Boom…Crash!
A huge boulder was hurled high into the air and smashed down onto the city wall of Pingshi County.
Amidst the thunderous roar, countless shards of stone flew in all directions, carrying astonishing kinetic energy. They pierced through the fragile bodies of the defending soldiers, whose thin leather armor and light clothing were utterly incapable of offering any protection.
In the midst of this bloody carnage, Xiang Fu, the county military commander, watched in stunned disbelief as the city tower swayed precariously before collapsing with a deafening crash.
“Ten thousand victories!” “Ten thousand victories!” “Ten thousand victories!”
This scene naturally boosted the morale of the attacking forces immensely, and the entire army erupted into excited cheers. Only Xiang Fu and Huang Ziping stood frozen, their limbs cold with dread, for the first time doubting whether they could hold out until reinforcements arrived.
“Excellent!”
This collapse had been purely a matter of luck, but it was enough to satisfy Chen Jingzong. To the soldiers around him, it seemed like a sign of heavenly mandate.
“Reward every soldier in the trebuchet unit with two taels of silver! Continue the bombardment!” Chen Jingzong issued orders rapidly.
Boom! Boom!
With the roar of the trebuchets, massive stones weighing nearly a hundred jin each were continuously launched toward the city walls.
Some stones whistled through the air, flying straight over the walls and crashing into the city, causing widespread panic and cries of despair.
“Whoever dares retreat will be executed!”
Xiang Fu, his hair disheveled, held a blood-stained sword in his hand and executed two deserters. “Today is the day we fulfill our duty to the dynasty!”
He gripped the city wall with both hands, his fingernails seemingly digging deeply into the hard stone: “Damn it…why is this happening?”
For the past three hundred years of the Great Zhou dynasty, there had still been loyal and righteous men across the land.
Now, casting aside thoughts of life and death, honor and disgrace, his eyes bloodshot, he stood on the city wall: “Fight to the death! Fight to the death! Even if the enemy enters the city, we can still kill thousands through street fighting! Haha…I want them to die with us!”
The losses from a siege would inevitably be heavy, but if urban combat followed, the bloodshed would be even worse.
Yet if the enemy suffered such heavy losses, they would surely retaliate brutally within the city. Prominent families would not escape unscathed; there might even be a massacre! Who would choose this path unless truly cornered?
The soldiers below exchanged glances, almost thinking their commander had gone mad.
Boom!
At that moment, another massive stone came flying, its enormous shadow instantly engulfing Xiang Fu.
“Huh?”
A hundred-jin boulder fell from the sky, its speed and force astonishingly immense, reaching him in the blink of an eye.
Even though Xiang Fu was a martial artist, even reaching the level of external Qi mastery, he could do little more than barely draw his sword and raise it defensively in that brief moment.
Clang!
The three-foot-long sword sparked against the stone, leaving a cut nearly an inch deep before inevitably snapping in two!
Crash!
Then, the boulder mercilessly smashed down, crushing Xiang Fu beneath it, blood spurting everywhere.
Even a Grandmaster or Supreme Grandmaster would likely perish if directly confronting such a trebuchet. How much more so for Xiang Fu, who was still in the physical cultivation stage!
“Commander…Commander is dead!”
“Commander Xiang has fallen in battle!”
However, given Xiang Fu’s important position, his immediate death caused a terrifying panic atop the city wall.
Countless soldiers screamed in terror, the last remnants of their morale vanishing completely, leading to a chaotic retreat.
This commotion immediately caught Chen Jingzong’s attention.
He first froze for a moment, then burst into loud laughter, clearly overjoyed: “Haha…Heavenly mandate is with me!”
His expression then turned serious and solemn: “Full-scale attack! Capture this county today!”
“Ten thousand victories! Ten thousand victories!”
Wave after wave, the Nantian troops were greatly inspired, swarming toward the city wall like black ants…
…
“What? Xiang Fu was at the front supervising the battle, and a giant stone fell from the sky, killing him?”
Upon hearing this news inside Pingshi County, Huang Ziping nearly spat out a mouthful of blood, his entire body swaying unsteadily.
“Alas! What a loss! A loyal and righteous man, yet taken by heaven’s jealousy. Has the fate of the Great Zhou dynasty truly reached a turning point?”
Huang Ziping wept bitterly, then bowed three times toward the direction of the city wall: “Brother Xiang, may your journey be safe. I shall follow soon!”
“Master! While the city still holds, shouldn’t we flee quickly?”
The people around Huang Ziping were all trusted family retainers. After exchanging glances, they couldn’t help but suggest.
It wasn’t that they didn’t want to abandon their master, but at this point, their fates were intertwined. If Huang Ziping perished here, where else in the world would they have to go?
“I will not flee!”
Huang Ziping resolutely declared: “But I ask you all to send my wife to the east gate…”
As the county magistrate, according to protocol, he bore the responsibility of defending the county. To flee would truly make him a criminal.
If he survived, his family would never be able to hold their heads high again. Therefore, he had already resolved to perish together with the county.
Clap! Clap!
“Excellent!”
At that moment, a group of armored soldiers stormed in, their cold and murderous expressions causing the surrounding retainers’ faces to change.
“County Magistrate, you truly are a loyal servant of the dynasty!”
The county deputy entered, his face filled with admiration.
“I knew you would come…”
Huang Ziping looked at the soldiers around him, offering a bitter smile: “They follow your orders, clearly indicating that the major families within the city have already switched allegiance to you?”
“Indeed!”
Looking into Huang Ziping’s eyes, the deputy found himself momentarily at a loss for words, only managing a deep bow: “The city will fall within three days. Your honor wishes to be a loyal official, but we must consider our own safety and that of our families…Even you, at this moment, are arranging for your family’s escape route, aren’t you?”
Huang Ziping was silent for a moment before saying: “My beloved wife and young son…”
“Please rest assured, County Magistrate. I will personally care for your wife and child!”
The deputy bowed again, his face filled with sincerity.
“Very well then!”
The county magistrate gave a bitter smile and turned toward the inner chamber. Soon after, news spread that he had hanged himself.
“He was indeed a clever man!”
The deputy county magistrate muttered to himself, staring at the official seal and other items on the desk with a faint, bitter smile.
A month ago, he had coveted this position and its power, but now, in this time of chaos, the official seal seemed more like a death sentence.
“Uncle!”
At that moment, his nephew approached, slightly bloodstained, his face showing a ruthless expression. He made a gesture: “Several families within the city have joined forces and taken control of the city guards…those officials who resisted have all been…”
He then made a gesture indicating that the dissenters had been silenced.
“Good!”
The county deputy nodded, then sighed softly: “Issue the order, open the city gates, and as agreed, surrender to the Nantian army!”
…
On the battlefield, the previously closed city gates thunderously opened.
Faint cries of battle echoed from within the city before fading away.
“Reporting, General!”
A messenger approached, his voice tinged with excitement: “The county military commander of Pingshi County has fallen in battle. The county deputy has forced the county magistrate to commit suicide and, together with the civilian and military officials, has opened the city gates to surrender to our forces!”
“Excellent!”
Chen Jingzong ordered a halt to the advance, though his expression remained far from relaxed. At times like these, feigned surrenders were common, and one had to be cautious to avoid falling into a trap.
At that moment, a group of civilian and military officials emerged from the city gate. At their head was none other than the county deputy, carrying the magistrate’s official seal and a bundle of documents.
Upon seeing Chen Jingzong, he immediately knelt: “…The county magistrate resisted the heavenly army, realizing his grave crime, and has hanged himself…Now, I present the official seal and documents, humbly requesting the General’s acceptance…”
“Haha…Esteemed sir, you are innocent and have done a great deed!”
Though inwardly he looked down upon this man, Chen Jingzong understood the ancient wisdom of valuing a dead horse as a symbol of good faith. He immediately smiled, stepped forward, and helped the county deputy to his feet: “According to our army’s system, Esteemed sir, your defection at a critical moment and your great contribution merit an immediate promotion. For now, please go first to meet the Jiedushi (military governor), familiarize yourself with the administrative affairs. In the future, you will be appointed as a county magistrate elsewhere. We shall serve together in the same province, and I hope for your guidance and support!”
“Such…I humbly thank Your Excellency for this great favor!”
Never had he imagined that defecting would still allow him to become a county magistrate.
The county deputy was momentarily stunned, then quickly regained his composure, realizing the shrewdness of the arrangement. He understood that being sent to pay respects to the military governor and undergo training was essentially a direct transfer away from a key position.
Even if he could still serve as a county magistrate in the future, it would certainly not be in Pingshi County.
However, this was only natural, and he accepted it willingly, carefully handling the transfer of defense duties. By nightfall, Chen Jingzong’s 5,000-strong army smoothly entered Pingshi County.
“Pingshi County has fallen in a single day! General, your divine might! We all celebrate with you!”
That evening, as was customary, a banquet was held, with officials and military officers alike offering their congratulations.
“This victory was only possible due to the grace of our Lord, and it was a small success. Officers, do not grow complacent. There will be many great battles ahead, and ample opportunities for glory, honors for your families, and legacies for your descendants!”
Chen Jingzong remained composed and dignified, displaying the demeanor of a great general. After entering the city, he handled affairs with great skill, ordering the extinguishing of fires, the treatment of the wounded, strict enforcement of military discipline, the suppression of street disturbances, and the appeasement of prominent families. Everything was conducted in an orderly manner, prompting silent nods of approval from those around him.
“Shuncheng, what are your thoughts on today’s battle…”
After the banquet, Chen Shuncheng accompanied Chen Jingzong as they strolled through the garden.
“Uncle, your military tactics are divine, like a massive stone crushing an egg. The county fell in an instant…I deeply admire your prowess!”
“Our Nantian army has always been elite, having experienced many great battles. Naturally, these mere county troops cannot compare…”
Chen Jingzong sighed: “Today’s battle saw our fresh and vigorous forces crush the enemy’s dull resistance, all thanks to the foresight and planning of the Supreme Commander…However, the bitterest fighting is yet to come!”
With Pingshi County captured, they now directly bordered Dingyuan Prefecture.
Duke Shi Tai, who ruled Dingyuan, would certainly not sit idly by but would surely mobilize his entire army for a desperate fight.
Meanwhile, reinforcements from Rinan Prefecture and the provincial troops were also being organized and could launch a major offensive at any moment.
Therefore, Chen Jingzong spoke of the great battles to come.
“This battle is over, but the key lies in the next city!”
Chen Shuncheng said.
In ancient warfare, it was like rolling a snowball—the first bone was the hardest to gnaw, but once conquered, establishing a reputation would make things increasingly smooth, even leading to the possibility of prefectural cities surrendering without a fight.
Wu Zhi bore a deep vendetta against Shi Tai for the death of his son, and her rule as a woman faced constant criticism. Therefore, resistance in Dingyuan Prefecture would certainly be fierce. In fact, Wu Zhi’s quest to dominate the world would face its true test in the upcoming battle for Dingyuan Prefecture.
“Correct!”
Seeing that his nephew possessed such insight, Chen Jingzong felt deeply gratified: “The Supreme Commander has only ordered me to hold this city! Tomorrow, she will lead fifteen thousand troops to join us here, and together we shall hunt Duke Shi in Dingyuan!”
His tone carried an ironclad determination, leaving Chen Shuncheng somewhat surprised, puzzled as to why their Lord possessed such confidence.
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