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墨書 Inktalez
"The Emperor's decree states: Lin Xiaofan has made significant contributions in overseeing grain supplies, and thus the General's residence is hereby returned to him. So it is decreed."
Lin Xiaofan took the imperial edict and looked at the grand red door before him, still bearing the marks of the seal. A myriad of emotions surged within him. He reached out and with a rip, tore the remaining half of the seal into shreds.
"I'm home," he murmured.
Huo Qubing stood nearby, shouldering his spear, a rare smile on his face. "My Lord, I will arrange for someone to clean up right away."
"There's no rush." Lin Xiaofan pushed open the creaking door. "Let's see what has become of our home..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a sudden commotion erupted from afar. A soldier from the Flower Skirt Army rushed over in a panic. "My Lord! It's bad! The townsfolk are rushing this way like mad!"
Zhuge Liang quickly climbed onto the wall to look out, his expression changing drastically. "My Lord, look!"
Following his point direction, Lin Xiaofan saw a throng of people flooding into the streets like a tide. Men, women, and children were all there, their eyes vacant and movements stiff, chanting:
"Kill the traitors..."
"Avenging the Crown Prince..."
"Burn down the General's residence..."
"It's Moro's hypnosis!" Lin Xiaofan gasped in shock. "Quick! Close the gates!"
Just as the heavy doors began to close, loud banging sounds echoed from outside. The entire residence was instantly surrounded.
Huo Qubing led the Flower Skirt Army on the walls, as people attempted to climb up only to be beaten back down with clubs.
"We can't harm them!" Lin Xiaofan shouted. "They are just townsfolk under control!"
Zhuge Liang frowned deeply. "My Lord, this won't work. Our strength has its limits; we can't hold out for long."
Suddenly, Lin Xiaofan recalled something. "Wait! Moro has a fatal weakness—she fears cold!"
"But it's midsummer now..." Zhuge Liang looked around. "Unless..."
The two exchanged glances and spoke in unison: "Nitre ice-making!"
By the well in the backyard, Lin Xiaofan directed several soldiers to haul up large buckets of well water.
"Hurry! Pour in the Nitre powder!"
As the grayish-white powder was poured into the water, it began to freeze at an observable rate. Zhuge Liang fanned vigorously beside it to accelerate the cooling.
"This...," the soldiers stared in awe. "It's like magic!"
"What nonsense!" Lin Xiaofan wiped the sweat from his brow. "This is basic middle school chemistry!"
Soon, a dozen ice blocks the size of washbasins were ready. Lin Xiaofan instructed his men to arrange the ice blocks in a circle along the inner courtyard wall and ordered them to bring copper basins to fill with crushed ice.
From the front courtyard came Huo Qubing's shout: "We can't hold them off any longer! They've broken through the west gate!"
"Retreat to the back courtyard!" Lin Xiaofan shouted loudly. "Everyone, fall back into the ice circle!"
As the last soldier of the Flower Skirt Army jumped into the icy perimeter, the frenzied crowd surged into the back courtyard. But a strange scene unfolded—those hypnotized citizens, upon touching the edge of the ice circle, seemed to hit an invisible barrier. Each one displayed a look of anguish before collapsing limply to the ground in a deep sleep.
"It works!" Huo Qubing exclaimed in surprise.
Lin Xiaofan stared up at the high wall. "It's not over yet..."
Suddenly, the air above the wall began to distort, and a figure cloaked in black slowly emerged. Moro, wearing a bronze mask, rasped, "I underestimated you... to think you could find my weakness..."
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