Chapter 49
Upon hearing this, Ashina Lan's eyes flickered slightly, but his expression remained calm. "Oh? I've never heard of these two people. Our Yuezhi Kingdom has always been a peaceful place for its people, and the city guards patrol day and night. If there really were two outsiders breaking in, someone would have reported it long ago."
"Your Majesty is so busy, it's understandable that you haven't heard of this." The military advisor below the city remained arrogant. He rode his horse around the city and shouted, "We won't make things difficult for you. Simply allow us to search the city. If we can't find the person, we will apologize to Your Majesty."
"How dare you!" Qiao Wanqing, standing on the top of the city wall, could no longer bear it after hearing their words. Although her voice was slightly weak, it was filled with anger: "My Yuezhi Kingdom may be small, but it is still a piece of land. How can we allow people like you to search and raid as you please and come and go as you please!"
The military advisor's face darkened, and his previous false politeness disappeared immediately. "My emperor originally allowed us to discuss this matter carefully because of the long-standing friendship between our two countries. Since you are unwilling to appreciate it, don't blame us for being rude!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he waved his hand fiercely and shouted to the soldiers behind him: "Go!"
As soon as the military advisor gave the order, the soldiers under the city immediately rushed to the city gate with shields raised, and arrows rained down on the top of the city.
Ashina Lan's eyes sterned, and he immediately shouted orders: "Counterattack! Shoot arrows! Drop rocks! Guard the city gate!"
The guards stationed on the city wall also took action immediately, shooting arrows densely at the city and sending large stones rolling down the city wall, hitting the Ulun soldiers below the city and making them scream in pain.
But the enemy's attack was so fierce that they soon pushed the ladders against the wall. Several soldiers grabbed the ladders and climbed up quickly. As soon as they half showed their bodies, they were stabbed by spears from the guards on the city or hit by stones and fell straight down.
On the other side, Shen Aheng and Ashina Yu did not return to the house. When they heard the earth-shaking shouts and the collision of weapons coming from not far away, their hearts tightened. They looked at each other and immediately ran towards the top of the city.
The night wind in the Western Regions was so fierce that it hurt people's cheeks. As soon as they approached the city gate, they were shocked by the scene in front of them.
The night sky was dyed red by the flames, and many corpses were lying in disorder on the open ground below the city. Some were smashed into a bloody mess by the momentum of the falling city, and some had knives stuck in their chests, and their blood soaked the ground red. Several guards on the top of the city were shot by arrows and were resting beside the arrow emplacements. The rest of them were still holding bows and arrows, trying their best to resist.
There was chaos both inside and outside the city, and the flames dyed half the sky red.
Several ladders were set up at the foot of the city, and the soldiers of the Ulun Kingdom were still rushing up. Arrows and fallen rocks from the city kept falling down, and blood flowed down the city wall.
The shouts and cries mixed with the sound of the wind made one's heart tighten in the dark night.
On the other side of the city wall, Ashina Lan and Qiao Wanqing did not hide behind. Ashina Lan stood beside the arrow emplacement, drawing the bow in one hand and nodding the arrow in the other, aiming at the soldiers below the city and shooting swiftly, with every arrow hitting the target. Qiao Wanqing held onto the city wall and lifted stones with the guards. Although her face was pale and her breathing was trembling, she gritted her teeth and smashed the stones down hard.
Upon seeing this, Ashina Yu immediately rushed over and took the bow and arrow from a guard who was shot in the shoulder and was barely holding on with gritted teeth. He pulled the string with his fingertips, mobilized his internal strength, and shot three arrows at the soldier who was climbing up the ladder.
The arrow shot through the air with a sharp sound and pierced two people. The leading soldier screamed and fell backwards after being shot, and a group of people on the ladder fell off the city wall and hit the ground heavily.
Ashina Lan's eyes flashed with surprise, and he couldn't help but admire in a low voice: "Good archery!"
Shen Aheng quickly ran to Qiao Wanqing’s side, stretched out his hand to take the stone from her hand, and urged loudly: “Auntie, you are not in good health, take a rest first, let me do it.”
Qiao Wanqing shook her head, and lifted up another stone with force. Her voice was breathless but firm: "How can I rest when the country is in this situation? Don't worry, aunt is fine. More hands will always mean more strength." As she said that, she pushed the stone down and hit a soldier who was climbing a ladder.
The counterattacks from the city became more and more fierce. The arrows of Ashina Lan and Ashina Yu, father and son, were extremely accurate. The guards also moved stones and threw them down in anger. The casualties of the Ulun soldiers under the city became more and more serious, and the corpses piled up almost blocking the base of the city wall.
The leading military advisor watched his men fall one after another, his own robes splattered with blood. He looked in a state of disarray. He knew if the fighting continued, his entire army would be annihilated. Finally, he gritted his teeth, waved his hands, and shouted, "Retreat! Retreat quickly!"
After the order was given, the remaining soldiers could no longer hold on. They turned around and ran, throwing away their armor and weapons, without even bothering to collect their ladders, and stumbled backwards.
After a while, the remaining soldiers disappeared into the night, leaving behind only corpses and bloodstains on the ground, which were particularly glaring under the firelight.
The sound of fighting at the city gate woke up the sleeping people.
Before long, many people came hurriedly with lanterns, carrying medicines and food, and handed them to the guards in need.
Shen Ah Heng immediately squatted beside the injured soldiers and helped them treat their wounds with quick and steady movements. He then took the cloth strips and completed the bandage in a short while. The force was just enough not to hurt, but to protect the wounds firmly and prevent them from bleeding.
"Young lady, your bandaging skills are amazing. It doesn't hurt at all!" A soldier couldn't help but sigh in the Western dialect. The people around him also nodded and thanked him, saying, "Thanks to the young lady's medicine, the wound is not so burning anymore!"
Shen Aheng didn't understand what was said, but he could roughly guess it from their expressions, so he smiled. Just as he was about to respond, there was a sudden darkness beside him. It was Ashina Yu squatting down. He didn't say anything, but just silently picked up the medicine powder and handed it to her.
The moonlight seemed to be wrapped in a layer of gauze, falling on his face, making his skin look even clearer and his eyelashes longer, casting light shadows under his eyes when he lowered his eyes. His whole body exuded a focused and gentle air, so handsome that it was impossible to look away.
After she finished applying the medicine, he silently took the cloth from her hand, helped her pass the medicine, and fixed the wound. Although his movements were not as skillful as hers, he was extremely serious.
After the two of them had taken care of the injured soldiers, Ashina Lan and Qiao Wanqing also came over.
Seeing that Qiao Wanqing's face was still a little pale, Shen Aheng quickly stood up and supported her arm, his tone full of concern: "Auntie, are you tired just now? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"
Qiao Wanqing patted her hand gently, smiled and shook her head: "I'm fine, just a little tired, I just need to rest for a while."
After saying that, he turned around and glanced at Ashina Yu next to him, and said, "Thanks to you two tonight, after tossing and turning for most of the night, it's time to have a good rest. You guys should go back quickly. We will keep an eye on it here."
Ashina Lan also nodded, with a tired look in his eyes, but he still took care of them first: "Go ahead, don't get tired."
Shen Aheng and Ashina Yu couldn't help but look at each other and asked, "Uncle and aunt, what about you? Aren't you going to rest?"
Ashina Lan looked in the direction where the remaining Wulun soldiers were fleeing, his expression a bit worried. "They won't give up easily. The Wulun Emperor has already sent troops. He knows he's suffered a loss, so he will definitely send back soon."
Shen Ah Heng’s heart sank suddenly, the night wind seemed to be even colder, making her fingertips slightly cold.
No one went back to rest that night.
People on the city walls were making quick preparations. Some were carrying food and water, some were cleaning swords and checking bows and arrows. The torches made the entire sky as bright as day.
The Yuezhi Kingdom was a small country and lacked advanced guns and cannons. All it could rely on were the scimitars, longbows, and some short blades unique to the Western Regions in the hands of its soldiers.
Shen Aheng looked at the busy crowd, his heart full of worries. Wulun Kingdom is the largest country in the Western Regions, with strong soldiers and horses. Although they withdrew their troops this time, they will definitely come with a more fierce offensive next time. Can they really withstand it with these cold weapons alone?
In the second half of the night, Shen Aheng couldn't suppress his sleepiness anymore, so he leaned against the arrow embankment on the top of the city wall, wanting to close his eyes and rest for a while.
Just as she closed her eyes, she heard a slight noise beside her. It was Ashina Yu who came over. Without saying a word, he gently supported her head and let her lean on his shoulder. He took off his coat and carefully put it on her. When his pale fingertips touched her slightly cold shoulders, he quietly wrapped her tightly.
Shen Aheng didn't open his eyes, and his voice was a little weak: "Aren't you cold? Let's cover it together."
Ashina Yu whispered in her ear, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze: "I'm not cold."
Shen Ah Heng remembered that his physical condition was not very good, and it would be troublesome if he caught a cold, so without asking for his opinion, he stretched out his hand and pulled his coat to the side, wrapping his body in it.
Ashina Yu's ears turned red instantly, and her eyes sparkled like broken stars. His Adam's apple rolled slightly, but he didn't say anything. He just gently put his arms around her waist and pulled her tighter in his arms, using little force so as not to hurt her.
The coat wrapped around the two of them, and even their breath became warm, like a small piece of warmth in the cold night.
The soldiers, civilians and people in the city were busy all night long, and only took a rest when it was almost dawn. Even the guards on the top of the city could not help but take a nap beside the arrow nests.
But before they could rest for a moment, there was a sudden deafening cry of killing outside the city gate, louder and more frequent than last night, which woke everyone up at once.
Shen Aheng and Ashina Yu suddenly opened their eyes, stood up together and looked towards the city.
In the morning light, the soldiers of the Ulun Kingdom were lined up in a black mass, the glare from their armor was so dazzling that it made people dizzy, smoke and dust were rolling, and they lined up from the city gate to the sand dunes in the distance. Even the flags were planted densely, and it was obvious that they were coming out in full force.
The guards on the city wall were startled awake by the shouting and screaming, and rushed to the top of the city wall to look down. In the morning light, the soldiers of the Ulun Kingdom were like a black tide, with no end in sight, and even the flags covered half of the sky.
Everyone was so shocked by the scene that they were speechless. The weapons in their hands were clenched until they turned pale, and their faces were full of helplessness.
At this moment, Ashina Lan and Qiao Wanqing rushed over. Seeing the scene below the city, Ashina Lan looked embarrassed, but there was no panic on his face. He suddenly drew the sword at his waist and shouted, "What are you all standing there for! Prepare to fight! Defending the city gate is defending our home!"
The sound was heard ten miles away, and it was so resounding that it instantly brought the guards on the city wall who were still stunned to their senses. Soon, the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard again on the city wall.
Shen Aheng and Ashina Yu also immediately picked up a bow and arrow each, stood side by side on the top of the city, and stared at the city below.
The guards on the top of the city were carrying bows and stones according to the order, when suddenly there was a loud "bang" and a burst of explosion.
The Ulun Kingdom actually pushed in a cannon, and one of the cannonballs hit the top of the city wall directly, cracking the bricks and stones, and a part of the city wall collapsed immediately.
The two guards who were standing there were caught off guard and were blown away by the rubble, falling to the ground and losing their movement.
The soldiers on the city were startled by the sudden artillery fire, and even their breathing paused. The cold weapons that could barely withstand the attack last night instantly lost their confidence in the face of the cannons.
Before they could react, several more shells came flying, sending bricks and rocks flying everywhere on the city walls.
The Ulun Kingdom sent out several vanguard teams that rushed over quickly, set up ladders under the city wall, and planned to climb up through the gap.
Ashina Lan acted decisively, raised his sword, and shouted, "Follow me! Defeat their vanguard first!"
As he said this, he rushed out from the side door with a team of elite guards, and attacked the enemy squad in front. He hacked at anyone he saw, and in an instant the ground was covered with blood.
Amidst the flashing of swords and the shadow of sabers, the vanguard soldiers were quickly thrown into disarray, and many were chopped to the ground, temporarily delaying the enemy's offensive.
But when they were about to retreat, a large group of troops from the Ulun Kingdom had already surrounded them. The dense crowd of soldiers trapped them in the middle. Ashina Lan was stabbed on the shoulder, and his clothes were stained with blood, but he still waved his sword to resist, and was about to collapse.
"father!"
A clear young voice broke through the noise, and the next second, Ashina Yu's figure had already swooped down from the top of the city wall like a ghost. His light grey robe shuttled back and forth in the sword light, and his figure was as light as a gust of wind. Only a few long screams were heard, and the wrist bones of the soldiers who surrounded Ashina Lan were broken by his sword handle, and the weapons fell to the ground with a crackling sound.
When he landed beside Ashina Lan, the ends of his hair were stained with blood mist, his face remained cold, and he reached out to grab his father's arm: "Let's go."
As he spoke, he touched the ground with his toes and jumped up again, avoiding the spear that was stabbing from behind. He swung his sword with his backhand. The sword light reflected on his cold jade-like face, revealing a bit of gorgeous cruelty. The long sword pierced through the chest from bottom to top and directly picked up the soldier's helmet.
Under the cover of the rain of arrows from the city, he half-supported his father, and with a flick of his body, he retreated to the top of the city in the blink of an eye, without even the hem of his clothes being stained with blood.
As soon as he stood firm, Ashina Yu wiped the blood off his sword and was about to jump down again: "Don't move here, I'll go get their leader's head."
"Stop!"
Ashina Lan grabbed him, his voice a little weak due to blood loss, but very stern:
Qiao Wanqing rushed over with red eyes and hugged his arm tightly: "Ayu, listen to your father! There are only soldiers down there. No matter how high your martial arts skills are, you will die if you go there! Now is not the time to show off!"
Ashina Lan leaned against the arrow embrasure, panting as he looked at him. "The Ulun Kingdom isn't attacking us just to find someone. Although our Yuezhi Kingdom is small, it controls most of the trade routes from the Western Regions to the Central Plains. We've also been on good terms with the Central Plains for years, with constant trade caravans. They've long been jealous."
As he spoke, he reached into his bosom and took out a brocade box. When he opened it, he saw a jade plaque engraved with the intertwined patterns of "moon" and "dragon". The edges still bore traces of the wear and tear of time.
"This is a token of friendship bestowed upon the Kingdom of the Moon by the Emperor of the Central Plains when it was founded. It's proof of the friendship between the two nations. The Wulun Kingdom wants more than just this passage. After taking us down, their next step will be to annex the other nations in the Western Regions and unify them. Once they've accumulated enough food, fodder, and troops, they'll invade the Central Plains sooner or later."
He pressed the brocade box into Ashina Yu's hand and pressed his bloodstained fingers hard on the jade token. "You and Ah Heng take this to the Central Plains and go to the current emperor. This token is proof. Once he sees it, he will know that saving Yuezhi means defending the western gate of the Central Plains. He will not sit idly by."
Qiao Wanqing added with tears in her eyes, "No one except us can recognize this jade token. We must keep it safe and make sure it doesn't get intercepted by the people of Wulun Country!"
Ashina Yu looked at the pale faces of his parents, then looked at the still dense enemy army outside the city. He stopped struggling and just clenched the jade box tightly.
Ashina Lan forced himself to endure the pain in his shoulder and gave him a push, his voice filled with urgency: "Don't just stand there! Leave now! Exit through the secret passage on the west side, follow the sea buckthorn forest to the southeast, and you will be on the road to the Central Plains!"
He turned his head and looked at the still deafening shouts and cries of killing below the city wall, then turned back to stare at Ashina Yu, his eyes as sharp as knives: "Your mother and I will guard this place. If the gate collapses, we will block it with our bodies! The faster you leave, the greater the hope of bringing in reinforcements!"
Qiao Wanqing also took Shen Aheng's hand, stuffed a few bags of dry food and water into her, and cried and urged them: "Hurry! If you are any later, the secret passage will be discovered! Remember, you must bring back reinforcements!"
Ashina Yu looked at his father's bloodstained shoulder, then glanced at his mother's red eyes, clenched the brocade box in his hand, his Adam's apple rolled, and in the end he said nothing more, just took Shen Aheng's hand, turned around and ran in the direction of the secret passage.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
