Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 74 Taking Over Shuofeng, A Show of Force
The Northern Liang Valley is a place that seems insignificant on the map, accounting for less than one-tenth of Liangzhou's territory.

But this place produces half of the grain of the entire Liangzhou region.

Their population also accounts for about one-third of Liangzhou's total.

Its strategic significance and economic level are similar to those of Hanzhong.

There was only one prefecture in the Beiliang Valley: Shuo Prefecture.

The Chishui River, which originates outside Xiliang, divides the entire valley in two.

North of the Chishui River, there are five counties. The largest and closest city to the State of Qi is Wuwei, which is also the seat of Shuojun and the second largest city in Liangzhou.

South of the Chishui River are four counties, the largest of which is Shuofeng, less than ten miles from the river.

After Zhao Xiang's army was defeated and retreated to Shuofeng, he closed the city gates, gathered the remaining soldiers, and did not allow anyone to leave the city, awaiting orders from the imperial court.

He originally thought that the imperial court would order him to abandon the city and return south in order to preserve his soldiers, so he basically just waited in place and did nothing.

But after the order to hold the city came down, he knew that this time it was a matter of life and death. So he began to urgently build city defenses, dig moats, set up double city gates, and build and thicken the city walls.

Firstly, to increase the chances of survival, and secondly, to atone for one's mistakes and provide an explanation when the Sixth Prince arrives.

Upon learning that His Highness's reinforcements were about to descend from the Chishui River, Zhao Xiang diligently led several thousand troops to line up on the riverbank in advance to welcome His Highness.

However, only he could find the time to offer compliments at this moment.

In the main hall of the Zhang residence in the city, more than ten men dressed in fine silk robes gathered together. Most of them were elderly men over fifty or sixty years old, while a few were middle-aged men in their forties.

Although Shuofeng is not a prefecture capital, and is only the fourth largest city in the entire prefecture, it is home to a considerable number of powerful and wealthy families.

The reason is simple: the Beiliang Valley is the core of Liangzhou, the most fertile plain. Wuwei, on the other hand, is too close to the State of Qi, posing a constant risk of war. Therefore, this densely populated county in the heart of the valley became an ideal place for the powerful clans of Liangzhou to settle.

But who could have imagined that with the fall of Tongguan and the encirclement of Wuwei, Shuofeng would become the next strategic stronghold?

Before they could react and transfer their property out of the city, Zhao Xiang imposed a ban, prohibiting anyone from leaving the city without his permission, except for soldiers he authorized.

And just like that, there's no way out!

"Zhao Xiang told us before that the imperial court would allow them to withdraw their troops, and we could all move away together. The army would even help us protect our money. But now, the city moats have started to be dug, and not even a fly is allowed to fly out. Does this mean they intend to withdraw?" someone below asked.

"Yes, yes, isn't it obvious that they're going to defend the city?"

"And I've heard from outside that reinforcements are on their way!"

"Master Zhang," someone asked the most prestigious-looking elder at the top, "have you spoken to Zhao Xiang about this recently?"

Zhang Gong stroked his beard with some difficulty and said, "He said that the court has no intention of giving up on Shuofeng and has even sent a large army to help. Shuofeng will definitely be able to hold on."

"What army are you talking about?"

At this moment, a man stood up excitedly and said to the crowd, "I've heard that only a thousand people have come, and the leader is none other than the Sixth Prince, who has never led troops before!"

This statement caused an uproar.

After the city was sealed off, most news couldn't reach ordinary people.

So this crucial information immediately fooled everyone.

Is such a thing really true?

"A thousand men? How can a reinforcement of only a thousand men hold out? Zhao Xiang's army of tens of thousands was wiped out by Ji Yuan!"

"Besides, how can the general be the Sixth Prince? The Sixth Prince is just a child who has never experienced anything!"

"The court sent the Sixth Prince to guard the city... does that mean they won't give up?" someone speculated. "If Shuofeng is bound to fall, then the Sixth Prince, as the defending general, will also fall... he is the emperor's son."

"But the emperor doesn't like the Sixth Prince; in fact, he dislikes him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have remained a prince until he was twenty!"

The sky is high and the emperor is far away.

Especially in life-threatening situations like this, people become completely uninhibited about anything, even death.

"If we don't get out of here soon, we're doomed."

Everyone became anxious.

Every face was etched with fear of the city's fall and the loss of life.

Even if these people were from ancient times, they would be considered extremely old.

But that's just how people are—the richer they are, the more they cherish their lives.

"That bastard Zhao Xiang, he wouldn't let us out earlier!" An old man pounded his fist on the handrail and cursed, "If we wanted to defend the city, those ordinary people would have been enough. Why should we be the ones to defend it?"

"Yeah, yeah, we've never defended a city. Every time there's a battle, aren't we told to evacuate first before we fight?"

"This Zhao Xiang is both incompetent and rude."

"We need to see how this Sixth Prince is doing."

Amidst the chorus of curses, Zhang Gong pondered for a moment and said, "Although Zhao Xiang is incompetent, he has held a high position for many years. But this prince is, after all, just a child."

His words resonated deeply with everyone present.

After all, children are easy targets for bullying.

.........

After all the warships docked, all the soldiers and horses disembarked one after another.

Song Shi'an and Xin Yue quickly reunited with Wei Wusheng.

All three of them mounted their horses.

Song Shi'an and Wei Wusheng's horses rode side by side.

"Your Highness, we should proceed according to the original schedule," Song Shi'an said.

"I understand." Wei Wusheng nodded and said, "Everything will be done after all the supplies and troops have entered the city and the army is under complete control."

The two of them did indeed have a comprehensive plan.

But the most important thing right now is to integrate all the troops and to fully deploy the thousand Imperial Guards as officers at all levels.

That's right, all of these thousand people are trusted confidants.

From the moment they made the 'Langya Declaration', they were naturally different from others.

If Wei Wusheng were to gradually gain control of power, the thousand people with rebellious bloodlines would rise in rank far faster than the others.

To put it bluntly, if Wei Wusheng were to become emperor, Langya would not be a lower-ranking military officer.

"Can Zhu Qing and Qin Kuo handle it?" Wei Wusheng asked.

“Your Highness, this requires you to be courteous and respectful to scholars,” Song Shi’an said.

"okay I know."

Wei Wu nodded in agreement, then brought up the somewhat special person and asked, "Where is Zhao Xiang?"

Zhao Xiang's noble lineage is too pure.

His ancestors were close friends with Emperor Gaozu of Yu, indulging in debauchery and listening to music in brothels.

Even though he has been demoted to a centurion, his status is still there, and how he is treated will affect his future rule over the entire Shuofeng region.

"Your Highness."

Speaking of this person, Song Shi'an said directly: "If we are to implement iron-fisted military discipline, we cannot sit idly by and let certain people become the black sheep. After Zhao Xiang was defeated, he said that he wanted to preserve the soldiers for the court and then commit suicide after retreating south. He was just trying to gain the emperor's sympathy and escape the battlefield. Before the court's order was sent back after retreating to Shuofeng, he neither built city moats nor appeased the people, wasting this precious preparation time."

“Zhao Xiang is a bastard, truly despicable.” Wei Wusheng wholeheartedly agreed.

I also feel contempt for this person.

Looking at the angry Wei Wusheng, Song Shi'an spoke slowly and heavily, "Your Highness, as a young general, it is not enough to be loved by your soldiers with benevolence alone. You must be ruthless."

"I understand."

Wei Wusheng's gaze gradually hardened.

The army continued forward.

Soon, they met Zhao Xiang, who had been waiting in a line to greet them.

A general, whose armor gleamed and whose red undershirt was spotless, exuding an air of refinement and nobility, greeted the sixth prince with a warm smile and clasped his fist in greeting: "Your Highness, it's been a long time. You truly have the bearing of a renowned general now."

However, this polite remark was met with a cold, disdainful look from Wei Wusheng, who was sitting on his horse.

"This, this is the Tiger Tally and Seal, now handed over to Your Highness."

Sensing that the other party was unhappy, Zhao Xiang also composed herself. She took the wooden tray containing the tiger tally and the imperial seal, knelt on one knee, bowed her head, raised her hands, and presented it to Wei Wusheng.

Xin Yue dismounted and received the most important seal and talisman.

Zhao Xiang also slowly got up.

Did I tell you to get up?

Suddenly, Wei Wusheng asked in return.

Zhao Xiang bent her knees halfway and knelt down again.

The attempt to make amends on his face vanished, leaving only a stiff, awkward expression.

"The Qi invaders are approaching. You've given our precious time to prepare for battle, yet you've ordered the army to stand here in formation. Zhao Xiang, what are you planning?"

Without a trace of emotion, Wei Wusheng questioned again.

The generals and officials behind him were all holding their breath in tension and apprehension.

Slowly, Zhao Xiang raised her head: "Your Highness..."

Before he could finish speaking, Wei Wusheng lashed Zhao Xiang across the face with his whip, leaving half of her face covered in blood.

(End of this chapter)