172: Chapter 0172 Getting Impatient

Little did they know, after hearing these words, Jiang Shengyuan wanted nothing more than to burst out in a torrent of abuse!

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You little wench, you've clearly gone to Baishui City so many times in private, yet you say you're not familiar with Lin Xiao?

If he hadn't sent people to keep a secret eye on her long ago, he might have actually believed her nonsense!

"Heh..."

Jiang Shengyuan cast aside his humble and miserable facade from earlier, a trace of coldness and contempt appearing in his eyes.

"Marquis Xie, your daughter surely looks down on this official far too much, doesn't she?"

Jiang Shengyuan raised his head and said, "This official has been the Cang Province Governor for eleven years. In the entire Cang Province, how many things can be hidden from me?"

"As far as I know, not only did the Marquis personally go to Baishui City, but the Heir Apparent has been staying at the Zhenbei Army Workshop the entire time."

"The Commandery Princess herself has gone there two or three times a month over these past few months, and has even become sisters with the women around Lin Xiao."

"And yet... you tell me you haven't met Lin Xiao? Do you take this official for a three-year-old child!?"

Xie Juner's face turned pale. This Jiang Shengyuan—he was faking it just now!?

He was testing the attitude of the Linyuan Marquis Mansion!?

Xie Shang frowned and said, "Governor Jiang, it is precisely because Juner has an engagement with Lin Xiao that she should exercise self-restraint and observe etiquette. How could they meet in private?"

"Juner's visits to Baishui City to meet those women were merely to stock up on goods from the Northern Trade Alliance; she never did anything improper!"

Jiang Shengyuan laughed loudly. "Save those words for the Earl of Anyang!"

"The Earl of Anyang?"

Xie Shang's expression changed. "You want to borrow reinforcements from Sha Prefecture!?"

South of Cang Province, the closest place was Sha Prefecture, where He Yu, Earl of Anyang, was located.

"Correct!"

Jiang Shengyuan laughed triumphantly. "To tell you the truth, an hour ago, I already sent an express courier to deliver a letter to the Earl of Anyang."

"The Earl of Anyang holds Prince Bai's hand-written order and has already taken control of the military power in the various commanderies of Sha Prefecture. He can easily mobilize tens of thousands of troops!"

"Since Marquis Xie and the Commandery Princess are unable to provide a guarantee for me, then... I have no choice but to defend Yangquan to the death!"

"I want to see how this Lin Xiao, with only five thousand men, can withstand tens of thousands of reinforcements from the entire Sha Prefecture!"

Hearing this, the hearts of the Xie father and daughter both sank!

Although the He family were only counts from the founding of the dynasty and could not compare to the nobility of the Linyuan Marquis Mansion,

He Yu was not only an Earl but also a battle-hardened veteran general.

In his youth, He Yu studied martial arts at Blade Mountain. With his extraordinary talent, he was promoted to an inner-gate personal disciple and received the true legacy of Blade Mountain.

Later, he left the mountain to join the army, rising all the way to the rank of General of Mingyuan, Fourth Rank, based on military merit.

Afterward, because his elder brother died young without an heir, he inherited the title of Earl of Anyang and left the military camp.

At that time, many rumored that Prince Bai had secretly sent someone to eliminate He Yu's elder brother, but since there was no evidence, it became an unsolved case.

The reason Li Si Bai valued He Yu so highly was not only because they had known each other since childhood, but also because He Yu had considerable prestige in the army and possessed great ambition, unwilling to remain content in a corner.

"Marquis, as a great war is about to begin, I have dispatched some elites to 'protect' the Linyuan Marquis Mansion."

Jiang Shengyuan raised his hand and made a gesture. Immediately, the heavy footsteps of many soldiers could be heard outside.

"I hope the Marquis and the Commandery Princess will behave themselves to avoid any accidents. Otherwise, the Xie clan might come looking for trouble with me."

Xie Juner was fuming with rage. "Governor Jiang, what do you mean!? You dare to imprison a Marquis of the realm and a titled Commandery Princess?!"

"Ha... of the realm? In this day and age, whose Imperial Court is it?"

Jiang Shengyuan sneered, then flicked his sleeves and left with a look of cold arrogance and disdain.

As he stepped out the door, a faint sentence drifted back:

"Nobility? Nothing but a bunch of blood-sucking leeches relying on the shade of their ancestors!"

Xie Juner gritted her teeth in anger. She turned to look at her father, only to see Xie Shang with a playful expression.

"Father, what are you laughing at?"

"I'm laughing because after knowing Jiang Shengyuan for so many years, he finally spoke his mind."

Xie Shang said with emotion, "Daughter, those who can become a Governor might be incompetent, but they are definitely not stupid."

"You were too impatient just now. Before Jiang Shengyuan had even revealed his trump card, you shouldn't have offered yourself up and spoken your true thoughts."

Xie Juner felt ashamed and self-reproachful. "Daughter... knows her mistake. So what do we do now?"

"What are you referring to?" Xie Shang asked back.

"Lin Xiao and the Zhenbei Army, of course!"

Xie Juner said anxiously, "It hasn't snowed much in Sha Prefecture. If they move fast, reinforcements could arrive within a day."

"If the Zhenbei Army fails to take Yangquan City within a day, even if only a few thousand reinforcements arrive, they will be attacked from both sides!"

Xie Shang said with a smile, "It seems you really do consider yourself Lin Xiao's fiancée?"

Xie Juner's pretty face flushed red. "Dad! What time is it! Don't forget, your son is still at the Zhenbei Army Workshop!"

"What's the rush? We can't do anything now anyway, so let's just wait! Go tell the kitchen to serve the food; it's time to eat!"

Xie Shang was a bit hungry. He sat down, picked up a pastry, and took a bite.

Xie Juner stamped her foot in anger and had no choice but to turn and leave.

A moment later, a figure appeared from behind the curtain behind Xie Shang.

"Marquis, there are only about two hundred soldiers outside. It wouldn't be hard to fight our way out," a low, raspy voice said.

"Fight our way out? No need."

Xie Shang said leisurely, "If it were yesterday, I might have had some concerns. But after seeing today's battle report... I feel that we can just wait and see."

"You think that with only five thousand Zhenbei Army troops, they can break the city in a single day?" the voice said with some uncertainty.

"Hehe..."

Xie Shang chuckled and did not answer.

On the tower of Yangquan's North Gate.

Having donned his armor and cloak after a long time, Jiang Shengyuan walked up with a majestic air.

A group of military officers, including the Registrar and the adjutant, had long been waiting here.

"Where is the Zhenbei Army?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, the scouts report that they have already passed Shangyang Slope. In half a stick of incense's time, they should be in sight!"

"So fast?"

Jiang Shengyuan frowned. "It seems they have been on a forced march without any rest at all..."

"Haha, forced marching like this in the dead of winter—by the time they get here, the men and horses will be exhausted. They'll probably have to wait until tomorrow morning to attack the city!"

"This Lin Xiao is still too young. He has no experience in winter combat. I bet the soldiers are cursing his mother behind his back!"

Several defending generals showed playful expressions and laughed mockingly.

Jiang Shengyuan snorted coldly. "Shut up! With a great battle imminent, underestimating the enemy is a major taboo!"

"The Zhenbei Army is hurrying so much precisely because they're worried about reinforcements coming from Sha Prefecture!"

"They have just taken Qin Water and used a scheme to drown five thousand of Prince Bai's troops. Their morale is at its peak. We must not underestimate them!"

The group of generals quickly restrained their smiles and lowered their heads in agreement.

But in their hearts, they were all somewhat disdainful. No matter how high their morale was, after marching for two days straight in the ice and snow, how much combat power could they possibly have left?

On the city tower, the soldiers were methodically preparing various siege defense equipment. Most people felt that this battle would not start tonight.

A short while later, on the distant snowy plains, a group of figures clad in black armor emerged!