Chapter 289 A Stepping Stone
Even with the Northern Frontier King's martial arts skills, it would still be difficult to hit him at this distance.
As for General Gu, it is obvious that the Emperor has other plans for him, and we must not harm him now.
Seeing the two getting closer, Lieutenant Chen couldn't help but ask, knowing the answer already, "Who's downstairs? If you go any further, don't blame the arrows for being unpredictable."
Wen Zhiming stopped upon hearing the voice and looked up at Lieutenant Chen. "I am Wen Zhiming, the King of the Northern Frontier. I have come here with the sincere intention of persuading you to surrender. My army numbers over 100,000, with siege ladders and battering rams already in formation, and gunpowder tunnels prepared behind them. If you open the city gates and surrender, I will spare the lives of the officers and soldiers on the city walls. If you insist on resisting, you will surely die if the city falls."
Lieutenant Chen knew that defending the city was not easy, but he had already guaranteed to the emperor that he would live as long as the city stood, and that he would die if the city fell. At this moment, he could only shout loudly: "Traitor, stop your arrogance and retreat immediately, or I will immediately order the arrows to be fired."
Wen Zhiming lowered his head slightly and said in a voice that only Gu Yan could hear, "Seize the opportunity and make your move as soon as possible."
He then stepped forward, exposing his entire back to Gu Yan.
Wen Zhiming looked up and chuckled, his attention entirely focused on Lieutenant Chen on the city wall.
"The old ruler was incompetent, and the people are filled with resentment. Rather than stubbornly clinging to the past, it is better to submit to me. I am eager to find worthy men, and I will certainly..."
Just as he was getting into the conversation, Gu Yan suddenly stepped forward from behind and plunged his long sword into Wen Zhiming's chest. Before he could finish speaking, he collapsed from his horse, blood soaking his upper body.
Gu Yan jumped down, his long sword still pressed against Wen Zhiming's body, and shouted to Lieutenant Chen on the city wall: "Your Majesty's trust has been fulfilled. I have successfully assassinated the rebel. Please open the city gate immediately and hand the rebel over to His Majesty for punishment."
The change happened in an instant. The soldiers on the city wall were shocked, while the Tiger Soaring Army, which was farther away, was heartbroken and rushed over after shouting "Your Highness!"
"Fire arrows! Fire arrows at the Tiger Flying Army!" Lieutenant Chen, whose mind was solely focused on defending the city gate, immediately ordered his men to fire arrows at the charging Tiger Flying Army.
As for the two below, the Northern Frontier King was already seriously injured, and General Gu was too close to him. To avoid accidental injury, Lieutenant Chen did not order his soldiers to attack the two again.
Arrows rained down, and the Tiger Soaring Army crawled forward while using shields and armor for protection.
The city gates remained tightly shut.
Gu Yan dragged Wen Zhiming toward the city gate, shouting as he pounded on it with all his might.
"Open the city gates immediately! It will be too late if they rush over! Hurry!"
Each pounding on the door felt like a blow to Lieutenant Chen's heart, preventing him from thinking clearly.
The Tiger Soaring Army is still some distance from the city gate. If they rush up, the Northern Frontier King will definitely let them rescue him, and General Gu will die at their hands.
This may be their only chance to defeat the King of the Northern Frontier.
If the opportunity that General Gu risked his life for is ruined by him, the Emperor will surely blame him.
Upon realizing this, Lieutenant Chen immediately gave the order.
"Open the city gates, let General Gu bring the King of the Northern Frontier in, and then close them immediately. Under no circumstances should the Tiger Soaring Army be allowed to break in."
As soon as he finished speaking, the heavy city gate creaked and rumbled, like a giant beast awakening.
A dozen soldiers stood behind the door, barely managing to open it a crack, waiting for Gu Yan and Wen Zhiming to enter before quickly closing it again.
Gu Yan dragged Wen Zhiming halfway into the doorway, but instead of going in, he stood across the entrance and pushed hard. At the same time, Wen Zhiming, who had just been on the verge of death, leaped up, stood beside him, and struck the city gate with a powerful palm strike.
The dozen or so soldiers behind were knocked back half a step by the palm strike. When the others saw that the situation was not good, they rushed up to help close the door, but it was too late.
The Hu Xiang Army was only a step or two behind, but because of the delay caused by Gu Yan and Wen Zhiming, the other soldiers caught up and the Hu Xiang Army had already reached the city gate. Together with Wen Zhiming and Gu Yan, they broke open the city gate.
Tens of thousands of troops entered the capital like fish in water, successfully defeating the government troops and causing them to scatter and flee.
Cao Ran and the other generals shouted in unison: "The King of Northern Frontier is wise and will not kill surrendered soldiers. When the King of Northern Frontier ascends the throne, the people in the city will be exempt from taxes for three years, and the soldiers in the city will be promoted one rank. You are wise to abandon the darkness and turn to the light and lay down your weapons."
The officers and soldiers were outnumbered and quickly fell into a disadvantageous position. Upon hearing this, many threw down their weapons and surrendered.
Lieutenant Chen, standing atop the city gate, knew upon hearing the sound of the gate being breached that it could not be held. The Emperor outwardly refused to hide in the palace like a coward, but in reality, he only gave him 20,000 soldiers to guard the city gate, leaving the rest of the troops to defend the palace.
These 20,000 soldiers were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; once the city gate was opened, they would have no chance of stopping the King of the Northern Frontier.
Now that the city gates are open, the entire Tiger Soaring Army has stormed in, and his life is over.
Lieutenant Chen initially thought that the soldiers were not fast enough, which allowed the Tiger Flying Army to catch up and break through the city gate. It wasn't until he saw Wen Zhiming move quickly and showed no signs of injury, and that Gu Yan was fighting alongside him, that he realized he had been tricked by the two.
The assassination was a ruse; the real purpose was to trick him into opening the city gates.
Thinking of his promise to the Emperor that the city would stand or fall, and seeing Wen Zhiming and Gu Yan rushing up the city wall, Lieutenant Chen was filled with rage and malice. He drew his long sword and held it to the neck of Gu Yan's grandmother.
"Stop! Take another step and I'll kill her."
Gu Yan's grandmother has not uttered a single word since she was taken to the city tower.
Seeing his beloved grandson right in front of him, his worries subsided, and he was no longer afraid of Lieutenant Chen's longsword.
Chao Guyan shouted, "Good child, don't worry about your grandmother. Go with the King of the Northern Frontier, storm the palace, kill the dog emperor, and avenge your grandmother."
Her family was full of loyal and brave men who lost seven men for the court and the emperor. Now only Gu Yan is left. Yet the emperor shows no regard for the family's loyalty and bravery and wants to use her old life, which is about to be buried, to force her grandson.
With such an emperor and such a court, why would she be worthy of her unwavering loyalty?
She thought this King of the Northern Frontier was quite good. He ventured into the city alone, using himself as a trap, without losing a single soldier. He was both brave and resourceful. Her grandson would be much better off following such a monarch than following that dog of an emperor.
"You old hag, shut your mouth!" Lieutenant Chen was furious and immediately covered her mouth. He said to Wen Zhiming and Gu Yan, "If I'm not going to live, I'll take someone down with me. Although this old hag is old, it's not worth it for me to take her down with me, but it's better than nothing."
He pondered that the Northern Frontier King would not abandon the siege for Gu Yan's grandmother, and Gu Yan did not have that much power. Now the city walls were full of Tiger Flying Soldiers. Even if he kidnapped the old woman to escape, he would probably not get far before being secretly killed.
Rather than being attacked from both sides, it's better to drag Gu Yan's grandmother down with him, at least to make Gu Yan and Wen Zhiming suffer a little.
This was the price he paid for being deceived by these two.
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