4.13

Qiao Chen and Xiao Qinan rode into the city. With Xiao Qinan's lead, the Flying Tiger Battalion seized the city back from the enemy forces. However, the current state of affairs was in a mess. There were many soldiers sweeping throughout the city to root out any leftover Turkic soldiers who were trying to hide in the city.

When the Turkic forces retreated, they took with them all the food and livestock they could find. There were also cries of anguish heard as the Turkic group slaughtered many bystanders on their way out.

The soldiers were unable to care for the citizens because the Turkic enemy could return and attack at a moment's notice. They needed to be on guard at the wall. They couldn't distribute food or rations either until the Xiao family's father arrived. The army forces didn't know it, but they didn't need worry about the loss in reserves because Qiao Chen asked the Zhang family to buy grain, and it was already on its way there.

Qiao Chen returned to the official city guards' residence and immediately began drawing pictures of the scenes he witnessed- even the parts he didn't. He painted everything in a modern manhua style. There were images of Turkic army successfully breaking through the city walls and then killing, looting, and burning everything they could touch. Then he drew the scenes of the Xiao family's army as they fought against the Turkic soldiers. There were panels and panels of the Xiao family soldiers heroically recapturing the city and driving the Turkic forces away. He began drawing the aftermath. Even though it hadn't happened yet, these were the things that would soon follow. Qiao Chen drew the images of the city's miserable after effects of the Turkic army's pillaging. Finally, Qiao Chen drew the Xiao family's army distributing their own food and rations to the people.

Qiao Chen drew these entire scenes for two days and two nights before he finished. Once the entire story had been told, he wanted to show them to the citizens in Luodu city. He handed the drawings to one of Xiao Qinan's subordinates and ordered him to hand the drawings to Zhang Hong as soon as possible. Qiao Chen had already notified Zhang Hong in advance to wait for the pictures. Immediately after Zhang Hong received the pictures, he had people carve the images into stone according to his personal style and methods he used. Then he printed them into a book and distributed it to the city's people.

Xiao Qinan quickly captured the other two neighboring cities once his father and the rest of the Xiao family army arrived. It seemed as though the Turkic army had no intentions to defend their claim on the cities they captured. Once the Xiao family's army counter-attacked, the Turkic soldiers immediately stole everything they could and left.

Therefore, even though the city had been successfully recaptured, the Turkic army didn't truly retreat. They had chosen to camp in the distance, beyond the city limits, and were able to attack again at any moment.

The Xiao family army waited for a few days, but the Turkic army had neither fled nor attacked. Therefore, the Xiao family army took initiative and attacked, but the Turkic army retreated once more. The Xiao family army chose to return to the city, station the troops at the wall, and set up camp.

The Xiao family army was baffled. Even though the Turkic army stole food along with their retreat, they would run out of food eventually. They really didn't understand what the Turkic army was planning on doing.

"What the hell are those Turkics doing? They fought before, but aren't fighting anymore. They've retreated already, but they haven't left yet." Xiao Qibei said filled with doubt.

"Turkic people are the craftiest and most sinister people around. They have to be planning something." The Xiao family's father said, but he still wondered about what kind of scheme the Turkic army could possibly be planning.

"They're waiting for someone." Xiao Qinan said.

"Waiting for someone?  Who are they waiting for?" Xiao Qibei and his father looked at Xiao Qinan and asked.

"They're waiting for Prince Yong An." Xiao Qinan replied. Qiao Chen told him about Cheng Jingrui requesting Zhang Guangyao to manufacture guns. Based on the current situation, Qiao Chen was correct in thinking that Prince Yong An was planning on giving the guns to the Turkic people. Furthermore, since the carrier couldn't pass through the city to deliver the goods, they had to make a detour and travel through another route. Therefore the most logical assumption was that the Turkic army was waiting for the delivery that hadn't arrived yet.

Xiao Qibei and his father both knew that Xiao Qibei captured the Turkic spy, interrogated him, and received the information on Prince Yong An colluding with the Turkic King. However, due to insufficient evidence, they couldn't directly confront Prince Yong An. Prince Yong would only need to reject their claims and then accuse them of collusion, so they had to wait until they had evidence.

"What can they do even when Prince Yong An's men arrive? If we keep dragging it out like this then, even our own army rations wouldn't be able to last for long." Xiao Qibei exclaimed. He didn't understand what they could do once Prince Yong An's people made it over there. Their food and rations were being distributed to the people from all three cities. Luckily, they had more food coming in from other cities; otherwise they wouldn't be able to last for long.

"General, someone outside said that there are dozens of carriages that are carrying food and rations for us." Xiao Qibei had just talked about how they were running low on food when a soldier rushed in from the door and reported.

Xiao Qibei and his father were stunned. Who would send food to them? Whose dozens of carriages are these?

Xiao Qinan, on the other hand, knew what was going on. After he heard the soldier's report, he walked out with large strides. Xiao Qibei and his father looked at each other and then followed him out.

When the pair approached the gate, they saw that the leader of the group was only a 16 or 17 year old boy. The Xiao family's father asked with doubt, "Who are you? Who had you bring food to us?"

"Hello Senior General Xiao. Greetings to the other two generals as well. I'm Zhang Guangyao, Zhang Hong's third son. He's the owner of the Hongyun. My teacher asked my father to buy these fifty carts of grain. I'm here to personally deliver them to the Xiao family army." Zhang Guangyao replied.

"And who is this teacher of yours?" The Xiao family's father was even more confused. They didn't have any friendships with the Zhang family, and he was even more unacquainted with Zhang Guangyao's supposed teacher.

Xiao Qinan was about to speak when Qiao Chen, who had just received news of the grains, exited the room and saw that it was Zhang Guangyao who delivered the food. Qiao Chen was a little surprised and asked, "Guanyao? Why did you deliver the food?"

Xiao Qinan's ear twitched.

"Teacher." Zhang Guangyao greeted respectfully and bowed. "I've done everything you asked me to. My father was looking for someone to deliver the food, and I just so happened to hear about it and volunteered myself. Anyways, it doesn't matter whether or not I'm in Luodu city, so I came here to deliver it myself. We followed teacher's instructions and split off into different routes. Nothing happened to us along the way and we've delivered every single grain- not a single one has been dropped or stolen."

The Xiao family's father looked at Zhang Guangyao and then at Qiao Chen. They didn't look very different age-wise, but that Zhang boy actually called this Cheng boy 'teacher'? Furthermore, there's so much grain here? Was it really the Cheng boy who sent for it?

"Did your father want to say anything to me?" Qiao Chen asked.

"My father said that you should deduct three months and five days' worth of dividends for these fifty carts of grains. He wants you to remember this when you return and leave him alone." Zhang Guangyao relayed his father's words precisely.

Qiao Chen's mouth twitched and said, "I knew your father was a stingy fellow. He won't even give me a discount of five day's worth of dividends. Is there anything else he wanted you to bring to me?"

"My father wrote all the important things down in this letter. Please take a look at it, teacher." Zhang Guangyao replied as he took a letter out of his sleeve and handed it to Qiao Chen.

Qiao Chen accepted the letter and said, "Go rest with Feng Shu and hand the grains over to General Xiao, so he can make the arrangements."

Qiao Chen and the Xiao family's father gave their salutes and then turned around and went back inside to read the letter. Xiao Qinan immediately handed the matter of the grains' arrangements to Xiao Qibei. He needed to follow Qiao Chen back inside.

Even though the Xiao father was confused about why Xiao Qinan traveled to the wall with Cheng Jingyun, someone who was but a weak and young painter, he was always confident with Xiao Qinan. His boy always had his own reasons for doing things, so if Xiao Qinan didn't take the initiative to say, he wouldn't ask either.

Qiao Chen took the letter out to read. He smile and said, "Just as I expected. Cheng Jingrui personally came here to send the guns to the Turkic army."

Qiao Chen saw Xiao Qinan sitting there without a response. He shook his hand in front of Xiao Qinan's eyes and asked, "What's the matter with you?"

"What did you call Zhang Guangyao just now?" Xiao Qinan asked.

"What do I call him?" Qiao Chen was baffled. "I call him Guangyao. What's the matter?"

"You can't call him that anymore." Xiao Qinan said, disgruntled.

"Then what do I call him?" Qiao Chen asked. He looked at Xiao Qinan's face and realized that he was jealous. He said helplessly, "You're jealous when I call him by his first name? He's just a kid to me. He's no threat to you at all."

"You two are about the same age." Xiao Qinan looked as Qiao Chen and said.

"Yes, I am about the same age as him, but I'm mentally much older than he is." Qiao Chen wanted to say 'I'm hundreds of years older than him.', but stopped himself.

"It doesn't matter in whatever aspect you are older than him. You can't address him like that anymore."

"Alright, I'll address him as Zhang Guangyao from now on. Zhang Guanyao, there. Okay? It doesn't matter in whatever aspect I am older than him because in all aspects, I am older than him." Qiao Chen said unhappily.

"Did teacher call for me?" Zhang Guangyao asked. He happened to be passing by Qiao Chen's door, and seemed to here Qiao Chen calling his name, so he stopped to check.

"I didn't call for you. Continue handling your matters." Qiao Chen yelled back.

Zhang Guangyao scratched his head, puzzled. He clearly heard his teacher saying his name and some other things, but left in the end.

Xiao Qinan pulled Qiao Chen close, pushed him down onto the bed, and began taking off Qiao Chen's pants.

Qiao Chen struggled and said, "Can you use your words? Move that hand away you stinking pervert."

"I'm just seeing in what aspect you are more mature than him." Xiao Qinan said and took of Qiao Chen's pants.

"How can you tell who is more mature by just looking at me? Fuck off." Qiao Chen pushed Xiao Qinan's head away.

"You're right. After I take a look at yours I'll go look at his, then I'll know." Xiao Qinan said.

"How dare you go and look at his?" Qiao Chen was angry. He stepped on Xiao Qinan's chest and said, "If you even dare to think about other people, then believe me when I say that I'll cut yours off."

"Then I won't go compare you with him. Let me compare with you instead." Xiao Qinan took off his pants while holding down Qiao Chen.

"Who wants to compare with that tiger dick of yours. Beat it! It's still daytime-hmm…"Qiao Chen failed to push Xiao Qinan away and got his mouth blocked while trying.

…

Prince Yong An sent Cheng Jingrui to the wall. He asked Cheng Jingrui to help the Turkic army kill the Xiao family's father and sons. At the very least, Xiao Qinan was not to return alive.

Chen Jingrui carried a hundred boxes of guns in dozens of small carriages. He specifically took more remote paths to avoid being found. He arrived at the wall ten days after the Xiao family's army.

After trying out the guns Cheng Jingrui brought, the Turkic King was very surprised and immediately discussed the plan to deal with the Xiao family's army with Cheng Jingrui. Then he sent his strongest general to the city gates and to call out for a battle.

Qiao Chen and Xiao Qinan stood upon the top of the city gate. They looked at the Turkic general who wouldn't stop clamoring for a fight as well as shouting many vulgar things.

"Well, they're the ones who are itching to die. You can send them on their way." Qiao Chen sneered with a smirk.

Xiao Qinan turned around and walked down the steps of the tower. When the city gates opened, Xiao Qinan led his soldiers out to war.

"Flying Tiger General, I thought you were too scared to come and decided to hide with your tail between your legs." The big, bearded Turkic general had been beaten by Xiao Qinan many times now. Even though he was able to escape with his life each time, he still had a long-standing grudge against Xiao Qinan. This time, since their king got a hold of such a powerful weapon, he needed to have his revenge for all those humiliating defeats.

"Do you think I'll be afraid of you? You're just a defeated underling." Xiao Qinan asked calmly without even looking at the bearded general once.

"Hmph! It doesn't matter how fierce you used to be, because today, this flying tiger will become a dying tiger." The Turkic general said loudly with a big wave of the dagger in his hand.

"Aghhhhh!" The Turkic general roared and rushed to Xiao Qinan.

Xiao Qinan held his pike and calmly waited for the Turkic general to run right into a beating.

Qiao Chen stayed at the top of the city gate and watched Xiao Qinan and the Turkic general fight. Contrary to what other might have expected, he wasn't nervous. He knew that the Turkic general was no match for Xiao Qinan at first glance. Therefore, he decided to focus on watching Xiao Qinan's heroic aura as he fought. He thought inwardly, 'My man is so handsome. Ha! Beat that that boar like Turkic general like you're beating your son.'

Qiao Chen wanted to praise Xiao Qinan a lot after he finished, but he suddenly thought that if he told Xiao Qinan that the Turkic general should be beat like you're beating your son, then Xiao Qinan would be unhappy. Qiao Chen decided to omit this sentence.

When the Turkic general couldn't beat Xiao Qinan, he began to run away. He didn't run far, and Xiao Qinan didn't chase after him. He returned again to fight with Xiao Qinan, but when he couldn't beat Xiao Qinan, he ran away again. This back and forth occurred several times.

After seeing that Xiao Qinan refused to run after him, the Turkic general simply had his hundreds of soldiers armed with the gun cannons rush forward, positioned their aim at Xiao Qinan, and prepared for alternating shots.

"If you call me grandpa now, get on your knees, and admit defeat, then I might consider giving you a good time." The Turkic general said proudly. It seemed like the one who was beaten like a son wasn't him, but Xiao Qinan.

Xiao Qinan inserted his pike into the ground. Then a soldier handed him a bow and lit the arrow. He slowly drew the bowstring back.

When the Turkic general saw that Xiao Qinan was using a burning arrow to deal with his guns, he figured that Xiao Qinan's effort would be like trying breaking a stone with an egg. However, he was shot once by Xiao Qinan's arrow. The wound from it was so bad that he was bedridden for half a year, so he knew how powerful Xiao Qinan's archery could be. He quickly retreated behind his soldiers armed with guns.

Xiao Qinan aimed at one of the Turkic soldier's hand and shot the arrow towards his gun cannon. The gun immediately exploded and started a big fire. The other Turkic soldiers' gun cannons caught fire and began to explode immediately after.

The Turkic general saw that the situation had gone south, so he desperately rode back. Behind him, explosions continued to ring out in the air. There were hundreds of Turkic soldiers and every single one of them were killed by the gun cannon they held in their hand. Soon, the sounds of explosions and the wails of the men merged into one.

The Turkic general looked back at the scene and was stunned.

After the explosion, the Xiao family's army rushed forward. The Turkic general immediately had the other soldiers meet the Xiao's army head on and block them from advancing. He retreated to the rear.

Previously, the Turkic general had used this method several times to escape and flee. However, this time, Xiao Qinan would no longer allow the other soldiers to stop him and give that general time to escape.

The Xiao army took out the guns from their waists and shot at the remaining Turkic army as they advanced. Once by one, the Turkic soldiers fell.

Xiao Qinan aimed an arrow at the Turkic general who was about to escape and shot. He missed last time because he was being blocked. This time, however, he was going to end that life with his own hands.

Xiao Qinan's arrow flew. It hit dead center, right into the Turkic general's heart. The general fell off the horse as it continued to run off.

As soon as the commanding officer died, the Turkic soldiers who had retreated from the battle at the wall fell into complete disorder.