The resounding and orderly bugle calls of the charge rang out!
This was a valiant and battle - hardened cavalry that had once flattened the territories of the Western barbarians and caused their kingdom to perish!
Thirty thousand barbarian cavalry brandished their gleaming sabers. The thundering hooves of their galloping horses left no doubt about their hostility.
The defending soldiers in Li City trembled with fear but gritted their teeth to prepare for the battle.
"Prepare to fight! Prepare to fight!"
Zhu Xiao snorted and drew his iron bow.
"Whoosh!"
A powerful arrow shot out suddenly towards the barbarian cavalry, piercing through a barbarian rider's chest.
A spurt of blood shot up into the sky. The soldier crashed off his horse and hit the ground heavily.
Sheng Jiangli's eyes were cold and fierce. He also picked up a curved bow and shot three consecutive arrows, killing three enemy soldiers on the city wall!
"Kill!"
The resounding battle cries shook the sky!
More than a hundred crossbows, protected by shield soldiers, fired upwards simultaneously.
A shower of arrows blotted out the sun like dark clouds, howling down from the sky like a violent storm!
Zhu Xiao's face changed. He waved his weapons and urgently ordered his men to crouch down.
After all, they were just a garrison that had never experienced a brutal war. Their on - the - spot reaction and ability to change formation were insufficient.
When the arrows rained down from below, many soldiers were still shocked and stood there dumbfounded by the overwhelming arrows. No matter how hysterically Zhu Xiao ordered them, they didn't know how to take cover.
"Swish, swish, swish, swish!"
Wherever the arrows passed, like a swarm of locusts, countless soldiers were shot dead!
Meanwhile, the charging soldiers below had hooked onto the city wall with grappling hooks and leaped upwards.
The barbarian cavalry had an overwhelming advantage in terms of numbers, weapons, and offensive power. Their combat effectiveness was terrifyingly strong!
Even Zhu Xiao, a great general who had led the Yan army for years, was experiencing for the first time the horror of Sheng Jiangli's all - out attack.
He finally understood why they had been able to flatten the Western regions back then!
On the city wall, the white blades were like snow. Under such a fierce charge, the garrison was like autumn leaves in the wind. In less than half a day, they were in complete disarray and on the verge of collapse!
The outcome of the battle seemed beyond doubt.
However, just as the vanguard of the barbarian cavalry was about to climb onto the city wall, the bugle of retreat sounded from behind.
The barbarian cavalry retreated like a receding tide.
This siege battle had lasted from afternoon until night, but then suddenly came to an end.
The night was as cold as water. The wind howled through the dark city wall, heading towards the distant north.
Sheng Jiangli's voice broke in the wind and scattered into the boundless night:
"Old Zhu, today's siege was just to let you know that it's not that I can't take the city. I just don't want to cause too much bloodshed."
"If you care about the tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in the city, open the city gates of Li City. You stay, and I'll let the other soldiers go north to Yanjing!"
"I'll give you one night to think about it!"
After saying that, tens of thousands of warhorses galloped away in a cloud of dust.
The white snow foam behind the horses' hooves formed a straight line. War eagles soared in the sky.
In the distance, the wind roared. The burning kerosene on the city wall of Li City was like gold, illuminating the retreating backs of the barbarian cavalry, looking like a magnificent painting.
In an instant, only a faint shadow remained.
The soldiers in Li City felt as if they had just woken up from a terrible nightmare. Even after waking up, they couldn't come back to their senses for a long time.
At the third watch, the central army camp in Li City was still brightly lit.
There was complete silence in the tent. All the deputy generals in Li City remained silent, and even Zhu Xiao, who was usually hot - tempered, was silent.
After a long time, a deputy general finally spoke up, "General Zhu, from what I saw of the barbarian cavalry's siege today, if Sheng Jiangli hadn't shown mercy, Li City would have been captured."
Everyone tightened their faces.
They all knew this was the truth. The vanguard of the barbarian cavalry had already climbed onto the city wall.
Moreover, they had already consumed 70% of their kerosene and catapult stones in the city today.
The barbarian cavalry were agile and strong. In land battles, they were almost invincible, whether in siege warfare or close - combat.
Even if Song Yinghuai led the Yan army himself, it would still be a tough battle.
After all, they were just a garrison.
Another deputy general stammered, "Sheng Jiangli said that as long as we surrender and open the city gates, he won't hurt us and will let us go to Yanjing. I wonder if it's true..."
Life was precious. Who didn't want to live?
This thought was understandable.
Especially since they were facing the barbarian cavalry, and they were all soldiers of the Great Ye.
They were originally from the same root. Why should they fight each other so fiercely?
They didn't want to fight. If it weren't for the young emperor's forced suppression of the vassal states, who would want to fight in their own homeland?
And who would want to die at the hands of their own kin?
Another deputy general, filled with hatred, roared, "What do you want to do? Surrender to the enemy? You deserve to die!"
"But they're not really the enemy!" the previous deputy general retorted, "The prince once sent a letter, telling us to minimize casualties and avoid conflicts. If the situation is critical, we should open Li City!"
"The prince doesn't regard the barbarian cavalry as sworn enemies. Why should we make unnecessary sacrifices?"
"Anyway, the battlefield is the battlefield. I can't do something as cowardly as opening the city gates and surrendering!"
"Do you want to sacrifice the tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Li City just for your own pride?"
"You saw the barbarian cavalry's offensive today. Li City can't be defended! It doesn't matter if we die, but should we let a group of innocent soldiers and civilians be involved in the war?"
"I..."
"Enough!" Zhu Xiao finally roared, "Stop arguing!"
His gaze slowly swept across everyone's faces. Sheng Jiangli's words from below the city wall still echoed in his ears:
"You stay, and I'll let the other soldiers go north to Yanjing!"
The battle - hardened general carefully pondered those words. A calm and heroic look appeared on his face as he slowly said:
"I've made up my mind. Tomorrow, when the barbarian cavalry come again, I'll handle it myself!"
The wild wind cut like a sharp blade. Under the dark sky, snowflakes were flying.
The barbarian cavalry set up their camp thirty miles away from Li City.
Sheng Jiangli's fingers paused slightly as he was about to touch the tent curtain. His eyes were filled with killing intent.
He suddenly lifted the curtain and rushed into the tent like lightning. He grabbed the visitor's neck with his big hand, "Sir... Shu'er?!"
Sheng Jiangli quickly let go, his voice filled with great surprise and disbelief.
Caiyu coughed violently, "Cough, cough, cough... Brother A Li... Do you want to strangle me?"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Sheng Jiangli was flustered as he directly picked up Caiyu and spun around like she was a child. His face was beaming with joy, "I thought you were an assassin..."
Caiyu patted him, indicating that he should put her down.
Sheng Jiangli laughed heartily and put her back on the ground, "Why did you come?"
"Don't even mention it!" Caiyu gave him a reproachful look, "I secretly went from Jizhou to Shangjing. I was planning to wait for you outside the city after your report. But you! You didn't say a word and led your troops to Qin instead!"
"You made me make a wasted trip!"
The girl pouted her pink lips, her cheeks were puffed up, her eyes were filled with misty tears, and her hands were on her hips, looking both willful and cute. Sheng Jiangli felt his heart melting:
"Okay, okay, I was wrong. Please forgive me just this once, my lady."
Caiyu looked at the way he was softly coaxing her. Her eyes were so wet that the tears finally rolled down.
How could there be such a silly person?
He was about to die, but he was still trying to make her happy.
She remembered what Qingqing had said to her on the way:
"Sister Caiyu, do you know? The first time I saw him, I thought he was like a lone wolf that had lost its territory and all its family. He's been lonely and sad all his life."
"He's never cared about his own life..."
"No one has ever entered his heart, except you. But you can't love him... Sister Caiyu, he's been living such a hard life!"
"I know that maybe death isn't a fear for him but a relief. But I love him. I can't just watch him die. I can't watch him die for you!"