470 We’re Looking for Someone (1/2)

In the Fortress of Resilience, Fu Baoguo's dulled, bleary, eyes were radiating excitement as he watched buckets of water being poured onto the wall. It was only a short while before they froze into solid ice in the wintery weather as if they were suiting the wall up with a layer of armor. Repeating the process, it was only an hour later that the Fortress of Resilience's outer wall was embossed with an additional layer of ice– a wall that was crystal-clear and slippery to touch, yet exceptionally strong!

All the damage that had been dealt to the Fortress of Resilience that tore at everyone's hearts were covered by the layer of ice; there was no more breaches or loopholes to be found.

Fu Baoguo stroked it, thrilled before he used his sword to hack at it harshly, to personally test the newly formed wall's endurance. Frost and snow flew into the air, but the wall itself saw no traces of damage.

The wall was obviously not the sturdiest that could be found, but it was up to par. What was most important was that any damage on such a wall could be easily repaired with a few buckets of water. It just took some waiting time for it to be considered done!

”Great idea! What a great idea indeed!”

Fu Baoguo was shaking from ecstasy while his eyes gleamed and he chortled, ”Old Marshal's idea is really divine. Why didn't I think of such a good method before this?Han Sanhe, I'd like to see how many lives you have to give up to take the Fortress of Resilience! Indestructible ice wall, indestructible ice wall it is!”

However,Qiu Jianhan's expression was a direct contrast to Fu Baoguo's delight. Old Marshal Qiu was grim and worried, looking like he was burdened with negative thoughts.

Fu Baoguo said in surprise, ”Why this long face, Elder Qiu? The Fortress of Resilience is akin to a steel wall. Even if Han Sanhe is almighty, he can barely triumph over this. With such an ice wall, we can repair the wall within a night at most, even if he damages the outer side today. It's absolutely invincible; the Fortress of Resilience is the least of our worries now!”

Qiu Jianhan chuckled bitterly, ”If others had such an observation, I won't be bewildered, but you, Fu Baoguo, should not be thinking like this.”

Fu Baoguo was shocked upon hearing him; he was a smart and astute man, a marshal who was proficient in warfare. He immediately thought that the old marshal's ice wall tactic must have some sort of shortcoming, but what was it? Upon being thrilled, he had also thought of the cons of this method, but he did not manage to come up with any countermeasures. It was because he had put himself in the opposite position and thought about it that he was so ecstatic. Could it be that something had escaped his thoughts?

Looking at Fu Baoguo's contemplative expression, Qiu Jianhan's expression fell even more as he said, ”Baoguo, pass the commands immediately. Order the supporting personnel to prepare lots of kerosene and flaming arrows. Also, prepare plenty of backup water sources. We can attack with fire in the war to defend against Han Sanhe. Then, order the Steel Cavalry and the Serving Troop to rest well and be ready at all times for a battle to the death!”

He went down, still burdened with worries.

”Fire attack?” Fu Baoguo was still confused by the marshal's orders.

Water and fire were always each other's nemesis; this was the simplest theory that everyone knew about. When he thought about the countermeasures for the ice wall just now, he had considered attacking with fire, but to use it against an ice wall in this season?

How could it be any easier than that?

Therefore, he had negated the thought the moment he thought about it.

In spite of this, what could be the explanation behind the old marshal's serious orders? Furthermore, even if their enemy were to attack with fire, their side should only be prepared with lots of water and sand; why the kerosene and flaming arrows?

Were they afraid of the enemy's weak flames, and were to add more oil to their fire?

The order was mystifying and mind-boggling. Fu Baoguo could not help thinking more about it; it seemed that he still had a long way to go to become a top marshal!

…

As he went down the wall with Qiu Jianhan, Fu Baoguo was still musing over this, unable to figure out where his judgment had gone wrong.

It was then that he heard a commotion.

Following the source of the noise, twelve strong-looking youths, who looked like twelve young calves, seemed to be arguing with a few veterans on the street and the argument was turning somewhat physical. The one leading the fight was struggling with a flushed face as he yelled, ”We're only looking for people, how did it suddenly become breaching the law? We're all Yutang's citizens, what right do you have to treat us like this?”

The veteran who was clutching the youth laughed menacingly, ”How dare you! You have no respect and are speaking impolitely; who else should we catch if not you? This is no longer just about breaching the law, your crime is unforgivable!”

The youth looked utterly maligned as he said, ”Who am I being disrespectful to? We're really here to enlist in the military and serve the country! The twelve of us are here to defend against Dongxuan! Why are we unforgivable? We're not spies! Open your eyes and look at us! We're Yutang's citizens!”

Qiu Jianhan and Fu Baoguo heard them from afar and exchanged curious glances.

”Go ahead and have a look,” Fu Baoguo ordered his janissary forward.

Fu Baoguo and Qiu Jianhan would not go over personally.

No matter how confused they were, it was a sensitive time right now. If the other party were really spies, what could happen if they were killed in an ambush? Even if the ambush failed, just the incident taking place would sway the military morale which was already unstable.

Yutang's military morale, that had just been secured, must never be swayed again by something like this again!