Chapter 810 Emperor Yin Had Arrived! (1)
"CHARGE!!!"
The city gates opened, and under JIANG Haiping's lead, 48,000 soldiers charged forth with unwavering determination.
The thunderous sound of hooves roared like a storm.
Si Fuqing wanted to follow, but two soldiers remaining in the city held her back.
One of the soldiers, head lowered, spoke with a choked voice, "Strategist, this is the best solution. None of us wanted it to come to this, but... we have no choice."
At this moment, the Great Xia was beset by internal strife and external threats, facing its toughest years.
The old emperor was too decadent, lost in luxury, indifferent to the people's suffering.
All the problems were left for Emperor Yin to handle.
Fortunately, he had the strength and many great generals under his command, managing to turn the tide.
Si Fuqing fell silent.
From the city walls, she could already see the dense ranks of the barbarian army.
Due to their distinct bloodline, the barbarian men were all over 1.9 meters tall, many even reaching 2 meters.
The disparity in physique was stark.
47,000 against 300,000, the hope of victory was exceedingly slim.
The barbarian general leading the army thought the same. He sneered, "JIANG Haiping, we've been rivals for years. This is the last time. Rest assured, I will capture you alive and let you witness the fall of the Northern State you guard so fiercely!"
The Great Xia, vast and rich in resources, had always been coveted by the barbarians.
They were on the brink of success when Emperor Yin suddenly emerged, reclaiming several cities.
The barbarian general ground his teeth in hatred.
Today, they finally saw an opportunity, and they must seize it!
He wanted to see how Jiang Haiping, with his meager force, would fight.
With a wave of the barbarian general's hand, his soldiers charged.
But they couldn't break through the Jiang family army's defenses immediately.
JIANG Haiping thrust his spear, piercing through the chests of four barbarian soldiers in an instant.
He withdrew and thrust again.
Several more massive bodies fell.
This greatly boosted the morale of the JIANG family army.
"Brothers! For years, we haven't had a peaceful night. Why? Because they wouldn't let us sleep!" JIANG Haiping shouted, "How can we let our homeland be trampled by foreigners?"
"Together, let us fight the invaders who scorn us!"
"Slay the barbarians, protect the borders of Great Xia!"
They saw the sun above, but not the eternal peace.
Even though the city of Yong'an was in the Central State, it was out of their reach.
The barbarians couldn't understand why, despite their small numbers, the JIANG family army fought so fiercely, each soldier capable of taking on multiple foes.
The more wounds they bore, the fiercer they fought.
The Battle of Yanmen was a brutal one.
The fallen lay in increasing numbers, staining the desert's yellow sands with blood.
Si Fuqing stood on the city wall, her fingers gripping the cold stone.
She questioned herself, believing she feared nothing. Not even the depths of the ocean, where she had conquered her thalassophobia.
But now, she was afraid.
Meanwhile, in Yong'an City of the Central State.
Lady Jiang, who was embroidering clothes for JIANG Zhaoyue, suddenly trembled. A needle pricked her hand, and her eyes widened.
She raised her hand, as if trying to grasp something, murmuring, "Is it an illusion? Why do I feel... as if you are no longer here..."
Back on the Yanmen battlefield.
"General, he's still standing!" The young officer was both astonished and horrified, "What should we do?"
"Hmph, a stubborn one," the barbarian general took a deep breath, "Drag him back, grind him into minced meat, and feed him to the wild dogs!"
Wasn't JIANG Haiping proud?
Then he would crush that pride into dust.
Several soldiers nodded.
With less than a thousand men left, they could no longer assault the city.
As they prepared to drag Jiang Haiping's body away, an urgent voice rang out.
"Strategist, no!"
Si Fuqing swiftly descended from the city wall, rushing towards the battlefield at her fastest possible speed. She cradled Jiang Haiping's body and turned to flee.
"Where did this pale-faced scholar come from?" The barbarian general frowned, "Courting death!"
His plan to capture Yanmen had failed, leaving him furious. Now, someone dared provoke him further.
He immediately swung his long blade at Si Fuqing.
"Crack!"
The blade struck her, leaving a deep gash.
The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, but Si Fuqing gritted her teeth, refusing to spit out a drop. She continued to shield JIANG Haiping's body.
She couldn't change the course of history, but she wouldn't let JIANG Haiping be humiliated by the barbarians.
The barbarian general was enraged.
If he couldn't deal with JIANG Haiping, he would take it out on the strategist.
Since he wanted to die, he would oblige.
He swung his blade again, adding another wound to Si Fuqing's back.
She stumbled.
The two remaining soldiers on the city wall turned pale, "Strategist!"
"Want to join your marshal? I'll grant you that!" The barbarian general spat, swinging his blade a third time, "A mere scholar, daring to overestimate yourself!"
But this time, the blade didn't hit.
The sound of galloping hooves filled the air as a horse charged forward.
Si Fuqing felt her feet leave the ground as someone lifted her and placed her on a tall, strong horse. The person who saved her dismounted in a fluid motion.
In the next moment, there was a metallic "clang" as a weapon was unsheathed.
The barbarian general's eyes widened as he looked down, disbelieving, at the Dragon Sparrow Sword piercing his chest.
As he opened his mouth, blood gushed uncontrollably from his throat.
"Grrr..." The barbarian general clutched his chest, trying to speak, but no words came out. His massive body fell unwillingly.
Under the Dragon Sparrow Sword, no one survived.
The young emperor raised his hand, and the Dragon Sparrow Sword returned to his grasp.
The cold blade pointed at the remaining barbarian soldiers.
His voice was calm, "Withdraw from Yanmen, and your body will be spared."
Emperor Yin had arrived!