Chapter 49 "Come on, everyone!!!" ...
Qingshan led an army of 80,000 to the border, and on the third day after he left, Wu Zizhuo led his army to attack the city.
The drums thundered and the shouts shook the heavens. Wu Zizhuo, unusually dressed in armor, rode his warhorse and stood before the thousands of troops.
He held his head high, full of pride, as if victory was already in his grasp, and he would soon be able to conquer Anzhou and take Xie Linyuan's head.
He kept ordering his men to shout towards Anzhou, urging Xie Linyuan to come out and fight.
"General Xie wouldn't have turned into a coward and been too afraid to come out, would he? Hahahaha—"
"The revered General Xie is actually a coward who fears death, hahaha—"
Wu Zizhuo has already received the news that Qingshan is leading 80,000 troops to the border. Anzhou's garrison is now 80,000 fewer, and the city's garrison is at most 50,000. Wu Zizhuo, on the other hand, is leading 150,000 troops. Even if Xie Linyuan stays behind closed doors and defends Anzhou to the death, it is only a matter of time before the city falls.
He was convinced that whether Xie Linyuan fought or not, he would be defeated by Wu Zizhuo.
Once he defeats Xie Linyuan and captures Anzhou, he can reclaim the ten cities occupied by Xie Linyuan.
If he were to reclaim these ten cities, it wouldn't be impossible for the world to fall under the Wu family's control.
Therefore, he could join forces with the barbarian tribes and hand over the border to them.
As long as he can defeat Xie Linyuan, as long as he can reclaim these ten cities.
Inside Anzhou City, Chen Ling and his generals were waiting for Xie Linyuan to give orders.
Wu Zizhuo has already stationed his troops outside the city, and his army has been reorganized.
"General, should we defend the city and wait for Qingshan to return, or..." Chen Ling asked.
Xie Linyuan was dressed in gleaming armor, his headband still a striking crimson. He slowly drew his longsword and held it horizontally before him, the blade reflecting his murderous gaze. He smiled, the corners of his eyes curving into sharp arcs.
"Only by killing can we survive."
"We will not return until we have defeated the enemy."
Upon hearing this, Chen Ling and the others were immediately filled with excitement. The long-dormant killing intent and bloodlust in their blood were aroused, and the previous gloom and depression on everyone's face were swept away. Their morale was instantly boosted.
"We will not return until we have defeated the enemy!"
"We will not return until we have defeated the enemy!"
"We will not return until we have defeated the enemy!"
...
The shouts came from inside the room, and the soldiers outside, hearing them, were also roused and responded in unison, their shouts shaking the heavens.
"We will not return until we have defeated the enemy!"
"We will not return until we have defeated the enemy!"
"We will not return until we have defeated the enemy!"
That's how they should be. They can't hold out even if they defend to the death, and they'll still be at the mercy of others. They might as well fight with all their might and fight their way out!
Xie Linyuan drew his sword, turned around, and gave the military order:
"Leave the city and kill the enemy!"
——
The air was thick with the smell of blood. Five days had passed, and it was late at night again. Under the moonlight, the bloodstains looked like a river shimmering with light.
The moat was filled with corpses, and flames burned everywhere. After a small battle, Xie Linyuan leaned on a tattered banner with one hand, panting heavily.
He pulled the arrow out of his back with a backhand, grunted, swallowed a mouthful of blood, and looked up at the smoke-filled battlefield.
After dozens of attacks, large and small, they still failed to win the battle.
Although Wu Zizhuo's army had not fought for a long time and was not an elite force, it was still large in number, numbering over 150,000, while the entire Anzhou army could only muster 50,000.
Fifty thousand soldiers faced an army of one hundred and fifty thousand. They fought for five days and were now exhausted.
If we want to win, we can't afford to fight a protracted war and keep dragging it out; we must end it as soon as possible.
To end this as quickly as possible, the best course of action now is to completely demoralize the enemy and behead their leader.
If he can behead Wu Zizhuo, the morale of this rabble will collapse, and victory will be in their hands.
However, Wu Zizhuo was heavily guarded by troops, and if he wanted to take his head, he would have to break through the encirclement.
Dangerous, extremely dangerous.
But even though this move was risky, Xie Linyuan had no choice but to do it.
He is determined to win.
He absolutely must win this battle!
Chen Ling and his men were following his orders to count their numbers, reorganize their ranks, and prepare for the next attack.
The tattered banners were torn apart by the night wind, emitting a monstrous wail. The moonlight was bright, but beneath it were flames and rivers of blood.
The smell of blood in the wind grew stronger.
Xie Linyuan tilted his head, making a series of cracking sounds as if his bones were loosening.
His tall, black hair had come loose, with a few stray strands falling down and brushing past his scarlet eyes.
Xie Linyuan smiled slightly, and then, with a flick of the banners, the flames were extinguished, and sparks flew everywhere.
He charged into the encirclement where Wu Zizhuo was located.
——
A gust of wind swept by, and before the soldiers could react, heads were on the ground.
"A surprise attack! A surprise attack! Quick! Protect the general!"
"Quickly, protect the general!"
Soon, layers upon layers of soldiers surged forward, surrounding Xie Linyuan completely, their weapons drawn in unison, their gleam blinding.
Wu Zizhuo saw Xie Linyuan, but he didn't take it seriously. His inflated ambition and desire for victory blinded him. At this moment, he didn't think about the consequences of Xie Linyuan's appearance. He thought he had the upper hand and victory was already in his hands.
"They actually delivered themselves to our doorstep, hahaha, Xie Linyuan, you're still so arrogant! Do you really think one person can take on a thousand troops?!"
"Xie Linyuan! Today is your death day! I will let the world know that the so-called invincible general was defeated by Wu Zizhuo!"
"You, Xie Linyuan, are nothing but a name without substance!"
Do you really think you can't lose?
The wind howled, Xie Linyuan gripped his sword with both hands, his bloodstained brows furrowed, and he looked at him defiantly:
"Then let's give it a try."
His laughter was truly arrogant, and his eyes were filled with disdain and provocation.
Wu Zizhuo felt a chill run down his spine. After the initial fear, a feeling of humiliation and anger caused him to completely lose control of his emotions. He roared loudly, throwing the layout and formation to the back of his mind.
At this moment, he felt only intense killing intent towards Xie Linyuan.
He absolutely had to kill him!
As long as he is killed, as long as he can be beheaded, he can get everything he wants!
He might even rule the world!
He could be emperor!
Sister... will never have to suffer that kind of humiliation again...
Never again...
"Surround and annihilate him! Kill him!"
"A great reward will be given to whoever takes the head of the enemy leader!"
"Reward them with gold, silver, and jewels, and bestow upon them military titles!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill him!"
"Kill him!"
"Kill him!"
...
After Wu Zizhuo gave the order, the morale of the soldiers was aroused. Thousands of troops and horses neighed and roared, surging towards him like a tidal wave.
Xie Linyuan gripped his sword tightly, narrowed his eyes slightly, and felt as if the world had fallen silent, all sound fading away.
As a drop of blood slid down the corner of his eye, Su Muying's image flashed strangely through his mind.
His hazy, sinking consciousness was instantly awakened. The sounds of shouting and fighting filled his ears, and the stench of blood in the wind swept by once more. At that moment, a violent killing intent erupted in Xie Linyuan's eyes again.
Ying'er...
Ying'er...
He burst into laughter, laughing so hard that the veins in his neck bulged and his eyes turned bloodshot.
"Hahahaha, if you want to take Anzhou, you'll have to step over my dead body first!"
Come on!!!
Come on, everyone!!!
Xie Linyuan roared and charged into the midst of the thousands of troops like a wild beast, heading straight for Wu Zizhuo's head.
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