Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 1523 - 1518: Welcoming His Majesty

"Please give us a way to survive! I beg you, officer... this old man kowtows to you here!"

"Stand up, we, the people of Yan Kingdom, will never beg these Zhou dogs!" A hot-blooded man of Yan Kingdom pulled the old man up and shouted loudly, "They won’t care about the life and death of us Yan people! Rather than waiting to die in this city, it’s better to fight our way out with our lives!"

"Exactly! Fight our way out! Once we return to the cities of Yan Kingdom, we’ll have medicine!"

The cries of the people grew louder and bolder, daringly linking arms as they moved toward the city gates.

The soldiers guarding the city gates, having never seen such a desperate scene from the people, drew their swords. Yet, they were soldiers of Zhou, and their blades had always been against enemy armies, never once raised against unarmed civilians. Even drawing swords was meant to scare the people, and they dared not actually swing at them.

Outside the city.

Xiao Ruojiang arrived swiftly on horseback, showing his token, and shouted to the commander on the city wall: "The Emperor of Zhou personally delivers herbs into the city, quickly open the gate!"

The general guarding the city walls, hearing "The Emperor of Zhou personally delivers herbs into the city," opened his eyes wide in excitement and looked into the distance...

At the edge of the vast earth, the rising sun appeared, the morning light gradually prevailed, and the world brightened from afar to near.

In the early morning, the fierce black sails and white python flags seemed to be embroidered with a circle of holy golden light, emerging from the increasingly dazzling golden light.

Xiao Ruojiang’s horse paced back and forth, impatient without seeing the gate open, and angrily shouted: "His Majesty has arrived, why haven’t you opened the gate to kneel and greet him immediately!"

"Be calm, General!" The strong guarding the city clasped hands toward Xiao Ruojiang from above, "Listen, the city’s people are trying to storm out, if we open the gate... we won’t be able to hold them back!"

Xiao Ruojiang looked at the ancient and weather-worn city gate, indeed hearing chaotic noises from inside.

"Tell the people inside! His Majesty has arrived with officials and herbs! Open the gates to welcome him; the Anping Army guards His Majesty, and anyone daring to collide with him... will be killed without mercy!" Xiao Ruojiang’s voice was stern, with an air of absolute authority.

"Yes!" The general guarding the city responded, turned, and ran to the other side of the wall to find the people continually approaching, seeing the soldiers already drawn swords being forced to retreat by the crowd of people. Not heeding the warnings of the Zhou soldiers, the people pressed on, taking advantage of their unarmed state.

The general guarding the city shouted loudly: "Everyone be quiet, our Emperor is here with doctors and herbs to save you!"

But under the city gate, a noisy chaos ensued, soldiers shouted for the people to retreat, while the people shouted for the Zhou dogs to get lost, causing utter disorder.

Urgently, the general guarding the city turned to glance east, seeing the army nearing, but the city’s chaos was like a tangled mess, gritting his teeth: "Damn it! Go... bring me a few buckets of cold water! Quickly!"

"Yes!"

Upon the general’s command, ten soldiers immediately went to fetch water.

Seeing that the soldiers could no longer retreat, the sword tips almost touching the civilians, the ten soldiers burst onto the scene panting, holding water buckets, and said: "General, the water is here!"

The soldiers were unsure of their general’s intention with the water.

"You all, stand atop the city wall and pour this water... onto these troublemaking rascals for me!"

The general’s voice was hoarse, shouting so loud it broke.

Soon, the ten soldiers stood on the high walls, exerting themselves to pour the water down below.

A naive young soldier nearly lost his footing over-exerting himself, almost toppling over. Fortunately, the general on the city wall quickly pulled the young soldier back before leaping nimbly on the high city wall.

The cold water pouring from the sky eventually doused the boiling anger in the hearts of the troublesome citizens below the city wall, making them look up toward the city wall.

They heard the general shout: "Our Emperor of Zhou, with troops escorting officials and medicine, has arrived. The gates must be opened to welcome him, and whoever dares clash with His Majesty... will be killed without mercy! Guarding His Majesty is the Anping Army, if anyone doesn’t wish to live, feel free to try!"

After speaking, the general looked at the stunned, gaping crowd, and shouted: "Open the gates! Welcome His Majesty!"

"Open the gates! Welcome His Majesty!"

The Zhou soldiers’ voices were filled with joy and excitement.

They noticed the civilians who had just been confronting them now whispering among themselves.

"How is that possible? The Emperor of Zhou is far away in Dadu City, and there’s an epidemic here, why would he come?"

"Indeed, even if they were Zhou’s own citizens, the Emperor would not risk going to a plague-stricken city!"

"Are they tricking us?"

"Typically, if the Imperial Court can send officials and herbs, it’s already a great blessing. Why would the Emperor personally come? We’re... not even citizens of Zhou! How could he come here for us..."

Though the city’s citizens couldn’t believe it, the ancient, heavy city gate slowly opened as the capstan turned, revealing a military force emerging from the golden light, displaying the black sails and white python flags, and... the figure riding in front.

The Zhou army marched in neat steps, progressing orderly, creating the impression that the ground itself trembled beneath them.

The rolling dust in golden light, with banners fluttering endlessly, instilled a sense of ease in this group whose blood had been boiling a moment ago, seeing the army draw closer, they stepped back involuntarily.

They were the Anping Army soldiers who had fought bloodied on battlefields of one death and a hundred survivals, exuding an experienced calmness toward life and death, vast and formidable.

"Is it really the Emperor of Zhou?"

"The Emperor of Zhou... really came at this time?"

The people were full of disbelief.

The general had already swiftly made his way down from the wall, commanding: "Let the people split to both sides, clear the path to welcome His Majesty into the city!"

The soldiers acknowledged the order, sheathed their swords, shouting loudly for the people to line up on either side, clearing a wide path through the long street.

Though the army had yet to reach the gate, some townspeople, intimidated by the Anping Army’s presence, knelt.

Bai Qingyan, riding just outside the city gate, raised his hand to halt the advance of his army.

The Anping Army stopped as ordered, the swirling dust underfoot swept away by the wind, falling into utter silence.

"Deputy Commander of Shequ City, Qian Yongzhong, pays respect to His Majesty. Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!"

Bai Qingyan sat upon his horse, his gaze falling upon the townspeople kneeling along both sides of the long street, and asked: "Are the townspeople attempting to leave the city?"