Chapter 967: A Decisive Battle to the Death

ell asleep right after coming back from the river. I think her complexion doesn't look quite right..." Tao Hongying carried Jia Yin to Li Lao Tai's side. 。Li Lao immediately took it, whispering a few...Jia Yin naturally agreed, she had Mu Xu and Shui Ling Shui Yun by her side, Ye Shan's couple didn't play a big role.

Now, Meiyi stays behind to guard the courtyard, while Yèshān goes with her to care for his godfather. She feels more at ease this way.

The Lord stroked Jia Yin's hair, smiling with relief. "You must have been busy for a while, I appreciate your hard work. Rest assured, your father and I will definitely return safely."

Li Lao Si also patted his daughter's back and instructed, "Have fun at home, do whatever makes you happy. If someone bullies you and you can't fight back, just remember it, and when Dad comes back, I'll get revenge for you!"

"Understood, Father!" Jia Yin opened her arms and hugged her father tightly.

Li Laosì, rarely flushed with excitement, patted his daughter on the shoulder before mounting his horse and getting ready to depart.

Jia Yin then twisted her body to hug the Marquis, and the Marquis smiled, squatting down to make it easier for his daughter to hug him.

Jia Yin leaned into the Marquis' ear and said a few words. The Marquis' eyes flickered, and he nodded lightly...

As usual, outside the walls of Xin’du, a towering platform known as the Point General's Stage was erected once more.

On the day of departure, nearly every household was empty as people from both inside and outside the city gathered in one place.

One hundred thousand troops marched north, with thirty thousand carrying supplies ahead of them. Ten thousand logistical personnel also set off, leaving only sixty thousand elite iron cavalry behind. Each soldier was clad in armor, holding swords and spears, heads held high and chests puffed out as they stood beneath the platform for generals.

Sunlight glinted off the gunpoint and blades, reflecting a chilling light.

The people of Tianwu, everyone was extremely excited, clenched their fists and shouted loudly.

"Mighty Tianwu, victorious in the northern campaign!"

The envoys of the eight nations gathered together, standing on the wall, looking far into the distance at everything unfolding before them. Finally, a hint of fear appeared in their eyes.

Maybe Tianwu is not as developed as their kingdom in some aspects, but its land is vast and abundant, and now it has a strong army. It's definitely not something they can easily control in a short period of time!

The Emperor wore a bright yellow dragon robe and a crown. He stood on the platform for generals, his eyes filled with an inexplicable frenzy.

The lord was in full golden armor, kneeling on one knee.

The Emperor personally took the helmet and carefully placed it on his head.

"Lord Xinting, leading the troops this time, is sure to win a decisive victory and achieve great success!"

Meanwhile, Yi the steward swept his duster and hurriedly relayed the message.

At once, thousands upon thousands of people surged forward, chanting in unison.

All the villagers of Suijin Tan, except those who had to stay behind to look after things, came over.

They shouted louder and louder, their voices strained and their eyes starting to well up.

"A brilliant start, achieving victory with ease!"

"Be sure to return safely!"

"Return victorious soon!"

A child stretched out his little hands and shouted to his relatives in the ranks, "Father, come back soon! Come back and teach me how to ride a horse!"

Tens of thousands of soldiers, hearing this, felt their noses sting with emotion, yet their spines straightened even further.

On the platform, the Emperor personally helped the Marquis to his feet. The two stood side by side, and the Emperor whispered, "Cousin, no matter the outcome, you must return safely. Don't worry about things in the new capital; I've got it covered."

The Lord nodded and replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty. This servant will do his best to retake the north of the river and return in triumph."

Yi Zongguan urged from the side, "Your Majesty, Marquis, it's time!"

The emperor took a deep breath, rolled up his sleeves, received the drum mallet, and struck the huge buffalo hide war drum with force, sending off the soldiers on their campaign.

New Tinghou knelt down and kowtowed again, then rolled over and jumped off the platform, onto his horse's back. He held up his long sword, pointing it towards Jiangbei.

"Reclaim Jiangbei, exterminate the enemy tribes! Charge!"

Sixty thousand soldiers mounted their horses, shouting in unison, "Reclaim the north of the river and exterminate the enemy barbarians!"

For a moment, the air was thick with killing intent, and flags fluttered in the wind.

The steed's nostrils flared with breath, its hooves pawing the ground, ready to bolt as soon as the knight pulled on the reins.

The army surged forward like a flood, the thunder of hooves echoing like spring thunder, crushing dust and smoke as they charged towards the distance, prepared to fight to the death!

Countless commoners cried out, cheering loudly!

Countless relatives eagerly await your safe return and offer their prayers for your well-being!

Until the dust settled in the distance, and the northern army's shadow disappeared.

The Emperor returned to the palace, taking with him most of the city's people. The rest gradually dispersed as well.

In less than an hour, even the battle stage was dismantled.

At a distance, on a small hill, Jia Yin and Mu Xu stood on the tree trunk looking out.

The army marching north resembled a giant dragon, slowly reaching the docks. Soldiers boarded ships one by one and crossed the river to the north.

Jia Yin was clenching her jaw, worry practically dripping from her eyes.

She wasn't trying to boost others' spirits at the expense of her own dignity, but this time, with her stepfather and father going on a campaign, she had a bad feeling about it.

But the northern expedition's army supplies were abundant, and the soldiers were strong and well-equipped. She also helped prepare a lot of things. Logically speaking, she had done everything she could, and she really couldn't find anything that could go wrong.

This inexplicable worry made her extremely anxious.

If she wasn't held back by her family, and since she didn't understand military tactics very well, often doing more harm than good, she really wanted to disguise herself as a man and join the expedition!

Mu Xu didn't see Jia Yin's expression, but he was filled with longing and exclaimed, "I also want to go on an expedition together, wielding my sword and killing all barbarians!"

Jia Yin frowned and replied, "Actually, Jiangnan is now capable of supporting all the people of Tianwu. Why do my adoptive father and my father still have to go to war Must we retake Jiangbei Even if we retake it, I don't think anyone would want to go back!"

Mu Xu stopped his wandering legs, turned his head to look at Jia Yin, and remained silent for a long time.

Just as Jiayin was about to jump down from the tree and head home, he suddenly spoke up.

"My lady, has the Marquis told you about my origins"

Jia Yin hesitated for a moment before nodding lightly, “I only know that both your parents and your extended family have passed away.”

Mu Xu leaned against the tree trunk, his eyes fixed on the north. Nostalgia and hatred swirled in his gaze.

"My home is in a county town three hundred miles north of Kyoto. My ancestors were scholars for generations, making our family a distinguished one. My father was the eldest son, but he disliked official life and resigned to return home, spending his days teaching me to study. "

My mother was in frail health, bedridden for a long time, unable to manage household chores. But she loved me dearly. However, I was mischievous by nature and often caused trouble, making the house chaotic. Yet, my parents never punished me, only saying they hoped I would grow up soon.

"The father had two brothers who were also married with children, but they did not divide the family property. There were dozens of people in the extended family, including servants and maids, living in a large mansion, enjoying a prosperous and peaceful life. However, one night, suddenly, barbarians broke through the border defenses and came to their doorstep."

"It just so happened that my mother was seriously ill at the time, and my father took people to follow the doctor into the mountains to collect medicine. My mother didn't want to burden her family and asked my uncle to take me away first, leaving her to wait for my father. I refused and, in a moment of thoughtlessness, hid somewhere. The whole family searched for me everywhere, which wasted time."

When the barbarians broke in, I hid under the eaves and watched them kill my uncle and cousins. They tried to humiliate my aunt, who fought back desperately until they hacked her bloody and unrecognizable. She died with her eyes wide open.

“My mother was also abused. When she struggled, she saw me on the beam. She was afraid I would jump down, so she grabbed the bandit's knife and cut her own neck. Even as she died, she still called for me to live...”

My mother's blood soaked the entire bed, and the courtyard was stained with the blood of my family, a sea of crimson, burning me as if I had died countless times.

Later, I took the opportunity to escape the city and seek out my father. But upon seeing him rush back, I was horrified to watch a barbarian slash his head off with a single blow, the severed head landing right in front of me…

Here are two updates for today~~~ife, and Wu Sanniang's family all came, filling up two tables nearly to bursting.But no one complained, instead their smiles couldn't stop.Life is better when it's lively and bustling.Especially those...