Nanchu suffered heavy losses, and Dawei did not fare much better, also suffering considerable casualties.
Nangong Zheng led his men to the rear. After having his wounds bandaged, he knelt on one knee before Crown Prince Yuan Zhao of Dawei to apologize. He had promised Yuan Zhao that he would protect the four siege cannons at all costs today. However, he failed to do so, and all the cannons were destroyed. Although the last two cannons were destroyed by Dawei’s own men under the prince’s orders, he couldn’t evade his responsibility. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
Helan Jue did not blame Nangong Zheng this time. Instead, he knelt on the ground alongside him with a pale face to apologize, "Please punish me, Your Highness."
Today, he was in worse shape than Nangong Zheng. The piercing sound of the lute from atop the city wall of Heiya Pass had given him a splitting headache. He was only slightly stronger than an average soldier, barely maintaining his stance with his saber and without any strength left to kill the enemy. The moment he moved, the sound of the lute would penetrate his eardrums as if they were being torn apart.
At least Nangong Zheng could lead the Nangong Family’s secret guards to fight, while he, a general, couldn’t. Mustering the strength to stand was already taking all he had.
If someone had told him before that the sound of a lute could kill, he would have never believed it. Yet, it was now something he had witnessed firsthand.
Xie Yuan’s lute music could not directly kill, but it could impair one’s spirit.
Yuan Zhao looked at the two for a long time before raising his hand and telling them to get up. "Get up, you are not blameless."
Nangong Zheng looked at Yemen Zhao.
Yuan Zhao said solemnly, "Even if I had led the attack on the city today, I couldn’t have done better than you. Stand up."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Nangong Zheng got up.
Helan Jue was filled with shame, "Your Highness, I was incompetent. I didn’t contribute at all to today’s battle."
"Stand up. If I say I don’t blame you, then I don’t blame you." Yuan Zhao waved his hand.
Helan Jue also thanked him before standing up.
Yuan Zhao gestured for them to sit down. "I did not expect that there would be several people in Nanchu’s military camp who could rival Xie Yuan in playing this unheard piece of music. And yet, they could use it against us for the second time. Nor did I expect that a great many masters would suddenly arrive in Nanchu and join the battlefield. They even tried to steal my siege cannons. If they had succeeded, we’d be in real trouble. Fortunately, they were destroyed."
After finishing his thoughts, he looked at Nangong Zheng with admiration. "You were able to receive my order in time and decisively destroyed the siege cannons with your men. You did a great job."
Nangong Zheng also showed regret, "It’s a pity that all six of your siege cannons were destroyed, Your Highness."
"It’s not a pity they were destroyed, we can make more. If they had fallen into Su Rong’s hands and Nanchu had studied them, that would be a disaster." Although Yuan Zhao was also heartbroken, considering the circumstances at the time, he didn’t feel it was a pity. The least he could do was keep Nanchu from getting them.
Helan Jue asked, "Who were those people who suddenly came to rescue Su Rong? Were they the masters sent by Crown Prince Yan Huisheng of Daliang?"
"No, they are from Qinghe’s Cui family." Yuan Zhao said, "I have seen a portrait of one of them. He is the most valued direct grandson, Cui Xingzhi, of Qinghe’s Cui family."
"So, he is Cui Xingzhi. I know him." Nangong Zheng said, "My grandfather once mentioned him to me. I didn’t expect him to come to Nanchu."
"Yes, it’s unexpected, the head of the Qinghe Cui family has made such a decisive move to support Su Rong and has even sent his most favored and promising grandson to assist in Nanchu." Yuan Zhao said, "This shows that Mister Cui of the Qinghe Cui family truly values his grandnephew Zhou Gu."
After pondering for a moment, Nangong Zheng said, "The Qinghe Cui family has been on the decline for years. Despite Mister Cui’s capabilities, he can’t single-handedly reverse the family’s decline. In recent years, he hasn’t been active in court, but has maintained a low profile along with the Duke Residence. It’s said that his plan was to wait for Crown Prince Yan Huisheng to ascend to the throne and then revive the declining Cui family through the help of Zhou Gu. But now Zhou Gu has gone to Nanchu to lead and Su Rong is the queen. Perhaps their plan will turn into moving the Qinghe Cui family to Nanchu to make a new start."
Helan Jue found this inconceivable. "That can’t be, can it? The Cui family is well-known across the land. They have been a prestigious family for hundreds of years, with deep roots. How can they just relocate so easily? They are probably just here to help Zhou Gu and Su Rong."
Yuan Zhao glanced at Helan Jue and shook his head. "Nothing is constant in this world. Even if it sounds outlandish, it’s not impossible for the Qinghe Cui family to split and move. I never underestimate anyone. Mister Cui of Qinghe Cui family is a man with the spirit to do so."
Helan Jue kept his mouth shut. He still found it too unbelievable.
Nangong Zheng saw that Yuan Zhao agreed with his speculation and continued, "If my guess is correct, we must capture Heiya Pass as soon as possible. It will be very disadvantageous for us if the war stalls. If Mister Cui has such conviction, what about Daliang’s Duke Residence? If the old Duke learns about the current situation in Nanchu, wouldn’t he send large reinforcements for his grandson? Not to mention Daliang’s Crown Prince Yan Huisheng, he will never allow Nanchu to fall into our hands and might send reinforcements."
Yuan Zhao nodded, "That’s indeed the case."
He furrowed his brows, "Rest today. Luo Yan should wake up tomorrow, and we’ll continue the siege."
If Luo Yan hadn’t been heavily wounded and unconscious yesterday, she would have definitely killed Su Rong today, and Su Rong wouldn’t have had the chance to wait for rescue.
Cui Xingzhi, who was being discussed by Yuan Zhao, Nangong Zheng, and Helan Jue, was at that time extremely busy. As Zhou Gu had mentioned, there was no officer left to take charge inside Heiya Pass. Except for Su Rong, Zhou Gu, Ye Guixue, Xie Yuan, Fen Ling, and Jiang Zhu, who were all unconscious, Zhang Mao and Ning Ze had internal injuries and had fainted after vomiting blood. Shen Yi, who had taken a fetus-protective pill, was sent to bed to rest and was similarly unconscious. Only Zhang Yun, who had lost a lot of blood and was so pale that he seemed ready to fall at any moment, was still holding on and briefing Cui Xingzhi.
Having taken over all these responsibilities at once, though Cui Xingzhi was talented, he had never handled military affairs before. His studies were focused on the masters and scholars and his tutor had taught him statecraft and how to benefit the people. Faced with this postwar defense arrangement, he was at a loss. However, Zhang Yun swallowed a load of medicine, kept going, and started telling him what to do.
Cui Xingzhi was smart. After an hour, he had already gotten the hang of things and quickly ordered someone to send Zhang Yun back to rest and treat his wounds.
Zhang Yun also knew that he could no longer hold on. He didn’t insist any longer and allowed himself to fall into unconsciousness while being carried away.
Cui Xingzhi remained busy until late at night, only managing to finish everything then. Mo Shu, his personal bodyguard, suggested, "Young Master, let somebody else keep watch here. Return to the residence, eat and rest."
Cui Xingzhi shook his head and tiredly rubbed his brow, "Just find a nearby spot, and I’ll rest for a while."
He had not expected the situation in Nanchu to reach such a crisis point. He had considered the worst-case scenario, but it was not more than the princess and his cousin being frequently embattled and endangered by the assassination attempts of the Nangong family. Who could have thought that Dawei had quietly mobilized eight hundred thousand troops to attack Nanchu and Crown Prince Yuan Zhao had personally led them?
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