Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1586: Siege [8]

This Third Master Shi of the Shi Family Manor is no stranger; he is the younger brother of the Magistrate of Linhe Prefecture.

He himself is a scholar, but when he traveled to the Northwest, he saw that too few people here could read or write, so he founded an academy and taught the Northwest people to read. He has been teaching for nearly twenty years.

His wife is also a Northwest person, but because the Northwest is too chaotic, Old Master Shi San worried for the safety of his wife and children and sent them to settle in the Capital long ago.

This time, his family saw that Long’an Prefecture was on the verge of falling and did not want him to die in the Northwest for the sake of that academy, so they forcibly sent people to bring him back.

Who could have known that just as he arrived at the Shi Family Manor to rest, he would be seized by Rong people lurking inside.

That seizure lasted for more than two months; all the Protectors and Escort Masters employed by the Shi Family were killed.

Because Old Master Shi San was the master, the Rong people felt he was useful and did not kill him, but they subjected him to cruel torture.

Old Master Shi San’s body was covered with wounds; he had held on by sheer will until now. He was nothing but skin and bones, the skin on his face sagging down.

But upon learning that Qin San Lang and the others had killed the Golden Tent Troop Commander, his whole spirit revived.

Not the least bit afraid of the Golden Tent Troop Commander’s severed head in Qin San Lang’s hand, he grabbed Qin San Lang’s hand and said, "Young man, well done killing him! If all Great Chu soldiers were like you, how could we fear the Rong people would not be wiped out? How could we fear the territory would not be preserved?"

As he spoke, he actually began to cry.

Though he was not a Northwest native, he had spent half his life in the Northwest, watching with his own eyes as the Northwest went from an impregnable bulwark to a land trampled by Rong people. The bitterness and frustration in his heart can well be imagined.

This was also why he had long been unwilling to listen to his elder brother and move to live in the Capital.

Simply because he believed the Northwest had become like this entirely due to the Emperor slaughtering the line of Duke Wei.

Qin San Lang was not used to strangers grabbing his hand; he pulled it back and said, "Old Master Shi San, you need not grieve. The Kangrong army from the south is already rushing toward the Northwest. We will surely retake the lands occupied by the Rong people."

"It’s hard~" Old Master Shi San sighed and wiped away his tears.

"Doctor Dai, tend to Old Master Shi San’s injuries." Qin San Lang had no time to comfort him; after calling Doctor Dai over to examine his wounds, he immediately asked Xie Cheng, "Are the Rong people in the manor completely cleared out?"

The blood splashed on Xie Cheng’s body had not yet dried. He wiped his face and said, "Altogether 1,031 men, all cleared out. The Rong people who were knocked unconscious by the Poison also had their heads chopped off by our soldiers. Rest assured."

It is customary in battle: when cleaning the field, they always finish off the enemy—either with a stroke to sever the head or a thrust that pierces the heart—to make sure the enemy is thoroughly dead.

Just as he finished, Company Commander Liu charged in with his men, shouting, "San Lang, bad news, the Rong people have begun to gather!"

Company Commander Liu had not followed in the assault on the Shi Family Manor; instead, he had taken his soldiers to keep watch outside, in case, once the situation here was exposed, Rong people lurking near the Shi Family Manor came to the rescue.

But the nearby Rong people did indeed move out, only they were not coming to the rescue—they were rushing toward Guanlu County’s county seat.

"The Rong people have moved?" Qin San Lang was shocked and hurriedly asked, "Are they attacking Guanlu County, or heading straight for Xing’an Prefecture?!"

The road to Guanlu County’s county seat and the road to Xing’an Prefecture are one and the same main highway.

"Not too clear. We just saw masses and masses of Rong people suddenly emerge and head toward the county seat." Thinking of those Rong people marching like dense swarms of ants, Company Commander Liu was deeply shaken; his voice trembled as he said, "San Lang, there were so many Rong people. I fear there are others lurking elsewhere; Xing’an Prefecture is likely finished this time!"

Qin San Lang’s expression darkened.

He had received two letters sent by Xiao Yu.

The first said she had arrived safely at the Lei Family’s Manor in Gushi Town and that everything was fine, telling him not to worry.

The second said the Lei Family’s Manor had been targeted by the Rong people, and that she had gone with Ms. Gao Lei to Xing’an Prefecture, telling him not to worry; even if they were separated, with the help of the Lei Family’s Trading Team, she would be able to find him.

With a great battle imminent, following Ms. Gao Lei to Xing’an Prefecture to hide was the right choice for Xiao Yu.

Because when the Da Rong army marches, they burn the villages, towns, and county seats along the way. If Xiao Yu and the others continued to remain in the manor, their final fate would only be more tragic.

Going to Xing’an Prefecture at least meant there were lofty walls for protection and soldiers from the Prefecture garrison camp guarding them; it would be somewhat safer.

But since Xiao Yu had already gone to Xing’an Prefecture, he had to hurry there. If Xing’an Prefecture could not be held, he could at least take her and flee... He would not let Xiao Yu face the chaos of war alone!

Thinking of the dangers Xiao Yu might encounter, Qin San Lang felt a pang in his heart.

After a short moment, he said, "Company Commander Liu, you stay here with your soldiers to hold the position. Once the Shi Family Manor is fully dealt with, lead your men to rescue the commoners of other villages."

These past days they had only cleared a dozen or so villages and manors, but in the whole Guanlu County there were too many villages; the people in those places were likely being ravaged by the Rong people as well.

Leaving Company Commander Liu here to help was also good.

When they came back again, they could bring Company Commander Liu along.

He continued, "Brother Xie, tally the troops at once. In 30 minutes we’ll take a shortcut to the county seat. If the Rong people attack the county seat, we’ll first help defend it. If they bypass the county seat and head straight for Xing’an Prefecture, we’ll spur our horses to get ahead of them and coordinate with the troops of each county seat along the way to launch obstruction ambushes."

Old Master Shi San’s eyes lit up. He grabbed Qin San Lang again and asked, "Young man, what did you just say? You know how to fight obstruction ambushes?"

Obstruction ambushes are, in essence, when your forces are scarce, using terrain, traps, timing, and other advantages to launch one small ambush after another.

Such ambushes cannot annihilate the enemy army, but they can delay the enemy’s advance.

As long as the enemy’s offensive is delayed, they can await reinforcements from Great Chu, and then Xing’an Prefecture may yet be saved!

Qin San Lang nodded. "Mm. My uncles at home are soldiers; I have read some military classics since childhood, so I know how to fight them."

Old Master Shi San was overjoyed, his gaze on Qin San Lang practically glowing. "Good, good, good! If all of Great Chu’s young Company Commanders were like you, how could we fear the Rong people would not be wiped out!"

Hong Dao: "..."

Here we go again—he’s praised you with those words twice now.

He looked toward Qin San Lang and reported, "My lord, the wounded soldiers have all been settled."

Hidden within the Shi Family Manor was the Golden Tent Troop Commander, leading a thousand Rong soldiers. Even with Poison to aid them, they still had more than a dozen soldiers killed or wounded.

Qin San Lang nodded and looked at Company Commander Liu. "I’ll be entrusting the wounded to you, Company Commander Liu."

With that, he handed the Golden Tent Troop Commander’s head to Hong Dao for him to pack away.

He himself wiped his hands and face with a cloth and prepared to leave, but Old Master Shi San said, "Wait, take me with you. I can help you!"

Company Commander Liu frowned. "You’re just a teaching scholar. How can you help Company Commander Qin? Better stay quietly in the manor and rest. Set out for the Capital after the great battle passes."

Don’t add to the chaos, all right?!

Old Master Shi San ignored Company Commander Liu and looked only at Qin San Lang. "Young man, you’re just a Company Commander. Even if you can reach the next county seat ahead of the Rong people, will that county’s County Magistrate and Company Commander listen to you? If things go badly, they might even drive you out. But if you take me along, the situation will be different. Along the way, the officials will, for the Shi Family’s sake and for Lord Yao’s sake, help you."