klisemfg Chapter 417 Surprise Attack! A killing god descends beneath Juzhou City, a ghost wields an umbrella
Chapter 417 Surprise Attack! A killing god descends beneath Juzhou City, a ghost wields an umbrella
"The North Gate! There's still a way out at the North Gate!"
When the remaining defenders of Juzhou City saw that the other three gates had been erected with banners that stretched for hundreds of miles, they fled like headless flies.
One of the centurions was still somewhat conscious. He noticed that there was no fire or shouts of battle at the north gate, so he led the remaining less than three hundred soldiers toward the north gate.
In the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the centurion had already led the remnants of his army to the inner city gate of the north gate.
"Huang Zhengfeng? Why aren't you stationed at the East Gate? What are you doing at the North Gate?"
On the north gate city wall, another centurion looked at the disheveled crowd below, who had lost their armor and weapons, and asked.
"No time to explain, open the city gates!"
The centurion named Huang Zhengfeng spoke with urgency, and the soldiers behind him echoed his sentiments:
"Brother Kan, the east, west, and south gates... I don't know when, but a large number of Pofeng soldiers appeared at the same time. We... our battalion, only about ten of us brothers escaped with our lives. The rest died under the Pofeng soldiers' blades..."
Huang Zhengfeng dismounted and pointed behind him, saying:
"Boss Kan, please open the door quickly! We have no other choice right now. Baili Luochen didn't bring many people with him in this raid. We can only ask the mine for help. Maybe there's still a chance to save us!"
The centurion on the city wall, known as "Boss Kan," looked at the towering flames to the south, somewhat hesitant and troubled.
"But... without Commander Huo's order, I dare not open the door without permission. If something happens, I'm afraid I, Old Kan, will lose my head."
Huang Zhengfeng gritted his teeth, leaped onto his warhorse, and soared onto the city wall, landing steadily in front of Kan Baizhang. He grabbed Kan's collar and cursed:
"To hell with your 'commander' title! My entire battalion is wiped out. People in the city clearly saw him surrender to Baili Luochen at the south gate. What the hell are you talking about with those warrants?!"
"You, surnamed Kan, I'll ask you one question: are you going to open the city gate or not? If you're not, I'll kill you with one stroke. If the court blames me, I'll take full responsibility!"
Kan Baichang was so intimidated by Huang Zhengfeng's imposing manner that he took two steps back, broke free from the hand gripping his collar, and looked towards the south gate. In the darkness, he couldn't make out what words were embroidered on the towering banner.
"I...you...Old Huang, what's wrong with you? We're brothers who eat from the same pot, I'll open the door for you!"
Having said that, Elder Kan waved his command flag and shouted to the city gate guards:
"Open the door!"
Huang Zhengfeng's chest heaved violently. Seeing that Boss Kan had opened the city gate, he took a step back, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said:
"Old Kan, I'm sorry! It's not that I disobeyed military orders and caused you to be implicated, but the military situation is urgent. I advise you to come with us to the mine for help!"
"You only have four or five hundred brothers here. When Baili Luochen catches up, it'll only take the time it takes to eat a meal to pay for them all!"
Kan hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at his trusted junior officers, who were all looking at each other, unsure of what to do.
He gritted his teeth, tucked the command flag back into his waistband, and shouted to the sentries at the north gate and the soldiers guarding the city walls:
"Brothers, Juzhou City has fallen. We can only follow Huang Baichang to Zhenfeng Silver Mine for reinforcements. Pass on my order: the cavalry will lead the vanguard, and the swordsmen and infantry battalion will follow the cavalry out of the city!"
"I'll bring a hundred fearless brothers to cover Huang Baichang's rear!"
Seeing that Boss Kan had given the order, Huang Zhengfeng felt much more at ease. He used one hand to brace himself against the arrow stalks on the city wall, flipped off, mounted his warhorse, and called out loudly to the remaining soldiers following him:
"Brothers, the Zhenfeng Silver Mine is only about ten miles away. Even a woman could get there in the time it takes to eat a meal. Don't fall behind, follow me!"
……
Zhenfeng Silver Mine.
This silver mine has a long history. During the reign of Emperor Tianwu Xiao Yi, it was under the jurisdiction of Western Chu.
Although Beili has a vast territory, the two silver mines in the north are far inferior to Zhenfeng Silver Mine in terms of both ore reserves and the quality of silver and lead produced.
Therefore, Xiao Yi had always been determined to conquer Qianzhou Road and take over this precious mine from Beili.
Unfortunately, he did not live long enough, and his heroic spirit died young.
Emperor Xiao Yi, a powerful ruler of the Great Li Kingdom, died suddenly of a serious illness after only one year on the throne during the Kaiyuan era.
Therefore, the grand plan to annex Qianzhou Road was put on hold.
It wasn't until the fifth emperor of Beili, Emperor Tai'an Xiao Chongjing, ascended the throne that he dispatched the renowned killing god Baili Luochen, who fought for over a year before finally conquering Qianzhou.
The Zhenfeng Mine eventually came into the hands of the Xiao imperial family, which further strengthened the nation and laid the foundation for the later conquest of Western Chu.
The specific details are no longer available. The only historical record that can be found is the "History of Da Li" compiled by Xie Zhize, one of the Five Pillars of the Northern Li Kingdom.
Because of the special nature of the Zhenfeng Silver Mine, the Northern Li royal family has always stationed a large number of troops to guard it.
The mine guards were also battle-hardened warriors, but times change and people are replaced.
By the time of Emperor Tai'an, Xiao Chongjing, those who could be stationed at the Zhenfeng Silver Mine were merely ordinary people who had inherited their family titles and possessed only average abilities.
The current commander stationed at the mine is named Wang Renzhao, whose ancestors were a renowned military family in Beili.
This man was nearing forty, with a stubborn and headstrong personality. He was skilled with an iron spear, but his martial arts skills were mediocre at best. After more than twenty years in the army, he had barely reached the Earth Realm.
He had five infantry units of 1,000 men each, a light cavalry unit of about 1,500 men, and a supply battalion and more than 4,000 archers.
The Zhenfeng Silver Mine employed over 12,000 people, including cooks, grooms, engineers, and other miscellaneous personnel.
Wang Renzhao's family had fallen on hard times. He had originally inherited the title of marquis from his ancestors, but by his generation, his father had supported another prince who was competing with Xiao Chongjing for the throne.
After Emperor Tai'an, Xiao Chongjing, ascended the throne, Wang Renzhao was stripped of his marquisate and only granted the title of Earl of Qianzhou. Therefore, he did not focus on military affairs and only wanted to live a peaceful life at the Zhenfeng Silver Mine until he retired and returned to his hometown.
However, Baili Luochen's sudden visit shattered his original wish.
Huang Zhengfeng and Kan Laoda led more than a thousand remaining soldiers out of the north gate of Juzhou. They marched without stopping and, in less than half an incense stick's time, they saw the Zhenfeng Silver Mine, its lights twinkling in the night.
"Brothers, we're only two or three miles from the mine. Let's put in a good effort and go there to beg General Wang, the Earl of Qianzhou, to send troops to retake Juzhou City!"
Huang Zhengfeng turned to the side and encouraged the people following behind him.
"Bai Chang makes it sound so easy. Others may not know what kind of person Wang Renzhao is, but we people of Juzhou certainly do. He's a mediocre fellow... He wants to take back Juzhou City from the Marquis of Zhenxi? Ha! What a joke..."
As soon as Huang Zhengfeng finished speaking, a veteran following behind him lowered his voice and complained to his companion as they walked.
"That's not entirely true. After all, Baili Luochen's troops were sent out suddenly this time, and the number of men he brought was far less than that of the mine's garrison. If we take advantage of the darkness to launch a surprise attack, it's hard to say who will win or lose!"
That companion had a lot of confidence in Wang Renzhao, but as soon as he finished speaking, the old soldier who had just been complaining to him suddenly stopped and stared in fear at something a hundred paces ahead:
"Who is that...?"
Huang Zhengfeng and Boss Kan, who were walking at the front of the group, also saw that a group of people in front of them had blocked their way.
The leader was a young general with a cold face, dressed in red robes and black armor, with an ancient-looking longsword on his back. He was staring at the charging Juzhou remnant army with a half-smile.
"Hmph! Uncle Baili was right to predict that these guys would break out from the north gate of Juzhou. Brothers, just focus on intercepting and killing the deserters. I'll take care of those two centurions in front. They've been drinking a lot of good wine with Little Dongjun in Snow Moon City these past few days, and they haven't used their evil powers yet!"
The young general who spoke was none other than Ye Dingzhi, who had fought alongside Baili Luochen!
……