That official almost broke into tears as he miserably mounted his horse again. Whipping his horse, he rushed back to inform Zhao Qi. Zhao broke into a cold smile as he leaned on his chair while looking at the lines drawn out on the map. The young prince closed his eyes as he slowed recited out, “Beishuo, Chidu, Lan City, Chunyu Region, Yaoshui, Meilin Pass…”

Although no one knew why Zhao Yang had hesitated in attacking, to Chu Qiao, every moment would be a godsent. She actively walked around as she organized the defense of the city while arranging for the retreat of civilians. Drafting volunteers into her ranks, she determined the order of battle. She had no time to rejoice over the brief respite.

As night fell on the city, the wailing sounds in the city had gradually weakened. Walking on the empty streets, Chu Qiao suddenly felt a bit cold. Ge Qi stepped up and draped a robe over her. With the thick robe blocking out the raging winds, Chu Qiao nodded in thanks.

The doors to the shops along the streets were all wide open, completely devoid of life. With a creak, a wooden pail was blown down by the wind. With a rumble, it rolled around. It was nothing but silence and emptiness, with an overwhelming taste of desolation.

“Master, we would not win, right?” Chu Qiao was taken aback by both the suddenness and the content of this question, as she turned around, only to see Ge Qi looking at her in her eyes while calmly smiling. “If Master was truly confident of victory, you would not have arranged for the retreat of the civilians.”

Chu Qiao did not reply and merely turned back around. She was a high ranking officer that had received top-notch modern military education. She knew clearly what exactly it meant to go to war. Miracles do happen, but that required at least a somewhat equal footing. Even if the stakes were not completely on par, there must be some form of strength that they could utilize to at least be able to withstand the opponent. With a force of barely ten thousand, she needed to guard against an ill-fortified city against a massive force of 200 thousand well trained elite soldiers. In addition, there would be reinforcement incoming for the enemy. Facing such a battle, hardly anyone would be confident of victory. But there was no way she could reveal such emotions. She was their leader, their hope. If even she lost confidence, how could the other fight on?

Chu Qiao quietly sighed. Suddenly, she saw a tiny figure in front. She frowned, while Ge Qi had already stepped up cautiously while shielding her. Loudly, he bellowed, “Who are you?”

In the dim flickering lights, the guards walked up only to find a child who looked like he was at most 12 to 13 years old. Wearing a thin coat, he was holding onto a small package. His face had turned bright red from the frigid temperatures, and firmly holding his head up high, he exuded a stubborn defiance.

Chu Qiao frowned and asked, “Which family are you from? Why didn’t you leave with the other civilians?”

The kid did not speak and merely lowered his head. Looking at him, Chu Qiao guessed that most likely he had escaped from the west gate. Not questioning him any further, Chu Qiao turned and left.

“Oi! You are not bothering with me?” Seeing how Chu Qiao did not care about him anymore, the kid curiously stepped up and asked, “You are not going to chase me out of the city?”

Chu Qiao calmly replied, “Whether if you want to live or die is none of my business. I have enough things on my hands, and have no time to spare for you.”

That kid was instantly stunned, and as though he had just been humiliated, he loudly declared, “I am 15 this year! I am already old enough to be a soldier!”

Chu Qiao flashed a glance at him emotionlessly. The kid probably also knew that his lie was too obvious, as he continued to explain, “I may be tiny, but I am really strong!”

Chu Qiao still did not bother with him, as the kid hurriedly ran over, only to be blocked by Ge Qi. Having no choice, that kid could only jump up and down in front of the blockade, and even rolled up his sleeves to show Chu Qiao his muscular arms.

“Why did you not go?” Chu Qiao suddenly asked.

The kid was slightly surprised, as he stopped trying to flaunt his strength. Only after hesitating a while he replied, “My little sister is sick, she could not leave.”

Chu Qiao’s heart tightened. She had seen too many similar things all these years. She felt that no matter how many people she had to kill, it would probably all be worth it at the end. Only with the destruction of the status quo can the rise of a new order take place. When a nation wishes for independence, certain prices must be paid. Perhaps, many years later, the world would change because of the actions she had done today. Hopefully, the kids then would not need to be homeless, and the civilians need not worry about survival day in day out. If even something as simple as that could happen, Chu Qiao felt that it would be enough.

“What is your name?”

“I am called Du Gouzi.”

Chu Qiao frowned. Such an adorable kid, why did they give him such a name?

“That name doesn’t sound nice. Let me give you a new name.”

The kid thought for a while before agreeing. “Sure, but my surname must still be Du.”

Chu Qiao stood up, with her gaze fixed into the distance, “Then, you shall be called Pingan.” With her sincerest thoughts, she wished for the peace within Yan Bei highlands.

An hour after that small episode, in a small square within the west of the city, the entire contingent of the Southwest Emissary’s Garrison assembled. With the bright moon hanging overhead, Chu Qiao, donning military garb, stood atop a temporary wooden stage. With a forlorn gaze, she observed soldiers who had fought with her through life and death. Solemnly, she addressed the soldiers, “Gentlemen, I am thankful for your trust in me through all this. Whether it was in the Imperial capital of Zhen Huang, or in the Hongchuan Plains, or outside the gates of Beishuo. We fought together, and went through the same pain. I am thankful to you, that you had kept your faith in me, and followed me. Today, you even followed me into this deadly situation. For this, I am extremely sorry.” Chu Qiao gradually bowed, before straightening herself again. She continued, “I do not want to continue lying to you, so before our decisive battle, I want to tell you, we will not have any reinforcements. Chidu City will not get any assistance. We are alone in this, and no one will provide us with any help.”

Panic suddenly arose within the ranks of the army, but it was quickly quenched. The soldiers stared at Chu Qiao in anticipation for her explanation.

“The Xia army split their forces into two groups. They began their main attack in the East of Beishuo, with their main forces amounting to as much as 400 thousand strong, and that is still without counting their reserves and their logistics personnel. The other groups would be the 200 thousand soldiers that we are about to face. They scaled the Helan Mountains and were about to spring a surprise attack on Chidu City. Their objective is to breakthrough from here! Once this city is taken, the millions of soldiers and civilians in Beishuo will have nowhere to escape to. They will definitely fall to the slaughter of the Xia army! With that, Yan Bei’s elite forces will take a huge blow, and the entire eastern region of Yan Bei will sink into the Xia Empire’s control! As the secondary defense line, Lan City could not afford to spare us any troops as well. They merely have 100 thousand troops that guard the smoke signal stations that span across the Louri Mountains. The army that his highness led is also far away at Meilin pass. None of them could possibly help us.”

The flame shone onto the small yet determined face of the young lady. With her figure standing upright, and her eyes bright with conviction, she declared, “As such, this will be a bitter battle. You enemies outnumber you 20 times, and in the future, their numbers will increase further. But we cannot retreat. Once we retreat, the people of Beishuo will be isolated, and they cannot even escape. Furthermore, standing behind us are the civilians of Luo Ri mountains. Without us standing in the way, the armies of the Xia Empire will mercilessly step over their bodies. Regardless of elderly, women, kids, everyone will face certain death. Yan Bei will face a disaster!”

Chu Qiao’s eyes were bloodshot as her expression turned excited. “The soldiers of Southwest Emissary’s Garrison, you have always been called traitors. Your predecessors betrayed Yan Bei and betrayed their history, and in those eight years, everyone looked down upon you. You have been on the receiving end of countless rumors and scoldings. Even though you helped Prince Yan Xun to escape from Zhen Huang City, even though you were instrumental in the earth-shattering rebellion of Zhen Huang, even though you beat the Northwestern coalition that outnumbered you over ten times, you still bear the title of a betrayer. No one trusted you, no one wanted to accept you. But today, everything will change. A chance is placed before you. As long as you weather this through, you are the Heroes of Yan Bei! The hero of all Yan civilians!”

The warriors’ eyes started to brim with passion. In the raging winds, the snow continued to fall. In the darkness of the night, Chu Qiao’s figure stood tall and upright, much like a rallying flag, showing the soldiers the way forward. With a voice of passion, she claimed, “Warriors, pick up your weapons and follow after me! We will protect Yan Bei, protect those defenseless civilians. Using our blood, we will wash away the humiliation of the past. Defend our honor, and let the name of Southwest Emissary’s Garrison shine once more! Some of us will die, and some of us will no longer live to see the winter next year, but the civilians will thank you for your actions, Yan Bei will remember you for your deeds. Your name will be recorded in the archives of Yan Bei’s military achievements, and will be forever looked up to by our descendants! Warriors. I will be together with you, through life and death, and leave no man behind!”

“Through life and death! Leave no man behind!” the warriors cheered in unison. Raising both hands, their eyes were also bloodshot, some even crying. The years of humiliation erupted into strength as they hollered, “Protect Yan Bei!” With their voices echoing out, the raging winds brought their cheers high into the heavens!

Their cheers, fueled by their determination, were loud enough that it was audible even in the plains beyond the city. Zhao Yang, wearing a white robe, snorted at their determination. The time was about right. If he were to delay any further, perhaps Zhao Qi would flip out.

Setting his eyes on the low walls surrounding the cities, he flicked off the snowflakes that landed on his coat. In his eyes, that was not even a city! He merely took a glance at Chidu that was consumed in darkness, before casually instructing his generals, “Go, push that wall down.”

“Roger!” the generals acknowledged his orders and walked away. Having received the order to attack, the warriors brandished their weapons in neat formations, and rapidly advanced.

Boom! Boom! Boom! The earth shook under their feet, as the soldiers roared, “Advance!” The crisp charge call of the military bugle sounded off. As though complementing the impending battle, the winds howled in excitement, sending the snowflakes tumbling ever so rapidly.

The night had finally descended!

“Feng Ting, gather 1,000 scouts into five groups and carry out independent assault. Make use of familiar terrain to carry out guerrilla warfare with the enemy. Do your utmost to disrupt the resupply of the enemy troops, and to trap the enemy supply troops on the other side of the Helan Mountains for at least two days.”

A young commander nodded, “Understood!”

“Mu Rong, you are to bring 2,000 newly recruited conscripts as an ambush at Bai Zhang cliff. Stock up on boulders and big trunks. Two days later when the enemy supply troops break through the obstruction of Feng Ting, Lao Mu will find you to inform you of the next step.”

The two men acknowledged at once, “Roger!”

With a whoosh, Chu Qiao opened up the map, her lanky finger pointed in the South-Eastern region, and firmly, she ordered, “Wu Danyu, you will bring 500 archers. Conceal yourself within these woods and flank the enemies. Once the enemies start to attack, you are to retreat. Never fight head on, understand?”