Chapter Twenty-Two: Uniting the Hearts of the People

The bone-chilling wind cut through to the bone as heavy snowflakes drifted down. Sun Wei dared not rest throughout the journey, finally leading the vanguard troops into the northern borders late that night.

Such a grueling forced march had truly exhausted the soldiers of the Great Qi army; many had collapsed and died along the way.

After setting up camp, Sun Wei sat in his command tent, his face dark with anticipation as he awaited the scouts’ report.

“Report, Commander! The Divine Strategy Army has recaptured Beining City this morning!”

This news struck Sun Wei like a thunderclap, causing him to rise instantly. His eyes burned viciously as they fixed upon Liu Zhizhong, inwardly wishing he could tear the man limb from limb.

Liu Zhizhong felt awkward and hesitated before saying, “Commander Sun, since the Divine Strategy Army has already taken the city, perhaps we should adjust our plans on the spot and wait for the reinforcements to arrive.”

The allied forces numbered one hundred and fifty thousand; they could not all have marched at such a furious pace. Large contingents, along with supplies and equipment, were still making their way slowly.

“In that case, General Liu, you may go and rest first.”

Sun Wei did not lose his temper but instead issued his order with unusual calm.

Once Liu Zhizhong had left, Sun Wei summoned his officers for a meeting.

Liu Zhizhong, watching from afar, only sneered coldly: “Flatter you for a few days, and you truly think this allied army cannot do without your command? We shall see!”

Meanwhile, inside the imperial palace of Daman City in the Jurchen Kingdom, Emperor Fucha Har was summoning the national advisor Gurna and Tulan.

“This defeat is my fault; I beg Your Majesty to punish me,” Gurna took the blame willingly.

But the Jurchen Emperor merely shook his head. “Qin Xuan’s strategy was open and aboveboard; I do not fault you.”

“Yet our Jurchen Kingdom has not suffered such humiliation for decades. This grudge must be avenged.”

To have the Great Qi Empire force even the royal army into the fight was a disgrace beyond compare.

“When I arrived, I met with the Great Qi envoy. The vanguard of their 150,000-strong allied army has already reached the northern border, and I estimate their full force will arrive by tomorrow evening.”

The deeply lined face of Gurna now radiated deadly intent. “Therefore, I urge Your Majesty to appoint Tulan to lead our Jurchen forces to join the attack on Beining City alongside the Great Qi allied army.”

“This plan is clever, but can we trust the Great Qi allied forces?”

The Jurchen Emperor was well aware of the coup attempt against the Great Qi emperor, Qin Xuan. From his perspective, if Jurchen produced a prodigy like Qin Xuan, he would entrust him with great responsibilities, rewarding him generously as long as he did not seek the throne.

In contrast, the Great Qi court and emperor sought to kill this King of Chu—an unfathomable mystery.

“Qin Xuan’s birth mother was a lowly palace maid. From childhood, he was not favored by the Great Qi emperor. Later, fearing Qin Xuan’s rising power, the emperor sought to eliminate him.”

“If not for that, Qin Xuan would not have been banished to Beining City.”

Gurna explained slowly before continuing, “Previously, the Great Qi allied forces were delayed by Qin Xuan’s stratagem, missing the chance to strike. But as the saying goes, brute strength overcomes skill. Even if this King of Chu is a reincarnation of Zhuge Liang, he cannot change the outcome against overwhelming force.”

“Very well, I hereby appoint Tulan as commander-in-chief of the three armies, leading one hundred thousand soldiers to retake Beining City.”

The Jurchen Emperor issued the order immediately.

Tulan’s blood surged with passion. “I shall not fail Your Majesty!”

As night fell, Beining City gradually grew quiet.

That day, the Divine Strategy Army had captured over three hundred rogue city defense soldiers and rounded up all remaining Jurchen remnants.

“Your Highness, the Divine Strategy Army suffered fourteen thousand deaths and twenty-two thousand wounded, leaving eighty thousand effective troops,” reported Zhao Luoying during a late-night council.

Qin Xuan sighed faintly upon hearing the casualty report.

“Have the more than thirty thousand refugees been settled?”

“For now, they are housed in the western part of the city. That area was once a marketplace but abandoned after repeated Jurchen raids—just suitable,” Ning Yuanfeng replied.

“Tomorrow, separate the artisans from the rest. We must accelerate the repair of the city walls, but ensure their food supply is secure,” Qin Xuan reminded.

Ning Yuanfeng nodded promptly.

“What about other matters?”

“The city gates have been repaired, but some towers still need work. Also, I fear the weather will grow colder, and our winter supplies remain insufficient,” Zhuge Xuan reported.

In Tianshan City, Qin Xuan had specially gathered some cold-weather gear, including clothing.

However, along the journey, most of these had already been distributed to the refugees, leaving little for the Divine Strategy Army.

“Any new developments from Daman City or the Great Qi allied forces?”

This was Qin Xuan’s chief concern.

Upon hearing this, Guan Xingsheng stepped forward. “According to scouts, about thirty thousand of the Great Qi allied vanguard have crossed into the northern border. Daman City, however, remains quiet for now.”

“The enemy will not give us much time. We must prepare for a second battle in the near future,” Qin Xuan’s heart grew stern. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Du Manjiang, issue a recruitment order tomorrow. We must mobilize the people of Beining City—that is key to our defense.”

“Secondly, for the original city garrison, those who have committed offenses but have not stolen or killed may be allowed to redeem themselves through merit.”

It was a reluctant measure.

The original garrison was thoroughly corrupt. If military law were strictly applied, half would be executed.

“What about the Jurchen prisoners?” Zhao Luoying asked.

A cold gleam flashed in Qin Xuan’s eyes. “Kill them all. Leave no one alive.”

“Isn’t that too cruel?” Zhuge Xuan could not help but ask.

Qin Xuan shook his head, his gaze unwavering. “Beining City’s backbone has been broken by the Jurchen army. To rise again, we must kill these prisoners—and do so openly, before all the citizens.”

“We must let the people see that the Jurchen soldiers bleed like ordinary men. Only by releasing the fear that has built up in their hearts can we hold this city.”

Qin Xuan knew that when the full 150,000-strong Great Qi allied army arrived, combined with Tulan’s forces, the Divine Strategy Army alone could not defend both the north and south gates.

Even adding the original city garrison’s few tens of thousands would only prolong the inevitable.

Therefore, he had to mobilize the people, which was why he had swiftly executed corrupt officials and rogue soldiers upon breaking the city.

“Your Highness intends to unite the entire city’s strength to defend the walls?” Zhuge Xuan said in admiration.

“This is the worst-case scenario,” Qin Xuan took a deep breath. “No one wishes to put unarmed civilians on the battlements unless absolutely necessary.”

Those words fell heavily, silencing everyone present.