After nightfall, the scouting officer returned with a grave expression.
“County Magistrate, I climbed over two mountain ridges and, sure enough, saw a group of soldiers sneaking through the forest, heading in the direction of our county.”
Xiao Jingduo’s face darkened. Although the news was far from good, it didn’t come as a surprise. As early as when he introduced the jade trade, Xiao Jingduo had already anticipated that such a day would eventually come.
Rongzhou was located at the southernmost end of Jiannan Province, serving as a barrier between Nanzhao and the heartland of Shudu. Jinjiang County lay even farther south than Rongzhou. Just a few mountain ranges beyond it marked the border of the Six Zhaos (vassal states). Originally, Jinjiang County was small and unknown—outsiders couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to such a minor county. But now, Jinjiang had gradually grown wealthy, while its military defenses remained as weak as ever. It was like a three-year-old child walking through the marketplace with gold in his arms—how could that not attract greedy eyes?
Xiao Jingduo stood up and paced in the room twice.
“You saw clearly?”
“I swear there is no falsehood,” the scout said firmly. “I crossed two mountain ridges and hid in the trees. I saw movement in the opposite forest. Though it was far and I couldn’t see clearly, I could tell they were all wearing blue armor and marching in formation through the woods. Their behavior was stealthy, and there were many of them—they definitely weren’t ordinary civilians.”
“County Magistrate, what should we do now?”
Everyone was frightened by the news and gathered around, anxiously looking to Xiao Jingduo.
In his four years of service, this was the first time Xiao Jingduo felt something truly thorny. Rongzhou was a critical frontier zone under heavy military defense—but all the troops were under the command of Rongzhou’s regional governor. Jinjiang County only had a couple dozen constables and yamen officers, with no actual military force. If an invasion was discovered, as the county magistrate, he was supposed to immediately report it to the regional governor, who would dispatch troops for reinforcements. However, that was exactly what Xiao Jingduo feared most.
When he had gone to the old woman’s house to inspect the stable, he thought it was a simple case of theft. But next to the hoofprints, he had found sugar residue. A few years ago, the late emperor had paid a high price to import sugar refining techniques from India and distributed them to various provinces, urging them to develop their own sugar industries. Because the court placed great importance on this, sugar production in the Xuan dynasty had rapidly advanced in recent years. Many regions were now able to refine white sugar, commonly known among the people as “frost sugar.” In more prosperous areas, this was readily available. Jinjiang, with its frequent trade caravans, was no exception. The locals mostly consumed white frost sugar.
But that day, beside the stable, Xiao Jingduo had picked up brown sugar residue.
Nanzhao had never imported sugar refining techniques, so their sugar-making was far behind that of the Xuan dynasty. Sugar produced with local Nanzhao methods was always yellowish-brown. Xiao Jingduo had seen it before, brought by Nanzhao merchants. In theory, with so many Nanzhao people in Jinjiang, it wasn’t impossible for curious locals to buy some Nanzhao sugar to try. But in a sensitive border area like the southwest, Xiao Jingduo had to assume the worst.
Horses love sweets, so wealthier households often fed them sweetened alfalfa. In the military, sugar cubes were also used to quickly calm horses. Feeding sugar to horses was a military practice—and since brown sugar residue was found in the stable, Xiao Jingduo suspected that a Nanzhao soldier had secretly infiltrated the area. In order to travel quickly, he had used sugar to soothe a horse and then silently led it away. If the intruder had been willing to risk being discovered just to steal a horse, it meant that he had likely gathered the intel he needed and now had to rush back to report it to his army.
And since the old woman’s family waited several days before reporting the stolen horse—trying to search on their own first—this delay likely gave Nanzhao time to receive the report. They were now advancing on Jinjiang County, preparing to strike.
The weight of this deduction pressed heavily on Xiao Jingduo’s chest. He asked:
“Where did you see the enemy, and how long until they reach Jinjiang County?”
The scout’s face was ashen. After thinking for a moment, he gave a difficult estimate:
“I know the mountain paths well, and I was lightly equipped, so going back and forth still took a full day. If their main army is marching, they could reach us in at most three days.”
“Three days?”
Everyone in the room nearly lost their footing in shock.
“In three days, how can we possibly request reinforcements from Rongzhou in time?”
The county deputy saw that panic was spreading and quickly tried to calm them.
“Everyone, don’t panic. As long as we hold the county city and don’t venture out, we only need to last until the regional commander sends reinforcements.”
“But the city walls were built years ago and aren’t very high. How many days can they really hold out? And we only have twenty yamen officers in the city. How are we supposed to defend it?”
“Enough.”
Xiao Jingduo’s voice was cold as ice. He cast a frosty glance at the official who had just spoken.
“With the enemy at our doorstep, anyone who spreads fear and disrupts morale will be detained immediately.”
Only then did the others restrain their panic. They cupped their hands toward Xiao Jingduo and asked,
“County Magistrate, what do you suggest we do?”
Xiao Jingduo called the scout back over and asked,
“Were you able to estimate their numbers?”
The scout thought for a moment and replied:
“They were hiding in the mountains and forests, moving slowly—otherwise they couldn’t have avoided our border patrols. But judging from what I saw, they number at least four thousand.”
Four thousand troops might be nothing in the eyes of the Rongzhou military commander, but for Jinjiang County, it would be an absolute catastrophe. If the enemy planned a surprise attack, pillaged Jinjiang County, and retreated, the forces of Rongzhou might not even have time to respond effectively.
The situation could not be more dire. Xiao Jingduo’s heart sank, but his face remained calm and composed, as though he had everything under control.
“How many reserve soldiers do we have in the county?”
A few years ago, peace had returned to the land, and many families had military service experience. After the new dynasty stabilized, the late emperor felt there was no need for such a large standing army—or perhaps the court could no longer afford it—so many auxiliary soldiers were dismissed. These dismissed soldiers didn’t all become regular farmers; instead, Xuanchao established a fubing system: part-time soldiers who farmed during peacetime and were expected to report for duty during emergencies or wartime. Jinjiang County had the same arrangement. There was no military garrison, but in an emergency, summoning these fubing was permitted by the court.
“But right now is the peak of the farming season,” one person said. “Most people won’t want to come. At best, we might be able to gather a few hundred.”
A few hundred against four thousand—
Even the god of war wouldn’t win that battle.
But at this point, they had no other options.
Xiao Jingduo told the others:
“Zhao San, take some men and begin conscripting in the city. If the people ask, just tell them that we’ve had a surprise attack and need to form a defense unit to protect the city. Otherwise, Jinjiang County’s very foundation will be lost.”
In the face of a major threat, public morale could not be allowed to crumble.
If they told the truth—that thousands of Nanzhao soldiers were on their way—panic would erupt, and no one could predict what people might do. In that case, Nanzhao wouldn’t even need to strike; the county would collapse from within.
But if they concealed the truth, the people might remain complacent and not take the crisis seriously—Jinjiang County would fall just the same.
So Xiao Jingduo had to choose his words carefully. He presented the incoming Nanzhao troops as mere bandits intending to rob and plunder. This way, he could maintain public calm while also stirring up righteous anger— It was the best possible strategy under the circumstances.
After Zhao San left to carry out his orders, Xiao Jingduo continued:
“Li Si, pick two others and ride immediately to Rongzhou to deliver a message. I’ll write a letter now—take it to the regional commander and request reinforcements. Remember: you must move fast.”
Li Si accepted the order. But both he and Xiao Jingduo knew that no matter how fast he rode, it was impossible to make a round trip in three days—let alone the fact that deploying troops was no small matter. The regional commander would first need to verify the authenticity of the military report, then assign generals and prepare supplies. By the time the army actually reached the city gates, what would be left of Jinjiang County?
Compared to the overwhelming might of the approaching Nanzhao army, Jinjiang County’s city walls were as good as paper—offering almost no defense.
Several people in the room said nothing, but with their heads lowered, they were clearly already contemplating abandoning the city and fleeing.
Xiao Jingduo sat behind the table writing the letter. After finishing it, he sealed it with his official stamp and handed it to Li Si. Once Li Si left, only those staying behind to defend Jinjiang County remained. A tense and dangerous silence instantly settled over the room. Xiao Jingduo didn’t speak right away. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and set it back down. The porcelain made a soft but crisp clink as it touched the table.
“The army is at our borders. This is an emergency, and we must act accordingly. I already gave Zhao San his orders—by now, the city gates should be closed.”
Xiao Jingduo’s tone was calm, but his words were clear and firm.
“Anyone who leaves the city without my written order will be executed on the spot for treason and collusion with the enemy.”
“What?!”
A number of people were stunned.
“But just now you didn’t say—County Magistrate, what is the meaning of this? Why close the gates in secret?”
“Shutting the gates cuts off outside interference. Only then can we focus entirely on the enemy.”
Xiao Jingduo’s eyes scanned each of them, sharp as blades.
“Tell me—am I wrong?”
The gates were already shut—what was there left to say?
Now that all paths to escape had been quietly sealed, the remaining officials could only stew in silence, forcing themselves to put on a show of resolve.
“The County Magistrate is right. We are willing to live and die with Jinjiang County.”
“Good.”
Only then did Xiao Jingduo rise from behind the desk and stride outside.
“Everyone, come with me now. We’ll use what little time we have left to make our battle preparations.”
The southwest had not seen war in a long time. If Jinjiang County fell under attack, the regional commander of Rongzhou wouldn’t ignore it—not even for the sake of his own political career. Reinforcements would definitely come.
What they had to do was hold out—hold out as long as they possibly could.
If they could just survive until reinforcements arrived, that would be the best possible outcome.
And that was exactly what Xiao Jingduo was preparing for.
The news of an enemy attack quickly spread throughout Jinjiang County. Soon, the city gates in all four directions—east, south, west, and north—were sealed one after another. At first, the townspeople were skeptical, but once they saw the gates bolted shut with their own eyes, they could no longer deny it.
Any last shred of wishful thinking was extinguished. Many residents began joining the officials and yamen officers of their own accord—helping to prepare stones and logs for defense, and even bringing out tung oil from their homes.
The embroidery workshop had already been dismissed early. Chen Ci, Qiu Ju, and Xiqi hurried toward the county office.
As they passed a main street, Chen Ci caught sight of a familiar figure. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately left the other two behind to run toward him.
“Lord Xiao!”
Xiao Jingduo turned back, surprised.
“It’s you? The streets are too chaotic right now—I’ll send someone to escort you home.”
“That’s not necessary,” Chen Ci replied. “You need every hand you can spare. Don’t waste anyone on us.”
Then she looked directly at Xiao Jingduo, her eyes filled with a mix of confusion and helplessness.
“Lord Xiao… Is it true? Is someone really attacking Jinjiang County?”
Xiao Jingduo sighed. “It’s true. It’s my fault—at the beginning of the year, when your aunt sent word back, I should have immediately arranged for your return to Chang’an. Now that things have dragged on, I’ve only brought harm upon you.”
Chen Ci shook her head. “What are you saying? Though I’m just a woman, I still understand the greater duty to family and country. Besides, being able to defend Jinjiang alongside you, Lord Xiao, is an honor for me.”
Two years ago, Xiao Jingduo had asked the court to help search for Chen Ci’s relatives. After a long search, they finally found out that one of her aunts had married into another family and moved away. That family had since settled in Chang’an. If Chen Ci were ever to return home with her mother’s coffin, that aunt would be her only known relative.
After receiving this news, Xiao Jingduo originally intended to send Chen Ci to her aunt right away. But at the time, she was still caught up in matters at the embroidery workshop. Before those affairs could be wrapped up, the Nanzhao army arrived ahead of schedule. In such a situation, it was impossible to send Chen Ci out of the city. She had no choice but to stay and take her chances with Jinjiang’s fate.
For a young woman like Chen Ci to speak of living and dying with the city moved everyone deeply. Yet Xiao Jingduo showed little emotion. He simply insisted, “It’s not safe for you women to remain out here. I’ll escort you back.”
“No need to waste manpower,” Chen Ci tried to persuade him again, but Xiao Jingduo had already turned to call someone over. Seeing that she couldn’t change his mind, Chen Ci gave up trying.
Two yamen officers followed Xiao Jingduo’s orders and began escorting Chen Ci, Qiuju, and the others back toward the county office. Qiuju and the others were visibly reluctant to leave—clearly, they felt safer being near Xiao Jingduo. Noticing this, Xiao Jingduo could only say, “Go on ahead for now. I still have things to arrange and can’t leave just yet.”
Chen Ci nodded and obediently started walking away. But after a few steps, she suddenly paused and turned back.
“Lord Xiao, what about the people outside the city walls? What about the embroidery workshop, the merchant caravans—can any of that be saved?”
She waited a moment, but there was no response. With a heavy sigh, she stopped pressing for an answer.
Xiao Jingduo remained silent, watching as Chen Ci, Qiuju, and the others walked away. Even after they disappeared from view, his eyes did not shift.
Looking closely, it was clear that his gaze had lost its focus. He stood rooted to the spot, deep in thought.
Yes—what about the people who lived outside the city walls? Scattered throughout the county were numerous villages. Technically, these were also his people. What would become of them?
Xiao Jingduo tilted his head back and looked up at the dull sky, feeling overwhelmed. He had once been a common villager himself. At age eight, he witnessed the Prince of Qin launch an attack on Youzhou. No one came to protect their village. He still remembered the terror on his grandmother’s and cousins’ faces as they huddled together and wept. In the end, the Xiao family and the whole village of Tongmu were left unharmed—but that was only because the Prince of Qin had strictly disciplined his troops.
Would the troops of the Six Tribes of Nanzhao be the same?
And even if they miraculously held out until reinforcements arrived, the city’s buildings would likely be destroyed. This was the foundation he had spent three years carefully building. Could he really bear to see all his work reduced to ruins?
Someone ran up and asked,
“County Magistrate, the stones and tung oil for defending the city have all been moved to the storehouse. What should we do next?”
“Are you familiar with the terrain around here?”
“Huh?”
“I asked you—are you familiar with the local terrain?”
The young yamen officer was completely confused. Although he didn’t understand why Magistrate Xiao was asking this, he still answered honestly: “I grew up in the village, and I used to be a mischievous kid who often ran into the mountains. I might not know the routes far away, but I’m pretty familiar with the area around our county town.”
“Then who else knows the roads farther out?”
“That’s hard to say. I’ll go ask the other hunters. They’re often in the mountains and should know the terrain.”
“Good. Go find people who are familiar with the mountain routes—as many as you can. Once you’ve gathered them, bring them to me immediately.”
With that, Xiao Jingduo strode off toward the county office. The officer couldn’t help calling out behind him, “Magistrate!”
When Xiao Jingduo stopped, the officer found himself at a loss for words. He scratched his head nervously and asked, “Magistrate, what… what exactly do you plan to do?”
“What does the young lord want to do?” Qiuju, along with Chen Ci and Xiqi, hid in the back courtyard, holding hands to steady themselves while waiting for Xiao Jingduo to return. But when he finally did, they overheard something that chilled them to the bone.
Normally, Qiuju wouldn’t dare enter the front court—this was a strict rule in noble households. A maid interrupting a man in the middle of official business would be harshly punished. But now, Qiuju couldn’t care about rules anymore. She lifted her skirts and ran out. Chen Ci, too, didn’t care about bumping into a man in public and followed Qiuju anxiously to find Xiao Jingduo.
“Young lord, this is simply—” Qiuju was so anxious that her eyes had turned red. “You are the head of the county. Even if someone must get hurt, it mustn’t be you. How can you lead troops outside yourself? Why don’t we just follow the others’ advice and stay inside the city? We can wait for the regional inspector to send reinforcements. Isn’t that enough?”
“Qiuju, you’ve never witnessed war, so you don’t understand how cruel it is,” Xiao Jingduo said. “But I do. Once we lock the city gates, the people outside will be doomed. And even if we abandon the lands and lives outside the walls and hold the city without stepping out, there’s no guarantee we can last until reinforcements arrive. The county’s walls aren’t high enough, and our military supplies are insufficient. If we’re trapped inside, we’ll be sitting ducks. Given that, it’s better to strike first, take advantage of the terrain, and maybe—just maybe—we’ll have a sliver of hope.”
“But…” Qiuju still felt it was unwise. “Then let someone else lead the charge! You’re the magistrate—you have to stay inside the city. What happens if you’re not here?”
No matter how she phrased it, the root of her fear was clear: she was afraid Xiao Jingduo would be harmed. Even Chen Ci looked worried.
“Magistrate, if this decision is because of something I said earlier without thinking, I sincerely apologize. As county magistrate, you truly shouldn’t risk your life like this.”
“You’re overthinking, Miss Chen. This has nothing to do with you,” Xiao Jingduo replied. “Since I am the magistrate of Jinjiang County, I must ensure its peace. This is my duty.”
Qiuju was on the verge of tears. Xiao Jingduo still had countless matters to attend to. After exchanging a few words with the women, he turned and gave orders to his subordinates:
“I’ll take three hundred men and leave the city. The rest of you are to stay inside and must not go out. I’ve already arranged everything else. Just follow the plan. If the Liu Zhaozhao army still reaches the city walls, defend according to the plan—do not worry about me, and absolutely do not open the city gates. While I’m gone, all internal affairs will be handled by the assistant magistrate. You are not to slack off. If any of my previous instructions conflict with the assistant magistrate’s orders, then follow the assistant magistrate’s orders first. Is that clear?”
When Qiuju heard Xiao Jingduo’s words, she finally couldn’t hold back her tears. “He’s only taking three hundred men out, but I heard the enemy has four thousand—how can this possibly work?”
Chen Ci couldn’t help feeling anxious as well. “I didn’t think he would personally lead the troops. Drawing the enemy away might indeed keep the county safe, but what about him? I shouldn’t have said what I did earlier… it really was…”
Qiuju wept as she said, “I promised Madam that I would take good care of the young lord, but now I can only stand by and watch as he puts himself in danger. Maybe I should go with him outside the city. I have a duty to fulfill.”
“Sister Qiuju, you mustn’t,” Xiqi urged. “You still have Xiao Lin—think about him. Besides, the young lord has always been one to plan thoroughly before acting. Even if he’s taking a risk, he wouldn’t do so without confidence. If you follow him out, you’ll only be a burden. Believe in the young lord—he was able to make Jinjiang County prosperous before, and now he’ll be able to lead everyone through this crisis safely.”
Xiqi’s words were reasonable and well-grounded, and only then did Qiuju wipe her tears and nod. “Alright. I trust the young lord.”
That night, the heavily guarded city gates opened just a crack. Xiao Jingduo, leading three hundred seasoned hunters, slipped silently into the darkness.
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