Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 677 - 675

Chapter 677: Chapter 675

"General!" The soldiers cried out in utter despair.

Many were moved by General Li’s display of self-sacrifice for the greater good.

"Damn it!" A horrified expletive escaped Di Shaowei’s lips as he saw General Li committing suicide.

No one would have stopped him from killing himself, but couldn’t he die with less drama?!

He insisted on painting this picture, as though his death saved the lives of millions of soldiers!

If these soldiers did surrender, they would forever remember General Li, making it more difficult for them to change their loyalties!

Indeed! Some loyal followers of General Li who had either been promoted or saved by him viewed his suicide — to spare them from dilemma — with profound guilt!

"Brothers, General Li didn’t want us to endure hardship even in his death. We mustn’t let his sincere faith in us go in vain. Let’s avenge General Li!"

"Avenge General Li!"

...

Shouts from several thousand soldiers echoed in unison!

"If General Li committed suicide to save all of you and you want to avenge him, then go ahead, stab General Li a few more times or slaughter one another!" Di Shaowei said, his anger evident.

The soldiers were speechless.

The imperial court soldiers listened to Di Shaowei, giggling to themselves. Their General Di was just adorable!

"This is intolerable! They dare to insult General Li in such a way! Brothers, let’s go, we’ll kill every dog of the imperial court we can. Two kills would be a bonus!" A deputy general with a big sword was first to launch an attack.

The thousands of soldiers hastily followed.

Zhao Youwei led a troop to counterattack.

The remaining soldiers looked at each other, undecisive.

"Those who return to the embrace of the imperial court will not receive punishment! If willing, put down your weapons and go to General Di’s side! Violators will be put to death regardless of relations, and immediate relatives beheaded, collateral relatives exiled!" Shangguan Xuanyi’s tone was as cold as ice towards the end.

Di Shaowei took a decisive action. He took out a book, and began to read loudly: "Lin Youcai, from Lin Family Village, Litou Town, Changsheng County, Father: Lin Jiaxing, Mother: Mrs. Liang, with a brother in the family... He Hongcai, from Yunshi County..."

The soldiers who had their names read turned white as sheets! Such accurate details! They would have dug up their entire lineage if they could!

No one was willing to sacrifice themselves, much less get their entire family involved.

Quickly, one soldier dropped his weapon, raised his hands and rushed out: "I surrender, don’t kill me, don’t kill my family! I pledge my loyalty to the Imperial Court!"

With one person taking the lead in surrendering, the second, the third... Many put down their weapons quickly, and those whose names were read were even more eager to cross over.

...

The few thousand soldiers were extinguished like sparks in a fire!

What should have been a battle drowning in blood, ended with the ground soaked in the blood of several thousand soldiers.

Even though a real battle never commenced, this victory brought immense joy to the soldiers.

Shangguan Xuanyi allowed all the soldiers to drink to their heart’s content that day.

It was only on the second day that each was assigned his post! The 30,000 surrendered soldiers couldn’t continue to be stationed in the northwest; they would be scattered among different military zones.

Of course, this would be arranged later.

After celebrating with the soldiers for a day, Shangguan Xuanyi had a meeting with the sleep-deprived Di Shaowei and Zhao Youwei among others to discuss the issue of the northwestern garrison.

After everything here was thoroughly arranged, he didn’t waste a moment returning to the Imperial Capital.

He thought that Xiao’er must have returned by the time he hurried back to the Imperial Capital. If he hurried a little more, maybe he could run into her on the way.

What was Xiao’er doing during the New Year?

After the New Year’s Eve dinner, Xiao’er’s family gathered around a round table to make dumplings.

With the issue of Shen Jingwen harming their family, they had been busy preparing for the New Year, and Mrs. Liu had forgotten about Jingrui’s lifelong major issue.

They would be setting off back to the Imperial Capital at the latest by the fifth day of the New Year.

After the first month of the New Year, spring would come quickly. It would be the busiest time for Shen Chengyao, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Although he had arranged the tasks for after the New Year, many jobs required his personal involvement.

Mrs. Liu was greatly annoyed that she was so angered as to forget such an important matter. She was in a hurry, forgetting that there were so many people around. She directly asked, "Rui’er, Xiao’er said you’re fond of a girl from some family. Who do you like? Let’s send someone tomorrow to inform your aunt, let her go and gauge the girl’s attitude. If the girl also has intentions, let’s fix the marriage before we go back to the Imperial Capital."

Xiao’er: "..."

When did she ever say that Jingrui was fond of a girl?! She clearly said that: it’s not appropriate for Mama to ask me this question, why not ask brother instead!

Jingrui: "..."

He glared at Xiao’er: when did I ever like a girl? How come I don’t know about it?!

Shen Chengyao, Jinghao, Yun’er, and Xi’er all looked at Jingrui: You like a girl? How come we don’t know about it?!

Being watched by so many eyes, Jingrui’s ears turned red, "When did I ever like a girl? How come I don’t know about it, Xiao’er?"

Everyone turned their gaze to Xiao’er.

With an innocent look, Xiao’er said: "Mama, when did I say that brother liked a girl?"

"Didn’t you say it when I asked you last time?" Mrs. Liu was a little dumbfounded.

"Didn’t I say, ’Mama, it’s not appropriate for you to ask me this question, perhaps you should ask brother’?"

"Right! Isn’t that implying that your brother likes someone?"

Of course it is, but under Jingrui’s murderous gaze, Xiao’er would never admit it: "Mama misunderstood, I just thought that it’s no use asking me which girl is good, it doesn’t matter whether I think she is good, it is important if brother thinks she is good! Right? Brother? But after my cool observation, I found that brother thinks Miss Zhu is of good character!"

She won’t admit that she implied it, she will blatantly say it out loud.

Well, let the murderous gaze become even stronger!

"I can testify that, under my keen observation, brother seems to see Miss Zhu in a different light!" Jinghao said, stirring up trouble.

Jingrui: "..."

"Miss Zhu? Although the Zhu family are merchants, our family background isn’t high either, and I don’t mind those things. I have a good impression of Miss Zhu! Then, tomorrow I will send someone to tell your aunts, let them test the situation with the girl’s family." Mrs. Liu thought for a moment about the Zhu Yan she saw at the birthday banquet and nodded.

"Mama, there’s no rush!" Jingrui said somewhat unnaturally, he wanted to wait until he made the imperial examination result list before discussing the marriage.

Furthermore, Zhu Yan’s family didn’t know whether they have dealings with General Li’s army or not.

"Why? Don’t you like Miss Zhu?" Mrs. Liu looked at Jingrui’s, not missing a single change in his expression.

"No, just..."

"As long as you do not dislike her!"