The Demon Lords

Chapter 498 16 Peerless Elegance_1

"A Cheng, what do you think the chances are of Shatuo Queshi successfully assassinating their main general tonight?"

The blind man and Liang Cheng had just finished their tasks and were now sitting behind a parapet under the evening sun.

Liang Cheng shook his head. "It would be very difficult."

"Explain."

"If it were Shatuo Queshi in his prime, he could deliberately control the leakage of his aura. If our troops within the city then assisted by creating chaos or a diversion, with Shatuo Queshi alone responsible for the breakthrough, there would indeed be a chance of assassinating the enemy's main general.

But the current Shatuo Queshi, while powerful as a Zombie, is still too raw. Once awakened, his potent Zombie aura would be hard to conceal, essentially warning the enemy in advance.

Setting aside the enemy main general's personal skill, he would naturally be surrounded by bodyguards. If they could just delay Shatuo Queshi slightly, allowing the army to encircle him, he would have little room to maneuver or escape.

Therefore, it's better not to use Shatuo Queshi. Or, if we must, save him for the most critical moment to help My lord break out. That shouldn't be too problematic."

The blind man nodded silently. He was merely inquiring. Because the chain reaction from deploying Shatuo Queshi would be significant, this trump card couldn't be played unless absolutely necessary.

Liang Cheng continued to reassure him, "Don't worry too much. Although the walls of this fort aren't particularly tall or imposing, siege equipment isn't so easily constructed. They arrived in force but weren't prepared for a siege; their army should be severely lacking in artisans. Even if they were to requisition artisans from the capital city, it would be nearly impossible to build all the necessary siege engines in less than ten days to half a month.

If the Yan State reinforcements haven't arrived after such a long time, there would be no meaning in us continuing to defend this place to the death.

At that point, I would rather suggest we hand over Emperor Jin. Then, leading these troops, we could break away from Yan State's control."

The implication was simple: if the Yan Army hadn't appeared after so long, it meant the Yan State court had tacitly agreed to the sacrifice of this unit to ensure Emperor Jin's death.

Given Yan State's attitude, what point was there in remaining within their ranks?

"Yes, but frankly, we are still too weak ourselves. This kind of life, where we must constantly observe the attitudes of those above us... It's no wonder My lord is displeased; we ourselves feel quite helpless and repressed."

"Our possessions are lost, but as long as we are alive, that's what matters. Of course, it would be best if both our people and our possessions were intact. We've struggled so hard, journeying from north to south, then to east. After all this effort, we can't end up worse off."

At this moment, the sound of a signal arrow pierced the air. Everyone on the fortress wall immediately sprang into action, subconsciously thinking the Jin Army actually intended to launch another siege before nightfall. Liang Cheng stood up and looked out from the fortress. The main gate of the Jin Army camp remained closed, with no sign of troops emerging. But Xue Three wouldn't fire an arrow without reason; He must have detected something to make him shoot a signal arrow.

"What's wrong? What's happening? Is the Jin Army attacking again?"

Zheng Fan had also hurried back to the city wall.

"My lord, there's no movement from the Jin Army camp. It's not yet nightfall; with the fading daylight, our fort's situation is clear, so it's impossible for the Jin Army to launch a sneak attack."

"Then what's going on?" Zheng Fan asked. "Could it be that reinforcements have arrived?"

Liang Cheng replied, "My lord, Xinsu City has few defenders to begin with. Enough to defend the city, yes, but the probability of them sallying out to relieve our siege is very low. Xinsu City's strategic importance is far greater than our fort here.

For reinforcements from other places, even if the cavalry rode at full speed, sparing no horse, it would take at least three days for them to arrive after the news was sent. The Yan Army in Xinsu City, the closest force, is unlikely to risk losing the city by sending troops. Reinforcements from elsewhere couldn't arrive this quickly either."

The spark of hope that had just flared within Zheng Fan was instantly extinguished. He could only sigh and ask, "So what in the world is going on?"

"My lord, there seem to be people over there," A Ming said, pointing southwest.

Currently, the Jin Army's main camp was directly east of the fort, but Jin troops were also stationed in other directions, effectively surrounding the entire fort.

However, to the southwest, on the periphery of the Jin Army encampment, three figures had appeared. Due to the distance, they weren't clearly visible, but it could be roughly discerned that the three were on horseback.

Simultaneously, with the appearance of these three figures, the Jin Army in that direction was quickly mobilized. Columns of Jin soldiers could be clearly seen converging there.

"Has an important figure from the Jin Army arrived? The new emperor of Dacheng State, Situ Lei?" Zheng Fan guessed.

Liang Cheng said, "My lord, it's unlikely. From my observation of this Jin Army, although their two attacks on us were unsuccessful, they are not a disorganized mob. To a certain extent, they are an orderly army.

Besides, this isn't like modern-day celebrity worship; these are all soldiers bound by military discipline. Even if the Emperor of Dacheng State himself came, the absurd scenario of the defending army actively leaving camp to greet him wouldn't occur."

After all, this was a proper army. Even though Situ Lei had just ascended the throne and founded the Dacheng State, the Situ Family had held de facto imperial power for many years. Thus, there wouldn't be a boisterous scene like bandits welcoming their chieftain back to camp.

Just then, the main gate of the Jin Army's eastern camp swung open, and a cavalry unit, bearing the Main General Command Flag, charged out.

"Even the Jin commander-in-chief has been stirred?" Zheng Fan was somewhat taken aback.

Liang Cheng, too, was finding it difficult to comprehend.

But one thing was clear to everyone: the atmosphere among the opposing Jin Army was not one of enthusiasm or excitement. Instead, it was fraught with tension, as if facing a formidable enemy.

On another section of the wall, Fanli, who had just unloaded a bag of sand and stones, stared blankly in that direction. He reached up, scratched his head, and muttered, "Good heavens, has the legend himself really arrived?"

Xue Three's figure appeared below the city wall. He had returned directly after firing the signal arrow. Perhaps because the Jin Army was distracted by other matters and hadn't sent scouts specifically after him, Xue Three was able to return openly.

Without waiting for those on the wall to lower a rope, Xue Three used a dagger to scale the wall like a gecko, vaulting over the parapet and landing before Zheng Fan and the others.

"My lord, reinforcements have arrived!" Xue Three announced joyfully.

"Reinforcements?" Zheng Fan was stunned. Liang Cheng had just explained that reinforcements couldn't arrive so quickly. But since Xue Three spoke with such conviction, they must be here.

After all, Liang Cheng was only analyzing, while Xue Three had seen them with his own eyes.

"Yes, reinforcements are here! My lord, guess who I saw?"

The blind man interjected, "Keep us in suspense any longer, and I'll castrate you."

Xue Three immediately replied, "My lord, Lord Jingnan has arrived!"

"Lord Jingnan?" Zheng Fan's eyes widened. He quickly asked, "Are you sure you didn't see wrong?"

"How could I be mistaken? Even if I couldn't see his face clearly, could I mistake that Pixiu? Could I mistake that gilded armor?"

Zheng Fan suddenly heaved a long sigh of relief. Yes. On the night Tian Wujing annihilated his own clan, Zheng Fan had been right there. And now, at this moment, knowing Tian Wujing had appeared nearby... Zheng Fan was certain. He was saved.

「...」

"Report!" A long call came from outside the command tent.

The Sword Saint, understanding the situation, rose from the commander's chair and stepped aside.

"Enter!" Yu Huacheng called out.

"Report, Marshal! Enemy activity detected to the southwest!"

"The southwest?" Yu Huacheng's gaze sharpened. He immediately pressed, "Are they Yan people?"

"They are Yan people," the messenger replied, then hesitated.

Yu Huacheng immediately asked, "Who is leading them?"

Li Bao's Northern Border Army is at Quhe City, to the northwest. If they're coming from the south, or southwest, they must be from Li Tian City. And the one guarding Li Tian City, the true master of the New Jin territory, is Lord Jingnan of the Yan people.

"Marshal, the banners they're flying... one is the Yan State's Black Dragon flag, another is the Jingnan Army's flag, and... and also..."

"Damn it! Is this the time to stammer?" Yu Huacheng cursed.

"Marshal, the one who has come... it seems to be Lord Jingnan of the Yan people!"

"Tian Wujing!"

Yu Huacheng's heart seemed to skip a beat.

Laymen watch the spectacle; experts see the skill.

The common folk attributed the Yan Army's victory—two hundred thousand iron cavalry annihilating the Helian and Wenren Families' six hundred thousand strong forces—primarily to the truly invincible Northern Border Army of the Yan people.

But a high-ranking commander like Yu Huacheng naturally knew that while the Yan people's Northern Border Army was indeed formidable, the exaggerated success of that battle was largely due to the individual who coordinated the entire campaign for the Yan State: Lord Jingnan.

Unfortunately, due to his act of annihilating his own clan, Lord Jingnan's reputation among the common people was extremely poor.

However, from the first-generation Earl of North Border, who defeated five hundred thousand with thirty thousand men a hundred years ago, to the current Lord Jingnan, who borrowed a path into Jin and swiftly carved off half its territory, the title of the world's greatest living general undoubtedly belonged to Lord Jingnan.

Yu Huacheng was confident in his own abilities and talent, believing he had simply been unable to display them due to Emperor Jin's personal failings. But no matter how confident he was, he wasn't confident enough to face Lord Jingnan and the Jingnan Army in a direct confrontation. Most importantly, behind him, the Situ Family's main forces were currently all on the other side of the Skybreak Mountain range!

Seeing his younger brother's composure utterly shattered, the Sword Saint sighed inwardly. He knew this was only natural, much like an ordinary genius swordsman suddenly finding himself facing his own reflection in a duel one day.

The Sword Saint walked over, clapped his brother on the shoulder, and a surge of steadying aura flowed into him. "Steady your mind!"

Yu Huacheng's body tensed slightly, then he regained some composure. Looking at the messenger, he asked, "The Jingnan Army... how many men have they brought?"

The messenger stammered. Killing intent flared in Yu Huacheng's eyes; the messenger's performance today had been abysmal.

Finally, the messenger kowtowed, his forehead striking the ground. "Reporting to the Marshal! Including Lord Jingnan himself, the Yan Army... the Yan Army... has sent three men!"