My Cultivation Starting from Archery

After two days of brutal siege battles,

the combined efforts of the city's soldiers and civilians managed to stubbornly hold the fort.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Instead, it was the barbarians who suffered the loss of another two thousand troops and a Refining Organ General.

Additionally, with countless siege weapons destroyed, they had no choice but to cease their drumbeats of war and dared not attack for several days.

Surveying the overall situation,

the barbarians now had only six thousand soldiers left, while Po Yang held six hundred troops and three thousand commoners willing to risk their lives.

These commoners were just ordinary people.

If it had been an open battle between two armies, they would certainly have been cannon fodder.

But in a siege, all they needed to do was handle logistics, repair the city walls, or even serve as human shields—if they could just slow the barbarians' ascent, giving the soldiers time to react, it would be enough.

The barbarians didn't dare launch another assault for the time being.

Of the six thousand they had left, half were cavalry.

As long as the city walls stood, the cavalry was just for show.

Next, barring any unforeseen incidents, holding out until Wang Zhi's return would mean the siege of Po Yang could be broken easily.

Chen Sansi could scarcely imagine it.

The largest credit for this victory actually belonged to the common people.

"Open the granaries and distribute grains!"

There was plenty of food in the military stores.

After seeing the role the civilians played, Xiang Tingchun grew fond of the idea of exchanging the cheapest lives for the greatest benefit and continued to forcibly conscript anyone who could hold a weapon, sending them all to the city walls.

He was in high spirits and gathered the military officers of Households rank and above on the wall, pouring drinks for each: "My brothers, this time in lifting the siege of Po Yang, everyone has performed a great service. Once this battle is over, a hefty reward is assured, not to mention promotions and honors!"

"Hehe, quite right!"

Dressed in a red official robe, Ji Guangxian said, "If the Crown Prince hears that, on the frontier of our great Dasheng, there exists such a courageous group of warriors, he will surely treat us with favor! The main credit, of course, goes to Households Commander Xiang—congratulations!"

"Hahaha, Magistrate Ji, though a civil servant, you have shared life and death with our city walls; that too is a great service," Xiang Tingchun said as he filled his cup too.

Clearly, the standoff had dissolved whatever misgivings the two men had held.

Atop the city wall.

While the officials laughed and drank, congratulating each other in advance on their promotions, the ragged civilians were either busily moving bodies back and forth, repairing walls, or sitting numbly on the ground, eating the hard-earned rice.

The battle wasn't even over, yet they were already popping the champagne?

Chen Sansi had no mood to partake in such premature celebrations.

After perfunctorily drinking a bowl of wine, he turned to help move the bodies.

...

That night,

for the first time since the battle began, Xiang Tingchun found a moment to return home and see his wife.

He removed his heavy armor, hugged his young son, and said, "You don't have to be afraid anymore, the fighting is almost over."

"Really?"

His wife, Madame Liu, said anxiously, "Why does my heart keep pounding non-stop? Won't the barbarians send more men over?"

"Do you think the barbarians can just mold their soldiers out of mud?"

Xiang Tingchun snorted, "Ten thousand troops were already exceedingly strange. There's absolutely no chance they can reinforce in the short term. Even if they forced an extra two thousand men, it would do no good unless they gave up the main battlefield in Liangzhou, which would result in immediate counterattack and can only be equated to seeking death."

"I'm just a housewife; how can I understand these things?"

Madame Liu patted her chest, "It's good if the master says there's nothing to worry about."

"Hmm, once the battle is over, I'm likely to be transferred."

Xiang Tingchun spoke slowly, "The credit I've earned this time might even be enough to get assigned directly to the prosperous Jiangnan Prefecture City."

"That would be wonderful,"

Madame Liu exclaimed joyfully, "We can finally leave this forsaken place where we've been living in constant fear. Not to mention, our child doesn't even have a decent private tutor here, how could he possibly succeed in the imperial exams?"

"Hmm,"

Xiang Tingchun picked up his bowl and chopsticks, ready to have a meal before leaving.

It was at this moment that a maid came in to report.

"Master, Master Luo would like to see you."

"What does he want?"

While holding his still young son, Xiang Tingchun said without even looking up, "What's the matter, they're not attacking again, are they?"

"Master, it's about the Martial Arts Hall."

Luo Dongquan spoke in a fluster, "That old fox Liang Shengzhi who was originally in charge of guarding the southern gate, took advantage of the moment when the barbarians were temporarily repelled to open the city gate and flee with his family. It seems he's heading to Hengkang Prefecture."

"Flee?!"

Xiang Tingchun slammed down his chopsticks, "The old bastard, sick of living!"

Once there's one leader of desertion, there will be a second.

Such a situation was absolutely not allowed to happen!

Xiang Tingchun immediately donned his armour, grabbed his saber, mounted his warhorse, and rushed to the city gate with Luo Dongquan.

"How many of them?!"

"Only seven or eight people, with a cart full of gold, silver and jewels. They're also pulling a carriage, so they shouldn't have gotten far. I've already sent men to chase after them, maybe they've already been intercepted."

"Good! Hang their dog heads on the city wall. Let's see who else dares to run!"

Xiang Tingchun's killing intent surged.

The situation had escalated to this point, there was no need to consider any background or status. Deserting in the face of the enemy, even Ji Guangxian would support his actions.

The two of them, one after the other, chased wildly for five miles after opening the city gate.

Sure enough, a carriage was seen ahead.

"Liang Shengzhi! Deserting in battle is a capital offense!"

Xiang Tingchun quickly overtook the carriage and blocked the road ahead.

"Mr. Xiang."

Liang Shengzhi lifted the carriage curtain and coldly said, "Privately hoarding the Immortal Treasure is the real capital offense!"

"What did you say?!"

Xiang Tingchun's expression turned stern.

The sound of horse hooves arose from all around.

Three riders emerged from the darkness, blocking the way back.

"Magistrate Xue?"

Xiang Tingchun narrowed his eyes, "What is this supposed to mean?"

"Xiang Tingchun!"

Xue Yuping called out in a cold voice, "Hand over the Immortal Treasure, and you may keep your corpse intact!"

"The Immortal Treasure?!"

Xiang Tingchun took a deep breath, looking towards the carriage, "Liang Shengzhi, have you gone mad, seeking mutual destruction with me?"

Liang Shengzhi shouted, "Cut the crap! Even if you used the Immortal Treasure to blackmail us, killing my son and monopolizing the secret of the Immortal Treasure, I will not share the sky with you!"

"Your son?"

Xiang Tingchun didn't bother to explain, but instead said with a bitter smile, "I say the Immortal Treasure is not in my hands. Do you believe me, Magistrate Xue?"

"What do you think?"

Xue Yuping looked towards Han Cheng and Tang Ming by his side, "Since Mr. Xiang refuses to save face, let's 'help' him save face."

Xiang Tingchun slowly drew out his He Miao Long Sword.

"Households Commander Xiang!"

Luo Dongquan urgently said, "It might be better to just hand over the item. They are sent by the court. Even if we kill them, we probably can't keep the Immortal Treasure a secret anymore! Hand it over, our families might still have a way to survive."

"Hahahahaha..."

Xiang Tingchun let out a strange laugh, "Luo Dongquan, I would have never expected, after twenty years of nurturing you, it's you who sold me out in the end."

"Mr. Xiang?"

Luo Dongquan responded in confusion, "What do you mean by that?"

"That's enough, Old Luo."

Xiang Tingchun's voice turned icy as he ran the He Miao Long Sword slowly over his wrist guard, "Stop pretending. Take action."

Before leaving the city, Luo Dongquan had said he had already sent people to intercept.

Where are they?

Not a single soldier in sight.

What does this imply, if it still needs to be said?

"Nurturing?"

Luo Dongquan no longer disguised his intentions and said with a forced smile, "Mr. Xiang, you once asked me a question, after the start of spring, how many of us would still be alive? That includes me, doesn't it?

"In Mr. Xiang's eyes, everyone is just a stepping stone for you to climb higher, even I'm no exception.

"Given that, why maintain any pretense of kindness or justice!"

"Take action!"