Chapter Fifteen: Seize the Advantage First

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Although Luo Fang felt disappointed, he remained calm and analyzed the situation together with Xue Chengqian.
“Kang Yu is right.”
“If it were warmer, it would be easier to believe, but now it’s deep winter. Besides, if the Nujiang River’s natural barrier were reliable, Lu Xiaoyuan wouldn’t be holed up in the city; he would have already deployed defenses along the river.”
Hearing both of them speak this way, Wang Huzi gained confidence.
“Hmph! That means we can’t trust that guy. Lu Xiaoyuan seems like the city lord, with grain and soldiers. Maybe if we asked him enough, he might soften for a moment—but trusting him is just waiting for death!”
“I won’t allow you to speak ill of my big brother!”
Little Luzhu, who had been hiding behind Xue Chengqian all along, suddenly shouted loudly.
Though small, her sudden outburst startled Wang Huzi.
Luzhu’s face flushed red, but her stance was resolute.
“My big brother always tells me there’s a way to drive away the northern barbarians! He never lies to me; he is a man of his word!”
Wang Huzi was a bit ashamed and angry but didn’t know how to retort to a little girl who was glaring at him with a red neck. He felt saying anything might embarrass himself.
Kang Yu only felt pity and wished to comfort the adorable Luzhu.
From her perspective, Luzhu was simply overtrusting her brother blindly.
However, Luo Fang noticed that even after revealing the fact that the Nujiang River had already frozen over, Xue Chengqian’s expression didn’t waver at all.
“Xue… Chengqian, you’ve always valued your sister the most, and you promised her this in private. You must truly believe in your chances of victory, right?”
Xue Chengqian shook his head directly.
Seeing this, Luo Fang could no longer hide his disappointment.
Yet Xue Chengqian declared boldly, “I do not boast, but this battle is not just winnable—it is an absolute certainty! We will not only defeat the northern barbarians but also seize great benefits from this victory, earning a reputation that makes all nearby and distant regions fear and respect us brothers!”
Kang Yu glared at him with frustration, “You’re still talking big. Didn’t you hear me? The Nujiang has already frozen! It’s unreliable!”
Xue Chengqian said firmly, “Of course I heard it, but you haven’t thought it through. It is precisely because the Nujiang just froze that we have the chance to defeat the northern barbarians!”
“You—you must be crazy…”
Xue Chengqian turned his head and asked Luo Fang, “Brother Luo, let me ask you this: if the Nujiang hadn’t frozen, could we have stopped the northern barbarians with our own strength?”

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Luo Fang was about to answer but suddenly froze.
“That... is impossible. We have neither manpower nor a navy. If the northern barbarians spread their forces out and crossed the Nujiang at a gentler spot, we wouldn’t be able to stop them.”
Xue Chengqian emphasized each word, “Exactly! So by making the northern barbarians see the Nujiang frozen, they dare to charge straight to Wangjiang City’s gates—and that is our true opportunity for victory!”
He then laid out his plan for Luo Fang and the others to examine together.
“Can this plan really work?”
After listening, even the steady Luo Fang’s voice began to tremble.
He wasn’t afraid this time; he genuinely heard hope in Xue Chengqian’s words!
Xue Chengqian nodded, “I’ve observed for a long time and couldn’t be wrong. Our chance lies in knowing Wangjiang better.”
“Of course, besides our own plan, we need some help. Brother Luo, you must send a message to Wangjiang City through Commander Song!”
Kang Yu, both excited and uneasy after hearing the plan, asked, “I thought asking Lu Xiaoyuan was useless. Why have Brother Luo do it? Why not do it ourselves?”
Xue Chengqian smiled, “I just said we must seize every benefit from this battle.”
“Brother Luo, remember, this time you’re not begging—you’re setting conditions!”
“We won’t force entry into the city, nor ask Lu Xiaoyuan to send troops. We only require that he allocate all subsequent supplies—grain, clothing, and so forth—to our Zhenyi Battalion. He has no cost in this and will gladly agree.”
“Our plan to mobilize refugees depends on having supplies to make them brave the cold and obey our orders completely.”
“After the great battle, we will also rely on these provisions to secure our position.”
Now truly inspired by Xue Chengqian’s confidence, Luo Fang gave him a thumbs-up.
“Good! You’ve thought things through. I know exactly what to say to Commander Song.”
...
Lu Xiaoyuan’s face was ashen as he patrolled the city walls with his guards.
He never imagined the northern barbarians would reach the outskirts of Wangjiang so quickly, and even drive more refugees there deliberately.
Several renowned scholars in Wangjiang had already advised him to open the city gates and let the people in.
But Lu Xiaoyuan’s heart was as solid as rock, unwavering.

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Usually, he treated scholars with respect and befriended them.
But that was to polish his own reputation, not to let them drag him down at critical moments!
He knew very well that if Wangjiang fell, many in the court would seize the chance to stab him in the back.
They wouldn’t show mercy just because he cared for the people or fought bravely in defeat.
If Wangjiang were lost, his fate would be miserable indeed. He wouldn’t even have to wait for the imperial decree; the prince of Zhongzhou Prefecture would remove him first and replace him with his own trusted men!
At this moment, Commander Song squeezed past higher-ranking generals, paid respects to the city lord, and relayed Luo Fang’s demands from outside the city.
Lu Xiaoyuan was first stunned, then sneered mockingly.
“I almost forgot about that insignificant insect. Rather than fleeing for his life, he dares to speak arrogantly to me?”
“He and that Xue fellow claim to have a way to repel the enemy? Do they take high officials of the court for nothing?”
Captain Huang quickly smiled and chimed in, “City Lord is right. So many talented scholars inside Wangjiang City are at a loss against the northern barbarian army. What is he, to dare speak of repelling the enemy?”
Commander Song’s face darkened as he recalled Luo Fang’s instructions and quickly tried to persuade them.
“I don’t know their exact intentions, but Luo Fang has indeed organized the refugees and prepared to fight the northern barbarians to the death.”
“Your Excellency previously permitted Luo Fang and Xue Chengqian outside the city to organize the Zhenyi Battalion and fight to the death with the enemy. Now that they are truly ready to risk everything, Your Excellency should express a stance so others can see it clearly.”
Lu Xiaoyuan thought this made sense.
Moreover, hadn’t the city’s scholars advised him to show compassion to the people?
Luo Fang’s declaration gave him the perfect chance to silence their criticisms.
Now, the refugees outside the city had declared they would fight the northern barbarians to the death. If he showed enough attitude and publicized Luo Fang’s words, the scholars would find it difficult to attack him over this matter.
“Heh, Luo Fang only wants some grain and clothing. Fine, since it doesn’t involve using Wangjiang’s own resources…”
“Send orders permitting the Zhenyi Battalion, in the name of the Wangjiang Prefecture Governor’s Office, to requisition grain from outside or collect it from various regions. But I want to see clearly what skills those insects really have, daring to speak of repelling the enemy!”