Love Lock

Chapter 322 More People Will Die
After a moment, Da Jiu said, "They want us to attack the city, but we won't. They expect us to retreat, so we'll 'retreat' to show them!"

"What does the general mean?" Da Shiliu asked.

“Since Dongming has already sent out patrols, they have likely already discovered us. The only thing we can do now is to move closer together…”

A calm glint flashed in Da Jiu's eyes as he began to plan the next steps...

...I am a lazy dividing line...

On the third day, Zhao Zun, the King of Cangzhou, led five hundred soldiers through the official road outside the capital.

As dusk approached, the sky was just beginning to darken, the clouds hung low, and a streak of the setting sun painted the horizon like blood.

Outside the gates of Qingzhou, a massive, dark army was advancing silently.

Their armor was gleaming, and their banners fluttered in the wind. They were Cangzhou soldiers who had come to seize the two provinces on the orders of Zhao Zun, taking advantage of the fact that the troops stationed in Qingzhou and Yizhou had been transferred to reinforce Dongguan and the city was left undefended.

Just as the city gate was about to slowly close, the soldiers guarding the city saw the dust rising in the distance and rushed up to the city tower to report.

The garrison commander felt a chill run down his spine, quickly climbed the city wall, and then placed his hand on the crenellations to gaze into the distance.

The army marched in perfect unison, their armor gleaming—clearly the standard armor of the Great Jing Dynasty—yet they moved with an unhurried and composed air.

He breathed a slight sigh of relief and said to his adjutant beside him, "Judging from their attire, they seem to be soldiers from Jingzhou... But what are they doing here at this hour?"

The army gradually approached, until it reached the city walls.

The leading general sat upright on his horse, clad in black armor with red tassels; he was none other than Xiao Zhengfei, a subordinate of Zhao Zun.

The city gate guard straightened his armor, bent down, and called out, "Who are the soldiers outside the city?"

Xiao Zhengfei looked up and said in a booming voice, "Dongming has invaded our borders. The Ministry of War has ordered my Jingzhou army to rush to the aid of Dongguan, pass through Qingzhou, and open the city gates immediately!"

The garrison commander frowned and pondered for a moment.

News of Dongming's invasion of the border has indeed spread throughout the frontier, and documents from the Ministry of War arrived in Qingzhou a few days ago.

The garrison commander asked a few more questions about the pass password and marching route, and Xiao Zhengfei answered fluently and flawlessly.

"Open the city gates—" the commander finally gave the order.

The heavy city gates creaked open once more, and Xiao Zhengfei led his troops into the city.

Strangely, he was not in a hurry to advance. After entering the city, he reined in his horse and stopped by the roadside, coldly watching the army slowly surge into the city gate like an undercurrent.

The garrison commander descended from the city wall and approached him, asking, "General, how many troops has Jingzhou dispatched this time?"

"Twenty thousand," Xiao Zhengfei said calmly. "The rest still needs to be used to guard against Cangzhou."

"Alas," the garrison commander sighed, "How could the King of Cangzhou suddenly rebel like this?"

Xiao Zhengfei's lips curled slightly, a half-smile playing on his lips: "Is it something for you and me to discuss about matters of state? Just keep to your own business."

Seeing his arrogant expression, Shou dared not say anything more and could only awkwardly reply, "That's right."

As they were talking, his gaze was suddenly drawn to what Xiao Zhengfei was holding; each of the soldiers entering the city was also holding one.

The object was a dark, elongated piece of iron, with a strange shape that I had never seen before.

"General, this is..." The garrison commander pointed curiously into his hand.

At this moment, the last few rows of soldiers were about to step through the city gate. A shadow swept across Xiao Zhengfei's face, and he suddenly grinned, revealing a chilling smile:

"You'll find out soon."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly raised his M16 and shouted sharply, "Assault team, take control of the city defenses immediately!"

This stern shout shattered the brief tranquility beneath the city gate.

The obsequious smile on the face of the guard standing in front of Xiao Zhengfei had not yet faded, and astonishment had just appeared when the flames spewing from the strange iron weapon were reflected in his pupils.

"Da da da--"

The crisp, deafening explosion sent several bursts of blood gushing from the guard's chest. His body trembled violently as he fell backward, his eyes frozen in disbelief and horror.

He died without understanding what kind of weapon it was, why there was no ignition or firing process, and why it was so fast that it took his life before he could even feel the pain.

Meanwhile, the Jingzhou army, which had entered the city in an "orderly" manner, was actually the elite of Cangzhou.

They instantly tore through their disguise.

A series of clicks as rifle bolts were pulled back echoed through the ranks. Soldiers quickly formed groups of three to five and charged toward their respective targets, following the tactical maneuvers they had practiced repeatedly.

Inside the city gate, figures jostled and footsteps clattered, accompanied by angry shouts and shrill screams.

"What are you doing?!"

"They've rebelled! They've rebelled!"

"Enemy attack——!"

Several soldiers guarding the city tried to push the heavy gate shut again, but it was too late.

A team of Cangzhou assault troops rushed in swiftly, the sound of short bursts from M16 rifles ringing out in rapid succession.

The bullets struck the iron-clad wooden door, sending up a shower of wood chips and sparks, before penetrating even more precisely into the bodies of the soldiers trying to close the door.

The soldiers staggered and fell to the ground, their blood quickly spreading in the dust beneath the doorway.

The Cangzhou soldiers at the rear of the column quickly took control of the horse paths and steps leading up to the city gate like a tidal wave.

After a brief moment of panic, the defenders on the city wall attempted to resist, and sporadic arrows were fired, but under the suppression of automatic fire, any attempt to peek out was met with a fierce counterattack.

The archers on the arrow tower didn't even see where the enemy was before they were hit by precise shots and fell from the crenellations.

The battle—or rather, the massacre—ended in a very short time. The desperate confrontation between cold weapons and firearms, coupled with complete surprise, led to the utter collapse of Qingzhou's city gates in less than half an incense stick's time.

Xiao Zhengfei stood still, with a wisp of smoke rising from the muzzle of his M16.

He watched coldly as his men quickly brought the situation under control. The soldiers skillfully searched the bodies, finished them off with blows, and gathered the few wounded but still alive defenders under their guard.

Looking at the Dajing soldiers who died under the gun, a barely perceptible trace of reluctance flashed in Xiao Zhengfei's eyes, but he quickly returned to normal.

Those were all citizens of Dajing, his compatriots. He felt extremely uncomfortable and even deeply guilty for firing on Dajing soldiers.

These dead soldiers of the Great Jing Dynasty were not at fault, but this was the best course of action.

According to intelligence sent from the palace by the Thirteenth Prince, a large number of troops from Qingzhou and Yizhou have been transferred to support Dongguan, leaving the city with few troops, which presents a rare opportunity.

The prince said that from the day they raised the banner of rebellion, a war between Cangzhou and the Great Jing Dynasty was inevitable sooner or later. If they did not seize Qingzhou and Yizhou now to minimize casualties, the death toll would be even higher if they waited until the future war with the court.

The air was thick with the pungent smell of blood and gunpowder, mixed with the stench of dust, making one want to vomit.

"General, the city gates, towers, and arrow towers are all under control!" A captain with blood splattered on his face rushed in to report, his tone urgent but clear. "Our troops suffered minor injuries, killed thirty-seven enemies, and captured nine. The garrison inside the city has not yet reacted."

Xiao Zhengfei nodded, his expression stern: "According to the original plan, the first battalion will control the city gate area and establish a defensive line; the second battalion will advance towards the government office; and the third battalion will seize the armory and granary. If there is any resistance, kill them without mercy."

"Yes!"

The order was passed on quickly.

The Cangzhou army began to operate like a sophisticated machine, with each unit taking separate actions.

Only then did Qingzhou City seem to awaken from its daze, with shouts, running sounds, and sporadic fighting noises rising from afar. But the defending troops, lacking unified command, were utterly unable to mount an effective resistance.

The government office was surrounded within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and the prefect and key officials were intercepted while attempting to escape.

The armory and granary were taken over almost without bloodshed. The officials and soldiers guarding the armory only heard the deafening noise and were unaware that the city gates had changed hands.

However, just as the Cangzhou army seemed to have completely controlled the situation, Zhang Yue, the deputy general of the Qingzhou garrison, managed to escape the first wave of attacks amidst the initial chaos.

He was shot in the shoulder, blood soaking half of his armor, but he endured the excruciating pain and took advantage of the chaos to roll down the ramparts of the city wall, falling into a pile of debris.

Through the gaps in the wooden planks, Zhang Yue witnessed the defenders being instantly killed by that strange weapon, his men falling like wheat being harvested, and the rapid collapse of the city gate's defenses.

Horror and rage burned through his body. It was the Cangzhou army! They had impersonated the Jingzhou army and attacked Qingzhou with weapons that seemed to possess supernatural powers!

"We must warn Yizhou!" This was the only thought that flashed through Zhang Yue's mind.

Yizhou and Qingzhou are closely interdependent. If Yizhou is attacked again, the entire northwest gateway will be wide open, and the northwest of the capital will no longer be protected!

He held his breath, enduring the excruciating pain, and crawled laboriously through the shadows.

The soldiers of Cangzhou were mopping up the remaining enemy, their footsteps and shouts almost within reach. Several times he nearly got discovered, but each time he managed to slip into deeper shadows. Blood dripped down his path, but he didn't care.

Finally, he sneaked back to a corner house near the city gate—a relay point for military intelligence and a place where carrier pigeons were kept for emergency communications.

Fortunately, the Cangzhou army, busy seizing the city's defenses, had not yet noticed this inconspicuous little house.

Zhang Yue burst through the door and rushed to the pigeon coop.

With trembling hands, he grabbed the pen, tore off a piece of his shirt, dipped it in his own blood, and hastily wrote down the briefest warning:

"Qingzhou has fallen. The rebels are from the Cangzhou army, wielding demonic weapons. Beware! Zhang Yue."

Zhang Yue carefully rolled up the blood letter and stuffed it into a small bamboo tube on the pigeon's leg. He then pushed open the back window and threw the pigeon into the sky with all his might.

White doves spread their wings, soaring over the smoke-filled city walls, and flew towards Yizhou.

Almost at the same moment, the corner door was kicked open. A soldier from Cangzhou spotted him and raised his gun to shoot.

Knowing he couldn't dodge, Zhang Yue used his last strength to lunge at the soldier, only to be struck in the chest by a burst of bullets and fall heavily to the ground.

With blurred vision, he took one last look at the receding white figure outside the window before breathing his last.

The carrier pigeon flew swiftly eastward above.

It would be unaware of the urgency of the message carried in its claws, nor of how its flight would affect the course of the battle.

As the last rays of the setting sun disappeared, Qingzhou City had completely fallen into the hands of the Cangzhou army.

There were no pedestrians on the main streets, only patrols of Cangzhou soldiers and bloodstains that had not yet been cleaned up.

Sporadic resistance and searches continued in the city, but the overall situation was already settled.

Xiao Zhengfei stood atop the city wall, overlooking the city that had suddenly fallen silent. His M16 was slung across his side, the gun cold to the touch.

A captain is reporting on the battle results and losses.

"...The city is basically under control. Over three hundred were killed, and more than five hundred were captured. The remaining defenders either scattered or went into hiding. Our army suffered no casualties, but more than thirty were wounded. The granaries, armories, and treasuries have all been sealed off..."

A very successful outcome.

The advantage brought by the technological gap in equipment is overwhelming. Xiao Zhengfei nodded slightly, his gaze turning southeast.

That's the direction of Yizhou.

According to the original plan, after resting for a night, he will lead the main force to attack Yizhou at dawn the next day.

News of Qingzhou's fall shouldn't reach Yizhou so quickly, making it highly likely that another surprise attack will succeed.

"General, among the prisoners we captured is the Prefect of Qingzhou. He claims to be willing to cooperate and has provided information about some of the gentry in the city..." the staff officer continued to report.

Xiao Zhengfei raised his hand to interrupt: "Leave these matters to the subsequent administrative personnel! Let the army rest and recuperate, prepare food at 3 AM tomorrow, and depart for Yizhou at 5 AM. In addition, His Highness has ordered that all Qingzhou soldiers who died in battle be given a proper burial and that prisoners be treated well."

"Yes!"

However, what Xiao Zhengfei didn't know was that the blood-stained pigeon was flapping its wings vigorously under the moonlight and was about to fly over Yizhou City.

In the middle of the night, there was an urgent knock on the door of Cui Meng's study, the garrison commander of Yizhou.

General Cui, who had already gone to bed, got up, put on his robe, and opened the door with displeasure, only to see his deputy standing outside the door, pale-faced, clutching a small piece of blood-stained cloth in his hand.

"General! Urgent report from Qingzhou! It's a letter written in blood by Deputy General Zhang!"

Cui Meng was instantly wide awake, grabbed the strip of cloth, and quickly scanned it. There were only a few words, but every word was chilling:
"Qingzhou has fallen. The rebels are from Cangzhou and wield demonic weapons. Beware! Zhang Yue"

"The Cangzhou Army?! Not the Jingzhou Army?" Cui Meng looked up in shock. "A demonic weapon? What kind of demonic weapon?"

The lieutenant's voice was grave, "General, if Qingzhou has fallen, our army..."

Cui clenched the blood-written letter tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"The whole world knows that the King of Cangzhou is plotting a rebellion. I didn't expect them to attack so quickly."

Cui Meng strode to the map on the wall, his gaze sharp: "They've just entered Qingzhou, and they still have two counties to cross before they reach here. Even at a fast horse, it would take two days. If the Cangzhou army has already taken Qingzhou, they'll attack in as little as three days. They're impersonating the Jingzhou army, carrying unknown weapons..."

As he spoke, he turned around abruptly, his eyes filled with determination: "Immediately impose martial law on the entire city! Close all four gates! All garrison troops must ascend the city walls and prepare for battle! Send fast horses to notify the surrounding passes and local militia to provide support! And... immediately send an urgent report to the imperial court."

"Yes!" The lieutenant hurried away.

Cui Meng unfolded the blood-written letter again, his fingertips tracing the darkened bloodstains.

He will never fail to heed the warning given by Zhang Yue of the neighboring state, who gave his life.

If the Cangzhou army dares to invade tomorrow, Qingzhou will no longer be left unprepared.

A bloody battle is about to take place in Yizhou.

The following morning, Xiao Zhengfei led 5,000 elite troops straight to Yizhou. Cavalry led the way, followed closely by infantry, and the troops also carried ten light machine guns and ample ammunition.

Based on yesterday's easy victory in Qingzhou, the troops were in high spirits and marched at a very fast pace.

Ten miles from Yizhou City, a scout reported: "General, the gates of Yizhou City are tightly closed, and there are many flags on the city walls, indicating that they are on high alert."

Xiao Zhengfei frowned slightly.

Logically, news of the fall of Qingzhou should not have spread so quickly.

Perhaps it was a message from routed soldiers?
However, Yizhou's swift and comprehensive response to take precautions was still unexpected.

"Keep moving forward, remain vigilant," he ordered.

Even with some precautions, how long can a city's defenses, made of cold weapons, withstand automatic firepower?

He was quite confident about it.

However... the soldiers in Yizhou will suffer heavy casualties.

This is the last thing the prince and princess wanted to see.

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