Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 326 - 325. Battle at the Capital of Great Chu, Breaking the Siege
325. Bloodbath in the Capital of Great Chu, Relief of the Siege
Due to the arrival of the Black Cloud Cavalry, the victory that once seemed within easy reach gradually became difficult. The Capital of Great Chu, which had been on the verge of collapse, suddenly seemed to have regained its strength. Although the Northern Territory army still outnumbered the defenders of the Capital of Great Chu by more than ten to one, their superior numbers were useless in these narrow city streets. Moreover, the soldiers defending the city understood the Capital of Great Chu far better than these so-called barbarians from the Northern Territory. Even if they couldn’t drive the Northern Territory army out of the city, it was completely impossible for these invaders to fully occupy the Capital of Great Chu in a short period.
Feng Zhiyao stood on a city tower, observing the battle unfolding in the distance. He gradually noticed large numbers of Northern Territory troops ignoring the city’s defenders and rushing madly towards the west. A cold smile touched his handsome face. "Want to seize the West Gate? It won’t be that easy."
Yun Ting, standing behind Feng Zhiyao, watched the Northern Territory troops swarming in the distance and said, "Are they trying to capture the West Gate first to cut off the Mo Family Army’s entry into the city, and then deal with our defenders?"
Feng Zhiyao laughed. "Don’t worry, the Prince gave me some interesting items before he left. But..." He frowned in confusion. "These things seem a bit dangerous to use within the city..."
Yun Ting, however, had no such concerns. "What time is it to be worrying about that? If they really break through, we won’t have enough men to even slow them down."
Feng Zhiyao stroked his chin and nodded. "You’re right! Actually, I don’t even know what those things really do! You there... take your things and block those fellows." He turned, waved, and called over a Qilin squad leader who had accompanied them. The Qilin were naturally eager; they had possessed these items for some time but had never had a chance to use them. Receiving Feng Zhiyao’s command, the squad leader waved his hand, and immediately led a team of Qilin, each carrying a rectangular box, down from the city tower.
Inside the city, the Northern Territory soldiers, following Ren Qining’s orders, all charged towards the West Gate’s city tower. However, on the main street, just as the West Gate came into view, they heard a loud BOOM, followed by a succession of explosions. Before the Northern Territory army could comprehend what was happening, they were thrown into disarray, dazed, and bloodied by the blasts.
If they were people from the Central Plains, they might have at least seen fireworks or firecrackers. However, before Ren Qining unified the Northern Territory, these ’barbarians’ lived a life only slightly better than primitive tribes. They had never witnessed such earth-shattering roars and destructive power. Many Northern Territory soldiers were terrified, believing they had offended the gods who had now unleashed heavenly thunder upon them. Those hit by the explosions were naturally in a terrible state. Of those who weren’t directly hit, fifty to sixty percent were so frightened they knelt on the ground, too scared to get up. Uncivilized peoples often held a greater fear of heaven and earth than those from the Central Plains.
After the round of explosions, the entire street reeked of gunpowder, and the ground was littered with the mangled bodies of soldiers. On a nearby city tower, Yun Ting stared with wide, shocked eyes, stammering, "This... this thing was given to you by the Prince?" It was rather too frightening. He had clearly seen those Qilin fellows hiding something along the street. The moment the Northern Territory men entered, they were reduced to this state.
If Ye Li had been there, he would have considered these effects rather unremarkable. The best devices developed after years of research in the secret imperial mausoleum couldn’t even compare to early hand grenades, let alone high explosives like TNT, where a pound could demolish a six or seven-story building. As for the firearms developed in the imperial mausoleum’s underground palace, Ye Li didn’t even bother to bring them out. Their range and accuracy were inferior to bows and arrows. He figured he would wait for another four or five generations of improvements. But for the people of this era, who were still accustomed to fireworks and firecrackers, the effect was still terrifying enough.
Feng Zhiyao nodded with a wooden expression, concealing his own shock. Inwardly, he couldn’t help but curse Mo Xiuyao. You have such a great weapon of destruction, why didn’t you bring it out sooner!
This was certainly an unjust accusation against Mo Xiuyao. These items were all currently handmade; there was no assembly line production. Producing seven or eight a month was considered high yield, and the weapons themselves weren’t exceptionally lethal. The seemingly earth-shattering destruction on the street moments ago was because the Qilin had placed no less than a hundred such devices along both sides of the street. Given their inconvenient portability, high production cost, and the fact that one thrown in an open area might not even kill three people, Mo Xiuyao had no plans to use them widely on the battlefield in the short term. The Northern Territory soldiers were simply unlucky to be so densely packed in these narrow streets—who else would be the target if not them?
The Northern Territory men were not entirely witless. Soon, someone reacted, shouting, "This is a trick by the Central Plains people! Don’t be afraid! Charge and kill them!" The Northern Territory warriors were, after all, fierce. With someone taking the lead, they quickly scrambled to their feet and followed, screaming as they charged forward. The Qilin positioned on the rooftops on either side were unsurprised. Grinning fiercely, they hurled black objects downwards. The black spheres landed, and amidst the Northern Territory soldiers’ momentary bewilderment, they exploded violently. Those closest were unsurprisingly sent flying.
Then, another series of deafening explosions ripped through the street, interspersed with the cries and screams of the Northern Territory men. When the explosions finally ceased, the surviving Northern Territory soldiers could bear it no longer. They discarded their armor and helmets and fled into the distance.
The intense explosions in the western part of the city were heard not only by everyone in the Capital of Great Chu but also by Ren Qining outside the city. His eyes turned cold as he asked, "What happened?"
Soon, a soldier stumbled out of the city to report, "Your Majesty, the Mo Family Army possesses demonic objects! Our soldiers have suffered heavy casualties!"
Ren Qining’s face instantly turned livid with rage. "This King wants to know what kind of demonic object is so powerful!"
The reporting soldier trembled as he said, "The soldiers couldn’t see clearly what it was. They only heard heaven-shattering roars, and then many men died, covered in blood."
"Are you saying you didn’t even see anyone from the Mo Family Army?" Ren Qining demanded. The soldier thought for a moment, then nodded. They indeed hadn’t seen any sign of the Mo Family Army.
"Bastards! This King doesn’t care what demonic objects the Mo Family Army has! You must capture the West Gate for this King within two hours!"
The soldier hesitated for a moment before saying, "But... many soldiers are saying... saying it’s the wrath of heaven, that’s why heavenly thunder struck. They dare not advance..."
Ren Qining sneered. "Heavenly thunder? How could there be heavenly thunder on a clear day with ten thousand li of blue sky? If there is heavenly thunder, let it strike this King first! Pass down the order: if the West Gate is not captured within two hours, the commanding general will present his head to me!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Watching the messenger depart, his face pale with fear, Ren Qining’s already ashen face contorted further with a savage expression. Heavenly thunder?! Ridiculous! Mo Xiuyao... have you truly obtained the treasure left by the ancestors?
Unlike Tan Jizhi, Ren Qining had been raised in a truly reclusive and prominent family. His tutors were former officials of the previous dynasty who had remained loyal to it. They had naturally read him many historical records about the former dynasty, including authentic, unique manuscripts that were otherwise lost to the world. Some of these included personal notes from the Great Founding Emperor, which cryptically mentioned certain things. Ren Qining had previously paid them little heed, especially since the Great Founding Emperor had conquered the world without relying on such items. Subsequent emperors also showed no signs of possessing any powerful, mysterious weapons, making their existence questionable. However, now, recalling the rumors from some years ago about the previous dynasty’s treasure in the Northwest, Ren Qining understood. At the time, he had been busy suppressing rebellious tribes in the Northern Territory, but he had still dispatched men to investigate. They found no treasure, and the various factions vying for it also returned empty-handed. He never imagined Mo Xiuyao had secretly obtained it.
"A fine one, Mo Xiuyao! This King shall see just how formidable you truly are!" Ren Qining snorted coldly, gritting his teeth.
The battle in the city raged from dusk till night. The Capital City, which should have long fallen silent, was still ablaze with lights, the din of battle shaking the heavens. At the West Gate, Feng Zhiyao and Yun Ting remained vigilant. Yun Ting stared at the fires in the distant city, frowning. "If the main army doesn’t arrive soon, I’m afraid we won’t be able to hold out much longer."
Feng Zhiyao’s brow furrowed. "The Prince said he would arrive. There won’t be any problems. As long as the West Gate doesn’t fall into Northern Territory hands, everything will be resolved once the Mo Family Army enters the city." Though he said this, he knew the difficulties involved. Their journey had been fiercely obstructed and attacked by the Beirong army; arriving in the Capital of Great Chu in such a short time was already no simple feat. Moreover, the Black Cloud Cavalry moved several times faster than infantry, making it even more difficult for the main army to arrive within a mere two to four hours.
Yun Ting was not one to worry unnecessarily. He let out a breath and said, "You’re right. No matter what, we just need to hold the West Gate!"
"Third Feng!" Not far away, Leng Haoyu, covered in blood, rushed up. He had several more wounds than when he had left earlier. "When will the army finally arrive?!" he demanded irritably as soon as he saw them.
Feng Zhiyao rolled his eyes but still reached out to support him. "They’ll arrive when they arrive. Do you think it was easy for us to get here? That madman Yelv Ye mobilized almost all the Beirong forces in Great Chu to intercept us."
Leng Haoyu gasped for breath, leaning against the city wall, panting with a hint of despair. "If the Prince doesn’t come soon, we really won’t make it."
"I know," Feng Zhiyao said. He knew that if this dragged on much longer, it wouldn’t just be the city defenders who couldn’t hold on; he himself might not be able to either. Although the Northern Territory soldiers feared the minefields laid by the Qilin in the streets, several groups had already attempted to force their way through. Although these attempts were repelled, close-quarters combat would be inevitable if they tried again. The Qilin, having used up the bombs they brought, had already moved to other locations to kill enemies.
Yun Ting said, "Brother Leng, you rest here for a while. I’ll go down."
As he was about to descend, Leng Haoyu grabbed him. "Don’t go. You and Third Feng need to guard the gate. I still have to find people." The city was in chaos, with fighting everywhere. Leng Haoyu had lost track of Leng Huai and the others. In such a large city, finding someone under these conditions was extremely difficult, but he knew he had to try.
"But..." Yun Ting looked worriedly at Leng Haoyu’s injuries.
Leng Haoyu patted his shoulder and smiled. "Just flesh wounds, nothing serious. I’m going..."
"Wait!" Feng Zhiyao stopped him, a look of wild joy spreading across his face. "The army is here!"
Everyone turned to look. Sure enough, in the far distance, a fiery dragon was rapidly moving towards them. Initially, it was only sporadically visible, but soon it became quite distinct. Not to mention the gradually loudening sound of galloping hooves. Feng Zhiyao shouted, "The army has arrived! Open the city gates!" Cheers erupted from the city tower.
The first to arrive were still the Black Cloud Cavalry, who had been clearing the path. In the dead of night, the black-clad cavalrymen stormed through the city gate, charging into the city without pause, and immediately engaged the Northern Territory soldiers in a fierce melee. A short while later, those on the city tower saw a figure in white robes with white hair riding towards them on horseback. "The Prince has arrived! The Prince has arrived!" Red fireworks bloomed again in the night sky. Amidst the slaughter and bloodshed that had gripped the Capital of Great Chu, cheers and laughter finally erupted.
On a street in the eastern part of the city, Wei Lin and a few soldiers were surrounded by a large contingent of Northern Territory troops. The ground around them was already piled high with enemy corpses, but the number of foes still standing before them was far greater. Fresh blood soaked Wei Lin’s black attire, though it was barely visible in the darkness. With a cold glance at the Northern Territory soldiers before him, Wei Lin let out a sneer. The long sword in his hand flashed, drawing a streak of cold light and a spray of blood.
Having fought relentlessly for an entire day, even Wei Lin was feeling fatigued, let alone the ordinary soldiers beside him. Soon, the few soldiers accompanying Wei Lin had also fallen. Wei Lin’s eyes were bloodshot as he swiftly wielded his sword, cutting his way into the enemy ranks. Just as these Northern Territory soldiers were rejoicing at the prospect of finally eliminating this very troublesome opponent, a group of soldiers in distinctly different uniforms charged toward them. The man leading them was tall and upright, his handsome face stern. He wielded a gleaming Qingshuang sword, and wherever its cold light flashed, Northern Territory soldiers, unable to dodge in time, fell as souls claimed by his blade.
With the arrival of this fresh force, the tide of battle instantly turned.
"Who are you?!" the leader of the Northern Territory soldiers roared in unwilling fury.
The man on horseback glanced at him haughtily and, without hesitation, swung his sword. "This General is He Su!"
Big Brother... Wei Lin looked in astonishment at the man before him in military attire. Isn’t this Darky One, whom I haven’t seen for many years?
Darky One, He Su, strode forward to support Wei Lin, smiling. "Little Four, it’s been so many years. Are you all well?"
Wei Lin nodded. "We are all very well. It’s just that Big Brother was sent on a mission by the Princess Consort and hasn’t returned..." Although they knew Darky One had been sent on a mission by the Princess Consort, they didn’t know what it entailed. They had worried about him considerably over the years, never expecting that upon seeing him again, he would have become a general leading troops.
He Su smiled. "The Princess Consort said back then that I was better suited to leading troops than anything else. So she had me enlist anonymously under General Murong as a common soldier. After serving in various places, I’ve finally, after all these years, not failed to live up to her expectations."
"Congratulations, Big Brother." As former members of the Princess Consort’s hidden guard, brothers who had served her together, Wei Lin was genuinely happy for He Su’s achievements.
He Su smiled. "I’ve heard you all are doing well too. The Prince has already led the army into the city. You’re badly injured; go to the western part of the city to settle down and rest." Although Wei Lin wore black, making it hard to see his injuries, He Su was no ordinary person. He could naturally tell that Wei Lin’s complexion was poor and surmised his wounds were not light. He Su called over a few soldiers to escort Wei Lin to the western part of the city, then continued leading his own troops to clear out the remaining Northern Territory forces within the city.
The sounds of fighting within the city only began to subside around dawn, though skirmishes continued in some smaller areas. Soldiers of the Mo Family Army were still combing through the streets and alleys, searching for any remaining Northern Territory soldiers and tending to the wounded of the Capital of Great Chu.
At first light, Mo Xiuyao, accompanied by his generals, stood on the northern tower of the Capital of Great Chu, looking down from his high vantage point at the Northern Territory army’s main camp in the distance. Although hundreds of thousands of Northern Territory soldiers remained outside the city, the Mo Family Army paid them little heed. After this battle, the Northern Territory army had not only failed to capture the Capital of Great Chu but had also suffered innumerable losses in soldiers and commanders. It wasn’t just their numbers; their morale was bound to plummet by more than a single tier.
As if the heavens themselves felt a shred of pity after the bloody battle, a light snow began to drift down as day broke. Mo Xiuyao wore no cloak, still standing in his white robes on the city tower amidst the falling snow. Viewed from below, he seemed like a born deity looking down upon the mortal world. Even across such a great distance, Ren Qining and the Northern Territory generals felt an indescribable pressure emanating from him.
"Your Highness, State Duke Hua has been found!" a guard hurried to report.
Mo Xiuyao turned. "Where is he?"
The guard hesitated for a moment. "State Duke Hua is in the southern part of the city. He is severely injured... I fear..." Everyone’s heart sank, understanding what the guard left unsaid.
Mo Xiuyao was silent for a moment, then said, "This King will go see him. General Lv, I leave this place to you." Lv Songxian said nothing more, merely nodding silently.
State Duke Hua was in a small alley in the southern part of the city. When the Mo Family Army soldiers found him, he was already grievously wounded and unable to move. Not far from him lay the corpses of soldiers from both the Northern Territory and Great Chu. State Duke Hua had been run through with a sword, the blade still embedded in his body. He sat alone, resting on a stone block near the alley’s entrance. The winter nights in the Capital of Great Chu were not much warmer than in the Northwest, and State Duke Hua was an old man, already over seventy, approaching eighty. Under such grievous wounds, his face had already begun to turn a deathly pale blue.
"Old State Duke!" Mo Xiuyao stepped forward, supporting State Duke Hua. He glanced at the military medic nearby and asked, "What’s going on? Why are you not treating the State Duke’s wounds?"
State Duke Hua raised a hand to stop Mo Xiuyao, shaking his head. "There’s no need. I know my own injuries. It’s... it’s no use..."
Mo Xiuyao bent down to examine the sword wound, his expression turning grim. The wound was in a vital spot. A man in his prime might have had a sliver of hope, but given State Duke Hua’s current state, pulling out the sword would likely mean immediate death. Closing his eyes, Mo Xiuyao said softly, "Old State Duke, we arrived too late."
State Duke Hua shook his head. Looking at Mo Xiuyao, he managed a faint smile. "I know... it wasn’t easy for you either. To be able... to arrive in time... and prevent the Capital of Great Chu from falling into Northern Territory hands... is very good..."
Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze in thought for a moment. Placing one hand on State Duke Hua’s shoulder, he began channeling true qi to sustain his life, while instructing, "Go find the members of the Hua Family."
A nearby guard quickly reported, "We’ve already sent for them. If the Hua Family members are unharmed, they should arrive soon."
Hearing Mo Xiuyao’s words, a faint smile touched State Duke Hua’s lips. He whispered, "Are Tianxiang and the others well?"
Mo Xiuyao replied in a deep voice, "They are very well. Tianxiang is engaged to marry Qingfeng in a few months. Qingfeng, come here!"
Xu Qingfeng quickly stepped forward and said respectfully, "Old State Duke..."
State Duke Hua struggled to lift his head and look at him, then smiled. "A child of the Xu Family... all good children. Very good... This old man won’t live to see your wedding. In the future... you must treat Tianxiang well."
Xu Qingfeng’s eyes reddened, and he nodded repeatedly. "Yes, Old State Duke... Grandfather..."
"Good child..."
A clatter of hurried footsteps came from outside the alley, and a young man rushed towards them. "Grandfather! Grandfather..."
State Duke Hua looked up at him, a flicker of relief in his eyes, before they slowly closed.
"Grandfather?!" The young man arrived just in time to see State Duke Hua close his eyes with a smile on his lips. He collapsed to his knees, wailing loudly. Beside him, a shadow of sorrow passed through Mo Xiuyao’s eyes as he slowly withdrew the hand that had rested on the State Duke’s shoulder. He commanded in a solemn voice, "State Duke Hua served his country with his life, dying in fierce battle. Order that he be buried with the rites of a prince or marquis, and be posthumously ennobled as the ’Marquis of Loyalty and Integrity’."
"As you command, Your Highness."
In many parts of the Capital City, similar scenes of grief were unfolding. This battle had claimed countless lives. Not only soldiers from the Capital of Great Chu’s garrison but also members of the Black Cloud Cavalry and the Mo Family Army had fallen. Among them were not just ordinary soldiers but also many high-ranking commanders.
Elsewhere, Leng Haoyu, forcing his severely injured body to remain upright, gazed at the person lying on the ground before him, an unreadable, complex emotion in his eyes. Leng Huai knelt on the ground, cradling the already cold body of his eldest son. When they found Leng Qingyu, he was already dead, an arrow piercing his chest, striking a vital point. This man, always stern and proud, who had never been willing to admit that his younger brother born of a concubine was more outstanding than himself, had finally died silently on the streets of the Capital of Great Chu, without leaving a single word.
Leng Huai, cradling his son’s cold body, wept old tears. No matter what, this had been his most beloved son, the one in whom he had invested the most hope. The pain of losing his son was more agonizing than his own death would have been.
Leng Haoyu silently approached and squatted beside Leng Huai. "Father," he said softly, "let’s take Big Brother home first." Finally, the equally proud Leng Haoyu was willing to acknowledge this man as his elder brother.
Leng Huai looked back at Leng Haoyu, his gaze falling on the wound on his chest. "How is your injury?"
Leng Haoyu said, "It’s a flesh wound. Father, let’s go back."
Leng Huai nodded. With some effort, he lifted Leng Qingyu’s body and, together with Leng Haoyu, began walking towards the Leng Mansion.
