Free Web NovelChapter 408: Chapter 343: 10 Days Left, Not Too Many, and Not Too Few...
Inside Yanmen Pass, Xiao Mo was in the City Lord’s Mansion, changing the dressing on his arm wound.
Xiao Mo only used a few simple herbs before wrapping the wound with a clean white cloth.
"Brother Mo, shouldn’t we get some Spirit Medicine?" Xiao Gui asked, his voice full of concern.
"There’s no need." Xiao Mo shook his head. "There isn’t much Spirit Medicine and Spirit Grass left in the army. Every bit we can save for the men counts. I’m sturdy enough; I’ll recover quickly."
After tying the white cloth tightly, Xiao Mo stood up. "Let’s go. To the main hall. We can’t keep the Wei Kingdom’s envoy waiting for too long."
"Yes, sir."
Xiao Gui followed behind Xiao Mo, walking toward the main hall of the City Lord’s Mansion.
The envoy from the Wei Kingdom was already waiting in the main hall.
"Forgive me for not giving you a proper welcome. I ask for the esteemed envoy’s pardon."
Xiao Mo walked forward and cupped his fist in a respectful salute.
"You’re too kind, General Xiao. With your countless duties, it’s only natural that you’re busy." The Wei Kingdom envoy, Meng Cang, said with a smile. "I wonder, is General Xiao ready to receive the Holy Decree?"
"Of course," Xiao Mo nodded.
Meng Cang unrolled the Holy Decree in his hand and announced, "Xiao Mo, receive the decree."
Xiao Mo bowed with his hands clasped. "The surrendering general, Xiao Mo, receives the decree!"
"The Frost King, Xiao Mo, is a man of heavenly talent and heroic valor, divinely gifted in strategy. His literary skills can weave the fabric of the world, and his martial prowess can command the winds and clouds. He is truly a paragon of this rare age.
During the past campaign of the Wei Kingdom, the battle beneath Frost Red City shook the cosmos. As banners tore and halberds flew, Zhu Jian of the Le Family was so moved by the sight that he composed the ’Frost Red Battle Song.’ This melody stirred the Nine Heavens, its spirit vast enough to engulf mountains and rivers, and its fame has spread across the Four Seas. Though We reside in the Wei court, We have long admired your magnificent style.
When the Northern Wilderness recently raised its army, it led to a temporary conflict with Our Wei. However, in matters of war, each man serves his own master. The heart of a Gentleman should be as magnanimous as the sun and moon.
Today, you, Lord Xiao, understand the grand tide of events and recognize the Mandate of Heaven. You have forsaken darkness for the light, raising your banner to pledge allegiance. This is not merely Our personal fortune, but a blessing upon the entire Wei Kingdom.
Your former title of Frost King was once admired by the world. Today, We, by Heaven’s great mandate, do hereby enfeoff Xiao Mo as the Frost King of the Wei Kingdom, granting you a fief of three prefectures, bestowing upon you the emblems of military authority, and appointing you as Grand Commandant.
The Fourth Princess, Xu Shengge, who is gentle, virtuous, and wise, a true jewel of the imperial line, is hereby betrothed to you in this auspicious match.
An auspicious day shall be chosen to prepare the Profound Xun Jade and Silk and perform the Six Rites of marriage. Let the mountains and rivers be your pledge, and the sun and moon your witnesses.
May you, the King, and the Princess live in perfect harmony, and may your union forever solidify the foundations of the state."
"Your surrendering general, Xiao Mo, thanks Your Majesty!"
With that, Xiao Mo solemnly accepted the Holy Decree.
"Frost King, now that His Majesty has issued the decree, you and I are colleagues. I wonder when the Frost King will open the city gates?" Meng Cang said with a smile.
"The gates will be opened, of course." As he spoke, Xiao Mo’s voice naturally lowered. "But I must ask the esteemed envoy to wait a little while. After all, not everyone in our Northern Wilderness Army is willing to surrender. I need to take care of some dissenters."
"I understand, I understand." Meng Cang nodded, giving him a look that said, ’I get it completely.’ "I just wonder how much time General Xiao will need?"
"About two days," Xiao Mo stated clearly. "At the chen hour, the day after tomorrow, I will throw open the city gates to welcome General Guo!"
"Excellent." Meng Cang performed a salute. "Then we shall wait for General Xiao."
"Very well." freeωebnovēl.c૦m
Xiao Mo smiled, exchanged a few more pleasantries with the Wei Kingdom envoy, Meng Cang, and then had someone escort Meng Cang out of the city.
Not long after Meng Cang left, all the high-ranking generals of the Northern Wilderness Army at Yanmen Pass came to the main hall.
"General." The assembled generals saluted Xiao Mo.
Sitting on the City Lord’s high seat, Xiao Mo rubbed the corners of his eyes and said to the crowd, "The Wei Kingdom has accepted my offer of surrender. The Holy Decree just arrived."
The generals exchanged glances.
They all knew, of course, that Xiao Mo was not truly surrendering.
Zhao Guang stepped forward and asked, "General, are we to open the city gates, invite Guo Xin and his men in, and then shoot fish in a barrel—finish them all off?"
"Heh heh, Guo Xin is no fool." Xiao Mo shook his head. "Even if we invited them directly into the city, would he really enter? Besides, he would definitely demand that we shut down the City Defense Array. Once the array is down and the gates are open, things could get very unpredictable."
"Then should we pretend to join the Wei Kingdom’s army and wait for a chance to stab them in the back?" a general named Jiang Dayong asked.
"That won’t work..." Before Xiao Mo could answer, Li Jing spoke up. "Guo Xin may have gotten his current position through connections, but he’s still a veteran general, not an idiot. If we were to merge into the Wei Kingdom’s army, the first thing they would do is break up our forces."
"Exactly." Xiao Mo nodded. "Besides, do you all really believe the Wei Kingdom is sincere in accepting my surrender?"
As Xiao Mo finished speaking, everyone’s gaze fell upon him.
Xiao Mo tossed the Wei Kingdom’s Holy Decree casually onto the table. "Grand Commandant, a fief of three prefectures, and the Fourth Princess in marriage. Is the Sovereign of Wei really that generous?"
"Then what are you suggesting, General?" Zhao Guang asked.
Xiao Mo shook his head. "How many days has it been since we sent the letter of surrender?"
Yang Chongyang replied, "Four days have passed. And it has been a full twenty days since we began our defense of Yanmen Pass."
"Twenty days... COUGH COUGH COUGH..." Xiao Mo coughed a few times, his gaze drifting outside the main hall as if speaking to himself. ’Ten days left... not too long, not too short...’
...
"General."
Thirty li out, within the Wei Kingdom’s army camp, Meng Cang returned to the main command tent to report.
At this time, the various generals of the Wei Kingdom’s army were also waiting.
"How did it go?" Guo Xin asked, a hint of urgency in his tone. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"Xiao Mo agrees to surrender. His attitude was extremely polite, none of his previous arrogance remains," Meng Hao reported truthfully. "Furthermore, Xiao Mo said that the day after tomorrow, he will shut down the City Defense Array and throw open the city gates."
"Excellent!" Guo Xin slammed his fist on the table in excitement.
Yu You frowned and clasped his hands toward Guo Xin. "General, although Xiao Mo has surrendered, I still worry about a trick. I fear it would be unwise for us to enter the city the day after tomorrow. We must have Xiao Mo lead his garrison out first!"
"There’s no need for General Yu to state the obvious."
Guo Xin said with a smile.
"Does Xiao Mo really think surrender comes without a price? After he surrenders, we’ll make him and his men charge as the vanguard. Once his soldiers have been worn down, he’ll be a toothless tiger with its limbs bound. What’s there to worry about?
When he finally returns to the Wei Kingdom’s Imperial Court, what good will being ’Grand Commandant’ do him?
The three prefectures of his fief are all in the barren, uncivilized lands of our Wei Kingdom, places of exile. Let Xiao Mo go deal with those Fierce Beasts and barbarians!
As for the Fourth Princess...
HAHAHA, that Fourth Princess hidden away in the deep palace is as wide as she is tall! Let’s see how much Xiao Mo ’enjoys’ that blessing!"
Guo Xin felt the situation was settled. Two days passed quickly.
「The morning of the third day.」
Guo Xin mobilized the grand army, assembling them outside the camp and waiting for Xiao Mo to throw open the city gates.
But there was no movement from Yanmen Pass whatsoever.
The soldiers on the city walls remained stationed there like statues, staring intently at the Wei Kingdom’s army.
