Chapter 222 A bloody battle, two armies clashing...
As Zhang Ting had predicted, the enemy launched a full-scale counterattack in less than an hour, aiming their swords at the central camp.
With her prior reassurance, the officials not only did not panic, but also calmly directed the allocation of various resources. Faced with the enemy's fierce attack, which was like a tiger devouring a wolf, their side responded in an orderly manner and appeared to be in complete control.
Zhang Ting sat at the lower end, waiting for the soldiers' good news.
Unfortunately, Chen Liu was determined to kill her, and the soldiers and generals he sent were the elite of the elite. All the news delivered to the central army camp was devastating.
"Report—Western front retreats, our army is retreating towards the central command."
"Report—The eastern front has collapsed, and our troops are retreating to the central command."
At this point, the enemy had over 6,800 survivors, while our army had suffered 30,000 casualties, leaving only over 20,000. The odds of 20,000 against 6,000 seemed to indicate a decisive victory, but in reality, the enemy's 7,000-plus men annihilated our 30,000.
"Report—The southern front is unable to hold out; retreat to the vicinity of the central command."
Zhang Ting placed one hand on the teacup, her dark robe spreading out like a smudge of ink spreading across a clear pool. She silently calculated the casualties and odds of victory for her army. Currently, the enemy had three thousand survivors, while her army had only ten thousand three hundred. After several defeats, her army was likely already like stray dogs.
The outcome was already decided before the very last moment.
The repeated defeats once again unsettled the court officials, who looked anxiously at the head of the court, "Lord Zhang, what should we do?"
Having lived most of her life, Xu Qiushui had long since become indifferent to life and death. Upon hearing this, she looked at the young man who had remained silent throughout. She slowly stood up and said calmly, "Put on your armor."
What?
The courtiers were just as puzzled as Xu Qiushui, but a soldier produced a set of silver armor and put it on Zhang Ting.
Her eyes shone like stars as she strode out of the tent, each step producing a dull thud. The heavy armor plates reflected a dazzling silver light, instantly revealing her sharp edge, like the brilliance of a meteorite striking the ground. Her domineering and powerful aura assaulted the eyes of everyone present, and the image of the slender civil official in their memories crumbled at this moment.
The defeated soldiers stood with their mouths half-open, stunned and speechless.
Her eyes were cold, displaying the iron will and composure of a general. "Gentlemen, as a civil official, Zhang Ting should not be involved in military affairs. However, today, when we are facing a critical moment, I should don my armor and stand with you all, sharing life and death!" She drew her sword and swung it through the air.
"This armor is my coffin! Once I put it on, I never intended to take it off alive." He bowed to his ministers, "I hope we can all strive together!"
The deathly silence lasted only a moment.
Immediately, an old soldier with a face full of scars suddenly raised his chipped sword and smashed it against his shield, producing a piercing clang—like a thunderclap, it instantly ignited a suppressed volcano!
"Fight to the death!!"
"Fight to the death—!!!"
A single, hoarse roar erupted from thousands of throats, its sound waves sweeping across the land like a tsunami. Countless weapons pounded frantically against shields; it was no longer the clanging of metal, but the beating of hearts ready to die! Muddy tears welled in their eyes, mingling with the mud and blood on their faces—not from fear, but from the resolute determination of a do-or-die situation!
The drums of war sounded again, the banners of the Eastern Palace Guards waved in the air, and the entire army transformed into a primordial beast, suppressed to its limit and ready to tear everything apart, as it marched toward the enemy.
The leader, with his black hair flying, charged ahead, his usual composure now replaced by a bloodthirsty killing intent, leading the soldiers behind him in a fierce and unstoppable attack.
The enemy general was stunned for a moment, muttering, "There really is someone in the world who can turn an army that is fleeing in terror into a fierce warrior who is not afraid of death in an instant..." Moreover, he had never heard of her being so skilled in martial arts that she was unparalleled in the world.
The princess is wise and decisive; this man deserves to be killed at all costs!
The Eastern Palace guards were in high spirits, and when they faced the elite troops, they no longer showed any signs of weakness. They defeated the enemy troops, who were unable to withstand the attack and retreated one after another. The leader, holding a sharp blade, charged through the chaotic army and in no time cut off countless heads, which were scattered on the ground. The bright red blood soaked through the corner of his dark robe and dripped onto the dust.
Her eyes were dark and deep, and there were a few streaks of blood on her cheeks. She was covered in blood and looked like a reincarnated demon. She stood in the enemy camp without showing any signs of fatigue. On the contrary, when she took a step forward, the enemy soldiers who were blocking her retreated two steps in a hurry, and their hands holding halberds trembled slightly.
She stood before the assembled soldiers without making a move, a single man holding the pass against ten thousand.
The enemy dared not advance another step, and their morale collapsed.
The general walked to the front of the formation, cupped his hands in respect, and said, "If you, my lord, surrender, I will personally plead with the Princess on your behalf and beg for your forgiveness. From now on, you will hold great power and be blessed with wealth and glory!"
Zhang Ting stroked the hilt of the sword, lifted his eyelids to look at her, and slowly said, "Draw your sword. It would be your honor to die by my hand."
The general took a deep breath, immediately drew his sword, and lunged forward to attack.
Amidst the flashing swords and billowing dust, the outcome was clear within a quarter of an hour.
The general stared blankly at the blade piercing his chest, then collapsed with a thud.
Zhang Ting led her soldiers in a bloody battle, annihilating the enemy forces that were showing signs of defeat. She moved across the battlefield like a war machine, reaping countless lives with each stroke of her blade. Among them were the old hands who had just called her "sister," the short and thin one, the tall and strong one, and the squad leader who had accepted her bribes.
Zhang Ting received their favors, but she is now a general on their side.
To die by her blade, wouldn't that be a blessing in disguise?
Faced with an enemy army that was like a defeated dog, more than 10,000 soldiers quickly beheaded them, and only the soldiers of the Eastern Palace Guard stood on the desolate battlefield.
A lingering sense of exhaustion swept over her entire body. Zhang Ting's hands were numb and trembling, unable to lift. But the battlefield needed her, her remaining 100,000 soldiers needed her, the people who had come from Zhangzhou, Yinzhou, and Yingzhou to join the army needed her, and her husband and daughter needed her.
She needs to win, more than ever.
Zhang Ting fiercely swung her sword upwards, unleashing a devastating strike, "Soldiers, follow me to His Highness's aid!" They were already struggling to hold off 15,000 elite troops from the capital; the difficulty of Chen Jue's 100,000 against 80,000 was unimaginable. If they showed even the slightest sign of defeat, the entire army would be beyond saving.
More than 10,000 troops marched to the core battlefield. The bloody battle had exhausted them, but the great victory had boosted their morale. They were in high spirits, as if they had transformed into an invincible army.
Contrary to popular belief, Kyoto was not shrouded in smoke and littered with corpses.
Although Chen Jue was unwilling to admit she was getting old, she knew her health was not good and she didn't have the energy to rush to her good sister's side to die. Although Chen Liu was young, she was not a fool. She still had the throne to inherit. If her good sister had the misfortune of killing her, who would she cry to?
The battle between the two armies began with a war of words and insults between their respective lords.
The court breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the Crown Prince hadn't rushed forward to fight in a fit of anger. However, when they saw the Crown Prince arguing with someone for three or four hours, stopping to argue and then stopping again, their expression turned sour.
Damn it, a princess like her has such a gossipy mouth!
In fact, the Fifth Princess not only had a sharp tongue, but she also broke down in her defenses.
Chen Jue ultimately had the advantage of being older, having been around for a few more years than Chen Liu. He berated his younger sister until she was so angry that she became incoherent and brandished her sword, ready to start a full-blown battle.
At this moment, a mighty army, with the momentum of ten thousand horses galloping, joined the battlefield. Zhang Ting dismounted, knelt on one knee before his lord, and loudly reported: "Your humble servant and the defending soldiers have almost completely wiped out the attacking army and captured more than 15,000 enemy heads! Please grant Your Highness's request."
Chen Jue was stunned for a moment. Fifteen thousand enemies killed? He immediately realized what was happening and cursed Chen Liu for being hypocritical, pretentious, vulgar, and shameless, and for doing such petty and despicable things.
She lavishly praised Zhang Ting: "Thanks to your wise minister, we have defeated the enemy, leaving no room for the villains to take advantage, and ensuring the safety of our entire army."
Zhang Ting naturally declined, and together with Chen Jue staged a scene of harmony between the emperor and his minister, making their side appear to be in complete control, which caused the entire army to burst into laughter. The capital army opposite them looked gloomy, and the court officials on the city wall were even more ashen-faced.
Winning by sneak attack is not honorable, and that's bad enough, but you still lost.
Chen Liu gritted his teeth, "Traitors and rebels deserve to be killed by everyone, so what's wrong with using inferior methods?"
Zhang Ting gave his lord a look. Chen Jue was a little confused, but thinking of the rumors about his beloved minister being a "literary star," he figured dealing with Chen Liu's nonsense would be a piece of cake. So he nodded solemnly.
She breathed a sigh of relief, stepped forward, and, to her lord's astonishment, produced a scroll of imperial edict. She strode confidently to the front of the formation and asked with a playful tone, "Who is the traitor?"
On the city wall, the court officials looked horrified when they saw the bright yellow object in her hand.
"What's going on? Am I blind? How could Zhang Ting have an imperial edict?"
"Judging by the pattern, texture, and color, it's definitely an imperial edict!"
Zhang Ting held up the imperial edict, surveyed the vast army and court officials opposite him, and said calmly: "Zhang Ting, the prefect of Yingzhou Prefecture, is here by order of the late Emperor to escort the Crown Princess to the capital to preside over the late Emperor's funeral. All civil and military officials, why don't you open the city gates and welcome the Crown Princess in!"
These words shocked everyone present.
A disturbance broke out in the army, and the court officials looked at each other in shock.
Chen Liu snorted coldly, "The Empress Dowager despises commoners and has long since banished her from the capital. What kind of Crown Princess is she now? Zhang Ting's crime of falsely conveying the imperial edict is even more serious, a crime punishable by the extermination of ten generations of his family!"
Zhang Ting remained calm and composed: "Several years ago, treacherous officials held power, harming loyal ministers and plotting against the imperial heir. The late emperor had no choice but to feign the deposition of the Crown Princess. When I was appointed prefect, the late emperor gave me an imperial edict, ordering me that if she were ever absent and treacherous officials ran rampant, I should order the princess to lead troops back to the capital to uphold the throne!"
The identity of this treacherous official is now clear; the sword points to Zheng Zeyan, the Minister of War. Holding supreme military power, she has every right to accuse the imperial heir of plotting against him.
Zheng Zeyan had no choice but to come forward to clear his name, angrily rebuking, "Absurd! This commoner was clearly deposed by the late emperor because of treason!"
Zhang Ting: "If it was a rebellion, then may I ask how Lord Zheng, who was also involved in the rebellion, managed to escape unscathed?"
"Naturally, I have abandoned darkness and embraced light, and pledge my loyalty to the late Emperor!"
She smiled and said, "If one abandons darkness for light, it is already half a step into treason. One may be spared punishment, but will not escape death. Why then does Lord Zheng receive no demotion but instead receive a reward? Is it because His Majesty fears the military power in your hands?"
"nonsense!"
Zhang Ting continued, "Alright, even if the Crown Princess truly rebelled, why didn't His Majesty execute her, but instead imprisoned her in Yingzhou Prefecture? Yingzhou Prefecture is the foundation of the imperial clan. Could it be that His Majesty also knows the Crown Princess is innocent, and is ostensibly imprisoning her while actually protecting her?"
She attacked his very soul: "Lord Zheng, speak! Speak to all the civil and military officials. The imperial edict is here. If it wasn't my words, why would the late emperor have acted this way?!"
Zheng Zeyan stared intently at her, his gaze burning with fury, wanting to incinerate her, but he was speechless with bitterness. The reason, of course, was that the Crown Princess's rebellion was orchestrated by Emperor Chengtai.
If she were to say this, it would not only be seen as disloyalty to the late emperor, but it would also successfully clear Chen Jue's name; if she didn't, the doubts would linger, causing an uproar both inside and outside the court, and they would have no further grounds to question Chen Jue's origins...
Zheng Zeyan closed his eyes heavily, a sense of powerlessness sweeping over his entire body. This open scheme was truly brilliant; he had no power to fight back whether he advanced or retreated.
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