NFBE Chapter 435 The Little Doctor Girl Knows How to Pamper and Flirt (Part 30)
Chapter 435 The Little Doctor Girl Knows How to Pamper and Flirt (Part 30)
Emperor Si went to Qingzhou first, while Ji Xiaosong, due to her pregnancy, lagged behind.
Carrying these wounded soldiers, Ji Xiaosong finally caught up with them after a day.
When Ji Xiaosong led the wounded soldiers to the outskirts of Qingzhou, the distant flames had already dyed the night sky blood red.
"Madam! The fighting is fierce at the front; you cannot approach any closer!"
The scout knelt on one knee, his face still covered in wet blood.
Ji Xiaosong reined in his horse and gazed at the figures fighting fiercely below the city wall in the distance.
The sounds of war drums, shouts of battle, and the clanging of clashing weapons mingled together, and the overwhelming stench of blood made the child in her womb kick restlessly.
"Where is the general?" she asked in a deep voice.
The scout pointed to the northwest corner of the city wall: "That's the main battlefield, but the enemy has laid an ambush. General Chu's southern border army has been cut off..."
Before the words were finished, a deafening explosion came from the direction of the city wall!
A huge fireball soared into the air, sending debris flying, and figures could be vaguely seen being lifted into the air by the blast wave.
"Gunpowder!" Tiger's father exclaimed in shock. "The imperial court has actually used the Thunderclap Cannon from the Ordnance Bureau!"
Ji Xiaosong's face turned deathly pale, and his fingers gripped the reins tightly.
She knew Si Di too well; in such a critical moment, he would definitely lead the charge himself!
"Everyone, listen up!" she suddenly shouted. "The wounded soldiers rest on the spot, the light cavalry follow me! Tiger's father, push those wagons to the front line!"
"Madam!" The old army doctor grabbed her horse's reins. "Your health can't take this!"
"There's no time!" Ji Xiaosong tossed aside his cloak, revealing light leather armor underneath. "Uncle Chen, you're in charge of treating the wounded who were brought down here. Use the medicine I gave you!"
Without waiting for a response, she spurred her horse and charged into battle.
Three hundred light cavalry followed closely behind, and the dozen or so carriages covered with black cloth were quickly pushed to the front line, their wheels leaving deep tracks in the muddy, blood-soaked ground.
In the center of the battlefield, corpses lay strewn everywhere.
Si Di's spear was broken, and he was wielding a sword as he fought five heavily armored soldiers.
His left arm was burned by gunpowder, and blood dripped from his fingertips, yet he still clung tightly to the wounded Chu Ke behind him.
"Brother Si..." Chu Ke leaned on his sword and struggled to his feet. "Don't worry about me... let's break through..."
"Shut up!" Si Di cleaved the spear that was thrusting at him with his sword. "I said I would bring you back alive!"
Before he finished speaking, the sound of a mechanism turning suddenly came from the city wall.
Dozens of ballistae were aimed at them!
At the critical moment, a commotion suddenly broke out on the flank of the battlefield.
A light cavalry unit plunged into the enemy ranks like a sharp knife, led by a slender figure!
"Xiao Song?!" Si Di's pupils shrank sharply.
Ji Xiaosong spurred his horse to his side, and without saying a word, turned to the cavalry and shouted, "Raise a smoke screen!"
The cavalrymen quickly lifted the black cloth covering the dozen or so carriages, revealing hundreds of sealed wooden barrels inside!
As the torches were thrown in, thick white smoke instantly filled the entire battlefield, and the pungent smell made the enemy soldiers' eyes and noses water.
"Hold your breath! This is chili smoke!" Ji Xiaosong handed the damp cloth to Si Di. "Take General Chu and retreat to the low slope on the east side. There are backup there!"
Si Di grabbed her wrist: "Are you crazy?! This place is too dangerous for you to come here."
"No time to argue!" Ji Xiaosong suddenly groaned, her body swayed, and a sharp pain like being stabbed in the abdomen came from her. She immediately circulated her immortal power throughout her body.
Si Di panicked immediately: "Xiao Song?!"
"It's alright..." She gritted her teeth and straightened her back. "Let's go! The smoke screen won't hold for long!"
Chu Ke suddenly pointed at the city wall: "Oh no! The archers are in position!"
Sure enough, through the thick smoke, rows of archers could be vaguely seen on the city wall, drawing their bows and nocking arrows!
A resolute glint flashed in Ji Xiaosong's eyes. Suddenly, he pulled a tinderbox from his pocket, turned around, and shouted to Tiger's father, "Release the frightened horse!"
The black cloth on the last carriage was lifted, revealing dozens of blindfolded warhorses inside!
As the tinderbox was thrown onto the gunpowder fuse tied to the horse's tail, the startled horses neighed and charged towards the enemy lines!
"Retreat!" Ji Xiaosong shouted.
Si Di lifted her onto his warhorse, put one arm around her waist, and together with Chu Ke, they broke through to the east.
Behind them came the chaotic screams of the enemy soldiers and the muffled thud of horses' hooves.
Temporary camps behind the low slope.
Ji Xiaosong collapsed to the ground as soon as she was put down, her clothes instantly soaked with cold sweat.
"Xiao Song!" Si Di knelt beside her, his voice trembling, "The army doctor! Quickly, summon the army doctor!"
"Don't shout..." Ji Xiaosong weakly grasped his hand, "It's just... a miscarriage scare..."
Trembling, she took out a small jade bottle from her waist, poured out two drops of spiritual liquid, and swallowed them.
After a moment, his furrowed brows relaxed slightly.
Seeing her deathly pale face, Si Di suddenly pulled her into his arms, his arms trembling violently: "Do you know how close I almost..."
Ji Xiaosong leaned against his blood-stained armor and whispered, "I knew... that's why I came..."
Cheers suddenly erupted outside the tent.
Taking advantage of the chaos caused by the charging horses, the two armies had already breached the west gate of Qingzhou!
Chu Ke stood at the tent entrance, leaning on his sword, watching the two embracing each other, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Brother Si, it seems your wife is more effective than an army of 100,000."
Si Di looked down at his weak wife in his arms, feeling both heartache and lingering fear. In the end, he simply kissed the top of her head gently: "If you do this again, I'll lock you in the military camp."
Ji Xiaosong smiled slightly, her fingers gently touching her abdomen, where the intense pain had subsided, and the baby seemed to be sleeping peacefully.
In the distance, the battle flags on the city tower of Qingzhou have been cut down, and a large flag embroidered with the character "司" is slowly rising in the morning light.
Next, we will enter Qingzhou.
*
The gates of Qingzhou slowly opened in the morning light, and Emperor Si carried Ji Xiaosong into the city on horseback.
On both sides of the street, the surviving people knelt on the ground, peeking at this iron-blooded army with a mixture of fear and curiosity.
"Pass down the order," the Emperor's voice was hoarse yet authoritative, "No one is to be disturbed; violators will be punished according to military law!"
Chu Ke rode behind, gazing at the towering granaries within the city, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes: "Brother Si, look..."
Following his gaze, the official granary in the center of Qingzhou City stood majestically, with dozens of granaries stretching out in a row, enough to feed an army of 100,000 for more than half a year.
"Take care of the wounded first." Emperor Si looked down at Ji Xiaosong, who was sleeping in his arms, and his voice softened. "Clean up the backyard of the prefecture and make it quiet."
*
Three days later, in the backyard of the prefectural government.
Under the peach tree, Ji Xiaosong leaned against the soft couch, her belly already noticeably protruding.
She was holding a bowl of medicinal food in her hands, sipping it slowly.
“Madam,” the maid said softly, “the general said he would take you to see a place later.”
Before he finished speaking, Si Di had already strode into the courtyard.
He changed out of his blood-stained armor and into an indigo robe, his fierce aura diminished considerably.
"How are you feeling?" He sat down on the edge of the tatami mat, naturally took the medicine bowl, scooped up a spoonful, and blew on it to cool it down.
Ji Xiaosong smiled, "Much better." Her gaze swept over the bandage peeking out from under his sleeve. "What happened to your injury?"
"It's just a superficial injury." Si Di didn't take it seriously, and fed her the last sip of medicine. "Come on, I'll take you somewhere."
He carefully helped her up, draped a fox fur coat over her shoulders, and the two rode in a carriage to a high platform in the north of the city.
The high platform is surrounded by pine and cypress trees, and in the center stands an ancient stone tablet with the three large characters "Observatory".
"This is……"
"Qingzhou Ancient Observatory," Si Di said, putting his arm around her waist and pointing into the distance, "Look."
Standing on the high platform, the entire city of Qingzhou can be seen.
The city walls were sturdy, the granaries were full, and the four official roads stretched out in all directions like blood vessels.
Further afield, fertile fields stretch for thousands of miles, with rivers flowing like ribbons, making it an ideal place to establish a capital and build a career.
Ji Xiaosong suddenly understood his intention: "You want to be here..."
"To become king".
Emperor Si's gaze was intense. "Qingzhou is strategically located, with abundant grain supplies and prosperous people. More importantly..."
He gently stroked her abdomen, saying, "This is a good place for pregnancy."
Ji Xiaosong felt a warmth in her heart and leaned on his shoulder: "Have you thought it through?"
"I've made up my mind." Emperor Si held her hand. "Originally, I planned to establish a kingdom in the place where we were previously stationed, but now, for the sake of the long term, I plan to build the capital here in Qingzhou. A grand ceremony will be held in three days to make you queen. When the child is born, he will be the crown prince or princess of this new dynasty."
Ji Xiaosong leaned on Si Di's shoulder, listening to his firm words. She raised her head slightly, her gaze passing over Qingzhou City and looking towards the distant horizon, where there were continuous mountains and boundless wilderness, the land on which countless people depended for survival.
"My lord, establishing a kingdom and becoming king is a momentous matter."
Ji Xiaosong's voice was soft yet firm, "Qingzhou is a good place, but there are still many people in this world suffering from war and oppressive government. If we establish our capital here, we will have to shoulder a greater responsibility."
She turned around and looked directly at Si Di, her eyes gleaming. "I know you are wholeheartedly protecting me and the child in my womb, but since we hold power, we cannot just seek peace in one corner."
“What you say is absolutely right, my goal has always been everything.”