Chapter 153

"Wonderful! Let us try Yaozong's strategy! I shall make the arrangements right away!" Nangong Zhan laughed heartily after hearing the plan proposed by Yang Yaozong.

With that, he strode off the gate tower with bustling haste.

Yang Yaozong rubbed his ears and cheeks, which were stinging from the bitter cold, raised his head to look at the slightly waning full moon hanging in the sky, and then gazed toward the nearby camp of the Hu tribe. "You wish to negotiate? Then show some sincerity first!"

As the moon neared the middle of the sky, frigid moonlight blanketed the earth, under which the Hu encampment in the distance could be vaguely discerned. Following Yang Yaozong's strategy, Nangong Zhan ordered the soldiers to make over a thousand straw figures, dress them in black robes, secure them with ropes, and lower them slowly down the city walls.

When the straw figures were lowered halfway down the wall, the Hu camp in the distance grew noisy. Then, Hu warriors were seen rushing out of their tents, vaulting onto their horses, and charging toward the city gates. As they drew close to the gates, they began loosing arrows at the straw figures on the wall. The Hu soldiers vied with one another to shoot at the figures, while the soldiers on the ramparts feigned being struck, crying out in agony as they slowly hauled the straw figures upward.

The more the Hu soldiers saw the black-robed figures hanging outside the city wall being pulled upward by the defenders, the more fiercely they shot.

Round after round of arrow rain was thus unleashed upon the straw figures.

After a long while, until a Hu commander realized something was amiss, the order to cease firing was finally given. By then, however, the straw figures had already been hauled back inside the ramparts one by one, with only a scattering of them having fallen beneath the wall when their ropes were severed by incoming shots.

The soldiers on the city walls busied themselves counting the newly acquired arrows, while Nangong Zhan and the other generals gathered around Yang Yaozong with fulsome praise. No one paid any heed to the unintelligible, furious howling of the Hu soldiers down below.

"Yaozong! Well done!" Nangong Zhan patted Yang Yaozong heavily on the shoulder, deeply moved.

"Hahaha! The brilliance of the Grand Preceptor of the Imperial Heir surpasses anything we could imagine! To think of such a stratagem to replenish the army's stock of arrows! I am filled with absolute admiration, Brother Mu!"

"Now we can use the Hu people's own arrows to slaughter them! By the gods, this is truly exhilarating!"

"Hahaha! Having fought in wars for so many years, this is the very first time this old general has wished the Hu would shoot even more arrows! I only regret they didn't direct every single arrow they possess toward us!"

"Reporting to the Marshal! The tally of the arrows is complete. There are precisely two hundred twenty-two thousand three hundred and seventy-seven arrows!" a soldier reported with great excitement.

"The arrow supply has been replenished, but if the Grand Preceptor does not agree to the negotiation with the Hu tomorrow, they will launch an even fiercer assault, and we still won't be able to hold the gates. We must deliberate on how to respond!" Xing Ning said.

"What is there to fear? Xing Ning, have the endless days of rigidly guarding the frontier without engaging the enemy shrunk your courage to nothing?"

"You! I am merely reminding the Marshal so that he may formulate a strategy well in advance for tomorrow's battle!"

"Hmm, General Xing has a point. Although we have acquired these arrows, the fortifications are already severely damaged and will still not withstand tomorrow's onslaught from the Hu," Nangong Zhan said, frowning.

"Marshal!" Yang Yaozong bowed to Nangong Zhan and said.

"Speak freely, whatever Yaozong has in mind!" Nangong Zhan's affection for Yang Yaozong grew with every passing moment, and his voice rang out loud and clear.

"I have a method to reinforce the city walls within a short span of time!" Yang Yaozong said with absolute confidence.

"Oh? What method? Tell us quickly so all the generals can hear." Nangong Zhan's tiger-like eyes suddenly widened as he asked joyfully.

"Water! We can make use of water!" Yang Yaozong replied.

"Water? Pray elaborate. We are slow-witted and fail to grasp the Grand Preceptor's meaning," Mu Guodong said, bowing to Yang Yaozong.

Yang Yaozong instructed a soldier to bring a barrel of water, which was then poured slowly along the outer surface of the city wall. As the water cascaded down the stone face, it froze instantly into ice, coating the exterior of the fortifications in an impenetrable armor.

The generals stared in astonishment at the spectacle, all of them suddenly enlightened. They finally understood that Yang Yaozong intended to use the principle of freezing water to encase the city in ice!

Having successively offered two brilliant defensive strategies—both requiring minimal expenditure yet yielding extraordinary results—Yang Yaozong won the wholehearted submission and respect of every general present.

With the strategy decided, Nangong Zhan instructed the commanders to direct the soldiers in hauling water to drench the city walls. The troops bustled about with blazing enthusiasm, eager to witness the expressions on the faces of the Hu warriors when they confronted a glistening, impregnable fortress standing solidly before them on the morrow.

Leaving the task of encasing the city in ice to the generals on the ramparts, Nangong Zhan led Yang Yaozong back to his commander's tent.

Nangong Zhan removed his armor, dismissed his personal guards, and sat down before a low table. He picked up a teapot freshly warmed and filled with tea by his guards, poured two cups, and motioned for Yang Yaozong to sit opposite him. "Yaozong! Do you harbor any resentment toward this old man for taking you as my matrilocal son-in-law and thereby stalling your future? With your talents, you ought not to be confined to a nominal title like Grand Preceptor of the Imperial Heir, which carries no real power."

Yang Yaozong replied respectfully, "Yaozong understands my father-in-law's painstaking efforts. I know you did this to protect me back then. Yaozong is deeply grateful for your care and deep consideration."

Nangong Zhan had not expected Yang Yaozong to understand his inner thoughts so completely. He nodded and said, "Now I even regret my decision back then. With a talent like yours, what need did you ever have for my protection? Ah..." Sighing deeply, Nangong Zhan continued, "I will annul the engagement between you and Qingyi. However, I must ask you: are you still willing to take Qingyi as your wife? If you are unwilling, I will not force you."

Yang Yaozong said earnestly, "This son-in-law does not mind being a matrilocal son-in-law of the Nangong family. However, coming to the frontier this time, there are certain matters I must confess to both my father-in-law and Qingyi."

Nangong Zhan frowned, staring intently at Yang Yaozong. "Speak your mind."

Looking straight into Nangong Zhan's eyes, Yang Yaozong said, "The Emperor has already betrothed the Princess to this son-in-law."

Watching Nangong Zhan's look of astonishment, Yang Yaozong continued, "Aside from the Princess, this son-in-law has three other women."

Upon hearing this, Nangong Zhan instead burst into hearty laughter. "What is there for a real man to be ashamed of for having a few more women? I simply never expected the Emperor to betroth the Princess to you! Just like the Emperor to do such a thing! Hahaha!

"Yaozong, you are handsome, exceptionally talented, and at such a tender age, you have won the trust and heavy reliance of both the Emperor and the Imperial Grand Heir. Moreover, you quelled the rebellion of the loyalists, and your fame has spread far and wide. Seeing you today, this old man is most gratified to find that success has not made you arrogant. For one so young to possess such humility is truly commendable! I am proud of you, and your father's spirit in heaven would be proud of you as well!

"Back then, it was this old man who acted arbitrarily in taking you as a son-in-law of the Nangong household. Now that the Emperor has betrothed the Princess to you, His Majesty is essentially telling me that he does not mind at all your status as a matrilocal son-in-law. I realize now that if you wished to shed that status, you have the ability to do so yourself." Nangong Zhan took a sip of tea, sighed, and went on, "Yaozong, this old man has only Qingyi as a daughter. Her looks and talents are above reproach, though she is somewhat older. If you do not disdain her..."

Before Nangong Zhan could finish, Yang Yaozong immediately dropped to his knees and kowtowed. "To take Qingyi as my wife is the greatest blessing of my life! This son-in-law will surely treat Qingyi well, provided she does not despise my fickle heart."

Nangong Zhan rose and helped Yang Yaozong to his feet. "It is entirely normal for a real man to have a wife and concubines; what is there to speak of as fickle or not fickle? I believe Qingyi understands this principle as well. You need not offer her any explanations. This old man only hopes you will not neglect Qingyi."

Nangong Zhan smiled shyly and nodded. "An explanation is still necessary, after all, Qingyi is my wife, even if the deed was done before seeking approval."

Seeing how deeply Yang Yaozong cherished his daughter, Nangong Zhan was naturally filled with joy. He laughed heartily and said, "Handle the affairs of you young people yourselves! This old man shall not meddle! I have already arranged quarters for the companions who traveled with you; go and rest as well. After journeying for so many days and working until now, you must be exhausted!"

Yang Yaozong nodded and asked, "Where shall this son-in-law be resting?"

"Where else but in Qingyi's quarters? Or did you expect to share a bed with this old man?" Nangong Zhan teased.

Yang Yaozong smiled sheepishly, bowed deeply to Nangong Zhan, and said, "Then this son-in-law will take his leave. May father-in-law also retire early."

Watching Yang Yaozong's upright figure turn and walk away, Nangong Zhan stroked his beard, nodded with a bright smile, and murmured softly, "Brother Shouzhen, you have raised a fine son!"

To be continued...