Chapter 193
Book 17 Chapter 11 – The Great Farm Battle
The farms were lighted in many areas and it was as bright as day. The two thousand Elite Wu Family Warriors and several thousand farmhands are busy constructing defence structures, giving top priority to the smoke pits.
It was strangely calm and peaceful within the residences as if no one expects an imminent battle.
Xiang Shaolong and Qin Qing are strolling along a gravel path that is linking the several farm buildings. Coming to a well, Xiang Shaolong fetched a pail of water and took two sips. His arteries nearly froze on the spot.
Qin Qing sighed: "Rural living is pleasant indeed. People living in the city are more hypocritical and ruthless."
Xiang Shaolong sat down on the edge of the well and patted the empty s.p.a.ce beside him, smiling: "Shall we take a rest?"
Qin Qing smoothly sat down beside him. Lowering her head, she softly asked: "Does Grand Tutor Xiang know why I am willing to accompany you for a private stroll?"
Feeling uncomfortable at a possible confrontation, Xiang Shaolong took a deep breath: "Speak your mind. I can accept anything."
Qin Qing sighed and shook her head: "It is not as bad as you think. I did not hold it against you at all. In actual fact, I could not conceal my feelings too and had to come to the farms with you. As you had mentioned, I have been deceiving myself all these while and suffered the pain of pining for you. But from tonight onwards, I will not be so foolish anymore."
Xiang Shaolong was unexpectedly surprised and intimately scrutinized her matchless beauty. Intoxicated, he trailed: "Grand Tutor Qin is saying that..."
Qin Qing shyly whined: "I am not saying anything. Why are these people working non-stop? Is someone going to attack the farms?"
Xiang Shaolong understands that if he tries to hasten things with Qin Qing, she would despise him. It is totally unforeseen that she would actually lost her inhibitions and offered herself willingly, adding to the excitement of the relations.h.i.+p. Telling himself to be patient, he divulged Lu Buwei’s scheme and concluded: "Will Grand Tutor Qin blame me for putting you in danger?"
Qin Qing decisively shook her head: "Of course not! I am delighted because you have finally regarded me as... Ah, it is nothing."
Xiang Shaolong could not help but face the sky and laughed: "Is Grand Tutor Qin trying to say that I have finally regarded you as my woman?"
Qin Qing loudly wailed: "No such thing. Hai! It is your brain and you can think whatever you want."
Xiang Shaolong reached his hand over and held tightly onto her hand. Standing up, he invited: "Let me introduce you to our battle formation. Otherwise, you may blame me for hiding things from you again."
Qin Qing struggled shortly and finally accepted the fate of her hand being held by him. She shyly nodded at him first before shooting him a look at his last line, faulting him for bearing old grudges.
Xiang Shaolong’s heart has completely melted and resisted the strong urge to kiss and caress her. He proceeded to lead her on a night tour of the farm.
Back at the Hidden Dragon Abode, Xiang Bao’er has been coaxed to sleep by the nanny while Wu Tingfang and Zhao Zhi are engaged in a game of chess. The Tian sisters are watching the intense game at the side.
Ji Yanran is a.n.a.lyzing with Uncle Qing on how to build Zhou Wei’s fake black dragon.
Witnessing Xiang Shaolong and Qin Qing’s return, Uncle Qing hurriedly got up and paid his respects.
Ji Yanran scanned Qin Qing’s expression and smiled knowingly at Xiang Shaolong. Qin Qing maintained an innocent look throughout as if nothing has happened.
Qin Qing noticed that although they were staring at each other, she was the centre of attention and quickly left for her room.
Xiang Shaolong joined in their discussion and by the time Uncle Qing has fully grasped the essence of their needs, Xiang Shaolong took the chance to ask: "Does Uncle Qing knows how to produce firecrackers and pyrotechnics?"
Ji Yanran proudly proclaimed: "Uncle Qing’s forte is in blacksmith works. If you wanted to talk about fire crackers and pyrotechnics, you can start asking me for advice!"
Xiang Shaolong was stunned: "You know about gunpowder and related stuff?"
Ji Yanran smugly replied: "Of course. I know about many other things too. Feel free to test my wisdom!"
Xiang Shaolong acknowledged that her Talented reputation is not without merit. He was thinking of getting Uncle Qing to manufacture a hand gun for his personal protection but decided against it in the end as a hand gun does not have the range of arrows and it is difficult to load gunpowder. He smiled: "Who am I to test you?"
Uncle Qing excused himself and Ji Yanran’s expression turned serious: "Then it is my turn to test you. Go to sleep now and from tomorrow onwards, I shall take up the heavy responsibility of drilling you in spear skills. Before your duel with Guan Zhongxie, hubby must sleep alone and not indulge in pleasures of the flesh."
Xiang Shaolong groaned inwardly. Wouldn’t this shatter his beautiful dream of making love to the exquisite and alluring Qin Qing? He protested: "According to studies, love making does not affect the athletes’ performance."
Ji Yanran was shocked and furrowed her brows: "What are you talking about?"
Xiang Shaolong raised both his hands in mock surrender: "I will obey all your instructions."
He left with a bitter smile.
For the next five days, Xiang Shaolong got up at c.o.c.k’s crow and received Ji Yanran’s strict tutoring and even took the initiative to swim in the winter waters in a nearby river. In his free time, he went riding with Qin Qing and his wives and Qin Qing’s favourable impression of him grew by leaps and bounds. She no longer views him as a creature of l.u.s.t and they became much closer.
Teng Yi busied himself with the farm defences and morale was high among their men. Everyone is gearing up for the big showdown with their enemies.
At the sixth day, there was a heavy snowfall.
Spies reported signs of the invading army vanguard in a dense forest about five miles away.
The atmosphere became very tense immediately.
Leading his three wives and Qin Qing who are all dressed in armour, Xiang Shaolong is inspecting the surroundings from a high wall. Below him, Uncle Qing is commanding his subordinates to install heavy duty crossbow mechanisms on the city walls.
This new crossbow machines are Xiang Shaolong’s latest creations. Using the same principles as machine guns, they can fire twelve arrows in succession and reach a range of over a thousand feet. This range is twice of a normal crossbow and its weakness is that it is not portable. However, as a defensive weapon, there is nothing else more ideal.
Xiang Shaolong projected his vision further away and saw that the surroundings were hazy. It is favourable for the attackers and disadvantageous for the defenders.
Ji Yanran predicted: "The enemies will definitely attack after the snowstorm and this hasty attack will be less efficient as they are lacking rest. Moreover, Meng Ao is an arrogant man and does not view us as worthy opponents. His belittling of us will create opportunities for us to win."
Sure enough, at dawn, spies reported sightings of the enemies from the south eastern direction. There were roughly a thousand attackers with ten odd battling rams used to ram the city walls and gates.
Everyone calmed down and prepared themselves mentally for the incoming attack.
All the warriors and workers retreated back into the city while Jing Jun led five hundred of the Wu Family Elite Warriors to a secret bunker that was built behind the high grounds.
The remaining one thousand and five hundred Wu Family Elite Warriors are camping at the trenches along the city wall. Another twenty odd farm workers made up of males, females, the old and young are situated around the residences, ready to put out any fires or repel any invaders who have successfully climbed the city wall. The fighting spirit is abundant and the atmosphere is full of battle tension.
To Qin Qing standing beside him, Xiang Shaolong asked: "Are you cold?"
Qin Qing shook her head to indicate that she is not cold and blew out a wisp of white air: "This is the first time I am partic.i.p.ating in a battle and maybe it is due to your presence by my side; somehow, I do not have the least fear."
Xiang Shaolong remembered that her late husband died on the battlefield and took the chance to inquire: "Does Grand Tutor Qin abhor wars?"
Qin Qing took some time to consider her answer and replied with astonishment: "This is the first time somebody asked me such a strange question. In Qin, fighting is a way for the men to showcase their ability and gain the highest honours. But after careful thinking, fighting has caused countless people to lose their countries, their homes, their parents, the spouses and their kids. War causes more hatred. What does Grand Tutor Xiang thinks?"
Xiang Shaolong bitterly laughed: "Although I hate to admit this but fighting seems to be part of human nature. Whether it is fighting between two countries or two persons, fighting arises from compet.i.tion as it is human nature to compare and compete. It becomes a case of survival of the fittest