Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 737: Madness (Part 1)

Only by standing on the battlefield can one truly feel the weight of the words ’human life is as insignificant as straw.’

Song Yuan, born into a military family, entered the Nanyang Prince Mansion at the age of fifteen and served as a Personal Guard Commander for over twenty years. Taking orders to protect the master’s safety was his forte, and it was common for him to follow his master to eradicate mountain bandits and vagrants.

However, these skills and confidence, which he once prided himself on, vanished into thin air outside Yu State City.

People continuously fell from the city walls. There were children, women, the elderly, and the chaotic troops defending the city. Bloody and mangled scenes were everywhere.

The Heroic Guard Camp soldiers on the Cloud Ladder were also occasionally shot down by arrows flying from the Great Wall. They fell from a height of three zhang to the ground, landing with a thud, either breaking their limbs or hitting vital spots, leading to immediate death.

As far as the eye could see, corpses were everywhere, having intact bodies was considered lucky. The blood-soaked ground emitted a thick, nauseating smell of blood.

The Left General remained unfazed, paying no attention to the hellish scenes before him, nor to the wailing cries of anguish throughout the fields, continuously issuing military orders.

The messenger shook the flag in his hand, conveying the orders of the main general, and two more Cloud Ladders were slowly pushed forward, making the attack even more rapid and fierce.

Song Yuan felt immensely fortunate at this moment that the Emperor had entrusted the task of annihilating the chaotic troops to the Left General. Facing the war between two armies required someone like the Left General, who had emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood. He was far inferior by comparison.

At the very least, he could not turn a blind eye to the death and injury of the old, weak, women, and children.

The first day of the siege lasted until dusk when the order was given to withdraw the troops.

The Heroic Guard Camp retreated in an orderly manner, taking the corpses on the ground with them to avoid delay in the next day’s siege.

Song Yuan sincerely praised: "The Left General manages the army well, truly admirable."

The Left General remained indifferent: "This is just the beginning. Let’s wait and see! This general aims to breach the city within half a month."

This day’s siege had already provided a rough judgment of the Yu State Army’s combat effectiveness. The Left General’s claim of breaching the city within half a month was no exaggeration.

Song Yuan furrowed his eyebrows and said, "Then I wish the Left General swift victory, subduing the chaotic troops soon, and returning to the court in triumph."

The Left General also addressed the modest and humble Song Yuan courteously, smiling as he replied: "After breaching the city, Zheng Chen’s head will be left for Commander Song. However, Zhao Wu must be reserved for this general."

The last sentence was spoken with a murderous tone, through gritted teeth.

Standing on the city walls, Zhao Wu shivered, his legs trembling suddenly.

The personal soldiers beside him, seeing the unfavorable situation, immediately supported him: "General!"

Zhao Wu steadied his mind and softly commanded: "Help this general back."

Two personal soldiers responded immediately, supporting Zhao Wu to slowly walk down the city wall, stepping on a few arms along the way, stepping into pools of blood, with the cries of wounded soldiers ringing in his ears.

Zhao Wu’s face became increasingly unsightly.

He was well aware of the Left General’s formidable prowess. He had also prepared himself mentally, yet today’s aggressive siege by the Heroic Guard Camp still left him in awe and fear.

If Zhao Wu was already shaken, then Lu Cheng was even more overwhelmed.

"Brother-in-law!"

Lu Cheng, covered in dust and dirt, chased after him, calling out informally: "Brother-in-law, wait."

Zhao Wu turned to glance, stunned by Lu Cheng’s sorry state: "Why are you covered in blood? Are you injured?"

Lu Cheng panted heavily, wiping his face forcefully: "I defended the wall for an hour, wasn’t injured, this blood belongs to others." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

However, he was so frightened his courage shattered.

He had been with the Yu State Army for seven or eight years, leading and training soldiers on normal days, occasionally killing vagrant people and bandits, never having lost a battle. After raising an army for rebellion, killing large households, robbing silver, and bullying the common people, an arrogant spirit unknowingly developed. He had never considered the court’s army.

Today’s battle made him fully realize one thing.

The Yu State Army simply cannot withstand the court’s main force.

No matter how tall the city walls, they still can’t provide him a sense of security.

Lu Cheng grabbed Zhao Wu’s hand tightly, his face somewhat grim: "Many people died at the city walls today, the numbers haven’t been counted, but at least four to five hundred men have died."

"These were originally the elite of the Yu State Army, and a tenth died today."

"At this rate, the Yu State City likely won’t hold for long."

Zhao Wu saw that Lu Cheng was trembling with fear, and had to muster his spirit to console him: "Don’t worry, we have water, food, and weapons, and three thousand soldiers. Tomorrow we will assign more men to the city walls, for sure we can hold it."

Lu Cheng wasn’t a fool: "The newly recruited soldiers have never wielded weapons or seen blood. Sending them to the walls may frighten them into immediate defeat."

"No, I must go find the young master to discuss the strategy immediately!"

Zhao Wu could only nod in agreement. The two, surrounded by trusted aides, barely regained a little sense of security, quickly heading to Zheng Chen’s residence.

Zheng Chen resided at the Yu State Governor Mansion, having remained at the city walls for half a day, descended, and didn’t show up again.

When Zhao Wu and Lu Cheng arrived together, Peng Sihai naturally couldn’t stop them: "Please, wait a moment, I will report in first."

Peng Sihai entered the study and said quietly: "Young master, General Zhao and General Lu are here."

Zheng Chen didn’t even lift his head: "Let them wait."

Peng Sihai considered for a moment, saying softly: "Both generals are anxious, young master, it might be better to meet them."

Zheng Chen raised his head, looking solemn: "I am currently drafting the Da Liang Court’s reform plan for the next ten years, what could be more important than this major task?"

Peng Sihai: "..."

Peng Sihai exchanged looks with his young master for a moment, confirming the young master’s seriousness.

Peng Sihai was silent for a while, then withdrew.

Peng Sihai, spending considerable effort with kind words, coaxed Zhao Wu and Lu Cheng to leave. Then, Peng Sihai stood silently outside the study room.

By the fourth period of the night, Zheng Chen finally completed a thick stack of reform plans, nearly ten thousand words in length.

Feeling satisfied, Zheng Chen reviewed it repeatedly, called Peng Sihai over, and said enthusiastically: "Si Hai, once I conquer the world, and sit on the Dragon Throne, I will establish an era of peace and prosperity. I will become an emperor remembered for ages! Admired by all!"

Peng Sihai looked at his young master’s radiant face, feeling bitter inside, but smiled and agreed: "That day will surely come."

Zheng Chen laughed heartily: "By then, I will appoint you as the Imperial General, giving you command of the entire Imperial Army."

"Wait, to change a dynasty, it can’t be called Da Liang anymore. This plan needs revising. I need to carefully consider what letter the new dynasty should be named after. Call it Zheng Dynasty? Not fitting, I have already broken with the Zheng family and cannot use Zheng as the national title, I must think anew..."

Zheng Chen’s smile vanished, as he frowned in deep thought. Then he rushed to the desk, grabbed a pen, and started writing, mumbling to himself incessantly.

Peng Sihai dared not make a sound.

He watched his young master trapped in an absurd and fantastical delusional dream.