Chapter 422 - 353: Treading Across the Lands of the Allied States
Chapter 422: Chapter 353: Treading Across the Lands of the Allied States
When he heard Xiahou Nan wanted to surrender, Xiao Mo froze, even wondering if he had misheard.
’In Xiao Mo’s opinion, the likelihood of a man like Xiahou Nan surrendering was far too low.’
"Is General Xiahou surrendering just like that? With no conditions?" Xiao Mo asked the messenger.
"To discuss the specifics, General Xiahou wishes to meet with the Frost King. The location would be between the two armies. Would the Frost King be willing to agree?" the messenger said.
Xiao Mo thought for a moment, then nodded. "In that case, tell General Xiahou that I will be waiting for him tomorrow at noon."
"Yes."
The messenger bowed and withdrew.
"General, you mustn’t!" After the messenger left, Li Jing and the others voiced their objections. "In my opinion, there must be something strange about this!"
"I agree," Zhao Guang added. "The chances of Xiahou Nan surrendering are incredibly slim. I fear it’s a trick."
"Xiahou Nan has been forced to abandon the city, and the Prince will be here soon. He’s a spent force, and the Wei Kingdom’s days are numbered. Why should we even entertain his surrender?"
"Exactly!"
The generals chimed in one after another, all agreeing that this was a mistake.
Xiao Mo raised a hand, and the voices gradually died down.
"I’m aware of all your concerns," Xiao Mo said slowly. "But I want more than just the Wei Kingdom."
"What do you mean, General?" Xiao Gui asked, confused.
"We’ve currently taken in two hundred thousand soldiers from the Wei Kingdom. While they may have surrendered, their loyalty is not guaranteed.
Xiahou Nan is highly respected within the army.
If Xiahou Nan genuinely surrenders to the Northern Wilderness, it will help solidify the loyalty of those soldiers.
Furthermore, Xiahou Nan is truly one of the greatest generals of this era.
In my eyes, he is worth far more than the entire Wei Kingdom."
Xiao Mo gazed at the sand table.
"Prepare food and wine for tomorrow. I shall treat General Xiahou to a drink!"
...
「The next day at noon.」
With the reinforcements from Xiao Shi and the surrendered soldiers Xiao Mo had recently taken in, a total of eighty thousand Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry and five hundred thousand infantrymen were arrayed on the battlefield.
Likewise, Xiahou Nan’s six-hundred-thousand-strong army stood in formation, ready for battle.
Directly between the two armies, a wooden table and two cushions had been set up.
Today, Xiao Mo was not wearing his Dragon Scale Armor. Clad in white robes and mounted on a white horse, he carried a food container and rode slowly toward the center.
Xiahou Nan was also in plain clothes, looking like a common Martial Artist as he walked toward Xiao Mo.
The Vice Generals of both armies nervously gripped their reins, their eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before them.
If either side made the slightest move, a massive battle would erupt in an instant.
"It’s been a while. You look more distinguished than ever, Frost King," Xiahou Nan said with a smile.
"Heh. On the other hand, General, you seem to have grown much more weathered," Xiao Mo replied honestly.
"Hahaha..." Xiahou Nan laughed heartily. "Please, Frost King, have a seat!"
"After you, General Xiahou."
The two knelt and sat opposite each other.
Xiao Mo opened the container, took out the food and wine, and personally poured a cup for Xiahou Nan. "Do you dare to eat the food I’ve brought, General?"
"Why wouldn’t I dare?" Xiahou Nan picked up the cup with a flourish and downed it in one go. He smacked his lips. "This Sangluo Wine from your Northern Wilderness really packs a punch. I didn’t like it at first, but the taste grew on me. I even tried to have it replicated once, but no one could ever get the flavor right."
"Sangluo Wine is an acquired taste," Xiao Mo said, taking a sip. "But after you’ve had it, other wines seem bland, and you just want more." He paused. "Elder General Du was also fond of it."
At the mention of Elder General Du, Xiahou Nan’s expression dimmed, and he sighed. "The Great Pillar of the Country had already retired to live out his days in peace. It was I who dragged him back to the battlefield. The fault is mine. I wronged the old general."
"Perhaps," Xiao Mo said, pouring another cup for both of them. "But before Elder General Du passed, he never blamed you, General. And he never expressed any regrets."
Xiahou Nan clutched his cup. "Did Elder General Du have any last words before he passed?"
"Elder General Du wished to be buried on that plain. He also wanted one last taste of Sangluo Wine," Xiao Mo said frankly. "In the future, General, you can bring wine to pay your respects."
Xiahou Nan nodded and raised his cup. "This toast is to you, Frost King. Thank you for granting the old general a final measure of dignity!"
"It was only right," Xiao Mo replied, raising his own cup. "But to return to the matter at hand, do you truly wish to surrender to my Northern Wilderness, General Xiahou?"
Xiahou Nan smiled. "What do you think, Frost King?"
"It doesn’t seem like it." Xiao Mo shook his head. "My guess is that you’re feigning surrender. You’ll ask to command your original subordinates, as well as the captured Wei soldiers under my command. Then, you’ll bide your time, wait for an opportunity to strike, shatter my army, and turn the tide of this war."
"It seems nothing gets past the Frost King."
"Anyone but a three-year-old child who has so much as glanced at a book of strategy could see your intentions, General."
"Hahaha..." Xiahou Nan burst into laughter again. As his laughter died down, he stared directly into Xiao Mo’s eyes, his gaze as sharp as a hawk’s. "You’re right. Just as you said. So, will you still accept my surrender, Frost King?"
"I will." Xiao Mo nodded. "Should you surrender to me, General Xiahou, all soldiers from the Wei Kingdom will fall under your command."
"..." Xiahou Nan narrowed his eyes. "You’re not joking, are you, Frost King?"
"I rarely joke," Xiao Mo said, shaking his head. "Because I won’t give you the opportunity. And I have my own methods to counter it."
"You are certainly confident, Frost King," Xiahou Nan said, downing another cup of wine.
"You could say that. But there’s another reason as well," Xiao Mo said with a smile.
"I’m all ears."
"Before Elder General Du passed, he told me that he, too, wanted to see the glorious age of a unified world. But sadly, he would not live to see it. And from what I know, you, General Xiahou, once studied under him for a time. You were his student, in a sense."
A gentle breeze rustled Xiao Mo’s hair and white robes as his voice drifted across the space between them.
"I was thinking that perhaps you, General Xiahou, could see the future unification of the Allied States in his stead."
Xiahou Nan: "..."
Xiao Mo slowly rose to his feet, brushed the dust from his clothes, and gave a fist-and-palm salute.
"You are a talent unmatched in this generation, General. You shouldn’t be confined to the Wei Kingdom.
While I cannot promise you anything specific...
...I can guarantee that you will one day campaign against the Allied States, face every famous general in the land, and tread upon the soil of every kingdom!
If you share this ambition, General... I will be waiting."
With that, Xiao Mo turned and walked away.
Xiahou Nan sat alone on the cushion, Xiao Mo’s words echoing in his ears.
By the time Xiahou Nan came to his senses and looked up, the figure in white had already receded into the distance.
...
From the *Annals of the Warring States Period, The Chronicle of the Frost King*:
On the twentieth day of the Northern Wilderness Army’s arrival at the Wei Capital, the Wei general Xiahou Nan laid down his armor and surrendered, relinquishing all command of his troops. The Frost King, Xiao Mo, personally rode ten li out to receive him, took him by the hand, and together they entered the camp to jointly attack the Wei Capital.