Chapter 1090.2: They Should Live - Part 2

Although the Divine Capital Xie Family and the White Deer's Xie Clan were two separate branches, they both bore the surname Xie, and their generational ranks were connected.

To find a point of entry into the affairs of the White Deer's Xie Clan, Chen Chao had started with Xie Nandu's journey north all those years ago and the matters involving the Divine Capital Xie Clan. From there, he had followed the trail until he uncovered these things.

Of course, all this had been made possible by the Hundred Streams Pavilion left behind by the Great Liang Emperor. Otherwise, investigating a place like the White Deer's Xie Clan would have been an extremely troublesome task, even with the assistance of the Divine Capital Xie Family.

Xie Zhongli said, “Xie Zhongxing and his son have also amassed quite a fortune over the years. Once everything has been thoroughly investigated, the Xie Clan will donate all of it to the imperial court.”

“Additionally, the Xie Clan will contribute some money of its own.”

Xie Zhongli continued, “Lord Warden Commander was absolutely right about one thing. When the country is in danger, if scholars cannot go to the Northern Frontier to defend their homes and protect their country, they should simply do what they are good at.”

Chen Chao smiled. “If it were anything else, this official would still be somewhat polite about it. But when it comes to giving money, this official won't stand on ceremony. After all, the expenses up north are indeed enormous these days, and the imperial court's finances are stretched thin.”

Xie Zhongli nodded and did not say much more. He still understood certain principles quite well. Although Chen Chao could see what he was doing at this moment, he was not afraid of Chen Chao seeing through him. What he feared was that Chen Chao would refuse to accept it.

“It's just that after Lord Warden Commander made such a commotion at the Xie Clan this time, I'm afraid things will be rather troublesome if you come again in the future.”

Xie Zhongli smiled. “Sometimes, scholars can be rather petty.”

He was referring to Chen Chao's intention to come to the White Deer's Xie Clan to ask for Xie Nandu's hand in marriage.

Chen Chao took a sip of tea and said, “It seems Family Head Xie has never really understood what kind of woman Nandu is. Whether she marries or not isn't something anyone else gets to decide. It's entirely up to her.”

“Even if we take a step back and assume that such things as the parents' wishes and the matchmaker's words really exist...”

Chen Chao rose to his feet and smiled at Xie Zhongli, “Nandu has her teacher. This official has His Majesty.”

As for the parents' wishes, Xie Nandu's parents were no longer alive. Xie Zhongli might perhaps be qualified to decide such a matter, but he would certainly not be more suitable than the head of the academy. The White Deer's Xie Clan was one of the foremost scholarly clans in the world, but what of the academy's dean?

He was the leader of the world's scholars.

As for the matchmaker's words, an imperial edict from His Majesty was more effective than any matchmaker.

Chen Chao could not help imagining that if His Majesty were still alive when the time came, perhaps he would say casually, “Does what We say not count?”

After all, he was the man who could issue an imperial edict to Sword Qi Mountain and say that who asked this world to be surnamed Chen.

Watching Chen Chao's departing figure, Xie Zhongli shook his head with a sigh. It seemed Heaven's favor toward the Chen Family was a little excessive. Over the past two hundred years or so, outstanding figures had emerged from the clan one after another.

Xie Qing approached from a distance and bowed slightly. “Family Head.”

Xie Zhongli glanced at Xie Qing and smiled. “Little Qing, remember this: if you can remain young, then stay young. Don't carry yourself like an old man.”

......

......

In the Northern Frontier, the string that had loosened a little over the past few days had tightened once more. Two days ago, scouts had reported that the demon army was advancing again.

At this point, barely more than two months had passed since the end of the first great battle.

In the past, it would have been absolutely impossible for another major battle to break out again so soon. Moreover, the battle two months ago had been no minor skirmish. Both sides had committed enormous forces, and both had suffered heavy casualties.

To make matters worse, winter had already arrived in the Northern Frontier. The wind howled and snowstorms raged. In previous years, the demon race had hardly ever launched an offensive at this time of year. Yet now, with the demon army advancing, the Northern Frontier forces did not really take it to heart.

They had already grown accustomed to accepting anything that came their way.

At the General's Office, aside from continuing to dispatch scouts to keep a constant watch on the demon race's movements, the generals held meetings time and again.

As the Great General, Ning Ping had grown even more white-haired in recent days.

Today's meeting had just ended. The commanders were leaving the great hall when Xie Nandu, walking at the very back, received a letter from the south as soon as she stepped outside.

She tore open the envelope and read a few lines. Her feelings were complicated.

She had always harbored some suspicions about the affairs of the White Deer's Xie Clan, but she had not yet found the time to investigate them thoroughly. Now, however, the letter said that fellow was about to arrive at the Xie Clan. Since he was going there, the matter would surely have a resolution.

Xie Nandu understood his temperament, and she knew that he understood hers. She no longer needed to worry about how he would handle this matter.

Putting the letter away, Xie Nandu headed toward the city walls.

The greatest concern at present was still the demon race's second southward invasion.

On the city walls, Gao Xuan stood in his armor, gazing into the distance. Since returning from the south, he had appeared on the city walls almost every day.

“Miss Xie.”

After seeing Xie Nandu, Gao Xuan smiled and got straight to the point. “I'm afraid the demon race's offensive this time will be far more ferocious than the last.”

Xie Nandu nodded. She did not beat around the bush either, speaking plainly. “The truth is, this time they're committing the strength of their entire race.”

“They understand the principle from military strategy books that the first drumbeat inspires courage, the second weakens it, and the third exhausts it. If they can't defeat us this time, they're very likely to lose the initiative in the war going forward." “So they'll certainly spare no effort to bring the war to an end this time.”

Xie Nandu gazed calmly beyond the city walls. At this point, even she could not help feeling somewhat nervous.

Military strategy books and historical records alike contained many stories of a single battle deciding the fate of the realm. But a battle deciding the rise or fall of an entire race had never yet occurred.

Gao Xuan said, “I'm afraid some sections of the defenses will fall this time, and the demon race will manage to reach the top of the city walls.”

Reaching the top of the city walls did not mean the city had fallen. But if such a situation truly arose, it would mean the circumstances had reached their most desperate point. If they could not drive the demon race back before the battle ended, then the city would fall.

Without this Great Wall in the north, Xinliu Prefecture and Changping Prefecture beyond it would lie open before the enemy, with nothing to impede their advance.

What was more, the Great Liang Dynasty's elite forces were all stationed here. Once they had been killed or wounded to the last, it was uncertain whether the north could even organize another line of resistance.

Xie Nandu nodded. Her assessment was the same as Gao Xuan's.

Gao Xuan hesitated for a moment before asking, “If we simply defend to the death, can we hold?”

Xie Nandu did not answer that question. Instead, she said, “The recent batch of prefectural troops will arrive in the Northern Frontier tomorrow. Thirty percent of them are veteran soldiers who left the frontier army only in the past two years. They still have enough strength to fight another battle.”

Gao Xuan fell silent. Everyone knew that the prefectural troops were not as capable in battle as the frontier army. And the soldiers who had left the frontier army had, to varying degrees, also suffered a decline in their combat strength.

This actually already meant that the frontier army's fighting strength had diminished.

“After the prefectural troops arrive, they'll still need time to get accustomed to things. Ideally, we'd have one or two battles of moderate size to help them work together.”

Xie Nandu shook her head. “But we don't have that time.”

Gao Xuan let out a long sigh. The reasoning was simple enough, but putting it into practice was extraordinarily difficult.

“If holding the line at all costs isn't an option, then we...”

Gao Xuan raised his eyes to look at the woman before him. There were things he could not say in the meeting hall of the General's Office, but he could say them in front of Xie Nandu.

Xie Nandu looked at Gao Xuan and smiled. “Gao Xuan, the situation is far too perilous now. This isn't a fight between two children, where one can suddenly pull a dirty trick and turn defeat into victory. In a conflict on this scale, the demon race has the upper hand. Naturally, they want to avoid mistakes. We're at a disadvantage, so we too must seek stability and proceed cautiously.”

At this point, Xie Nandu added, “Of course, this is the shared view of everyone from the Great General down to the generals in the General's Office.”

Gao Xuan naturally understood the implication behind Xie Nandu's words.

Suddenly, Xie Nandu said, “I'm very scared too.”

Gao Xuan said nothing. He simply looked at her.

"If we lose, our entire race faces annihilation." “I don't care how the history books record it... We can't even be sure there'll be any history books left. But how could I bear it? They all deserve to live good lives.”

Xie Nandu spoke softly. “As for... what does it matter if I die?”