Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 444 The Enemy at the Gates (2)

Another month had passed, and Dugu Chen and Lou Qianyu, leading their troops, arrived at the foot of the city walls. The Imperial Palace of Mingyi Country was within reach. Exchanging a glance, they both looked up at the Guard Governor overseeing the nine gates from atop the walls. The faces above were a mask of icy indifference. Dugu Chen narrowed his eyes and gestured with his hand. General Hu Liujin stepped forward and called out, "Open the gates at once and let us enter. We shall not harm the civilians within the city..."

The figures on the city walls retreated, and after a moment, a volley of arrows rained down on the soldiers below. Seeing this, Dugu Chen waved his hand grandly, and his troops raised their shields to cover themselves as they braved the arrow storm to position ladders against the wall. Once some began to ascend the ladders, the people above poured oil and set it aflame.

Lou Qianyu watched as one soldier after another was set ablaze, the flames engulfing them entirely; their screams were piercingly tragic. His forehead veins bulged as he stared malevolently at the silhouette upon the city wall.

"Emperor Jinghe, what should we do?"

Dugu Chen shook his head, "Retreat."

Hu Liujin was preparing to organize another assault but stopped as soon as he heard the Marshal’s command.

Dugu Chen ordered his men to establish camp outside the city walls, completely besieging Capital City.

Inside the Marshal Camp, Lou Qianyu paced back and forth incessantly, growing more anxious and less able to think of a solution.

"Marshal, allow me to give it a try," Hu Liujin stepped forward and bowed, his heart burning with injustice as he thought of the brothers who had just perished.

Dugu Chen swept a severe gaze over him, "Do you think you have an invincible body? Are you impervious to fire and arrows?"

Hu Liujin stood at the side, his head hung low and his face burning red with shame, wishing he could sprout wings and fly over the walls.

The tent fell into a quiet hush, everyone’s mind whirring rapidly, trying to come up with various strategies.

Xiaobai and Wan Hun had taken a stroll outside and returned to the camp. The others in the tent took a brief look at the two newcomers before resuming their deep contemplation. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Xiaobai sidled up to Dugu Chen, twisting her head to glance at him engrossed in studying the maps, "Brother-in-law, if a direct attack won’t work, why not change tactics?"

At her words, Dugu Chen shook his head and sighed, "The city wall is more than thirty feet high. Even if ordinary people could use Qinggong to reach the top, they’d still not withstand their arrow attacks. It’s not feasible."

Xiaobai pouted, thinking if she, as the Divine Beast, were to go, it would be a matter of moments.

Wan Hun frowned in thought, then pointed to an area on the map, "Your Majesty, if not above, why not try below?"

Dugu Chen looked where Wan Hun pointed and saw a river leading into the city. This river ran throughout a whole city and two towns, but there arose a new problem—who to send? He needed someone not just skilled in swimming but also courageous and meticulous.

"Your Majesty, why not let Xiaobai and me go?" proposed Wan Hun eagerly, volunteering himself and the young man beside him.

"Hey, Ice Face," Xiaobai glared with clear, wide eyes and pouted, "if you want to go, go by yourself. Why drag me into this?"

Wan Hun merely glanced impassively at Xiaobai and said, "You don’t have to go. All the wine made by our master will be mine then."

Xiaobai’s eyes swiveled. Although Wan Hun didn’t know about the existence of space, the thought of that delicious wine made her lick her lips. Finally, she conceded, "Alright, this is the last time."

Wan Hun gave her a side glance, a silent chuckle in his heart as he wondered where his master had found such a charming child, who would relent at the slightest provocation.