Love Lock

Chapter 323 The Inevitable Growing Pains
Two days later, the majestic and mottled city walls of Yizhou gradually appeared on the horizon.

When the Cangzhou army advanced to within three miles of the city, they could clearly see the guards standing on the city walls and the gleaming of metal swords.

Flags fluttered atop the city walls, and swords and spears stood like a forest, creating a scene of imminent battle.

The group stopped two or three hundred paces away, and Xiao Zhengfei and Cui Ma stepped forward a few paces.

At the central city gate tower, an old general, fully armed, leaned against the wall and shouted in a booming voice.

"Is that the treacherous King Zhao Zun of Cangzhou standing beneath the city walls?! I am Cui Meng, the garrison commander of Yizhou! You tricked us into seizing Qingzhou and slaughtered my comrades; today you will not be able to deceive us into opening the gates of Yizhou!"

Xiao Zhengfei's heart sank.

The other party not only knew that Qingzhou had fallen, but also knew his identity and his methods of deceiving the city.

Was the information leaked?
But he remained expressionless, spurred his horse forward a few steps, and raised his head to reply: "I am Xiao Zhengfei under the command of the King of Cangzhou. General Cui, since you know I am here, you should be aware of the times! The current emperor is incompetent and treacherous officials are in power. My lord, the King of Cangzhou, is acting in accordance with the will of Heaven and the people. If Yizhou surrenders, I will guarantee you wealth and honor; if you resist stubbornly, Qingzhou will serve as a warning!"

On the city wall, Cui Meng laughed in fury: "Traitor! Stop your nonsense! You used demonic weapons to harm my comrades, today I will show you the blood and guts of the men of Yizhou!"

As Xiao Zhengfei listened to Cui Meng's resounding roar, the shame he felt for attacking his comrade was quickly replaced by a cold and resolute determination.

He took a deep breath and tried one last time to persuade him: "General Cui! Loyalty to the emperor and love for the country also require the ability to distinguish right from wrong! The court is now filled with treacherous officials, the emperor is incompetent, the people are suffering, and the borders are in turmoil! My lord, the King of Cangzhou, is not acting for his own selfish interests, but to save the people from suffering and to create a peaceful and prosperous world! Why should you, General, be buried with this corrupt court? The blood of the soldiers of Yizhou should be shed on the frontier to defend our homeland, not wasted on this pointless infighting! Submitting to my lord and joining forces for the greater good is what true heroes do!"

On the city wall, Cui Meng's white beard and hair stood on end.

He slammed his fist on the wall, his voice booming like thunder: "Bah! Stop your sophistry! How dare you traitors speak of loyalty and righteousness? A ruler is a ruler, and a subject is a subject; these are the fundamental principles of morality and the righteous path of heaven and earth! Even if the court has its flaws, we should address them gradually, offering advice and admonitions. How can we raise an army in rebellion and slaughter our comrades? You wield demonic weapons, harming lives, and yet you dare to claim righteousness? I, Cui Meng, have received the nation's deepest grace; I have no choice but to die for it! In Yizhou, there are only generals who would rather die than cowards who surrender! Soldiers, listen to my command! We swear to live and die with the city!"

"We swear to live and die with this city!" The defenders on the city walls roared, their swords and spears striking the ground, their voices echoing across the land, demonstrating their unwavering determination to fight to the death.

"Release the arrows!" Cui Meng shouted.

The soldiers guarding the city began to draw their bows and nock their arrows.

Xiao Zhengfei knew that words were superfluous.

He glanced one last time at the old general on the city wall, his beard and hair bristling, his expression resolute. A complex mix of respect and regret flashed in his eyes, only to be replaced by a steely coldness.

If persuasion fails, then a direct confrontation is the only option.

Following the speed at which the soldiers on the city wall drew their bows, Xiao Zhengfei pulled out his sword and swung it forward with force.

"Siege!"

Upon receiving the order, the artillery units in the Cangzhou army, which were already prepared, immediately opened fire.

The enemy was met with a barrage of traditional arrows, while our side was a raging storm of metal from another era.

“Da da da da da!!!”

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The roar of the M16 assault rifle and light machine gun instantly shattered the traditional clamor of the battlefield.

The scorching bullets sliced ​​through the air, forming deadly streaks of light that were difficult to detect with the naked eye, raining down on the walls of Yizhou like a sudden storm.

The archers were hit and fell to the ground as soon as they fired their arrows, while their arrows landed a few meters in front of Xiao Zhengfei's warhorse.

The defenders on the city wall had never seen such terrifying weapons before. They raised their shields, trying to dodge the arrows, but the wooden shields were as thin as paper in the face of modern rifle bullets and were pierced instantly.

The sturdy battlements were battered and shattered, with stones flying everywhere. Soldiers hiding behind them were often hit by bullets that pierced through the battlements, falling to the ground screaming in agony.

The metal bullets easily tore through leather and iron armor, leaving plumes of blood mist.

The defenders fell in droves, many losing their lives before they even saw where the attack came from.

The originally dense defensive formation quickly became sparse, and corpses lay scattered behind the crenellations of the city wall, with blood meandering down the cracks in the brickwork.

"Raise your shields! Raise your shields! Get out of the way!" Cui Meng roared, his eyes bloodshot, but his voice was so weak amidst the dense gunfire.

He witnessed a guard lean out to throw a log, only to have his head explode like a ripe watermelon, splattering red and white matter all over him.

He already knew from Zhang Yue's blood letter that the other party possessed a demonic weapon, but he never expected that this demonic weapon would be so terrifying.

How can we fight a siege like this?
After a brief moment of panic, the defending troops returned fire.

Archers braved a hail of bullets to hurl arrows down from the city walls, but the Cangzhou army's attack range far exceeded that of the arrows. Most of the arrows landed limply in front of the formation, and those that did manage to penetrate the ranks were blocked by shields and armor, resulting in negligible casualties.

The rolling logs and boulders were pushed down, but to no avail because the Cangzhou army did not actually get close to the base of the city wall. The boiled broth was also completely useless.

This was a completely unequal massacre.

The defending troops, despite their bravery and traditional defensive equipment, were unable to inflict any effective damage on the enemy and could only passively endure the incomprehensible and devastating attacks from afar.

Xiao Zhengfei, mounted on his horse, watched all of this with a blank expression.

The gunshots were deafening, and the smoke mixed with the smell of blood drifted on the wind.

His heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, making it hard to breathe.

Those who fell were all soldiers of Dajing, compatriots who should have been guarding the border and protecting their homeland together.

They may be as stubborn as Cui Meng, but their courage and loyalty are beyond question.

At this moment, however, because of their differing stances and the superior power they possessed, their lives were being harvested like grass.

Xiao Zhengfei's deputy whispered, "General, this...this battle was fought...too easily, and...too tragically."

Xiao Zhengfei didn't turn around, but said in a low voice, "What Your Highness wants is a quick victory to reduce our casualties and stabilize the rear as soon as possible. Only in this way can we march on the capital as soon as possible and end this chaos in the world. Their blood... will not be shed in vain."

These words seemed to be persuading the lieutenant, but even more so, they were persuading himself. He gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

The suppressive fire lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. The resistance on the city wall weakened significantly. Flags were askew, people were few and far between, but the cries of agony could still be heard clearly.

"Cease fire!" Xiao Zhengfei ordered.

The gunfire abruptly ceased, and the battlefield instantly fell into an eerie silence, save for the groans of the wounded and the crackling sounds of stray bullets igniting items on the city walls, which sounded particularly jarring.

"Infantry! Siege team! Charge!" Xiao Zhengfei pointed his sword again.

The Cangzhou army infantry, who had been waiting for orders, roared and surged toward the city wall like a tide, carrying ladders and pushing battering rams.

Although they encountered resistance, it had become sporadic and ineffective. Without organized long-range suppression, the defenders were unable to effectively prevent the Cangzhou army from approaching the city walls.

Ladders were erected on the city walls, and Cangzhou soldiers, with pistols or steel knives in their mouths, bravely climbed upwards.

Occasionally, logs would fall from the city walls, or some fearless defenders would lean out and push over ladders, but they would be immediately spotted by sharpshooters providing cover outside the city and fall from the city walls.

Soon, soldiers from the Cangzhou army climbed onto the city wall and engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand battle with the remaining defenders.

However, the morale of the defending troops was on the verge of collapse due to shock, and they were also at a significant numerical disadvantage. The hand-to-hand combat quickly turned into a one-sided mopping-up operation.

Xiao Zhengfei personally led his troops through the city gate that had been breached by battering rams and rushed into the city.

Small groups of defenders still put up a stubborn resistance in the city streets, engaging in street fighting, but the tide had turned against them. The fiercest fighting took place near the city walls. Xiao Zhengfei, wielding his M16, fought his way through the enemy lines and finally spotted the old general.

Despite being riddled with bullets and his battle robe stained with blood, Cui Meng still stood tall and imposing in front of the city gate tower, leaning on his sword. Only a few personal guards remained by his side, surrounded by the Cangzhou army.

His helmet fell off, his gray hair was disheveled, but his eyes were still sharp as an eagle's, full of resentment and anger.

"General Cui, Yizhou has fallen. Lay down your weapons. The Prince respects you as a hero and will not betray you," Xiao Zhengfei said in a deep voice.

"Hahaha..." Cui Meng let out a mournful laugh, the sound aggravating his wounds and causing him to cough violently, spitting out blood-tinged foam. "Xiao Zhengfei! Don't insult me! Am I a coward who clings to life? Today the city has fallen, death is my only fate! I only regret... I only regret that I cannot slaughter all you rebels! I only regret... that I could not die on the frontier battlefield..."

With his last ounce of strength, he raised his sword, pointed it at Xiao Zhengfei, and roared, "Traitorous officials, the whole world shall strike you down! You... will surely be punished by Heaven!"

Before he could finish speaking, he abruptly turned the blade and slashed it towards his own neck.

"General!"

His personal guards exclaimed in alarm, but it was too late to stop him.

Blood splattered, and the old general's massive body crashed to the ground. Even in death, his eyes remained wide open, staring at the gloomy sky.

The remaining guards shouted, either to die in battle or to commit suicide to die for their country.

Xiao Zhengfei watched this scene in silence, his heart filled with mixed emotions, which ultimately turned into a silent sigh.

He slowly walked forward, bent down, and gently closed Cui Meng's eyes, which refused to close.

"Give General Cui and his soldiers a proper burial. They were true warriors," Xiao Zhengfei instructed, his voice slightly hoarse.

The fighting within the city gradually subsided. The Cangzhou army had completely taken control of the four gates of Yizhou, as well as important locations such as the treasury and government offices.

Xiao Zhengfei stepped onto the city wall, which was covered in blood and debris, and looked out into the distance.

Black smoke billowed from many parts of the city, and corpses lay scattered everywhere on the streets—some were those of the defending soldiers, a small number of Cangzhou army soldiers, and even some civilians who had been hit by stray bullets. Cries, shouts, and groans could be faintly heard.

Soldiers are clearing the battlefield, gathering prisoners, and extinguishing the flames.

A victory that was expected, but brought no joy.

The soldiers of Cangzhou Army silently carried out their orders, most of them with heavy expressions on their faces.

They won the battle, but beneath their feet lay the bones of their compatriots, and before their eyes lay the devastation of their homeland.

Those advanced weapons brought victory with low casualties, but also a deeper psychological impact and a sense of guilt.

Xiao Zhengfei ordered the posting of notices to reassure the people, strictly enforce military discipline, prohibit harassment of civilians, and organized military medical officers to do their best to treat wounded soldiers and civilians in the city.

He knew that force could conquer land, but to win people's hearts, order and benevolent governance were needed.

Next, Xiao Zhengfei was busy stabilizing the city's defenses, taking inventory of the treasury, and calming the panicked officials and people.

The people of Yizhou City were filled with fear and had no idea what had happened. However, seeing that the Cangzhou army was disciplined and did not burn, kill, or loot, but instead assisted in rescuing the wounded and providing disaster relief, their panic gradually subsided.

But that atmosphere of sadness and oppression still shrouded the entire city.

The soldiers' morale remained low.

The joy of conquest had long been overshadowed by the horrific scenes of the battlefield and the heavy burden of fratricide. They were even somewhat afraid of the powerful "demon weapon" in their hands; the victory it brought was too easy and too bloody.

In the afternoon, Xiao Zhengfei was leading a group of his personal guards on a patrol of the city, reassuring the people and inspecting the post-war recovery.

Most of the residents on both sides of the street kept their doors and windows tightly closed. Occasionally, a few daring people would peek out, their eyes filled with surprise and fear.

Just then, news came from the direction of the city gate: Her Highness the Princess Consort has arrived.

Xiao Zhengfei quickly adjusted his armor and led his men to the city gate.

A carriage, escorted by Lao Meng and his personal guards, slowly drove into the gate of Yizhou City.

The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing Han Lei's slightly tired but still charming face.

The carriage stopped, and with the help of Zitan and Jinju, Han Lei carefully stepped out. Her belly was prominently swollen.

The first thing she saw was the bloodstains and broken walls near the city gate that had not yet been completely cleaned up.

The faint smell of blood and burnt food in the air made her frown.

She took a few slow steps, her gaze sweeping over the ruined scene on the street and the terrified eyes hiding behind windows and through cracks in doors.

Watching the soldiers silently move the bodies and clear the rubble, watching the military doctors bandage the wounded in the makeshift sheds, many of whom were civilians.

Han Lei's hand unconsciously went to her swollen belly, where a new life was growing. But before her eyes lay the death and trauma brought by war.

She sighed deeply, her eyes filled with a complex mix of worry and pity.

Xiao Zhengfei stepped forward and bowed: "This humble general, Xiao Zhengfei, greets Your Highness. I have not failed in my mission."

Han Lei withdrew her gaze and looked at Xiao Zhengfei, her voice soft and gentle but tinged with weariness: "General Xiao, you've worked hard. The soldiers have all worked hard."

She paused, her voice even softer, "But... the price seems too high."

Xiao Zhengfei paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, this is the best possible outcome. Cui Meng fought to the death and refused to surrender, and the defending troops resisted fiercely. In order to reduce our casualties, we had no choice but to use firepower to launch a strong attack. After the city fell, I did my best to appease the people and treat the wounded."

"I know, it's not your fault." Han Lei gently shook her head, her gaze once again falling on the devastated streets.

Before she came into this world, Zhao Zun, though subjected to suspicion and suppression by the court and repeatedly wronged, had always endured it silently. He was not without spirit, nor lacking in courage, nor incapable... Perhaps, the tragic situation before him was Zhao Zun's concern!
Her time travel changed everything!
She seemed to see Zhao Zun's furrowed brows and his solitary sighs in the dead of night. Perhaps what he hesitated about was this very scene before him—compatriots killing each other, the land stained with blood, and people displaced.

Overthrowing an old order inevitably involves pain and sacrifice, no matter how unbearable that old order may be.

But soon, the confusion and sadness in Han Lei's eyes faded, and she became determined again.

“But I don’t regret it.” She raised her head, her tone clear and firm, as if she were speaking to Xiao Zhengfei, or perhaps to herself.

"A short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one. Look at Cangzhou. Since the implementation of the new policies, the development of industry and commerce, and the improvement of people's livelihoods, the lives of the people have visibly improved. Under the rule of the imperial court, however, taxes are heavy, officials are corrupt, the people are living in misery, and border troubles are constant. If this riddled-with-holes imperial court is not overthrown, the Great Jing will never be able to truly rise, and the people of the world will never have a day of peace and prosperity."

She stroked her belly, feeling the pulse of the little life inside: "The tragedy before us is the inevitable pain of labor. What we must do is not wallow in grief and self-blame, but end all of this as soon as possible and establish a stronger and fairer new dynasty. Let our children, and future generations, never have to suffer such pain again. The blood shed in Yizhou cannot be shed in vain."

Han Lei's words were like a ray of light, dispelling the gloom in Xiao Zhengfei's and his soldiers' hearts.

Xiao Zhengfei looked up and saw Han Lei's firm and hopeful eyes, and the heaviness in his heart seemed to lessen a little.

Yes! They are on a difficult but right path, and the sacrifices they make at this moment must be meaningful for the sake of ultimate peace and prosperity.

"What Your Highness says is absolutely right," Xiao Zhengfei said in a deep voice. "This humble general will do his utmost to stabilize Qing and Yi prefectures as soon as possible, making them a solid support for Your Highness, and helping Your Highness to pacify the world and restore peace to the land!"

Han Lei nodded: "Thank you, General Xiao. Take me to see the wounded! Also, all fallen soldiers, regardless of which side they were on, must be properly buried and given appropriate compensation."

"Yes! Your Highness is benevolent!" Xiao Zhengfei bowed and accepted the order, leading Han Lei towards the temporary wounded soldiers' camp.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the walls of Yizhou, casting a tragic golden light over the desolate blood and traces of the great battle.

The war has temporarily ended, but the wounds it left behind will take time to heal. However, the flame of hope has quietly been ignited amidst the ruins and bloodshed.