Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 218 Let Song Shi'an in
Xiang Ping sat at the back of the army, and beside him was Zuo Ziliang, but he was not wearing the flying fish robe of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"General," Zuo Ziliang said, "how long can the army stay here?"

Xiang Ping looked at the magnificent army with a serious expression and said, "We only brought one day's worth of rations, so we can only stay here for one hour."

"...Can we have the auxiliary troops come to resupply?" Zuo Ziliang asked.

"Lord Zuo," Xiang Ping said somewhat reluctantly, "as you know, if 10,000 troops are stationed here for more than a day, the next day they will be able to mobilize nearly 100,000 troops and laborers from both sides. By then, it will be too late to withdraw."

"That means there's only one hour left." Zuo Ziliang understood.

"Whether they open the gate or not, my troops must retreat."

This pressure of being on the verge of erupting was not one-sided. Xiang Ping was fully prepared for war, but his superiors had not told him that he could decide to start a war on his own.

The higher-ups have their own considerations.

“Then, Lord Song…” Zuo Ziliang said with a gradually serious expression, “we must not rush things.”

.........

Xiang Ping sending a large army to deliver me was already the most benevolent thing he could do.

He couldn't stay here indefinitely until he entered the city gate before retreating.

It's even less likely that they would shoot arrows at the city wall if the other side refused to release the people.

Therefore, he must be furious and ferocious.

At the same time, one must remain extremely calm and composed, ensuring that the other party does not sense the slightest urgency.

"..." Lu Chao was stunned. He really hadn't expected this person to go to such extremes, taking ten thousand men with him on a diplomatic mission. But considering the beheadings he had done before, this was nothing compared to the bigger picture.

However, he had to prevent bilateral relations from deteriorating.

“Lord Song, we certainly need to talk,” Lu Chao said. “But you know the procedures for an envoy. Now we have to go through the garrison and defense, so we should at least discuss it with Lord Qin.”

It's nothing to discuss.

Lu Chao wants to let him in right now.

But Duke Qin said he would lock the pass for a few days.

Huang Tong would also try his best to stop it.

If I were to force him in now, it would be to fall out with Duke Qin...

"You should have said so earlier." Hearing this, Song Shi'an laughed. "To come to Yan, all I need to do is send an envoy to the Duke of Qin. Why would I need to go to the King of Yan?"

The envoy's sarcastic and humiliating tone gave Lu Chao a headache: "No, no, for everything in Yan, just ask the King of Yan. As the King of Yan's envoy, you can also come to me."

"Shuofeng, an isolated city that's easy to attack but difficult to defend, is practically worthless to hold," Song Shi'an said, looking into his eyes. "Why should I risk my life to go there?"

"My lord, why?"

“Because I am a proponent of war.” Song Shi’an’s tone suddenly hardened. “At this moment I am an envoy, but if the mission fails, the next moment I will be the governor of Ji County.”

“My lord, we must talk!” Lu Chao said. “I will go and discuss with the garrison commander now, and open the city gates as soon as possible so that you can enter the city.”

It's more than two thousand meters from here to the city; even if Lu Chao walked there, it would take him a long time.

Moreover, if they argue with the garrison commander and he refuses to open the gate, then the troops on this side will have to withdraw...

You have to put a lot of pressure on him.

This allowed him to overcome opposition and even use threats and orders to open the city gates.

“Lord Lu,” Song Shi’an called out to him, “whether you can open the door or not depends on Lord Qin’s mood. Perhaps we will never see each other again. Before you leave, I’ll show you something.”

"Oh dear, it's not about currying favor with Duke Qin, it's just some procedures..." He said with a smile at first, then asked, "My lord, what are they?"

Song Shi'an waved his hand expressionlessly.

Immediately afterwards, the crowd parted to make way.

Lu Chao peeked out slightly, peering inside. Suddenly, his expression turned serious as he scrutinized a gaunt, emaciated man with stubble and a scraggly beard, being held down by two men on either side of him…

The more I look at it, the more familiar it becomes.

When he remembered, his eyes widened.

"Son!"

Lu Chao shouted excitedly.

Upon seeing the government officials, and recognizing them as people he knew before, Kang Yi's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

Just as Lu Chao was about to rush over and speak with him, the gap in the army was quickly closed, and the young master disappeared from sight, leaving him only with a sorrowful look in his eyes...

“Besides Kang Yi,” Song Shi’an said, “I brought his wife and his only son with me.”

This was the King of Yan's Achilles' heel.

Kang Xun had told Lu Chao that he must ask Song Shi'an about his plans for the hostages on this trip.

But if he can't even enter the city and the mission can't proceed, then there's nothing more to do.

"My lord, is this ordering our young master to return to Yan?" Lu Chao asked, raising his head.

"Who knows."

Song Shi'an said meaningfully.

"I will go open the city gate right away, please wait a moment, my lord." Lu Chao bowed respectfully to him.

Song Shi'an raised his hand to shield his forehead, squinted at the sunlight overhead, pretending to be blinded, and remained silent.

"Excuse me, please wait a moment, my lord!"

After saying this, Lu Chao ran towards the city gate.

Song Shi'an just watched the two-kilometer race.

"I feel like he's been sidelined a bit," Xin Yue said from the side. "Is he really capable of opening the city gates?"

"Let's see what he's capable of," Song Shi'an said without much reaction. "Everyone has a different mission. If I were him, I would draw my sword and kill a few people."

"Would he really go to such lengths for this?" That was what Xin Yue cared about.

“If he can truly represent Conson’s will, then it must be brought about.”

Song Shi'an said with great certainty.

.........

Song Shi'an is just bluffing. Huang Tong is right; no one dares to take it upon themselves to fight this battle.

Even if the door hadn't been opened, war wouldn't have broken out today.

It's even possible that Xiang Ping will withdraw his troops.

However, it would be impossible for Song Shi'an to be sent on another mission...

He's a man who cares about his reputation; how could he possibly come back here after being rejected?
He's coming in today.

And then, today I'm going to let him in.

Lu Chao needs to step up his game.

Otherwise, this mission would have been canceled.

Such a big matter, if I don't handle it well, or even bring the person back, I will not only fail the king, but also appear incompetent.

Damn it, Qin Gong really knows how to absolve himself well.

Huang Tong, who had killed Yu Shi, refused to open the door, so he had to save himself.

To fulfill his mission, he had no choice but to make Huang Tong submit.

Thinking about it, he took out the royal edict from his sleeve and held it in his hand.

After running to the city gate, the bamboo basket was slowly lowered down from above.

Before he even landed, he leaped up and yelled at the top, "Pull me up quickly!"

Immediately, the people above pulled him up the towering city wall using ropes.

"Lord Lu, what did you say to Song Shi'an?" Huang Tong asked tentatively as he saw the other party approaching quickly, holding something that looked like an imperial edict.

He smiled, looking down at the man with disdain, and said, "He told me some things I didn't know. Captain, would you like to know?"

"..." Despite the other party's anger, he still forced himself to remain composed and corrected, "I am a lieutenant general."

“The Duke of Qin has the right to promote, but a formal appointment requires the King’s decree.” Staring at the man, Lu Chao said firmly, “So here you are just a captain.”

Hey, bro!

Huang Tong blushed slightly after being rebuked. But he knew that no matter what, he couldn't let him open the door.

"Open the city gates and let Song Shi'an enter Yan!" Lu Chao shouted.

Everyone standing on the city wall looked at Huang Tong.

"No, the Duke of Qin has ordered that the city gates cannot be opened now!" This is the Duke of Qin's territory, and this is Huang Tong's source of confidence.

"Did the Duke of Qin give you such an order?!" Lu Chao questioned.

"As I said, if Song Shi'an requests to enter Yan, we will postpone it for the time being, on the grounds that Your Majesty needs to preside over domestic sacrifices." Huang Tong blurted out this statement all at once.

In front of everyone.

That gives him even more reasons to die.

When Song Shi'an and the Prince of Yan settle accounts, the Prince of Yan will say that he never said such a thing.

If the King of Yan were to settle accounts with the Duke of Qin again, what would the Duke of Qin say?
I never said that. Whoever said it, let them provide evidence.

"Captain Huang Tong, kneel down!" Lu Chao suddenly said.

"you!"

"A royal decree!"

Huang Tong was about to breathe on the edict when the other party produced it. He had no choice but to immediately kneel down and prostrate himself. The others on the city wall also knelt down in unison.

"The Prince of Yan's Decree:"

The imperial envoys Lu Chao and Dong Songshi were sent on official business. Wherever they went, the prefectures and counties all obeyed their orders. No one dared to delay or disobey regarding postal services, passes, ferries, provisions, or ceremonial guards. Anyone who disobeyed would be punished for disobeying orders!

At that moment, he took out the imperial edict.

It is clearly stated above that those who do not comply are considered to be disobeying orders.

Who dares to defy the king's order?

Trembling with fear, Huang Tong raised his head.

Then he noticed that everyone around him had lowered their heads and dared not get involved.

"Open the door!" Lu Chao ordered.

"Lord Lu!" Huang Tong stood up and earnestly advised, "I have already scouted the area. These ten thousand men have no supplies, no rear guard, and not even any provisions. They will retreat within an hour. This battle will not break out."

This kid found out.

Lu Chao knew that he couldn't delay any longer.

"I said open the door, are you going to disobey?" Lu Chao said fiercely.

"This humble general does not wish to disobey orders, but Lord Qin said..."

"Is Duke Qin greater, or is the King greater?" Lu Chao interrupted them with these words, and the others were too frightened to look.

I don't even dare to listen to it.

“Wang Da, this Great Yan all belongs to Your Majesty,” Huang Tong said. “But I am a military general, and my duty is to obey orders. My orders are to keep the city gates tightly closed. Unless I die, the city gates cannot be opened!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Lu Chao suddenly drew a knife from the waist of one of the men beside him, raised it, and slashed it toward Huang Tong’s head.

"Hey!" Huang Tong instinctively dodged the attack.

But his opponent continued to chase and slash, so he could only dodge continuously.

Then, by accident, he fell to the ground.

Fearing he would be hacked to death, he quickly covered his head and screamed, "Ah!!!!"

"Go and open the city gates."

Ignoring him completely, Lu Chao, holding his knife, gave orders to the officer beside him.

"Yes!"

The man took off running down the city wall to open the gate for Lu Chao.

(End of this chapter)