Chapter Eighty-Five: Drunken Rain Congeals the Heart, Flowers Burn to Ashes
As the sun gradually sank in the west, its orange glow cascaded down on everyone, following the shadows of the trees.
Zhong Lishuo and Bai Ming had already dismounted and were walking slowly and cautiously at the end of the path.
The large group of men hid in the forest under the cover of dusk, their horses' hooves wrapped up to avoid alerting the enemy ambush.
“General,” the vanguard officer turned back from a short distance away, lowered his voice, and gently tugged at Bai Ming’s sleeve, “why don’t we attack the city directly, instead of sneaking around here?”
Bai Ming frowned slightly and looked at the dark and indistinct trees on the opposite mountain. "We don't know how many enemy troops there are right now. If we attack rashly, we will surely fall into their ambush."
“Zhao Qing is absolutely right,” Zhong Lishuo sighed softly, then turned back and glanced at the vanguard officer with a wry smile. “The enemy is well-rested and has been holed up on that mountain for who knows how long.” He clicked his tongue. “But holding out like this indefinitely isn’t a solution. If we are discovered and set the mountain on fire, we’ll really be doomed.”
Bai Ming sighed upon hearing this, raising his hand to furrow his brow. "Judging from the dust they've created, they definitely have more than ten thousand men. Here's what we'll do," he beckoned to the vanguard officer, "quickly send a letter to Lingyu, asking her to lead her troops to meet us." He turned back to Zhongli Shuo solemnly, "If we can just get through this night, taking Lujiang County won't be a problem."
“Alright,” Zhong Lishuo chuckled and nodded, his gaze fixed intently on the road ahead. “I’ve never fought such a dangerous battle before. We’ll advance as soon as the sun sets.” He turned to Bai Ming. “We can’t just sit here and wait to die. A night raid is the best opportunity to attack the city.”
Bai Ming frowned and looked at the hazy hillside opposite, clenching his fist secretly. "Right now, we can't worry about being reckless. There are definitely more people from Lujiang County on the opposite mountain. He Yuan must have secretly transferred some of his main forces out behind Mr. Cheyan's back."
“Yes,” Zhongli Shuo suddenly became determined and changed his posture to look at the opposite side. “Rather than sitting and waiting to die, we might as well try to stop a chariot with our bare hands. We can delay as long as we can. Even if we die here, we must take Lujiang County.”
Bai Ming closed his eyes, let out a long breath, and nodded. "We'll split into two groups. You lead your men to attack the city from the side gate, while I'll set fire to the main gate to attract the enemy's attention and then turn back to help you." He looked into Zhong Lishuo's eyes. "At this moment, this is the only option we have."
“This plan is feasible,” Zhong Lishuo patted Bai Ming on the shoulder. “In August, they will be unable to withstand the spread of the fire while they are lying in ambush in the mountains and forests.”
Zhong Lishuo was about to leave when Bai Ming stopped him with a hand. He turned around and met Bai Ming's cautious gaze.
“That being said, we must not be careless. There are many ambushes outside the city, and there will certainly be many more inside.” He frowned and stared intently into Zhongli Shuo’s eyes. “With the men we have now, splitting them into two groups to fight them would be like moths to a flame, but…”
“But we absolutely cannot let this go.” Zhong Lishuo nodded to Bai Ming. “I know what you’re trying to say. Go all out and fight with all your might, but be cautious and careful.”
Faced with the betrayal of their allies, this was a last resort. Under immense pressure, they were caught in a dilemma. They could only emulate Xiang Yu of the previous dynasty, fighting a desperate battle with their backs to the river, ready to die for their cause.
Bai Ming raised his hand and pressed heavily on his shoulder, then nodded through gritted teeth.
Most of the sun was hidden behind the mountains, leaving only a sliver of orange-red light that ignited their eyes.
The last rays of the setting sun disappeared behind the western mountains, and boundless darkness enveloped Lujiang County.
In the instant the world darkened, two thunderous roars echoed through the sky. Two rockets exploded one after the other, tearing through the clouds, and flames engulfed the entire mountain like a giant lion.
The ambush troops hidden in the forest were suddenly pulled out, and the wildfire struck even earlier than they had anticipated. Amidst the flames that lit up the sky and earth, a massive crowd of 50,000 elite soldiers surged forth from behind the mountain like a tidal wave.
Bai Ming was immediately startled. He rushed to the front of the formation, gripped his spear tightly, and kept his body bent over, staring intently at the enemy troops rushing towards him.
The city behind him was already in chaos, with shouts of battle rising from all directions, tightly enveloping Bai Ming in the middle.
Sweat instantly soaked his clothes. He gritted his teeth as if he had made up his mind, brandished his gun, and charged forward. The rooster, Ta Yue, seemed to understand its master's will, let out a long neigh, and flew forward.
Blood spurted out wherever the spear tip passed, and enemy soldiers fell in droves, only to surge forward again. Behind the billowing black smoke, countless enemy soldiers lurked, as if the entire army of Jiangnan had descended from this place.
Night had already fallen, and he didn't know how many hours the fighting had gone on endlessly. He only felt that the number of enemy soldiers in front of him was increasing, while his brothers behind him were numbering in the hundreds.
Bai Ming's hands were already soaked with sweat; the endless enemy soldiers had nearly exhausted all his strength. He barely managed to swing his spear, pull back the reins, and gasp for breath, but he still had to stand on the saddle bridge, desperately waving his spear at the enemy soldiers.
"No." He gritted his teeth and swung the enemy soldier in front of him, but his movements slowed down involuntarily. His arms had gone limp at some point, but he still kept swinging the spear with the will in his chest.
He glanced back at the soldiers fighting alongside him, the sounds from the city behind him gradually fading. Bai Ming gritted his teeth and yanked the reins sharply backward, "Brothers! Let's go into the city and take refuge!"
Upon hearing the sound, the surrounding soldiers retreated as if they had escaped death. Bai Ming suddenly swung his spear, throwing the enemy soldiers in front of him several feet away. The blood-stained Ta Yue turned around and leaped inside. Bai Ming and his remaining thousand soldiers immediately flashed into the breached city gate, pressing their backs against the gate and panting heavily.
The incessant banging on the door sounded like a death knell for the surviving soldiers.
Bai Ming collapsed onto the horse's back, his limbs suddenly losing all strength. He gasped for breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead, and forced himself to sit up, gazing out towards the city.
The once vast Lujiang County had long since become a ghost town. The stench of blood rose with the heat, and the ground was a crimson mess. The blood, which should have been flowing freely, spread across the ground like stagnant water, wetting the soil of the city.
Bai Ming shook his head in disbelief, then frowned and looked down at the ground, only to see that with each step Ta Yue took, he landed squarely on someone's body.
There were no civilians in the city, only the corpses of soldiers from both sides piled on the ground, obscuring the view.
Bai Ming felt a suffocating pain in his heart, as if pierced by a sharp blade. Tears choked in his throat, and he could only hear the crackling of the spreading wildfire in his ears.
His fingertips trembled involuntarily. He tugged on the reins, and the □□踏月 ran forward with his movement.
"Yude," his voice trembled violently, then he abruptly raised his spear and slapped his warhorse, "Yude!"
With a neigh, Tayue galloped forward, its only response the crackling of the flames and the wet, slushy sound beneath its hooves.
The ten-mile-long street was deserted. A gentle breeze brushed against Bai Ming's cheek, yet it pierced his heart like a steel knife. Just as he was feeling desperate and helpless, he suddenly smelled a wisp of osmanthus fragrance mixed with the strong smell of blood. Bai Ming looked up and saw an osmanthus tree swaying in the wind in the deep alley.
He immediately rushed towards the osmanthus tree as if grasping at a straw, but before he had taken two steps, he heard the neighing of a warhorse coming from the alley.
"Yude!" He spurred his horse into the deep alley as if his life depended on it. He reined in his horse and saw a glimmer of light flash beneath the osmanthus tree. Without thinking twice, he jumped off his galloping horse and ran towards the figure.
Bai Ming rushed over to Zhong Lishuo, kneeling down beside him. His hands trembled as he embraced Zhong Lishuo's propped-up body, and tears welled up in his eyes, falling in large drops onto his clothes.
“Impossible…” He shook his head in disbelief, his voice choked in his throat, “How could this be…”
Zhong Lishuo was embraced by Bai Ming, and his pale hand slowly released itself from the dagger stuck in the ground.
"Don't cry, Zhaoqing, don't cry." His lips were already dry, and he forced himself to open his eyes, his cold hand trembling as he touched Bai Ming's face.
"Yude, you..." Bai Ming's tears welled up instantly. He couldn't help but tighten his arms around Zhong Lishuo, but then he felt a hard object gently pressing against his abdomen. He looked down and saw a bloodstained ring-pommel sword piercing through Zhong Lishuo's soft waist and abdomen, trembling with his remaining breath.
"Yude..." Bai Ming could no longer control his emotions, and raised his hand to pull Zhongli Shuo's head into his arms. "Yude, hold on a little longer, Yude, wait until I conquer Lujiang County, wait until Lingyu comes to support us..."
"Zhaoqing." Zhong Lishuo chuckled softly, his eyes filled with comfort. His voice was already barely audible, his last breath trembling as it reached Bai Ming's ear.
Bai Ming took a deep breath, swallowed his tears, looked up at Zhong Lishuo's eyes, and choked back sobs, "Tell me, Yude, tell me."
Zhong Lishuo gently closed his eyes, and with his last bit of strength, took out a crystal-clear jade bracelet from his bosom. The clear pink color shimmered in the dim light.
"Put it on my behalf..."
"Give it to yourself if you want it!" Bai Ming could no longer hold back his emotions. He knelt on the ground, pressed his head against Zhong Lishuo's, and screamed and cried. He grabbed Zhong Lishuo's fist and tightly gripped the jade bracelet. "If you have anything to say, tell Tongxi yourself. Go back and see her properly."
“Zhaoqing,” Zhongli Shuo’s hoarse voice sounded more like a plea than a consolation. His hand trembled as he placed the scalding hot jade bracelet into Bai Ming’s hand. “I can’t protect her anymore,” he said with a soft smile as he closed his eyes, a hot tear rolling down his cheek. “I can only let this bracelet protect her for me…”
Bai Ming's hand trembled as he took the jade bracelet. He was so choked up that he couldn't say a word, letting large tears fall onto Zhong Lishuo. He looked at Zhong Lishuo and could only nod repeatedly, "Okay, Yude, I promise you."
Zhong Lishuo smiled and closed his eyes, then moved his body with difficulty, startling Bai Ming who quickly reached out to support him.
The Vermilion Bird Token, which felt as if a general had personally arrived, was also placed in Bai Ming's hands.
Bai Ming's heart skipped a beat. He looked up at Zhong Lishuo and saw that his eyes were full of longing and yearning. The reflection of the flowers in his eyes added a touch of Jiangnan imagery.
Zhong Lishuo gently squeezed Bai Ming's trembling hand, then took a deep breath, raising his eyes to gaze at the dark sky. "The sunset rain is about to stop, the flowers are falling..." He closed his eyes briefly. "This time... let's consider it as me arriving in Jiangnan..."
Before he could finish speaking, a cold raindrop hit Bai Ming's palm, which was holding the jade bracelet.
“It’s raining, Yude,” Bai Ming choked up as he leaned against him. “Come with me.”
Zhong Lishuo chuckled softly and slowly shook his head. "It's raining, the fire should be extinguished. The fire on the blade, the fire on the battlefield, the fire in the heart... all should be extinguished." He looked up and smiled at Bai Ming's frantically shaking head. "Next year, remember to see this prosperous age for me."
Large raindrops fell, and Bai Ming held Zhong Lishuo tightly with both hands, refusing to let go. The icy raindrops and scalding tears hit Zhong Lishuo's face. He gently squeezed Bai Ming's hand, "Go. If you take Lujiang County, my lifelong wish of never being defeated will be fulfilled."
He breathed a sigh of relief and released Bai Ming's tightly clenched hand. "I have no regrets in this life."
Bai Ming bent down one last time, his hands trembling as he held Zhong Lishuo's shoulders, pressing his forehead against his. After a moment, he gritted his teeth, suddenly stood up, and ran towards Ta Yue.
"Giddy up!" he roared, cracking his whip and charging straight into the rain without looking back, leaving only the sound of his hooves splashing through the water.
His damp clothes stifled Zhong Lishuo's remaining breath. He leaned back against the osmanthus tree, panting heavily. He greedily inhaled the delicate fragrance of osmanthus blossoms in the air, letting the raindrops fall on his cheeks.
He relaxed his last nerve, letting his senses drift away into a sweet and fragrant atmosphere.
The most passionate heart in the world was extinguished in the torrential rain.
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