The sky was gray and overcast, the ground littered with broken armor, and shattered swords were wedged into the crevices of stones, unmoved by the fierce northern wind. The walls were nearly deserted.
The trebuchets were out of ammunition, and all able soldiers had gone down to fight.
Xu Zhen walked forward and spotted the commanding officer sitting in a corner.
The officer's face was buried in a fur collar, hands tucked into sleeves, robes trailing heavily on the ground, eyes fixed on the vast world beyond.
Recalling her experience from the previous rainstorm, Xu Zhen threw her official seal in front of him and knelt, saying, "My rank may not be high, but I am willing to pledge my life and honor to offer a plan."
She had to speak loudly, or her voice would be drowned out by the battle cries.
After a moment of silence, a deep voice said, "Stand up! Speak!"
Xu Zhen recognized the voice, stood up, and looked closely at the commander. It was the same middle-aged man who had played chess with the governor earlier.
Given their acquaintance, things would be easier.
Xu Zhen requested, “Please order a troop withdrawal!”
“Withdrawal?? Do you want the Duke to abandon the city? Such treason!” Before the middle-aged man could respond, his servant stepped forward and angrily berated Xu Zhen, even suggesting that she be thrown off the city wall.
Xu Zhen, naturally, did not budge.
She was slightly surprised, realizing the man before her was the Duke. The title was familiar, possibly a significant figure in the plot.
Her mind was preoccupied with stopping the war, leaving no room for other thoughts. She continued, “I fooled the Hu spy into thinking we would burn their supplies. Now, if we retreat, the Hu soldiers will naturally withdraw.”
The Duke asked in a low voice, “Why?”
Xu Zhen explained her reasoning, “The Hu soldiers’ supplies haven’t been burned yet, so they will likely just send a few more to check. But if our attack weakens, the opposing commander, given his temperament, will likely think we’ve already taken a detour to burn their supplies.”
The Duke followed her reasoning, “So they’ll deploy more troops to protect the granaries, and the battle will ease?”
Xu Zhen said, “Yes, please order it, Duke.”
The wind and snow were harsh at the border. The Duke wore a heavy coat, snow covering his face, shoulders, and head.
Yet, the Duke did not give the order.
He was a cautious man, always thinking several steps ahead, his caution almost chilling.
Moreover, while military strategy is intricate, explaining it can sometimes sound like gibberish.
The sounds of battle below felt like knives cutting into Xu Zhen’s heart, fearing that the screams might include the little beggar's. But then she thought, the little beggar wouldn't scream, even if injured or in pain.
Xu Zhen closed her eyes, grabbed a handful of snow from the ground, and rubbed it on her face to wake herself up.
The Duke continued to watch her.
Xu Zhen opened her eyes, her legs sore, so she sat on the snowy ground and said, “Duke, if you fear a Hu counterattack, I have other good plans.”
The Duke remained silent.
Chapter 59: Fifty-Nine Treasures ?
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