Chapter 25: Miraculous Medicine He can spare her life, as long as her mood...
The offensive and defensive battle lasted for three days and nights. The Xiling Army had exhausted its fighting spirit, stopped its offensive, and sounded the retreat.
But the city gates were no impenetrable fortress. After days of fierce attacks, enemy blades and arrowheads had pierced several large holes in the gates. Corpses piled like a mountain outside the gates, emitting a sickening stench that flowed through the holes and into the city, filling the streets and alleys.
Fang Yilan quickly walked down the city wall, organized and commanded the people in the city, and pleaded with everyone to donate heavy objects in their homes such as stone mills and mortars to strengthen the city defenses. He also promised to give full compensation after the war.
The people have been watching the actions of the Northwest Army in recent days. Now that they are facing a powerful enemy and their lives are at stake, Fang Yilan leads the soldiers to fight bravely. Even though there is a huge disparity in troop strength, he has never thought of abandoning the city and fleeing.
When he heard that he was asked to help defend the city, he moved out everything that could be used in his home without hesitation.
While inspecting the defenses, Fang Yilan noticed the two stone lions in Zhou Ji's mansion and said, "Master Zhou, these two stone lions in your mansion are really good for blocking the city gate."
Zhou Ji had already been terrified by the enemy troops outside the city, and his only thought was how to quickly escape this dangerous place with his family. He replied weakly, "If you want it, my lord, please take it."
Fang Yilan was waiting for him to say this. He immediately waved his hand and ordered his soldiers to go into the mansion to move the things and demolish all the usable land in the mansion.
Zhuang Gu whispered, "General, judging from Lord Zhou's behavior, I'm afraid he's planning to abandon the city and flee."
"Ask someone to keep an eye on him and let him run first."
A farmer approached with his old ox. "General, I don't have anything else of value. This old ox is all I have left. It's been with me for years. If the army runs out of food, please kill it and feed us all."
Fang Yilan's eyes fell on the old yellow ox, and an idea came to his mind. He said in a gentle voice: "Old man, this ox is your old partner in plowing the fields. It would be a pity to kill it and eat it."
Changing the subject, he asked, "I'd like to ask, how many cows like this are there in this city?"
The farmer looked into the distance and thought for a moment before answering, "I haven't counted them specifically, but Zeyang is close to the river and has many paddy fields, so a rough estimate is that there should be around a hundred."
A hint of surprise flashed in Fang Yilan's eyes: "That's enough."
*
Fang Yilan was busy at the city wall until late at night. After Shuxue helped her change the medicine on her abdominal wound, she remembered that there was another patient in the mansion who was more seriously ill than her, and hurried out of the hall.
A knock on the door reached Zhao Huaixu's ears, and the shadow quietly left from the window frame.
A meaningful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He immediately stood up, gently took off his outer robe, loosened the belt of his inner garment and walked towards the door.
Fang Yilan stood outside the door, watching it being opened from the inside. A ray of warm yellow candlelight spilled out from the crack of the door, revealing most of his chest and half of his collarbone, unreasonably entering her field of vision. Zhao Huaixu's long, inky hair was casually draped behind his shoulders, adding a bit of laziness. The moonlight poured down, and he exuded an indescribable temptation all over his body.
Fang Yilan's pupils constricted instantly. She subconsciously looked around, checking like a guilty thief to see if there was anyone else around. She pushed Zhao Huaixu into the house with both hands in a panic, then turned around and slammed the door tightly.
Zhao Huaixu looked at Fang Yilan's red ears and couldn't help but jokingly said, "General, why do you look so guilty?"
Fang Yilan said angrily, "At least make a sound while you're changing. I'll be waiting outside the door. If someone sees us, they might start making up stories about us."
"It's windy at night, and the general's injury hasn't fully healed yet. It would be bad if he catches a cold." Zhao Huaixu's expression was gentle, his eyes full of concern.
Fang Yilan coughed awkwardly, her eyes falling on the medicine on the table, and she quickly changed the subject: "I came to see how your injury is. It's just right, I will help you apply the medicine."
Zhao Huaixu sat down in front of her obediently.
Fang Yilan picked up the silk in one hand and held the medicine bottle in the other. Just as she was about to move, she paused, pondered for a moment, and walked around behind him: "Your wound is on your back, how can you attack me when you are facing me?"
She dipped her fingertips in the medicine and carefully applied it to the wound. Only a small part of the wound on Zhao Huaixu's back had barely healed, while the rest of the wound was still bleeding and there was some inflammation on the edges. Obviously, the wound was not healing well.
Zhao Huaixu's shoulders and back were tense, his whole body was shaking uncontrollably, and his body was covered with a layer of sweat.
Fang Yilan thought he was in pain, so she paused, frowned, and leaned closer to see his expression: "Is it still painful?"
Pain? He had experienced the pain of broken bones and his body was numb.
Zhao Huaixu turned his body around, trapped Fang Yilan between his legs, wrapped his arms around her waist, and buried his face in her abdomen.
His nostrils flared as he sniffed the bitter medicine and rust mixed together, forming a scent called safety. He felt all his muscles and bones stretch out, as if his soul had found a place to rest.
Zhao Huaixu took a deep breath and then looked up.
"Yeah, it hurts." The voice was hoarse and low, with a hint of indescribable...desire.
The pine-cypress green earrings swayed gently among his inky black hair. His eyebrows and eyes were as deep as a pool under his inky hair, and his pupils were like clear amber, with a hint of charm that captured Fang Yilan's heart.
This sound hit Fang Yilan's heart hard. She trembled violently and wanted to push the person away but was locked tightly in his arms.
She could only turn her head away, not daring to look at him again, but she saw the warm yellow candlelight in the room, which clearly outlined the two people hugging each other, as if a giant python hidden in the darkness was wrapping around her in circles in an alluring and irresistible manner.
The picture is strange and a little charming.
Fang Yilan then realized that she was being teased?
Looking back, Zhao Huaixu looked clearly vulnerable, with his eyes slightly red from being filled with grievance.
Fang Yilan freed one hand and pressed his brow. He must have been so exhausted from worrying about defending the city in recent days that he felt dizzy and had such an absurd illusion.
This is clearly a pitiful puppy, wagging its tail and waiting for its owner's affection, so she gently stroked the top of his head, fingers gently shuttled through his hair, and coaxed softly: "Okay, I'll be gentle, just bear with it for a while."
She maintained this slightly awkward posture, slightly bent her body, and continued to apply medicine to Zhao Huaixu, her hands moving more and more gently.
Zhao Huaixu felt a tingling sensation in his back, as if his soul were resonating with his body. A few strands of the person in front of him fell quietly, bringing the fresh aroma of soapberry to his nose. He unconsciously increased the strength of his hands.
Fang Yilan's neck was only an inch away from Zhao Huaixu's eyes, and he could even see the beating veins. He felt an uncontrollable itch on the tip of his teeth.
The almost uncontrollable impulse screamed wildly in her heart, tempting him to bite her, let his teeth pierce her flesh, and suck her blood to his heart's content.
But in his arms, Fang Yilan was soft and warm, which was good.
Make him intoxicated, obsessed, and greedy.
Zhao Huaixu's past was a dark abyss filled with blood and darkness. He was vindictive and averse to being seen in such a state of disgrace. Those who caught him unawares met a gruesome death without exception.
But if that person is Fang Yilan... he doesn't want Fang Yilan to become cold and stiff one day and close her eyes forever.
He wanted her to be alive and exist vividly in this world.
Anyway, he had seen her in such a mess, so it offset the effect.
He could spare her life as long as her joys and sorrows were all caused by him, and the stars in her eyes only reflected him.
…
On the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month in the seventh year of Chengye, Ruining defeated Hezhou.
After this battle, Ruining successfully recovered the seven cities in the northwest, and all the territories that had been lost in the past returned to Ruining.
When Suo Tai received the bad news that Hezhou had been captured, his 100,000-strong army had been cut in half, leaving only 60,000 troops, and the morale of the Xiling Army was low.
"We will definitely take the city today!" Sotai waved his long sword on his horse, trying to ignite the remaining fighting spirit of the soldiers with his shouting.
Thus, a new round of city defense battle began again.
Amidst the billowing smoke, Suotai noticed that Zeyang's counterattack was growing weaker, its defenses riddled with holes, and its decline was evident. A surge of ecstasy surged in his heart, victory seemingly within reach, and he madly urged his soldiers to charge towards the city wall.
The sound of fighting was deafening and lasted from dawn to dusk.
After a long and fierce battle, the city walls and ramparts that had been ravaged by war could no longer hold on. With a loud noise that shook the earth and sky, they collapsed. Huge stones collided and rolled down one after another, raising a cloud of dust.
The smoke gradually dissipated, and the Xiling soldiers were about to charge into the city with all their strength, but they saw thousands of faint flames suddenly appear before their eyes.
No, it’s thousands of huge “fire monsters”.
The soldiers were immediately frightened by the scene before them. They stood there with their eyes wide open and faces filled with horror, trembling with fear in their hands, and unconsciously stepped back, thinking they had encountered something supernatural and terrifying.
After taking a closer look, he realized that it was not a ghost causing trouble, but an ox working in the field.
Sharp knives were tied to the horns of the cows, and greased reeds were tied to their tails, burning with fire.
The oxen, like madmen, charged furiously at the Xiling army, shattering the enemy's formation. The soldiers threw away their armor and helmets and fled in all directions. Some were unable to dodge and were knocked to the ground by the oxen, their chests pierced by the sharp blades on their horns. Blood gushed out of their mouths and they fell to the ground.
Fang Yilan, holding a cold spear, led 10,000 Ruining soldiers to attack. Wherever the cold spear reached, blood and flesh flew everywhere. The Ruining soldiers drew their swords and devoured the remnants of the Xiling Army bit by bit.
"General! It's bad. The Northwestern Army in Hezhou is gathering its forces and is about to encircle us!" A personal soldier ran over in panic and reported to Suo Tai.
Suo Tai looked at the mess on the battlefield and gritted his teeth as he gave the order to retreat: "Retreat! Retreat to Xiling!"
The remaining troops of Xiling were like frightened birds. They hurriedly turned their horses' heads and fled in the direction of Xiling.
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The author has something to say: Tsk, loading
The battle reference comes from the Battle of Jimo during the Warring States Period
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