, sweeping across the entire room:
"I'm the one who should kneel!"
As she spoke, she actually did not hesitate at all, and gave a deep and solemn salute to the tens of thousands of iron-blooded soldiers in front of her!
"Young Miss, you mustn't!"
"You mustn't, young lady!"
Exclamations erupted instantly!
The old soldiers in the front row panicked and tried to get up to stop it, but Xie Sangning stopped them with a look.
She straightened up, looking at the soldiers before her who were even more excited and even somewhat at a loss because of her bow. Her eyes were slightly red, but her voice was even more resounding:
"You are the true backbone! You are the heroes who protect the lights of every home!"
"A hero should not kneel before anyone! He deserves the respect of all people!"
"From this day forward, Xie Sangning hereby swears that as long as the Xie family has a breath left, we will never let our soldiers guarding the border suffer from hunger and cold again! The tragedies of heroes shedding blood and tears will never happen again!"
Her vows resonated powerfully, like the thunder of war drums echoing in everyone's hearts!
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes filled with tears!
Xie Zhenting stood aside, watching the breathtaking scene unfold before him.
He stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Xie Sangning, facing the surging army, and suddenly drew his sword from his waist, the blade pointing straight to the sky, letting out a roar:
"Men! Show your skills! Let my daughter see! Our Xie family army has no cowards!!"
The military formation sprang into action instantly! Like a slumbering steel behemoth awakening! The martial arts exercise had begun!
The sound of drums shook the heavens!
Horse hooves shattered the ice and snow! The glint of swords tore through the cold wind!
The soldiers, like a pack of wolves hunting their prey, practiced their battle formations, hand-to-hand combat, and other fierce drills!
Every roar carries an unwavering determination, and every strike contains power forged through countless trials!
The entire camp was filled with the most primitive and ferocious aura of iron and blood!
Xie Sangning stood beside her father, the cold wind blowing against her temples.
She gazed intently at the immense power before her, a power that would terrify any enemy.
very good.
The first foundation stone has been laid.
She saw the sharpness of this national weapon.
So, what's next...?
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze seemingly piercing through the noisy training ground and landing in the direction of the imperial palace in the capital.
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