Volume 1 Chapter 70: The Young Master of the Manor?

  Zhang Qiu looked at Tai Shi Lan in despair.

  Tai Shi Lan had already shifted his gaze and faced the approaching officials of Bei Yan Fu and the guards, growling, "Make way!"

  A loud crash was heard as the sedan chair fell to the ground. Several sedan bearers, whose legs had been trembling with fear all along, finally abandoned the sedan and fled. The sedan crashed against the city wall, its rear panel toppling over.

  "It's done."

  Still maintaining the posture of strangling Zhang Qiu's neck, Ta Shi Lan pulled out Zhang Qiu and pushed her step by step towards the inner city gate. The officials and soldiers also retreated step by step with pale faces.

  The cheers of the people burst out like a mountain call at this moment.

  They surged forward like a tide, following Tai Shi's back, pressing towards the city gate. Those fully armed soldiers who had been ordered not to allow any outsiders into the city lost their commander and their backbone, retreating in confusion, their gun tips drooping inch by inch.

  Jingtai Blue sat on Zhao Thirteen's shoulder, maintaining the posture of gnawing a pear, foolishly staring at the crowds rushing from all directions, and didn't even notice when a piece of pear meat fell off.

  He patted Zhao Thirteen's head and said, "Many people..."

  Zhao Thirteen didn't have the ability to educate Tai Shi Lan at any time and place, but he knew in his heart that this was a great opportunity for Jing Tai Lan to understand the way of governing the country and its people. However, he couldn't say it out loud, so in a moment of urgency, he lifted his foot and kicked Tai Shi Lan.

  Tai Shi Lan's head didn't even turn back, a cold and detached voice came over, "When you gain the Tao, many will help; when you lose it, few will. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it."

  She pushed Zhang Qiu forward, and almost immediately, the smelly eggs and rotten socks that had just been given to her were thrown at Zhang Qiu like a storm. Some people even threw heavy strings of coins, hitting Zhang Qiu so hard that he let out a pained cry.

  "When in office, one should serve the people." said Tai Shi Lan.

  Zhao Thirteen thought for a moment and then hastily replied: "I know! Why don't we go back home and sell sweet potatoes?"

  Tai Shi Lan gave him a glance and said to Jing Tai Lan, "Will be crushed by the power of anger."

  Zhao Thirteen rubbed his nose awkwardly.

  She's retaliating for that kick earlier...

  This seemingly cold but actually vicious bad woman!

  ……

  Tai Shi Lan grabbed Zhang Qiu's neck and pushed him step by step towards the city gate, with the citizens cheering and following, but the joy of success was only temporary, as more mournful cries came from behind.

  The Western soldiers who entered the city have started killing people.

  Tai Shi Lan let the civilians enter the city first, Zhao Thirteen's men maintained order and chose someone who was best at lightness skills to leave the city to report the news. The officials of Bei Yan Fu only knew how to escape with their lives, don't expect them to think of this.

  "Hurry! Hurry!" The crowd surged in endlessly, Zhao Thirteen urged anxiously, but it was impossible to let so many people in within a short period of time. Xi Fan's team had already caught up closely behind them.

  Tai Shi Lan pressed down on Zhang Qiu, leaning against the city wall, watching as people rushed in batches towards the inner city, while outside a street away, the curved knives of the Western barbarians danced and splattered blood. Those men with indigo-colored tattoos laughed loudly, repeatedly hacking down ruthlessly, reaping the lives of innocent civilians. Someone had already seen the large number of people rushing into the inner city and strode over quickly.

  Tai Shi Lan's only consolation now is that the other side are infantry and there aren't many of them.

  She actually wanted to mobilize the soldiers and civilians to counterattack this batch of Western barbarians, who had already entered the city for a while. The number of people did not increase, and she analyzed that it was likely only an advance troop. If these people were driven out and the city gates were closed tightly, the civilians inside the city would not suffer too much harm in the short term.

  However, the problem is that the deployment of Beizhengfu's defense forces was problematic. The outer city was empty and the inner city was full, which was an arrangement made by Zhang Qiu to protect himself, indirectly affecting the mobilization of personnel during wartime. After Xifan entered the city, he did not rush to the outer city in time to organize and command soldiers to fight, calm the people's minds, but instead retreated into the inner city and tried to block the common people from entering the city, which was like adding insult to injury for the already frightened and confused people, artificially aggravating their panic.

  Outside, the Western barbarians are entering the city to kill, and inside, Zhang Qiu has closed the gate of life. In the midst of great chaos among the people, where is there any courage to resist? Now everyone is crowded together, supporting the elderly and carrying the young, stumbling and staggering, just wanting to rush into the inner city to survive. It's not easy for them to enter the city in order, let alone turn around and fight the enemy.

  Tai Shi-lan and Zhao Thirteen borrowed a knife, put Zhang Qiu in front of them, and shouted to the soldiers guarding the inner city: "As soon as the Western barbarians appear, shoot for me!"

  "Tai Shi Lan!" Zhao Thirteen exclaimed in shock, "There are still civilians among the Western barbarians, they will hit them!"

  "We must buy time." Tai Shi Lan didn't even glance at him, "The Western barbarians won't expect us to shoot arrows, the first batch of arrows will definitely kill a bunch, and intimidate them first."

  "But it will cause innocent casualties..."

  "Those who flee before the Western army are doomed to die." Tai Shi Lan remained still, his eyes calm. "Taking the lives of a group of people destined to die in exchange for more civilians to breathe and more people entering the city to save their lives is worth it."

  "But..."

  "When a batch of Western devils are killed, their arrogance will slightly decrease. First, focus on protecting yourself, and the common people can also suffer less."

  "But..."

  "Shut up."

  Zhao Thirteen didn't say anything anymore.

  He stared blankly at Tai Shi Lan, this straight and elegant woman. He had seen her gentle as spring water when facing the child, to the point where he forgot what kind of person she was.

  It is now that we see the true colors of someone in a time of great crisis.

  Deep down, he knew she was right. If it were his master, nine out of ten times they would have done the same thing, and possibly even more severely.

  However, the master is a famous general, from a military aristocratic family, with no defeats in his battles. His ruthless actions come from the confidence brought by his noble birth and absolute power. But this woman, a commoner, without any power or influence, how dare she? How dare she?

  How dare you, in front of the governor's mansion, to violently assault the riverbank where the great envoy resides? How dare you command the people to break open the prison and release the prisoners? How dare you deceive the master of the city right to his face? How dare you suddenly raise your hand to coerce the prefect, how dare you ruthlessly order the shooting of enemies who use ordinary civilians as human shields?!

  It is fearless to this point, causing people's hearts to be shocked and frightened.

  Suddenly, he recalled what his master had once said to him: "Tai Shi Lan is a super-talented person, with a ruthless and unyielding temperament, yet without losing his original principles and integrity. He was born to be a great general. Whether the Southern Qi obtaining him will bring good fortune or disaster is unknown."

  At first, I didn't think much of it and thought that the master was overestimating this woman. When a man likes a woman, he always thinks she is infinitely beautiful.

  But now...

  He shivered and retreated silently, arranging for his guards to protect Tai Shi Lan more closely.

  The soldiers on the city wall were hesitating, all eyes fixed on Zhang Qiu, the highest local official, who was being held hostage. Afraid of being killed by the Xifan troops, he frantically clapped his hands and stamped his feet, repeatedly signaling "Fire! Fire!"

  The bow is full, the string is drawn, the flying arrow shatters the black clouds at the edge of the sky, transforms into a black thunderbolt, and pierces through the enemy.

  The Western enemy soldiers did not expect that the city would actually shoot arrows at the crowded people, and they were caught off guard, one after another being hit by arrows. The flying blood made the sun lose its color.

  Among these bloods, there are also ordinary people's, and their blood is even flowing in front.

  The wailing and crying sounds rose, but the hundreds of people rushing into the city were all silent. The crowd in front of the city gate turned back to look at their compatriots lying dead on the street.

  The power of death is near at hand, making people tremble with reverence.

  "Zhao Thirteen, bring the Jingtai blue into the city first!"

  Zhao Thirteen hurriedly carried away the little blue, he walked too quickly and forgot to cover the child's eyes first. The little blue lay on his shoulder, staring straight ahead without blinking.

  There were dozens of corpses lying there, some were enemies, but more were ordinary people.

  Belonging to his people.

  This was the first time in his nearly three years of life that he had seen a large amount of blood gushing out; saw his enemies, those people with the same nose and eyes but who could never coexist; saw his land being trampled, his people being humiliated and killed, those fallen bodies, every desperate gaze seemed to be staring at him.

  That blood seemed to have been poured into his eyes, seeping into his heart, burning somewhere, hot and swelling, surging up like a tide, until he was silent and soundless, his big eyes welling up with tears.

  The most precious and influential moment in life is almost invisible.

  He suddenly lifted his foot and kicked Zhao Thirteen's belly with a loud shout: "Kill him! Kill him!"

  Zhao Thirteen was startled by Xiao Zi's sudden killing intent and turned his head to see that Xiao Zi's face and eyes were all red.

  Tai Shi Lan turned his head back, gazing at Jing Tai Lan, and suddenly curled up the corners of his lips.

  She rarely smiles, and what is called a smile is just a faint curve, yet it is all the more precious because of its rarity. Although at this moment the wind is howling, blood is flowing everywhere, black arrows and indigo enemy soldiers are forming a solemn killing background behind her, this one smile makes people feel warm, feel serene beauty, like seeing a deep green iron armor on the snowy ground, with a war rose blooming obliquely beside it.

  Jingtai blue suddenly calmed down, lying still on Zhao Thirteen's body. Zhao Thirteen quickly carried him in, glancing at Tai Shi Lan hastily before entering the door.

  That smile is also unforgettable, extremely strong and extremely soft, powerful and relaxed, contradictory yet harmonious beauty.

  Perhaps only such a woman can make the master look at her with different eyes, and make the child who is leaning on his shoulder feel at peace with just one smile.

  ……

  The arrow flew, and the Western soldiers indeed quieted down a bit, reining in their arrogant air, busily searching for cover, arranging shield-bearing soldiers. They unexpectedly launched an internal attack on Beishan, advancing into the city without any obstruction. Elated to the point of losing all restraint, only now did they realize that Beishan still had people who dared to stand up.

  The Western soldiers wanted to capture another batch of civilians, but the civilians took advantage of the chaos and either hid in the alleys or rushed towards the inner city. Before them appeared a blank area.

  "Fire again!"

  Another round of arrow rain shot out a white land in front of the Western soldiers, opening up the distance between them and the entering citizens. A large number of citizens retreated into the city, but even more citizens rushed out from the streets and alleys, trying to enter the inner city from all directions.

  But it's too late now.

  The city gate can't be left open all the time, if we really wait for everyone to enter the city, it's impossible to finish in just one or two days.

  If everyone enters the inner city, there won't be enough food for even one day.

  Tai Shi Lan suddenly pursed her lips.

  This stroke is a deep and profound curve, a firm and straight "one".

  She immediately said: "Withdraw!"

  She said retreat and retreated, pulling Zhang Qiu back into the city gate. Zhao Thirteen followed her in the doorway and asked: "Close the door?"

  "Close the door!"

  Zhao Thirteen did not ask again what to do with the remaining civilians outside the inner city, and directly forced the defending soldiers inside the city to pull up the chain, turn the wheel, and close the gate.

  The heavy gate slowly closed, and the people entering the inner city looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh.

  But there were more people who didn't make it in time, piling up against the brass-studded city gate, pounding and wailing loudly.

  "Let us in! Let us in! Tai Shi Lan, you can't save others and abandon us! Tai Shi girl! Please! Please!"

  Behind the gate, everyone silently stared at her. Tai Shi Lan's back was straight and expressionless as she handed Zhang Qiu over to a guard and said to Zhao Thirteen: "Follow me." Then they quickly headed towards the city wall.

  The wailing beneath the city walls is heart-wrenching, making one's heart feel suffocated. Such mournful howls, helpless pleas in a desperate situation, choked with resentment - it's rare for anyone to be able to withstand such heartbreaking torment.

  People's bodies were trembling, but Tai Shi Lan's footsteps remained the same as before, steady and solid, with a clear sound, without any floating.

  She walked step by step towards the city building, on the top of the tower, the sunlight was like a sword, her figure walking towards the light was also as sharp and straight as a sword.

  The gaze of onlookers thus became even more complicated.

  From today on, she will be both a hero and a criminal.

  She wouldn't be unaware of it.

  However, no one was as determined as she was.

  Tai Shi Lan said to Zhao Thirteen, "Whatever I say, transmit it out with your internal energy."

  "Good."

  A moment later, the common people who were unable to enter the city heard Zhao Thirteen's voice.

  "Rather die than be captured; even if we kneel before the city gate and cry, when the Western barbarian soldiers arrive, it will be one knife per person."

  The crying suddenly stopped.

  "Reinforcements have not arrived, the city gate will not be opened. To save your life, rely on yourself first!"

  "Get out! Go back to your familiar houses and hide yourselves. I don't need to teach you how, you know!"

  This place is close to the northernmost part of South Qi, and the climate is relatively cold. Every household has a double-layered wall for keeping warm, as well as an underground storage room for food.

  Tai Shi Lan couldn't say it more clearly, but the common people had already understood.

  "You young people take good care of your elders and juniors. In the face of life and death, unity is strength!"

  Xifan's soldiers half-understood, looking up at the sky, unaware that Taishi Lan was telling the Beijian people - as long as they were good at using terrain, good at unity, and good at hiding, millet plus a hoe could also protect themselves to the greatest extent possible!

  "I guarantee you, within seven days, someone will come to rescue you, just hold on for seven days!" Tai Shi Lan pressed his hand on the city wall, watching as the people began to rush back and forth. "If no one comes to save you in seven days, I will open the city gate!"

  Zhao Thirteen repeated the sentence and then asked in a low voice, "Seven days... are you sure? We don't even know how many Western barbarian troops are outside right now, what if..."

  "There's no such thing as 'just in case'. Being afraid of 'just in case' means you can't even accomplish one out of ten thousand things." Tai Shi said calmly, "Without reinforcements, and with the martial artists outside the city, I'll have someone seek their help first."

  "What can they do?"

  "Don't underestimate the power of the rivers and lakes, as there have always been many capable people in the green woods. Moreover, Beijian is a crucial town in Xiling, and if the Western Barbarians capture Beijian, they can directly plunder the interior of Southern Qi. The court cannot ignore this, I say seven days is already being lenient, it should be three days at most."

  Tai Shi Lan has always believed that every power has its strengths and characteristics, the key is how to use them. Although the martial artists are less organized and disciplined than the military, their individual strength and unique skills can sometimes play a bigger role.

  The people of the city fled in panic, and some inevitably fell into the hands of the Western soldiers, suffering a massacre. The people inside the city heard the heart-wrenching cries below, and everyone had a look of sorrow.

  Tai Shi Lan was gazing at the green moss on the city wall, the northern region had entered the rainy season, and the continuous rain for several days made the moss grow luxuriantly. Her fingers touched the wet and sticky brick wall, she let out a long sigh - Fortunately, it had been raining recently, otherwise this inner city would not have been able to withstand, just one fire attack, and the people inside the city would become roasted fish soup.

  She glanced at the expression of the soldiers around her and turned to Zhang Qiu: "Is the commander of the lower garrison troops in the city?"

  Zhang Qiu's face turned purple, and he didn't want to answer her, but as soon as their eyes met, his legs felt weak, and he could only mutter: "Yes." Immediately, a hint of joy appeared in the corner of his eye.

  "Summon."

  Tai Shi Lan knew what he was up to and didn't care at all.

  Before long, Wang Qianzong arrived. As the highest military officer in Beiyuan Prefecture, he had a pair of eyes with more white than black, but his eyeballs were exceptionally agile. At first glance, it was clear that he was an unscrupulous and cunning person.

  As soon as Zhang Qiu saw him coming, his back muscles tensed up.

  "Zhang Fu Yin orders you to hand over the list of all lower-ranking soldiers within the city, and to transfer all relatives of yours who are soldiers outside the city, away from important posts such as the city gate and armory."

  Wang Qian remained silent for a moment, looked at one side where Zhang Qiu was holding a knife and on the other side Taishi Lan was calmly giving orders in Zhang Qiu's tone.

  Tai Shi's eyes met hers, with no change in expression, no intentional oppression, nor a hint of shrinking back.

  Everything is so natural and effortless, just like eating and drinking.

  Extreme fearlessness leads to calmness.

  The atmosphere on all sides was somewhat tense, the soldiers on the city wall looked at their officers, secretly tightening their grip on their weapons, and Zhao Thirteen's subordinates also drew closer.

  "Obeying Lord Zhang's orders."

  However, after a moment of silence, the commander who held military power finally spoke up. He seemed to have not noticed that Zhang Qiu was being held hostage and sincerely accepted the order and left. Zhang Qiu, who had been desperately trying to make eye contact with him as a hint for rescue, became furious and his face turned red and then white.

  Tai Shi Lan gazed at Wang Qian's back, thinking that he was actually a clever person.

  Internally worried and externally endangered, defending the city is the top priority. This King Qian must be clear that rescuing Zhang Qiu at this time will inevitably trigger a disturbance, so he'd better pretend to be stupid.

  The soldiers were redeployed, and Tai Shi Lan was worried that some relatives of the soldiers outside the city would be enraged by the tragic scene under the city, leading to unstable factors.

  There are many people entering the city, and the inner city can only accommodate a maximum of 50,000 people. Now the total population is around 100,000, and most of the common people are crowded in the inner city. Soon, public security, accommodation, food, and sanitation will all become huge problems.

  It's easy to get people in, but it's hard for them to survive after they're in.

  "Among the people, young and strong men were recruited on the spot and formed into small teams to take turns guarding the city."

  "All mansions and grain stores within the city are requisitioned for wartime use, unified allocation, those who resist will be punished as traitors. If still not enough, open various official residences to provide shelter for the old and weak."

  "All on-duty officers are strictly prohibited from leaving their posts or resigning; those who violate this rule will be charged with treason."

  "All grains, medicines, vehicles, iron tools, salt, oil, and cloth shall be subject to wartime control. Private individuals are not allowed to hoard or speculate, nor are they allowed to raise prices arbitrarily. Those who violate this rule will be treated as traitors."

  "All those who stir up trouble, steal and rob, deceive women, spread rumors and disturb the peace will be put in cangues and thrown out of the city."

  ……

  Orders were issued one by one like flowing water, without any hesitation.

  In times of turmoil and disorder, it is necessary to re-establish norms and standards.

  The four listeners' faces turned pale, and Tai Shi Lan glanced at Zhang Qiu, "Repeat."

  Zhang Qiu angrily said: "You want to be the lord of this city, you go and do it yourself, I won't be your yes-man!"

  "Very well." Tai Shi Lan nodded and said, "Pass on the announcement - Zhang Fu Yin is a man of refined and noble character, unbending in his integrity. With the fall of Bei Yan City, Lord Zhang deeply feels guilty towards his ancestors and fellow villagers. From now on, he has decided to abstain from food as an apology to all the elders."

  Huǒ Hǔ laughed strangely behind her and said: "What a pity, you're still hungry!"

  Zhang Qiu's whole body trembled with rage, "You vicious woman, you want to starve me to death!"

  Tai Shi Lan pointed at his mouth, "Repeat it, don't make me say it a third time."

  Looking at Zhang Qiu's expression, he probably wanted to die by hitting his head on the city wall, but in the end, he didn't choose such a heroic death. He obediently repeated what Ta Shi Lan had said and ordered someone to bring the imperial seal to issue a public notice.

  Tai Shi Lan looked at the officials of Bei Yan Fu going down to handle matters, then looked at the surging crowd below. In any case, these wartime orders could only guarantee short-term peace. Once the Xifan army gathered a large force and launched a fierce attack before the arrival of reinforcements, the isolated city would be closed off, where would they find a way out?

  Moreover, she is short-handed and even if she holds Zhang Qiu hostage, Zhang Qiu's personal prestige is limited. Many things can't be taken care of if someone is secretly sabotaging from behind.

  If Shen Mei Hua and the others were all here...

  Suddenly, Tai Shi Lan felt a heavy pat on his shoulder. He turned around to see Shen Mei Hua's smiling face with her mouth slightly open, and a pair of eyebrows that were wider than others, raised like a flying broadsword.

  Behind her, there were two strong and weak attackers, Shi Xiaocui, Yang Cheng, Hua Xunhuan... all with a sweaty and dusty face, smiling at her.

  Tai Shi Lan almost thought she was daydreaming.

  It's one thing to see one, but how can there be so many?

  Seeing this cold-faced beauty rarely reveal a hint of shock, everyone couldn't help but smile with extra joy.

  "Not bad!" Hua Xun welcomed her first, patting her shoulder.

  "It's good you didn't die!" Shi Xiaocui gave her a big hug.

  "Go ahead, she's so vicious, even if everyone in the world died, it wouldn't be her turn." Shen Meihua curled up her lips and rudely pushed away Shi Xiaocui, who retorted with a scowl, "Wall grass, can you speak human language?"

  "Your mom is a wallhead grass!"

  A pair of street women started scolding again, Ta Shi Lan tilted his head to take a look, pushed the two people away, frowned and said: "Spitting stars." He turned his head to nod at the attacker and the victim.

  Those two people were stuck together like sticky candy, Xiong Xiaojia lowered her head to play with Xiao Daqiang's buttons and smiled: "We actually came back a long time ago. When we heard that the Yi River dam broke, we took on the task of assisting in disaster relief in our respective towns and came to find you. Mr. Li also returned during this time. Later, the martial artists he led were expelled by the government. We were afraid that something would happen on the road, so we escorted them out of the city. Who knew that as soon as we got back, we heard that you had returned? Just as we were about to find you, the Western bandits broke into the city. Just now, we came in with the crowd, didn't you notice?"

  This clearly explained the whole story, and as Taishi Lan listened, when Xiong Xiao Jia mentioned Li Fu Zhou's name, her eyebrows slightly moved.

  "Mr. Li..." she said slowly, "is the leader of the Northern Green Forest?"

  Shen Meihua leaned in close to her, chuckling softly, "Let's just keep it a secret, I really couldn't tell, didn't expect Mr. Li to have such a huge influence in the martial arts world, heard that his family is a renowned clan in the martial arts world, used to take turns with the Feng and Chang families to dominate the martial arts scene, later on it was almost all dominated by his family, this generation's future head of the household, is basically him."

  Shi Xiaocui's face was filled with the words "too much, too much", "Tai Shi Tai Shi, Mr. Li has issued a martial edict for you! Do you know what it means? Do you know how precious it is? A leader can only issue it three times in his lifetime, and he used one of them on you..."

  Tai Shi Lan pushed away her foamy face, "Shen Mei Hua and Flower Officer are in charge of guarding the city head tonight, Shi Xiao Cui follow me to the armory, Da Qiang Xiao Jia help arrange the old and weak to various manor government offices..." While speaking, he walked away.

  Shi Xiaocui and others who had not yet reacted, stared blankly at Tai Shi's straight back as he walked away with no expression.

  "Is it a woman...?" Shi Xiaocui said sorrowfully, "Mr. Li! Mr. Li! Mr. Li is so deeply in love, and this woman just left like that! Ah... if it were me..."

  "How about you?" Yang Cheng asked sinisterly beside her.

  "What does it have to do with you!" Shi Xiaocui suddenly changed her face, turned around and walked to the side, her face had already become slightly red.

  "Who said that," Shen Meihua retorted, "Women, women, do you understand? Women are always insincere. Look at Tai Shi, she's deliberately avoiding the topic, clearly guilty conscience! Don't believe me? Ask Mr. Li to say a few more sentences, and I guarantee she'll be eavesdropping with her ears perked up..."

  "Line up, new recruits!" Taishi Lan's voice echoed from afar.

  "Ah!" Shen Meihua rushed over, rolling and crawling. After a while, her loud voice wailed, "Nothing is given to me, not even a roster or a pen, how can I arrange... Ahhh, Tai Shilan, didn't I offend you?"

  Tai Shi Lan calmly descended from the city wall amidst the wailing sounds, while Shi Xiao Cui and Yang Cheng immediately went down to the foot of the city wall. Everyone was busy with their own tasks, all very busy...

  Tai Shi Lan turned his head and took a glance at the outside of the city before going down into the city.

  That legendary sword of the martial world, used three times in a lifetime... this is the how manyth time...

  In the daytime, it was a busy day, and by nightfall, it had finally calmed down. The inner city, which originally had few residents, mainly government offices and the homes of officials and wealthy families, was now packed to the brim. Under the grand gateways of those mansions, people sat shoulder to shoulder, with heads touching and feet tangled together. The once peaceful inner city was unrecognizable. Fortunately, Tai Shi Lan's strict laws and severe punishments kept the wealthy officials in check, and many people voluntarily opened their doors to welcome the common folk - it is in times of great hardship that one's compassion is truly revealed.

  Tai Shi Lan strode through the long street, bathed in the cold moonlight, with Huo Hu following closely behind her. The man also trailed behind them, not saying a word. Tai Shi Lan ignored him, letting him follow her everywhere, showing him her back as if she had completely forgotten that, strictly speaking, she and Huo Hu were still enemies.

  The eaves and the ground were all filled with sleeping common people, huddled together in dark shadows. The murmurs of children's dreams and the weak moans of the elderly intertwined, singing a melancholy song of chaos and disaster.

  Tai Shi furrowed his brow, his eyes very cold.

  She had just learned from Xiao Daqiang and others that, in fact, the Xifan army that entered the city at the beginning was not many, it seemed to be only a thousand troops, which suddenly came out of the Beiyin Mountain in the north, when they appeared under the city gate, the front cavalry was rolling in smoke and dust, immediately scared the citizens who were queuing up to enter the city, in the chaos, the defending officer made a mistake in commanding, was shot in the throat by an arrow from the opponent, the rest of the soldiers were headless and flustered, having heard too many rumors about the cruelty and ruthlessness of the Xifan people, they abandoned the city and fled in a state of utter despair, and handed over the walls of Nanqi City to the enemy.

  This is the city that was breached the fastest in the history of Southern Qi and will also be the greatest shame in the history of Southern Qi.

  Beiyuan is located at the intersection of inland and border areas. If Beiyuan is captured, it can control the vital passage for Tianji Army's grain transportation to the north, and attack the main camp of Shangfu Army to cut off their retreat route to the south. If the ambition is a bit bigger, taking Beiyuan as the base point, crossing Dingjiang River directly to the southern border, within five days, it can advance to threaten Lijing!

  Tai Shi Lan was extremely suspicious of the Western Wei's thousand-man team, wondering how they had crossed over the Upper Capital Garrison and the Tianji Army patrol, directly entering Beishan. She ordered someone to bring out the military maps stored in the Beishan government office, discovering that within the Yin Mountains there was a small path, which had been opened up by soldiers during the Southern Qi's war of defense against the Northern Wei, as a secret route for transporting grain. From there, one could take a shortcut to Beishan and also bypass the Upper Capital Garrison. Although this map was marked "top-secret", it was not stored strictly, and the managing clerk also couldn't say whether or not someone had taken it before. Tai Shi Lan recalled that she had heard someone mention that Wu Tui Guan had returned, but then disappeared again, and in her heart, a plan began to form.

  It's come to this, and it's pointless to investigate who was responsible. What she resented was Zhang Qiu's cowardice in the face of death, which delayed their opportunity, and the laxity of local military affairs. There were three thousand defending soldiers within the city walls; if they had been organized from the start to resist that thousand-man army on the city wall, things wouldn't have ended up like this.

  Behind him, the sound of footsteps echoed, Su Ya and Shi Xiaocui followed up, handing over a pancake, Ta Shi Lan took it, took a big bite, Shi Xiaocui smiled: "No need to ask, I know you must not have eaten." With a wave of her hand, she magically pulled out a package of pickled vegetables from her sleeve.

  "In the city, food supplies are now rationed, and salt, oil, vegetables, and rice are all in short supply. This pickled vegetable is priceless." Shi Xiaocui smiled complacently.

  Tai Shi Lan picked up a piece of sour radish, but didn't eat it. She walked a few steps and casually stuffed it into the mouth of a child who was staring at her with drooling eyes.

  She continued on her way, ignoring the murmured thanks from the adults in that household.

  Su Ya and Shi Xiaocui stopped in their tracks, exchanging a smile.

  This guy is really making me want to laugh and sigh at the same time...

  "I think so," said Shi Xiaocui leisurely. "If we can get through this disaster safely, I'll follow her too, just like you."

  "Hmm." Su Ya was still as wooden as ever, with an expression that didn't seem out of the ordinary at all.

  "With her, there will definitely be a bright future." Shi Xiaocui's hands clasped together in hopeful expectation.

  Su Ya didn't make a sound - even an idiot knows that following Tai Shi Lan is like walking on thin air, maybe you can see the vast sky and gentle breeze, but it's more likely to be blown away by strong winds.

  Tai Shi Lan's behavior of having no scruples and considering himself the best in the world is really too frightening.

  Huǒ Hǔ snorted and said: "She's also worthy!"

  "She doesn't deserve it." Shi Xiaocui said with a smile, "I just don't understand why you're following her when she's so unworthy?"

  "Waiting for assassination."

  Shi Xiaocui burst out laughing, and Su Ya's lips curled up slightly.

  The wind is a bit cool, but the heart is warm, like a bowl of clear porridge after a grand feast, with a gentle warmth that brings out a simple sweetness.

  Tai Shi Lan, who seemed to have heard nothing, suddenly stood up, and there was a commotion in the front.

  Several people rushed over to take a look, and it turned out that a wealthy family was distributing porridge at night, which immediately attracted a group of people who were making a racket and fighting for food.

  Actually, the city has just been closed off, and although food is being rationed, there's still enough to eat, and no one is starving. But in these chaotic times, people are panicked and won't let go of any opportunity to get their hands on food, just like a starving gourmet who always hides a stash of food under the bed.

  Tai Shi Lan didn't get closer nor did he call for someone to maintain order. He stood there with an expressionless face, his hands clasped together across his chest as he watched.

  Shi Xiaocui suddenly began to secretly worry - in all likelihood, this ruthless woman was trying to take advantage of the opportunity to catch a few restless ones and kill the chicken to scare the monkey.

  As they watched, Tai Shi Lan narrowed his eyes, Shi Xiao Cui propped up her chin, Huo Hu began to sneer coldly, and Su Ya moved her hand, pressing down on the hilt of her sword.

  There is a person in the crowd, jumping up and down, with long arms, alternating from the front row to the back of the team, getting a bun after lining up again, hiding one bun every time they line up.

  This man was agile and had a smile all over his face. Su Ya Shi Xiao Cui initially saw his profile, only to be amazed by this person's agility and what he was doing. Suddenly, she saw him squeeze out again, re-queue, and face them with a raised face.

  Then Shi Xiaocui let out a "hmm" and Su Ya furrowed her brow. The two of them looked at Taishi Lan, who seemed to be in a daze, and exchanged a meaningful glance.

  "It's kind of like that..." Shi Xiaocui said in a low voice.

  "Just a little." Su Ya seemed reluctant to admit it.

  Tai Shi Lan didn't move at all.

  In the crowd, that person was in his early twenties, dressed in a gaudy outfit, with a golden long shirt paired with peach-red leggings, an apricot-yellow handkerchief trailing on purple satin boots, and a copper-plated belt around his waist. The copper color looked somewhat like gold at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it was discovered that he had only applied a layer of yellow dye, which made it look even more mottled.

  This person exudes a contradictory temperament all over his body - glory and decline, pride and vulgarity, concealment and show-off, expansion and salvage.

  Looking at him, it's as if I saw the end of a prosperous era, the collapse of a wealthy family, how many magnificent and flowing things, the old and young masters of the golden powder silver building, sitting high in the dark gatehouse, with a stubborn and desperate attitude, holding on to the past.

  But what's most attractive is not this kind of eccentric temperament.

  But his face.

  Elegant, with a hint of aristocratic pallor, her eyebrows and eyes are warm. However, the corners of her lips always seem to be slightly raised, and when she smiles, there's a hint of mockery.

  If it weren't for that strange smile, Shi Xiaocui would have exclaimed in surprise when she first saw him, "Mr. Li!"

  Yes, Li Fu Zhou.

  This person is surprisingly a bit like Li Fuzhou.

  In fact, there is a difference in appearance, Li Fu Zhou's eyebrows and eyes are more elegant than his; the two people's charm is also extremely different, Li Fu Zhou always smiles like him, but with a warm and gentle smile, and this person's sarcasm, as distinct as day and night.

  But at first glance, it just feels like it.

  Because of his resemblance, everyone felt particularly uncomfortable watching someone who looked a bit like Li Fu Zhou doing such things in the crowd...

  Tai Shi furrowed his brow and suddenly said: "Hu Hu".

  Huǒ Hǔ rubbed his nose and stepped forward with big strides. With one hand, he lifted the little guy out.

  "Ah! Impolite!" The man struggled in Huo Hu's grasp, a steamed bun rolled out of his sleeve and he pinned it back with his shoulder.

  Huǒ Hǔ threw him in front of Taishi Lan.

  "What are you doing!" The man struggled on the ground, "Disgraceful! Bastard! Shameless! Good-for-nothing!"

  No one was holding him down, he himself twisted and turned, picking up all the fallen buns.

  Tai Shi Lan suddenly took a step forward, and his boots stepped on a piece of mantou.

  His fingers rested on the side of the bun, motionless. He looked up at her.

  He raised his eyes to see a pair of exceptionally misty peach blossom eyes shining brightly at him, with the pupils seeming to sway like peach branches and flowers flying all over his face.

  The posture of grabbing mantou with a humble attitude is really out of place.

  Tai Shi Lan looked at the man with a face similar to Li Fu Zhou, who was making low and stealthy movements, and suddenly felt a faint sense of irritation and anger rising up from the bottom of his heart.

  She puckered her lips, and with a forceful movement of her heel, the bun beneath her feet let out a faint creaking sound, which was quite strange.

  The man who had been smiling all along finally changed his expression, suddenly jumped up and quickly stretched out his hand to knock on Tai Shi Lan's ankle.

  Tai Shi's action was faster than his, he lifted his foot and kicked the bun open. The already broken bun hit the wall with a clang, and a gold earring fell down.

  The people on all sides were startled by the commotion here and looked over. Suddenly a woman let out a shrill cry, "Ah! My earrings!"

  That pretty little thief flipped her eyes, scrambled up and ran away immediately.

  While running, the thief threw out various ornaments and silver coins from his sleeves, and when the people saw the earrings, they knew that they had just encountered a thief. They didn't bother to wait for the porridge anymore and chased after him in a flurry, momentarily blocking Taishi Lan and others' path.

  The little thief ran while laughing loudly, seemingly very pleased with himself. He had to admit that his legs were fast and he was taking a curved route, and he was actually running very quickly.

  Just as he darted around the street corner and was about to dash into a dark alley, once he entered those labyrinthine alleys, no one could catch up with him.

  He turned around the corner without looking back, waved his hand behind him, laughed and ran out.

  "Bang." He crashed into a solid chest. Almost instantly, nosebleed gushed out.

  A hand reached out and picked him up, striding past the corner of the wall.

  The man's head spun around, and he struggled to lift his head to see which hero had made him miss the shot, but all he saw was a small, snowy white face smiling and approaching him.

  "You're bleeding!" The little mouth opened and closed, with a smiling tone.

  "Help me block it..." He is now in a head-down position, with blood dripping non-stop. Seeing the child wiping his hands with soft paper, he reached out and asked for it in a low voice.

  "Oh." Jing Tai Lan wiped his hands and threw away the paper, then reached out and pinched his nose.

  “……”

  The poor thief, with a painful nose caught, had to open his mouth to breathe and stared at the paper rolling away in the wind.

  "Want to hit my mom." Jing Tai Lan pinched his nose tightly, turned around and said with a smile, "Jing Tai Lan will play you to death."

  ……

  Zhao Thirteen dragged the unlucky thief over, and Tai Shi Lan didn't even look at him, saying: "Take him to the city."

  A group of people returned to the front of the city gate, and Tai Shi Lan looked out at the Western Fan army outside the outer city, which seemed to have welcomed a large force. The black heads and fluttering banners flowed continuously into the city, already surrounding the inner city.

  Everyone watched the situation with a heavy heart, only that little thief kept chattering incessantly.

  "Brother, let me go, okay?" The little thief grabbed Zhao Thirteen's sleeve and pulled out something from his boot, "I have a 5,000-year-old antique here, the menstrual belt used by King Wen of Western Qiang during the Shang Dynasty..."

  "The history of the mainland is only 4,300 years old." Zhao kicked him away with one foot, "And which king was King Wen? The Western Kang era only had King Xun and King Hui!"

  Tai Shi Lan beckoned with his hand. Zhao Thirteen untied the rope and carried the thief to the edge of the city wall.

  "Are you going to let me go? Are you going to let me go? Ah, thank you, thank you. Then don't want that sanitary napkin anymore..."

  "Throw it down," said Taishi Lan.

  ……

  "No——" A mournful cry shook heaven and earth.

  Zhao Thirteen stopped and didn't stop.

  "I have a powerful backer!"

  "Throw."

  "I have a strong backing!"

  "Throw."

  "Somebody will avenge me, you'll die without a burial place!"

  "Throw!"

  Below, the Western troops saw the people scrambling on the city wall and began to gather and point, some holding bows and shooting arrows. With a whoosh, the feathered arrow shot onto the city head and nailed itself to the thief's pants.

  A scream.

  "I know where Xifan came from. I have intelligence. I understand the Xifan language. My younger brothers and I went to Xifan five times!"

  "Stop."

  The pretty thief was lifted back from the city wall, covered in big sweat, with a green moss on his face, and a large crack on his pink pants, with a bird feather still stuck to the arrow.

  "Spare your life, and redeem your crime." Tai Shi Lan turned around to look at the little thief, "Gather your brothers, and defend the city together."

  "Oh." The thief scowled, his eyebrows drooping.

  "What's your name?"

  "Dragon Dynasty."

  This name is a bit strange, and... it doesn't match this person at all.

  Tai Shi furrowed his brow and tossed over a handkerchief.

  Long Chao was favored and surprised, just about to wipe the blood-stained nose, heard Ta Shi Lan say: "Wipe off the painted eyebrows."

  "Oh..."

  Long Chao was wiping his face, Tai Shi Lan didn't look at him, gazing into the night, beyond the city wall of Beiyuan's outer city, in the distance, at the foot of the mountain, there seemed to be twinkling lights, was one of those lanterns Li Fu Zhou's?

  The dragon behind her actually also thickened her face and came up, standing side by side with her to look at the city below. Taishi Lan was motionless, but he looked around restlessly like a hyperactive person.

  Su Ya looked at that dazzling back view and really wanted to throw him down from the city wall again.

  Long Chao suddenly became calm and composed, forgetting the ugly scene of tears streaming down his face just now. He said, "Miss, I feel that you are particularly different from me. I know people like you don't really care about others, not even bothering to torment them."

  Tai Shi Lan doesn't care about him.

  "Is it because I'm exceptionally beautiful?"

  Tai Shi Lan took the simple telescope from Shi Xiao Cui's hand and began observing the Western barbarian army camp below the city.

  Long Chao didn't back down, "I know you look at me differently because..."

  "It's because of your face..." Ta Shi Lan interrupted him.

  "Really!" Long Chao's heart was filled with joy and anger, "Do you want me to be your husband..."

  "...makes me sick."

  "Huh?"

  "You're like a person, but worlds apart." Ta Shi Lan looked up and gazed into the distance, as if seeing someone in the dim starlight, "Insulting his face."

  She no longer spoke, turned around and strode down the city.

  Long Chao stood in front of the city wall, as if he understood her words, yet seemed not to understand. He suddenly turned his head towards the direction outside the city that Tai Shi Lan had been staring at all along and took a look.

  The night wind swept by, lifting his long hair and covering his eyes.

  This moment seems to have a cold light flashing by, cooler than the night color.