Open The City Gates!
The steward sighed softly as he witnessed the scene. He knew deep down that the Seventh Imperial Prince had not used his full strength when fighting against him.
He glanced toward the direction of the tower with mixed emotions. For the first time, a glimmer of belief that the Imperial Capital could really be defended crossed his mind.
The soldiers were starting to cheer, most of them were shouting, “The mighty Seventh Imperial Prince”—
“The invincible Seventh Imperial Prince”—
There were also many scattered voices within the crowd exclaiming, “The Seventh Imperial Prince has studied Buddhist scriptures diligently and is now blessed by the Lord Buddha and given unlimited powers”—
“The Imperial Capital is blessed by Buddha, it will definitely be protected”—
There were even people hidden within the crowd saying, “The Imperial Emperor was wise enough to recognize the Seventh Imperial Prince’s capabilities, which was why the Prince was picked to guard and protect the city. The Emperor was giving the Imperial Prince an opportunity to shine.”
Xia Ji sat by the sidelines of the clutter of voices as he watched the arrival of dusk with the Imperial Princess beside him.
The night sky was falling.
The sun had set into the horizon of white snow and the luminous moon’s bright brilliance shone onto the vast Earth of where they resided.
The weather was no longer icy and snowy, which meant that the Frost Giants had lost a layer of their tough armor, thus diminishing the power of their assault into the enemy’s ranks.
However, the rock-throwing showdown during the daytime had given them new thoughts for battle.
Dozens of Frost Giants, along with the catapults claimed by Guifang during the battle, headed toward the front lines.
And then…
The Frost Giants stood more than a mile away from the city walls while the soldiers from Guifang forced the refugees into supplying huge rocks continuously. Any refugee attempting to escape would be executed on the spot.
When the rocks had been collected into little mounds, the onslaught began.
The giants made their throws while the catapults shot projectiles continuously.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The huge rocks transformed into meteors as they sailed through the wind currents across the dark skies. The loud whooshing from afar hurtled toward the city under the moonlight.
Some rocks crashed into the city walls—
Some demolished crevices—
Some crushed patrolling soldiers to death—
Some even sailed past the top of the wall and landed inside the city.
Boom boom boom boom boom!!!
The thundering did not stop.
The Imperial City started to shake at its core.
The battlefield, like a meat-grinding machine, had manufactured a new form of war.
Deng Jue quickly gathered his army, leaving two hundred soldiers at the top of the city wall while the rest retreated from there and headed down the wall.
Only the protection of the high walls could help reduce the casualties in battle.
The capital was now in complete chaos.
Guifang and the Frost Giants continued hurling massive rocks from afar.
If they could destroy the city walls or one of the city gates, it would allow the vast army of the exotic tribes to charge into the Imperial City and launch an all-out attack.
Boom!
Boom!!
Beneath the moon’s gleam, the huge rocks rained endlessly from the sky.
Houses were crushed and collapsed while the streets were punctured with holes and dents.
Nearly every Shang Dynasty soldier in charge of guarding the city was hiding behind the city walls. They stood together in groups and stuck close to each other in formation. All they could do was wait to rush out and meet the Guifang army in close-quarter combat once the city wall fell.
Deng Jue could no longer shout out orders from the army’s base camp. As for Xia Ji and the Imperial Princess, the steward, Eunuch Mei, and the others, they had retreated from the tower to somewhere below the walls.
Discussions were conducted hastily at every corner.
A lieutenant suddenly proclaimed, “General Deng, we cannot allow the Frost Giants to continue their attack. Mountains and forests lie outside the west gates and there’s an unlimited supply of rocks for the enemy. Guifang is fully equipped with limitless projectiles for catapulting. The city walls will definitely fall at this rate!”
Deng Jue nodded, indicating that he was well-aware of this.
More voices were breaking into discussion.
The soldiers discussed it with one another without reservation.
…
A slightly eccentric voice suddenly made its way out from the crowd, “The Seventh Imperial Prince is such a formidable force. He managed to kill forty-one Guifang warriors at the frontlines and could even give the Frost Giants a run for their money. If His Highness went into battle, he would surely be able to destroy all the catapults and force all the Frost Giants into retreat, saving the entire Imperial Capital from grave danger.”
Many agreeing voices were soon added in. “The people of the Imperial City ask of His Highness to go into battle!”
Another voice traveled down from somewhere else. “The almighty Imperial Prince!”
“Your Highness, please save the people of the Imperial City!”
More and more people started echoing the suggestion once it was voiced. The voices talked over each other.
Deng Jue’s face darkened. Naturally, he had noticed the ‘unusual sentiment’ behind those words. He lifted his head to search for the person who first shouted it, but whoever had made the initial suggestion was now keeping silent. All he could hear was scattered voices ringing throughout the area.
Worse still, the other soldiers—and even the swordsmen who had stayed behind and the commoners—were all chipping in their support for this idea. They had started to chime in softly in agreement.
That was because they had witnessed the power of the Seventh Imperial Prince.
They truly believed the Seventh Imperial Prince was blessed by the Lord Buddha.
They believed that the wise Imperial Emperor had planned it all, that he left the Seventh Imperial Prince to guard the city for a good reason.
Such were their thoughts…
The more Deng Jue listened, the angrier he got. He was about to stand up and lecture them when the Seventh Imperial Prince’s calm voice said into his ear, “Sit down.”
The old general was taken aback, but he obeyed and sat down.
Xia Jie stood up amidst the shouting of the people and replied loudly by circulating his inner energy and shouting a simple reply, “Okay!”
With that, he headed off to stand at a high point and pointed at the soldiers and lieutenant who had rowdily shouted the requests. There were a total of forty-four of them. Some attempted to hide, but were still spotted and identified. Xia Ji asked directly, “Would all of you be willing to head out to battle with me?”
The lieutenant and the soldiers dodged his gaze and someone muttered, “If we were to leave the city, all that awaits us is death. Please, Seventh Imperial Prince, please head out to battle!”
“The almighty Imperial Prince, please save all the people in the city!”
“If Your Highness enters the battle, you will be sure to return victorious!”
Xia Ji was not surprised by these words. The only feeling he felt was lament. The city was about to fall and yet, there were still those who would create inner conflict by forcing the Prince to his death. At the same time, they were downplaying his contribution and reverence as much as possible. This was getting interesting.
This world would always be filled with people who were not able to see beyond their noses, and those who stayed behind the scenes while puppeteering such short-sighted people.
Were they trying to ambush him by using the people of the city?
He would simply look stupid if he heeded those words and took action based on them.
However, if he killed these people, it would only make him look like an incompetent mad man.
The real mastermind behind this was not the people calling out loudly right in front of him.
If that was the case…
Xia Ji said in a very gentle manner, “It’s fine. It’s okay if you aren’t willing to go.”
Xia Ji turned back and immediately said to Deng Jue, “Execute them all and mince them into meat. Remember to give me a list of their names, including the people behind them.”
Deng Jue, “…”
The old general may be a rough and frank man, but he was not stupid. All it took was a quick thought for him to understand what was at stake. He had to be the one to carry this burden. With that, he barked angrily, “These men are undermining the morale in the army. Detain them and sentence them according to military law!”
Everyone, “???”
Deng Jue, “Arrest them!”
All of a sudden, a hundred disciplinary soldiers from the army appeared and caught hold of all forty-four offenders, dragging them away. Those forty-four people wanted to shout out, but were quickly restrained by the soldiers around them who forced pieces of soft cloth into their mouths and tied all their limbs together, dragging them toward an empty wasteland.
Deng Jue glanced at Xia Ji. The Seventh Imperial Prince was watching intently from a distance as if worrying about the battle. Deng Jue made the hard decision. “Creating chaos in such a situation is punishable by death. There will be no mercy, mince them into meat!”
Everyone, “…”
The fort-four people were scared out of their minds. Many soldiers began to gasp, “They’re going to die in the army without even having the opportunity to die in battle”…
Deng Jue was explicit when conducting the execution. He arrested another few dozens of soldiers and followed the Seventh Imperial Prince’s instructions of grinding the offenders into a bloody pulp.
It was not long before more than a hundred people were bathing in their blood, looking like a pool of red under the moonlight.
After that, no one dared say another word.
Xia Ji’s attention suddenly returned to the situation as he finally voiced out, “General Deng, you’ve taken things too far.”
Deng Jue placed his fists together with respect. “You are right, marshal! I have acted rashly!”
Xia Ji said, “Accept punishment on your own accord after the battle.”
Deng Jue was taken aback. After the battle? Would there still be anything around after the battle… Although, the crux of the battle was now in the hands of this young Imperial Prince. He was ruthless, powerful, mysterious, and had high tolerance and patience. This Imperial Prince was a formidable hero of the generation and it seemed like his fate was now tied to the Imperial Prince.
He replied loudly, “Yes!”
With that, this matter was considered settled.
The city fell into immediate silence. All that could be heard was the thundering booms from outside.
By the looks of the situation, they had no choice but to head out of the city. Otherwise, the Imperial City would be laid under siege tonight.
Deng Jue did not bother to ask who was willing to go into battle. He immediately ordered, “Ten thousand soldiers from Red Leopard Camp, fall in.”
Ten thousand soldiers immediately stood up.
These ten thousand soldiers had never taken part in guarding the city nor had ever been in battle. This was a team of elites Deng Jue had planned to use at the last, critical moment. He glanced at each face that was filled with the determination to go into battle as he shouted out, “Very good!”
“All of you, do you have the guts to follow me into battle and destroy the enemy?!”
“We are willing to head out to battle with General Deng!”
The morale at Red Leopard Camp was high.
Deng Jue looked at Xia Ji and said grimly, “Your Highness, I will leave the Imperial City in your hands.”
Xia Ji raised his hand and said lightly, “I will go. You protect the city.”
Deng Jue was stunned but the voice of the Imperial Prince was filled with certainty.
Xia Ji stood up after saying the words and walked out under the moonlight.
The beast-themed chain armor, the 18-foot long Great Darkness Halberd, the black hair dancing about like a dancing demon, the expression that was calm like water and peaceful like the Buddha.
He called out loud, “Open the city gates!”
Deng Jue followed with a roar, “The Seventh Imperial Prince is the Grand Marshal of the World in charge of guarding the Imperial City. He is a brave warrior and invincible at the frontlines. What should that have anything to do with Buddha? What does it have to do with anyone else? All of you… Listen to the order! I, too, will obey!”
He roared out the words with total conviction.
Tens of thousands of the remaining army and the assisting swordsmen around, as well as the young men, were completely silent.
After that, a wave of voices erupted, “Yes!!!!”
Wave after wave of affirmation could be heard.
Xia Ji walked to the very front as he held up his hand and waved. He shouted, “Those who are willing to die for your country tonight, follow me out to battle!”
With that, he shouldered the dark halberd without even bothering to mount a horse, and strode out in wide steps with his head held high, walking past the city gates as the doors opened slowly. He walked toward the army of the exotic tribes outside the city.
Even though ten million people awaited beyond, the way to go was only forward.
Ten thousand troops from the Red Leopard Camp followed in formation behind.
The scene, right there and then, moved Deng Jue as he witnessed it. The old general suddenly shouted, “Your Highness, if you return, the Deng family will be at your beck and call!!”
With that, the old general turned to look at a stalwart general standing not far off and said loudly, “There is no better time to give your life for your country. Unfilial son, what are you still doing here and not following His Highness out to battle?!”
“Yes, Father.” Deng Jiugong had his eyes fixed on the figure who was both demonic and divine. The blood within him had long been boiling in excitement. He bucked his horse forward with his legs and followed behind with the Green Dragon Sword in hand.
Deng Jue roared again, “Anyone else?!!”
His roar was hoarse and filled with a solemn stirring, like someone who was singing without inhibitions. Hundreds of elite swordsmen from renowned martial arts families followed him out of the city as well. Some soldiers later rushed out behind them too. One after the other, more and more soldiers followed suit in small groups. There were even young commoners who followed suit.
The moonlight filled up the path.
With the city gates wide open, this Imperial City that was about to be sacrificed finally made the decision to follow in the footsteps of the man who was destined to make his way all over the world, and it was slowly revealing its sharp fangs.
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