Rebirth and Reversal of Fortune

Chapter 223 Su Jinxiu's Concern Amidst the Flames of War

While in the capital, Su Jinxiu was preoccupied with Xiao Ling's safety and actively prepared supplies for the front lines. She suffered from sleepless nights, constantly worried about Xiao Ling's situation on the border.

To ensure that supplies could be delivered to the front lines in a timely and sufficient manner, Su Jinxiu tirelessly shuttled between various departments. She argued with officials of the Ministry of Revenue to secure more military funding; discussed with officials of the Ministry of Works to improve the manufacture of weapons and equipment; and negotiated with merchants to procure high-quality grain and fodder.

However, the difficulties she faced far exceeded her expectations. Some officials deliberately shirked responsibility and ignored her requests; some merchants took the opportunity to inflate prices, attempting to make exorbitant profits. But Su Jinxiu was not defeated by these difficulties; with her wisdom and decisiveness, she resolved each problem one by one.

During a procurement process, Su Jinxiu discovered that a supplier was using inferior materials. She exposed the supplier's scheme on the spot, brought them to justice without hesitation, and then sought out a more reliable supplier.

Meanwhile, some powerful figures in the capital harbored jealousy and resentment towards Su Jinxiu's actions. They spread rumors behind her back, accusing her of embezzling funds and misappropriating resources. These rumors spread rapidly throughout the capital, putting immense pressure on Su Jinxiu.

Faced with these malicious slanders, Su Jinxiu chose to confront them calmly. She clarified the facts in public, showcasing her accounts and the progress of her preparations to set the record straight.

Meanwhile, on the frontier, Xiao Ling's injuries gradually improved, but his mind was on the war, and he threw himself back into battle before fully recovering. He knew that the enemy would not give them much of a chance to breathe, and he had to seize the time to prepare for defense.

Despite his injuries, Xiao Ling personally directed his soldiers to reinforce the city walls and set up traps. His perseverance and bravery inspired every soldier, and they worked together to prepare for the next wave of enemy attacks.

However, at this critical moment, the army faced a food shortage crisis. Due to torrential rains and mudslides during transport, some of the supplies were destroyed and could not be delivered on time.

Xiao Ling was extremely anxious. On the one hand, he ordered the conservation of food supplies, and on the other hand, he sent cavalry to search for nearby supplies. However, the surrounding areas had already been looted by the enemy, and the situation was extremely critical.

Upon learning of this situation, Su Jinxiu was extremely anxious. She decided to risk using an abandoned transport route, which, although fraught with danger, was currently the fastest supply route.

She personally organized a brave transport team and embarked on this arduous journey. Along the way, they encountered attacks from bandits and harsh weather, but Su Jinxiu remained steadfast in her beliefs, encouraging everyone to move forward.

Finally, thanks to Su Jinxiu's efforts, the supplies were delivered to the frontier on time. Xiao Ling and the soldiers were filled with admiration and gratitude for her courage and wisdom.

However, the enemy also noticed that the Houfu army's supplies had arrived and decided to take this opportunity to launch a general offensive.

On the frontier battlefield, Xiao Ling led his troops in a fierce battle against the enemy.

Smoke filled the air, and the shouts of battle were deafening. Xiao Ling led the charge, wielding his longsword, and wherever he went, enemy soldiers fell. His eyes were firm and resolute, and he held only one belief in his heart: to defend the border and protect the homeland behind him.

Inspired by Xiao Ling, the soldiers of the Marquis's mansion fought bravely and fearlessly against the enemy. However, the enemy was numerous and well-equipped, and the Marquis's army gradually found itself in a predicament.

Xiao Ling watched his soldiers fall one after another, his heart filled with anxiety. He knew that if things continued this way, the situation would become extremely unfavorable for them. Therefore, he made a decisive move, adjusting his tactics and deciding to concentrate his forces to break through one of the enemy's defensive lines.

Under Xiao Ling's command, the Marquis's army launched a fierce charge. The soldiers fought bravely and relentlessly, finally tearing a gap in the enemy's lines. However, they paid a heavy price, with many valiant warriors falling forever on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Su Jinxiu also faced immense pressure in the capital. Some unscrupulous individuals seized the opportunity to slander Xiao Ling before the emperor, accusing him of ineffective military campaigns that had led to the stalemate. The emperor was skeptical of these accusations and began to harbor doubts about Xiao Ling and the Marquis's mansion.

Su Jinxiu knew that if the emperor lost trust in the Marquis's mansion, the consequences would be unimaginable. She decided to risk entering the palace to explain the battle situation to the emperor in person and request more support.

In the palace, Su Jinxiu encountered numerous obstacles. The ministers who spread slanderous rumors made things difficult for her, attempting to prevent her from seeing the emperor. However, relying on her intelligence and unwavering determination, Su Jinxiu finally overcame all obstacles and met the emperor.

Su Jinxiu gave the emperor a detailed report on the actual situation on the frontier, as well as the heroic performance of Xiao Ling and his soldiers. Tears streaming down her face, she pleaded with the emperor not to listen to slander, but to trust the loyalty of the Marquis's family and Xiao Ling's military talent. Moved by Su Jinxiu's sincerity, the emperor decided to give the Marquis's family another chance and dispatched additional troops and supplies to support the frontier.

After receiving the emperor's support, Su Jinxiu rushed back to the capital without stopping, organized manpower and resources, and sent the aid to the frontier as soon as possible.

However, during the transport of supplies, they were ambushed by enemy forces. The general in charge of the escort remained calm and led his soldiers in a fierce resistance. After a brutal battle, they finally repelled the enemy, but suffered significant losses of supplies.

On the frontier battlefield, Xiao Ling and his soldiers were still struggling to hold on. The enemy continued to launch attacks, and the Marquis's army suffered increasing casualties. Just when they were almost in despair, the reinforcements organized by Su Jinxiu finally arrived.

Seeing reinforcements arrive, Xiao Ling's hope was rekindled. He immediately reorganized his forces, redeployed the defensive line, and prepared to meet the enemy's next attack.

However, the enemy seemed to have realized that the Marquis's army had received reinforcements. They changed their tactics and sent out an elite force to try to bypass the Marquis's army's defenses and strike directly at the rear.