Chapter 157

In less than two hours, over 3,000 civilians had gathered at the city gates in the freezing weather. Some of them cursed and swore at the gate guards, while some were crying and pleading for them to be let into the city. However, all of these was to no avail.

Four hours later, the sun had risen. Over the horizon to the west, a black shadow shaped in a line started to appear. The shadow, which was made up of 7,000 warhorses and blocked by the layer of fog, approached the city gates rapidly without adopting any defense formations. In an instant, they had descended upon the city gates. The troops guarding the gates of Beishuo City went to alert the commanders about the arrival of their enemies. Before the Xia troops at the eastern part had attacked, the western troops had already brandished their swords, ready for a fight. Vice General Cheng Yuan, who was in charge of the defense of the western gates, felt a feeling of apprehension. If not for Xue Zhiyuan’s intel, the consequences would have been dire.

The civilians let out cries of panic, running towards the city gates in a disorganized manner. However, at this time, who would open the city gates to let them in?

Creaking sounds echoed out from above the city walls. Those were sounds of the giant crossbows opening. Vice General Cheng Yuan stood on the top of the city walls. He was dressed in a big, green cloak. He held a sword in his knife, looked at the sight in front of him and sneered in disdain. He thought to himself, It’s just an army of less than 10,000, yet they dream of breaching Beishuo City. Dream on! He remarked casually to his subordinates beside him, “No need to show any mercy. Exterminate all of them. The first credit of the battle at Beishuo will belong to us!”

Sun He, one of his subordinates, frowned. Facing this dilemma, he questioned, “However, there are still a lot of civilians outside the gates.”

Cheng Yuan raised his eyebrows and replied coldly, “Civilians? I didn’t see them.” Subsequently, he departed from the city gates, going back to his room to rest.

The weather was freezing. It was not worth his effort to continue staying at the city walls, given the small numbers of the opposition.

Sun He instantly read Cheng Yuan’s intentions. He turned around and ordered the middle-ranked commanders beside him, “The civilians below are Xia troops in disguise. They are using this method to deceive us, to force us into not shooting arrows at them. Once we open the city gates, these people will turn against us and kill us all! We will be massacred, along with Beishuo City!”

Everyone present started to engage in discussion. “The dogs from Xia are so cunning. They are bullies. If we don’t kill them all, we won’t have any dignity to face the world.”

The noise levels increased at the city gates. At this instant, the entire army stopped in its tracks not far out. A soldier dressed in a black cloak, presumably the commander of the army, surged to the front. The soldier removed the hat on his head, revealing a beautiful face of a lady. The lady declared loudly, “I am Chu Qiao, an official from the Military Strategy Department. Behind me is my army, the Southwest Emissary’s garrison. We have killed the Xia troops previously. Please open the city gates and let us in!”

Although her voice was not loud, everyone present at the city walls heard her voice clearly. As she finished her words, sounds of laughter erupted from the city walls. If not for General Xue, they would really have been deceived. Based on what he said, General Chu had died in the course of protecting her country. Yet, this army still dared to use her army’s ensign to carry out this act of deception? Southwest Emissary’s garrison? What team was that? Was it a rebel army?

Sun He had not seen Chu Qiao’s face before, only seeing her shadow briefly for a few times. At this instant, the army was too far away. Coupled with the fog, he could not make out any faces. Emboldened by Cheng Yuan’s instructions, he laughed coldly and waved his hand. “For freedom! Kill them all!”

A loud warcry sounded out instantly! Over 300 arrows shot out into the sky as a response to Chu Qiao’s words. They were like a giant dark cloud that covered the sky. The flurry of arrows descended upon Chu Qiao’s army!

“Protect General!” The troops of the Southwest Emissary’s garrison dashed forward to the front. Over ten young soldiers used themselves as a human wall to shield Chu Qiao.

Those crossbows had been modified personally by Chu Qiao. They were potent and able to fire 38 arrows at once. The arrows, propelled by gigantic forces, were able to travel unbelievably fast. It was easily the best weapon in the world to defend cities. The arrows embedded themselves into the bodies of the ten soldiers. In that instant, they collapsed on the ground, looking like porcupines.

“Protect the General!” He Xiao dashed to the front, deflecting one arrow away using his sword. Hundreds of soldiers followed behind him to shield Chu Qiao, not caring about their lives. They were lightly equipped, with no shields nor body armor. They had followed Chu Qiao with the intention of passing into Yan Bei safely. They had no time to put up a proper defense formation. As the first flurry of arrows descended upon them, bodies flew everywhere.

One young soldier grabbed Chu Qiao and dashed backward. An arrow pierced through his chest, causing large amounts of blood to splatter over Chu Qiao’s face. The soldier did not let go, continuing to gallop on his horse while shouting, “Protect the General! Cover me!” However, the warhorse was promptly shot down, collapsing on the ground in a heap. The soldier rolled on the ground and got to his feet, continuing to help Chu Qiao to retreat.

“Enemies! Protect the General!” More and more people dashed forward. The sight was like a series of black-colored waves. As one row of soldiers was shot down, another row of soldiers dashed forward without showing any signs of weakness, fear nor any intention to retreat. By the time they got out of the firing range of the arrows, many corpses lay on the ground.

“Hahaha!” the deafening laughter of the troops of Yan Bei erupted from the city walls.

Chu Qiao fell heavily to the ground. He Xiao dashed forward, shouting anxiously, “General! Are you alright?” The soldiers dispersed, forming a passageway for He Xiao. As he dashed to her side, his eyes widened and he hollered, “How audacious! How dare you disrespect the general!”

“General He, say no more,” Chu Qiao’s head popped out from underneath the soldier’s embrace. Her tone was sad, while her face was pale. Tears welled up in her eyes but did not fall. “He’s already dead. He saved me.” Chu Qiao loosened the soldier’s grip on her, standing up slowly. Gasps started to sound out from the other soldiers. The soldier’s back had been struck with over ten arrows, like a porcupine. Three or four of them had landed in his heart. Most of them had been broken. It could be seen how many times he fell while he ran. His expression was ferocious and crazy. It was as if before he died, he was still running. Perhaps he had already died, but he still maintained the posture when he was running. No one knew what kind of strength this was. Chu Qiao removed her cloak and draped it over the soldier. She squatted down and slowly covered the soldier’s eyes.

Swoosh! The lady stood up and walked towards the city gates of Beishuo.

“General!” the soldiers echoed in unison.

He Xiao was the first to block her way, shouting, “General! No way!”

Chu Qiao’s eyes were cold. Anger burned from within her heart. In just that short while, over 100 of them had died, while over 300 of them were injured. These people had followed her over long distances, from the rebellion at Zhen Huang back to Yan Bei. Because of her, they had been forced into banditry in the mountains, and nearly started a war with the Tang Empire. Presently, they had resolved to return to Yan Bei because of her. In the country’s dire times, they wielded their swords without hesitation, willing to protect their homeland.

They were recognized as traitors in the past. Unforgivable, unpardonable traitors. They were lackeys that had been ignored back in Xia. Useless good-for-nothings that had been despised by all! However, it was them who were the first to ignite the rebellion at Xia, the first to help Yan Xun oppose Xia. The renowned rebellion at Zhen Huang had started in their hands. The extermination of tens of provincial armies in the northwest was their doing too. Even after they were abandoned, they did not forget their responsibilities and who they were supposed to be loyal to. They trusted her wholeheartedly, relying on her as their source of motivation. However, at this instant, all she brought upon them was a merciless massacre!

She pushed He Xiao aside angrily, walking in front stubbornly. He Xiao got to his feet quickly, took a few steps forward, knelt on the ground in front of her, and shouted, “General! We are not sure if they are friends or enemies. Beishuo City has misunderstandings towards our army. If you go forward at this time, you might not live! Do not do that!”

Swoosh! Chu Qiao took out her sword, saying coldly, “Get out of the way!”

“General! Don’t do it!” As he finished his words, tens of soldiers dashed forward, kneeling on the ground.

Chu Qiao raised her eyebrows, intent on stepping forward. Suddenly, the entire army knelt on the ground. All 7,000 voices echoed in unison, “General! Don’t do it! If you want to go over, then please step over our dead bodies!”

Chu Qiao stood rooted the spot. She turned around, looked at the soldier who had died a horrific death, and slowly shut her eyes. Anger burned from within her once again. She took slow breaths as if to suppress everything to the bottom of her heart, bit by bit.

“Prepare the horses. Get into the assault formation!”

Swoosh! The soldiers at the city walls of Beishuo were taken aback. An arrow had pierced through the ensign of its central army. The distance that the arrow had traveled had far exceeded what a giant crossbow could have achieved. However, the opposition had managed to achieve this feat with a normal crossbow. The strength of his forearm was frightening!

He Xiao put down his crossbow. The scene turned dead silent. Even the civilians who had come forward to answer their nation’s call were dumbfounded.

Chu Qiao rode on her horse’s back and made her way to the front slowly, the white and red flag hovering over her head. She stood about 100 steps outside the firing range of the arrows, staring at the opposition coldly. Loudly, she declared, “I am Chu Qiao, an official from the Military Strategy Department. I want to see your highest ranked leader!”

Cheng Yuan had just walked out of his room. Before he had fastened the belt of his cloak, he heard Chu Qiao’s voice and froze. The white and red flag outside flew high up in the air, appearing like a fireball in the morning fog. The soldier’s expression was stoic and intimidating. The passive feelings of anger were like a giant cloak which threatened to envelop them. He took one look at the forces outside and knew that this army was not one that he could subdue with his incompetent troops. Other than outnumbering the opposition, they had no other advantages.

“I am Chu Qiao, an official from the Military Strategy Department. I want to see your highest ranked leader!” Chu Qiao repeated her words. Cheng Yuan’s face turned pale. Sun He, who stood at the side, felt a fearsome chill in his heart upon seeing his superior’s expression. If it was true… Thinking about the relationship between her and Yan Xun, his hand trembled.

“General, she… Don’t tell me she…”

“Idiot!” Cheng Yuan squinted slowly. “You messed up big time.”

“Prepare the horses! Tell the entire army to follow me out of the city to fight them. If we spare even one of them, we don’t need to come back alive anymore!” Cheng Yuan hollered and walked down the steps in big strides.

Sun He followed behind him swiftly, asking hurriedly, “General! If it’s true, then let’s…”