179: Chapter 0179 Not One Less

The commoners were shocked when they heard this.

"Is it true? Where did the news come from?"

"The Zhenbei Army has already gathered at the south gate. How could it be fake?"

The valiant reputation of He Yu, Earl of Anyang, was known to everyone in the Northern Territory.

After Cang Province fell, Prince Bai sent him with troops; many had already speculated this would happen.

They just hadn't expected him to arrive so quickly!

For a moment, many commoners ignored the queue and scrambled back to their homes in a panic.

"So, the Earl of Anyang really is here?"

Hearing this, Xie Juner hurriedly said, "Uncle Xu, quick, to the south city gate!"

"Princess, we should return to the manor. A siege battle might break out soon. With your noble status, why go there?"

"No!"

Xie Juner's eyes shone with determination as she said, "The more dangerous the moment, the more I must stand by his side!"

"His women have all experienced life and death with him! I cannot lose!"

"Sister Wansha and Mu Wanying aren't here; this is my best opportunity!"

Uncle Xu was speechless. His own princess had completely fallen for him!

But it was no wonder. What woman wouldn't be moved by a great hero and extraordinary man like Lin Xiao?

Having no choice, he could only drive the carriage with difficulty toward the city gate.

Meanwhile, atop the city tower.

Lin Xiao had already been standing in the very center of the gate tower for some time.

The scouts of the Zhenbei Army had long since discovered the Earl of Anyang's troops.

"General Lin, you were busy instructing those painters last night and haven't slept for two nights straight. Why don't you go down and rest?"

General Wu Jinzhe smiled and said, "Only five or six thousand have come, likely assembled in haste. Now that it's our turn to defend the city, they won't stand a chance!"

"Exactly. The brothers have just eaten and drunk their fill. Let's show these Shazhou Army dogs what real elites look like!" Commander Bai Buhei laughed arrogantly.

The soldiers of the Zhenbei Army let out bursts of hearty laughter, showing no fear at all!

Lin Xiao gave a cold laugh and swept his gaze over his subordinates.

"What, do you all think you're very impressive?"

The laughter stopped abruptly.

The soldiers froze awkwardly in place, at a loss for words.

"If not for me, you might still be attacking Yangquan even now. Do you believe that?"

Lin Xiao's words immediately extinguished everyone's arrogance.

"I'm telling you, at least half of the Zhenbei Army's current glory was won by me, Lin Xiao, alone!!"

"The only reason you look down on those five or six thousand troops is because you are standing with me!"

"If the Earl of Anyang and I were to swap places, would you still have the confidence to defend this city?!"

As soon as these words were spoken, General Wu Jinzhe, Commander Bai Buhei, and the other officers all broke into a cold sweat!

Lin Xiao's invincible silhouette and his majestic form as he broke through the city gates with a single blade were like a God of War in their minds!!

Without Lin Xiao... they didn't dare to think further!

"To put it bluntly, without me, at least half of you would have already died beneath the walls of Yangquan!!"

"..."

No one refuted him, because it was the truth!

Lin Xiao took a deep breath and withdrew his powerful pressure.

"I'm telling you this not because I look down on you, but because I treat you as my brothers, my family, my kin!"

"You are the elites of the Zhenbei Army! I don't want you to suffer losses on the battlefield because you let your guard down!"

"Pride goes before a fall. You must always remember: never underestimate any enemy!!"

Lin Xiao looked at the group of generals and said earnestly:

"I hope that when the day comes that our Zhenbei Army brings peace to this chaotic world, you will all still be by my side! Not a single one of you should be missing! Do you understand!?"

By the end, the eyes of the Zhenbei Army soldiers were red with emotion!

Not a single one less! What simple yet beautiful words!!

General Lin was like a brother and a father to them; he truly treated them as his own, which was why he spoke so candidly!

"General, this subordinate acknowledges his fault! I should not have belittled the enemy and disappointed you!"

"This subordinate is willing to accept twenty strokes of the military staff!!"

"This subordinate as well..."

Not a single person felt the slightest bit of resentment; their hearts were filled with self-reproach and shame, feeling they had let down Lin Xiao's trust.

Lin Xiao waved his hand. "I didn't say this to punish you. You must always remember my words and ensure your soldiers do not slack off either!"

"Yes!!"

From pairs of tiger-like eyes flashing with sharp light, morale surged once again!

Lin Xiao sighed inwardly. As his influence grew, so did the number of things he had to worry about.

Having followed him to conquer the world, feelings had naturally developed over time.

He hoped they wouldn't die and would survive as much as possible.

But Lin Xiao also knew that sooner or later, some would depart first. He could only say he had done his best to warn them.

Just then, a graceful figure ran onto the city tower. It was Xie Juner, holding a sword and dressed in leather armor.

"General Lin truly is a famous general of this age. Your words just now were enlightening; this humble girl admires you!"

With how powerful Lin Xiao's perception was, he had noticed her running up long ago.

Because she was the head of the Northern Trade Alliance and the soldiers recognized her, they did not stop her.

"What is Miss Ning doing here?"

Xie Juner raised her sword and said, "Naturally, I am here to help General Lin defend the city!!"

"There's no need. Go back down."

Lin Xiao waved his hand.

Although Xie Juner had over a decade of swordsmanship experience, her talents lay more in business; she wouldn't be useful in a siege.

If she were injured, he would lose a business talent, which would be a net loss.

Hearing this, Xie Juner insisted, "General, this girl's entire fortune is invested in the Northern Trade Alliance. Helping you defend the city is also about protecting my own property!"

"General, you don't need to worry about me. I can protect myself. My final letter is already written; even if I die in battle, I will never implicate you!"

Quite stubborn, isn't she?

Seeing that persuasion was useless, Lin Xiao didn't bother wasting more words and let her be.

Mainly because at this moment, the thousands of troops led by the Earl of Anyang had already appeared in the distance.

Hooves crushed the ice and snow, and the great commotion coming from the south could be heard throughout Yangquan.

When they reached about five hundred meters away, the man at the head signaled for the entire army to stop.

The man was clad in silver armor and held a long spear.

There was a small scar below his left eye, and he wore a mustache. His features were sharp and well-defined, exuding an air of natural authority.

"He's here. That is He Yu, Earl of Anyang!"

Xie Juner's face showed a hint of excitement. Although she was mainly there for Lin Xiao, she still found it very thrilling.

As a woman, one rarely had the chance to be present on a battlefield!

"How do you know? You recognize him?" Lin Xiao asked casually.

Xie Juner naturally couldn't say that she had met the Earl of Anyang twice while accompanying the Marquis of Linyuan.

"The Earl of Anyang is on good terms with Prince Bai. Prince Bai gifted him a set of the Silver Armor Army's finest 'Silver Light Armor,' which is what that man is wearing!"

"Oh? Then why did he stop?" Lin Xiao asked again.

"These are just cavalry. They've come to scout Yangquan's situation and haven't brought any siege equipment."

"Now that they know Yangquan has fallen, they must wait for the infantry behind them before they can attack the city!"

"If I'm not mistaken, the infantry will arrive within a day at the latest. That's when the real test will begin."

The girl's words made General Wu Jinzhe and the other officers nod in agreement; they were thinking the same thing.

As an experienced general, He Yu was definitely patient enough to wait.

Xie Juner was quite proud of herself. Her family was one of military officers, and she had read many books on military strategy!

"Miss Ning knows quite a lot."

Lin Xiao teased with a half-smile, then turned and walked toward the battlements.

Xie Juner and the soldiers of the Zhenbei Army watched Lin Xiao's every move tensely...

Just then, Lin Xiao suddenly leaped and jumped straight off the city tower!?

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(I was locked up; I've been making revisions these past two days. It's not a big problem. Updates will continue as normal. Please give a five-star review for encouragement!! o(╥﹏╥)o)