The Slender Waist-Chapter 703 - 507: Heroes and Beauties

The sunlight cascaded down from the city tower, filling the air with a tense and anticipatory atmosphere, as the soldiers gripped their swords and spears, waiting for the command to attack.

The Northern Yong Army had firmly secured all four gates of Yecheng—east, south, west, and north.

Yecheng was like an isolated island.

Its inhabitants, even if they grew wings, could hardly fly out.

A quarter of an hour was fleeting, gone in an instant.

While waiting for the order to besiege, pontoon bridges, scaling ladders, battering rams, and siege towers had already been pushed to the front of the formation.

All was ready, except for the opportune moment.

The soldiers held their breaths in suspense, quietly waiting.

"My King," Ao Qi saluted with a fist, "The hour has come."

General Ao, young and fiery, with eyes as red as if an uncontrollable excitement burned within, bore a face of resolve and decisiveness.

"I request to lead the charge in the assault."

Pei Jue gave him a look: "Granted."

Ao Qi saluted with a fist, "Your subordinate obeys."

Leading the initial siege was a role that came with high sacrifices and low chances of victory.

But the tradition of the Northern Yong Army was to compete to be the first into battle.

The Red Armor Army was always one of the most valiant in the Northern Yong Army, often leading the charge and also possessing the highest casualty rate...

Upon the issue of military orders, there arose a roar as thunderous as a tsunami.

Ao Qi led a group of Red Armor soldiers onto the pontoon bridge, the first to charge towards the opposite bank.

"Kill!"

Bugles echoed in unison, the rallying cries as loud as thunder.

"People inside the city, listen well! By the command of the Prince of Yonghuai of Dajin, we besiege the usurper and traitor Li Zongxun. Surrender and open the gates swiftly, and the king might grant you clemency."

The siege targeted the city.

It also aimed at undermining morale.

The Yecheng Army, after prolonged fighting, had completely lost their spirit, resembling cornered beasts. Seeing the dense throng of Northern Yong soldiers surging towards the city gates, someone finally poked out their head atop the city wall, shouting loudly.

"Guards have urgently reported to His Majesty. Why doesn’t your army wait a moment?"

"His Majesty?" Ao Qi spat, "How dare a traitor claim to be Emperor? Li Zongxun, like a cornered cur, seized a position with no legitimacy. The whole world refuses to acknowledge him, and yet you lackeys call him ’Your Majesty’ so eagerly—truly deserving of death!"

He waved his hand towards the city tower.

"Charge!"

The Yecheng soldiers on the tower were so incensed they could have their noses twisted out of shape.

"Don’t know what’s good for you! Do you really think we are scared of you? Brothers, fight back fiercely!"

Sieges are hard, defenses are easy.

The Yecheng Army, relying on the advantage of defending forces, gave the signal to engage in battle.

Arrows fell like rain, scaling ladders wound like vines, and giant stones and logs were hurled as flames shot into the sky, with fiery tongues lashing from atop the walls...

Iron hooves struck the ground, warhorses neighed.

The blood seemed to boil, and once battle commenced, there was only the thirst for victory...

By the end of the fight, countless people would be wounded, and countless more would die. They didn’t know each other and had no personal grudges, yet they had to fight desperately to the death.

Screams of agony occasionally carried from the front, painting a brutally bloody and grim reality of the battlefield right before one’s eyes...

Feng Yun’s eyes were bloodshot.

In such an atmosphere, it was difficult for her to remain calm.

"Too brutal! Having seen this, Feng Jingteng’s sins... do not seem so grievous after all."

He surrendered.

Without facing direct conflict on the battlefield, many lives were spared.

Feng Yun said, "If only there were siege tactics that did not involve soldiers butchering each other head-on..."

Pei Jue said, "Siege warfare is not about tactics; it’s a test of strength."

The Northern Yong Army acted with resolute courage, while inside Yecheng, a shroud of despair had already descended...

Li Zongxun had previously spread rumors among the civilians that the Northern Yong Army was brutally inhumane, committing all kinds of atrocities like burning, killing, looting, rape, and captivity.

The deliberate vilification of the Northern Yong Army led to the panic and terror of Yecheng’s residents; none dared to venture out to aid in the city’s defense. Yet some bold scoundrels gathered gangs amidst the chaos of the siege to rob shops, turning this endangered city into a veritable hell on earth...

When Li Zongxun and Li Sangruo left the palace, the sounds they heard along the way were continuous cries, shouts, and chaotic curses...

"Report—"

A fast horse arrived from the south gate, spotting Li Zongxun’s carriage. The messenger dismounted and almost tumbled to kneel in the midst of the road.

"Your Majesty, the Northern Yong Army has begun their siege..."

Li Zongxun’s cold voice rebuked.

"Why the panic? With Yecheng’s strong walls and ample supplies, holding out for a month or two for Ge Pei’s reinforcements is no trouble at all."

The messenger stammered his response, hands clasped, "Your Majesty, the Northern Yong Army is shouting that they will take Yecheng within three days. General Liao says, says... the southern city gate is under the personal command of Pei Jue. The soldiers can hardly hold back, please dispatch reinforcements..."

"Three days?" Li Zongxun scoffed heavily, "Does Pei Jue have three heads and six arms? Do not let him frighten you into cowardice."

With that, he glanced at Li Sangruo.

And at the pale-faced Young Emperor, Yuan Shuo, sitting beside her.

"Head to the south city gate."

-

Outside the city.

The thick scent of blood mingled with rising flames pressed in from amidst a sea of blood—

Feng Yun and Pei Jue rode their horses, standing side by side.

Hero and beauty, they stood amidst the smoke of war, silently in tacit understanding, their brilliance dazzling, as if they were meant for each other.

In the midst of the fierce battle, suddenly a fast-riding horse charged back.

"Report—"

Pei Jue’s face was stern. "Speak."

The Scout said, "Li Zongxun has bound Empress Dowager Mingde and the Prince of Runan to the city tower, asking for a dialogue with the king!"

Xijing does not recognize Li Zongxun as Emperor, nor does it recognize the Yecheng Imperial Court, so in official situations, they still address Li Sangruo as Empress Dowager Mingde and refer to Emperor Chunde Yuan Shuo as the Princely Heir of Runan.

Pei Jue did not speak; he silently stepped forward two paces.

Feng Yun glanced at him and followed closely, lifting her head to look.

Their position was still far from the city tower; they could only make out vague figures, unable to discern expressions.

Feng Yun laughed, "Where does Li Zongxun get the confidence from, thinking the King will consider past affection?"

Pei Jue hesitated: "You stay here."

Feng Yun acknowledged, her brows arching slightly, yet she did not move.

The battlefield is dangerous, and she cherishes her life; why get so close to it?

"Be careful, my King."

Pei Jue looked back at her, nodded, and with a squeeze of his legs against the horse’s sides, he followed the Scout and charged forward.

The drawbridge, which had been damaged by the Yecheng Army, was restored by the Northern Yong Army.

The horse galloped as if flying, extremely agile.

Above the city tower, the wind whistled harshly.

Li Sangruo had her hands tied behind her back. Watching the man riding toward the city tower, tears streamed down uncontrollably.

"Prince of Yonghuai! Do not come here! Be careful, it’s a trap." She screamed at the top of her lungs, "Li Zongxun is utterly inhumane, do not come here to die."

Pei Jue did not respond but slapped his hand onto the horse’s back.

"Gee up!"

Li Sangruo’s face contorted with pain.

"Don’t come over. Pei Jue, don’t come over."

"I’d rather die, I’d rather die myself..."

Before her voice fell, Li Zongxun’s cold sneer could be heard.

"What pretense is this, putting on a life-or-death act for whom to see? If you really want to die, do you dare? Hmph! Open your eyes and watch carefully how I make him withdraw his troops."

Li Sangruo glared at him furiously, her lips trembling.

"What are you going to do? What exactly are you going to do?"

Li Zongxun did not answer her but slowly walked towards the crenellation, loudly saying: "The Prince of Yonghuai honors us with his presence, I have arrived late, I hope the Prince of Yonghuai can forgive me."

With a "whoosh", Pei Jue stood under the city tower.

"Surrender immediately and open the gates, and we shall allow Li’s family and the minors to live."

Li Zongxun laughed heartily, "Is the Prince of Yonghuai making a jest with me? My Yecheng is as solid as a rock, your Northern Yong Army wants to enter the city, not without the death of a hundred or eighty thousand men, dream on!"

Pei Jue remained silent.

Li Zongxun said: "Since the Prince of Yonghuai is not speaking plain terms, then I will also not stand on ceremony with you. Listen well, the conditions are: one, the Northern Yong Army retreats from Xiangzhou. Two, hand over the traitors Zheng Shoushan and Wang Shouren. Three, a tribute of two hundred thousand bolts of cloth and silk, three hundred thousand taels of silver, and one million two hundred thousand stones of grain."

There was an uproar above and below the city tower.

Not to mention the Northern Yong Army thinking that Li Zongxun was talking in his dreams, even the Yecheng Army felt that these conditions were somewhat indescribable and insincere.

Being the losing side, holding out in an isolated city, even if they could hold out for a month as he said.

But what about after that month?

By what means to fight against the Northern Yong Army?

How could they have the audacity to make such demands?

Pei Jue coldly said: "Do you think you can still wait for Ge Pei’s reinforcements?"

Without waiting for Li Zongxun to reply, he said coldly: "Ao Qi."

Ao Qi, standing protectively not far in front of Pei Jue with his neck craned, announced loudly:

"Li the traitor, listen well. This morning, just received the victorious news, General Longji led fifty thousand infantry and cavalry, blocking Ge Pei’s defeated army fleeing north at Yanping Ferry. Ge Pei fell into the trap in a rush, retreating westwards along the river right into our well-laid net. General Longji easily captured Ge Pei, beheading over a dozen of Ge Pei’s generals, and your cousin-in-law Ge Pei... has surrendered with his troops."

To crush the morale of the Yecheng Army, Ao Qi spoke each word with a high and triumphant tone.

People on the city tower heard it loud and clear.

Ge Pei has surrendered.

The situation of Yecheng is irrevocably lost.

However, on Li Zongxun’s face, there was not the slightest hint of agitation, even an unnaturally calm look as if he had an ace up his sleeve.

"Despicable coward, I never counted on him."

If he’s not counting on Ge Pei, who could he count on?

Could Yecheng muster another force to fight against the Northern Yong Army?

Everyone felt Li Zongxun was going mad.

Unexpectedly, he sneered coldly, suddenly walked close to Li Sangruo, and grabbed her arm.

"Prince of Yonghuai has a steely integrity, a man of honor. I would be disappointed if you were to abandon these orphans and widows, wouldn’t you?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Yun subconsciously furrowed her brows—

Li Zongxun’s ambiguous words sounded as though Yuan Shuo was the illegitimate son of Pei Jue and Li Sangruo.

Since he is not, and Li Zongxun is not mad, what exactly does he mean by that?

She stood in the crowd, gazing towards the silhouette of Pei Jue on horseback.

After a while, she heard him say: "Wishful thinking!"

Feng Yun’s brows furrowed again.

He has refused.

But the refusal was strangely odd.

She turned to Xiaoman, "What do you think Li Zongxun’s intention is by saying that?"

Xiaoman: "I think Old Man Li has gone mad?!’"

Indeed, it was not her misconception.

Feng Yun stared at the crowd above and below the tower, feeling an ominous premonition.

Then she heard Li Zongxun’s wild laughter.

"Then today, I shall gamble on the future of the New Dynasty. Bring them—"

With a wicked face, he ordered: "Strap the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to the pyre, pour tung oil on them! If the Northern Yong Army refuses to retreat, burn them alive."