160: Chapter 0160 Going to the Meeting Alone

One day later.

Qin Water City.

After a night of heavy, goose-feather snow, the world was wrapped in silver.

Hundreds of cargo ships were docked along the Cang River pier.

A group of merchants from all over the country gathered in a tavern, drinking sullenly and sighing as they gazed at the snow.

"It's been days already, why won't they let us pass?"

"Haven't you seen that the people from the Water Transport Office won't even use pickaxes to break the ice? It's clear they aren't letting us through today either."

"Our payment has been tied up this whole time. By the time spring comes, who will buy these winter goods? Won't I be ruined?"

"Prince Bai and Prefect Jiang are playing power games with Lin Xiao of the Zhenbei Army. As long as the Zhenbei Army doesn't withdraw from Lincang, these ships can't pass!"

"If you ask me, just let the Zhenbei Army fight their way in! I heard that life in Baishui and Wu Mountain is pretty good right now!"

"Do you think Qin Water is Lincang? There are no concrete roads around here; how would the Zhenbei Army resupply?"

"So there's no other way? We can only sit and wait?"

"Sigh... what else can we do? Those corrupt officials don't care about the lives of us commoners."

"Shh! Keep it down! That He fellow is coming!"

Hearing this, the merchants hurriedly lowered their heads and fell silent, not daring to look outside.

Not far away on the pier, several officials and their attendants arrived.

The leader was none other than the Water Transport Commissioner of Qin Water Prefecture, He Haoan.

As a water transport hub, the water transport business naturally yielded a lot of profit.

He Haoan's other identity was the second young master of the Earl of Anyang's family in Shazhou.

This Earl of Anyang was a study companion to Prince Bai, and with this status, he naturally held an extraordinary position in the Six Prefectures of the Northern Territory.

In Qin Water Prefecture, Prefect Sun Zhao was the head on paper, but the real person in charge was this Water Transport Commissioner, He Haoan.

But right now, the second young master He did not have his usual official airs, because another important figure was standing beside him.

"Master Gao Jinyi, look, thirteen more cargo ships arrived today, and we've detained them all."

He Haoan said with a smug expression to the burly man in black, about fifty years old, standing next to him.

This man in black had gray hair and a beard, was missing an eye, and had a very fierce appearance.

Master Gao Jinyi, commander of the White Kings Army's secret guards.

When it comes to Prince Bai's trusted aides in the army, General Lu Sanchuan, the Silver-Armored General, certainly ranks first, and the second is this Master Gao Jinyi!

Master Gao Jinyi came from Blade Mountain and was famous in the martial arts world when he was young.

After being hired as Prince Bai's martial arts instructor, he was deeply trusted by Prince Bai.

Later, during a crisis, he saved Prince Bai's life, losing an eye in the process.

It is said that Master Gao Jinyi has been unable to step into the realm of a Martial Arts Grandmaster because of the severe injuries from that battle.

"Official He, intercepting the ships is only the first step. Prince Bai does not wish to hear any negative voices."

He Haoan smiled knowingly: "Master Gao Jinyi, just tell Prince Bai that those who are wagging their tongues have all been arrested by me!"

"The ultimate culprit of this matter will only be Lin Xiao of the Zhenbei Army; it will absolutely not damage Prince Bai's reputation!"

"Hmm... once it's done, I will personally request a reward for you in front of His Highness!"

"Thank you, Master Gao Jinyi!"

He Haoan's eyes were filled with excitement; as the second son of the Earl's estate, he could not inherit the title, so clinging to Prince Bai was especially important.

Although this matter would inevitably bring him a bad reputation, he didn't care at all!

Once he achieves success in the future, who will care about what happened here?

"My lords!"

A secret guard hurried over to report: "Spies from Lincang have sent word that early this morning, five thousand troops of the Zhenbei Army broke camp and are heading toward Qin Water!"

Hearing this, He Haoan turned pale, "What!? In such cold weather, does Lin Xiao really dare to come!?"

Master Gao Jinyi was not surprised and gave a cold laugh.

"Other than sending troops to attack Qin Water, he has no other choice, unless he crawls back to Baishui. But he certainly won't be willing to spit out Lincang after having taken it."

"If everything goes smoothly, the Zhenbei Army should be able to reach the outskirts of the city by tomorrow morning at the earliest."

He Haoan was extremely anxious, "Master Gao Jinyi, our garrison in the city is no match for the Zhenbei Army, you must think of a way!"

"Don't be anxious. Prince Bai has already issued a mobilization order. I will have the five thousand troops from Yangquan rush over overnight."

"The main army will arrive by tomorrow afternoon at the earliest. We only need to hold out for a few hours, why panic?"

Hearing this, He Haoan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Haha, with the White Kings Army assisting, those five thousand Zhenbei Army soldiers can forget about breaking the city!"

Master Gao Jinyi narrowed his eyes and said: "There is one more thing we must guard against. Lin Xiao has high martial arts skills; even the Faceless Boy couldn't kill him, and he has entered enemy camps alone several times before..."

"Official He, don't return to your residence today. Come with me to the military camp and stay there. With five hundred secret guards protecting you, whoever comes will die!"

He Haoan was naturally eager, "I rely entirely on you, Master Gao Jinyi!"

Master Gao Jinyi looked toward the gray, misty sky to the north, his only remaining right eye flashing with a cold glint.

"God of War of the Border? Hmph, let this old man properly meet you!"

Ever since the deputy commander Qi Wenjun made a fool of himself with the "Emei Peak" incident, the secret guard camp had been unable to hold its head high within the White Kings Army.

Although Prince Bai did not punish the secret guards, his attitude toward his mentor was clearly not as good as before.

Master Gao Jinyi had volunteered to come to Qin Water to oversee the troops this time specifically to regain trust!

The group mounted their horses and were just preparing to return to the camp when they saw a garrison soldier rush over to report: "Reporting to the two masters! A woman has arrived outside the city gate, wearing armor and has set up a military flag!"

"She said she only gives us half an hour. If we don't open the city gate, she will kill her way into the city!!"

Hearing this, Gao and He could not help but suspect something was wrong with their ears.

"A... a woman?!" He Haoan was astonished.

"What is written on that military flag?" Master Gao Jinyi asked.

"It is the character 'Mu'!"

Master Gao Jinyi laughed: "It must be General Mu Tiexin's daughter! A fine successor of the Mu Family, truly a heroine who does not yield to men!"

He Haoan also remembered that the remnants of the Mu Family had now defected to the Zhenbei Army.

"Master Gao Jinyi, there isn't much left of the Mu Family Army now, they are not worth fearing. Let's just ignore her!"

Master Gao Jinyi waved his hand, "If Mu Wanying dares to come and provoke us single-handedly, ignoring her will damage our morale."

"I happen to have some old connections with General Mu Tiexin, so I will go and meet this little niece to see how her martial arts training is!"

"Official He, follow my men back to the military camp and don't go anywhere!"

He Haoan was naturally too lazy to go to the freezing city gate, so he immediately agreed.

Master Gao Jinyi mounted his horse and galloped all the way to the south gate.

After going up to the city tower, he saw a female general in golden-scaled black armor in the cold wind, a few hundred meters away.

Her skin was whiter than snow, her figure as upright as a pine tree, and her jet-black hair was tied into a long ponytail with a red cord.

In one hand, she carried a wine flask, and in the other, she leaned on a long spear wrapped in black cloth.

Behind her was only a white warhorse, and a military flag with the character "Mu" snapped violently in the wind!