Chapter 18: A Universally Understood Provocation

From the group of "horse traders" led by Xiang Rui, Xue Chengqian learned that the Northern Barbarian cavalry could strike the banks of the Nujiang River as early as today.

Xue Chengqian worked through the night to mobilize all the refugees, beginning to implement his plans. Furthermore, he gathered a few brothers and spent the night building a high platform on the southern bank of the Nujiang River. This platform was constructed entirely from the bricks they had fired themselves; it did not require much time or labor, but to expend such energy on the eve of battle seemed entirely unnecessary.

"Brother, what exactly are you trying to achieve with all this effort? This platform can’t stop the Northern Barbarian cavalry, and standing on it will only make you a living target for the enemy."

Xue Chengqian smiled faintly. "I just want every single Northern Barbarian to see me."

Before Luo Fang could continue to question him, Xue shifted the topic: "Have the people finished spreading the mud?"

Luo Fang said excitedly, "Of course. If there is one thing we aren't short of outside Wangjiang City, it is people. I promised them grain, and all the refugees are following our arrangements; they have already covered the ice for six or seven miles with the saline-alkali wet soil you described!"

"The Northern Barbarians could never take such a long detour to reach Wangjiang City, or else their flanks and rear would surely be exposed to the threat of the Wangjiang garrison." Luo Fang still understood some basic military tactics.

Regardless of the fact that Lu Xiaoyuan was desperate to avoid sending troops out of the city for a field battle with the Northern Barbarians, as long as his main force remained massed behind the solid walls of Wangjiang, it posed a massive threat to the Northern Barbarians. The tribal leaders of the North were worried about precisely this, which was why they wanted to conduct this "psychological" war—to launch a massacre outside Wangjiang City and strike terror into the hearts of the defenders within.

On the other side, Xiang Rui glared fiercely at Xue Chengqian. "You brat! Our brothers have staked our lives on you! If your plan doesn't work, we won't let you off even as ghosts!"

Xue Chengqian said with full confidence, "Brother Xiang, you have no other choice now. You might as well bet on this hand with us. Even if we die, we will die like men, not like cowards!"

In truth, Xiang Rui had long been persuaded by Xue Chengqian. It wasn't so much that he had faith in Xue’s plan, but rather that he realized he had no way out, and between bowing his neck to the slaughter and fighting to the death, he had chosen the latter.

Kang Yu asked nervously, "Spreading so much mud on the ice is too conspicuous. What if the enemy commanders notice the abnormality? If they delay even a little, and the ice shifts, our plan will be exposed!"

Xue Chengqian pointed to the brick-built platform in front of them and smiled. "That is exactly why I built this platform—to control the timing of the Northern Barbarians' attack. Once the Northern Barbarian cavalry is fully gathered here, there will be no possibility of our plan failing! Just watch."

With that, Xue Chengqian strode up onto the high platform, facing the tens of thousands of Northern Barbarian cavalry across the Nujiang River.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on him. They all assumed that Xue Chengqian was seizing this opportunity to say something to boost their morale and strike at the enemy's fighting spirit. Unexpectedly, Xue Chengqian yanked at his belt and let his tattered outer trousers fall to the ground! Then... he began to thrust his hips vigorously, performing an extremely insulting gesture toward the tens of thousands of Northern Barbarian cavalry!

"Ah!"

Not to mention the Northern Barbarians, even a girl as bold and wild as Kang Yu couldn't help but cover her eyes; the sight was simply too much to bear.

...

On the walls of Wangjiang City, Lu Xiaoyuan, having received the report from his subordinates, hurried with his personal guards to the ramparts. When he saw the tens of thousands of Northern Barbarian cavalry gathered, he could feel their staggering momentum even from across the Nujiang River. His face turned ashen, and he remained silent for a long time.

However, when he looked down and saw Luo Fang and the others gathering a large number of refugees on the southern bank, his eyes flashed with mockery, yet he still nodded in reluctant approval. "Though Luo Fang and Xue Chengqian have fallen into the ranks of refugees, they possess some nerve; they did not flee directly when facing the enemy."

Huang Xiaoyong, standing to the side, said disdainfully, "My Lord, you probably overestimate these refugees. They likely realized that they couldn't outrun the Northern Barbarian cavalry, so they might as well save their strength."

Lu Xiaoyuan shot him a cold, sidelong glance, feeling a slight surge of dissatisfaction toward this confidant. Given his status, he didn't actually care what Luo Fang and his group were thinking. He had spoken publicly only to seize the opportunity to boost the garrison's morale. Regardless of the truth, who was Huang Xiaoyong to interrupt the City Commandant in front of everyone?

Huang Xiaoyong did not realize he had offended his master and continued to chatter on, speaking disparagingly of Luo Fang and his people.

Captain Song, who was also attending on the walls, ignored his own humble status and spoke out in mockery. "Captain Huang! Luo Fang and Xue Chengqian are now our comrades-in-arms, both soldiers of the Great Liang. They are disregarding the cruelty of the Northern Barbarians to block the enemy; even if we cannot support them, we should not be making such cold remarks, should we?"

Captain Huang was even more incensed. "You have always been on good terms with that Luo Fang. How dare you speak for such low-born people in front of the Lord?"

Seeing them arguing in a cluster, Lu Xiaoyuan became even more displeased.

"Enough! With a formidable enemy at our gates, it is shameful that you still have the leisure for this. Let us see what the Northern Barbarians do, and whether Luo Fang and the others can hold out for a day or two."

No one believed that Luo Fang and Xue Chengqian could actually lead the refugees to stop the Northern Barbarian cavalry. The only hope was that they might hold for half a day, exhausting some of the Northern Barbarians' strength and time.

"My Lord, look! Someone has climbed the high platform. It seems he intends to do something to the Northern Barbarian cavalry."

From the city walls, the view was wide, and although the distance was great, they could still see Xue Chengqian's actions.

"Oh?" Lu Xiaoyuan focused his gaze, and it was just as his guard had pointed out. He couldn't help but feel a flicker of expectation. "Could it be that they intend to challenge the Northern Barbarian champions to a duel?"

"It is said that the Northern Barbarians value martial prowess highly; perhaps they will truly fall for it. Even if they don't win, they could delay them. If they could defeat a Northern Barbarian warrior, it would strike a blow to their morale!"

Seeing Xue Chengqian walk onto the platform alone, this seemed the only possibility. The other commanders, hearing the City Commandant's analysis, nodded in agreement.

"Indeed. I wonder which one of them it is, Luo or Xue. While this relies only on a moment of reckless bravery, it is not lacking in courage... Uh, what is he doing!"

Just as they were echoing his words, they, along with Lu Xiaoyuan, witnessed Xue Chengqian's indecent display!

...

"Scoundrels! Mere Liang people, how dare you slight my Northern Barbarian warriors! To insult me like this before the two armies—if I do not hack him into ten thousand pieces, how can I quell the hatred in my heart!"

Across the Nujiang River, Lianda was nearly maddened with rage. They had brought tens of thousands of iron cavalry here, enough that even the entire city of Wangjiang would tremble beneath their hooves; no one had ever looked upon mere refugees as anything. And yet now, someone among these refugees dared to perform such base, lewd gestures toward them.

The language of the Northern Barbarians differed greatly from that of the Central Plains, but Xue Chengqian’s actions required no language at all; they were clearly insulting and contemptuous to any race.

"Tiger Cavalry! Charge! Forget everything else, capture that Liang man on the high platform! I want him alive if possible, but if he dies, bring me his corpse!"