Chapter 93

  Xiao Mucqing's analysis was spot on, and Tang Yan became interested, asking: "Is this how you judged that the barbarian troops would attack Yuanwang Town?"

  "Yes, sir!" Xiao Muqing nodded and said.

  "Do you know much about the Miao soldiers?" Tang Yin raised an eyebrow.

  Xiao Muqing did not answer directly, but said: "I was 16 years old when I joined the army, and I have been in the military for nearly ten years now."

  Tang Yin didn't expect this, and he couldn't believe that the young captain had nearly ten years of military service. On the other hand, having nearly ten years of military service yet still being just a squad leader made people feel incredulous. He didn't ask further questions, instead changing the subject to ask: "Then do you think that this time the barbarian troops attacked Yuanwang Town, was it also a probe for attacking Biancheng?"

  Xiao Muzheng was extremely surprised at Tang Yin's quick reaction, and after a moment of stunned silence, he said seriously: "Originally, this possibility did exist! But now that we think about it, the barbarian army will definitely launch a large-scale attack, but whether their target is the border city or not is uncertain."

  "Why?"

  "The barbarian soldiers have always had a strong desire for revenge and have never looked down on the Wind Army. This time, they suffered a great loss in Yuwang Town and will definitely bring more troops back to take revenge. Attacking only Yuwang Town may not be enough to eliminate their anger, and the border town is likely to become their primary target!"

  Tang Yin was secretly shocked, first by Xiao Mucqing's analysis of the barbarian army and secondly by his brains. If what he said was true, then the situation on the other side of the city would be dangerous. He asked: "In your opinion, how many troops will the barbarians send to avenge?"

  "Hmm..." Xiao Muqing thought for a moment and said: "I estimate it will be between 50,000 to 100,000!"

  So many people! Tang Yin furrowed his brow and fell into deep thought.

  At this time, a chiliarch who came to reinforce walked over and arrived in front of Tang Yin, made a deep bow, then said: "Sir, the battlefield has been cleaned up, more than 200 barbarian corpses were found, our army also lost more than 100 men."

  Tang Yin came back to his senses and replied: "Alright, I understand."

  In fact, the number of barbarian soldiers who died in battle was far more than 200. Many others were killed by Tang Yin's dark fire and their bodies were left with no bones. As for the casualties on the Wind Army side, most of them were the original garrison troops in Yuwang Town. The over 100 cavalrymen brought by Tang Yin did not lose a few men, and the infantry reinforcements that followed later suffered no damage at all.

  He looked at Xiao Miaoqing and Jin Xing, waved his hand and said: "You two go busy, if there's anything I'll find you again."

  "Yes, sir! I bid you farewell!" Xiao and Jin bowed and made a gesture of respect, then backed away.

  After they left, Tang Yin asked the thousand husband: "Do you know those two?"

  Qian Fuzhang looked at the two figures disappearing into the distance and nodded, "I know them. They are the team leaders of Yuanwang Town. One is called Xiao Miaoqing and the other is Jin Xin. Sir, do you have any issues with these two?"

  Tang Yin waved his hand and said: "I heard that the captain named Xiao Muzheng has been in the army for ten years?"

  "Yes!" Qian Fuzhang shook his head and sighed: "His military age is much longer than mine!"

  "Why is he still just a nominal captain?"

  "There... are many reasons." Qian Fu Lang rubbed his forehead and said: "His martial arts skills aren't strong, which isn't a big deal, considering his years of service he should have been promoted long ago. But he... is too timid, has committed the serious crime of fleeing in battle multiple times. If it weren't for his many years of service, taking into account that he has no merits but also no demerits in the military, he would have been punished by military law long ago!"

  So that's how it is! Tang Yin felt somewhat disappointed by Qian Fu Zhang's explanation, but then he suddenly thought of Qiu Zhen. Isn't Qiu Zhen exactly this kind of person?! Seemingly timid and afraid of death, yet actually extremely clever and well-versed in the ways of self-preservation. As Qiu Zhen would say, knowingly going to make a meaningless sacrifice when you know you can't win is the most foolish behavior. Could it be that this Xiao Mu Qing and Qiu Zhen are the same kind of person?!

  Tang Yin smiled and shook his head, no longer thinking about it. The top priority now was to immediately strengthen the defense of the border town. In case the barbarian army really came, they wouldn't be caught off guard.

  At this time, the small town began to liven up.

  When the barbarian troops came to attack, the people in the town seemed to have vanished into thin air. Except for the barbarian troops and the defending soldiers, not a single civilian could be seen. Now that the barbarian troops have been repelled, people are emerging from their hiding places, standing at a distance, and gazing at the corpses left behind by the barbarians, with expressions of both fear and hatred on their faces.

  Seeing this, Tang Yin walked towards the crowd of common people.

  The people of Yuanwang Town did not know Tang Yin, but seeing that he was young, yet dressed in a way that was out of the ordinary, and with guards by his side, they knew without asking that his identity was not simple. People couldn't help but cast curious and fearful glances at him.

  As he walked closer to the crowd, Tang Yin smiled and said, "Everyone has been startled! I am Tang Yin."

  What! The common people were shocked when they heard the news. It turned out that this handsome young man was none other than Tang Yin, the newly appointed County Magistrate of Pingyuan County!

  In a county, the county governor is the highest administrative and military officer, and is also a true-to-form local emperor. In the hearts of ordinary people, the county governor is high above, not someone who can be seen by ordinary people. Unexpectedly, this time in defending against the barbarian army, the county governor himself came to Yuwang Town.

  His words had barely fallen when a murmur arose from the front, and hundreds of people gathered here knelt down.

  Tang Yin was startled, and it could be said that since he took office as the county governor of Pingyuan County, he had never received such "treatment". He hastily stretched out his hand to help up a middle-aged man closest to him, and then gestured to others, saying: "Fellow villagers don't need to be too polite, everyone get up!"

  "Sir..." An old man in the crowd looked up, trembling and said: "Sir, you... can you save the people of my hometown Yuanwang Town?"

  Tang Yin looked at the old man who was speaking with an inexplicable expression. Hadn't he already rushed over to rescue him? What else was there to save? He nodded and said, "Sir, please speak directly!"

  The old man sighed and said, "It's a wonderful thing that the general has come to rescue Yuanwang Town himself and defeated the barbarian army. However, since the barbarians have lost men here, they will definitely come back for revenge in the future... at that time, the lives of all the men, women, old and young people in the town will be in danger!"

  "Yes, sir..."

  After hearing the old man's words, the other villagers also echoed one after another, each with an expression that something terrible was about to happen.

  This is a problem! The barbarian soldiers will come back to take revenge, Xiao Mùqīng had already mentioned it to himself earlier. With the current military strength of Pingyuan County, it is not enough to set up heavy defenses in both places at the same time, Biancheng and Yuwang Town. Of course, the former is more important, and the limited military strength of Pingyuan County should naturally be concentrated in Biancheng. As for Yuwang Town, it can only be abandoned.

  He looked around at the crowd and asked, "Where is the mayor?"

  The old man who had just spoken stood up with a quiver and cupped his hands, saying: "Sir, I am the mayor of Yuanwang Town, Zhong Wen!"

  "Oh, so you're the town head!" Tang Yin nodded and said: "Organize the townspeople, bring all the things that can be taken away, and temporarily live in Biancheng!"

  "What?" Upon hearing this, Town Head Zhong Wen was stunned, and the townspeople along with the surrounding soldiers were also stunned. Feng Guo had indeed issued a ban on migration, especially in border areas, where control over migration was particularly strict. Tang Yin allowing the people of Yuanguan town to move to Biancheng for residence, although temporary, did not comply with Feng Guo's laws.

  "This... this doesn't conform to our great nation's laws and regulations..."

  Before he could finish speaking, Tang Yin interrupted: "Life and death are at stake now, human life is of course the most important, as for the law, it can be ignored!"

  "But..."

  "If there's a problem, I'll naturally take care of it. Does the town chief have any other methods?" Tang Yin turned his head and glanced at Zhong Wen with the corner of his eye.

  He has already said that, and Zhong Wen had nothing to say. He knelt down again and bowed his head, saying: "The humble representative of the people of Yuwang Town thanks you, sir!"

  "The mayor has been polite!" Tang Yin smiled faintly, and as his eyes moved, the expressions of gratitude and tears in the eyes of the people were reflected, and the originally somewhat heavy mood suddenly felt much lighter.

  Just as the residents of Yuangwang Town were packing up their belongings and preparing to move to Biancheng, Shangguan brothers and others who went out to pursue the defeated barbarian soldiers returned, bringing back more than 200 barbarian prisoners.

  These captured barbarian soldiers were like defeated fighting cocks, with many of them sporting wounds and dripping with fresh blood. As they looked up, each one hung their heads in shame, lacking the vigor and prestige of their former selves.

  When the barbarian soldiers were captured, the people of Yuanwang Town were still a little afraid at first and didn't dare to come forward, they just watched from afar. But as time passed, it was unclear who started picking up small stones and throwing them at the prisoners, this seemed to be the spark that set things off. Immediately afterwards, hundreds of residents rushed over, some picking up stones and others picking up clods of earth, fiercely smashing them towards the barbarian prisoners, venting their long-held repression and anger.

  The actions of the people, the surrounding Wind Army did not stop them, their hatred for the barbarian soldiers was no weaker than that of the people of the Wind Country. After all, too many of the Wind Army had died at the hands of the barbarian soldiers, including their brothers and comrades-in-arms who had fought alongside them.

  The Feng Jun knew in their hearts that the fate of these captives was definitely a dead end, and there was no difference between dying under the executioner's knife and dying at the hands of the people.

  At this time, it was Tang Yin who stood out to stop the people of Yuwang Town. He didn't care about the life and death of the captured barbarian soldiers, but if they were taken back to Biancheng or Hengcheng, it would undoubtedly be a great boost to the morale of the military and civilians in Pingyuan County.

  Fearing the emotions of the people would get out of control, Tang Yin did not stay long in Yuanwang Town. He brought along Shangguan brothers and escorted more than 200 barbarian soldiers' captives to leave Yuanwang Town first and return to Biancheng.

  The news of their great victory over the barbarian army in Yuwang Town had already been transmitted back to Biancheng, which made the Fengjun soldiers ecstatic. It can be said that since they joined the army, the number of victories against the barbarians can be counted on one's fingers. This time, although it was only a small battle, they exchanged a meager loss for a hard-won victory, which is not easy to come by.

  Of course, Tang Yin's position in Feng Jun's heart has also been greatly enhanced.