Immediately afterwards, the earth began to tremble violently! It wasn't the shaking of ten thousand horses galloping, but a terrifying roar like an earth dragon turning over!
All the Rong and Di soldiers who were fighting, including the fierce heavy infantry, suddenly froze! Extreme terror appeared on their faces, as if they had heard a call from hell!
"Is...is it an earth dragon turning over?!" A Rongdi soldier screamed in terror in his native language.
"No! It's the punishment from the Eternal Heaven!" More people began to panic.
Just as the Rong and Di army was thrown into chaos, the tightly closed gates of Tongguan suddenly burst open!
Xiao Xun charged ahead, clad in black armor and a black cloak, wielding a heavy, eighteen-foot-long spear, like a demon god descending to earth! Behind him surged the Liang cavalry, which had been pent up for days, now like tigers unleashed from their cages! Their iron hooves shattered the earth, carrying the flames of revenge and the unwavering belief in victory, as they crashed into the flanks of the chaotic Rongdi army!
"Great Liang—Victory! Kill—!!!"
Xiao Xun's roar was like thunder, exploding in the hearts of every soldier of the Great Liang! On the city walls, the previously desperate defenders erupted in thunderous cheers! Reinforcements! His Highness has personally led the army out of the pass to counterattack!
Xin Yunzhou's spirits soared. Looking at the Rongdi heavy infantry, briefly thrown into chaos by the bugle calls and the "earth dragon's transformation," a terrifying glint flashed in his eyes! He grabbed the swaying Xin Kui, shielding her behind him, and roared hoarsely, "Brothers! His Highness has counterattacked! Follow me and charge out! A coordinated attack from within and without! Annihilate the enemy!"
A miraculous escape from dire straits! Morale soared! The remaining defenders unleashed astonishing power, and under Xin Yunzhou's leadership, they charged out like sharp blades through the gap, joining forces with Xiao Xun's iron cavalry torrent to attack from both inside and outside!
The battlefield situation reversed in an instant!
The chaotic Rongdi army collapsed completely under the sudden "natural disaster" (the terrifying ground tremors and strange horns) and the fierce counterattack of the Liang army! They trampled each other and were utterly routed!
Xiao Xun charged ahead, his long spear like a dragon, leaving men and horses in its wake, none able to withstand its sharpness! His target was the tallest golden wolf banner in the Rongdi army, representing the royal court!
Xin Yunzhou, protecting the heavily wounded Xin Kui, charged towards Xiao Xun's direction, surrounded by his personal guards. Xin Kui leaned against Xin Yunzhou's strong back, feeling his burning body temperature and rapid heartbeat; the excruciating pain in her shoulder seemed to lessen somewhat. She looked at the armored figure moving through the enemy ranks as if they were nothing, then at the broad back of the man beside her, and an unprecedented sense of security welled up inside her. She had survived, and the general was alive…it was truly wonderful.
The Great Victory at Tongguan!
The news spread like wildfire, reaching the capital!
When the urgent news of victory, carried with it the lingering scent of battlefield smoke, rushed into the Forbidden City and the Sixth Prince's residence, Xin Jiuwei was in the West Garden council hall, fiercely debating with several young, ambitious officials of the Qingliu faction about the specific details of the "Equal Land Distribution Memorial" to be implemented on a trial basis in several severely affected counties of Yingzhou. Opposition remained strong, especially from representatives of some Beijing officials who owned large tracts of land in Yingzhou.
“…Miss Xin, it is not that I do not care about the disaster victims, but the policy of equal land distribution involves too many people! Forcibly implementing it may incite a popular uprising, which would be counterproductive! We should proceed gradually…”
"Take it slow?" Xin Jiuwei did not back down, her voice clear and powerful. "Fifty thousand refugees in Yingzhou are starving and there are already signs of disease! How can we take it slow? Are we going to wait until the fields are littered with corpses, the plague is rampant, and the refugees turn into mobs and rise up in rebellion before we start planning? That would be a real peasant uprising!"
The atmosphere inside the hall was tense and confrontational.
Just then, a deafening commotion erupted outside the hall! Immediately following was You Ye's almost distorted, wildly joyful roar:
"A great victory! A great victory at Tongguan! His Highness personally led the army, routing 100,000 Rong and Di troops! The enemy chieftain was slain in battle! The Golden Wolf Banner has been broken! A great victory in the Northern Frontier—!!!"
Like a thunderclap from a clear sky!
The council chamber fell into a deathly silence! Everyone froze, staring incredulously at the doorway.
The vermilion brush in Xin Jiuwei's hand fell with a "thud" onto the unfolded map of Yingzhou, spreading a glaring red stain. She stood up abruptly, her vision blurring from the sudden movement, and she barely managed to steady herself by grabbing the table for support.
"What...what did you say?" Her voice trembled without her even realizing it.
You Ye rushed in like a gust of wind, her face streaked with tears of ecstatic joy, holding aloft the blood-stained victory report: "Miss! A great victory! His Highness has won! Tongguan has been saved! The Rongdi Khan has fled! General Xin... General Xin has also made a great contribution! And Miss Xin Kui... she..." You Ye's voice choked, "She was seriously wounded while saving General Xin, but... but the army doctor said she pulled through! She survived!"
“Brother… Xin Kui…” Xin Jiuwei murmured, a wave of overwhelming joy and a feeling of utter relief washing over her, making her almost unable to stand. Tears streamed down her face without warning, blurring her vision. They won! They were all alive! They won!
After a deathly silence, the hall erupted in thunderous cheers! Those officials who had been arguing vehemently just moments before were now beaming with pride and excitement! A great victory at the front! This was the strongest support for all the efforts and debates at home! What could better demonstrate the necessity of stabilizing the rear and reforming long-standing problems than a victory won with the blood and lives of our soldiers?!
Xin Jiuwei wiped away her tears, forcibly suppressing her turbulent emotions. She took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall. The vigor and authority she exuded, fueled by victory, made everyone stand at attention.
"Gentlemen!" Her voice was clear and resonant, carrying an undeniable power. "The soldiers on the front lines, with their flesh and blood, have guarded the gates of our Great Liang! Their glorious victory has proven their loyalty and bravery! So, what should we, the officials in the rear, do?"
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