xymnovel Chapter 30 Defrauding Changyang
Chapter 30 Defrauding Changyang
Inside Changyang City.
As dusk settled, the setting sun disappeared completely behind the western mountains, extinguishing its last rays of light, and the world was quickly enveloped in a thick, inky darkness.
Meanwhile, the torches on the walls of Changyang were lit one after another by the soldiers defending the city.
Clusters of leaping flames, forming winding ribbons of fire, barely pierced the curtain of night, casting flickering light on the mottled city walls and the tense faces of the soldiers.
Zhao Qiao, the general in charge of defending the city, pressed his hands on the cold crenellations of the city wall, gazing out at the dark wilderness outside the city. His brows were furrowed into a deep frown, his heart burning with anxiety, and even his fingertips turned white from the pressure.
Han Xiujing, standing beside him, also had a solemn expression, his hands behind his back, his feet pacing back and forth unconsciously, his brows filled with worry, and his eyes filled with apprehension about the unknown.
"We can't wait any longer, Magistrate Han. You stay in Changyang, reassure the troops, and maintain strict defenses. I will personally lead an elite force to meet General Wang!"
Zhao Qiao gave a brief instruction, then slammed his fist into the mottled city wall. The dull thud, mixed with his thunderous command, echoed across the silent city.
"Absolutely not!"
Upon hearing this, Han Xiujing was immediately alarmed and hurriedly stepped forward to stop Zhao Qiao, his tone filled with urgent dissuasion.
"General Zhao, I am but a civil official. I have no problem discussing matters and offering advice with you generals and soldiers on ordinary days, but defending the city and repelling the enemy, as well as deploying the troops, is truly beyond my capabilities!"
"If scholars like us could truly replace military generals in battle and stand alone, then what use would it be for the patriarch to keep these heavily armored, battle-hardened soldiers?"
"Magistrate Han need not say more!"
Zhao Qiao interrupted Han Xiujing, saying, "It's completely dark now, but General Wang is still nowhere to be found. I've sent out five groups of scouts to gather information, but none have returned. Something must have happened!"
At this moment, Zhao Qiao's face was full of worry, and his voice was full of anxiety and unease.
Even so, General, you must not act rashly!
Han Xiujing spoke with unwavering resolve, his gaze fixed intently on Zhao Qiao, and said earnestly, “General, think about it. Changyang County was once the seat of Laizhou and also our army’s money bag. If we lose this place, the King of Laiyang will truly be like a dragon entering the sea.”
"If this place falls into the hands of the Prince of Laiyang, not only will the morale of the troops and civilians at the front lines be thrown into chaos, but the people in the rear prefectures and counties will also be filled with fear. The consequences are truly unimaginable!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Qiao sighed heavily, a deep sense of melancholy settling between his brows. He gazed at the dark horizon in the distance, his tone filled with helplessness.
"General Wang, it's not that I don't want to save them, but I have to consider the bigger picture."
At this moment, Zhao Qiao also harbored some resentment towards Wang Guodong.
This person is indeed capable, but his shortcomings are also quite obvious. He is extremely greedy, just like today. The enemy only used a little trick to easily lure him out.
Currently, Changyang City is leaderless. He and Han Xiujing are worried about the war situation, while he has to consider all aspects. In the end, they are unable to come up with a perfect plan.
Han Xiujing shook his head with a wry smile, his eyes filled with helplessness. Just as he was about to say some words of comfort to Zhao Qiao so that he could calm down and make a plan, he suddenly noticed something was wrong!
Looking out, one could see a large number of blurry figures in the deep night not far from the city, stumbling and running towards the city gate with messy steps.
In the dim light, one could still hear a jumble of shouts, but they were carried intermittently through the darkness of night, mixed with the howling of the wind, making it impossible to discern anything clearly.
"All troops on high alert!"
Zhao Qiao snapped back to his senses and let out a sharp shout that echoed across the city wall.
The soldiers on the city wall immediately tensed up and drew their bows and arrows.
The arrowhead gleamed coldly, fixed intently on the moving black shadows below the city, and the speaker subconsciously softened his breathing.
At this moment, their sharp eyes were fixed on the front, and the atmosphere instantly became tense. Even the howling of the night wind sweeping across the city wall seemed to carry a hint of murderous intent.
Zhao Qiao himself gripped the longbow hanging at his waist. Although his archery skills were far inferior to his son's, he was still quite proficient in both archery and horsemanship. At this moment, he held his breath and was ready to strike at any time.
As the group of figures gradually approached the city gate, the people on the city wall could see clearly, by the flickering firelight, that the newcomers were all dressed in the armor of the Changyang Army.
However, they were all dressed in tattered clothes, their battle robes stained with blood, and their armor was covered with mud and bloodstains. They looked extremely disheveled. Many of them were injured and limped behind the group, their steps unsteady as if they might fall at any moment.
At the very front of the group was a strong, muscular man carrying a general on his back, whose back was pierced by three arrows. The arrow shafts were exposed and soaked in blood, with dark red drops of blood dripping down the shafts, a heartbreaking sight.
"Open the city gates! Open the city gates! The general is wounded and in critical condition!"
The army rushed to the city walls, and a soldier dressed in Sima attire shouted in a hoarse voice, his voice full of urgency.
"What?"
Zhao Qiao's heart skipped a beat. He stared intently at the silhouette of the wounded general, following the sound. The more he looked, the more familiar it seemed. He hurriedly shouted to the guards behind him, "What are you all standing there for? Open the city gate! Open the city gate immediately!"
"Wait a minute!"
Han Xiujing hurriedly spoke up to stop them, leaning forward and shouting towards the city below, his tone cautious: "Who goes there? Where is General Wang Guodong? Let him answer me personally!"
"Here! Here!"
The burly man carrying the wounded general immediately responded, and then carefully and gently placed the person on his back on the ground, afraid that the movement would aggravate the injury.
A square-faced soldier standing next to him immediately rushed forward and burst into tears, his cries filled with anguish and every word dripping with grief.
"Open the city gates quickly, generals! General Wang has been struck by four arrows and is barely clinging to life. He will die soon! If you don't open the gates, the general will be gone!"
The mournful cries, accompanied by the intermittent sobs of the surrounding soldiers, were particularly jarring in the silent night, making the hearts of the soldiers on the city wall sink.
At this moment, their gazes toward the city were filled with worry and urgency, and many had already begun to whisper to Zhao Qiao to quickly open the gates and welcome General Wang.
"Open the city gates immediately! Do it right now, without fail!"
Zhao Qiao stared intently. Although the night was dark and the firelight was dim, making it difficult to see Wang Guodong's face clearly, he had worked with Wang Guodong for many years and fought side by side in dozens of battles, so he was already familiar with the other's figure and demeanor.
At a glance, he recognized the person lying on the ground as none other than his old friend Wang Guodong.