Chapter 71 He Enters My Dream with a Thousand Lamps (Part 7) First published on Jinjiang! ...
The summer downpour came suddenly and violently. A pale flash of lightning tore through the darkness, instantly illuminating the tightly closed city gates.
The torches on the city wall flickered erratically in the raging wind and rain, casting a dim light and severely impairing visibility.
Suddenly, a blinding bolt of lightning ripped across the sky! In the blink of an eye, a soldier rubbing his sleepy eyes behind the battlements seemed to catch a glimpse of something. He leaned forward abruptly and wiped the rainwater from his eyes.
Deep within the rain, a dark, shadowy column stood silently on the official road not far from the city gate. The men and horses were still; only the rain pattered against their armor and weapons, creating a soft, continuous rustling sound, almost drowned out by the clamor of the thunder and rain.
"Who goes there?!" The garrison soldier was startled awake and shouted hoarsely. His comrades around him were also alerted and leaned out to look. In an instant, a jumble of shouts and the clanging of weapons being drawn echoed from the city wall, and the previously relaxed atmosphere suddenly tightened.
"Who goes down below the city walls? State your name immediately! Take another step closer and you will be killed without mercy!" The garrison captain rushed to the crenellations and shouted sternly, rainwater streaming down the edge of his helmet.
The troops below the city walls remained motionless. After a moment, a rider emerged from the ranks, the general on horseback wearing a heavy raincoat, rainwater streaming down his cold, hard armor. He raised his head, the rain washing over his stern face. Another flash of lightning illuminated the black iron token he held high in his hand, the token reflecting a cold, eerie luster in the electric light.
"General He Zheng, garrison commander of Wuguan!" The general's deep voice pierced through the rain. "By order of His Highness Prince Ke, I have rushed to the aid of Lintong to assist in the siege of the rebel army! This is the troop deployment order personally bestowed by His Highness; please verify it!"
The garrison commander frowned and exchanged a glance with his adjutant beside him. It was indeed true that Prince Ke had been mobilizing troops recently, so the arrival of the Wuguan garrison as reinforcements was to be expected.
"Open the side door! Lower the basket! Check the warrant!" The captain ordered, not daring to be careless.
The heavy city gate was not fully opened, only a narrow slit allowing two or three people to walk side by side. Two soldiers in full iron armor cautiously stepped out, immediately drenched by the rain.
They took the token from the basket and carefully examined it by the dim light from the city wall. The two men then looked up and carefully examined the general on horseback and the soldiers behind him. Their armor, warhorses, and equipment all matched those of the garrison at Wuguan.
The two men exchanged a glance, bowed, and stepped aside to make way: "General He, please! The troops may enter the barbican for a temporary rest. We will inform our superiors before making further arrangements!"
"Thank you for your trouble." The general on horseback replied in a deep voice, spurred his horse, and galloped in first.
Behind them, a dark mass of cavalry filed in. Their hooves splashed water as they trod on the wet, slippery stone pavement.
The procession flowed like a black stream, slowly merging into the shadows beneath the city gate.
"Boom!"
A deep, heavy bang rang out!
The side door, which could only accommodate a few people, was suddenly pushed open by a hidden mechanism inside and slammed shut!
The dozens of torches that were swaying precariously in the wind and rain on the city wall were simultaneously ignited with more oil, and the flames blazed brightly! The entire area around the city gate tower was illuminated as if it were daytime! Rainwater evaporated into a hazy white mist in the intense firelight.
They were in the barbican between the city wall and the inner city gate.
Ahead, the second city gate leading into Chang'an was tightly closed and remained motionless.
There was no way to retreat behind them.
Lightning ripped through the night sky once more.
In that instant of blinding white light, countless dark figures suddenly appeared on the high walls of the barbican—a dense swarm of archers!
"Watch out for crossbows! There's an ambush!" someone in the group shouted a warning.
Chu Huaili suddenly looked up and saw that patch of cold reflection.
They were indeed trapped!
Like a wild beast falling into a carefully laid trap.
"Order from the city walls! Those below are all traitors and rebels posing as reinforcements! Kill them without mercy! Fire arrows!" A sharp, malicious voice came from the top of the city wall, drowning out the sound of wind and rain.
Arrows, mixed with rain, rained down from all directions!
"Raise your shields! Defend!" Ming Ge's powerful voice echoed within the barbican.
Shields were quickly raised, forming a not-so-solid defense. But the barbican was cramped, and the cavalry were crowded together. Caught off guard, screams still rang out. Someone was hit by an arrow and fell from his horse. The warhorse neighed in agony, and blood instantly spread in the rain, only to be washed away by more rain.
"Counter-attack the city walls!" Chu Huaili's voice was cold and resolute, carrying an unwavering determination. Since retreat was blocked, the only option was to fight to the death!
The trapped cavalrymen were all battle-hardened elites, and after the initial panic, they immediately displayed amazing qualities.
Under the cover of their shields, the archers swiftly returned fire towards the city walls, their arrows flying upwards against the wind and rain. Defenders on the walls were also constantly struck by arrows, falling to the ground with screams of agony.
"We can't be trapped here! Break through the inner gate at once!" Ming Ge deflected a stray arrow with his sword and roared towards the inner city gate. Only by breaking through the inner gate and rushing into Chang'an City would they have a glimmer of hope!
"Break down the gate!" Pei Hong, his eyes red, led a squad of fierce soldiers, braving shields and a hail of arrows, and charged toward the inner city gate, attempting to use their bodies and hastily found rough logs to smash into the heavy door panels.
However, the inner city gate was clearly also firmly blocked from the inside and could not be shaken for a while.
The arrows rained down from the city walls with increasing density, accompanied by rolling logs and stones. The space inside the barbican became a death trap, with people constantly falling. Blood mingled with the rain, flowing freely across the ground, and the heavy stench of blood could not be completely dispelled even in the downpour.
"General! This can't go on!" a guard shouted at Ming Ge.
Ming Ge turned around, glanced at Chu Huaili, who was still calmly commanding the troops under the heavy protection of his personal guards, and then looked at the increasing casualties of the troops. A resolute look flashed in his eyes.
He abruptly turned his horse around and charged toward the outer city gate that had just been closed!
"Follow me! Take back the outer city gate!" Mingge rushed straight to the guards protecting the gate bolts below the gate.
The defending troops, caught off guard by the unexpected counterattack of the trapped enemy, were momentarily stunned. Ming Ge, like a tiger among sheep, wielded his blade with incredible speed, instantly felling several men. His personal guards quickly followed, using their own flesh and blood to carve a small area beneath the city gate.
"Quick! Push open the city gate!" Ming Ge slammed the heavy bolt with the back of his sword, sparks flying. Several strongmen rushed forward, roaring as they pushed together.
Upon seeing this, the commander on the city wall was filled with shock and rage: "Shoot them! We can't let them open the city gates!"
More arrows rained down on the city gate, and Ming Ge's personal guards fell one after another. He himself was grazed on the back and legs by arrows, and blood soaked through his battle robe, but he seemed oblivious, only roaring again and again, "Push them away! Push them away for me!"
Finally, the heavy city gate was pushed open a crack! Wind and rain immediately poured in!
"Your Majesty! Run!" Ming Ge turned around and shouted hoarsely towards Chu Huaili's direction, his voice piercing through the rain of arrows and the sounds of battle, "Get out through this gate! Quickly!"
Chu Huaili turned around and saw Ming Ge covered in blood, standing like a blood-soaked man in the gap of the city gate.
"Pei Hong! Cover His Majesty! Retreat!" Lin Feng shouted urgently, waving his sword to deflect arrows.
Chu Huaili glanced deeply at the towering figure that stood firm amidst the rain of arrows, a flash of pain crossing his eyes, before finally waving his hand sharply: "Withdraw! Everyone, retreat from the barbican!"
The remaining cavalrymen unleashed their last strength, surging towards the gap like a flood bursting its banks. Chu Huaili, surrounded by his guards, was the first to charge out.
"Shoot! Shoot him dead!" The defending general on the city wall pointed angrily at Ming Ge, who was covering the rear alone under the city gate.
Countless arrows, like deadly black threads, converged and shot towards that figure.
Ming Ge parried with his sword, the blade flashing and weaving a curtain of light, but the arrows were simply too numerous and too dense. Finally, a sharp arrow pierced his shoulder blade, he groaned, his movements faltered, and then more arrows pierced his body, the long sword in his hand clattering to the ground.
His burly body swayed, but he did not fall down immediately. Instead, he used his last bit of strength to hold back the slowly closing city gate.
Only when Chu Huaili's figure completely disappeared into the rainy night did the last glimmer of light in Ming Ge's eyes suddenly go out. He faced outwards from the city and collapsed to the ground with a thud, splashing up a cloud of murky blood and mud.
In Lintong City, Ye Yixiang was restless and unable to sit still.
The torrential rain outside the window seemed to pound against her heart. The dampness in the air and the faint noise coming from afar... all intensified her ominous premonition.
She paced anxiously around the room, her fingernails digging deep into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped red marks.
After an unknown amount of agonizing waiting, a sudden burst of chaotic and hurried footsteps came from outside. Immediately afterwards, the courtyard gate was flung open, and someone shouted, "His Majesty is returning to the city!"
As footsteps entered the room, along with the smell of rain, there was also an overwhelming and unmistakable stench of blood!
"Your Majesty?!" she exclaimed in shock, stumbling towards the door as if guided by instinct. "Is Your Majesty injured?!"
She stumbled into an embrace filled with the damp, cold rain and the heavy smell of blood.
"I am fine." Chu Huaili's voice was low and hoarse, carrying a calm that came from a great effort to suppress it.
“It’s General Pei…” Lin Feng’s low voice rang out from the side, “General Pei was wounded by several arrows while protecting His Majesty… He is seriously injured…”
"What happened?"
“They were prepared.” Chu Huaili’s voice was as cold as ice, every word chilling. “The trap was already set. Ambush troops were hidden, the barbican was locked… This was a meticulously planned trap.”
He paused, suppressing his surging anger, and gave a deep order, his voice carrying clearly through the rainy night: "Lin Feng, immediately lead men to reinforce the four city gates, prepare more rolling logs and stones, and inspect all defensive equipment! Military doctors should do their utmost to treat the wounded! Order the entire army to strictly guard the city; without my personal edict, no one is allowed to leave. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"
"And... General Ming Ge, unparalleled in loyalty and bravery, sacrificed his life for the country... We must... bring his remains back for a proper burial." His voice lowered, carrying a hint of barely perceptible pain.
Outside, the rain poured down, but inside, a heavy, suffocating oppression hung in the air.
She heard the heavy armor being removed and thrown onto the table with a dull thud.
“Your Majesty…” she groped her way closer, her voice soft but full of worry, “Chu Xi is a treacherous and cunning man with ruthless methods. He is an extremely difficult opponent to deal with.”
Upon hearing this, Chu Huaili slowly turned around to face her. The candlelight cast deep shadows on his face, making his already cold and stern features appear even more desolate.
"I study tactics, how to defeat the enemy, and how to defend the land and protect the people." His voice was soft, but every word was piercing. "But Chu Xi has studied me thoroughly."
Ye Yixiang was deeply shaken. The meaning behind those words sent chills down her spine.
"Could it be... that there's something wrong with the token?" She suddenly remembered something, her voice trembling with self-reproach. Could the token and information that Ling Rou risked her life to send out be fake? But she believed Ling Rou would never lie to her... So where did the problem lie?
Chu Huaili shook his head, his gaze fixed on the boundless dark, rainy night outside the window.
"The token is genuine, and the intelligence is accurate." He said slowly, his voice cold as if he had seen through the truth. "But this scheme was perhaps already set up from the moment he released the news, intentionally letting Ye Lingrou 'steal' the token and the intelligence, or even earlier...
Ye Yixiang was struck dumb, her face instantly turning ashen. Chu Xi had not only schemed against their actions, but also against their hearts and their emotions, exploiting Ling Rou's sisterly affection for her, their thirst for intelligence, and their trust in their "insider"...
He treated everyone as pawns, guiding them step by step into this meticulously woven death trap.
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