Love Lock

Chapter 321 seems... a bit off.

Eight days later, in the capital city, in the Imperial Study.

The palace was brightly lit by candlelight, which illuminated Emperor Jing's furrowed brows.

He sat upright on the dragon throne, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrests, his piercing gaze sweeping over the two ministers standing solemnly below.

The air was so still it felt like you could wring water out of it, and every breath carried a sense of impending doom.

"The Ministry of Revenue's efforts to procure provisions are still insufficient?" Emperor Jing's voice was not loud, but each word struck like a hammer in the silent hall. "Da Jiu led 10,000 new troops to reinforce Dongguan, but it was merely a drop in the ocean. Marshal Li's 150,000 reinforcements barely held Dongguan, and the Dongming cavalry numbered well over 300,000. Their swords are sharper than ours; their horses are faster. Tell me, how are we supposed to fight this battle?"

The Minister of Revenue stepped forward, a bead of sweat beading on his forehead: "Your Majesty is wise... Marshal Li took most of the grain reserves from the capital region with him when he went on his campaign. We have been urging for supplies day and night, but at most we can only gather enough grain for 50,000 troops for one month. If we could extend the deadline by another ten days..."

"Ten days?" Emperor Jing suddenly chuckled, his laughter tinged with cold anxiety. "The flames of war have been raging at Dongguan for days. You want me to give you time, but will the iron cavalry of Dongming give me time?"

After he finished speaking, his gaze suddenly turned to Cao Ge, the Minister of War.

Cao Ge immediately knelt down and spoke quickly but not incoherently: "Your Majesty, the troops of Yun, Liang and Ji provinces have been transferred to Marshal Li. Jing and Xu provinces are adjacent to the rebels of Cang province, and the garrison troops dare not move lightly. Now only Qing and Yi provinces can still mobilize troops. The two provinces have a total of 40,000 troops. The troop mobilization tally was issued seven days ago, and they should be on their way to reinforce Dongguan at this time."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

The Minister of Revenue boldly reminded, "Your Majesty, Qing and Yi prefectures are close to the capital, but their garrison is small. I don't know if they can resist the Eastern Ming. Moreover... the Eastern Ming are well-prepared this time. If they remove the last barrier of the capital region..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the profound meaning behind it sent chills down everyone's spines.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jing was troubled and slowly closed his eyes.

The Great Jing Dynasty comprises nine prefectures and seventy-two counties. Troops in three of these prefectures cannot be mobilized. Troops in other areas have either been transferred to support Dongguan or there are too few troops stationed there. There are two Imperial Guards within the capital region, but they are the last force used to protect the imperial city, and he dares not touch them.

Although the troops from Qing and Yi provinces are few, they can only hold them off for now!
After all, once Dongguan falls, Dongming will be able to advance unimpeded, with no other resistance. He even began to consider that if that happened, he would either negotiate with the King of Cangzhou for a temporary alliance, or he would personally lead the army.

Just as Emperor Jing was struggling with this dilemma, he was unaware that a troop of light cavalry was galloping eastward under the stars and moon on the official road fifty miles outside the capital.

The leader of this light cavalry was dressed in silver armor, with eyes like an eagle; he was none other than Zhao Zun, the "rebellious" King of Cangzhou.

Behind him, five hundred soldiers, their hooves wrapped in leather, men gagged and horses with bells removed, pierced the deep night like a silent iron torrent, heading straight for the Dongguan battlefield where they were supposed to fight.

Meanwhile, in his study, the emperor, alone with the flickering candlelight, worried about the impending collapse of his empire.

He was completely unaware that the undercurrents of fate had quietly shifted course, unseen by anyone...

At the same time, beside the official road leading from Jizhou to Dongguan, in a secluded mountain bend, bonfires flickered, illuminating tired yet vigilant faces.

Da Jiu and his 10,000 new soldiers were taking a short rest here, cooking their meals.

The air was filled with the rough aroma of food and the distinctive smell of warhorses' sweat, but there was an overwhelming sense of oppressive silence.

We are less than ten miles from Dongguan City. The situation in Dongguan City is unclear. If ten thousand cavalrymen were to appear rashly, they would be too conspicuous and could easily alert the enemy, or even walk into a trap.

Therefore, Da decided to rest here first, and then make further plans after finding out the situation in Dongguan City.

After taking a sip of water, Da Jiu pondered for a moment and looked at Da Shiliu beside him.

"Sixteen, you will remain to temporarily command the entire army." Da Jiu's voice was deep and serious as he glanced at the soldiers waiting in the darkness for their meal. "This place is treacherous. Set up camp on the mountainside and be wary of surprise attacks. Do not make any rash moves without my orders."

"Don't worry, Ninth Brother!" Big Sixteen clasped his hands in a fist salute, his young face displaying a composure beyond his years. "I will guard this place and await your news."

Da Jiu nodded, then pointed to a few other members of the Big Character Team: "You guys, come with me first and find out the true situation of Dongguan City."

"Yes!" The crowd accepted the order, their expressions solemn.

Soon, Da Jiu and his companions rode their horses into the deep night, heading towards Dongguan City.

Behind them, ten thousand new soldiers lowered their flags and drums, trying their best to hide themselves in this mountain valley.

However, they did not know that the Eastern Ming general Murong Tai was extremely shrewd and cautious in his military tactics.

After completely occupying Dongguan City, in order to guard against possible reinforcements from Da Jing, he had already sent out his scouts like scattering beans, with a vigilance range extending as far as ten miles.

Da Jiu's 10,000-strong cavalry force was quite large, and even with the utmost care when setting up camp, it was difficult to completely avoid all the watchful eyes.

The figures of Da Jiu and the others leaving the group were also caught by a pair of eyes hidden in the shadows.

Inside Dongguan City, the mansion that once belonged to Marshal Li was now brightly lit, but everything had changed.

Murong Tai was standing in front of a huge map with Dongfang Jiming, the Grand Commander of the Intelligence Bureau, who was dressed in red and had a bewitching, almost feminine appearance, and they were discussing the next attack plan in the direction of Ji Province.

"Report——!"

A scout rushed in, knelt on one knee, and spoke in a hurried but clear voice.

"Reporting to the General, we have discovered traces of the Great Jing reinforcements, numbering approximately ten thousand, at a bend in the mountain beside the official road ten miles to the southwest. They are currently setting up camp and making fires! We have also observed that several individuals have left the main force lightly equipped and are stealthily making their way towards Dongguan City!"

Murong Tai's thick eyebrows furrowed, his eyes flashing with a sharp light: "As expected, there are reinforcements! Not many, but they're quite bold, daring to camp so close! Send the order!"

Before he could finish speaking, Dongfang Jiming suddenly let out a soft laugh, interrupting Murong Tai.

He extended his slender finger and gently waved it, saying to the scout, "Scout again, keep a close eye on that camp, especially the whereabouts of that departing squad. Report any unusual activity immediately."

The scout glanced at Murong Tai, and seeing that the general had no objection, replied, "Yes!" Then, he quickly withdrew.

Seeing that Dongfang Jiming was stopping him from giving orders, Murong Tai looked at Dongfang Jiming with displeasure, his hand already on the hilt of his sword at his waist, his tone carrying the straightforwardness and disgust characteristic of a soldier.

"Grand Commander of the East, what are you planning now? Don't forget, you're just the military commander. The enemy is right here; we should take advantage of their unstable foothold and crush them in one fell swoop!"

Dongfang Jiming turned around, a wicked smile playing on his lips, his crimson brocade robe appearing like flowing blood in the candlelight.

"General Murong, all this fighting and killing is so boring. Sometimes, winning hearts and minds is more effective than attacking cities for those two-legged sheep of Dajing." He strolled forward slowly. "I happen to have two plans here. If they succeed, they can make this reinforcement army outside the city cower before the battle even begins, losing all fighting spirit and demoralizing their troops. Then, when you attack them with your iron cavalry, you will surely achieve twice the result with half the effort, annihilating this small enemy force at the lowest cost. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Murong Tai frowned, making no attempt to hide his contempt for Dongfang Jiming's behavior; he felt that Dongfang Jiming was simply dishonest.

"Warfare relies on real swords and spears, not on your underhanded schemes and tricks." He had always disapproved of Dongfang Jiming's rise to a high position through reading people's expressions, feeling it was not the behavior of a true man.

Dongfang Jiming was unfazed by his dislike and instead smiled even more broadly, as if being scolded was a kind of fun: "General, why are you angry? Don't you want to hear what my 'secret schemes' are like? Perhaps... they can save many lives of your men."

Murong Tai snorted coldly, suppressing his impatience: "Speak quickly if you have something to say!"

He wanted to see what kind of ivory this man could produce.

Dongfang Jiming extended his first finger, the tip of which was exquisitely trimmed.

"Firstly, with Marshal Li's 150,000-strong army defeated, there are quite a few Da Jing military uniforms and armor captured in Dongguan City. We just need to have our men put them on and pretend to be Da Jing soldiers guarding the city walls. Once this small reinforcement force enters the city, we can close the city gates and trap them like turtles in a jar. Wouldn't that be great?"

He paused, then added, "However, with this method, our troops will inevitably suffer some losses in urban warfare."

Murong Tai's face darkened further upon hearing the word "losses." Deaths were inevitable in war, but he never wanted them to be pointless sacrifices.

He didn't speak, he just stared at Dongfang Jiming.

Dongfang Jiming's smile deepened, knowing he had persuaded Murong Tai. He then slowly extended his second finger: "As for the second part, we need to ask our esteemed 'guest' for a small favor."

"Who?"

"That's none other than Marshal Li Jianyong of the Great Jing Kingdom, who's currently imprisoned in the dungeon!"

Dongfang Jiming's tone was flippant, as if he were talking about a toy.

"I've heard that the Great Jing values ​​loyalty and integrity the most? If we wait for the main force of the reinforcements to arrive, and then have their Marshal Li perform that 'sheep-leading ceremony' before the Eastern Ming army on the battlefield... General Murong, what do you think the expressions of those Great Jing reinforcements outside the city will be when they see their commander, who swore to come to their aid at all costs, suffer such a humiliating disgrace? How much of their morale will remain?"

Dongfang Jiming's voice carried a seductive malice: "When the army's morale collapses and they crumble, your iron cavalry will only need one charge to crush them like wheat. In this way, you can achieve complete success without lifting a finger. What do you think of this plan, General?"

The mansion was silent for a moment, except for the crackling of the burning torches.

Murong Tai's expression changed several times, and he tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword.

He himself was a commander, and if he were forced by the enemy to perform the "sheep-leading ceremony," he would rather die to atone for his sins.

He loathed this tactic, utterly loathed it! It tarnished the honor of soldiers fighting in a fair and square contest. But as a commander-in-chief, he had to admit that Dongfang Jiming's two strategies, especially the second one, were extremely ruthless, yet also extremely effective.

At the very least, it can fundamentally destroy an army's fighting will.

But thinking of reducing casualties among his men and crushing the last hope of the Great Jing people more quickly, Murong Tai took a deep breath, suppressed the intense discomfort in his heart, and his gaze became cold and sharp.

He remained silent for a moment, then finally squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Try the first plan first, and if that doesn't work... then try your second plan."

Dongfang Jiming's alluring face instantly blossomed into a smile, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, beautiful yet dangerous: "General is indeed wise."

As Murong Tai's cold command fell, the air inside the marshal's mansion seemed to freeze.

Outside the city, Da Jiu was completely unaware of this.

The night was as dark as ink, gradually staining the horizon.

A crescent moon was sometimes obscured and sometimes revealed by the flowing clouds, casting mottled and eerie light and shadow on the hillside.

Da Jiu and Da Shi lay hidden among the withered grass and rocks, like two lurking cheetahs. Their bodies were tense, only their eyes, peering through binoculars, were fixed on the distant Dongguan City.

In the distance, the outline of Dongguan City appeared particularly imposing in the night.

The city gates were tightly shut, and torches flickered on the towering city towers, casting long, distorted shadows of patrolling soldiers onto the ancient bricks and stones.

Some soldiers leaned slumped against the battlements, looking exhausted; others carried torches and walked slowly along the city wall.

On the surface, everything seemed to be no different from the vigilance expected of a border town that had just survived a hard-fought battle.

But the longer I looked at it, the more I felt a sense of incongruity and eeriness creeping up my spine like a cold, creeping insect.

Da Shi slowly lowered the binoculars, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was so low it almost blended into the night wind: "Ninth Brother, something seems... not quite right."

Da Jiu, standing beside him, did not respond immediately. He adjusted the focus of his binoculars, his brows furrowed, his gaze still fixed on the city wall, not missing any detail on it.

After a long while, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth, his voice steady yet carrying a heavy weight: "I noticed it too. It's too quiet, abnormally quiet. Be careful."

Both of them came from the Beiguan military camp. After years of service, they slept with swords and bows as pillows and ate under the beacon fires. The various conditions of defending the city were already ingrained in their bones.

A city that has just repelled a powerful enemy, and whose victory was narrow, should be in a state of heightened tension, unable to relax immediately, almost neurotic vigilance. It should not be like the almost languid "peace" before us.

The soldiers leaning against the battlements were too relaxed; some even shrugged slightly as they whispered to each other, as if they were laughing.

The patrol's pace was too uniform; the torchlight shimmered on their armor, yet it revealed not a trace of tension or lingering fear in the face of a formidable foe.

"But Marshal Li Jianyong's battle report says that they have barely held Dongguan City." Da Shi's voice was full of confusion and unease as he raised his binoculars again to confirm.

“If we had held on by a narrow margin,” Da Jiu’s voice was as cold as iron, “Marshal Li should be on high alert right now, with scouts out everywhere, the city’s defenses doubled, and everyone’s eyes bloodshot. How could he be acting like this… like this?”

Yes, to be precise, everything they saw was just pretense.

Da Jiu paused, then added, "Look at how relaxed they are. It's like they're deliberately putting on an act for us, not like they're putting on a brave face after a defeat, or like they're celebrating their narrow escape."

Da Shi nodded heavily, his palms sweating, leaving blurry marks on the telescope tube.

“I feel the same way. This relaxation… it’s too deliberate, like a rehearsed play. Ninth Brother, what should we do?”

A brief silence enveloped the two of them, broken only by the rustling of the night wind through the grass.

To risk approaching, or to retreat?
The intelligence must be confirmed.

Da Jiu took a deep breath of the air, which smelled of earth and grass, and made a decision.

His gaze swept across the surrounding terrain, finally settling on a shady earthen slope near the official road.

“I’ll cover you from the shadows over there,” Da Jiu said decisively. “You approach the city gate and probe. Remember, at the slightest sign of trouble, even the slightest hint of suspicion, immediately find an excuse to retreat. Your life is more important than intelligence.”

"Understood!" Da Shi replied without the slightest hesitation.

He quickly stood up, deftly unfastened his slightly worn-out Great Jing-style leather armor, and took it off along with his outer robe. He carefully wrapped the armor inside his outer robe, making a rather large bundle, which he then slung across his back.

As a result, he looked less like a soldier and more like someone who had traveled a long and tiring life.

Only the dark, slender, and coldly angular M16 assault rifle on his chest, and the heavy pistol in the holster at his waist, seemed out of place with his attire, exuding a strange and dangerous sense of conflict.

The two exchanged a glance, then crouched low and quickly and silently crept down the hillside, stepping onto the hard official road.

The moonlight appeared and disappeared intermittently, and they stopped and moved on intermittently as well.

The closer you get to the city, the stronger the false sense of peace in the air becomes, making you feel uneasy.

Once within the effective range of the M16, Da Jiu slipped silently into a deep shadow by the roadside, his figure instantly blending into the darkness.

He steadily raised his rifle, slightly lifting the muzzle, and through the sights, firmly focused on every figure on the distant city wall that might pose a threat to the Great Ten.

Da Shi then continued walking along the official road alone.

His heart pounded like a drum in his chest, but he tried his best to maintain the rhythm of an ordinary person.

The soles of the boots rubbed against the pebbles on the ground, making a soft, rustling sound that was particularly clear in the still of the night.

Finally, he stepped into the edge of the area illuminated by the torchlight from the city wall. The light was dim and flickering, barely illuminating the area a few steps in front of him.

"Stop! Who is it?!"

A sudden, deliberately high-pitched shout, like a cold whip, lashed down from the city wall, tearing apart the silence of the night.

Da Shi seemed startled, his whole body trembled violently, and he quickly stopped in his tracks.

Almost instinctively, a humble yet slightly fearful smile, characteristic of ordinary people from the lower classes, appeared on his face.

He raised his head and called out to the blurry figure on the city wall, "Sir! I am from Dongguan City!"

There was a moment of silence on the city wall, as if someone was observing him.

After a while, the voice rang out again, in a businesslike, interrogative tone: "The city gates have been closed for a long time, why are you entering the city so late?"

"Replying to your question, sir," Da Shi bowed, his tone even more obsequious, "I was working as a day laborer in Zhao Family Village outside the city. I had just finished work when I heard that my mother was seriously ill. I was very worried, so I rushed back overnight to see her!"

As he spoke, he subconsciously used his hands to protect the M16 gun hanging on his chest and the bulging bundle on his back.

The people on the city wall seemed uninterested in his filial piety, only asking in cold, hard voices, "What are you carrying on your back?"

"They're bedding, sir. They're just rolls of bedding used for work, all tattered and worn out, not worth much," Da Shi hurriedly explained, adopting an extremely humble posture.

A brief silence fell once again on the city wall.

Then, to Da Shi's surprise, the voice didn't make things difficult and directly ordered, "Open the door and let him in." The heavy door latch creaked as it was dragged, carrying far into the quiet night.

The massive, iron-clad city gate began to slowly move inward, revealing an ever-widening, bottomless dark crevice.

Da Shi's heart suddenly raced.

This is going too smoothly!
In a military stronghold that has just experienced a major battle, a suspicious-looking person returning home is questioned late at night, yet he is let go so easily?
His smile remained unchanged, but his feet felt like they were made of lead, and he hesitated before taking a step forward.

Just as he took his second step, for some reason, Da Shi suddenly stopped, his face instantly switching to an expression of extreme annoyance and panic.

He frantically patted and groped around his body with exaggerated movements.

"Oh no! That's bad! That's bad!"

He suddenly screamed, his voice filled with genuine panic.

He shouted to the soldier who opened the door, "Sir! Sir, wait! I'm so sorry! I have an important bundle that I left behind when I relieved myself in the woods over there! It contains all my wages! Please, sir, have mercy and don't close the door! Wait for me! I'll run to get it right away and be right back!"

Before he could finish speaking, he didn't wait for a response from the city wall. He immediately turned around and ran wildly back the way he came.

He ran fast and frantically, his steps unsteady, the bundle wrapped in leather armor on his back bouncing violently, making a soft sound, just like a poor man who had lost all his possessions and was extremely anxious.

He plunged back into the darkness of the official road, running desperately toward the direction where Da Jiu was lying in ambush, leaving behind the half-open gate of Dongguan City and the danger permeating the false sense of security.

As soon as Da Shi's staggering figure passed through the shadow, Da Jiu followed silently like a cheetah.

The two walked quickly but very lightly, making almost no sound as they stepped on the withered branches and fallen leaves.

Da Shi's breathing was heavy, his chest heaving violently, and the cold sweat on his forehead glistened faintly in the moonlight.

"Retreat!" The low, urgent warning still echoed in his ears as Da Jiu gripped his M16 tightly.

As he retreated, he kept his gun steadily pointed towards the city wall, his eyes scanning for any possible flashes of light or figures.

However, the city gate remained quiet, with only the two half-open gates casting shadows in the firelight, clearly waiting for Da Shi to return from finding the bundle.

They turned a corner, and the official road was completely blocked by the hillside, so the firelight from the city wall could no longer reach them.

Darkness surged in like a tide, but the two dared not stop for a moment and headed straight for the place where their horses were tied up in the woods.

The warhorse seemed to sense its master's tension, pawing nervously and snorting.

Da Jiu deftly untied the reins, flipped himself onto the horse's back, and Da Shi mounted another horse almost simultaneously.

With a spur of the whip, before the horse even touched the ground, it shot off like an arrow and galloped along the forest path.

The wind whistled past their ears, and tree branches whipped against their shoulders and arms, causing sharp pains, but the two paid no heed, only crouching low and galloping away on horseback.

After galloping for several miles and confirming that there were no pursuers behind him, Da Jiu tightened the reins slightly, gradually slowing down the horse's speed.

He turned his head to look at Da Shi, only to see that the other man's face was pale, but his eyes were as sharp as ever.

"What happened?" Da Jiu's voice was very low, almost drowned out by the sound of horses' hooves. "What did you see?"

Da Shi took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down: "I heard the soldiers who opened the city gates say to their comrades that the Grand Commander had ordered that no matter who they were, they should be let into the city first."

There is no Grand Commander position in the Great Jing Dynasty; that position must belong to the people of the Eastern Ming Dynasty.

Da Jiu's pupils suddenly contracted.

In that instant, even the night breeze seemed to freeze.

It now appears that Dongguan City has fallen. Otherwise, the garrison would never have so easily carried out the order to "let people into the city," nor would there have been a Grand Commander.

He thought of Marshal Li Jianyong's 150,000-strong army. If Dongguan City had fallen, the army would likely...

“The Dongming Iron Cavalry…” Da Jiu murmured, his hand gripping the reins tightening unconsciously. “They managed to take Dongguan City so quietly, and even the city gate sentries were disguised so perfectly…”

so close!

If they hadn't served in the Beiguan military camp, they probably would have already led the new army directly into the city to join Marshal Li Jianyong.

Da Jiu suddenly looked up, a resolute glint in his eyes: "We only have 10,000 men, and our ammunition is limited. We absolutely cannot force our way in. We must devise a new plan."

As he spoke, he pulled out a walkie-talkie from his pocket and pressed the call button with his thumb.

"Sixteen, listen to my command," his voice was calm and clear, piercing the silent night. "Intelligence confirms that Dongguan City has fallen into the hands of Dongming. The entire army shall remain concealed and hold its position. Repeat, no unauthorized action is permitted; await further instructions."

After the hiss of electricity, a brief "Received" came through.

Da Jiu put the walkie-talkie back in his pocket and met Da Shi's gaze. Both of them saw heavy pressure in each other's eyes, but also a hint of relief.

If it weren't for this probing attack, the consequences of the army rashly entering the city would have been unimaginable.

“Let’s go,” Da Jiu spurred his horse, his voice regaining its usual composure. “We must get back to camp immediately. Since the Dongming people have laid a trap, it won’t be just the city gate.”

The two warhorses accelerated again, disappearing into the thick darkness of the night.

Dongguan City was no longer a strategic pass for Dajing, but a cage waiting for prey. Their only advantage lay in the truth they had accidentally glimpsed.

Official roads are prone to encountering pursuers, so they chose a more secluded forest path instead of the open official road.

The horses' hooves pounded on the years of withered branches and fallen leaves, making a dull thud.

Moonlight filters through the sparse canopy of trees, casting dappled and fragmented shadows, like countless prying eyes, keeping one's nerves constantly on edge.

Just as they were about to cross a relatively open woodland depression, Da Jiu suddenly raised his hand and tightened the reins.

The warhorse let out a suppressed neigh, reared up, and came to a sudden stop. Da Shi reacted just as quickly, stopping almost simultaneously.

"Shh!" Da Jiu's voice was so low it was almost inaudible. He listened intently, his eyes sharp.

Almost at the same instant they noticed, several points of cold light suddenly burst forth from the darkness ahead! Those were the cold glints of arrows piercing the air!
"Dodge!" Da Jiu roared, kicking the stirrup hard. The warhorse, in pain, lurched to the side and forward. Da Shi also ducked and spurred his horse to avoid the attack.

Several sharp arrows, whistling mournfully, grazed their clothes and saddles before embedding themselves in the tree trunks behind them, their fletchings still trembling.

Immediately afterwards, dozens of dark figures leaped out from the bushes and behind the trees, their blades flashing in the dim moonlight, drawing cold arcs as they rushed towards them.

They wore dark leather armor, the style of which was completely different from that of the Great Jing army.

Their movements were swift and coordinated, and they had silently formed an encirclement.

They are soldiers from the Eastern Ming Dynasty!
Da Jiu's mind went blank for a moment.

"Charge!" Da Jiu shouted sharply, his M16 already spitting fire.

The crisp gunshot instantly shattered the silence of the night, sounding particularly abrupt and terrifying in this era dominated by cold weapons.

The two Dongming soldiers at the forefront fell to the ground, their chests bursting with blood.

Da Shi also drew his pistol, but he was outnumbered and knew he couldn't afford to linger in the fight.

He spurred his horse, and the warhorse shot off like an arrow, taking advantage of the gap in Da Jiu's firepower to charge towards the opening in the encirclement.

With a flash of light, a Dongming soldier who raised his knife to try to stop him was shot in the abdomen by his pistol and fell to the ground with a muffled groan.

The Dongming soldiers were clearly not prepared for the enemy to possess such terrifying and unheard-of firearms, and were momentarily stunned and panicked.

As Da Jiu galloped on his horse, he kept turning back to fire pinpoint shots, his precise firepower effectively suppressing the speed of the pursuers.

"Whoosh!" A cold arrow grazed Da Jiu's cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. He felt a burning pain, but he had no time to care.

At this moment, Da Shi also turned around and fired back. Amidst the "rat-a-tat-tat" of gunfire, the remaining Dongming soldiers gradually fell to the ground.

The two dared not linger. Relying on the speed of their warhorses and the intimidating power of their M16s, they managed to snipe the Dongming patrol before plunging into the deeper darkness.

The silence behind them was palpable, but the dread of being watched by death was firmly etched into their hearts.

"They...as expected, they also set up defenses on the outer perimeter..." Da Shi panted heavily, his voice hoarse from tension and lingering fear.

Blood was seeping from the cut on his arm, staining his sleeve red.

Da Jiu's face was so dark it could drip water. He touched the bloodstains on his cheek, his eyes icy cold.

"It's not just a deployment; it's a long-planned operation. The location and timing of this patrol's appearance are no coincidence. The Dongming people have probably already taken control of all the important passages around Dongguan City."

The brief but intense exchange of fire just now completely confirmed their suspicions.

Dongguan City, the eastern gateway of the Great Jing Dynasty, has changed hands and become a meticulously laid death trap, waiting for the unsuspecting Great Jing reinforcements to walk right into it.

The two dared not linger any longer, nor did they have time to treat their injuries. They sped towards their own camp at an even faster pace.

Along the way, Da Jiu paid even closer attention to observation.

The infiltration and planning of the Dongming people were far deeper and more meticulous than they imagined.

As the eastern sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn, and the deepest darkness was about to pass, Da Jiu and Da Shi finally spotted the vast, silent campsite nestled in the distant mountain valley.

Most of the campfires had gone out, leaving only a few scattered red glows, like the breath of a sleeping beast. The outline of the camp appeared blurry and fragile in the dim light of dawn.

The two rushed into the camp, where several key generals, who had already been informed by the sentries, immediately came to greet them.

Seeing the bloodstains on Da Jiu's face and the wounds on Da Shi's arms, as well as the exhausted appearance of their mounts, which were soaked in sweat and exhaling thick white breath, everyone's hearts were in their throats.

"Ninth Brother, what happened?" Sixteenth Brother asked, frowning.

Without any pleasantries, Da Jiu grabbed a soldier's water pouch and gulped down several mouthfuls. Then, he quickly recounted what he and Da Shi had seen and heard at the foot of Dongguan City, as well as their encounter with the Dongming patrol and the ensuing firefight on their way back.

The surroundings fell into a deathly silence; you could hear a pin drop.

Immediately, it was like cold water being poured into boiling oil, causing it to explode instantly!

"What? Dongguan City is lost?!"

"How is this possible! What about Marshal Li's 150,000 troops?"

"Did the people from Dongming fly here?!"

After a brief moment of shock and disbelief, the generals quickly split into two factions.

The young and ambitious group, led by the hot-blooded deputy general Qiu Zhenyu, had bloodshot eyes.

"This is a disgrace! Dongguan City is the eastern border barrier of our Great Jing, how can we allow the Dongming barbarians to lay a finger on it! General, I request permission! Immediately muster the troops, and while the Dongming people are still settling in, launch a night raid to retake Dongguan! Catch them off guard!"

Qiu Zhenyu was a newly appointed deputy general promoted by Emperor Jing from the Imperial Guard, with the aim of monitoring Da Jiu and others.

Although Da Jiu and several of his fellow Da Zi Brigade brothers were exceptionally capable and stood out from the recruitment arena, Emperor Jing was still somewhat uneasy about them being strangers. Therefore, when forming the new army, the Ministry of War specially appointed a deputy general to Da Jiu.

As soon as Qiu Zhenyu said this, several young centurions behind him echoed his sentiments. The crowd was filled with righteous indignation and high morale, and they couldn't wait to attack Dongming.

Unable to accept the silent fall of such a vital town, their innate courage and pride compelled them to act immediately, determined to wash away this shame with the blood of their enemies.

Da Jiu shook his head with a heavy expression, his voice steady but filled with worry.

"Deputy General Qiu, please calm down! Dongguan City is inherently easy to defend and difficult to attack. Now that it has fallen into enemy hands, and the enemy is prepared, our army has only ten thousand men, and our food and ammunition are limited. Forcing an attack on the city would be like throwing an egg against a rock!"

“Ninth Brother is right.” Sixteen immediately agreed with Ninth Brother’s statement, and the other brothers in the Big Character Team also nodded in agreement.

Da Jiu continued, "Our most urgent task is to immediately retreat a hundred miles, make contact with the remaining garrison in Jizhou, ascertain the situation of Marshal Li's army, and then report to the court for further consideration!"

After he finished speaking, his views were supported by many cautious and prudent generals.

They were considering the safety of the entire army and the broader war situation, believing that a hasty attack would be too risky.

The camp erupted in a heated debate, with both sides sticking to their own arguments, creating a tense atmosphere that was almost frozen in place.

Da Jiu remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the heated debaters. Only when the noise subsided did he slowly speak, his voice low but carrying an undeniable power that instantly drew everyone's attention.

He looked at Qiu Zhenyu, who advocated for war: "Vice General Qiu, have you considered this carefully? If Marshal Li's 150,000 troops were here, the Dongming people would never have been able to succeed so easily, let alone have the city gate guards carry out the order of 'letting anyone into the city, no matter who they are'?"

He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping across the faces of every general advocating war.

"This means that Dongguan City may not have fallen after a fierce siege, but rather the Dongming people used a trick we could not have imagined, which caused the garrison system to collapse instantly, or even... there may have been defectors, which would have allowed the Dongming people to take over the city's defenses so smoothly and set up a trap without leaving any flaws!"

“And then there’s that title of ‘Grand Commander’,” Da Shi interjected, his voice icy.

Da Jiu nodded and continued, "Furthermore, the patrols we encountered. Their appearance was not a random patrol, but a purposeful and planned ambush. This proves that the Dongming people have not only occupied the city, but have extended their reach to the main roads outside the city. The depth of their deployment and the thoroughness of their preparations far exceed our expectations. If we follow Vice General Qiu's advice and rashly attack the city now, our army will be walking right into their trap. They probably want us to do just that."

Upon hearing this, the pro-war faction exchanged glances and said nothing more. Only Qiu Zhenyu still looked like he couldn't swallow his anger.

He snorted angrily, "Even so, once the city gates open tomorrow, we can break up into smaller groups, disguise ourselves as civilians, sneak into the city, and then look for an opportunity..."

"Don't you understand?" Da Jiu interrupted him, uttering the cruelest guess: "Marshal Li's 150,000 troops... are probably doomed. With our small force, wouldn't we be barely enough to fill a tooth gap?"

Da Jiu really wanted to scold him.

He even wanted to lead the new army into the city to join Marshal Li, without considering that if Marshal Li's 150,000 troops were still there, Dongguan would not have fallen.
This newly appointed deputy general of the imperial army, parachuted in by the court, could only serve as a member of the imperial guards in the capital. He was all talk and no action and had no practical experience in border warfare. He was not even as good as Da Jiu, who had only served as a centurion in the northern military camp.

The details and analyses brought by Da Jiu and Da Shi were like a cold awl, piercing the passionate fantasies of the pro-war faction and exacerbating the anxieties of the conservatives.

Qiu Zhenyu, who had previously advocated for an offensive, turned pale and had to reconsider.

If what Da Jiu said is true, then what we are facing is not a battle to capture the city, but a meticulously planned, huge conspiracy aimed at annihilating their support army.

Cold sweat trickled down the foreheads of many generals, and an atmosphere of despair and heaviness enveloped the surroundings.

Now that the Dongming people have captured Dongguan City, their next stop will surely be to take Jizhou directly.

They had no choice but to retreat to Jizhou and join up with the remaining troops there. However, the gunfire during their earlier encounter with the Dongming patrol must have caught Dongming's attention, and they might have already sent out more soldiers to investigate.

There are traps ahead!
Retreat, and you're likely to be pursued!
In the suffocating silence, Da Jiu's gaze sharpened once more.

"The Dongming people set up this trap simply because they are taking advantage of the fact that the imperial court is unaware of the fall of Dongguan City and our army's eagerness to rescue us. They want to lure the reinforcements into the city and annihilate us at the lowest possible cost." Da Jiu's voice became steady and powerful again.

"Then... what should we do?" Deputy General Qiu asked in a hoarse voice.

"Let me think about it." Da Jiu didn't answer immediately, but instead glanced down at the M16 hanging on his chest, biting his lip and pacing back and forth.

I'll try updating all at once today!