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Wang Jian rushed back to the courtyard for the final defense, and that was the plan from the beginning. However, what surprised everyone preparing for battle was that after he entered, none of the brothers responsible for the outer defense returned.
At this moment, chaotic hoofbeats and footsteps could be heard outside the walls, leaving no room to worry about anyone's safety. A few people quickly moved closer to the crumbling shadow wall, preparing to completely block the main entrance. The soldiers defending the courtyard were all in position, holding their breath and listening intently to the sounds outside, with crossbow bolts already aimed at the wall.
To ensure they could delay and hold their ground as long as possible, Meng Wu discussed with Wang Jian and decided to move all the wounded soldiers into this ancestral hall and use it as a stronghold. Since it was a memorial built by the entire village, it was different from an ordinary household. The special building made of blue bricks was incredibly sturdy; as long as the Zhao Army outside did not bring siege equipment like battering rams, this barrier would hold strong.
But no matter how solid a barrier is, it is only temporary for humans; given enough time, they can solve any problem. Wang Jian knew that the outer forces were completing their army assembly, and soon a Zhao Army general would come out to speak. After that, it would likely be the final moment!
Taking advantage of the little time left, Wang Jian gently wiped his longsword. He had originally thought they could hold out until noon tomorrow, but it turned out they wouldn't even see tomorrow's sunrise. Thinking of this made him shake his head with a bitter smile.
According to relevant confidentiality regulations, even if a military map is precious, one must not harbor any illusions. When a general confirms they are preparing for the final battle, any military maps they carry must be destroyed in advance.
It seemed this was already preparing for one last desperate fight! Meng Wu looked at Wang Jian, wanting to seek his opinion. Seeing that Wang Jian had no objections, he sighed inwardly and nodded at the soldiers responsible for carrying the military map.
The military maps used by the Qin State were generally drawn on cowhide rather than fabric for waterproof reasons. As long as they were rolled tightly enough, there would be no problem even if they needed to swim across a river. However, no matter how well protected, these leather materials were vulnerable to fire. In an emergency situation, throwing them into a fire would effectively destroy them.
The early spring night was still quite cold since the snow in the mountains had not completely melted. There were bonfires inside the courtyard for lighting and warmth. Upon receiving the general's order to destroy the map, the map manager felt a lump in his throat and tears instantly welled up in his eyes. This map was his soul, yet he had no choice but to part with it here.
Sadness aside, even if he was reluctant, he had to obey orders.
Just as the map manager was about to unfasten the map pack, he heard a standard Zhao accent from outside. "Qin people inside! Listen carefully! Our army has been ordered to attack you because this place belongs to Zhao! The Zhao Army is not like the Qin Army; we can spare your lives! If you know what's good for you, get out of here quickly!"
Such a tone usually arises when there is uncertainty; why would the Zhao Army—who currently held absolute advantage—still offer them a way out?
Meng Wu raised his hand to signal the Map Manager to stop, quickly exchanging a glance with Wang Jian. In these times, there were no deals that would result in a loss, but it was worth listening to what conditions they wanted!
Wang Jian immediately understood the implication and shouted, "Stop with the pleasantries; they are useless! Since this is a transaction, let's be straightforward about what conditions you want!"
The Zhao Army outside fell silent upon hearing the response from within the courtyard.
If his guess was correct, they were likely discussing whether they dared to reveal their cards! Wang Jian turned back to Meng Wu with a slight smile and quietly awaited news from outside. At that moment, time seemed to slow down dramatically.
Despite appearing calm, Wang Jian's mind was racing. The besieged Qin Army, along with the severely wounded, numbered just over two hundred and had been compressed into this courtyard. If it came down to valuable individuals, it seemed there was no one here worth the Zhao Army's bargaining.
Could it be that the Zhao people, having fought for so long, were looking for a son-in-law? The thought barely crossed his mind before he almost punched himself. What time was it? How could he still have the leisure to entertain such thoughts!?
Meng Wu clearly wasn't considering these matters; he only wanted to know what conditions the other side would propose. If they could agree on something, it would at least ensure that his brothers could safely leave Great King Village. Lightwolf Fortress was clearly not an option; it was already filled with Zhao Army soldiers.
At this point, the Dan Shui River might also be impassable. They might as well head downstream along the river. As long as they safely reached the Qin River Boundary, they could find a way to notify the guards at Wild King City to bring boats across to help.
The busyness of recent days had directly affected his sleep and concentration. Wang Jian rubbed his forehead vigorously, his mind filled with irrelevant thoughts. Since there was no real business at hand, he had no choice but to abandon any plans for conclusions. He thought Meng Wu would have considered this too, but then he noticed Meng Wu was busy calming everyone down.
One's mind cannot be divided, especially not when focus is hard to maintain. Wang Jian felt a sense of frustration; after all, deducing the correct answer was far more valuable than waiting for someone else to reveal it. Even if nothing could be changed now, at least it would prove that his mind was still sharp.
Wang Jian inadvertently caught sight of a soldier responsible for protecting the Military Map; the scroll in his arms glimmered in the reflection of the flames. Hmm! These professionally trained soldiers were indeed dedicated! As long as they ensured that this map did not fall into enemy hands, they had fulfilled their mission!
"To the Qin Army inside! Haven't you always been bold and confident? There's no point in us talking like this; why not send someone who can make decisions out? Let's have an open discussion face-to-face; it would show our sincerity in these negotiations. What do you think?"
How annoying! You are the ones who have us cornered here! Just when we were about to wrap things up, you all relaxed! Who do you think you are!? And you dare to meddle with our time! Wang Jian was about to explode in anger when he heard Meng Wu loudly respond from behind, saying it was no problem.
At this moment, the main reason the soldiers could be restrained was that there was still a general in the yard. If the key figure were to be lured away, who knows if these scattered soldiers would immediately turn against us and surrender!? This is a battlefield where life and death can be decided in an instant; anyone would be afraid!
When faced with a significant choice between life and death, a single thought can lead to mistakes before there’s even time to regret it! Sometimes it’s human nature; not everyone wants to raise their hands in surrender or become a deserter from the start. At this moment, the general's value becomes evident as he leads the soldiers toward making the right choice through his own actions.
Meng Wu clearly understood this situation as well. He quietly instructed the Map Manager for a moment and then walked over to Wang Jian's side. "You stay here and take care of everyone!"
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