Madam, don't do this!

Chapter 450 Better to die fighting than live a life of dishonor (6,000 words)

The evening breeze brushed against Song Yan's face.

The hem of the long robe fluttered in the wind.

Song Yan arbitrarily changed the previously drafted battle plan.

As for why they did this, it was simply to ensure the troop strength of Pingyang City as much as possible.

The Xiongnu had an army of 150,000. They could afford to die; even if 10,000 or 20,000 died, it wouldn't be a crippling blow. But for Pingyang City, it was different. Every soldier was invaluable, and the loss of 10,000 or 20,000 would be a devastating blow. He would never choose to trade with the Xiongnu unless absolutely necessary. Even though he had some trump cards up his sleeve that could determine the course of the battle, he couldn't avoid huge losses.

Based on the intelligence we have so far, this group of Xiongnu wolf cubs has become a pack of rabid beasts. Even the thunderous thunder can inflict damage and fear on them, but it's unlikely to be enough to completely crush their morale. Moreover, the county town of Dehua is low-lying, offering very limited assistance in defending the city. Fighting the enemy while holding the city walls is clearly not a wise choice.

The magistrate of Dehua County might not have been particularly outstanding in poetry and prose, but he was quite capable of managing the county town. Not long after the order was issued, loud gongs and drums could be heard, presumably as officials were going door-to-door to notify all the residents to evacuate.

The county town began to stir.

In recent days, some refugees from Anzhou Prefecture have entered Dehua County. It is no secret that the Xiongnu army is pressing on the border. Some young people have begun to pack up their valuables according to the orders of the county government; some old people sit on the doorstep, puffing on their pipes, their wrinkled faces full of reluctance.

After all, transportation was not well-developed in those days.

For most people, they may never have been outside of their county town in their entire lives.

Song Yan didn't explain much, but just stood quietly on the city wall watching. In the distant sky, three eagles soared. Those were Nahetoya's gyrfalcons, which could monitor the movements in the distance at all times. Even if they couldn't get detailed information, at least it was a warning.

There were footsteps beside me.

The familiar scent filled my nostrils.

It was Hua Lianyue and Luo Tianxuan.

"My lord, it's getting a bit chilly, please put on another layer of clothing."

No matter the time, Luo Tianxuan's voice was always so gentle.

As soon as the voice fell, Song Yan felt a cloak being draped over her shoulders.

The biting wind was blocked quite a bit, and people felt a little warmer.

I turned to look at the cloak; it was grayish-black, thankfully not a yellow robe.

Otherwise, Song Yan would have thought it might be one of his traitors, and he was preparing to stage a coup d'état and seize power for him.

This time, Song Yan personally led the troops to defend against the enemy, who were far more ferocious than the Jurchens. Luo Yuheng attached great importance to the safety of his son-in-law, and sent out Hua Lianyue and Luo Tianxuan, the two strongest people in the entire governor's mansion. This was probably to convey the message that the war could be lost, but Song Yan absolutely could not die.

"Husband, are you perhaps planning to burn Dehua down?" Luo Tianxuan hesitated briefly before asking in a low voice.

Just then, Lei Yi and Zhang Zhen also came over to report. Upon hearing this, they both became serious, clearly indicating that they also had some doubts.

Song Yan smiled and said, "Your husband loves playing with fire the most."

Luo Tianxuan smiled knowingly. It seemed that it was indeed true. From facing the Japanese pirates in Ningping County to fighting against the Xiongnu on the Haixi Grassland, there were traces of Song Yan's arson everywhere.

None of them were fools. Previously, Song Yan had ordered the magistrate to evacuate everyone in Dehua County and ordered the soldiers to collect firewood, thatch, and other things to fill the county town, as well as oil. They suspected that Song Yan was planning to use fire. Now that Song Yan has admitted it, it can be considered as confirming a guess!
At the same time, I couldn't help but feel horrified.

Although it was supposed to be to fight against the Xiongnu, the audacity to burn the entire county to the ground was something that not just anyone could possess.

Moreover, there is another problem.

"My lord, how can you be sure those Xiongnu people will fall for it?" Zhang Zhen asked in a deep voice, pursing his lips.

Song Yan breathed a sigh of relief and looked up. It was already dark, and the stars surrounded a full moon hanging in the sky. The moonlight and starlight intertwined, as if the entire county was covered with a layer of silver gauze.

"General Zhang, do you feel there's something amiss?" Song Yan withdrew his gaze and asked with a light laugh.

Zhang Zhen nodded slightly. He knew that although Song Yan was cruel to the foreign tribes, he was not the kind of domineering superior: "The enemy outnumbers us. This war is already disadvantageous to Ningguo. Dehua County is thin and small. It may not be able to provide much help when defending the city, but it is still a city wall. If we give up, we will lose even this advantage."

"Moreover, it may take several days for the Xiongnu to reach Dehua, so we can take this opportunity to strengthen and raise the city walls."

"If we lure the Xiongnu into Dehua and burn them down, we might have a chance to wipe out the entire Xiongnu force. However, the risk is too great, and we cannot afford any mistakes. At the very least, if the Xiongnu prince realizes that this is an empty city ploy and does not enter the city, then our plan will be a complete waste."

“At that time, we will have to fight the Xiongnu’s elite cavalry in open battle, and the situation will become very bad,” Zhang Han expressed his concerns.

Song Yan chuckled: "General Zhang's concerns are valid, but there's no need to worry. I guarantee that the Xiongnu prince will obediently enter Dehua County."

He spoke with considerable confidence.

Although Song Yan had never met the Xiongnu prince Abalu, he was able to deduce Abalu's character from the messages sent by the Embroidered Uniform Guard over the past few days.

This person is brave, arrogant, and conceited.

On the battlefield, he is definitely a fierce warrior suitable for charging into battle, breaking through enemy lines, being the first to scale walls, and slaying enemy generals.

However, he is not suitable to be a general who commands battles.

In recent days, the counties captured by Abalu were basically all overrun by large armies, which directly crushed any resistance. Then, countless Xiongnu people immediately poured into the counties, burning, killing, and looting, turning once peaceful counties into hell on earth. According to the intelligence that Ji Gang and Ji Peng had gathered in the occupied areas, Abalu should have a strategist by his side, but Abalu clearly did not listen to his strategist.

Coupled with a series of victories without any setbacks, Abalu's pride and arrogance will surely reach an unprecedented level. Even if he sees the gates of Dehua County open, he will probably only think that the Xiongnu cavalry is invincible and that the Han people of Ningguo are terrified and flee in panic wherever they go.

Even the most eloquent strategist couldn't persuade such a hot-tempered fellow.

As I was pondering this, I heard footsteps behind me again.

Song Yan turned his head and saw that the person who came was none other than the magistrate of Dehua County, accompanied by four or five elderly men. The men climbed onto the city wall and first bowed to Song Yan.

Song Yan recognized most of these elderly men.

They were all clan heads and elders from several major surnames in Dehua County.

In this day and age, clan traditions are still very important.

Don't be fooled by the fact that these old men have white hair and beards and walk with a trembling gait. Within their clan, or even within a village, a town, or a county, their words carry great weight. Even the county magistrate and the county assistant magistrate would never dare to underestimate them.

Song Yan helped the old men up, then glanced down at the city wall and saw a large group of young men, a dark mass in the moonlight, probably several thousand in number. His eyes showed a hint of suspicion: "Gentlemen, is there anything I can help you with?"

The five old men exchanged glances, and finally the eldest of them bowed to Song Yan again before speaking: "May I ask, Lord Marquis, do you intend to fight the Xiongnu to the death in Dehua?"

Song Yan frowned slightly. He had personally led his troops to garrison in Dehua, and with the refugees from Anzhou also present, it wasn't surprising that they could see this. However, it was not a good thing for a commoner to be gathering military intelligence.

It's possible that they could be mistaken for secret agents.

The old man did not wait for Song Yan's answer, but spoke again: "Regarding this war, does the Marquis have absolute confidence?"

Song Yan simply shook his head slightly. No one can guarantee anything when it comes to war... Just as Wang Mang could not have foreseen the meteorite falling from the sky, Li Jinglong, Sheng Yong, Qu Neng, and Tie Xuan could not have predicted the sudden storm in broad daylight.

The old man bowed again: "The Xiongnu are fierce; in the cities they pass through, not even chickens or dogs are spared."

"Your Excellency is of noble status, yet you remain undaunted by danger, personally guarding Dehua and protecting the peace of Pingyang. This is a great act of righteousness, and I, an old man, am deeply impressed." Although the old man was already old, his voice suddenly became passionate as he spoke: "However, our Wang clan has lived in Dehua for three hundred years, and we do not wish to see our long-standing homeland trampled by the Xiongnu barbarians. We also cannot bear to see Your Excellency fighting alone. Six hundred of the younger generation of our clan are willing to obey Your Excellency's command and fight together against the Xiongnu, regardless of life or death."

As soon as the old man finished speaking, he saw a dense crowd of people below the city wall. He immediately knelt on one knee, with only their heads raised high. Many of them had somewhat youthful faces, but their eyes revealed an unwavering determination.

Immediately afterwards, another old man stepped forward and shouted loudly:

"The Li family has five hundred young members who are willing to obey the Marquis's orders and fight against the Xiongnu together, regardless of life or death."

"The Zhao clan has five hundred young members who are willing to obey the Marquis's orders and fight against the Xiongnu together, regardless of life or death."

"The Guo family has three hundred young members who are willing to obey the Marquis's orders and fight against the Xiongnu together, regardless of life or death."

"The Zheng family has three hundred young members who are willing to obey the Marquis's orders and fight against the Xiongnu together, regardless of life or death."

Immediately, the magistrate of Dehua County stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Among the people of the county, there are six thousand young men who wish to stay in Dehua and fight alongside the Marquis to defend against the Xiongnu."

"Better to die fighting than to live a life of dishonor."

Beneath the city wall, a large, swarming group of people knelt down on one knee, their wide eyes seemingly gleaming with an indescribable light.

At this moment, even Song Yan felt an indescribable restlessness rising in his chest.

He knew that this was Ningguo's hope.

He knew that this was the backbone of the Han people.

The night was crystal clear and pure.

The crescent moon, slightly incomplete, hung leisurely in the sky.

The Milky Way stretches like a ribbon, and the stars resemble a sea.

Three carriages traveled along the official road, the coachmen cracking their whips frantically, the horses' hooves flying, and the carriage wheels creaking and groaning.

Three people were sitting in the carriage at the front: a middle-aged man, Ma Zhifeng, the governor of Anzhou; a middle-aged woman, Ma Zhifeng's wife; and a slightly aged-looking man, Ma Zhifeng's steward. In the two carriages behind, Ma Zhifeng's four sons were sitting respectively.

The bumpy carriage ride and the days of fleeing for their lives had left the group looking tired and haggard.

The Xiongnu army had begun its attack on Anzhou City, just as Ma Zhifeng had planned. Holding a sword, he swore an oath atop the city walls to defend Anzhou to the death. The city, previously gripped by fear and panic, was greatly boosted by Ma Zhifeng's words. Soldiers were filled with fervor, and countless civilians, carrying hoes and sickles, climbed the walls, ready to defend Anzhou together.

Subsequently, Ma Zhifeng, citing his lack of military strategy, handed over all command of the battle to General Wang, the commander of the local troops. He also made detailed arrangements for logistical matters to ensure that Anzhou City would not need him for the time being. Then, he and his family quietly slipped away through another city gate.

This is a crazy plan; he wants to use the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Anzhou City to build his own reputation.

Three horse-drawn carriages should be able to carry more people.

But Ma Zhifeng did not do that.

On the one hand, with more people in the carriages, the escape speed would inevitably slow down. On the other hand, if some of their offspring died in Anzhou City, it would better prove their merits and sacrifices.

Therefore, apart from his wife and legitimate son, who were the most important to Ma Zhifeng, all his other illegitimate sons and daughters were abandoned by him. It's a pity, if his wife hadn't been soft-hearted, he would have kept one legitimate son, since that would have seemed more believable.

Ma Zhifeng's face was somewhat pale, probably due to excessive blood loss.

The shoulders were wrapped in layers of cloth, with dark red stains seeping through the middle.

My shoulder is injured; I poked myself in it.

Although three days have passed and the wound is no longer as painful as it was at the beginning, my face still twitches involuntarily whenever the carriage bumps and I accidentally touch the wound.

Ma Zhifeng probably wanted to close his eyes and get some rest. He hadn't slept for three days and three nights, and he felt extremely exhausted. However, the bumpy carriage and the pain in his shoulders made him exceptionally clear-headed. He pursed his pale and chapped lips, opened his eyes, and glanced at the dark night ahead: "How much longer until we reach Dehua?"

"Reporting to you, sir, it's about thirty li away," the steward immediately replied. "Does sir intend to rest in Dehua for a while?"

“No…” Ma Zhifeng shook his head: “Don’t stop, head straight for Pingyang.”

After leaving Anzhou, Ma Zhifeng could escape in three directions.

Pengzhou.

Dingzhou.

Pingyang.

Pengzhou was not even on Ma Zhifeng's radar. Ma Zhifeng knew he wasn't anything special, but the prefect of Pengzhou was even worse than him. If the Xiongnu army took Anzhou and then passed through Pengzhou, Pengzhou would definitely fall completely within half a month. As for Dingzhou, the prefect Jiao Junze was indeed capable, but in Ma Zhifeng's eyes, he was still far inferior to Song Yan.

Although Ma Zhifeng looked down on Song Yan's humble origins, he had to admit Song Yan's ability in military strategy and tactics. If anyone in Ningguo could withstand the brutal Xiongnu, there was no one else but Song Yan.

Therefore, Ma Zhifeng did not hesitate to choose Pingyang as his escape route.

Of course, there were some disagreements between Song Yan and Bailu Academy in Dongling City, but Ma Zhifeng believed that these minor conflicts were insignificant in the face of national crisis.

Song Yan is not the kind of person who can't distinguish between what's important and what's urgent.

Thinking this, Ma Zhifeng looked out the window again. The gloomy night shrouded the distant mountains, and the outline of the city was faintly visible in the darkness, accompanied by hurried footsteps. A slight restlessness rose in Ma Zhifeng's heart. He knew that he was getting closer and closer to Dehua County. Once he reached Song Yan's territory, it would probably be a little safer than before. Occasionally, he would turn his head to look behind him, and in a daze, his vision seemed to transcend the limitations of space, seeing Anzhou a hundred miles away.

I wonder what Anzhou looks like now.

Anzhou City should have been captured long ago. Those Xiongnu barbarians should be burning, killing, and looting inside Anzhou City right now, right? Many people will probably die... after all, these Xiongnu barbarians love to massacre entire cities.

It's just a pity about his daughters and his beautiful concubines; most of them will be defiled by the Xiongnu barbarians. Just thinking about it makes me feel a bit depressed.

However, these are all minor matters. The more miserable he is, the more rewards he can receive from the imperial court. Sacrificing just a few concubines and illegitimate children can bring him these rewards. In Ma Zhifeng's mind, this is definitely a very worthwhile deal.

As they drew ever closer to Dehua County, suddenly, both horses neighed in unison, their four front hooves leaping high into the air before slamming heavily onto the road. The powerful momentum caused the people inside the carriage to stagger and sway. Ma Zhifeng's wife, Chu Muqing, in particular, slammed her head against the wooden frame. A dark red mark appeared on her smooth forehead, and her traditional Chinese dress was disheveled, transforming her former elegance into a state of disarray.

"Master, Madam, someone is blocking the road," came the coachman's voice from ahead.

Chu Muqing's father was Chu Licheng, a high-ranking official in the imperial court, and naturally had a fiery temper. He immediately flew into a rage, flung open the carriage curtain, and shouted angrily at the outside:

"Who are you? How dare you block our way! Do you know who we are..." The word "identity" was cut off before it could be uttered. His angry face turned deathly pale, and a hint of fear appeared in his wide eyes.

Almost simultaneously, the curtains of the two carriages behind them were also lifted, and pairs of eyes looked around. Then, they trembled as they were horrified to find that the carriages had been surrounded by a group of soldiers in dark armor.

The gleaming knife in his hand reflected a chilling light under the moonlight.

The leader was a man who stood nine feet tall, with a hideous metal mask beneath his helmet that looked like a vengeful ghost in the moonlight.

With a whoosh, the steel blade was drawn and held directly against Chu Muqing's neck. A muffled sound came from beneath the mask:

"Noisy!"

This still-attractive woman was probably being treated like this for the first time in her life. The cold blade pressed tightly against her skin, and her body trembled uncontrollably. Her fair face was covered with a dense layer of small bumps.

"Brother, be careful, don't hurt my lady." Ma Zhifeng didn't dare to be negligent and quickly poked his head out of the carriage. He could tell at a glance that the people in front of him were not bandits, but government troops. The impact just now had also aggravated the wound on Ma Zhifeng's shoulder, and blood was seeping through the silk bandage. Enduring the pain, Ma Zhifeng forced a smile. He was much smarter than Chu Muqing. This was not his territory. Looking at the fierce appearance of these government troops, if he accidentally angered them and they chopped him and his party up, it would be too unjust.

"I am Ma Zhifeng, the Prefect of Anzhou. I wish to go to Pingyang City to discuss important matters with the Marquis of Champion. I hope you gentlemen will grant me this favor."

The peasants who were usually looked down upon are now being addressed as "soldier" by the military.

He is a flexible person.

"what?"

"Ma Zhifeng, the Prefect of Anzhou?"

Just then, a slightly surprised voice came from behind the black-armored warrior.

The next second, the densely packed black-armored soldiers surrounding the three carriages made way for them, and a slender, handsome young man slowly stepped out. His expression was slightly surprised, and his scrutinizing gaze swept over Ma Zhifeng, Chu Muqing, and the others.

There seemed to be a hint of mockery in his eyes.

what is this?
Why refuse the path to heaven and force your way into the gates of hell when there is none?
Behind the boy stood two graceful and stunningly beautiful women.

As the boy scrutinized Ma Zhifeng, Ma Zhifeng's gaze also fell upon the boy.

At the age of sixteen or seventeen, he was incredibly handsome and always had beautiful women by his side. Judging from the way the soldiers looked at the boy, Ma Zhifeng almost instantly guessed the boy's identity.

His pupils contracted slightly, and his smile deepened, becoming almost ingratiating and fawning. He jumped off the carriage and ran towards Song Yan, saying, "You must be the Marquis of Champion?"

"Truly a young man of great talent."

He had no airs of an elder whatsoever. While praising her, he raised his hands, and despite the stinging pain in his shoulders, he still prepared to make a cupped-hand salute.

As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face. Since I've smiled so obsequiously, even if Song Yan and Bailu Academy have a grudge, it's not like she would slap me right away.

But just as his right hand was raised...

Swish.

A cold, clear light.

The sharp blade, carrying an icy chill, suddenly tore through Ma Zhifeng's hand.

Four fingers fell to the ground.

It was convulsing nervously!

Ah ah ah ah ah……

(End of this chapter)