86: Chapter 0086 Miner's Package

A little over half a month passed.

Inside Wushan Commandery, the White Kings Army had gone from being on high alert at the beginning to having nothing to do.

The commoners had also heard rumors that the Zhenbei Army was just digging for coal in Heiya Village every day and had no intention of attacking the city at all.

However, the entire city remained under lockdown, and goods could not circulate, which greatly affected the lives of the people in Wushan Commandery.

The commoners dared not complain, but the landlords, wealthy gentry, and minor nobles who needed to conduct business were naturally unhappy.

Prefect Guo Baoyun was forced to run to General Du Lun's military camp every day because he had no other choice.

"General Du Lun, can we not open the city gates yet? It's getting cold, and many merchant caravans are anxious to do business!"

General Du Lun was also frazzled and frowned, saying, "I have reported to Prince Bai, but he has not sent me any reinforcements."

"I only have five thousand men. You want me to charge over and fight their twenty thousand? Isn't that just asking for death!?"

"Is the Prince just going to sit by and watch? Does he not want the coal mine anymore?"

"It's just a coal mine, it can't be used to directly forge weapons. Besides, there are plenty of places that produce coal in the six northern provinces!"

Prefect Guo Baoyun turned pale; upon closer thought, it was indeed the case.

For Prince Bai, Wushan Commandery was dispensable.

Sending twenty thousand troops over to fight the valiant Zhenbei Army was simply not worth it!

If Prince Qing or Prince Yan took advantage of the situation on the eastern or western fronts, he would lose his advantage in troops and territory!

"Prefect Guo Baoyun, rest assured. When the weather gets colder, the Northern Barbarians will invade!"

"Lin Xiao killed twenty thousand Northern Barbarians; they will definitely make a big move this time!"

General Du Lun said with a dark expression, "I think Prince Bai... is likely also waiting for the timing of the Northern Barbarians' invasion."

Prefect Guo Baoyun perked up, "That's right! In previous years, around September and October, the warhorses of the three great northern barbarian tribes are plump and strong."

"They always take this opportunity to harass the border and plunder supplies for the winter!"

"Since Lin Xiao is the sworn enemy of the Northern Barbarians, they will never let this opportunity pass!!"

General Du Lun nodded, "Therefore, we must hold back! Lin Xiao's martial arts are terrifyingly strong!"

"If we open trade now and let Lin Xiao's men sneak in, and the city is breached from within, you and I... will lose our heads!!"

Prefect Guo Baoyun touched his neck in fear and gritted his teeth, "I understand, subordinate. Then we shall wait another half a month!"

Prefect Guo Baoyun would rather offend some merchants and nobles than lose his head!

At this moment, a scout came to report on the situation in Heiya Village.

"General Du Lun, the Zhenbei Army has built two more towers, making it six in total!"

Prefect Guo Baoyun found it strange, "Building towers? What does that mean? Are they trying to build a city wall in Heiya Village?"

General Du Lun shook his head and picked up a blueprint.

"It's not a city wall; it's likely something like arrow towers."

Prefect Guo Baoyun took a look and saw some tower-shaped structures and some round buildings that looked like military tents.

"These tall ones look like arrow towers, but what are these round buildings?"

General Du Lun sneered, "No matter what they are, they are definitely for defense."

"When the time comes, we'll just send out all our catapults and smash them first!"

Prefect Guo Baoyun thought that made sense; how effective could defensive fortifications built in such a short time really be?

Each autumn rain brings more cold.

At nightfall, Heiya Village was still busy.

To dispel the cold, coal was lit in many places for people to keep warm.

Scouts sent reports from the north that tens of thousands of Northern Barbarians were on the move.

Lin Xiao knew clearly that the barbarians would inevitably attack Baishui Prefecture, and there wasn't much time left for him to build defensive fortifications.

To protect the coal mine and workshops here, he had to hurry.

Inside a completed domed cement building.

Lin Xiao brought Mu Wanying with him, and as soon as they entered through the low door, they felt much warmer.

"Husband, is this the 'bunker' you were talking about?"

Mu Wanying was full of amazement. Who would have thought these dark cement bricks could be stacked into such an airtight building?

She had witnessed the hardness of these bricks; trying to break through from the outside would likely take a great deal of effort.

"That's right. Traditional arrow towers are made of wood or mud bricks; they are either afraid of fire or easily smashed."

"Our bunkers do not have these problems. If the enemy dares to attack, they will have to pay a multiple-fold price."

Lin Xiao believed that before the appearance of gunpowder, these cement fortifications would be a nightmare for the armies of this world.

"Husband... how did you know about these miraculous things? I have never heard of them in any military manuals!"

Mu Wanying was filled with unspeakable admiration.

In her view, for an enemy to attack a bunker, there was no other way except to use a human wave strategy!

As long as the soldiers inside didn't come out, they were almost invincible, fearing only some expert archers.

"Want to know?"

Lin Xiao hugged the woman's waist from behind, smelling her fragrance, and began to act mischievously.

"If you satisfy your husband, I will tell you..."

Mu Wanying shyly stopped the man's hand.

"Husband, there are workers and patrols outside. If people hear us, how can I lead the troops?"

Lin Xiao frowned. She was right, but he hadn't had any intimacy for half a month; he was craving it!

"Husband... I know a good place, follow me!"

Mu Wanying was actually struggling to hold back as well. She had only recently become a wife, and with her good health, her desires were also very strong.

Moreover, she wanted to take advantage of this time to have the man all to herself, to get a head start!

Lin Xiao was overjoyed and followed the woman all the way to an abandoned coal mining site outside Heiya Village.

Mu Wanying led him into a hollowed-out mine cave.

Inside, there were some stone tables, chairs, and benches, as well as some hay spread on the ground.

"Wanying, how did you find this place?"

Lin Xiao was very satisfied; this place was halfway up the mountain, and he would definitely notice if anyone came up.

"I discovered this place by accident when I was leading troops to patrol the area. The villagers said that in the past, they would hide their children here to avoid bandits."

Mu Wanying turned around, hooked her arms around the man's neck, her beautiful eyes filled with dancing flames, and her red lips were glistening and moist...

"Husband... Mmph!..."

Two hours later.

Lin Xiao lay on the hay, while Mu Wanying, drenched in fragrant sweat, clung to the man like an octopus, refusing to let go.

"Wanying, you seem extra excited when we are out in the wild?"

Lin Xiao wondered if it was because of their first time by the river, so the woman had developed a special penchant for it?

"That's not it... Husband is teasing me."

"Hehe, what's wrong with that? I like the wild too; this is our little secret."

Mu Wanying felt secretly happy and buried her face in the man's chest without a sound.

Lin Xiao stroked the woman's hair, and with nothing to do, he remembered that he hadn't refreshed the shop today.

Damn, he had been too busy lately and kept forgetting.

He quickly refreshed it...

The result left him somewhat speechless.

"Fine Pickaxe (mystic grade), an excellent helper for mining ore, simple and durable. 500 Prestige"

"Rock-Breaking Great Axe (Earth Grade), a huge axe capable of splitting mountains and breaking rocks. 1200 Prestige"

"Oil Lamp (yellow grade), can be used for lighting in underground caves. 100 Prestige"

Damn it!!

Ever since he arrived at the coal mining area, Lin Xiao had rolled these "Miner's Packages" several times!

He even obtained a "Mountain-Splitting and Rock-Breaking" achievement for it. It sounded very impressive, but it was actually just yellow grade and gave +10 Prestige, which was ridiculous!

Just as Lin Xiao was about to close the shop, a dark-colored weapon caught his eye...

Huh? What is this?