Chapter 39 Who Will Compete for Supremacy and Who Will Thank the Lord?
"Why! Why go in person? If you are dissatisfied with the Xie family in Fengxi Town, you can simply order us to slaughter them. Why defile your hands!"
When Xie Ji arrived, he saw the city gate empty, dust still swirling, and countless hoofprints on the ground. His heart sank. Was he too late?!
Wu Qiu also arrived at the city gate in a sedan chair.
Former advisors and generals gathered at the city gate.
After Wu Qiu got out of the sedan chair, he condemned, "Xie Yan is not only cruel and ruthless, but also utterly ungrateful!"
Everyone knows that Xie Yan was unable to reproduce due to his damaged reproductive organs, which is why Xie Yongxin inherited his lineage.
Xie Jiyue dismounted and grabbed Wu Qiu, saying, "What did Uncle Xie Qi do this time? Even if he poisoned a prince of a fallen kingdom, it shouldn't have resulted in the marshal personally leading troops to Fengxi Town."
Wu Qiu brushed aside the hand that had once served his commander, and said helplessly, "I have served the Xie family for a long time, how could I not know the Xie family traditions? You people have gone to blind faith in martial arts."
Xie Guang squeezed in as well: "It really is related to Uncle Xie Qi. Why is he so reckless as to test the Marshal's patience?"
Wu Qiu urged the two to calm down: "General, Marshal, it's almost certain that she's the one who attacked the Fourth Prince. Besides, Uncle Xie went too far this time. He overstepped his bounds and accidentally injured the Mistress."
"Knowing full well that he had accidentally injured the mistress, he did not offer the antidote with both hands, but instead secretly wrote a letter asking Marshal Xie to pick it up in person. His intentions were obvious."
This is practically a declaration of war against Xie Zhu!
Xie Yan was expressing his dissatisfaction with the current Xie ruler. As one of the commoners closest to the direct line, he was the one most entitled to replace him.
The traditions passed down by the Xie family are also quite barbaric. If they don't like each other or are unwilling to be under someone else's command, they will directly resort to gunfire and action. Even while fighting the enemy on the battlefield, they will turn around and fight each other for control of the territory after the battle is over.
This martial spirit had severely damaged the Xie family's strength, so the old marshal later strictly forbade it, prohibiting any more than 10,000 people from fighting amongst themselves.
Even if they are not convinced by the current ruler, they must rise to power through the prescribed means of negotiation. Otherwise, the entire Xie clan will not regard the new victor as their master.
Xie Yan's actions are clearly a declaration that he intends to challenge the current Xie Master.
Xie Lanzhi understood this intention, which is why she led her troops to Fengxi Town without hesitation.
Since there was no way to retreat, the only way to resolve the trouble was to fight.
Upon hearing this, Xie Guang's face turned pale: "But, but the Marshal has been busy with state affairs and hasn't practiced for a long time. Her strength is definitely not what it used to be. Uncle Xie is taking advantage of her vulnerability by declaring war at this time."
Xie Ji also said with a dark face, "General, I want to ask you, what are you thinking?"
"What do you mean, what are you thinking?"
"If, and I mean if the Grand Marshal loses, will you accept Seventh Uncle's decision?"
Xie Guang answered without hesitation: "I disagree! I disagree the most!"
Xie Ji then asked Wu Qiu, "And you?"
"I think General You has already made this clear. The Xie family can only be reborn under the current Xie lord." Wu Qiu said, "The Xie Yan lineage is only relying on their close kinship within the clan. I can agree with Wu Shangxing, but I dare not agree with Wen, especially since there are many more people with the surname Xie who have submitted to the Xie lord."
Upon hearing their answers, Xie Guang took a deep breath: "Since we have both chosen the Grand Marshal, let's send troops. The 150,000 Xie troops in Tianjing are not to be trifled with."
"Wouldn't that be breaking the rules?" Xie Ji said, "The Grand Marshal would be unhappy."
Xie Guang glared angrily and said, "A general in the field is not exempt from command, and what we need to protect is the current Lord Xie. What kind of ridiculous rule is this? We can change it when the marshal returns."
"What do you think, Minister Wu?"
The two men turned their gazes to Wu Qiu.
Wu Qiu shook his head and said, "Neither of you can mobilize Xie's army in Tianjing City."
"What?" Xie Ji and Xie Guang seemed to have heard a joke. Could they really not mobilize two such capable generals?
Wu Qiu shook his head again: "You do not understand the marshal's deeper meaning. Why did the marshal personally lead five thousand men to Fengxi Town? First, to fight, and second, to avoid the Xie family suffering heavy losses. It is not just because of the old marshal's rules, but to avoid greater losses."
Wu Qiu's analysis of Xie Lanzhi was indeed accurate. Minimizing losses and maximizing benefits—Xie Ji and Xie Guang had heard similar sentiments expressed at the Imperial Palace.
Moreover,
Xie Guang and Xie Ji couldn't help but say in unison, "Just say what you mean, don't beat around the bush!"
Wu Qiu revealed everything: "Of the 150,000 in Tianjing, 80,000 are Xie Yan's lineage. Of those 70,000, how many remain neutral, and how many have chosen to follow the Marshal at this time?"
“I think you all know very well that the Xie family is watching closely and hesitating. Most of these hesitant people are led by the older generation and have lost their voice. Most of the older generation are close relatives and friends of Uncle Xie. They will never side with the Marshal, but if Uncle Xie orders them to rebel against the Marshal, they will be even less likely to do so.”
"The situation has become far too complicated. Generals, this is no longer just a challenge from Uncle Xie to the Marshal, but a clash between the old and new Xie families."
"If you don't believe me, you can go and see for yourselves. The generals, big and small, will neither besiege Fengxi Town nor listen to Xie Yan. And since the marshal hasn't given them any orders, they naturally won't listen to you. Even if he did give them orders, they would only besiege Fengxi Town, not attack it."
"After all, most people in Fengxi Town have relatives like Xie Jun. It's only natural to want your loved ones to be well."
Xie Ji tensed up instantly and said, "If, I mean if."
Xie Guang slapped him on the back and said, "Don't make wild guesses, the Marshal will definitely win."
Wu Qiu thought that none of the 150,000 men in Tianjing dared to be used, and he couldn't help but vehemently criticize: "Uncle Xie has 10,000 men stationed in Fengxi Town, all of them his personal guards. It's simply an unfair victory."
With five thousand against ten thousand, it will be difficult to determine a winner in the short term.
Xie Lanzhi rushed to Fengxi Town, accompanied by a central guard general named Xie Feng. Five thousand men marched unimpeded through city gate after city gate, Xie Lanzhi leading the charge without stopping for a moment.
At each town they arrived at, the town officials nervously opened the gates, barely having a chance to kneel before Commander Xie, and could only watch helplessly as Commander Xie, clad in full armor, headed towards Fengxi Town.
Unaware of the danger, the common people thought another war was about to break out and couldn't help but lament the tyranny of the powerful in this world.
Only the Xie family soldiers stationed in various places knew what this meant. It meant that their Xie family would either change hands or the one in Fengxi Town would die. There were only two possible outcomes.
"I don't understand. Lord Xie is skilled in both literature and martial arts. He is the most meritorious and valiant general in our Xie clan. Why are there still people in the clan who are not convinced by Lord Xie?"
"Human greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. We've long been used to it. Even before we attacked Tianjing, didn't we feel that Lord Xie had changed? Everyone's hearts were unsettled."
“If we hadn’t entered Tianjing, I would have thought that the head of the Xie family should be like this. But since entering Tianjing, I have learned how to live. And now we are all living better than the last, all thanks to Lord Xie.”
"My child is still clamoring to go to school, and has only been in school for less than a month."
"Actually, my family is the same. I think it's not a good idea to be a low-ranking official who earns a salary every day."
"Me too. The food, clothes, and other necessities here are so much better than in the Southern Region. Now that I think about it, our Xie family was like savages in the Southern Region."
"Tianjing is still the best. The Xie family should have chosen Tianjing. Xie Zhu didn't make the wrong choice either. With her by our side, we have the good life we have now."
Suddenly someone asked, "Who do you want to win?"
After a moment of silence, everyone answered in unison, "Naturally, it's the current Lord Xie!"
"But she is no longer brave. She no longer charges into battle."
"Even without the attack, we can still live a good life, as long as we have the most holy and enlightened Lord Thankful!"
The crowd shouted.
Whether it's the Xie family in Tianjing or the Xie families stationed in various towns, everyone privately has the same choice.
Fengxi Town is now heavily guarded, with Xie's soldiers at every intersection keeping a close watch, their expressions tense and even fearful. But as subordinates, they cannot disobey their commander.
Xie Yan was at a mansion in Fengxi Town when he received letters from the Xie family from all over the country. He was furious and scattered the letters all over the ground.
“These incompetent fools are so greedy for pleasure that they have almost softened their bones by soaking in sugar jars.”
Xie Yongding was so frightened that he couldn't sit still. He pleaded, "Most people in the clan serve the Marshal as their master. Seventh Uncle, do we... do we really want to be subservient?"
Xie Yan couldn't bear to see his weakness. He said with exasperation, "Foolish! Don't you want to avenge your brother and mother?! Let the people of Tianjing know that the Xie Yan lineage is not to be trifled with. At the same time, let them know that the Xie family's martial spirit is its foundation!"
"But," Xie Yongding said timidly in a low voice, "you really are doing this for Mother and Brother, but you're clearly coveting..."
"Insolence!" Xie Yan immediately stopped him: "After I win, all the benefits will be yours for a hundred years. What do you have to be afraid of? You have no backbone at all. Who in the Xie family will respect you in the future?"
Even with his threats, the letters on the ground were all petitions asking Xie Yan to withdraw, with only a very small number of people supporting him, and even those supporters were in the Southern Region. Not a single member of the Xie clan in Tianjing supported him.
Xie Yan, who had never received such a petition before, assumed that with 80,000 troops at his beck and call, he could take the opportunity to destroy the marshal's stronghold. However, the soldiers turned out to be cowards, either making excuses or not responding at all.
It was an utter disgrace that his orders were so disregarded.
What's more, it's Xie Yan's 80,000-strong army!
"It's all Xie Ying's fault that his descendants are disobedient!"
Xie Yongding lowered his head and dared not utter a sound.
A short while later, Xie Bing rushed into the mansion to report.
"Report—The Marshal's troops have passed Shenzhen and will arrive at Fengxi Town in less than two hours!"
"Seventh Uncle, should we send the innocent clansmen of Fengxi Town away?"
"No need. Since they are of my Xie Yan lineage, they should stand on my side!" Xie Yan blocked his descendants' escape route without hesitation.
Xie Yongding's face immediately turned ashen.
His wife and daughters are still in Fengxi Town! But Uncle Qi completely disregards the fate of his family!
Meanwhile, of the hundred men Si Xinian led, only thirty infiltrated Fengxi Town. They found that Xie Jun's troops were heavily guarding the streets and alleys, and the streets had been cleared of people, with no civilians passing by.
Xie clan members were driven back to their homes when they went out, and even every Xie soldier locked up the residences of Xie clan members.
Si Xinian witnessed everything. His eyes turned cold, and he ordered, "Find Xie Yongding's residence and kidnap his wife and daughters."
"Yes, Your Highness," the thirty men replied immediately.
Fengxi Town, a town located in the northern part of Tianjing, is situated at the crossroads of four counties and has well-developed transportation by water and land. At this moment, all docks are closed to boats, and pedestrians are prohibited from approaching the intersections.
Clearing out lanes.
On the nearby uphill slope, the outline of a group of cavalry gradually appeared. First, they galloped up, then the sound of hooves shook the ground as they charged towards Fengxi Town in a massive wave.
Xie Lanzhi was in front, and with a slight raise of her hand, Xie Feng immediately received the command: "Archive!"
This cavalry force consisted of elite soldiers, skilled in both riding and archery. All five thousand men drew their bows and fired as they rode.
"Release the arrows!!!"
The rain of arrows was like a dense cloud obscuring half the sky above Fengxi Town, each arrow carrying a deathly aura as it shot down the town's gatekeepers.
A note from the author:
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 19:32:25 on December 1, 2021 and 11:36:40 on December 2, 2021!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Bai Cha Qing Huan Wu Bie Shi (40 bottles); Liang Huan (10 bottles); nawa21 (4 bottles); Sui Jiang Tian (3 bottles);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!