Ch. 601..605: The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 601-605

Chapter 601: Chapter 601 Going Back (3)_1

"Master, there is. Everything good from Shili Village is here, so their brothers will have a feast later. I have prepared it all," Lin Ziyin explained with a smile.

"That sounds more like it." Master Hui Zhen, seeing the space she had specifically reserved, finally stopped her incessant complaints.

The twenty leftover medicinal monks who returned were also cheerfully heading to the side courtyard.

The next morning, Chu Suifeng and the others went to check on the city wall, Lin Ziyin also followed.

After a night, the heavy snow showed no signs of stopping. A large snowflake fell from the sky, like dancing sprites. There were people specifically assigned to shovel snow on the streets, and there weren’t many pedestrians. With the control of malaria, the people were calmer.

The water in the Mo River could definitely not be drunk anymore, everyone has started using well water. Now when it snows, you can see a lot of households, busy with buckets and other containers to collect snow.

In the winter in the North, water sources are not very important. They have the favor of the heavens!

"Your method is fantastic," Chu Suifeng complimented her while sitting in the carriage.

Lin Ziyin gave a slight smile and replied calmly, "Our sea farms in the North are developing well, we have self-sufficiency in salt, coupled with future agricultural and farming development, we are not afraid of any threats. While we need to control refined salt, it shouldn’t be priced too high, because salt is a daily seasoning for the people, so there’s no need for the prince to profit from this basic necessity."

"If Bayal and the others knew we’re using coarse salt to clear the snow on the streets, I wonder if this would infuriate them?" Chu Suifeng mocked with glee.

Lin Ziyin couldn’t help but laugh at his words too.

Indeed, let alone the nomadic North Country, even the prosperous Daqin, no one as rich as they are would behave as ostentatiously.

Salt, for common people, is a luxury. The price of salt on the market is even more expensive than pork.

If it had been before, Chu Suifeng would never have thought to use coarse salt to clear the snow. Even maintaining salt needs for his troops would already give him a headache.

But now they really don’t have to worry, the year’s production of salt from the salt farms along the bay is enough to supply the entire north for five years, and much of it is refined salt. The North is no longer afraid of the shortage of salt.

As a result, with the increase in salt production, the people of North benefited greatly. The price of salt is very reasonable, it has fallen more than five times compared to the original price.

Several shops along the street were helping the government in clearing the snow. This was also a new decree. But this new law did not provoke rejection from the people. Compared to the benefits they received, shoveling snow was just a minor issue. Besides, clearing the snow also facilitated travel for everyone, which could stimulate business for the shops, it was a win-win situation, and no one would complain.

Without the obstruction of the piled snow, the carriage of Lin Ziyin and the others arrived under the city wall quickly.

The soldiers guarding the city wall saw Chu Suifeng and Lin Ziyin, and each of them was excited. In this harsh weather, all the cold and fatigue seemed to disappear.

The temperature in the border city in winter drops to over thirty degrees below zero at night.

Every few segments on the rampart, there were small rooms built from wood to provide shelter from the wind to the soldiers guarding the city. This was a unique benefit for the guards of the border city.

All the city guards were dressed in woolen clothes and down jackets, covered with a furred coat on the outside. A new coat was handed to the soldiers on the next shift when it was their time to guard.

Compared to previous years, all the soldiers were very grateful to Lin Ziyin. Many of them had heard that the good clothes they were wearing were all supplied for free by this young prince.

Chapter 602: Chapter 602 Going Back (4)_1

With this relationship established, everyone no longer looked at Lin Ziyin with curiosity. Even the company of the prince with the young master did not seem to be an issue.

As soon as the soldiers saw Lin Ziyin, everyone instinctively respected her.

Lin Ziyin and Chu Suifeng looked at the camp across the Mo River. When they saw the wafting smoke from the other side, they both smiled at each other.

Needless to say, it was not mealtime. Smoke meant the enemy couldn’t bear the cold and had lit fires for warmth.

"Looking at the conditions, it seems this snow will not stop for a while." Situ Gong, who had arrived earlier, came over with Si Jinhan and Luo Heng.

"Despite Bayal’s troops preparing for such cold weather, their tents can’t withstand the cold of the night." Luo Heng seemed pleased.

Living in the Northern Lands for a long time, they all knew that frostbite could be just as grave as a sword or arrow wound.

The consequence of the snow for Bayal was worse than Chu Suifeng could have imagined.

"Why haven’t the supplies from the rear arrived yet?" Bayal asked, waving his arm, which was bandaged with layer upon layer of white cloth. The wound split open due to the motion.

"According to the reports from the spy, it’s because of the cold weather. Snowfall arrived earlier in the North Country than the Northern Land. The snow on the road is too deep, making the transportation slow," Zhe Bie worriedly looked at Bayal, "General, your wound has split open again, it is better to have a military doctor take a look."

He originally wanted to ask the National Master to examine the wound, but the cold war between the General and the National Master made him swallow his words.

"Issue the command, the army should prepare immediately. As soon as the snow stops, we will return to the North Country immediately." Bayal made his decision in an instant.

When he mentions returning to North Country, he doesn’t necessarily mean returning to the Capital City.

Although North Country and Northern Land border each other, the Border City of North Country is about five hundred miles away from here.

That is to say, from the Border City, about five hundred miles of land belong to Northern Land. But because the Northern Land is vast and sparsely populated, and the weather becomes colder as one goes further north, Chu Suifeng has not assigned anyone to build a city there.

It’s not a small challenge for a large army to travel eight hundred miles to get back home, especially with heavy snow on the roads. Bayal worries as he looked at his tent flaps.

Even though he couldn’t see the heavy snow outside through the flap, he knew how difficult the journey back would be without having to step outside.

Compared to this, the situation in Border City might be slightly better. At least, soldiers in the Northern Land have warm houses to live in and they wouldn’t bear the cold in the night.

"General." Another worried commander looked at him.

As the warriors of North Country, they felt terribly uncomfortable with their defeat. However, everyone knew that the one suffering the most was undoubtedly their Chief Commander, Bayal.

From their initial ambition and confidence to the failure of the Fire Bull Formation and the failure of the assault, the soldiers had already contemplated retreat.

"What about National Master?"

Someone worried about Billy’s stubbornness.

"Let Timur go persuade him." Bayal sighed.

Just thinking about the National Master made Bayal upset. But there was no choice, they had to face the failure. It was absolutely impossible to play with the lives of the soldiers anymore.

The cold weather had caused them enough harm and most of the commanders agreed with Bayal’s decision. As for the few who disagreed, they were soon convinced, remembering the formidable defence of the Border City and the Eight Trigrams Array.

Chapter 603: Chapter 603 Going Back (5)_1

But Billy could not accept Bayal’s decision, even after being tactfully persuaded by Timur. He became furious and stormed into Bayal’s tent.

"Do you, General, want to be seen as a coward, ridiculed by the citizens of North Country and dishonored by the aristocrats?" Billy retorted angrily.

But Bayal didn’t get angry, he calmly looked at Billy and said, "If their lives are at stake, what does ridicule matter?"

Hitting his fist on the armrest of his chair, Billy was seething with rage.

He and Bayal had different beliefs. In Billy’s view, it was an honor for the soldiers to serve the North Country, a part they were of. What did the lives of common people matter? There would always be new soldiers to replace the dead.

"Bayal, you should know that the situation we’re in is not something you can just walk away from." Billy lowered his voice, trying to suppress his anger, trying hard to convince Bayal to stay.

He, Billy, had already sent a confidant to deliver a message back to the Monarch, asking for reinforcements.

However, he had not shared this information with Bayal.

With a serene expression, Bayal said, "Even if it means facing the Monarch’s punishment, I accept."

Being inferior in skills and having suffered heavy casualties, Bayal was well aware of the consequences he would face back home, and he was prepared.

Fed up with the argument, Billy spat out, "Since you, General, are willing to gamble with the future of the Crown Prince and the honor of our family, I, the State Preceptor, will no longer play the villain. You can go back, but Timur’s men will stay with me."

Bayal looked at Billy in astonishment. He knew Billy was a stubborn man, but this was the first time he realized the extent of his madness. Did Billy know what he was saying?

Timur only had ten thousand men, and with the casualties, less than eight thousand could fight. Was he jesting, thinking that eight thousand men could stand against the hundred thousand-strong army of the Northern Land?

Without any explanation, Billy stormed out in a rage.

Bayal let out a soft sigh. Let it be, if Timur’s men wanted to stay, they could stay. He did not wish to enforce anything. Even though he and Billy had different views, they belonged to the same camp of the Crown Prince. They were far from falling out.

It seemed that the heavens were indeed helping Chu Suifeng. The heavy snowfall continued into the night without stopping.

Lin Ziyin stood in the courtyard, teaching Congyi and others how to use the pair of skis that were delivered from the prince’s estate a couple of days ago.

Ice skates were included too.

"You all must learn this quickly. Teach it at the camp tomorrow." Chu Suifeng ordered.

So Congyi and the others had no choice but to learn wholeheartedly.

Si Jinhan, Luo Heng, and others found it fun. Of course, they also saw its benefits and joined in the learning process.

The next day, the snow was still falling. This was the third day. However, the snowflakes were much smaller than they were on the first and the second day.

The skis and ice skates were distributed among the soldiers. Many found them fun and enthusiastically followed Lin Ziyin’s instructions.

These soldiers were the best of the best, selected from the Black Armored Soldiers, the elite.

With impressive physical ability, these Black Armored Soldiers mastered skiing and ice-skating within half a day.

This pace of learning astonished Lin Ziyin.

Even though they fell frequently and were bruised all over, they were ecstatic to have learned a new skill.

Bayal could not leave even though he wanted to because the snow was too deep. Similarly, supplies could not be delivered.

He had to use the resources at hand, building bonfires in each tent.

Chapter 604: Chapter 604 Going Back (6)_1

A drop of water can’t put out a fire, it doesn’t solve the fundamental problem. Three days later, once the snow had stopped, the temperature was so low that one’s breath could freeze. The constant low temperature caused some wounded soldiers to lose their lives.

Bayal was busy to the point of exhaustion, yet he had no solution.

On the fifth day, the sun came out, but the accumulated snow was still deeper than the knee, making it impossible for the army to move.

On the evening of the sixth day, the city gate of Border City quietly opened. Chu Suifeng and Si Jinhan, both holding grudges, remembered the hatred from the North Country’s surprise attack, and took the opportunity to start their frenzied revenge.

Because the weather was too cold and the snow was too deep, no one would think that the soldiers from the Northern Land would attack in such harsh conditions.

Aside from soldiers guarding the boats used to cross the river, there was almost no one outside the North Country’s camp tents.

The occasional soldier sent out to guard had chosen a secluded spot to start a fire for warmth.

Dressed in white fur coats, draped in white cloaks, even their hair wrapped in the hood of the cloak. The Northern Land’s soldiers completely blended into the vast whiteness of the snow.

Si Jinhan was one of their covert attack troops.

As they silently infiltrated the enemy camp, a soldier dressed in the uniform of the North Country quietly approached.

The team members were startled, but Si Jinhan quietly raised his hand to stop them.

"The grain and fodder are in the rear camp towards the left." The person who approached lowered his voice to say.

"You leave here, and head downstream, wait in the woods five miles away," Si Jinhan’s voice was also very low as he casually handed over a white fur coat and cloak to him.

The person quickly donned the clothing and gave a concerned warning in a low voice, "Be careful, third son, the defenses there are quite tight."

Si Jinhan nodded, then began to lead the more than fifty men towards the rear camp.

Their skis slid silently over the snow, making no sound.

The informant watched their retreating figures, then quickly strode away in the other direction.

Si Jinhan and his men quickly found the place where the grain was stored according to the given route. The team lay in the snow, completely blended into the snowy environment, even if there were people on guard around the grain at this moment, they wouldn’t notice the enemy’s arrival.

"Damn weather, it’s too cold," one soldier complained, pacing back and forth.

"Isn’t that the truth? Who knows when we’ll be able to go home?"

"I heard that the National Master doesn’t agree to retreat, but the General is willing to lead us brothers back."

"We are under the General’s command, the National Master doesn’t care about our lives and deaths."

...

When it came to their own safety, the casual conversation drew the attention of many soldiers.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Si Jinhan led his men quietly around to the less guarded soldiers, then suddenly stood up.

The guarding soldiers didn’t dare to stare at the snow for too long, for fear of going blind. But in just a blink of an eye, a group of people appeared before them. He was about to ask who they were when he felt a chill on his neck, then he couldn’t feel anything at all.

His eyes were filled with surprise at the moment of death.

The other black-armored soldiers quietly eliminated the surrounding guards.

Thanks to god, many soldiers had all gone to the bonfire for warmth.

Si Jinhan and his comrades didn’t need to exert much effort, and even lighting torches on their side didn’t arouse suspicion among the soldiers there. It’s natural in this unusually cold ghost weather to start a fire for warmth.

Regrettably, Si Jinhan and his men weren’t there to roast fire. Holding the torches they had ignited, the black-armored soldiers poured waste oil they brought in gourds onto the grain and then lit each one with a torch.

The flames shot up all at once.

Chapter 605: Chapter 605 Going Back (7)_1

By the time the soldiers on the other side of the bonfire discovered it, many of the grain stores were already well ablaze.

"Put out the fire."

"There are enemy soldiers."

"We’ve been ambushed."

... Shouts were coming from everywhere, then many soldiers hastily ran over to put out the fire.

"Let’s go." As Si Jinhan watched the flames rise, he calmly gestured for his black-armored soldiers to leave.

"It’s them."

"Over there." Suddenly, two reckless soldiers spotted them by the light of the fire and cried out in fear.

Two black-armored soldiers quickly and easily dealt with them, then a few retreated immediately.

Having been found, many soldiers from the camp rushed over.

Si Jinhan and his men retreated to a nearby forest just beyond the camp, then casually put on their skis. In a blink of an eye, they distanced themselves from the North Country’s camp.

"How did they escape so quickly?" Zhe Bie, who arrived upon hearing the news, didn’t even catch a glimpse of them and was furious. Despite having so many soldiers on his side, they failed to keep an eye on the intruders.

Indeed the group was very fast, they spotted the mole who came out first about five miles away.

"Third master, I don’t know how to do this." Guarding the spot, a simple-looking man spoke with an embarrassed expression.

"You’ve been in the North Country this long, you’ve even picked up the accent." Several of the black-armored soldiers joked with him. This man was originally one of them.

"I had no choice but to be careful, brother."

After a bit of laughter, two black-armored soldiers dragged the simple mole back with them.

"What happened? Where did the guards go?" Bayal’s face turned ashen as he looked at the grain stores that had been burned to ashes.

"Spare us, general."

"Spare us, general."

A few soldiers who had warmed themselves without permission trembled on their knees, yet none dared to speak in their defense.

"General, calm down." Zhe Bie stepped forward and sighed, "Chu Suifeng is too cunning. Who would have thought they’d dare to leave the city in this weather?"

"General, half of our grain has been burnt. What should we do?" Timur asked with a frown.

He was also shocked by the bold move of Chu Suifeng and Si Jinhan. These few people from the Northern Land should not be underestimated, it was their side who had been too complacent and careless.

Billy also stood next to Bayal, his face equally grim. Without the support of the grain stores, if they continued to stay in this weather, the only thing waiting for the North Country’s soldiers was death.

The Northern Land truly enters winter with the first snowfall. The snowy weather would continue until the end of April next year, and if unlucky, it could even snow in May.

Under these circumstances, it makes no sense to stay any longer.

"How long can the remaining grain last?" Bayal asked with a bitter voice.

"Three days, it can only last us three more days." Zhe Bie sighed as he cautiously answered.

"We set out tomorrow, head back immediately." Bayal gave the order on the spot.

This news was what all the North Country soldiers had been hoping for but at this moment, not a single person dared to cheer.

"Execute them according to military law." Finally, Bayal looked at the few kneeling soldiers on the ground and coldly gave the order.

A dozen or so soldiers immediately began to cry and beg for mercy, but no one dared to plead for them.

The next day, at dawn, the great army of the North Country quietly left.

Chu Suifeng, Situ Gong, and the others stood atop the city wall, watching the departing figures, all breathed a sigh of relief. Regardless, in this year’s war, the Northern Land did secure a great advantage.

"With the Tatar army gone, we can go back too." Back in the residence, Chu Suifeng was quite relaxed, his smile never left his face, "After we return, we will get married. I, the prince, will use a ten-mile-long bridal procession to welcome my princess."

Lin Ziyin did not seem happy to hear this, but rather, taken aback.

"What’s wrong?" Chu Suifeng liked her, cared for her, so naturally, he understood her mood very clearly.

"Does the prince not think I’m a little too young?" Lin Ziyin asked, testing the waters. She was only sixteen now, and would only be seventeen by the end of the year. To get married seemed a little too early.

"You’ve already had your hairpin ceremony at sixteen, you’re not young. When the queen mother was your age, I was already about to walk." Chu Suifeng became somewhat nervous, thinking that Lin Ziyin wasn’t willing to marry him. He had thought it through carefully; he didn’t seem to have done anything wrong.

Looking at Chu Suifeng’s aggrieved look, Lin Ziyin couldn’t help but laugh. She didn’t not want to marry Chu Suifeng, but was considering that she was too young, and what if she got pregnant after marriage?

After considering for a moment, Lin Ziyin decided to explain it to Chu Suifeng, "Prince, a woman’s skeleton will only stop growing at the age of eighteen, that’s when it is truly solidified. If a woman gets pregnant at a young age, it can easily hurt her, and even cause her to lose her life."

There’s such a thing? Chu Suifeng looked at her suspiciously.

But he was smart, after giving it a thought, he remembered that there were indeed many women among the common people who died giving birth. "We’ll get married first then, and wait until you’re eighteen to have children."

The prince had been lonely for many years, he had absolutely no intention to postpone the wedding. It was a joke; he finally had a family member nearby, who would want to give it up?

Seeing his determination, the longing and caution in his eyes made Lin Ziyin’s heart soften. "All right then."

Upon hearing her agreement, Chu Suifeng instantly became enthusiastically triumphant.