Chapter 214: The Killer

Shen Yuexi struggled to lift the armor, her face flushed red, but she still couldn't lift it over Xiao Zhuo's head.

This thing was too heavy, and her arms were shaking. She urged, "Husband...Husband, please squat down for a moment."

Xiao Zhuo looked back at her with a mischievous smile. However, he still squatted down obediently and said, "I told the sergeant to do this, but you insisted on showing off."

Shen Yuexi put the armor on Xiao Zhuo, then took a breath and tied the armor belt for him.

Fortunately, Xiao Zhuo cooperated, otherwise she would have thrown Jia to the ground.

"That bastard Xiao Kai is now trapped in an isolated city. My husband is about to capture Yongwei. For such an important day, of course I have to prepare for him personally."

Three days ago, the two armies engaged in a fierce battle, and Xiao Kai's Jingzhou army suffered a crushing defeat. The remnants of the army hastily retreated into Yongwei, refusing to leave the city. Now, Xiao Zhuo's army has arrived at the city, preparing to attack.

Xiao Zhuo turned around, reached out and stroked the top of her head, saying, "I promise you, I will capture Yongwei within five days."

"Husband... I'm just saying it. The walls of Yongwei City are so strong, it may not be easy to take them down." Shen Yuexi quickly explained, "It's better to be steady. It doesn't matter if it takes more than five days."

"Xiao Beiheng is attacking Nanping fiercely from behind, and I really can't wait," Xiao Zhuo said as he stood up. "Mei Pu's Xiliang army is rushing to support them. If the Xiliang army arrives, Xiao Beiheng will be powerless. After I conquer Yongwei, I will return to the north and defeat Xiao Beiheng. Then I will go to Zhongzhou to defeat the King of Qi for my father."

"I also want to go to the front of the battle to cheer for my husband." Shen Yuexi knew that today's battle was of great importance, so she made a request.

Xiao Beiheng hypocritically helped Xiao Zhuo resist the Western Rong for a while, but suddenly turned hostile. It's hard to say if this wasn't caused by the Second Prince's manifesto. Since the Prince of Qi had already responded to the manifesto and launched a campaign against Emperor Yongde, as his son, he would naturally follow his father's lead. Fortunately, Xiao Zhuo had the foresight to seize Nanping and station troops there to defend it.

Xiao Zhuo hesitated for a moment and said, "The battlefield is full of dangers. Although you have experienced many battles, you must be cautious."

"Don't worry, I'm no longer an ordinary woman," Shen Yuexi raised her head, "I will take good care of myself. My husband, please be careful of arrows during this siege."

She was quite worried about this, so to be on the safe side, she had brought Dr. Hua with her to the front line. If her husband was injured, Dr. Hua could treat him immediately.

Xiao Zhuo lifted the curtain and walked out of the tent, with Shen Yuexi following behind him.

Doctor Hua was outside the tent. He had been treating the wounded soldiers since arriving with Shen Yuexi. Seeing Xiao Zhuo and Shen Yuexi coming out, he came forward and said, "Prince Zhao, I wish you success."

Xiao Zhuo smiled and nodded to Doctor Hua: "Doctor Hua, you have worked hard."

Doctor Hua said, "Although I am old, my body can still hold on. I only hope that King Zhao can end this war as soon as possible so that we ordinary people can live a peaceful life soon."

Shen Yuexi said to Doctor Hua, "Doctor Hua, my husband is about to attack the city. You can rest in the tent. If there are any wounded, we will rely on your guidance to the military doctors."

"Order the three armies to prepare to attack the city." Xiao Zhuo said to the soldiers waiting for orders.

The soldiers received the order to leave, and the whole camp was in an uproar.

Before the decisive battle, Xiao Zhuo had already ordered his troops to construct siege equipment, such as ladders and battering rams. Prince Zhao's army still had 30,000 men, while the Jingzhou army also had only 30,000. One side, victorious in countless battles, was high on morale. The other, repeatedly defeated, had lost all will to fight and huddled trembling behind the city walls.

Shen Yuexi stood beside Xiao Zhuo, watching the Yan army file out of the camp gate. He was feeling emotional when a soldier came up to him and said, "Prince Zhao, Prince Mei Pu of Xiliang left the army last night."

Xiao Zhuo was shocked and said to the sergeant: "Mep left the army? Where did he go? Did he bring any followers with him?"

"He went to the capital alone. His sister, Consort Xian, was imprisoned by the Emperor in the cold palace. He must have gone there because of this matter."

Shen Yuexi asked, "What about the Xiliang Army? What are they doing now?"

"The Xiliang army is continuing to advance towards Nanping as planned." The soldier replied.

Shen Yuexi finally felt relieved after hearing this. If the Xiliang Army didn't move, Nanping City would be in danger. Fortunately, Mei Pu was a reliable person. Although he left the army, he didn't forget what he should do.

Xiao Zhuo turned around and placed his hands on her shoulders: "Yuexi, your husband has something to ask of you."

Seeing how serious he was, Shen Yuexi thought it was something important, so she quickly said, "Husband, please speak up if you have anything to say."

"Mei Pu went to the capital alone. The Mei family has always had a bad relationship with my father. Now he wants to rescue his sister. I'm afraid he will cause trouble."

Shen Yuexi thought for a moment and understood what Xiao Zhuo meant. She said to Xiao Zhuo, "Don't worry, my dear husband. I'll let Qiang Lin go."

She turned around and said to Qiang Lin, "Prince Mei has gone to the capital to rescue his sister. You must leave immediately and go help Prince Mei."

Qiang Lin said, "Master, this place is over a thousand miles away from the capital, and it takes four days to go there and back. If I leave, what if Master gets into danger?"

"Mei Pu is my husband's good friend. You taking people to help Prince Mei rescue his sister will be a great achievement. I will stay in my husband's camp and will not be in danger."

Seeing Shen Yuexi's insistence, Qiang Lin said, "Save the virtuous concubine. I understand. We will set off now."

After Qiang Lin led the secret guards to set off, Shen Yuexi came to a high ground under the escort of soldiers to watch King Zhao's army attack the city.

Yongwei is the tallest and most fortified city among the four counties of Xiliang. As Xiliang's capital, it has long been managed by Xiliang King Mei Cheng. The city's supplies could last for years. Even with Xiao Zhuo's extraordinary talent, it would be difficult to capture.

I guess Xiao Kai also felt that he could hold this place, stay in the city and refuse to surrender.

The sound of killing shook the heavens. Under the cover of arrows, Zhao Wang's army held up shields, dozens of people carried a ladder, and there were hundreds of ladders in total. They approached the city wall under the rain of arrows.

Ladders were placed against the city wall, and soldiers began to climb up, swords in their mouths. What greeted them was a rain of stones and boiling oil.

In just half an hour, King Zhao's army had lost nearly a thousand soldiers, and corpses were scattered all over the city walls.

Shen Yuexi was horrified. It felt like this city was a fortress where one man could hold off ten thousand, and the enemy's arrows and stones seemed to be endless.

She wanted to tell Xiao Zhuo that the losses were so great and that they should not continue the attack. But then she thought, Xiao Zhuo had never failed in battle and there was no need for her to point fingers at him.

Could Xiao Zhuo really capture this city? Is his claim of five days reliable?

After half a day of attacking, Xiao Zhuo withdrew his troops back to camp. Shen Yuexi followed him into the general's tent. Seeing no one around, she finally couldn't help but ask, "Husband, if we keep fighting like this, I guess we won't be able to take Yongwei even if we kill everyone."

Xiao Zhuo smiled slightly and said, "Of course I know."

"Then why are you so foolishly attacking the city?"

"This is just a pretense to deceive others," Xiao Zhuo said slowly, "The real killer is already in preparation."

"The real trump card?" Shen Yuexi asked doubtfully, "Husband, have you prepared anything secretly?"

"The siege is just a pretext. I've been ordering people to dig tunnels. They'll be able to reach the city wall within five days." Xiao Zhuo raised his hands, "Yuexi, come and help your husband."

Shen Yuexi used her fingers to pull apart the silk ribbons of his armor beneath his ribs and asked curiously, "We'll dig under the city wall within five days, and then what?"

"And... didn't Nanping discover a lot of gunpowder? I kept a thousand pounds."

Shen Yuexi understood immediately.

If a thousand kilograms of gunpowder were stuffed under the city wall and ignited, the power of the explosion would be estimated to be... enough to blow the city wall into the sky.

She warned herself in her heart that she really didn't need to worry about her husband, he would definitely not fail.