Chapter 160 (1/2)

Chapter 160

Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

That official almost broke into tears as he miserably mounted his horse again. Whipping his horse, he rushed back to inform Zhao Qi. Zhao broke into a cold smile as he leaned on his chair while looking at the lines drawn out on the map. The young prince closed his eyes as he slowed recited out, ”Beishuo, Chidu, Lan City, Chunyu Region, Yaoshui, Meilin Pass…”

Although no one knew why Zhao Yang had hesitated in attacking, to Chu Qiao, every moment would be a godsent. She actively walked around as she organized the defense of the city while arranging for the retreat of civilians. Drafting volunteers into her ranks, she determined the order of battle. She had no time to rejoice over the brief respite.

As night fell on the city, the wailing sounds in the city had gradually weakened. Walking on the empty streets, Chu Qiao suddenly felt a bit cold. Ge Qi stepped up and draped a robe over her. With the thick robe blocking out the raging winds, Chu Qiao nodded in thanks.

The doors to the shops along the streets were all wide open, completely devoid of life. With a creak, a wooden pail was blown down by the wind. With a rumble, it rolled around. It was nothing but silence and emptiness, with an overwhelming taste of desolation.

”Master, we would not win, right?” Chu Qiao was taken aback by both the suddenness and the content of this question, as she turned around, only to see Ge Qi looking at her in her eyes while calmly smiling. ”If Master was truly confident of victory, you would not have arranged for the retreat of the civilians.”

Chu Qiao did not reply and merely turned back around. She was a high ranking officer that had received top-notch modern military education. She knew clearly what exactly it meant to go to war. Miracles do happen, but that required at least a somewhat equal footing. Even if the stakes were not completely on par, there must be some form of strength that they could utilize to at least be able to withstand the opponent. With a force of barely ten thousand, she needed to guard against an ill-fortified city against a massive force of 200 thousand well trained elite soldiers. In addition, there would be reinforcement incoming for the enemy. Facing such a battle, hardly anyone would be confident of victory. But there was no way she could reveal such emotions. She was their leader, their hope. If even she lost confidence, how could the other fight on?

Chu Qiao quietly sighed. Suddenly, she saw a tiny figure in front. She frowned, while Ge Qi had already stepped up cautiously while shielding her. Loudly, he bellowed, ”Who are you?”

In the dim flickering lights, the guards walked up only to find a child who looked like he was at most 12 to 13 years old. Wearing a thin coat, he was holding onto a small package. His face had turned bright red from the frigid temperatures, and firmly holding his head up high, he exuded a stubborn defiance.

Chu Qiao frowned and asked, ”Which family are you from? Why didn't you leave with the other civilians?”

The kid did not speak and merely lowered his head. Looking at him, Chu Qiao guessed that most likely he had escaped from the west gate. Not questioning him any further, Chu Qiao turned and left.

”Oi! You are not bothering with me?” Seeing how Chu Qiao did not care about him anymore, the kid curiously stepped up and asked, ”You are not going to chase me out of the city?”

Chu Qiao calmly replied, ”Whether if you want to live or die is none of my business. I have enough things on my hands, and have no time to spare for you.”

That kid was instantly stunned, and as though he had just been humiliated, he loudly declared, ”I am 15 this year! I am already old enough to be a soldier!”

Chu Qiao flashed a glance at him emotionlessly. The kid probably also knew that his lie was too obvious, as he continued to explain, ”I may be tiny, but I am really strong!”

Chu Qiao still did not bother with him, as the kid hurriedly ran over, only to be blocked by Ge Qi. Having no choice, that kid could only jump up and down in front of the blockade, and even rolled up his sleeves to show Chu Qiao his muscular arms.

”Why did you not go?” Chu Qiao suddenly asked.

The kid was slightly surprised, as he stopped trying to flaunt his strength. Only after hesitating a while he replied, ”My little sister is sick, she could not leave.”

Chu Qiao's heart tightened. She had seen too many similar things all these years. She felt that no matter how many people she had to kill, it would probably all be worth it at the end. Only with the destruction of the status quo can the rise of a new order take place. When a nation wishes for independence, certain prices must be paid. Perhaps, many years later, the world would change because of the actions she had done today. Hopefully, the kids then would not need to be homeless, and the civilians need not worry about survival day in day out. If even something as simple as that could happen, Chu Qiao felt that it would be enough.

”What is your name?”

”I am called Du Gouzi.”