As the sun set, the shadows in the mountains and forests grew longer. Jingyang galloped on his horse, but his heart was far from calm. The crushing defeat he had just suffered felt like a heavy hammer blow to his chest, and every step he took felt like walking on a knife's edge.
"Hundreds of thousands of people... and only this much is left. What's the difference between us and stray dogs?" Jingyang couldn't help but laugh at himself, but he couldn't hide the anxiety between his brows.
Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from ahead, and everyone tensed up instantly.
"Quickly, hide!" Jingyang decisively ordered, leading his men into the dense forest.
No sooner had they arrived than a troop of several hundred Qin soldiers galloped away on horseback into the distance, presumably scouts sent out by the Qin army.
"So..." Jingyang pondered for a moment, thinking to himself, "The Qin army has already begun its preparations. Continuing towards Pingcheng... it would be better to return to Chu as soon as possible."
Now that Raocheng and Lingshoucheng have been captured by the Qin army, the Yan state is now completely exposed to the Qin's blade, with its gates wide open. There is no longer any need to continue to Pingcheng.
He was a general of Chu, and his mission was only to help Yan repel Qin. He was not going to sell his life to Yan. Sima Shang, Lord Changguo, and Li Fu had all died in battle, so what was the point of him still holding on?
With this in mind, Jingyang whispered an order: "The situation is hopeless. Order everyone to return to Chu immediately. Any soldiers from Zhao and Yan who do not wish to return to Chu together should part ways here and accept their fate."
The defeated army gathered behind him consisted not only of Chu soldiers, but also a considerable number of Yan and Zhao soldiers who had joined him. It would be best if he could bring them back to Chu, but he wouldn't force it if he couldn't.
When the order was given, not a single soldier from Yan and Zhao retreated. They had long been terrified by the ruthlessness of the Qin army, so how could they dare to leave on their own?
"Okay, let's go then!"
Jingyang nodded in satisfaction, then led his defeated troops through the mountains and forests, fearing that the Qin army would find their tracks.
......
The following afternoon.
Raocheng.
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, all enemy soldiers inside the city have been killed." Generals Erniu, Wang Tian, and others arrived together to report the results of the long-running purge to Efu.
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, all enemy soldiers inside the city have been killed." Generals Erniu, Wang Tian, and others arrived together to report the results of the long-running purge to the evil man.
The wicked man raised his eyes to look at the generals, a glint of satisfaction flashing in them: "Very good!"
Chun Ning then revealed a sinister smile and said, "Grand Commandant, this humble general has an unexpected gain!"
All the generals turned to look, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense. The wicked man raised an eyebrow, signaling Chun Ning to continue.
Chun Ning said in a deep voice, "Last night, my brothers captured Li Fu's personal guards alive. Through interrogation, we unexpectedly learned that the assassins we encountered on our way back from welcoming the bride were sent by Crown Prince Dan of Yan."
The wicked man's face instantly darkened: "Crown Prince Dan of Yan? What audacity!"
As for Prince Dan, very few of his deeds have been passed down to posterity. The only things that are worth mentioning are his secret plot with Jing Ke to assassinate the King of Qin and his harboring of the Qin general Fan Yuqi.
According to historical records, Crown Prince Dan was a hostage in the State of Zhao in his early years, along with Ying Zheng. Later, he was sent to the State of Qin as a hostage by King Xi of Yan. However, King Ying Zheng of Qin treated him poorly, causing him to harbor resentment. After escaping back to the State of Yan, he sought an opportunity to take revenge on Ying Zheng.
Just as the Qin state conquered Zhao, Crown Prince Dan and King Xi of Yan had differing political views. One of them advocated assassinating the King of Qin to stop Qin's expansion, which led to Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin. The story of the King of Qin running around a pillar has been passed down through the ages.
Wang Tian frowned: "Grand Commandant, Crown Prince Dan and the King both came to Zhao as hostages. It is said that they had a good relationship. Why would you send someone to assassinate the Grand Commandant for no reason?"
As a former official of the Yan state, he had heard more or less about the affairs of the royal princes. Given his relationship with Ying Zheng, he had no reason to suddenly kill the wicked husband and break the temporary peace between the two countries.
The wicked husband snorted coldly, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes: "In matters of family, country, and the world, how many people would willingly let things go because of personal feelings or old grudges?"
Erniu asked anxiously, "Grand Commandant, now that we know it was this scoundrel who did it, what are we waiting for? If we don't capture him and skin him alive, we won't be able to quell our hatred!"
Thinking of the suffering they had endured, Erniu couldn't help but feel murderous intent, wishing he could torture Prince Dan with the cruelest methods in the world.
After a moment of contemplation, the wicked man sneered and replied, "Of course we can't let him get away with this. Quickly send someone to the Yan capital, Ji, to inform King Xi of the cause of this war, and let him decide what to do!"
Chun Ning interjected, "Grand Commandant, we have already breached two of Yan's most prized border defenses. Why should we waste our breath on them?"
"This Grand Commandant suddenly feels... that killing someone by destroying their spirit... is quite fun!" The wicked husband revealed a playful expression.
When Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin failed, the enraged Qin army marched directly to the capital. King Xi of Yan, heeding the slander of King Jia of Dai, sent men to kill Crown Prince Dan and present his head to the Qin state in an attempt to quell the rebellion.
Today, he will do the same, forcing King Xi of Yan to kill him. He wants to see how desperate and heartbroken Prince Dan will be when he sees his own father, who is afraid of the Qin army and wants to kill him.
"Grand Commandant, I'll take care of this!" Erniu spoke first, as if afraid someone would snatch it away from him. After speaking, he turned and quickly left.
Everyone smiled helplessly, which showed how much Erniu hated Prince Dan.
Before long, the Black Dragon Armored Army of a hundred men marched in a mighty procession toward Ji City, the capital of Yan Kingdom, with Erniu leading the charge!
In order to vent his anger, this young man acted without orders, risking his life to meet the Prince of Yan.
It wasn't until long after they left that the wicked husband received the news. He was furious and cursed Erniu for being brainless. He also sent Chun Ning to gather the Black Dragon Armor Army to go after Erniu and help him, lest something happen to Erniu.
...
Four days later.
As dawn broke, the city walls of Jicheng gleamed with a cold light under the sunlight.
"General, should we knock on the gate, or...?" his adjutant asked in a low voice, his eyes scanning warily the Yan soldiers who were on guard on the city wall.
As the Black Dragon Armored Army gradually approached Ji City, the city's defenders spotted them and immediately tensed up. Soldiers on the city walls moved about rapidly, and crossbowmen set up their bows, preparing to repel the invading enemy.
Erniu sneered and waved his hand to signal them to stop: "Listen up, you Yan soldiers! I am Erniu, the commander of the Qin Black Dragon Armored Army. I have been sent by the Grand Commandant of Qin to meet the King of Yan. Why don't you inform him immediately?"
A commotion broke out on the city wall, and soon a voice rang out, "General Erniu, please wait a moment, I will go to the palace to report this immediately."
Erniu snorted disdainfully, "You'd better hurry up, I'm impatient and don't like waiting for people." There was not a trace of respect in his words.
Although the city guard was furious, he dared not say anything. The two countries were currently at war, and the fact that this Qin general was able to bypass Raocheng and Lingshou and enter the capital must mean something was amiss!
Perhaps things have changed on the front lines.
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