Chapter 330: Deliberately Sent You All To Death
Translator: Henyee Translations ‘ Editor: Henyee Translations
The premeditated Xiongnus even changed into Great Xia’s clothes and specially smeared mud on their faces to fool them. As long as the city was in chaos, very few people would notice that they were Xiongnus. Everything was according to plan. They lay on the ground and waited for the signal from the second prince. After a long horn sound, the Xiongnu army swept over with billowing smoke and dust. They brought cumbersome but extremely powerful catapults. The kerosene that had been stored for many days wrapped around the huge rock, creating a huge commotion.
The burning arrows fell towards the city wall. They thought that the unexpected would definitely cause chaos in the city. Unexpectedly, the Great Xia soldiers on the city wall seemed to be prepared. As soon as the arrows were fired, they raised their shields. At the same time, a rain of arrows that was not inferior to theirs rained down, catching the Xiongnu off guard.
“What’s going on?”
“Why is there more?”
“Are the Great Xia soldiers free? Why are they preparing so many arrows on the city wall?!”
“It’s fine. We were just stalling for time. The main thing is to wait for our brothers in the city to receive us…”
With this thought in mind, the Xiongnu people did not use their full strength for the time being. Instead, they focused on disruption. However, the infiltrators they were waiting for were drenched in a stench and fleeing in shock and panic.
The veteran took the time to teach the new recruits a lesson. “Did you see that? Find the few who look like the leader of the messengers and splash a bucket of urme on them. No matter what signal fireworks they light, don’t even think about lighting them!”
“As long as they can’t report it, we can slowly slaughter them later!” When the veteran said this, he shed his honest face. His tanned face was filled with ruthlessness and hatred. “Brothers, attack! Let them never return!”
Everything happened too suddenly. When the Xiongnu people were slashed by the enraged Great Xia soldiers, they almost did not have time to scream.
The Xiongnu people’s feint attack had already been going on for an entire two hours. During these two hours, there was no signal in the city, nor was there any success. If he still did not notice that something was wrong, the second prince could give up on fighting for the throne.
No matter what happened to the infiltrating Xiongnu people, the plan had already failed. The second prince’s face was ashen as he made a difficult decision. “Retreat!”
The defeat of the Xiongnu people caused the Great Xia soldiers to cheer. At the same time—
Rong Yan shook off the enemy’s blood on his sword and snorted. “How can you come and go as you please in the territory of Great Xia?”
The soldiers were in excellent condition today. Xiongnu’s plan had failed and he was fleeing. Naturally, he had to pursue victory.
Xiaoxiao, who was standing on the city wall, looked at the flag raised by the
Great Xia army and clenched her fists. She was worried and proud.
That was her Little Big Brother.
Rong Yan had been at the border for more than a month and had fought with the second prince of Xiongnu many times, so he had accumulated resentment for a long time. He stared at his horse and chased after it relentlessly. The second prince, who had just turned around, saw the distance between the two of them getting shorter and shorter. He was shocked. After gritting his teeth, he looked at Rong Yan angrily, then pulled a few soldiers and threw them behind him without looking back.
Rong Yan was stopped by a human shield. He pulled out the sword at his waist and slashed down, displaying a scene that made the Xiongnu people tremble in fear. Those soldiers who were thrown over were actually cut in half at the waist! Blood splattered, stunned the Xiongnu soldiers who were also fleeing. The Great Xia soldiers seized the opportunity and slashed them one by one like cutting melons and vegetables.
The second prince and the other Xiongnu soldiers were in disbelief. Didn’t they say that the food supply was cut off for many days? Where was the fatigue of the army? All of them were clearly as strong as bulls! Which bastard sent out the fake news?
Especially this seemingly thin and weak Third Prince. Was he a monster? He could actually cut someone into two with a single strike?
Although Rong Yan used the Azure Frost Sword that Xiaoxiao gave him to show off his might, he could not stop the second prince from speeding up and escaping when he was stopped. Seeing that the latter was running faster and further away, Rong Yan was furious. He drew his bow and nocked an arrow on his horse in one go.
The arrow pierced through the crowd and hit the second prince’s right ear. He screamed and covered his wound that was constantly nourishing blood. He did not look back.
In the end, Rong Yan was stopped by the crowd and lost the chance to capture the second prince alive. However, the sword slash and arrow just now had already greatly boosted their morale. Amidst the battle cries, 3,000 people from the Xiongnu died, 5,000 were injured, and 1,000 were captured. The second prince lost an ear, his aide died, and his deputy general’s heart was pierced by arrows. The number of casualties was heartbreaking and humiliating.
However, at this moment, the Third Prince of Great Xia suggested exchanging hostages. The Second Prince covered his right ear that had yet to stop bleeding and kicked over the table. “Hurry, hurry, hurry! Let him wait!”
After receiving this response, Rong Yan immediately went to the captive camp and chose 100 people who were either seriously injured or on the verge of death from hunger. He cut off their heads and let the envoy bring them back. He also told the second prince clearly, “If you don’t agree, I’ll kill 200 people tomorrow.”
The second prince was about to go crazy. “How dare he! How dare he be so arrogant! Isn’t he afraid that I’ll do the same to the captives of Great Xia?”
Someone from Great Xia raised the same question. Rong Yan chuckled. “Because he didn’t dare to refuse.”
“During the war, he used the lives of his clansmen to exchange for time to escape. If he still dares to ignore the lives of these captives, he won’t be able to hold on to his status as the second prince, let alone the position of the King of Xiongnu.”
The young man’s childish face was filled with calmness and confidence. “If he can’t react in time, we can help him.”
Just as Rong Yan had expected, the second prince’s idea of stalling for time was strongly condemned by all parties in Xiongnu, especially the other princes who were still thinking about competing with him for the throne. Rumors began to spread in the army that he did not take the lives of the Xiongnu warriors seriously.
The rumors spread so quickly that the second prince knew that this was caused by the people of Great Xia, but he had no choice but to step into this open scheme obediently.
After all, the captives could still be captured, but the opportunity to seize the throne would never come again.
After Xiaoxiao made two more meals for everyone, the Xiongnus sent a letter and announced that they agreed to exchange captives.
Xiaoxiao happily added a dish to everyone to celebrate. Everyone even specially brought out those Xiongnu captives and let them watch them eat.
“Don’t be envious. It’s your second prince who’s stingy. The rations he prepared for you are only so little. You won’t starve to death.”
The Xiongnu captives kept their mouths shut to prevent their saliva from spilling out and embarrassing themselves.
The Great Xia soldier continued, “We specially sent our brothers rations according to the amount that can fill their stomachs. The ingredients used to make those buns and steamed buns are all real. On the other hand, is your Xiongnu really poor, or is the second prince stingy enough to give you half a hard naan for every meal?”
Xiaoxiao and Rong Yan sat together. They looked like they were concentrating on stirring the noodles in the pot, but they had actually been listening to the commotion over there. Seeing the soldiers sowing discord, they couldn’t help but laugh. Although it was just a small matter of eating and drinking, they had accumulated a lot of experience. The resentment in the Xiongnu captives’ hearts was still there, so she also chimed in—
“Hey, did you offend the second prince? Otherwise, why would your prince hope for your death?”
“Or perhaps you’re not on the second prince’s side? Did he deliberately send you to your deaths to eliminate dissidents?”