Chapter 467 - 388: A Glimmer of Hope
Chapter 467: Chapter 388: A Glimmer of Hope
Within Xiao Mo’s military camp, Crown Prince Qin Jingsu, Xiao Yang, and the others had complicated feelings after learning what had transpired in the Zhao Kingdom.
Bai Qi’s death was an immense loss for the Qin Kingdom.
It would have been better for Bai Qi to redeem himself through future service than to die for nothing by performing a military self-dissolution.
But Bai Qi was too sharp-edged, too young, and too proud.
It wasn’t that they couldn’t understand Bai Qi’s thoughts.
Like the Frost King, Bai Qi had never been defeated in all his years of campaigning.
This defeat was a devastating blow to him.
More importantly, Bai Qi had a stubborn personality—one that bordered on fanatical, even in the way he commanded his troops.
When Bai Qi commanded, military law was absolute, applied to all without favoritism.
Therefore, because he had made a military pledge, he believed that since the city had fallen, he had to atone for the failure with his life, as dictated by military law.
Perhaps, in his heart, Bai Qi was even thinking of making an atonement to the heavens with his death.
He might have believed that the failure of his strategy was due to a backlash from the Celestial Dao.
Bai Qi hoped that his sins of slaughter would not bring disaster upon his army.
It was unclear whether it was a coincidence, or if the Celestial Dao truly spared the Qin army from further punishment because of Bai Qi’s military self-dissolution.
After Bai Qi died, the spectral fire that had been burning for miles actually stopped.
The Qin Kingdom’s hundreds of thousands of soldiers were thus spared.
However, the fall of Water and Fire City ultimately created a massive problem.
Upon learning of the fall of Water and Fire City, Xiao Shi knew his supply lines were cut and that he would soon be caught in a pincer attack. He decisively led his troops to fight their way back.
In the end, Xiao Shi rallied the remaining three hundred thousand soldiers from Bai Qi’s forces and garrisoned them in Wei’e City, temporarily stabilizing the situation.
But the most troubling development was that Xiao Shi had suffered an accident during the great battle.
He was severely wounded, and his condition appeared to be dire.
"What are your thoughts, gentlemen?"
Xiao Mo asked the Crown Prince and the other generals.
Zhao Guang shook his head and spoke up. "Our Qin Kingdom is fighting a war on three fronts. The two most critical points are that General Xiahou must hold back the Qi Kingdom, and that our army and Prince Zhenbei’s army must gain the upper hand.
But with this turn of events for Prince Zhenbei’s army, the morale of the Zhao Kingdom’s forces will surely soar. I fear they will be able to free up their troops, which puts us in a very bad position."
"Indeed," Li Jing nodded. "If this continues, the disadvantage Prince Zhenbei’s army faces will spread to us. We must achieve a decisive victory immediately. Unless we can conquer the Jin Kingdom, I fear the outcome of this war will be grim for the Qin Kingdom."
"But the problem is, how can we possibly speed up our sieges?"
Hei Daniu scratched his head.
"I may be a rough man, but I’ve read a little about strategy," he said. "The Jin Kingdom isn’t flat plains we can just steamroll. Sieges take time, no matter what. And that’s not even mentioning that once the Jin soldiers hear about the great victory in the Zhao Kingdom, their will to resist will be even stronger than before."
"Perhaps we could adopt Prince Zhenbei’s method."
Just then, Crown Prince Qin Jingsu stroked his chin and spoke up.
"Your Highness means...?" Xiao Mo looked at Qin Jingsu, having a vague idea of what he was about to suggest.
"Gentlemen, please look."
Qin Jingsu pointed to the sand table and began to speak slowly.
"Right now, the Jin Kingdom’s capital isn’t far from us. The only reason we haven’t reached it is that we’ve been capturing the surrounding cities to secure our rear.
But if we advance along the line of Yaoqin City, Cangmang City, and Mingyue City, once we are past the Three-Foot Pass, our army can strike directly at the Jin Kingdom’s Imperial City!
Once the Jin Kingdom falls, we can still turn the tide of this war!"
Xiao Yang spoke up. "But, Your Highness, if we do that, we’ll need someone to defend Caiyun City to the death—just as General Bai Qi did at Water and Fire City—to protect our army’s rear."
More importantly, the enemy will attack from all sides! Holding that city will be no easy task!"
"But we just have to hold it, don’t we?" Qin Jingsu turned, bowing respectfully to Xiao Mo. "If you trust me, General, I, Jing Su, can hold Caiyun City. I won’t let so much as a fly pass!"
"..."
Xiao Mo’s brow furrowed as he listened to his generals.
Finally, Xiao Mo shook his head. "This is no small matter. Allow me to think on it. You are all dismissed for now."
"Yes, General!"
The generals gave a fist-and-palm salute and withdrew from the command tent.
Sitting in his tent, Xiao Mo took a sip of tea, his gaze fixed on the sand table before him.
After drinking half a pot of tea, he set the teapot down and sighed. "I knew it. I knew the Crown Prince would come back to find me."
At the entrance to the tent, Qin Jingsu stood ramrod straight, a smile on his face as he looked at Xiao Mo. "Brother-in-law, you know what I’ve come to say."
Xiao Mo shook his head. "The risk is too great. If the worst happens and Caiyun City falls, my army will be trapped. The Qin Kingdom would truly be finished..."
"And that is why I must be the one to defend Caiyun City!"
Qin Jingsu walked to Xiao Mo’s side, his smile fading as he spoke with utmost seriousness.
"The war has reached a critical point. General Xiahou is finding it harder and harder to hold his position. On the Zhao front, our Qin Kingdom has lost all advantage, and worse, Prince Zhenbei is severely wounded.
If things continue like this, the Qin Kingdom’s position will only grow more precarious.
Rather than wait for the inevitable, we must take a gamble! It’s our only chance of survival!
As the Crown Prince of the Qin Kingdom, my presence defending Caiyun City is the only way to truly unite the soldiers and raise their morale.
Besides, brother-in-law, you shouldn’t underestimate me.
When it comes to defending a city, I know a thing or two!"
"..." Xiao Mo remained silent, offering no reply.
Qin Jingsu continued, "Brother-in-law, I know what you’re worried about. You’re afraid I’ll do something foolish. But rest assured, I am no fool. I won’t throw my life away if I can live! This is not an impulsive act, and I will not act recklessly. I swear I will hold out until the Jin Kingdom’s capital falls!"
After Qin Jingsu finished speaking, the tent fell silent.
Xiao Mo and Qin Jingsu stared at each other.
"How many soldiers do you need, Brother?"
Xiao Mo finally asked after a long pause.
In his heart, Xiao Mo knew it too. ’To turn the tide now, we have to risk everything in a do-or-die gamble.’
"Two hundred thousand!" Qin Jingsu declared. "I only need two hundred thousand soldiers! I can definitely hold out until the day the Jin Royal Family collapses!"
"Fine! I agree, Brother!" Xiao Mo nodded. "But don’t you forget what you promised me. You must come back alive! You are the Crown Prince of the Qin Kingdom, Brother. And right now, the Qin Kingdom has no other princes!"
"I understand."
A smile touched the corners of Qin Jingsu’s lips. He gave a final bow, then turned and walked out of the tent, his voice drifting back from outside.
"When I return, brother-in-law, make sure you have a victory feast waiting for me!"