Chapter 150 Why did he vomit? What happened? Okay...
On the third day, as the battle raged outside the city, Fu Jun and his group of men rode their spirited horses through the streets and alleys, persuading the residents who were still stranded in the city to take refuge in air-raid shelters to prevent the city from becoming a bloodbath if the city gates were breached.
Only when there were no more unarmed civilians left in the city did Fu Yun officially begin the process of going all out.
He first collected bundles of dry straw after the autumn harvest, had the entire men's squad move them into the air-raid shelter, then asked the civilians inside to help make scarecrows, and finally dressed them in soldiers' clothes.
These scarecrows must be made in the shape of running forward to be indistinguishable from real scarecrows.
After the soldiers were made into scarecrows, the male soldiers would pull them away and plant them in open spaces or bushes far from the battlefield.
Looking out from the city tower, it looks like countless soldiers are rushing to the battlefield.
When night falls and the moonlight is dim, it becomes so realistic that it can be mistaken for reality.
After doing all this, Fu Yun wrote a letter and had it delivered to Guard Fang, who had secretly followed Zhi Lan to the battlefield.
In his letter, he stated that he had gathered martial arts students and temporarily formed a 200-man army to carry out a support operation in another sense, hoping that the vanguard could assist them after the night's enemy suppression operation began.
To allay the female soldiers' concerns, Fu Yun made a solemn promise in the letter: although the male comrades joined the battle to defend the city, it was not for military merit or honor, but only to cooperate with them to repel the enemy, defend Lingzhou City, drive the enemy out of Nu Kingdom, and restore a prosperous and peaceful Lingzhou City to the people.
Whether His Majesty agrees or not, they have already made preparations to lie in wait, just waiting for the right opportunity.
The reason he didn't hand it over to Zhilan was because he was well aware of Zhilan's concerns; she would never agree to him taking such a risk, so he could only cooperate with Guard Fang.
Although Guard Fang only obeyed Zhilan's orders, when Zhilan's personal safety was seriously threatened, Guard Fang naturally understood that protecting the monarch was the most important thing, and that no matter how important others were, they had to take a back seat.
He believed that when faced with matters of principle, Guard Fang knew how to choose.
At midnight that night, Fu Yun led this hastily assembled male army, along with the last batch of scarecrows, out of the air-raid shelter.
They only had 200 men, and each of them carried a scarecrow, which made up about 400 men. 500 men would be equivalent to a battalion, which would at least intimidate the enemy.
Fu Yun led his men to the battlefield and stopped about two miles behind the battlefield. He then provided psychological counseling to the male comrades present.
They were also informed of the dangers involved, and that if anyone was afraid and wanted to withdraw from the operation, they could return the way they came. After all, everyone has their own ambitions, choices, and concerns, and everyone would understand and respect that, and would not blame them.
However, these two hundred men firmly stated that the reason they chose to come to the battlefield was because they had a blood feud with the bandit gang. Each of them had either lost a blood relative or a friend or family member to the bandit gang. They were not just there to kill the enemy, but more importantly, to seek revenge.
Upon hearing this, Fu Yun said no more. Since everyone was united in their efforts to fight on the battlefield, that was the best possible outcome.
They once again stealthily moved under the cover of darkness, stopping about two hundred meters behind the enemy.
The battlefield was filled with smoke and dust, and soldiers clad in heavy armor, wielding heavy weapons, were locked in fierce combat with the enemy.
Fu Yun felt the men behind him breathing more heavily. He turned around and saw that they looked tense and their bodies were trembling slightly, showing their anxiety.
Fu Yun whispered to the people behind her, "Don't be nervous, everyone. We're not going to die pointlessly. The enemy will see so many scarecrow soldiers behind us, they shouldn't dare to fight us head-on for a while. We're luring them in first, then trapping them in a small area and wiping them out little by little, not just charging forward blindly. If we attract too many enemies and can't handle them, you should retreat in the direction we came from and use those scarecrows as shields, understand?"
The group tightened their grip on their weapons, then nodded to indicate that they understood.
Fu Yun secretly breathed a sigh of relief, looked straight ahead, and stared intently at the bushes on the left rear of the enemy's position, where there was still no movement.
Fu Yun took a deep breath and kept her eyes fixed on that spot, remaining motionless.
After a moment, someone behind him couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Boss, when do we start?"
Fu Yun said in a low voice, "Don't rush, wait for the right moment, and act according to my gestures."
"Okay, I understand."
After waiting for a while, Fu Yun finally saw the grass in the distance sway slightly, and a figure moving within it.
Okay, the time has come.
Fu Yun turned around and asked, "Do you still have the liquor you were carrying?"
After a rustling sound, everyone replied, "We're all here."
Fu Yun whispered instructions: "Now everyone cover the faces of the scarecrows in your hands, then pour the baijiu on them. When I give the signal, 100 of you will start moving, understand?"
"clear."
Fu Yun looked at the distant bushes again and saw that the figures were getting closer and closer to the enemy. After a while, a hand wearing a white glove waved in his direction.
Fu Yun quickly gestured to the people behind him, and half of them immediately crouched down and quietly sneaked to the right rear of the enemy army.
The group of figures that appeared on the left were a group led by Guard Fang, numbering around one hundred.
Fu Yun could tell that these people were more agile than ordinary soldiers and must be either secret guards or imperial guards.
At this moment, they had already swiftly and forcefully penetrated from the left side of the enemy's rear flank, beginning their bloody battle.
Before long, they had separated the enemy forces in front from the small group of enemy forces behind them.
Once a clear dividing line was established, the small team dispatched by Fu Yun began its operation.
They lit the scarecrows in their hands and threw them at the critical point. The fire spread instantly, startling the enemy soldiers, who screamed in terror and scattered.
Fu Yun gave a signal to charge, leading the remaining 100 soldiers into the battlefield.
Thick smoke billowed and shouts of battle rose from all sides. By the time the enemy realized they had been ambushed from behind, they could no longer see what was happening behind them. They could only vaguely see countless blurry figures of soldiers rushing toward the battlefield.
The enemy troops ahead shouted: "Enemy reinforcements have arrived! If you don't want to die even faster, break through the city gates and charge in!"
"Kill them!"
"kill!"
As Fu Yun had predicted, in the dead of night, under the flickering firelight, the scarecrows that had been prepared in advance came into play.
The enemy troops ahead, unaware of the situation behind them, dared not risk turning back to fight Fang's guards and others, and simply charged forward.
Fang, the guard, and Fu, the general, each seized the opportunity to wipe out the soldiers who were besieged at the rear.
The thrilling hunt has begun, and this encirclement has wiped out nearly six hundred of the enemy troops.
Fu Yun and Guard Fang's side had only about three hundred men in total, yet they managed to kill six hundred enemy soldiers in just half an hour.
Fu Jun's men's army fought with increasing ferocity, and the tension and fear they had felt earlier had been replaced by the exhilaration and excitement of killing the enemy.
Men are born with a desire to conquer, and this opportunity to go into battle and kill the enemy seems to have turned on the switch of the deepest passion in their hearts.
Soon they became bloodthirsty, not content with killing the last group of enemies, they pressed their advantage and charged towards the enemy ahead of the firelight.
Oh no, these guys have gone berserk and lost their rationality.
Just as Fu Yun was about to shout for retreat.
Guard Fang appeared beside him and reminded him in a deep voice, "We cannot retreat now. We must strike at the enemy's morale and pursue them while we are ahead."
Fu Jun said anxiously, "But I can't let them really die here."
Guard Fang pointed ahead, gesturing for him to look up.
Fu Jun looked up and saw that the city gate was being violently rammed by the enemy. The next moment, the city gate was easily breached.
The enemy troops rushed into the city in an instant, and no one turned around to fight the men's army. Instead, the men's army chased after the enemy and killed them.
Fu Yun's expression changed slightly upon seeing this: "Isn't it too early to let the enemy troops into the city now?"
Guard Fang said, "Don't worry! An ambush has been set up in the city. Once the enemy enters, they will only become trapped beasts."
She gazed at the city tower, her tone filled with admiration: "You evacuated all the civilians in the city, which was a timely help for our army. Without any worries about the rear, our army can fight to the death. His Majesty guessed your intention and arranged for the soldiers to prepare a plan to lure the enemy as quickly as possible."
Fu Yun looked up and vaguely saw a dashing figure on the city wall.
Fu Yun knew that the person standing on that spot must be Zhilan, who was in charge of commanding the battle.
Fu Yun gazed at Zhi Lan's blurry figure, unable to look away for a long time.
"Oh, you know what..."
Fang, the guard, suddenly nudged Fu Yun on the shoulder, drawing his attention back to the present.
Fang, the guard, continued, "Your tactic of striking the mountain to intimidate the tiger was quite effective. It not only made the enemy lose the courage to retreat, but also cut off their escape route. The enemy was forced to rush into Lingzhou City at top speed and attack Lingzhou City in one fell swoop."
"But the enemy did not know that it was not they who breached the city, but that we deliberately let them in. Our army had fought so hard to defend the city gates earlier only because there were still many civilians inside. Once the enemy entered the city, the entire Lingzhou city would be massacred."
"Now that the city is empty, what does it matter if the city gates are breached? Our army will simply close the gates and trap the enemy inside the city. Wouldn't it be even more satisfying to catch them like turtles in a jar?"
Fu Yun nodded, her heart finally settling down: "Indeed, as long as the people live, the country will live. Houses can be repaired if they are destroyed, and the ground can be washed if it is dirty. The main thing is to annihilate the enemy. The method used is not important."
“Not bad.” Guard Fang agreed: “It would be good to play the empty city ploy for the enemy first, let them have some fun, and then annihilate them in one fell swoop.”
As Fu Yun watched the enemy troops gradually disappear into the city gate, he felt a mix of emotions: he had prepared for the worst, to die on the battlefield, but he hadn't expected to escape danger so quickly thanks to Zhi Lan's arrangements.
Before the male army could storm into the city gate, Fu Yun shouted, "Anyone who doesn't want to die, stop right there!"
The men, who were just about to succeed, felt a bucket of cold water poured on them when they heard Fu Yun's angry roar behind them, and their passionate hearts returned to reality.
They all stopped in their tracks, looking anxiously at Fu Yun behind them.
As Fu Yun walked toward the city gate, he asked in a cold voice, "Have you forgotten the discipline I mentioned?"
The male soldier, realizing he was in the wrong, turned to face Fu Yun and took the initiative to walk towards her.
Everyone looked dejected, as if they knew they had made a mistake.
They all sustained some injuries, but fortunately they were still able to stand steadily, so their lives were not in danger.
Fu Yun's expression was solemn, and his tone was particularly stern: "Sending you to the battlefield is not to make you act rashly and sacrifice yourself, nor is it to make you any kind of hero. It is to assist our soldiers in winning this defensive battle. Our mission is only to cut off the enemy's retreat, not to show off our strength and competitiveness. Don't forget, you still have children or parents at home who need to be taken care of."
Seeing this, Guard Fang comforted them, "Alright, don't be angry. They probably didn't mean it; they just couldn't take it back immediately."
Fu Yun sighed, but still insisted on adding, "I said, our operation is limited to outside the city, not inside. Once the enemy enters the city, they should be dealt with by the troops inside. If you follow them in, you might disrupt their battle plan. One wrong step can lead to another. If our plan to annihilate the enemy fails because of us, even ten heads wouldn't be enough to pay off. We might even become the eternal sinners of defeat. We must not act impulsively again, do you understand?"
The male soldiers now regretted their impulsiveness and felt deeply ashamed.
One of the leaders apologized: "We're sorry, boss. We forgot the rules and your instructions. We are willing to be punished. Please don't be angry, boss. We will never do it again."
"Yes, boss, we will never be so impulsive again. Please forgive us this time."
"Yes, boss, we really..."
Fu Yun waved her hand and interrupted, "Alright, it's alright. Thanks to everyone today, I don't really want to blame you. I just don't want to see anything happen to you. After all, you all came out with me, and I hope everyone can go back safely."
Fu Yun glanced at the people present and said in a deep voice, "Please line up and report your numbers. I need to know the status of our teams."
"one!"
"two!"
"three!"
"..."
"One hundred and ninety-nine."
After the count ended, there were no other sounds.
Fu Yun felt a deep sorrow; someone had still sacrificed their life.
Although death is common on the battlefield, he still hoped that everyone would return safely.
Everyone fell silent, clearly understanding what it meant if the final number wasn't reported.
"two hundred……"
Suddenly, a faint voice came from behind.
Fu Yun suddenly turned her head and saw a figure covered in dust lying next to the grass not far away.
Fu Jun rushed over and squatted down next to the injured person. What he saw almost scared him to death. The person lying there was none other than Lu Zhisheng, whose face was covered in ash.
Fu Yun anxiously scanned Lu Zhisheng's chest and abdomen, but did not see any obvious external injuries, so she couldn't help but feel anxious: "Where are you hurt?"
Lu Zhisheng grimaced, as if it hurt to speak: "My leg was kicked by the enemy, and it probably broke the bone."
Fu Yun looked at Lu Zhisheng with a deep gaze: "Any other injuries?"
Lu Zhisheng shook his head: "No, after I was kicked, I didn't dare to move and stayed hidden in the bushes."
Fu Yun breathed a sigh of relief: "You're smart to know what's good for you."
He gestured to two of his male comrades to help him lift Lu Zhisheng up, and then carried him on his back.
"Let's go! Those who are injured, go get treatment; those who are not injured, go back."
The men nodded, offering no objections.
Fu Yun looked up at Guard Fang and found that the soldiers who had come with her were gone, presumably having been reassigned.
He said, "The fighting in the city is intense right now, so you don't need to worry about me here. Go and get busy! I'm taking everyone back now. If there are any new developments, I hope you can send someone to let me know."
Guard Fang nodded and did not insist on staying.
He glanced at everyone present and said, "Thanks to you all today, I will report this truthfully to His Majesty and ensure that you receive the rewards you deserve."
The men present were stunned upon hearing this, but after they realized what was happening, they all showed expressions of excitement and anticipation.
"Thank you very much, sir. I am grateful for your help."
Guard Fang waved his hand and turned to leave.
Fu Yun and everyone else returned to the air-raid shelter, and the men went back inside to rest.
Fu Yun then asked Steward Wen to help her summon a doctor to treat Lu Zhisheng's leg.
He did not reprimand Lu Zhisheng, because he knew Lu Zhisheng's personality and that he was not acting impulsively, but rather trying to do his part.
Fortunately, he knew to avoid the enemy and try his best to save his own life.
The next few days were filled with reports of victories in the battle.
At first, the enemy troops were very excited after entering the city and rushed straight to the imperial city, hoping to break into the palace.
Little did they know that after all the soldiers had entered the city, the city gates were closed tightly.
Arrows rained down from all directions, and the enemy soldiers inside the city fell to the ground, unable to get up.
The enemy troops intended to hide in civilian houses, but were shocked to find that every house was locked up, and the doors were blocked by heavy objects, so they couldn't be kicked open.
Each courtyard had sharp weapons stuck more than a meter high above the walls, making it difficult to fly over, as there were no footholds to step on.
There wasn't a single person running for their life in the city; it was as if the city were a ghost town.
Only then did the enemy realize they had fallen into a trap, and the archers lying in ambush around the roof caught them red-handed.
The siege within the city lasted for three days and three nights, and the bluestone slabs became the enemy's final resting place.
What was thought to be a battle that would only be won with the help of reinforcements turned into a victory thanks to Zhilan's meticulous and orderly planning.
Just as the enemy was about to be wiped out, our real reinforcements arrived outside Lingzhou City.
At this moment, the enemy commander, Mu Xin, was leading a small detachment, still hoping to break through the encirclement at all costs.
She was always surrounded by people who acted as her shield, and people were constantly protecting her, while others were falling down one after another.
Just as she finally reached the city gate after many hardships and opened it, thinking she had finally succeeded in breaking out of Lingzhou City, she saw a long line of imposing and mighty troops standing outside the gate.
On the lead horse, the Empress spoke expressionlessly: "Mu Xin, your good days are over."
Mu Xin was exhausted from the breakout over the past few days. She gripped her weapon tightly, staring intently at the Empress, her eyes bloodshot and brimming with overwhelming hatred.
The Empress looked down at her defeated opponent, her arrogant gaze as if she were looking down on an ant.
Despite his deep resentment, Mu Xin could not change the current disastrous defeat.
Defeat was inevitable. No matter how skilled she was, she couldn't make any waves against an army of over 100,000.
Mu Xin knew what fate awaited her, and she suddenly raised the weapon in her hand and swiftly attacked her own neck.
"Bang!" A sharp arrow suddenly struck her wrist, causing her to lose her strength instantly, and the weapon clattered to the ground.
"Want to die?" The Empress sneered. "Do you still naively believe that I will let you off so easily?"
"If I let you die like this, wouldn't that be too easy for you?"
Mu Xin glared fiercely at the Empress: "What do you have to be proud of? If it weren't for that Su fellow, the outcome between us would be uncertain! You're just luckier than me, do you really think you're something special?"
The Empress chuckled lightly, not angered by her words: "Don't you know that luck is also a part of strength? My Phoenix Lord has never taken you seriously, has he?"
"You..." Mu Xin's face turned pale and then red, so angry that he couldn't say a word in rebuttal.
After a long while, she took a deep breath, finally said nothing more, closed her eyes, and as if all her strength had been drained in an instant, she resignedly slumped to the ground.
Mu Xin was eventually captured and imprisoned in a water dungeon, where his collarbone was pierced and he was suspended in mid-air, where he suffered all sorts of tortures.
The water prison was riddled with traps and mechanisms, so tight that not even a fly could get out, let alone break out or escape.
These cells are specifically designed for death row inmates who have committed heinous crimes. They are subjected to various cruel punishments, with the aim of making them suffer endless torment to repent for their past sins, until they regret being born as human beings. After being tortured to the point of exhaustion, they are then executed by slow slicing.
The fighting finally stopped, and it took more than half a month for the city of Lingzhou to be cleaned up before the streets were restored to their original state.
Fu Yun and Zhi Lan have been extremely busy lately, dealing with the reopening of their shop and following up on subsequent arrangements. They've been so busy with their own things that they haven't had a chance to meet.
When Fu Yun finally finished her work and stopped, she was surprised to find that it was already the second day of the second lunar month.
That day, he, Cheng Jincheng, and Lu Zhisheng finally managed to find time to have lunch together at the Su residence.
During the meal, Xiao Jingzi brought out a plate of delicious fish, but Cheng Jincheng's expression suddenly changed. He then covered his mouth and hurriedly ran outside, leaning against a pillar with one hand to vomit.
Fu Yun was startled by his appearance, turned to look at Cheng Jincheng who was squatting outside vomiting violently, and asked worriedly, "What's wrong with you?"
Cheng Jincheng leaned against a pillar, finally recovering: "I'm fine... I just feel a little nauseous."
Fu Yun asked again, "Is your stomach upset?"
Cheng Jincheng shook his head: "No."
Fu Jun frowned, even more puzzled: "Then why would you suddenly vomit?"
Author's Note: Oh my! What a wonderful surprise!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com