If I made you cannon fodder, how did you manage to achieve your goal of conquering the wolf's l

Chapter 61 People from Yunzhou

The envoy from Yunzhou stared at the ashes on the table, his face turning pale and then flushed.

He was ordered to read out the military order, and he had considered that Xu Qingshan might refuse, and he also considered that the people of Black Stone Fortress might plead for mercy.

The only thing I never expected was that Xu Qingshan would burn the military order.

And each batch is burned in three portions.

"Xu Qingshan, do you even know what you're doing?"

Xu Qingshan picked up the wine bowl in front of him and took a sip.

"Know."

"Burning military orders and disobeying superiors—these two offenses alone are enough to behead you!"

Tie Niu glanced at the head of Ashina hanging outside the hall.

"There are plenty of people who want to cut off the centurion's head; make them line up."

The envoy angrily retorted, "Do you have any right to speak here?"

Just as Tie Niu was about to get up, a sudden pain shot through his shoulder wound, and his lips twitched involuntarily.

Hou San reminded him from the side.

"Slow down, don't let it tear again right after you've finished sewing it. If Miss Qin sews it up again, she might really be reluctant to use anesthesia."

Tie Niu immediately sat back down.

The envoy was so angry with the two that he trembled all over.

Xu Qingshan put down his wine bowl.

"Go back and tell Tang Su that I'm waiting for him at Blackstone Fortress."

"As for taking over the defense, we'll discuss that after he enters the city."

"you……"

The envoy wanted to speak again.

Xiao Hongluan's hand was already on the hilt of the knife.

"The military orders have been delivered; you may leave now."

The envoy looked at everyone in the hall.

These people had just returned from Luoyan Valley, and their armor was still stained with blood.

If we really push them too far, it's hard to say whether we can even get out of the inner fortress.

"good!"

"You've got guts. Let's see if you're still this tough when the border patrol envoy arrives."

He turned and left.

Tie Niu watched his retreating figure.

"Are you just going to let him go like that?"

Xu Qingshan glanced at him.

"Otherwise what?"

"Take it off."

"What's the use of detaining an envoy? It's a waste of food to support him."

Hou San nodded.

"Yeah, judging by his appearance, he probably has a big appetite."

Soon, the sound of horses' hooves echoed outside the city.

The messenger left Blackstone Castle overnight and sent back to the border patrol camp what had happened there.

The relaxed atmosphere in the council chamber had dissipated.

Shen Qinghe looked at the ashes on the table with a worried expression.

"Tang Su is the border patrol commissioner sent by the imperial court, and he has the temporary authority to command the border troops. Although three hundred Yunzhou soldiers are not many, we have just finished fighting at Luoyan Valley, and our wounded have not yet recovered."

Xiao Hongluan said, "We still have more than eighty infantrymen who can fight, and forty cavalrymen can be dispatched. Relying on the city walls and ballistae, three hundred men cannot break through."

"Being unable to break through is one thing."

Liu Ruyan sat to the side and said softly, "If we really fight the border patrol envoy, Black Stone Fortress will be confirmed as a rebel. At that time, Yunzhou can continue to mobilize troops, and the imperial court will not recognize our military achievements."

Tie Niu scratched his head.

"Fighting won't work, and surrendering military power won't work either, so what should we do?"

Xu Qingshan picked up a piece of cold horse meat and took a bite.

"Let them in."

Everyone looked at him at the same time.

Tie Niu asked, "Really?"

"Tang Su can advance, but the three hundred soldiers from Yunzhou cannot."

"What if he doesn't agree?"

Xu Qingshan raised his eyes.

"Then we'll stay outside the city."

There was no victory celebration at Blackstone Castle that night.

The lights in the wounded soldiers' camp remained on.

The number of defenders on the city walls was doubled, and three ballistae were reinstalled high on the north and south walls.

Bai Zhi led the people in the armory to work through the night to produce crossbow bolts.

In the battle of Luoyan Valley, the fine steel heavy arrows were almost exhausted.

There wasn't enough time to forge all the new arrowheads, so they had to carve the shafts out of hardwood and then take iron plates from the captured barbarian armor.

Busy until late at night, Bai Zhi looked up and glanced at the apprentice who was dozing off by the table.

"If you're sleepy, go back to sleep."

The apprentice was suddenly awakened.

"Not sleepy!"

"His saliva was practically dripping onto the arrow shaft."

The apprentice quickly wiped his mouth.

"Miss Bai, do you think the Yunzhou army really knows how to attack a city?"

Bai Zhi embedded the polished arrowhead into the arrow shaft.

"How would I know?"

"Then why are you so calm?"

"If they attack the city, shoot them with ballistae; if they don't attack, continue working tomorrow."

The apprentice thought about it and realized that it made sense.

…………

the next morning.

Large plumes of dust rose from the official roads in the south.

Three hundred soldiers from Yunzhou lined up in a long queue and slowly appeared outside Black Stone Fortress.

The front row consisted of cavalry, while the rear row consisted of armored infantry carrying spears.

A large banner reading "Border Patrol Envoy" stood in the center of the army.

Zhao Wu rode a chestnut warhorse, following on the right side of the banner.

The messenger sent last night was right behind him.

Upon seeing the walls of Blackstone Fortress, the envoy whispered, "Commander Zhao, this is the place. Xu Qingshan burned three military orders right in front of me."

Zhao Wu sneered.

"A mere border soldier, just because he's fought a few small battles, really thinks he's a general?"

The envoy hesitated for a moment.

"There is indeed a strong smell of blood in Luoyan Valley, and Ashina's head is hanging on the city gate."

Zhao Wu turned his head and glared at him.

"Did you witness Xu Qingshan kill Ashina with your own eyes?"

"no."

"Then how do you know the head is real?"

The messenger quickly bowed his head.

"Your subordinate spoke out of turn."

The group arrived a hundred paces outside the city.

There was no drumbeat on the city wall, nor was anyone running around in a panic.

A row of soldiers stood quietly behind the parapet.

Although the number of people was small and their armor was not uniform, everyone was focused on the city walls, and their bows and crossbows were already nocked.

Zhao Wu frowned slightly.

These men didn't look like the border fortress soldiers he remembered.

Tang Su, the border patrol envoy, rode on a white horse.

He was nearly fifty years old, thin, and dressed in dark official robes with a light armor over them.

Upon seeing the arrangement on the city wall, Tang Su raised his right hand.

The three hundred Yunzhou soldiers stopped.

A guard urged his horse forward.

"Border Inspector Tang has arrived! The garrison commander of Black Stone Fortress, hurry out of the city to greet him!"

The sound reached the top of the city wall.

A moment later, Xu Qingshan peeked out from behind the parapet.

"Which one is Lord Tang?"

Tang Su looked up at him.

"This envoy is Tang Su."

Xu Qingshan cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"Greetings, Lord Tang."

Zhao Wu immediately retorted angrily, "The border inspector has come in person, why don't you open the city gates and come out to kneel and welcome him?"

Xu Qingshan's gaze fell on him.

"And who are you?"

Zhao Wu's face darkened.

"Zhao Wu, Vanguard Commandant of Yunzhou!"

"Never heard of it."

Someone on the city wall couldn't help but chuckle softly.

The veins on Zhao Wu's forehead throbbed.

"Xu Qingshan, you burned the military order and now you refuse to open the city gates. Do you really want to rebel?"

Xu Qingshan leaned against the parapet.

"Blackstone Fortress has just finished a battle. There are more than 300 barbarian prisoners in the city, as well as a large number of warhorses and weapons."

"I'm not comfortable letting three hundred unidentified people into the city."

Zhao Wu laughed angrily.

"We're wearing the uniforms of the Great Qian army and carrying the banner of border patrol envoys, so how can our identities be unclear?"

"Even barbarians wear the uniforms of the Great Qian army."

"you……"

Tang Su raised his hand to interrupt Zhao Wu.

"Commander Xu, are you prepared to have me speak to you outside the city?"

"Lord Tang may bring twenty personal guards into the city."

Xu Qingshan pointed to the city gate.

"The rest of you stay outside and set up camp. Blackstone Fortress will send you water and firewood."

Zhao Wu angrily retorted, "Impossible! The border patrol envoy and his accompanying troops must enter the city to take over the defenses and open the city gates!"

Xu Qingshan ignored him.

He raised his right hand and gently pressed down.

Crunch!

Three ballistae were rotating simultaneously.

The thick crossbow arm crossed the parapet and slowly pointed at the Yunzhou army outside the city.

The soldier in charge of operating the ballista cranked the winch.

The crossbow string tightened little by little.

The warhorses in the front ranks of the Yunzhou army began to stir.

Several cavalrymen instinctively gripped their weapons.

Zhao Wu's face turned ashen.

"Xu Qingshan, how dare you point a ballista at the border patrol envoy?"

Xu Qingshan said, "Who said it was aimed at you? The ballista is aimed at the open space behind you, isn't it?"

Zhao Wu looked up.

The arrowhead of one of the ballistae was clearly pointing towards his chest.

"Do you think I'm blind?"

"It might be because of the strong wind last night; the archer's hands were shaking."

The soldier in charge of the ballista twitched at the corner of his mouth.

What does having such a large crossbow have to do with shaky hands?

Tang Su looked at the city wall, his expression remaining calm.

He glanced again at the outer perimeter of Blackrock Fortress; the signs of recent repairs on the walls were quite obvious.

The trenches have been dug, the base of the walls is covered with barbed wire, and there are several concealed firing holes.

If we were to launch a full-scale attack, even if the three hundred Yunzhou soldiers could capture the city, they would suffer heavy casualties.

Moreover, he's here to investigate a case.

Using Yunzhou troops to launch a strong attack on a border fortress that had just repelled barbarians would be impossible to explain to anyone if word got out.

"Zhao Wu".

"Your subordinate is here."

"Have your troops retreat five hundred paces and set up camp on the spot."

Zhao Wu suddenly turned his head.

"My lord, Xu Qingshan has openly defied orders. If we continue to comply with his wishes, what will become of the border inspector's authority?"

Tang Su looked at him indifferently.

"Does my authority require you to prove it with three hundred lives?"

Zhao Wu's face was grim.

"This humble general is only concerned for your safety, sir."

"Twenty guards are enough."

Tang Su looked towards the city wall.

"Centurion, may we open the door?"