165: Chapter 0165 My Husband's Love

"It has arrived."

Lin Xiao did not go to open the door; instead, he clapped his hands twice.

Soon, a slip of paper was slid in through the crack in the door.

The messenger left quickly.

Lin Xiao gestured with his hand, and the paper flew into his palm. He unfolded it and took a look...

"As expected..."

"Husband, is this about the movements of the White Kings Army?"

Xiao Qingxuan and Mu Wanying were not surprised. They knew that Su Wansha's father, Su Chang, managed the academy's intelligence network.

Within Cang Province, it was easy for Lin Xiao to obtain information.

Lin Xiao nodded and showed the note to the two women.

"The White Kings Army is traveling downstream. At this speed, they will arrive just after our Zhenbei Army tomorrow."

Mu Wanying frowned and said, "However... our men have traveled a long distance and are exhausted."

"The White Kings Army is traveling by water, so they have expended very little energy. This is very disadvantageous for us."

Xiao Qingxuan nodded. "Even if we can win, it will be a fierce battle."

Lin Xiao smiled. "My two wives, you have worked hard today. Leave tomorrow's battle to your husband!"

The two women looked at each other, suddenly realizing something.

"Husband... are you planning to take on five thousand soldiers of the White Kings Army all by yourself?!"

Mu Wanying shook her head quickly. "That is too dangerous! Even if your divine skills are unparalleled, there will always be times when you make a mistake or run out of energy!"

"If it were any other season and the White Kings Army were marching on land, then I would indeed face significant risk going alone."

Lin Xiao said playfully, "But they have chosen neither the right time nor the right place."

"Husband, you are planning to exploit the water route!?" Xiao Qingxuan suddenly realized.

Mu Wanying's eyes lit up. "That's right! A warship on the river can only hold about five hundred people."

"Moreover, the space is cramped, and they cannot support each other. It is simply not suitable for an army to display its combat power."

Mu Wanying said excitedly, "Husband, let me go with you! Let us catch them off guard together!"

Lin Xiao hurriedly dissuaded her. "You cannot leave Qin Water. There is a high probability that there are spies for Prince Bai within the city. If they discover you are gone, it will alert the enemy."

The main reason was that Lin Xiao was lacking cultivation points, and he could not bear to share this fat piece of meat!

"Then let me go with you. They shouldn't know of my existence."

Xiao Qingxuan was also worried and wanted to accompany her man; she knew she wouldn't drag him down.

"No!"

Lin Xiao waved his hand. "My wife, you must stay behind. Once General Wu Jinzhe and Qin He arrive tomorrow, you will need to preside over the overall situation!"

"Besides, that Prefect Sun Zhao is cunning. You must keep an eye on him for me and make him publish the manifesto denouncing Prince Bai quickly. Only by completely cutting off the path to defecting to Prince Bai can we be at ease!"

Xiao Qingxuan's eyes reddened slightly. "Husband is just making excuses. You clearly just don't want us to be in danger and always shoulder the dangerous tasks yourself."

"Exactly... even if we just wear masks, the people in Qinshui Prefecture have long lost their will to fight; how could anything go wrong?" Mu Wanying was also sad.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao simply pulled both women into his arms, one on each side.

"You must understand, only when you are safe and sound can I kill the enemy with peace of mind!"

The two women leaned into his arms, nodding silently, enjoying the man's warm affection.

To have met such a husband in this life, they felt they would have no regrets even if they died...

Little did they know, Lin Xiao was secretly breathing a sigh of relief...

Oh my goodness, finally managed to coax them.

It was so hard to find a cultivation gift package, no one is allowed to snatch it from me!!

Deep in the night.

The capital of Cang Province, Yangquan.

Linyuan Marquis Mansion.

"The Marquis's chess skills are becoming more and more exquisite."

Inspector General Jiang Shengyuan had come to visit the mansion and was playing chess with Marquis Xie Shang in the living room.

"Inspector General Jiang, why do I feel like your mind is not on the game?"

Marquis Xie Shang removed several of Inspector General Jiang Shengyuan's black pieces and said with a smile, "Could it be that you have something on your mind?"

"Sigh..."

Inspector General Jiang Shengyuan sighed. "To tell you the truth, I have come to visit today because there is a difficult matter I wish to discuss with Marquis Xie."

"Oh? And it concerns me?" Marquis Xie Shang looked surprised.

Inspector General Jiang Shengyuan said, "The Marquis may not know, but this afternoon, I received a military deployment order from Master Gao Jinyi in Qin Water."

"The White Kings Army stationed in Yangquan has already boarded ships and is heading toward Qin Water along the Cang River."

"Tomorrow morning, they should be fighting a decisive battle against the Zhenbei Army in Qin Water!"

"Oh? The Zhenbei Army has arrived in Qin Water?" Marquis Xie Shang asked.

"They are on the way. Setting out from Lincang and making a long-distance raid in the middle of winter, they certainly have courage."

Inspector General Jiang Shengyuan lamented, "There aren't many soldiers in the Zhenbei Army to begin with. If they lose these five thousand elites, they will likely suffer a severe blow to their vitality."

"With the end of the year approaching, if Lin Xiao suffers such a crushing defeat, the imperial marriage decree for your daughter, Princess Ningxiang, will likely... be delayed."

"I am ashamed to say this, as I watched Princess Ningxiang grow up, but because the world is in chaos and everyone serves their own master... I have no choice."

Marquis Xie Shang looked grave. He put down his chess piece and said, "Inspector General Jiang, you speak too seriously. This imperial marriage was never a glorious matter to begin with."

"If my Xie Juner and that Lin Xiao truly have no fate, I imagine His Majesty cannot say anything."

"It is just... why is Inspector General Jiang so certain that the Zhenbei Army will be defeated?"

Inspector General Jiang Shengyuan smiled. "The Zhenbei Army might not necessarily lose, but even if they win, it will be a pyrrhic victory."

"The five thousand defenders of Qin Water, facing the exhausted Zhenbei Army, can surely hold out for at least half a day."

"Once the White Kings Army arrives, it will be ten thousand against five thousand, defenders against attackers, and the enemy lacks supplies..."

"The Marquis's ancestors also led troops; you should understand what this means."

Marquis Xie Shang's eyelid twitched, and he nodded. "Prince Bai's move is indeed brilliant. Lin Xiao is still too young; he should not have dispatched his troops."

"Who is to say otherwise? Once Prince Bai gets serious, how many people in the world can be his opponent?"

Inspector General Jiang Shengyuan lamented, glanced at Marquis Xie Shang with a playful look in his eyes, and stood up. "I have lost this game of chess, and I have official business to attend to, so I will take my leave."

"Please go slowly, Inspector General Jiang."

Marquis Xie Shang politely saw him to the door.

After Inspector General Jiang Shengyuan left, a beautiful figure wearing a fur-collared coat walked out; it was Xie Juner, who had been listening from behind.

"Father, this Inspector General Jiang Shengyuan is clearly here to pressure you!"

Xie Juner snorted coldly. "He is forcing you to take Prince Bai's side!"

"There is nothing to be done about that. Lin Xiao's deployment of troops this time was truly too reckless!"

"Compassion does not command an army. Just because some commoners were causing trouble, he went all in to attack Qin Water... it is too unwise!"

Marquis Xie Shang looked disappointed. "He is young and impulsive after all. Fortunately, I did not rush you to marry him, otherwise... I would have failed you."

"Father, daughter thinks... Lin Xiao is not a simple-minded man. Perhaps he has a brilliant plan for attacking Qin Water?"

Although Xie Juner had never met this fiancé, she always felt that this man was unfathomable and unlikely to act on impulse.

"Heh... you think of war too simply. Where would there be so many miracles on the battlefield?"

"Master Gao Jinyi has gone, and he is cunning and calculating. No matter how powerful Lin Xiao is, can he take on five thousand soldiers all by himself?"

"I also hope that I have not misjudged him, but no matter how I look at it... the hope is slim this time."

Marquis Xie Shang waved his hand. "Go back and prepare. In case the Zhenbei Army is routed, some of our cooperation with the Northern Trade Alliance will need to be reconsidered."

"And your brother, you must bring him back even if you have to tie him up! We cannot indulge him any longer!"

Xie Juner did not know much about military affairs. Although she felt in her heart that Lin Xiao would not lose so easily, she dared not talk back.

"Yes... daughter will go and prepare."

She turned and walked back to her room, silently reciting in her heart:

Lin Xiao, you cannot be finished just like this. I am not concerned about you, mainly... if you lose, what will happen to Sister Su Wansha?