343: Chapter 343 The Fox of the Northern Desert

Two days after setting out, Lin Xiao was halfway to his destination when he suddenly encountered a small team of scouts. To his surprise, they were from his own Zhenbei Army.

"General Lin!!"

The leading scout's eyes reddened with excitement the moment he saw Lin Xiao. He practically threw himself off his horse and knelt before Lin Xiao.

"General! We've finally found you!"

"Grand Marshal Lu ordered us to deliver an urgent report. Marshal Suhe of the Northern Barbarians feigned an attack and then led his army directly south from the edge of the Darkhan Pasture and Tengri grasslands!"

Lin Xiao's heart sank. As he suspected, the lack of victory reports for so long meant the plan had changed!

"South?"

Mu Wanying's expression turned grim. "Could it be that Suhe wants to attack Baishui City again?!"

Lin Xiao's face was as calm as still water. "What a clever old fox. He knows I've taken my two most capable generals and the elites of the Three Great Cavalries with me. He also knows our main force is near Yong Province, leaving Baishui City's defenses empty."

"Not only that, but Lu Sanchuan and my father have both come to Mobei. In terms of commanding a battle, no one left in the Zhenbei Army is a match for Suhe."

Zhao Caiwei was amazed, but she also found it strange. "But Lu Sanchuan is highly experienced. As he headed northwest, he would surely have scouts out constantly. How could he allow such a large main force of the Barbarian Army to slip past him?"

The scout said indignantly, "It's the Western Qiang! The Western Qiang army joined forces with Suhe. They wore Northern Barbarian uniforms and lured us away!"

"By the time Grand Marshal Lu realized what was happening, it was too late to pursue Suhe's main force!"

Princess Meng Xi's face turned pale upon hearing this. "You... what did you say!? How could our Western Qiang army..."

Halfway through, she seemed to understand something. Gritting her teeth, she said, "It's my elder brother... it must be him!!"

Lin Xiao frowned. "Your brother?"

"Yes, my brother Prince Meng Zhe. He has always been wary of me seizing the throne. Suhe must have exploited that fear."

Meng Xi bit her lip bitterly. "He would rather cooperate with an enemy and lead the Western Qiang People to their deaths than let me, his sister, hold power."

"I'm sorry, General Lin. It was my lack of foresight that put Baishui City in danger..."

Lin Xiao pondered for a moment and shook his head. "It's not entirely your fault. I was too impatient. I should have completely crushed Suhe's Northern Barbarian cavalry before marching on the Royal Court."

Lin Xiao had actually considered doing that, but he was pressed for time to attend the Tianwu Grand Tournament, so he wanted a quick resolution.

The current situation arose partly because he wasn't cautious enough, and partly because Suhe, the old marshal, truly had some tricks up his sleeve.

Of course, if Lu Sanchuan had seen through Suhe's scheme, none of this would be happening.

Unfortunately, there are no 'ifs' on the battlefield.

As a transmigrator, Lin Xiao felt once again that without his system, he really wouldn't be as capable as many of the natives here.

In the future, when leading troops, he would have to be more steady and not get too carried away.

However, it wasn't as if he was completely unprepared.

It seemed like Suhe had exploited a weakness, but in reality... it might not be a weakness at all.

"Where is Lu Sanchuan?" Lin Xiao asked.

The scout reported, "Grand Marshal Lu said that if he turned back to pursue, he would be attacked from both sides. Therefore, he can only launch a forced assault on the Western Qiang capital and take Western Qiang first."

Lin Xiao nodded. "That's the right move. You can't run around like a headless chicken. If you try to grab both ends, you might end up with nothing."

"Based on the timing, he should have already invaded Western Qiang... Let's go and rendezvous with Lu Sanchuan!"

Hearing that Lin Xiao still intended to go to Western Qiang, Meng Xi was stunned.

"General Lin, you... you're not going back to rescue Baishui Prefecture?"

Lin Xiao was speechless. "I can't fly. By now, Suhe has likely reached the gates of Baishui Prefecture. Would I even make it in time?"

"But..."

"No buts!"

Lin Xiao said decisively, "Baishui Prefecture will be fine. Suhe's plan of 'shedding the golden cicada's skin' and 'making a feint to the east while attacking the west' is brilliant, but his assessment of Baishui Prefecture is wrong."

"If the premise is wrong, then everything is in vain!"

Meng Xi was full of confusion. What did he mean? Could there be a large army lying in ambush in Baishui City?

She racked her brain but could only think of Lin Xiao's women staying in the city, along with the ordinary garrison, which numbered a few thousand at most.

How could those people stop at least thirty thousand of the Northern Barbarians' elite?

One had to remember that these barbarians had just lost their Royal Court and had their loyal Khan killed; they were fueled by a burning rage for revenge.

Facing these Northern Barbarian warriors who were ready to die, was Lin Xiao really not worried about his beautiful women?

"Sister Mu, Sister Zhao, you two..."

Meng Xi was about to ask the two women for their thoughts, only to see that they had already followed Lin Xiao and were continuing their journey on horseback.

There wasn't a hint of worry on their faces, as if everything was under control.

Meng Xi was dazed. She had stayed in Baishui City for so many days; had she really missed something extremely important?

Meanwhile.

In Baishui City, at the Generals Mansion.

In the main hall, General Zhao Kuan, along with Wei Dongxue, Wang Chong, and other officers, were reporting the current situation to Xiao Qingxuan.

"Sister-in-law, according to the scouts, Suhe's army will begin the siege before noon tomorrow."

Zhao Kuan's expression was grave. "He has brought over thirty thousand of his main force this time, but his supplies are low. He clearly intends to give it his all and fight us to the death!"

"This Suhe truly deserves his reputation as a famous general who has fought Great Gan his whole life. To think he could bypass Grand Marshal Lu and Commander-in-Chief Zhao to strike deep into our territory!"

Wei Dongxue said worriedly, "I've requested troops from Lincang and other prefectures, but their forces are small. Plus, since the New Year just ended, many soldiers are away visiting family. It's all very sudden..."

The men spoke one after another, clearly in a state of panic.

With Lin Xiao away, they had no confidence in facing Suhe.

Seeing that Xiao Qingxuan had remained silent, Zhao Kuan grew anxious.

"Sister-in-law, why aren't you saying anything?"

Xiao Qingxuan said with a faint smile, "Brother Zhao, I manage administrative affairs on behalf of my husband, but leading troops in battle is not my responsibility. Besides, I've never led an army. It wouldn't be right for me to speak out of turn..."

"Oh, sister-in-law! What time is it for such formalities? Who among us does not respect your intellect?"

Zhao Kuan was practically begging, just short of kneeling and shouting, 'Your Majesty, please grant us your guidance!'

Wei Dongxue and the others also nodded repeatedly. As administrative military officers, they were even more aware of Xiao Qingxuan's outstanding abilities; she was perhaps even more reliable than Lin Xiao.

It wasn't that they didn't respect Lin Xiao, but everyone had their own specialties.

Seeing their expectant looks, Xiao Qingxuan finally spoke in an orderly manner, "Since that's the case, I'll say a few words..."

"First of all, I don't think Suhe will attack the city. Therefore, we don't need to keep many troops inside."

The men present looked at each other in bewilderment. This first sentence alone left them stunned.

What did she mean? He came all this way and won't attack? Then what will he do?