IDWBE -Chapter 160 The Ayu Kingdom

Lin Yi said, “When it’s time to go back, we still have to go back.”

In two lifetimes, there were few things that truly weighed on his heart.

His mother and younger sister were probably the ones he worried about the most.

“I understand.”

Mingyue stood behind Lin Yi, her pale cheeks glimmering in the moonlight.

Out of boredom, Lin Yi strolled to Hong Ying’s door.

The door was tightly closed, and the room was pitch dark.

Lin Yi lifted the wooden meal box on the steps. The food inside was still there, untouched.

“It’s cold,”

Lin Yi glanced at the side chamber and said to Mingyue, “Tell the kitchen to have someone watch over it, and make sure he eats something warm.”

Mingyue nodded and walked off.

Xiao Xizi, unaware, had quietly slipped out of the shadows and followed Lin Yi until he entered the room to rest. Only then did Xiao Xizi return to the outside of Hong Ying’s chamber.

At Baiyun City, the sun was harshest at noon.

Even locals wouldn’t dare venture out at this time; foreign merchants certainly wouldn’t. They had long heard how deadly the sun could be—heatstroke could easily be fatal.

No one would gamble with their lives so recklessly.

But this day was different.

The able-bodied men of Baiyun City formed a line stretching half a mile from the magistrate’s office, many hiding in the river or shade.

The magistrate’s office was registering for militia recruitment.

Those who hadn’t eaten meat in a long time had eyes that practically glowed at night.

They heard that joining the militia meant meat to eat and, in wartime, money to earn. Many had come early to secure a spot.

Although it was compulsory service, joining the militia had requirements—you couldn’t just join because you wanted to.

Skilled fighters were prioritized, then health checks. Only those without illness or disability could enter.

Those who passed were overjoyed to receive wooden tags; those who failed hung their heads in disappointment.

Visiting merchants were astonished.

Sanhe was truly different from other places—people actually competed to serve!

And there were even women.

Women weren’t required to serve; it was entirely voluntary, yet they eagerly lined up too.

Elsewhere, people would move mountains and forests to avoid conscription and taxes.

The sweaty butcher Jiang Hu crowded among them, wiping sweat and cursing, “Damn it! Why the push and shove! Can’t you take it slow?”

Zhu Ruorong, who hadn’t received a Sanhe household registration yet, watched from the shade, scoffing, “Don’t you know? Militia slots are limited! Once ten thousand are recruited, that’s it. Fast feet get in, slow ones don’t.”

“Speak for yourself!”

If Jiang Hu hadn’t feared losing to Zhu Ruorong, he would have barged ahead.

Every day, it felt like the world was against him!

He was now eager for his daughter Jiang Zhen to reach fourth rank.

Then, who would dare underestimate him!

“Don’t push. Line up properly. Those not yet called, wait on the side,”

Sun Yi, just promoted to head instructor of the guard, was brimming with confidence. With four officers, he maintained order, scolding anyone out of line.

No one dared argue—it felt amazing!

Yet, few listened to his instructions. Everyone still braved the heat, crowded in the long line.

After all, this was a chance to eat, drink, and avoid paying.

As for ideals like “loyalty” or “protect Sanhe”—those didn’t exist.

They weren’t foolish.

That same day, the Sanhe ships returned—eleven in total from the Liang and Hu families—unloading crates of goods from the southern seas.

The sailors, learning about the compulsory militia recruitment, frowned.

They had earned plenty over a month at sea.

No one wanted to waste time in the militia.

Shan Qi, however, was reasonable. He declared that sailors didn’t need to participate—no need to consult Lin Yi.

After all, Sanhe’s main income came from ship taxes, cargo permits, and trade taxes.

Without sailors, the ships would be useless, disrupting the entire tax system.

Lin Yi stood on the shore, watching the endless comings and goings of ships and boats, frowning. “Tian Shiyou hasn’t returned yet?”

He regretted sending Tian Shiyou to help Prince Yong transport troops to Yongzhou.

If only he had known earlier that Huang Sifang was Prince Yong’s man.

Qi Peng shook his head. “I have no assistants with Tian Shiyou, so I couldn’t get news.”

This was part of Lin Yi’s order—no one could be placed near Tian Shiyou.

Lin Yi said, “Then watch closely from the shore.”

Qi Peng nodded.

Wang Qingbang ran over hurriedly. “Prince, bad news! Chen Xinluo sent a pigeon message—Ayu is assembling an army.”

“Bad luck comes every year, and this year especially,”

Lin Yi sighed. “How many?”

“About thirty thousand!”

Wang Qingbang frowned. “We just don’t know if they’ll come to Sanhe.”

“This Li Fo really loves causing trouble,”

Lin Yi squatted on a tree stump. “I truly am a man who loves peace.”

Soon, Shan Qi, Chen Desheng, and other elders hurried over.

“Prince!”

Shan Qi cupped his hands. “I’ve already ordered twenty thousand militia!”

Ten thousand would surely not be enough.

Lin Yi said, “With ten thousand guards, that makes thirty thousand—barely equal to Ayu. Too few. Any other ideas?”

Xing Keshou said, “If Ayu invades, the first to face them are the southern Liren, Lianren, and Qian tribes. I think we must coordinate centrally to resist! When General Mei campaigned south, he did this—leaders of hundreds of tribes personally led over ten thousand men to fight alongside Mei Jingzhi.”

“That’s a good idea,” Lin Yi said, gazing at the clouds drifting across the sky. “Who negotiated with the tribe leaders back then?”

Xie Zan said, “Liang Gensheng, Qiu Wujin, and Hu Banquan.”

Lin Yi said, “Let them handle it again. Tell them—after success, I’ll waive their shipping permit fees for a year.”

Shan Qi smiled. “That will do.”

“Proceed at your discretion.”

Lin Yi knew he had no way back.

If he didn’t go, he had to go.

In no time, Sanhe was once again in tense wartime preparation.

Compared to the last campaign to Yuezhou, the atmosphere was noticeably different.

Locals knew better than anyone the brutality of Ayu.

Moreover, this time Ayu was attacking—unless they abandoned their homes, there was no escape.

“Submit the memorials,”

Lin Yi told Shan Qi. “What if a miracle happens?”

He hoped Prince Taizi or Mei Jingzhi would have a change of heart and send troops to help.