Chapter 1572 - 493: Xia City in Turmoil, Han Yue’s Death, the Earth Trembles (Part 3)
Chapter 1572: Chapter 493: Xia City in Turmoil, Han Yue’s Death, the Earth Trembles (Part 3)
Tie Xinchuan is an old acquaintance from the Great Xia Slope, experienced in countless battles, how could he not recognize that what lay under the white cloth was a corpse? His body trembled suddenly, then immediately turned his gaze away and looked up, trembling as he asked again, "Lord Qiu, Han Yue... is she alright?"
None of the people present spoke, but their hearts all trembled slightly.
Qiu Peng’s expression was extremely heavy, not knowing how to answer, he could only remain silent.
Not hearing a response for a long time, Tie Xinchuan’s eyes instantly reddened, and then he stumbled towards the position of the white cloth.
Tie Xinchuan deliberately slowed his pace, clearly only a dozen meters away, yet it felt like he was walking for a century. He finally reached the edge of the white cloth, and then with a pained expression, squatted down and slowly uncovered it.
"Ah......"
Seeing the horribly twisted expression on the face of his wife of three years, and the tragic state of her limbs, Tie Xinchuan’s emotions instantly collapsed. His legs gave way, and he fell to the ground. After picking up Han Yue’s corpse, he raised his head and let out a wail of grief, his tears pouring down like rain.
"Yue’er, Yue’er, don’t scare me, wake up quickly..."
"Shiyu is only two years old, he can’t be without a mother, Yue’er wake up quickly."
"I beg you, Yue’er, don’t scare me, wake up, wake up quickly, don’t sleep anymore."
.........
Tie Xinchuan repeated his calls with a numb expression, trying to wake his wife in his arms. From his gentle attempt to restore her face and limbs, it was clear he had already come to terms with the fact that his wife was dead.
This numb repetition of calls was only an unconscious act, brought on by his heart’s refusal to believe this fact and overwhelming grief.
Tie Xinchuan’s grief-stricken cries moved everyone in the hall, even Li Xuanling, who sat at the head, couldn’t help but feel touched.
"Madam, send troops!"
Yuan Cheng’s chest burned with anger to the extreme, he finally couldn’t bear it. He stood up directly, cupped his hands and spoke in a deep voice to Li Xuanling at the head.
Qiu Peng immediately followed suit, clasping his hands, "Yang Jian showed up tonight, this matter must have been orchestrated by Beishuo single-handedly, and the other Xianyang levels must have come from the two vassal towns, Chencang and Cai Qiu, in that case, Jin Mountain and Wuchuan, as well as Yangqu and Dragon Valley, all four towns are involved.
The Northern Five Towns are long dead and buried, with Chencang and Cai Qiu’s large armies unable to move southward. With Great Xia’s current strength, annexing the five towns is no longer a problem. We should send troops immediately!"
"If not for Chief Steward Han Yue protecting him with her life, the Second Prince might have really been taken by those villains tonight. We should send troops to annihilate Beishuo, both to avenge Lady Han Yue and to intimidate the two vassal towns, to show them that Great Xia’s reverse scale must not be touched!"
"What nonsense about vassal towns, these 23 Xianyang levels don’t even dare to fight openly, they have to hide in the dark, carrying out assassinations and abductions. The escaped Yang Jian and the other 5 people tonight, each and every one of them must be accounted for, using their blood to honor Lady Han Yue!"
"Our Great Xia has tolerated the existence of the Northern Five Towns on the Southern Slope for the sake of Cai Qiu and Chencang. The two vassal towns have already taken an inch to take a mile several times in recent years, and now they have the audacity to target the Second Prince. If this isn’t unbearable, what is? We must act!"
"The unification of the Southern Slope has always been the lord’s grand plan, what’s there to hesitate now? The Minister and Director Yuwen will personally lead sixty thousand troops to suppress the north, where our army points, victory will follow, annihilating the five towns without delay!"
"Madam, send troops!"
"Madam, send troops!"
.........
In no time, the hall was filled with fervor, everyone was petitioning Li Xuanling to send forces to attack the Northern Five Towns.
Li Xuanling lowered her head and looked at Han Yue’s body on the ground. Despite the gratitude in her heart, there was more fear. Just as the people below had just said, if it wasn’t for Han Yue protecting him with her life tonight, it would have been her son who was abducted.
If Xia Yusheng had been taken by Yang Jian and his group, with her husband Xia Hong’s temperament of never being coerced, the outcome might have been even more tragic than Han Yue’s. She herself, as a mother, would likely live a life of regret.
Thinking of this, Li Xuanling clenched her fists tightly, and the fear within her instantly transformed into an overwhelming fury. She stood up from her chair, looked at the people below, and spoke sternly:
"Beishuo, as a member of the South Slope Alliance, colluded with two vassals, boldly came to Xia City to assassinate my son. This is intolerable, there’s no need for further patience. With the lord absent now and all of you petitioning, I shall act in his stead. Immediately formulate a grand army, launch a northern expedition against the traitors. Director of the Garrison Department, Yuan Cheng, heed my command..."
"Your subordinate is here!"
The first one named, Yuan Cheng, was immediately invigorated in spirit, and he stood up directly, cupping his hands in respect to Li Xuanling.
"Order you to lead your Dragon Slayer Army, along with the Golden Sword Army commanded by Xu An, the Zhaolong Army led by Zhu Shun, the Brave Army led by Zhu Xing, and the Vigorous Martial Army led by Lin Ye. Together these five armies, totaling ten thousand, will form the rear northern expedition army. Promote you to Rear Marshal. Regardless of where the five armies are stationed, they must gather at Chui Mountain Town within three days, monitoring Yangqu and Dragon Valley for any movements and launching an attack immediately if there are any anomalies."
"Your subordinate accepts the order!"
"Director of the Hunting Department Luo Yuan, heed my command."
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Order you to lead your Tiger Leopard Army, along with the Divine Martial Army led by Hong Tian, the Steel Mane Army led by Zhao Hu, and the Golden Eagle Army led by Zhao Bao. Together these four armies, totaling eight thousand, will form the central northern expedition army. Promote you to Central Marshal. Regardless of where the four armies are stationed, they must gather at Muyin Town within three days. Your task is heavier, you must not only cooperate with the rear army to monitor Yangqu and Dragon Valley but also divide your forces to closely watch for any movements in the northern Jin Mountain and Wuchuan."
"Your subordinate complies!"
"Director of the Civil Affairs Department Murong Chui, heed my order."
"Your subordinate is here!"
"The central army’s task is heavy, I hereby promote you to Central Deputy Marshal. Head immediately to Muyin Town to recruit the highest Cold Resistance Level to form a temporary army. The army will be unified under the Central Marshal’s command and must not have fewer than 2000 troops."
"Your subordinate accepts the command!"
"Qiu Peng, heed my order."
"Your subordinate is here!"
"From now on, the Camp Supply Department is to requisition laborers throughout the Great Xia territory, ensuring smooth roads for all marching fronts; immediately allocate military tents, rations, Dan Medicine, weapons, war armor, and all necessary supplies according to the army numbers, sending them to Hanqiong, Chui Mountain, and Muyin, ensuring the soldiers’ needs; also, command all the Defensive Armies in the Great Xia territory to strengthen internal defenses without fail."
"Your subordinate accepts the order!"
After arranging the two road armies and the supply affairs, Li Xuanling pondered for a moment, then turned to look at Xu Ning and said, "Xu Ning, Lin Kai, heed my command."
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"You two head immediately from Hanqiong to Beishuo, instruct Lu Yang. I will have the East Sun, Black Arrow, and Qing Jiao armies stationed in Hanqiong, have him ready to rise in Beishuo at any moment;
Also, head to Dongchuan and Jinyang cities to convey my command. Minister Xia Chuan will lead 30,000 troops from Dongchuan City as the Left Strategy Army, Director of the Military Department Yuwen Dao will lead 30,000 troops from Jinyang City as the Right Route Army, promoting both to Marshals of the left and right armies, to launch an attack on Beishuo in three days without fail!"
"Your subordinate accepts the command!"