The Huns kept moving north, and the people of Huayin were greatly encouraged by the rumors of Anyi's restoration. They believed that the ruler of Anyi was fighting a hard battle behind the scenes, and as his subjects, they could not sit idly by.
As a result, people from all over the country rose up in rebellion against a small number of Huns. The lord of Huayin and his troops, however, had not received orders to protect the Huns because of conflicts between the higher-ups and the Huns. Therefore, the soldiers dared not risk their lives to protect a stranger.
The fact that the officials and soldiers did not resist further convinced the Xiongnu that the peace faction wanted to use them as leverage to exchange for terms with Anyi and maintain their status. Enraged, many Xiongnu soldiers attacked the peace-loving officials and soldiers.
The officials and soldiers were usually treated like lackeys, and had to fawn over the Huns and Xiongnu, earning them the contempt of their neighbors. They served as lackeys only to earn a living or to marry. As a result, no one in Huayin wanted to marry their daughters to them. Even their mothers were proud enough to sever ties with them.
Now, the Huns were insulting and trampling on them based on a baseless suspicion. Many of the peace advocates and soldiers could no longer endure the injustice and directly rebelled, killing a number of Huns.
Then everyone took off their military uniforms, put on white clothes, and prepared to rebel against the Huns.
At this moment, the man who was cleaning the latrines in Anyi told the officers and soldiers where Anyi was.
The officers and soldiers immediately gathered 20,000 men, carrying weapons and provisions, to find Anyi. They discovered that Anyi was wounded, which they assumed was from a brave battle with the Huns, and they felt even more ashamed.
Everyone's eyes turned red. Then another group of civil officials arrived, crying and shouting to the heavens in Anyi, and then chanting slogans for the war to restore the country. Everyone contributed their lives and money. With the civil officials' eloquent propaganda, another 50,000 people were gathered. This time, they were all landlords of all sizes from various places, contributing money and grain.
The original 30,000 men suddenly increased to 100,000. The original manure scoops, carrying poles and sticks were replaced with long spears and guns, and a powerful army for the restoration of the country was formed.
An Yi was completely bewildered. She had only broken her bones after falling from the roof; it was not an injury sustained by the Heroic Fighters.
Moreover, the civil officials even gave her fracture a name: "The King's Medal".
An Yi was terrified. Seeing the crowd so excited and their morale soaring, he wondered why no one had told them that they had fallen from the roof.
She fell in front of 30,000 people. Even if one or two people forgot why she broke her leg, it's understandable. But there were 30,000 people. Surely not everyone would forget!
Good heavens! Is it really okay for Huayin Kingdom to be restored like this?
Will they revert to their old ways after they find out why she fell from the roof and broke her leg?
Because of the fracture in Anyi, the people of Huayin have rallied to a power greater than ever before.
At this time, the Northern Prefecture received the news.
Upon learning that his elder brother had sent 10,000 cavalry to provide support, Lord Anshan decided to avenge Artu by destroying the capital.
Anshan Jun suddenly felt he could vent his anger. It was Artu's death that had been weighing on his mind, and it felt like a slap in the face. Artu's death made the people of Huayin believe that the Huns were just paper tigers. Now, uprisings and calls for the restoration of their kingdoms were breaking out everywhere.
And then there's Anyi. Artur once promised to save her life, but now Anyi is causing the most trouble, which is tantamount to betrayal, and her crime is unforgivable.
Anshan Jun ordered the gunners to fire on the attacking Restoration Army.
The firearmsmen are ready.
However, Anyi's situation delayed the army's departure, and the civil and military officials were debating where to hide her. Just then, Anyi urgently needed to urinate and wanted to be carried to the outhouse, but the officials misunderstood her, thinking she intended to lead the army despite her broken bones. Moved by this, the crowd carried her on a stretcher, ready to march and attack the Northern Prefecture.
The crowd was agitated again, shouting and yelling, so loud that even An Yi's voice saying he needed to urinate was drowned out.
Finally, An Yi, having endured the urge to urinate the entire way, arrived at the nearest capital city in the Northern Prefecture. Seeing the gunners on the city walls, she immediately clutched her stomach, her heart filled with fear, and her stomach pounding with dread. She was about to urinate in public. And that would be utterly humiliating.
Finally, she paused, clutching her stomach, and the civil official immediately explained, "The king said everyone should squat down!!"
One hundred thousand people crouched down in unison, and the gunners on the city wall opened fire in a burst, but missed their target.
Reloading takes twenty-five seconds. By the time the gunner was changing the flintlock, An Yi had already wet himself from the sound of gunfire. To wet oneself in front of the enemy was such a humiliating and demoralizing thing. An Yi felt that he was doomed.
She may become the only ruler in history to be so terrified during a personal military campaign that she wets herself; she is destined to be infamous for eternity.
Suddenly, a loud rumble of rain broke out, soaking the firearms and rendering them unusable. Firearmsmen were then stationed at the front to guard the city, while the main cavalry defended the right flank against a potential attack from Jinghua Prefecture. The remaining cavalry inside the city needed to be alerted by the drumbeats.
Just as the arquebusiers were about to beat the drum, the Restoration Army had already set up ladders, rushed up the city wall, and engaged in a fierce battle with the arquebusiers. Without their firearms, the arquebusiers were as vulnerable as melons and were hacked and slashed by the Restoration Army.
Half an hour later, the Restoration Army opened the city gates to welcome Anyi, who was soaked to the bone by the rain, into the city.
An Yi was carried into the capital city with a blank expression, as if she had completely accepted the premise that she had urinated on herself and then inexplicably experienced a rain shower and the restoration of her kingdom.
After the Restoration Army captured the First National City, it garrisoned support from all sides, gathering another 100,000 militia to attack the Huns in various regions. Seeing this, the Hun henchmen fled even faster than the Huns themselves, leaving the Huns isolated and scattered, where they were eventually defeated.
Even the seven counties closest to the Northern Prefecture were captured by the Restoration Army.
Chapter 145 Xie Lanzhi's Unexpected Good Fortune
A spy from Jinghua Prefecture reported that ten thousand Hu and Xiongnu cavalry had entered Huayin Kingdom, prompting Ma Hong and others to strengthen their vigilance and learn to dig trenches.
Since Xie Lanzhi had used trenches on the only route, Ma Hong had heard of it and tried to apply it. However, the battlefield was too vast, and there wasn't enough time to dig trenches everywhere. Otherwise, his own troops would be difficult to maneuver. He could only block the two main routes that were easy to pass through.
When Xie Lanzhi learned that Aqina was finally going to make a move, she had a long halberd sent to her.
Xie Shangguang told her, "Marshal, after your men retrieved the halberd, they put it in the storeroom, but it disappeared the day after you developed a high fever."
"Everyone is looking for it, but they can't find it anywhere. It must have been stolen."
"We sent people to investigate, but they didn't find any information."
Xie Lanzhi felt a pang of disappointment: "After I was forced back to my original form, I even lost my weapon."
That long halberd was the most comfortable weapon she had ever used, the one least likely to dull. Every time she used it, she felt invincible.
Now that she has lost her long spear and her internal energy, it seems she will have to change her strategy to continue fighting Aqina.
Having witnessed the firearms of the 100-man Northern Army, Xie Lanzhi vaguely sensed that the battlefields of the future would no longer be entirely dominated by cold weapons. Firearms would soon be introduced.
Furthermore, the news of Anyi's restoration arrived the day before yesterday, which greatly surprised Xie Lanzhi.
She looked up at the sky and sighed repeatedly, "You really do favor Anyi."
The sky was perfectly normal; clear and blue with a few white clouds drifting by, the sun shining brightly and gently. It was nothing like the devastating thunderstorm that had struck at Niliupei.
Soon, a newly recruited soldier came to inform her that he had invited her to the county government office.
It seems Little Phoenix is about to make a new move.
Xie Lanzhi rushed to the county government office, only to find many unfamiliar faces there, all of whom were loyal to Si Xitong.
When she arrived, several people bowed to her, while others were a step behind, clearly not recognizing her.
"Greetings, Marshal."
She nodded in acknowledgment, then looked at Si Xitong on the throne.
Si Xitong nodded. She first told her subordinates, "From now on, information will be exchanged between the new Tianjing, the land of Jiujin, and Jinghua Prefecture. You must ensure smooth transportation."
Soon, an official from the post station stood up and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Your Highness, the road construction is progressing smoothly, and water transport is also going very well."
"Now that water and land transportation are well-developed, Jinghua Prefecture and Xintianjing have maintained a record of three letters and six horses per month."
Another official stood up and said, "The abandoned canals of Xintianjing have been filled with water for two months, and there is no sign of the water receding."
"The upstream canyon was even eroded, forcing the Tianjing River to change its course, and it has now become a convenient waterway."
The two officials informed Xie Lanzhi that a heavy rain had naturally altered two roads, making it easier for people from Jinghua Prefecture to travel to Tianjing. She glanced at Si Xitong, who was conducting official business, and couldn't help but admire her good fortune.
The storyline for Little Phoenix has already begun. She has already lived through her original fate as the antagonist.
She is no longer the main character. Her good fortune is a thing of the past.
Xie Lanzhi waited silently in the seat to the right, waiting for Si Xitong and the other officials to have arranged security and transportation, preparing for a protracted war with the Hu Xiongnu to deplete their twenty years of accumulated strength in Huayin Kingdom.
This method was proposed by Si Xitong, and all the officials agreed with it; in fact, Jinghua Prefecture had already entered a state of war preparedness. The local people were relocated to the rear of the army, and the able-bodied men selected by the government were responsible for transporting military supplies to the front lines.
To prevent her subordinates from resorting to extreme measures and coercing the people, which would undermine her foundation, Si Xitong proactively proposed establishing a militia. Each village would have militia patrols to assist in maintaining order and maintain direct contact with the army.
It was merely a nominal elevation of status that intimidated many lower-level officials. Ordinary people were also willing to send their own people to manage their own people, without being exploited.
Si Xitong knew perfectly well what kind of people the officials in Jinghua Prefecture were.
The lower-level officials only need to manage their own posts and perform their duties.
In a state of war preparedness, half of the order still depends on the self-management of the grassroots, with officials mediating and responsible for receiving instructions from higher levels.
At this yamen meeting, Si Xitong only lasted an hour before letting his subordinates rest. They were not required to attend court sessions for the time being. He also gave them another opportunity for promotion to the ninth rank, depending on their performance in the coming period. It was a promising and fair promotion.
The newly promoted officials in the capital were all grateful for her kindness and fairness.
After everyone left, Xie Lanzhi got up and went behind the throne to massage Si Xitong's shoulders. Si Xitong's eyes were as bright as the moon, and she relaxed a bit. She even hummed a few times, "Not bad."
"Yes, all I have left is my skill." Xie Lanzhi suddenly looked aggrieved: "The majestic Grand Marshal of the past is gone forever."
Si Xitong was immediately stunned; this was the first time she had ever met Lanzhi, who seemed like a wronged woman.
She looked up, pressed her hand down, then turned to look at her, pouting like a wronged...little wife.
Lately, she had been preoccupied with official duties, which diverted a lot of attention from Lanzhi. After Lanzhi's high fever subsided, and the Taoist priest ensured her safety for three years, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Now that they've stopped, they realize their positions have unintentionally switched, and they recall that the officials only had eyes for her. Lan Zhi's presence seems less noticeable now, and Si Xitong's expression gradually turns somber.
"Lanzhi".
Xie Lanzhi's free hand continued to massage her shoulder. She wasn't one to keep secrets and make others guess, especially since Little Phoenix was already so busy, and she was still putting herself through all that trouble. It was Little Phoenix who was the one who was suffering.
Although I lack the ability, I still possess ordinary brute strength. If I train, I should be able to compete on the battlefield.
She was still thinking about going to the battlefield to compete.
Si Xitong told her some bad news: "Madam Lu told me privately that although you have escaped a disaster, you will have a lot of bad luck for the next three years."
"So you don't need to be at the forefront in future battles. I've already identified many brave and skilled generals among the new captains of the Xie clan, Ma Hong, and the Jiu Jin region."
"As long as I give them a chance..."
As she spoke, she felt the hand on her shoulder withdraw. Xie Lanzhi, with her hands behind her back, walked around to the throne again, looking up at the sky, her expression unreadable.
It's easy to guess that she was feeling sad.
She used to always be the first to charge forward and win the war; no matter how dangerous the situation, she could overcome it.
Now, simply saying "Keep practicing" or "I believe in your abilities" won't be enough to comfort her and help her get back on her feet.
Because heaven will not give her another chance to rise to prominence.
Xie Lanzhi herself guessed that the future battlefield would not be an era of fighting with cold weapons, and that the Hun firearms battalion might already have thousands of people.
The reason Aqina didn't act before was because he was completely unable to move; he was restricted. Just like her now.
"Little Phoenix, am I useless?" Xie Lanzhi asked. "Am I really useless?"
Si Xitong's eyes narrowed, and she immediately got up from her seat, walked to her side and gently hugged her, just like always. But this time, the hug seemed like a joke that God was playing on Xie Lanzhi.
Xie Lanzhi slipped and fell into her arms, completely powerless.
"Look at me. I'm in this state." As she finished speaking, her other foot slipped as if it were greased. Her entire face was forced to be buried in Si Xitong's chest.
Si Xitong was taken aback. Xie Lanzhi paused slightly, then stepped out of Si Xitong's chest, covered her face with one hand, and tried to calm herself down before saying, "I want to be alone for a while."