The female prisoner was fierce

On Xiao Jianyang's side.

After straightening his robes, he strode toward the north gate.

Along the way, the people on the street would stop what they were doing and bow respectfully when they saw him. Although he had been told many times that it was not necessary to do so, the people had long since taken it as a habit.

With the news of the wounded soldiers' camp already spreading rapidly through the streets and alleys, the people respected them even more.

"Did you know? Lord Xiao is like a god descending to earth; he brought the dead back to life."

"real?"

"Of course it's true. Captain Chu was almost dead, but he was brought back to life. What else could it be but a miracle?"

"A true dragon has emerged from our Dongshuang County!"

The story became increasingly fantastical, eventually even claiming that the celestial deity Wuqu descended to earth.

Xiao Jianyang paid no attention to these rumors and kept walking, soon arriving at the North Gate tower.

Li Tiezhu was guarding the city gate when he saw him coming and immediately stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting:

"Lord Xiao, the city gates have been opened. Princess Wanyan's entourage is about half a mile outside the city, and it looks like they're carrying a lot of goods."

"Um."

Xiao Jianyang nodded, stepped onto the city wall, and glanced outwards.

Outside the city, on the snow-covered ground, a long convoy stretched for miles, even larger than the one she had left last time.

Hundreds of Jurchen cavalrymen stood on both sides, carrying bows and swords, heavily on guard.

At the very front of the procession, Wanyan Chuyu, dressed in a white fox fur coat, rode a white horse, followed by the towering Wanyan Hu, both looking towards the city gate.

"Let's go, let's go out of the city and take a look."

Xiao Jianyang turned around and went down the city wall, leading Lin Qingxue, Defang and the others straight out of the city gate.

Wanyan Chuyu saw the city gate open from afar and immediately went forward.

Then, upon seeing Xiao Jianyang personally come out to greet him, he immediately dismounted, strode forward, placed his right hand on his left chest, and bowed slightly, performing the gesture of respect for the Jurchen tribe.

"Lord Xiao, it's been a long time."

"Princess, you must have had a long journey."

Xiao Jianyang nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the long convoy behind her, and said:

"Looks like you brought quite a lot of things this time."

"By order of my father, I am sending the first batch of alliance supplies to Lord Xiao."

Wanyan Chuyu smiled slightly, stepped aside to make way, and introduced:

"Eighty warhorses, fifteen thousand catties of high-quality iron ore, three hundred top-grade hides, and fifty baskets each of old ginseng and herbs are all on the back cart."

"The specific amount will be communicated between the manager and your people later."

Xiao Jianyang nodded:

"Alright, let's go into the city first. It's freezing cold outside. Princess and your brothers, please go into the city and rest."

Having said that, he stepped aside to lead the way.

Wanyan Chuyu:

"it is good."

He nodded, then led his team slowly into the city.

Then, to Wanyan Chuyu's surprise, Dongshuang County had changed again in just over ten days.

The snow on the streets had been cleared clean. People on both sides of the road were either carrying stones on their way or squatting by the roadside mixing mud and ash. Everyone was in a hurry, but there was no trace of fear after the war on their faces. Instead, they were full of energy.

All the shops along the road were open, and business was booming.

The patrolling soldiers marched past in formation, their steps perfectly synchronized, not even glancing around.

This vitality is nothing like that of a small border county that has just experienced a major war.

Wanyan Chuyu was filled with admiration in her heart:

"Mr. Xiao's ability to govern the people has improved even further."

As she murmured, the way she looked at Xiao Jianyang became even more intriguing.

The group soon arrived at the county government office, where guards served them hot tea and snacks.

Xiao Jianyang invited Wanyan Chuyu to have dinner at the county government office, where the two formally finalized the details of their permanent alliance.

Wanyan Chuyu spoke first, her tone solemn:

"Lord Xiao, my father has already made the decision. Starting this month, warhorses, iron ore, furs, and medicinal herbs will be delivered monthly on schedule, and the quantity will only increase."

"As for the movements of the Northern Barbarians, we will also send spies to keep a close watch day and night, and report any news immediately by fast horse."

"If the Northern Barbarians dare to invade Dongshuang County, my Tiger Tribe's 1,000 elite cavalry will surely arrive to their aid within three days."

Xiao Jianyang nodded slightly:

"it is good."

"The same goes for Xiao's army."

Salt, cloth, and ironware are supplied monthly at prices 15% lower than market prices.

"The pulley crossbows and Heavenly Punishment grenades will also be delivered according to the agreed proportion. If the Northern Barbarians attack the Tiger Tribe, I will personally lead five hundred elite troops with Heavenly Punishment to provide support."

"When an alarm is triggered, three smoke signals will be used as a means of communication, with fast horses serving as a secondary means. The two sides will not be under each other's command, but will cooperate in battle."

It's a deal.

It's a deal.

After saying this, the two picked up their hot teacups and clinked them together, thus formally establishing their alliance.

Without elaborate ceremonies or empty vows, it's all about real, tangible exchanges of benefits, which is precisely what makes it the most reliable.

After finishing his meal, Xiao Jianyang put down his bowl and continued:

"It's a rare treat for the princess to come all this way. There are a few new things that have recently come out in the county. I'll take you to see them."

Wanyan Chuyu's eyes lit up immediately:

"Oh? Lord Xiao has created something new again? I'd better broaden my horizons."

She remembered it clearly; on her last visit, she witnessed suture techniques, horseshoe saddles, and the Heavenly Punishment Crossbow.

It's only been a little over ten days, and there's already something new?

I am even more certain of my original decision.

Following Xiao Jianyang always brings surprises!

"Let's go."

Xiao Jianyang took the lead, and then the group left the county government office and headed straight for the western workshop area of ​​the city.

The first place we arrived at was the cement kiln site.

From afar, one could see a bustling and lively scene!

Dozens of laborers pushed carts back and forth to transport materials, while stonemasons used trowels to apply cement to the workshop's walls.

The bluish-gray walls were smooth and thick, standing out against the white snow.

"Lord Xiao, this wall looks unusually sturdy. What was it made of?"

Wanyan Hu, who had been silent all along, was impatient and couldn't help but lean forward and knock on the wall. The wall immediately made a muffled thud, which made his hand go numb.

"This is called cement."

Xiao Jianyang began to explain:

"It is made by mixing limestone, clay and coal in a certain proportion, calcining at high temperature, grinding into powder, adding water and stirring, and after drying, it is harder than bluestone."

"It can be used to repair city walls, build houses, and pave roads. It is not afraid of being soaked by rain or frozen, and it is ten times stronger than rammed earth walls."

"Is it powder? Not stone?? Wait, adding water to this powder makes it harder than bluestone??"

Wanyan Hu stared wide-eyed, his face full of disbelief.

He immediately swung his fist, as big as a bowl, and slammed it hard against the wall.

Bang! !

With a muffled thud, the wall remained completely still, without even leaving a white mark.

Wanyan Hu, on the contrary, winced in pain, jerked his hand back two steps, then stared at the wall, his face full of shock, and said:

"Hiss~~ This is damn hard!"

"If this thing were used to build city walls, even if the Northern Di people smashed their battering rams, they probably still wouldn't be able to break through!"

Wanyan Chuyu also stepped forward, placing her palm on the cold, hard cement wall. The heavy touch from her jade-like fingers sent a jolt through her, leaving her utterly shocked.

Her tribe's main city was still a wooden fence with rammed earth walls.

The Northern Di people had attacked several times before, and many of the walls had been breached.

but.

If only we could use this cement to rebuild the city wall, making it good enough and high enough.

So, let alone the Northern Di people, even if the surrounding large tribes joined forces, they wouldn't be able to easily invade.

"Lord Xiao, is this cement... available for trade?"

Wanyan Chuyu took a deep breath, then raised her head and looked at Xiao Jianyang seriously.

After thinking for a moment, he spoke again, his tone tinged with urgency and pleading:

"To be honest, the main city of my Tiger Tribe has been in disrepair for many years, and the yurts of the herders are not resistant to the cold in winter."

"If we had this cement, we could build city walls and stone houses, and the lives of our people would be so much better."

Xiao Jianyang nodded:

"Of course."

"Pricing by weight, or exchanging for iron ore or warhorses at the same price, is fine."

"The first batch is not much, we'll give you 1,000 jin to try first, and we'll add more as production increases. We also need a lot of cement right now."

"Great! That's wonderful!"

Wanyan Chuyu was not at all discouraged by this number; on the contrary, she was overjoyed and said:

"With this cement, my tribe's defenses will be at least three times stronger!"

"Although the quantity is small, if used properly, it can definitely produce unexpected results."

She originally thought that securing an alliance and exchanging some weapons would be a great gain from this trip, but she never expected to encounter something as miraculous as cement.

Xiao Jianyang sighed inwardly.

Unfortunately, sand hasn't been found yet. If there were a sand pit, we could make bricks from it.

If we could also extract the steel bars, then if we built a city, it would be virtually impossible for any army in this era to breach it head-on.

After inspecting the cement, the group walked towards the glass kiln next door.

Upon arriving at the kiln, we saw two craftsmen carefully picking out a piece of bluish-white, translucent glass and placing it on a stone slab to cool.

Sunlight shines on it, refracting a faint rainbow of colors, and through the glass, you can vaguely see the silhouettes of people on the other side.

"This is... glass?"

Wanyan Chuyu was extremely shocked.

He strode over, immediately picked up a piece of glass, held it up to the sun, and froze instantly.

She wasn't unfamiliar with Liuli.

Several glass ornaments were displayed in the homes of nobles in the tribe, and even in her own boudoir.

But they were all dark-colored and opaque.

Even so, a small piece is worth dozens of sheep; it's extremely precious.

But the piece of glass in my hand was actually clear; I could even see the things on the other side.

"This is called glass. It's clearer than crystal and cheaper."

Xiao Jianyang began his detailed introduction:

"However, the technology is not yet mature. After improvements, it can be made more transparent."

"We can install windows on the house then, so we don't need to cover them with paper. They'll be bright and windproof."

"By the way, it can also be used to make mirrors, a hundred times clearer than bronze mirrors. If made into cups and bowls, it can be sold to inland cities and the price can be dozens of times higher."

Wanyan Chuyu's heart pounded and her eyelids twitched wildly as she listened.

To make windows?

Make a mirror?

This is glass!

This thing is a rare treasure, used for these things??

but…

Looking at the large pile of glass in front of her, and thinking that Xiao Jianyang could directly make this thing, she immediately felt relieved.

Then you start to look forward to it.

If this were to succeed, how much money would we make?

The nobles of the northern grasslands and the wealthy Han merchants of the south, who doesn't love new things!

Such a clear glass mirror, even if it sold for several hundred taels of silver, people would still be scrambling to buy it!

"Lord Xiao, can glass be traded?"

Wanyan Hu, who had been relatively unknown until now, listened intently with wide eyes, rubbing his hands together excitedly.

"It's possible to trade."

Xiao Jianyang smiled and said:

"However, we only have rough glass right now. We'll take a batch of samples back with you first."

"Once the technology is mature, we can supply mirrors, glass windows, and glassware on a long-term basis."

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Chuyu took a deep breath, suppressing her excitement, and said:

"Thank you, Lord Xiao!"

"Don't worry, Lord Xiao, our Tiger Tribe will handle the sales."

"We are familiar with the tribes on the grasslands and the trade routes to the south."

"We can do this business together then, and we can discuss the profits."

She is completely convinced now.

Everything Xiao Jianyang owns is incredibly profitable.

With such a person as an ally, it would be difficult for the Tiger Tribe not to prosper.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but recall her own move: allying with the Xiao family army was absolutely the right thing to do!

Just then, a blacksmith's apprentice ran over quickly and bowed to Xiao Jianyang:

"Lord Xiao, Master Zhao sent me to report that the first batch of cavalry three-piece sets, fifty sets in total, has been completed."

"We've also equipped a warhorse for testing at the training ground. Would you like to go take a look?"

Xiao Jianyang looked at Wanyan Chuyu and smiled:

"Perfect timing! The princess is also an expert rider. Shall we go take a look together? See if this thing is what you expected."

Wanyan Chuyu's eyes lit up instantly, and she nodded immediately:

"Great! I've been wanting to see that!"

Last time, all that was brought back were blueprints and a few finished products; the tribal artisans are still working on them.

Today we can see the fully assembled warhorse, a perfect opportunity to test its effectiveness.

Xiao Jianyang:

"Okay, let's go then."

Wanyan Chuyu:

"it is good."

They set off quickly and soon arrived at the training ground.

Then, in the middle of the training ground stood a strong brown horse with shiny black horseshoes, a high saddle on its back, and heavy iron stirrups hanging on either side.

The entire set of horse harness is solidly made and looks exceptionally spirited.

Zhao Tiechui was circling the horse, patting its neck from time to time, his face covered in black ash, revealing two rows of white teeth.

Upon seeing Xiao Jianyang approach, he immediately came forward, saying like a monkey presenting its treasure:

"Lord Xiao! Everything's ready! We just did two test laps, and it's very stable! The horse's hooves don't slip on the snow, and the rider feels much more stable than before!!"

Xiao Jianyang:

"Well done."

He gave full affirmation, and then said to Wanyan Chuyu beside him:

"Princess Wanyan, please."

Wanyan Chuyu:

"Thank you for your trouble, Lord Xiao."

He answered and then walked a few steps to the warhorse.

He crouched down, his fingertips gently touching the horseshoes on the horse's feet, then moving up the horse's legs to touch the front and rear axles of the Takahashi saddle, finally grasping the cold iron stirrups, his fingers beginning to tremble slightly.

She has been riding horses for over a decade and is extremely familiar with horse tack.

Running in a regular soft saddle for a long time will cause chafing on your thighs, and when charging, you can only hold the knife with one hand, so you can't exert even 30% of your strength.

But the high bridge saddle in front of you is tilted forward and backward, which traps you in the saddle seat, making it impossible to fall off.

With the stirrups firmly planted, you can draw upon all your strength, freeing both hands to slash. When charging, your entire weight presses down on the blade, instantly doubling your lethality!

And these horseshoes.

Not only did it protect the horseshoes, but the iron nails hammered into them were also a marvel.

In the North, winters are snowy and the roads are slippery, causing many warhorses to break their hooves every year.

With this, warhorses no longer have to worry about slipping and losing their grip on the ground.

Whether it's a gravel road or an icy road, you can run with confidence.

The more Wanyan Chuyu looked, the more shocked she became.

He immediately took off his fox fur coat and handed it to the guard beside him. Then, he put his right leg in the stirrup and gently used it to get himself firmly seated on the saddle.

His movements were very crisp and clean, clearly showing that he was a skilled rider who had been on horseback for many years.

Then, instead of running, I slowly walked around twice while holding the reins, feeling the stability beneath me, and my eyes grew brighter and brighter.

He immediately spurred the horse, and it neighed and galloped wildly across the training ground.

Lightning fast!!

But it remained as stable as Mount Tai!

Once he reached the other side of the training ground, Wanyan Chuyu immediately took the bow from his back, drew the bowstring, and aimed at the target a hundred paces away.

call out! ! !

The arrow hit the bullseye!

If you were to switch to the old soft saddle, and shoot arrows while galloping at full speed, you'd be considered a skilled archer if you could even hit the target; it would be impossible to hit the bullseye.

But now, it's entirely possible.

"good!!"

The surrounding hundreds of Jurchen cavalrymen and Wanyan Hu couldn't help but cheer, their eyes filled with shock.

My heart even started beating faster.

Wanyan Chuyu had already completed one lap, then reined in her horse, bringing it to a steady stop.

He dismounted, his cheeks flushed from running, but the shock in his eyes remained, even more intense, and he couldn't help but marvel:

"A divine object!! It truly is a divine object!!"

"With these three things, the fighting strength of my Jurchen cavalry will at least double!!"

"No, it's several times!!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Wanyan Hu and hundreds of Jurchen cavalrymen cheered.

Especially Wanyan Hu.

Now, rubbing his hands excitedly, he said:

"Princess! If all our cavalry were equipped with this, we could charge straight into the Northern Di cavalry from the front! We wouldn't have to fear their mounted archery!"

Wanyan Chuyu nodded repeatedly, extremely excited.

Then he looked at Xiao Jianyang, walked closer, and said in an extremely serious tone:

"Lord Xiao, could you spare twenty sets from this batch of finished products for us?"

"Don't worry, my Tiger Tribe is willing to exchange warhorses and pig iron! The tribe's craftsmen are still working on the previous blueprints. Having a finished product as a reference will save us half a year of detours."

"Furthermore, we would appreciate it if Lord Xiao could send two more blacksmith masters over to provide guidance. We will offer them additional compensation!"

Before him, Xiao Jianyang pondered for a moment, then nodded and said:

"Can."

"Twenty finished sets, you can have someone take them away later. I'll choose two skilled blacksmiths to go back to the tribe with you."

"But as always, the technology can only be used by the Tiger Tribe and cannot be passed on to outsiders, let alone the Northern Di people."

"Rest assured, Lord Xiao!"

Wanyan Chuyu immediately guaranteed:

"Anyone who dares to utter a single word will have their head chopped off by me!"

Xiao Jianyang:

"it is good."

The deal was finalized.

Standing on the training ground, Wanyan Chuyu looked at the fully equipped warhorse and felt increasingly fortunate.

Fortunately, we made the decisive choice to form an alliance back then.

With these horse harnesses, cement, and glass, plus divine punishment and pulley crossbows, the rise of the Tiger Tribe was only a matter of time.

"Fortunately, my Tiger Tribe is not a match for the Xiao family army, but an ally."

As she murmured to herself, Wanyan Chuyu couldn't help but feel relieved again, while at the same time feeling a strange sense of lingering fear.

……

While things were bustling with activity in Dongshuang County, Youzhou City, hundreds of miles away, was like a living hell.

In the dead of winter, the north wind whips up snowflakes that feel like knives cutting your face.

The city walls of Youzhou were already riddled with holes, with gaps everywhere caused by catapults, which were hastily plugged with sandbags and frozen mud.

The top of the wall was covered with a thick layer of blood-red ice, layer upon layer of black and red, making it extremely slippery to walk on.

The soldiers guarding the city leaned against the crenellations, all of them pale and emaciated, their clothes tattered, and their weapons dulled.

Many people had their fingers turned black from the cold, but they still gripped their sword hilts tightly, their eyes fixed on the densely packed Northern Di camp outside the city, not daring to relax for a moment.

Inside the government office below the city gate, a deathly silence reigned.

General Wu Huawen sat in the main seat, his general's armor covered in scratches and stains, his hair and beard mostly white, his eyes sunken and bloodshot.

He was originally a subordinate of Yang Huaizhong, serving as the deputy general of Youzhou.

After the fall of Yanbei City, Yang Huaizhong was killed in battle. He then led the remaining troops to Youzhou and took over the responsibility of defending the city.

This vigil lasted for a full three months.

"General!!"

Just then, a captain of the personal guard staggered in, knelt on one knee, and his voice was terribly hoarse.

"explain."

Wu Huawen raised his eyelids, his voice very dry.

"Today, the Northern Barbarians attacked the west gate three more times, and a two-zhang-wide breach collapsed in the city wall. The brothers used sandbags and frozen soil to plug it up."

The captain lowered his head, his tone heavy:

"In addition, we... lost another 327 brothers."

"At the moment, the number of soldiers capable of fighting is less than three thousand eight hundred."

Upon hearing this number, Wu Huawen instinctively closed his eyes, his chest heaving slightly.

When they retreated to Youzhou, they had 20,000 garrison troops and 50,000 civilians under their command.

After three months of fighting, the soldiers were almost all killed or wounded, and most of the civilians starved to death or died in battle.

"Where are the provisions?"

He asked again.

"forage……"

The captain's throat moved, and he spoke with difficulty:

"We only have less than three days' worth of supplies left. The warhorses were all killed ten days ago, and the bark and roots in the city that we can eat have been almost completely dug up."

"Among the common people... some families have already started... exchanging children to eat."

By the end, his voice was trembling with tears.

Wu Huawen clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles turning white.

They exchanged their own children to eat them!

Those four words pierced his heart like needles!

He held out for three months, repelling hundreds of attacks from the Northern Di, but in the end, he still couldn't hold on?

"How are the wounded doing?"

"There are over a thousand wounded, mostly with frostbite and knife wounds. We've run out of medicine, and dozens are dying every day."

"If this continues, we'll collapse on our own without the Northern Barbarians even attacking the city."

woohoo~~~

Suddenly, the tent fell into a deathly silence, with only the shouts of the Northern Di people outside and the piercing howl of the cold wind.

"Is Heaven determined to destroy the northern border of my Great Wu?"

Wu Huawen muttered to himself, his voice filled with bitterness.

He had considered surrendering, but he knew all too well the Northern Di people's habit of massacring entire cities.

Once the city is opened, none of the tens of thousands of people remaining in the city will survive.

Can we continue to hold out, but how many more days can we hold out?

"General!"

The captain in front of him suddenly raised his head and said urgently:

"I have an idea, but I don't know if I should say it."

Wu Huawen was curious:

"Speak."

The captain said quickly:

"We can't just sit here and wait to die! We need to call for help!!"

"I've heard that in Dongshuang County to the east, there's a leader named Xiao Jianyang who commands a formidable Xiao family army! Not long ago, in the Battle of Menghu Ridge, a few hundred of them annihilated over a thousand elite Northern Di troops, even beheading Harbala and Baturu!"

"Xiao Jianyang?"

Wu Huawen couldn't help but frown and said:

"I think I've heard of this person before; this story is indeed true."

"But how many troops can a small county town have? The Northern Barbarians have 80,000 troops besieging the city. What use would their small force be?"

"General, you can't say that."

The captain in front of him said urgently:

"Xiao Jianyang possesses a divine artifact of heavenly punishment, which is extremely powerful. The Northern Di people were defeated by it."

"And even if there's only a sliver of hope, we have to try! It's better than the whole city dying here!"

"Besides, if Youzhou falls, the Northern Di will definitely attack Dongshuang County next. He can't possibly not understand the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold'."

"We can promise him that if he brings troops to relieve the siege, he'll get half of Youzhou's grain and military supplies! Later, I'll also petition the court for him to be rewarded and given a formal official position!"

Wu Huawen really wanted to say something.

Does the Great Wu still have a court?

The imperial court had already been breached by the Turks more than a month ago.

He persevered only through sheer passion and a belief in protecting the people.