Chapter 343 Ten days left, not too many, not too few.
Inside Yanmen Pass, Xiao Mo was changing the dressing on his arm wound in the city lord's mansion.
Xiao Mo simply used some basic herbs and then wrapped it with a clean white cloth.
"Brother Mo, why don't you bring some medicinal herbs over?" Xiao Gui said with some reluctance.
"No need." Xiao Mo shook his head. "There aren't many spiritual herbs and remedies left in the army. I'll give the brothers what I can. My physique is still good, and I recover quickly."
After tying the white cloth tightly, Xiao Mo stood up: "Let's go to the main hall. We can't keep our Wei envoy waiting too long."
"yes."
Xiao Gui followed behind Xiao Mo and walked towards the main hall of the city lord's mansion.
The envoy from Wei was already waiting in the main hall.
"I, Xiao, have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me, Your Excellency."
Xiao Mo stepped forward and respectfully clasped his hands in a salute.
"General Xiao, you're too kind. It's normal for you to be so busy with affairs of state," said Meng Cang, the envoy from Wei, with a smile. "May I ask if General Xiao is ready to receive the imperial decree?"
“That’s natural.” Xiao Mo nodded.
Meng Cang unfolded the imperial edict in his hand and read aloud, "Xiao Mo, receive the edict."
Xiao Mo bowed and cupped his hands: "General Xiao Mo, who has surrendered, receives the imperial decree!"
"The Frost King Xiao Mo is a man of extraordinary talent and martial prowess, divinely endowed with wisdom and strategy. He is a man of both literary talent and martial prowess, a rare and exceptional talent."
In the past, during the Battle of Wei, the battle at Shuanghong City shook the world. When the silk was torn and the weapons were wielded, the musician Zhu Jian witnessed it and was moved to compose "Shuanghong Breaking the Formation Song". This song resounded through the heavens and swallowed mountains and rivers. It was sung throughout the four seas. Although I live in the Wei Palace, I have long admired its splendor.
When the Northern Wilderness raised an army, it caused a temporary rift with our Wei. However, in matters of war, each side acted in its own interest; the hearts of gentlemen should be as vast as the sun and moon.
Now, Xiao Qing understands the general trend and recognizes the will of Heaven. He has abandoned darkness and embraced light, raising his banner to return to the throne. This is not only my good fortune, but also a blessing for the Wei Kingdom.
In the past, the title of Frost King was revered by all under heaven. Now, I, by the mandate of Heaven, hereby bestow upon Xiao Mo the title of Frost King of Wei, granting him three prefectures, bestowing upon him the axe and halberd, and granting him the authority to establish his own government and be treated as a grand official.
The fourth princess, Xu Shenge, is gentle, virtuous, and blessed with the spirit of the emperor; she is betrothed to a suitable husband.
On an auspicious day, prepare black and red silk and jade, perform the six rites, and let the mountains and rivers be our pledge, and the sun and moon our witness.
May the King and Princess live in harmony, forever securing the foundation of their nation.
"General Xiao Mo, who has surrendered, thanks Your Majesty!"
After speaking, Xiao Mo solemnly accepted the imperial edict.
"Frost King, now that His Majesty has issued the decree, we are colleagues. When will the Frost King open the city gates?" Meng Cang said with a smile.
"The city gates will naturally be opened." As he spoke, Xiao Mo lowered his voice. "But please wait a moment, Your Excellency. After all, not everyone in our Northern Wilderness Army is willing to surrender. I need to deal with some dissent."
"I understand, I understand." Meng Cang nodded, giving him a "I understand" look. "I just don't know how much time General Xiao will need?"
"It should be in the next two days," Xiao Mo stated clearly. "The day after tomorrow at dawn, I will open the city gates wide to welcome General Guo!"
"Alright." Meng Cang bowed. "Then we will wait for General Xiao."
"No problem, no problem."
Xiao Mo smiled, exchanged a few more pleasantries with Meng Cang, the envoy from Wei, and then had someone escort Meng Cang out of the city.
Not long after Meng Cang left, all the high-ranking generals of the Northern Wilderness in Yanmen Pass came to the main hall.
"General." The generals bowed to Xiao Mo.
Sitting on the city lord's high seat, Xiao Mo rubbed his eyes and said to everyone, "The Wei Kingdom has accepted my surrender request, and the imperial edict has just arrived."
The generals exchanged glances.
They all knew, of course, that Xiao Mo wasn't really going to surrender.
Zhao Guang stepped forward and asked, "General, shall we open the city gates, invite Guo Xin and the others into the city, trap them like turtles in a jar, and kill them?"
"Hehehe, Guo Xin isn't stupid." Xiao Mo shook his head and said, "Even if we invite them into the city directly, will he really go in? And he will definitely ask us to close the city's protective array. Once the protective array is closed and the city gates are opened, many things will be hard to say."
"Should we pretend to join the Wei army first, and then wait for an opportunity to stab them in the back?" said a general named Jiang Dayong.
“No.” Before Xiao Mo could answer, Li Jing spoke up. “Although Guo Xin got his current position through connections, he is still a veteran general, not a fool. If we integrate into the Wei army, the first thing they will do is to scatter us.”
“That’s right.” Xiao Mo nodded. “And do you really think that the Wei Kingdom is sincerely trying to persuade me to surrender?”
As soon as Xiao Mo finished speaking, everyone's eyes fell on him.
Xiao Mo casually tossed the Wei Kingdom's imperial edict onto the table: "To grant me the title of Grand Master of the Three Offices, to grant me the land of three prefectures, and to marry my fourth princess to me—is the King of Wei really that generous?"
"Then what do you mean, General?" Zhao Guang asked.
Xiao Mo shook his head: "How many days have passed since we sent the surrender document?"
Yang Chongyang replied, "Four days have passed, and a full twenty days have passed since we began to defend Yanmen Pass."
"Twenty days... cough cough cough." Xiao Mo coughed a few times, looking out of the main hall as if talking to himself, "Ten days left, not too many, not too few."
"General."
Thirty miles away, in the Wei army's camp, Meng Cang returned to his main tent to report.
At this moment, all the generals of the Wei army were waiting.
"How is it?" Guo Xin asked, his tone slightly anxious.
“Xiao Mo agreed to surrender, and his attitude was extremely polite, unlike his previous arrogance,” Meng Hao said truthfully. “Furthermore, Xiao Mo said that he would close the city's protective array and open the city gates the day after tomorrow.”
"Great!" Guo Xin slammed his fist on the table excitedly.
Yu You frowned and cupped his hands to Guo Xin, saying, "General, although Xiao Mo has surrendered, I am still worried about his tricks. I'm afraid we won't be able to enter the city the day after tomorrow. We need to get Xiao Mo to lead the city's garrison out first!"
"General Yu need not say more about that."
Guo Xin said with a smile.
"Does Xiao Mo think that there will be no consequences for surrendering? After Xiao Mo surrenders, we will let him lead the charge and wear down his soldiers. He is just a toothless tiger with his hands and feet tied. What is there to worry about?"
Finally, he returned to the Wei court. So what if he was granted the title of "Grand Master of the Palace"?
The three prefectures he granted him were all located in the wild and desolate lands of my Wei Kingdom, places of exile. Let Xiao Mo deal with those ferocious beasts and barbarians!
As for the fourth princess.
Haha, that fourth princess in the deep palace weighs as much as she's tall! Let Xiao Mo enjoy his life to the fullest!
Just when Guo Xin thought the situation was settled, two days quickly passed.
On the morning of the third day.
Guo Xin mobilized a large army and assembled them outside the military camp, waiting for Xiao Mo to open the city gates.
However, there was no movement at Yanmen Pass.
The soldiers on the city wall remained stationed like statues, their eyes fixed on the Wei army.
(End of this chapter)
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