Chapter 343: Ten Days Remain, Not Much, Not Little
Inside Yanmen Pass, Xiao Mo changed the bandages on his arm wound in the city lord’s manor.
Xiao Mo only used some simple herbal medicine, then wrapped it with clean white cloth.
“Brother Mo, shouldn’t we still get some spirit medicine?” Xiao Gui said somewhat reluctantly.
“No need.” Xiao Mo shook his head. “There isn’t much spirit medicine or spirit herbs left in the army. Whatever we can use for the brothers is what counts. My physique is still fine, I recover quickly.”
After tying the white cloth tight, Xiao Mo stood up, “Let’s go to the great hall. We can’t keep our Zhei Kingdom envoy waiting too long.”
“Yes.”
Xiao Gui followed behind Xiao Mo toward the city lord’s manor great hall.
The Zhei Kingdom envoy was already waiting in the great hall.
“This Xiao failed to welcome you properly, please forgive this offense, Esteemed Envoy.”
Xiao Mo stepped forward and bowed respectfully with clasped fists.
“General Xiao is too polite. General Xiao handles ten thousand affairs daily, being busy is normal.” Zhei Kingdom envoy Meng Cang said with a smile. “I wonder if General Xiao is ready to receive the edict?”
“Naturally.” Xiao Mo nodded.
Meng Cang unrolled the imperial edict in his hand and proclaimed, “Xiao Mo, receive the edict.”
Xiao Mo bent forward with cupped hands, “Surrendered general Xiao Mo receives the edict!”
“The Frost Prince Xiao Mo is one blessed by heaven with valor and martial prowess, divinely granted strategic brilliance. In letters he can order heaven and earth, in arms he can command wind and clouds, truly a rare phoenix and qilin of this world.
In the past during the Wei Kingdom campaign, the battle beneath shook the universe. When the banner split and the halberd swept forth, the Yue family’s Zhu Jian witnessed it and was moved to compose the ‘Breaking Through Shuanghong Array’. This melody’s sound moved the nine heavens, its spirit swallowed mountains and rivers, sung throughout the four seas. Though I dwelt in the Zhei palace, I have long admired this elegance.
Previously when the Northern Frontier raised its army, though temporarily creating discord with our Zhei, military matters serve their respective masters; a gentleman’s heart should be measured by sun and moon.
Now Sir Xiao understands the great situation and recognizes heaven’s mandate, abandoning darkness for light, raising banners in return. This is not only my fortune, but truly the blessing of the Zhei Kingdom.
The title of Frost Prince was originally revered throughout the world. Now I, heaven’s luminous mandate, also bestow upon Xiao Mo the title of Frost Prince of the Zhei Kingdom, granting three provinces as domain, bestowing axes and ceremonial flags, establishing an office with the same ceremonial rank as the Three Excellencies.
Fourth Princess Xu Shengge is gentle, virtuous and wise, blessed by imperial spirits, to be matched in good marriage.
An auspicious day shall be chosen, dark silks and jade offered, the six ritual ceremonies performed, making mountains and rivers the alliance, sun and moon the witness.
It is hoped the King and Princess will harmonize like lute and zither, eternally solidifying the foundation of the state.”
“Surrendered general Xiao Mo thanks His Majesty!”
As the words fell, Xiao Mo solemnly received the imperial edict.
“Frost Prince, now that His Majesty has issued the edict, you and I are colleagues. I wonder when the Frost Prince will open the city gates?” Meng Cang said with a smile.
“The city gates will naturally be opened.” As he spoke, Xiao Mo’s voice naturally lowered. “But please wait a moment, Esteemed Envoy. After all, in our Northern Frontier army, not everyone is willing to surrender. This Xiao must deal with some who are not of the same heart.”
“Understood, understood.” Meng Cang nodded, showing an expression of “I understand everything.” “I just wonder how much time General Xiao needs?”
“About these two days.” Xiao Mo stated clearly. “The day after tomorrow at the hour of chen, this Xiao will open the city gates wide to welcome General Guo!”
“Good.” Meng Cang bowed. “Then we shall await General Xiao.”
“Easy to say, easy to say.”
Xiao Mo smiled, exchanged a few more pleasantries with Zhei Kingdom envoy Meng Cang, then had someone escort Meng Cang out of the city.
Not long after Meng Cang left, all of Yanmen Pass’s Northern Frontier high-ranking generals came to the great hall.
“General.” The various generals bowed to Xiao Mo.
Sitting on the city lord’s high seat, Xiao Mo rubbed the corners of his eyes and said to everyone, “The Zhei Kingdom side agreed to my surrender request. The imperial edict just arrived.”
The many generals looked at each other.
They naturally all knew that Xiao Mo wasn’t truly surrendering.
Zhao Guang stepped forward and asked, “General, should we open the city gates and invite Guo Xin and the others into the city for a trap to catch turtles in a jar and eliminate them?”
“Hehehe, Guo Xin is not a fool.” Xiao Mo shook his head. “Even if we directly invite them into the city, will he really enter? Moreover, he’ll definitely require us to close the city protection formation. When the city protection formation closes and the city gates open, many things become uncertain.”
“Then should we first pretend to join the Zhei Kingdom army, then wait for an opportunity to stab them hard in the back?” A general named Jiang Dayong said.
“No good…” Li Jing had already spoken before Xiao Mo could answer. “Although Guo Xin reached his current position through connections, he’s still an old general and not a fool. If we merge into the Zhei Kingdom army, the first thing they’ll do is scatter us.”
“Exactly.” Xiao Mo nodded. “Moreover, do you really think the Zhei Kingdom is sincerely urging me to surrender?”
As Xiao Mo’s words landed, everyone’s gaze simultaneously fell on Xiao Mo.
Xiao Mo casually tossed the Zhei Kingdom imperial edict on the table, “Opening an office with the same rank as the Three Excellencies, granting three provinces as domain, and even marrying the fourth princess to me. Is the Zhei Kingdom ruler really this generous?”
“Then what does the General mean?” Zhao Guang asked.
Xiao Mo shook his head, “From when we sent the surrender letter until today, how many days have passed?”
Yang Chongyang replied, “It’s already been four days. Since we began defending Yanmen Pass, a full twenty days have passed.”
“Twenty days, cough cough cough…” Xiao Mo coughed a few times, looking outside the great hall as if talking to himself. “Ten days remain, not much, not little…”
“General.”
…
Thirty li away, in the Zhei Kingdom army camp, Meng Cang returned to the main military tent to report.
At this time, all the Zhei Kingdom army generals were also waiting.
“How was it?” Guo Xin asked, his tone carrying some urgency.
“Xiao Mo agreed to surrender, and his attitude was extremely polite, nothing like his previous arrogance.” Meng Hao reported truthfully. “Moreover, Xiao Mo said that the day after tomorrow he will close the city protection formation and open the city gates wide.”
“Excellent!” Guo Xin excitedly pounded the table with force.
Yu You frowned and bowed to Guo Xin, “General, although Xiao Mo has already surrendered, this subordinate still worries about his schemes. The day after tomorrow we probably shouldn’t enter the city. We must first have Xiao Mo lead the city’s garrison troops out!”
“This naturally doesn’t need General Yu to say.”
Guo Xin said with a smile.
“Does Xiao Mo think surrendering comes without a price? After Xiao Mo surrenders, we’ll have him serve as the vanguard in charges, wearing down the soldiers under him until they’re nearly depleted. Then he’ll just be a toothless tiger with bound hands and feet. What’s there to worry about?
Finally when he returns to the Zhei Kingdom court, so what if he ‘opens an office with the same rank as the Three Excellencies’?
The three provinces he’s granted are all located in our Zhei Kingdom’s barren lands, places of exile. Let Xiao Mo deal with those fierce beasts and barbarians!
As for the fourth princess.
Hahaha, that fourth princess from the deep palace, her weight matches her height! Let Xiao Mo enjoy that blessing as well!”
Just when Guo Xin felt the situation was decided, soon two days’ time passed.
On the morning of the third day.
Guo Xin mobilized the army, assembling outside the military camp, waiting for Xiao Mo to open the city gates wide but Yanmen Pass showed no movement whatsoever.
The soldiers on the city walls still stood guard like statues, staring intently at the Zhei Kingdom army.
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