Chapter 254: The Enemy at the Gate (Thanks to fellow reader Zi Feifei and Liao’s son for the tip!)
November 13
It was already noon, when the sun was high in the sky, radiating its heat. Thousands of Khitan soldiers wearing leather armor and holding scimitars appeared in Xinfa County, not far from the county seat. Upon seeing this, the soldiers on the city wall immediately became serious and beat the war drums.

“Boom! Boom! Boom…”

The fierce sound of war drums rang out, and the Zhenwu Army soldiers, who had been well prepared, immediately arrived at the designated positions according to the plan, and watched vigilantly for the Khitans appearing outside the city.

Compared to the Zhenwu Army soldiers on the city who were acting as if they were facing a formidable enemy, the Khitans below the city seemed much more relaxed. They were outside the range of the city's firearms and crossbows, and they were showing off their might as if to announce their presence.

"Cowardly Zhou people, do you dare to come out of your turtle shells?"

"You two-legged sheep, go back and drink milk!"

"Come out and die quickly, I'll give you a quick death!"

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In response to the Khitans' shouting and cursing, the Zhenwu Army soldiers on the city wall also started to hurl all kinds of foul language at them.

After a while of shouting and cursing, the two sides saw that the Zhenwu Army soldiers refused to come out and advanced lightly without carrying any heavy weapons, so the Khitans retreated under the orders of their respective leaders and began to set up camp about a mile away from the county town. It seemed that they had no intention of attacking the city.

Lin Huaiwu, who was at the front line of the city, stood on the watchtower and looked at the Khitan army camp in the distance, his expression full of gloom.

Although he knew that the Khitans were provoking him just to provoke him and force him to leave the city for a decisive battle, the young and hot-tempered Lin Huaiwu was still furious and wanted to rush out of the city and kick the Khitans' heads like balls...
"Commander, we have already found out that the group of Khitan soldiers outside the city are the same group of Khitan soldiers that were originally stationed ten miles away."

"However, compared to the 2,000 people we explored a few days ago, this group of Khitan soldiers seems to have received reinforcements, and the number has reached about 2,500." A middle-aged man of medium build and handsome appearance bowed to Lin Huaiwu and reported:

The person who came was none other than Xun Ke, an old subordinate of He Jingyun!
Under Ye Mingsheng's deliberate instigation, the unbalanced He Jingyun began to be suspicious of Xun Ke. Xun Ke was also a careful person. He felt He Jingyun's suspicion of him, and he was quite disappointed in He Jingyun.

In addition, Xun Ke, who was transferred to the Second Battalion to assist Lin Huaiwu, had many things to do, so the relationship between him and He Jingyun gradually became alienated, and the contacts between the two became less frequent...
After hearing Xun Ke's report, Lin Huaiwu restrained his expression, nodded and said:
"Thank you for your hard work, Chief Sentinel Xun!"

Although Xun Ke is superior to Lin Huaiwu in terms of qualifications and ability, as a subordinate, Xun Ke still has a very good mentality and is respectful to his superior Lin Huaiwu, which makes the relationship between him and Lin Huaiwu very harmonious. In the process of working together, Lin Huaiwu gradually felt Xun Ke's ability. Under Ye Mingsheng's instruction, he also gave full respect to this veteran. Although his official position is still a sentry leader, Xun Ke has actually become the deputy commander of the second battalion, second only to Lin Huaiwu.

After observing the Khitan camp not far away, Lin Huaiwu seemed to have thought of something and asked Xun Ke:
"Where are the troops of Xiao Xiu and Yelu Hange now?"

"According to the scouts' report, Xiao Xiu is still near Xiaoxitun, while Yelu Hange's troops have left Panjiabao and their whereabouts are unknown." Xun thought for a moment and reported truthfully;
"What on earth do these Khitans want to do?" Lin Huaiwu thought for a moment and said with some distress:
Although Lin Huaiwu is not a famous general, he has experienced many battles and his ability is above the passing line!
Since realizing the possible invasion by the Khitans, Lin Huaiwu quickly launched the work of clearing the fields and moving the villages that might be looted to the rear, preventing the Khitans from finding a grain of food on the land of Xinfa County. This forced the Khitans, who had always believed in fighting to support the war, to retreat after suffering heavy losses under the city of Xinfa County.

But what surprised him was that this time the aggressive Khitans did not seem to intend to win a quick victory, but instead divided their troops into three groups and advanced at a steady pace, as if they were planning to fight a protracted war.

In fact, according to Lin Huaiwu's initial prediction, they should have appeared outside the city of Xinfa County five days ago. However, the reality is that the Khitans, who had been stationed on the border and sharpening their knives, finally took action until now...
This made Lin Huaiwu a little confused. He didn't know what the Khitan general on the opposite side, whose name he didn't even know, was up to.

"Master Commander, don't worry! Your letter should have reached the hands of the general now. He will make a decision. You just need to remain unchanged in the face of all changes and defend Xinfa County."

"Counting the Khitans in front of us, as well as the two armies of Xiao Xiu and Yelu Hange, the total number of Khitans that have appeared is about 5,000. Without sufficient food supplies, they will not be able to hold out for a few days and will have to retreat!" Xun Ke said comfortingly:

Xun Ke's words undoubtedly gave Lin Huaiwu some confidence. He nodded and glanced at the Khitan military camp outside the city, and said coldly:
"I want to see what tricks these Khitan dogs can come up with!"

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Just as Lin Huaiwu was observing the Khitan military camp, a middle-aged Khitan man in the Khitan military camp, who was tall, strong, and had a shaved head and was wearing armor with a blue ox pattern, was also observing the Xinfa County town that was on high alert.

Looking at the barrel of the tiger squatting cannon exposed on the battlements of the county town and other defensive measures, a cunning smile appeared on the face of this distinguished Khitan man. He no longer hesitated and walked back to the felt tent in the middle of the military camp.

There is no doubt that this person is Yelu Yan, the eldest son of the current Khitan King Yelu Kang and the future ruler of the Khitan tribe!
As soon as Yelu Yan returned to the tent, his trusted subordinate Yelu Zhiguji came in, bowed with one hand on his chest, and asked:

"My Lord, General Xiao Xiu has sent someone to ask you when we should march to Shiquan County?"

(End of this chapter)