Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law-Chapter 495: Zuo Lianglun: The Marquis Has Replied

Chapter 495: Chapter 495: Zuo Lianglun: The Marquis Has Replied

"Neigh..."

Seeing Tuoba Zhu alone on horseback with a spear stopping in the road.

Cui Shuang and Song Shiming both reined in their steeds, retreated a bit, and gazed at Tuoba Zhu from afar.

"I am Prince Tuoba Zhu of Jin Xia. Do the Song generals dare to come and fight with this king?" Tuoba Zhu invited the two to battle, holding his spear.

"So he is Tuoba Zhu..."

Hearing this, Cui Shuang and Song Shiming exchanged glances, their faces revealing astonishment, and then retreated a bit further.

They didn’t know Tuoba Zhu, but from Chen Mo’s words, they had heard of him.

He was reputed to be an upper-grade martial artist.

"No wonder I feel intimidated..."

Song Shiming whispered softly. He wasn’t foolish; why would he go battle Tuoba Zhu? Instead, he retreated to a distance he considered safe.

Cui Shuang, on the other hand, started his verbal assault: "So you’re the Pig Prince the Marquis mentioned? The Marquis said if you surrender with respect, you won’t lose your title as Marquis."

Although it was already clear it was Tuoba Zhu, not "Tuoba Pig," Cui Shuang deliberately said it to humiliate the opponent.

Tuoba Zhu frowned: "I’ve heard Great Song is a land of propriety, yet as a Song general, why do your words sound so crude and disrespectful?"

"I naturally am a crude person. With you beastly barbarians, propriety is just pointless." Cui Shuang loudly retorted.

"Cowardly coward, afraid to even have the courage to face this king in battle." Tuoba Zhu coldly said after a moment of silence.

"Indeed, I’m afraid to fight you." Cui Shuang nodded in agreement.

Tuoba Zhu: "..."

This man is really shameless.

Just as he was at a loss for words.

Cui Shuang continued: "But speaking of cowardliness, Pig Prince, you are no different. If you have courage, my Marquis will soon arrive, would you dare fight him?"

Tuoba Zhu’s eyes narrowed, his expression uncertain.

Yet Cui Shuang wasn’t finished, hurling insults: "Cowardly Pig Prince, lacking even the courage to face my Marquis, resorting to using civilians as pawns—shameful behavior, killing you would be too lenient, you should be skinned alive, dismembered and soaked in a cesspool..."

From the mouths of previously captured Jin Xia prisoners, they learned that the idea of having Yao’er City’s civilians participate in the battle came from Tuoba Zhu.

After the rant, Cui Shuang again reined his horse to retreat a bit, fearing Tuoba Zhu might charge in anger.

Tuoba Zhu’s expression changed drastically, but he neither charged nor said anything.

He stood alone, spear in hand, watching Cui Shuang and the others.

After who knows how long, Tuoba Zhu took out the Thousand-Mile Mirror, observed the rising dust behind Cui Shuang and the others, then put down the mirror and turned his horse to escape toward Ying City.

"Where is he?" Following up was Shao Jinneng leading the Brave Cavalry Guard.

"He ran, Tuoba Zhu stayed behind to cover the retreat, we’re no match for him." Cui Shuang replied, then asked: "What’s the situation inside? Where’s the Marquis?"

"The Divine Brave Guard is clearing the remaining enemies, the Marquis is in the back." Shao Jinneng said.

"I’ll report to the Marquis." Cui Shuang said.

...

Chen Mo quickly learned of Tuoba Zhu’s escape.

There was no choice; he was the only upper-grade martial artist in the army. He had to lead at the front, otherwise, if he went to ambush at Jishi Ridge, even Bing City’s east city gate might not be breached.

"It’s alright, the Eastern Army in the north is nearly annihilated, he surely won’t dare remain in Youzhou, the situation in the north is settled, we’ll leave him alive for now, there will be a chance to settle accounts later."

As he spoke, Chen Mo patted Cui Shuang on the shoulder, and said loudly: "We have come all the way from Qingzhou, traveling day and night, traversing thousands of miles, enduring harsh weather, all to reclaim lost lands of the Great Song and drive out foreign invaders. Now that the situation is settled, your names will certainly be recorded in the annals of glorious history."

Hearing this, Cui Shuang and the others showed signs of excitement.

Leaving a name in history is no less significant than being enfeoffed as a marquis or prime minister.

Chen Mo said no more, and instructed the generals: "Rest well tonight, regain your vitality, for tomorrow we march to Ying City."

"Yes."

...

Suo Fei County, Yu State.

At dawn, the east revealed the white of dawn. Though Yu State was in the south, now it also showed much chill, a layer of frost formed on the ground.

The Chen Army inside the city and the Yue Army outside began having breakfast.

Before heading to the front lines, Chen Mo had already planned defenses against Longyou, so inside and outside of Suo Fei County had set defenses.

After Yue Ruyan agreed to Zuo Lianglun’s proposal, Zuo Lianglun took the initiative for Chen Mo and took in Yue Ruyan and her forces.

However, since Chen Mo’s letter hadn’t yet returned, Zuo Lianglun didn’t let the Yue Army enter the city, instead placing them at the external defensive line.

To show sincerity, Zuo Lianglun brought the entire Yuezhi clan into the city and arranged for them to be settled in Linzhou.

While the Chen Army and Yue Army were having breakfast.

In the distance outside the city, a uniform, thunderous marching sound resounded.

On the lookout tower outside the city, the Yue Army soldiers observed a large force of Jin Xia soldiers and horses approaching Suo Fei County.

The Jin Xia Army was attacking.

"General, the Jin Xia barbarians are coming." A soldier reported to Yue Ruyan.

Yue Ruyan looked to the city wall behind him.

On the wall, Zuo Lianglun was looking at Li Yunzhang.

Though Zuo Lianglun was the Prefect of Yuzhou, the administration and the military were separate, with the defense managed by Li Yunzhang stationed at Suo Fei County.

"When the Marquis passed through Yuzhou, he sent a message instructing us to hold firm no matter what happens. If we really can’t hold it, we can retreat to Linzhou and ask Lord Geng for advice." Li Yunzhang relayed Chen Mo’s instructions to Zuo Lianglun.

Zuo Lianglun pondered for a moment and said: "Now we have upper-grade martial artists in Suo Fei County, we should definitely be able to hold."

Li Yunzhang nodded in agreement: "Let’s see what tricks these barbarians play."

Soon, Jin Xia launched its attack.

From morning till night, the attacks came in waves like a war of attrition.

The defenses of Suo Fei County had long been enhanced, and even without pottery bombs, they repelled Jin Xia’s assaults.

But Li Yunzhang also understood that today’s battle was merely Jin Xia’s probing.

"Sir, a message by carrier pigeon." At this moment, the Captain of Yuzhou brought a letter to Zuo Lianglun.

Zuo Lianglun took the letter, unfolded it, glanced over it, then smiled, noticing Li Yunzhang’s sidelong glance, he handed the letter to him, smiling: "General Li, it’s time to invite General Yue... no, the lady into the city for a drink."

...

Soon, Yue Ruyan was invited into the city by Zuo Lianglun.

Yue Ruyan entered the prepared banquet hall without removing her armor.

Seeing the fine wine and food prepared in the hall, Yue Ruyan lightly raised an eyebrow, her tone cool: "Lord Zuo must have something good to share with me."

Zuo Lianglun smiled and nodded, saying: "Indeed. The Marquis has replied."