Chapter 541 The City Falls

Chang Zhiyuan stood on the city tower, shoulder to shoulder with Qi Rong, his heart pounding as he looked down at the Xiang King's army that was advancing menacingly.

"It looks like we'll have to launch a full-scale attack..."

Qi Rong nodded, his wounds throbbing slightly, but he couldn't overcome his worry. He left the palace early this morning and returned to reclaim command.

Hearing Chang Zhiyuan's voice, which sounded like a sigh, he said, "It's already quite an achievement to hold out for so long. Let's just defend the city normally and drag it out for as long as we can."

Now it's truly a race against time, to see whether reinforcements arrive faster or King Xiang can breach the city walls faster.

Commander Wang hesitated for a moment, then looked at Chang Zhiyuan with a glimmer of hope in his eyes and said, "Commander, it's been so many days, when will the reinforcements arrive?"

Chang Zhiyuan pursed his lips, unsure how to answer for a moment. After a while, Qi Rong interrupted, "The army is on its way. There's no use in being anxious now. Even if they ride at full speed, it will take almost half a month to get back. Alright, go and prepare."

When Wang Qianhu heard Qi Rong say this, he was unsure, but he knew that Qi Rong was right. It would take at least half a month for the army to return.

But looking down at the city today, and seeing the King of Xiang's posture, it seems he won't return until he conquers Taiyuan. Not only are the city's food supplies running low, but there are also less than 10,000 people left in the city, most of whom are wounded. With such a depleted fighting force, it's really uncertain whether they can hold out for long.

The banner of King Xiang below the city was flapping loudly in the sudden gust of wind, and the stirring drumbeats spurred the troops below to march step by step toward Taiyuan City.

Chang Zhiyuan gripped the sword in his hand, glanced at the army below the city, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he couldn't help but swallow. Looking at the nonchalant Qi Rong, he subconsciously prepared to go down the city wall with the others.

He had only taken a few steps when Qi Rong turned around and called out to him, "Let's go back. The battlefield is dangerous. I need to go out of the city to fight the enemy. Brother Chang, don't follow me..."

Chang Zhiyuan knew that Qi Rong was right. It was indeed risky for a scholar like him to go to the battlefield, but now that he had taken on the identity of his elder sister, he felt it was not appropriate to back down.

Seemingly aware of what Chang Zhiyuan was thinking, Qi Rong smiled at him: "You've kept Taiyuan afloat for so many days, that's quite good. Go back now, Shu'er can't be left alone. If anything unexpected happens today, please, Brother Chang, take the Princess and your two sisters out of the city through the west gate and escape to the capital. I beg you..."

Chang Zhiyuan looked at Qi Rong, who seemed to be entrusting his children to him on his deathbed, and nodded: "I will do my best to protect the Princess and the two princesses, Commander, please rest assured."

Looking at Qi Rong's carefree and gentle smile, Chang Zhiyuan cupped his hands in greeting, his face showing a serious expression: "Commander, all is well..."

Qi Rong nodded as he looked at the face that was almost identical to Lin Changning's, yet with a completely different temperament. After descending the city wall, he mounted his horse, brandished his long sword, and led his cavalrymen out of the city gate to fight against the King of Xiang.

Chang Zhiyuan turned around and went back to the Lin residence. He saw Li Mingshu sitting on the bed and was slightly troubled. He gave Lin's mother several winks before she was sent away.

"What happened? Why are you back so early today?"

A hint of unease appeared on Lin's mother's face as she looked at Chang Zhiyuan with a serious expression and asked him.

Chang Zhiyuan nodded slightly: "I'm afraid the city will fall today. The commander said that once the city falls, I should take the princess and the two princesses and escape quickly through the west gate to the capital."

Lin's mother asked instinctively, "What about Commander Qi?"

Chang Zhiyuan's face showed a hint of sorrow: "The general defending the city is most likely..."

They will die for the city...

Chang Zhiyuan couldn't bear to say what he was about to say. He turned his face away and said to Lin's mother, "There's no time to lose. Please, Aunt, keep it from your sister-in-law and give everyone a bowl of sleeping medicine. Once the city falls, we'll set off immediately."

After finishing his sentence, Chang Zhiyuan said again, "I'll leave everything at home to Mother and Second Brother. I'll go to the Prince's Mansion to fetch the Princess and the young princess."

The Prince's residence is too conspicuous; it might be safer to bring the person out of the residence first.

As Chang Zhiyuan pondered this, he turned and left the Lin residence, riding his horse toward the Prince's mansion.

Night was slowly falling, and a wisp of red sunset cloud on the horizon, like a scarlet veil woven by the Weaver Girl, covered most of the sky.

The ground was bathed in the golden-red light of the setting sun shining through the colorful clouds. Waves of people surged frantically toward Taiyuan City from the city walls, while Qi Rong's cavalrymen below the city were almost wiped out.

In the end, less than two hundred people remained around him. Qi Rong's vision blurred in waves. He had been fighting all day and was finally quite tired.

His hand holding the knife trembled slightly, and waves of weakness surged through his body.

King Xiang seemed in no hurry, toying with the Qi Rong like a cat playing with a mouse, occasionally creating encirclements for them, and then re-encircling them just when they thought they could withdraw.

Qi Rong gritted his teeth, watched the general charging towards him, and engaged him in combat. However, after only two or three moves, the void within his body made Qi Rong's movements sluggish, unable to keep up with the opponent's attacks.

Qi Rong, who was knocked off his horse with a single blow, was quickly protected by Wen Zhi and Zhi Qi, who dismounted and took cover behind him.

Qi Rong knelt on one knee, his armor lying on the ground not far away. His messy hair was scattered on both sides of his cheeks, and two bright red bloodstains on his face made Qi Rong appear even more beautiful with a broken quality.

"Commander!!! Something terrible has happened! The east gate has been breached by the enemy!!!"

One of the guards watched helplessly as the enemy opened the east gate, his eyes filled with despair as he cried out to Qi Rong in a heart-wrenching voice.

Qi Rong, panting, stood up with Wen Zhi's help, using his sword for support. He glanced at his personal guards beside him; his lips, dry and chapped, were parched and dry. Even as he heard the city fall, he still managed a hoarse shout:

"Fight to the death! Never retreat!"

Qi Rong's voice was accurately transmitted through King Xiang's army to the ears of every soldier guarding the city.

King Xiang sneered and waved his hand, signaling the general beside him to take care of the man: "He's got some tough nuts to crack. Go, finish him off!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a general spurred his horse and charged towards Qi Rong, his blade gleaming coldly, and in the next instant, it slashed towards Qi Rong's neck.

Hearing this, he raised his sword to defend himself, but the enemy general slashed him aside. After rolling twice on the ground, he tried to get up, but could only watch helplessly as another general thrust his sword at his commander's heart from behind.

"Your Highness!!!"

Seeing this, Wen Zhi's eyes widened in horror. Just as the intestines on the other side were about to pierce Qi Rong's body, Lin Changning, riding a tall warhorse, charged towards Qi Rong with a determined look in his eyes.

An arrow pierced through Qi Rong's cheek and flew straight toward the general behind him.

"Pfft~"

The arrow struck the very center of the chest. The general looked at Lin Changning, who had suddenly appeared in front of him, with some disbelief. The next moment, he was thrown backward by inertia and fell behind Qi Rong.

Lin Changning raised one hand and stretched out the other towards Qi Rong: "Second Brother! I'm back!"