Inside the ancestral hall, the stench of blood was unbearable.
Limbs and severed bodies were scattered all over the ground, a veritable hell on earth.
Chen Qingwan held the horse-slaying saber, its tip dripping blood, and coldly surveyed her surroundings.
Although the Zhang family's guards fought desperately, they were gradually routed under the fierce offensive of the Tiger Head Army.
"Those who resist, kill without mercy!"
Chen Qingwan's voice was cold and ruthless, echoing in the ancestral hall.
The battle was exceptionally fierce, with the Zhang family guards putting up a stubborn resistance thanks to their familiarity with the terrain.
They utilized the terrain, including houses, artificial hills, and gardens.
Engaging in street fighting with the Tiger Head Army, the Tiger Head Army found themselves unable to advance for a time.
Chen Qingwan frowned; she hadn't expected the Zhang family guards to be so tenacious.
The longer it drags on, the worse it will be for her.
The Zhang family's influence in Huai'an City is deeply entrenched. Once the Zhang family reacts and mobilizes reinforcements, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Damn it!
Chen Qingwan cursed under her breath; she had to end this battle as soon as possible.
"Pass down the order: abandon the direct assault and switch to fire attack!"
Chen Qingwan gave the order decisively.
"Fire attack?" The lieutenant hesitated.
"Your Majesty, fire attack may harm innocent people!"
"Womanly compassion!" Chen Qingwan retorted angrily.
"Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles! Besides, these people are all loyal to the Zhang family; keeping them around would only cause trouble!"
The lieutenant dared not argue further and immediately went to relay the order.
Soon, the Tiger Head Army soldiers fired rockets and torches at the houses in the Zhang family compound.
The dry wooden structure was flammable, and the fire spread rapidly.
The fire spread rapidly, and the Zhang family compound was engulfed in flames in an instant, with thick smoke billowing everywhere.
The towering flames illuminated half the sky, turning the night as bright as day.
Screams, shouts, and the sounds of collapsing buildings mingled together.
The Zhang family's centuries-old foundation, accumulated wealth, power, and glory were all reduced to ashes in this fire.
The head of the family, Zhang Ye, is currently hiding in the secret passage of the cellar.
The secret passage was narrow and cramped, the air was foul, and it was suffocating.
He was hunched over, his hands tightly covering his ears.
But it still couldn't stop the deafening shouts and explosions outside.
Explosions rang out one after another, shaking the cellar.
"Master, let's hurry! It'll be too late if we don't leave now!"
An elder's voice rang out from the cellar, trembling with anxiety.
He was old and frail, and it was difficult for him to walk in the tunnel. He was panting heavily and his face was full of fear.
"Go? Where to go?"
Zhang Ye's eyes were bloodshot and he asked through gritted teeth.
"My Zhang family's centuries-old foundation, the hard work of generations, has been destroyed just like that! I will never forgive them!"
Zhang Ye clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his flesh, yet he felt no pain whatsoever.
His heart was filled with the flames of hatred, and he wished he could tear those who set the fire to pieces.
"Sir, as long as the green hills remain, there's always hope for a future resurgence!"
"Let's escape first, then we'll make plans! A gentleman takes his revenge, even after ten years!"
Zhang Ye took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.
Now is not the time to act rashly; preserving his life is the most important thing.
Suppressing his anger and grief, he slowly said, "Let's go!"
With a wave of his hand, Zhang Ye led some of his clansmen into an even deeper secret passage.
They walked with uneven steps, each one filled with fear.
The exit of the secret passage is located in a secluded grove outside the city.
After a long and arduous journey, Zhang Ye and the others finally escaped from the secret passage.
They were all dressed in rags and covered in dust.
After escaping the secret passage, Zhang Ye looked back and saw that the Zhang family compound had been engulfed in flames.
Thick smoke billowed straight into the sky, threatening to turn the entire sky black.
Zhang Ye felt as if his heart was being torn apart, filled with grief and indignation.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his flesh, and said in a hoarse voice:
"Who? Who did this?"
An elder stepped forward, trembling, and choked out:
"Master, what... what should we do now?"
Another elder cried out:
"My home! My home! It's all gone!"
Zhang Ye took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.
He looked around at the people of his tribe who had escaped with him.
A strong sense of responsibility welled up in his heart; he was the backbone of these people, and he could not fall.
Suppressing his grief, he said in a deep voice:
"Stop crying! Let's find a safe place to stay first, and then we can discuss this further!"
"Master, where are we going now?" an elder asked.
Zhang Ye frowned; he didn't know where to go either.
We can't go back to Huai'an City; it's definitely teeming with enemy troops there now.
He looked up and gazed into the distance, his eyes landing on the rolling mountains to the west.
I felt extremely distressed, as if I were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, making it almost impossible for me to breathe.
Everything the Zhang family owned was burned to the ground.
Centuries of foundation were destroyed in an instant.
Everything he owned vanished.
...
The fighting inside the city continues.
Inside Huai'an City, shouts of battle shook the heavens, and the clanging of weapons clashing resounded continuously.
The raging fire devoured houses, streets, and everything in between, turning this once bustling metropolis into a sea of flames.
Among the ruins, corpses lay scattered about, some belonging to soldiers who defended the city, and others to soldiers who attacked it.
They all perished in this brutal war.
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