As dawn broke and the east began to lighten, the enemy finally launched their final assault.
The dark mass of enemy troops surged toward the city walls like a tidal wave, their shouts of battle deafening.
"A hefty reward awaits those who capture the Empress alive! Kill her!"
The enemy general shouted at the top of his lungs, brandishing his sword, and charged into battle at the forefront.
Fortunately, the city of Jingzhou was brightly lit, illuminating the surroundings as if it were daytime.
"Fire!"
At Chen Qingwan's command, the roar of muskets resounded through the sky, flashes of fire filled the air, and smoke billowed everywhere.
With the advantage of their muskets, the Imperial Guards repelled the enemy time and time again.
"Charge! Kill all these sons of bitches!"
On the city wall, the soldiers guarding the city also roared in fury.
They fought a desperate battle with the enemy using their swords and spears.
The fighting on the second day was even more brutal than the first.
The enemy troops, like mad dogs, surged towards the city walls one after another, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
The corpses piled up like mountains beneath the city walls, and blood flowed like rivers.
Chen Qingwan stood on the city wall, her face pale, biting her lip tightly.
The Imperial Guards suffered increasing casualties, and their arrows were running low.
A sense of despair rose in her heart; if things continued like this, Jingzhou City would fall sooner or later.
Just then, shouts of battle suddenly came from outside the city.
Chen Qingwan's spirits lifted. Could it be reinforcements?
She quickly looked up and saw an army charging towards them from afar, led by Zuo Wei!
Zuo Wei's appearance undoubtedly gave the Imperial Guards defending the city a strong boost of morale.
Their morale soared, and they shouted as they fought even harder against the enemy's attack.
Zuo Wei's reinforcements attempted to flank the enemy from the outside.
However, the allied forces were prepared, and Zuowei's surprise attack did not achieve the expected results.
To make matters worse, the enemy diverted some of their forces to delay Zuo Wei.
The remaining army launched an even more frenzied attack on Jingzhou City.
Damn it!
Chen Qingwan couldn't help but curse.
The enemy's offensive came wave after wave, seemingly without end.
The casualties of the Imperial Guards increased sharply, and Chen Qingwan had no choice but to conscript laborers from the city to go up the city walls to help defend the city.
These laborers had not received professional military training.
But they also showed amazing courage in defending their homeland.
Armed with rudimentary weapons, they fought alongside the Imperial Guards to defend against the enemy's attacks.
A laborer with a full beard wielded a hoe.
He slammed his fist on the head of an enemy soldier who had climbed the city wall, and roared:
"You son of a bitch, how dare you come to my house and cause trouble!"
Another young laborer, with a wooden stick in his hand.
He stabbed an enemy soldier off the siege ladder and shouted excitedly:
"I'll stab one to death! I'll stab one to death!"
Looking at these laborers who were risking their lives to defend their homeland, Chen Qingwan felt both moved and saddened.
She knew that Jingzhou City had been able to hold out until now entirely because of the tenacious resistance of these soldiers and laborers.
They defended the city for four days, engaging in more than twenty battles, large and small.
The garrison in Jingzhou was exhausted, and the city gates were in terrible condition.
If the city's passageways hadn't been blocked, Jingzhou City would probably have been breached long ago.
But now Jingzhou City is like a sieve, with countless caves dug underground by the enemy.
Chen Qingwan didn't know how much longer she could hold out. Perhaps when the enemy broke through one of the caves, Jingzhou City would fall.
As night fell, a tense atmosphere enveloped the city of Jingzhou.
The flickering firelight on the city wall reflected the weary faces of the soldiers guarding the city.
Just then, an arrow pierced the night sky, making a whooshing sound, and landed firmly on a wooden pillar of the city tower.
A letter was tied to the arrow's fletching, swaying slightly in the night breeze.
Chen Qingwan stepped forward, took the letter, and frowned.
There was no signature on the envelope, but she had a vague sense of unease.
She returned to her room, lit the oil lamp, and opened the envelope.
The contents of the letter both shocked and angered her; it was written by Zhang Xinwang, the prefect of Huai'an.
At the beginning, Zhang Xinwang spoke respectfully, repeatedly referring to himself as "your subject" and saying "I am here to save the king."
Chen Qingwan was initially quite relieved, feeling that at this critical moment, there were still loyal ministers and generals willing to lend a helping hand.
But as she read on, she realized Zhang Xinwang's true intentions.
"Your Majesty is of inestimable worth; how can you be confined to a besieged city? Your subject is willing to lead the elite troops of Huai'an to relieve the siege of Jingzhou and welcome Your Majesty back to the capital."
"However, a country cannot be without a ruler for a day. I humbly request Your Majesty to marry me. Only in this way can the people's hearts be at peace and the rebellion be quelled."
Chen Qingwan crumpled the letter into a ball and slammed it to the ground.
"Shameless scoundrels! How dare they take advantage of our misfortune!"
She was so angry that she trembled all over, her chest heaving violently.
"Qiao'er!" Chen Qingwan shouted sternly.
Qiao'er hurriedly entered the room and, seeing Chen Qingwan's angry expression, cautiously asked:
"Your Majesty, what has happened?"
"Call everyone over and let's see this letter!"
Chen Qingwan pointed at the crumpled paper on the ground, her anger barely contained.
Soon, Qiao'er, Li Mu, and several close associates gathered in the room.
They passed the letter around, and their faces showed anger.
"Your Majesty, Zhang Xinwang is clearly a traitor! He's trying to use the emperor to command the other lords!"
Li Mu said indignantly.
"Your Majesty, we must not agree to his demands! This is tantamount to asking a tiger for its skin!"
Qiao'er said anxiously.
Chen Qingwan took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
Now is not the time to act impulsively.
Although Zhang Xinwang's letter angered her, it also made her realize a problem:
She must get out of this predicament as soon as possible, otherwise more "Zhang Xinwangs" will emerge.
"You are right, how can I be manipulated by such a villain!"
A resolute glint flashed in Chen Qingwan's eyes.
"Pass down the order: tomorrow, hang the large red dragon flag on the city wall to reveal my identity!"
Everyone was stunned and looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Your Majesty, isn't this... a bit too risky?"
Li Mu asked with concern.
"If the enemy finds out you are in the city, they will probably attack even more frantically."
Chen Qingwan sneered:
"Aren't they attacking fiercely enough? I want them to know that I am right here!"
"I want to see how many loyal ministers and generals are left in this world, and how many people are still willing to serve the Great Tong Dynasty!"
After a moment's thought, the tiger descending the mountain cupped his hands and said:
"Your Majesty, this plan... using one tiger to devour another, is feasible, but extremely risky. Zhang Xinwang is no benevolent person; what if he succeeds..."
Chen Qingwan sneered, interrupting him:
"So what if he succeeds? My empire is not so easily taken away! If he's really capable, let him try!" "I want to see how many people covet this throne!"
She slammed her hand on the table and said sharply:
"Promise Zhang Xinwang! Tell him to send troops immediately to relieve the siege of Jingzhou! I will wait for him here!"
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