Chapter 26: Slaying the Dragon (Part 2)

Although Zhang Xun deeply understood Nan Jiyun’s feelings, he had no choice but to play the villain.
“Nan Ba, you’ve performed excellently this time and rendered great services to our army. I will surely report your merits to the imperial court in the future. For now, go and rest. Leave the rest to Wan Chun and me!”
Despite his efforts to hide it, Zhang Xun couldn’t conceal the sorrow in his heart.
Having followed Zhang Xun for many years, how could Nan Jiyun not know what he was thinking?
“Lord Zhang, please don’t worry about me. The soldiers are all risking their lives to defend the city—how could I stand by idly? Please stop talking. I must share fate with my comrades in the city!”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Nan Jiyun sat up abruptly, only to tear his wound open.
“Calm down. Sit down first!”
Zhang Xun sighed deeply and waved his hand. “How can you defend the city in this condition? Here’s what we’ll do: once your wound heals a bit, lead some comrades to break through the siege. Suiyang has been under siege for so long—our men can only have one full meal a day. Without reinforcements, how much longer can they hold out?”
Zhang Xun shook his head and looked up to the sky in sorrow. …
Cui Boyuan had held a grudge against Zhang Xun since being shot by him and had never found an opportunity to avenge himself. It was only after learning that Yang Chaozong’s forces had been routed by the suddenly attacking Tang troops during last night’s assault that his mood eased slightly. It seemed his situation wasn’t the worst after all!
“General, what are your orders?”
Yang Xuan, the military advisor, entered the tent and saluted Cui Boyuan respectfully.
“Hmm.”
Cui Boyuan nodded. “Based on your assessment, how long will the food supplies in Suiyang last for that dog official?”
Although Yang Xuan disdained the question, he bowed and replied, “General, for a city like this, the food usually lasts about half a year. We’ve been besieging it for over three months, so by July at the latest, Suiyang will run out of food!”
Cui Boyuan frowned. “That long?”
After thinking for a moment, Yang Xuan said, “Actually, it might be even faster. After all, I only calculated the rations for the soldiers. There are also tens of thousands of civilians in the city—more people mean more mouths to feed. Surely Zhang Xun can’t just watch so many people starve to death right in front of him.”
Cui Boyuan nodded. “You make a good point. Zhang Xun has always prided himself on being a man of justice—he certainly wouldn’t do such a thing. But if we really have to wait until July, it would be hard to justify.”
Yang Xuan asked, “Does General Cui have any clever plans?”

Seeing Yang Xuan finally understand, Cui Boyuan laughed heartily and nodded. “It’s not really a brilliant plan, but do you know what I had my men capture?” After a brief pause, he continued, “Now, Zhang Xun, Xu Yuan, and the others’ wives and children are in my hands. If I force them to come to the city walls and demand something, do you think Zhang Xun will still be so stubborn?” Hearing this, Yang Xuan’s heart sank—he thought Cui Boyuan’s method of holding Zhang Xun’s family hostage was extremely cruel! But he didn’t dare show even the slightest hint of such thoughts and merely said, “Lord Cui, this is a brilliant plan! With this strategy, our army can capture Suiyang City without losing a single soldier!” …

As June arrived, the climate on the Dafeichuan grasslands became sweltering. The herders gradually moved to grasslands closer to water sources to make it easier to fetch water and bathe. Although there were more mosquitoes near the water, it didn’t matter much—after all, the cattle and sheep needed to gain some extra weight before the season ended, so a little mosquito bite was nothing compared to that.

Aina stood alone by an earthen enclosure, watching the cattle and sheep grazing on grass seeds not far away and the shimmering shallow river. Without him, even in the face of such beautiful scenery, she couldn’t feel the slightest bit of joy. There was a saying in the Central Plains: “A woman should beautify herself for those who appreciate her.” Without him, no matter how beautifully she dressed, who would see it?

“Aina Tak, Aina Tak! You’re here after all! I searched everywhere for you!” The young maid Zhuoma rushed up to Aina, out of breath, and started complaining as soon as she arrived. Though they were master and maid, they were actually like sisters, so there were fewer restrictions when they were alone. Aina wasn’t angry and gently tickled Zhuoma’s nose. “What’s wrong? Did you cause some trouble again and need me to fix it?” “Oh, Tak, please don’t tease me. It’s Suta Yehu—he wants you to go to his tent right away!” Zhuoma was so anxious that she was sweating profusely. Seeing that Aina was still joking around leisurely, she stamped her foot and revealed the key issue. As expected, upon hearing this, Aina frowned and said coldly, “Why would he want to see me? I’m not going!” Zhuoma seemed to have expected this reaction and tried to persuade her kindly, “My dear Tak, please think of me? Yehu ordered me to bring you there. If I don’t, I’ll get whipped!” Aina pursed her lips and said angrily, “I don’t care! Unless he drags me onto a cart by force, I’m not marrying that brute!”

Zhuoma sighed and said, “Why go to such lengths? Ye Hu is doing this for your own good. You’re already quite old now; if you keep waiting like this…”
“I’ll wait. He said he’d come for me!”
Aina’s full breasts heaved as tears streamed down her face. “He said he wouldn’t break his word…”
Overwhelmed by emotion, Aina lost control of herself.
To this day, she still clearly remembered what each of them had said. He told her to wait for him, so she would keep waiting.
“Tak, stop being foolish. If he really cared about you, he would have sent someone from the Tang Dynasty to pick you up long ago! It’s been six or seven years now, and there’s not even a hint of news. Who knows? He might already be married!”
Seeing Aina deluding herself like this, Zhuoma hardened her heart and said, “Besides, our tribe is under pressure from the Tibetans now. If you don’t marry a Tibetan prince, the White Wolf Tribe could very well be wiped out.”
Aina’s heart sank, and she fell silent.
Perhaps this was indeed the reason she had to marry a Tibetan prince.
She heard that last year, An Lushan, a general from Fanyang under the Tang Dynasty, rebelled, and the border troops in Longyou and Hexi were sent to Guanzhong to suppress the rebellion. Without the support of the Tang Dynasty, the long-suppressed Tibetans boldly led their troops to the Dafei River region to avenge the defeat they suffered at the Battle of Shibao City.
Back then, the White Wolf Tribe had thrived on the strength of the Tang army in the Dafei River grasslands. Now, perhaps it was time to pay back that debt.