SFS Chapter 331 The Xue Family of Dingzhou City
Chapter 331 The Xue Family of Dingzhou City
Within the ancient city of Cangzhou, the flames of war raged fiercely, like a relentless summer blaze. To remove this stubborn thorn embedded in their territory—tens of thousands of Li family troops—the Jin forces had mobilized their entire army, sending over a hundred thousand cavalry to swarm in, determined to stain this land crimson with blood. However, they were completely focused on the siege of Cangzhou, utterly unaware of the undercurrents swirling beneath the surface.
At this critical juncture, another elite force of Li's army, like a sharp blade in the dark, quietly rose from the west and swiftly and decisively captured Zhengding Prefecture, staging a breathtaking surprise attack.
Wang Changdao, a battle-hardened general, sat leisurely on the bumpy truck, a faint smile playing on his lips, as they passed through the city gate that had witnessed countless rises and falls. Through the cracks in the truck window, his gaze swept over rows of dejected, staggering Jin soldiers being escorted out of the city, like ashes left behind on the battlefield, a harbinger of the Jin dynasty's fading glory.
This scene is both a testament to victory and the prelude to a new journey. In Wang Changdao's mind, perhaps an even more magnificent battle plan has already been quietly sketched out.
Wang Changdao solemnly instructed, "Pass down the order, and make sure every brother remembers it: the ironclad rules of our Li Family Army cannot be violated, and any disturbance to the people in the city will not be tolerated. At the same time, immediately post notices throughout the city walls to announce that a curfew will be imposed on the entire city from this moment on, in order to ensure peace and tranquility."
Unlike Yue Ying's modernly equipped troops, Wang Changdao's unit resembled a battle map from another era. Cold weapons, gleaming with an ancient light, were the dominant weaponry; while the few remaining semi-automatic rifles and mortars, like scattered sparks, stood out starkly. Particularly noteworthy was the considerable amount of explosives they carried, adding a heavy weight to the impending storm.
After resting for a day in Zhengding Prefecture, Wang Changdao continued to lead his 50,000 troops to attack Dingzhou. This time, the Jin army in the city was prepared, making the attack more difficult.
Beneath the majestic city walls of Dingzhou, Li Huaixi, a Han official of the Jin dynasty and the prefect responsible for defending the territory, hurried through the streets and alleys. His furrowed brow reflected deep concern for the situation. Dingzhou, a witness to history, was now facing an unprecedented challenge, and the Jin army defending it numbered only 30,000, like a candle flickering in a storm, barely maintaining a semblance of light.
For the safety of the city, Li Huaixi had no choice but to break with convention and turn to the powerful and influential families hidden behind the city's prosperity for help. In this era, the existence of private armies was not an open secret, but it was an undercurrent that the government could not completely eradicate. Although the laws were strict, prohibiting civilians from recruiting soldiers, which prominent family did not secretly maintain household guards for unforeseen circumstances? These guards were nominally loyal servants protecting their homes, but in reality, they were private soldiers who could be turned into blades at any time.
Li Huaixi knew that to save Dingzhou in this critical moment, he had to mobilize all available resources. So he entered those ornately decorated mansions and negotiated with wealthy gentry who held considerable wealth and were concerned about the fate of the nation, trying to borrow from them the power that could turn the tide—the private soldiers who acted as warriors in the name of household servants.
This is a silent contest, a test of wisdom and courage. Li Huaixi, the prefect, is weaving a net to protect Dingzhou in his own way. Although this net is woven from different threads, it all points to the same goal—to protect this land and prevent it from easily falling into enemy hands.
Li Huaixi quietly entered the mansion of a prominent noble family in the Jin Kingdom. After many twists and turns, as if traversing through layers of fog and thorns, he finally succeeded in assembling an elite private army of five hundred men. These five hundred warriors were all veterans, clad in heavy armor and tempered by the fires of war; their eyes shone with the marks of battle and the wisdom of time.
Most of them had once been the pride of the Jin Dynasty's regular army, but for their own reasons—wounded and weary of endless warfare—they quietly withdrew from that blood-soaked ranks. However, the marks of the battlefield were too deep, making it difficult for them to integrate into the tranquil yet unfamiliar secular life, even after leaving the sounds of war drums and horns. Time flowed like sand, and they lingered on the fringes of the world, eventually being incorporated into the ranks of private soldiers by the nobles of these grand mansions under the guise of protection.
After a long day's work, Li Huaixi stepped into the government office and was about to catch his breath when a Jin soldier rushed forward and reported urgently:
"My lord, someone from the Xue family in the city is requesting an audience, saying that the situation is urgent."
Li Huaixi frowned slightly, a hint of impatience in his voice: "Oh? The Xue family? Who has come this time?"
"Reporting to Your Excellency, it is the former patriarch of the Xue family who has come to visit in person."
Upon hearing this, Li Huaixi dared not slacken in the slightest. He casually wiped his cheeks with a damp towel and then hurriedly stepped into the depths of the inner hall.
The moment he stepped across the threshold, Li Huaixi's face broke into a warm smile, a smile as gentle as the spring sun: "Hehehe... Old Master Xue, it's been a long time. How have you been? Are you still in good health?"
Upon seeing that it was Li Huaixi who had come in person, Xue Lei, the head of the Xue family, immediately stood up and rushed forward with a somewhat anxious gait: "Oh dear, Prefect, you are too kind. My old bones are still quite sturdy, but I have recently heard rumors that the rebel army in the south is stirring and intends to attack Dingzhou. I am really worried about this, so I came here specifically to ask if there is anything we can do to help you, sir?"
Li Huaixi ordered his men to replace the tea with fresh tea and began chatting with the old patriarch of the Xue family. He might not know others, but he was very familiar with the Xue family. The Xue family was one of the top wealthy families in Dingzhou, involved in almost every industry in the city. The old patriarch, Xue Lei, was a shrewd and calculating man who never offered to help with anything.
Li Huaixi took a sip of fragrant tea and asked leisurely, "I am naturally delighted to lend a helping hand, but I am curious, are there any conditions attached to this matter?"
Xue Lei smiled, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, and slowly said, "This time, the Xue family is willing to prepare two thousand elite soldiers for you, sir, along with tens of thousands of dan of grain, as a token of our sincerity. However..."
Li Huaixi understood that the main event was about to begin, so he interrupted the other party directly: "I have never liked beating around the bush, so please speak freely, patriarch."
Xue Lei chuckled, his tone carrying a hint of calculation: "In that case, I'll get straight to the point. Once this turmoil subsides, could the Xue family take over the grain and salt business in Dingzhou City?"
Li Huaixi had already anticipated that the Xue family would not easily lend a helping hand. He pondered for a moment, then slammed his hand on the table, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Fine! I agree to your terms today. Once the rebel army retreats, the grain and salt business of Dingzhou City will be entirely managed by your Xue family. But let me make this clear: this rebel army is formidable and not to be underestimated. If you want the Xue family to survive this storm, you must ensure that the Xue family's private soldiers exert their full strength. Otherwise, once Dingzhou City falls into the hands of the rebels, your Xue family will also face annihilation!"