The Empress has abandoned me? I'll support a new emperor and destroy your kingdom!

The specially made crossbow bolts left the bowstring with a dull thud, instantly covering a distance of over a hundred paces and plunging fiercely into the dense ranks of the rebels!

The incredibly powerful crossbow bolts can even penetrate ordinary shields and pierce through the human body behind them!

The rebel archer phalanx was thrown into chaos, suffering heavy casualties.

"What kind of crossbow is that? How can it be so powerful?" Yun Tao, who was watching the battle from behind, was shocked by what he saw.

"Your Highness, this is likely a new type of weaponry from the imperial court!" The strategist's face was grim.

"No matter! Even the sharpest crossbow can only kill a few people. Charge! The first to scale the city walls will receive double the reward!" Yun Tao gritted his teeth and continued to oversee the battle.

Driven by the promise of a large reward and the orders of the supervising officers, the rebel soldiers surged toward the city walls.

Ladders were continuously erected on the city walls, and the valiant rebels, with swords in their mouths, struggled to climb them.

The battering rams crashed against the city gate with a "boom," and with each impact, the city wall trembled slightly.

The city walls instantly transformed into the most brutal meat grinder.

Logs, stones, boiling molten gold, and kerosene rained down on the climbing rebels, smashing their heads and burning their skin.

The defending soldiers used spears and grappling hooks to push aside the siege ladders or to poke any rebels who had just emerged off the city walls.

The two sides engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand battle on the city wall, with every inch of the wall being fought over repeatedly, and blood quickly stained the bricks.

Yun Jin remained standing on the main city gate tower, without taking a single step back.

She held a strong bow, and her arrows never missed, targeting the rebel officers and brave warriors who were about to storm the city.

Qingdai, holding a short sword, stood guard closely beside her, her face pale, yet she did not retreat an inch.

Zhao Jianing was like a god of death, charging back and forth on the city wall, appearing wherever there was danger, his long sword already worn down with countless sharp edges.

Zhou Bo calmly directed the operation, continuously deploying reserves to fill the gaps.

"Your Highness! There are three siege ladders in the western section! They can't hold out much longer!" A captain with a bloodied face rushed in to report.

"Send Han Lie's crossbowmen over there! Use armor-piercing arrows to cut the ropes of the siege ladders! Commander Zhao, take your men and drive the traitorous dogs who are scaling the city walls down!" Yun Jin's voice was calm as he continued firing arrows. A traitorous centurion who had just peeked out from the crenellations a dozen paces away fell to the ground.

"yes!"

The battle lasted from dawn until afternoon.

The rebel offensive came wave after wave, seemingly endless.

The casualties of the defending troops continued to rise, and in many areas, the soldiers were already holding out with their bare hands.

Although Han Lie's "Divine Arm Bow" is powerful, the crossbow bolts are consumed very quickly, and the archer also needs to rest.

The newly made crossbows and armor were a drop in the ocean.

"Your Highness, we're almost out of arrows, logs, and oil!" Chen Youde reported in a hoarse voice, his face covered in soot and blood.

Yun Jin looked at the still surging tide of rebels outside the city, and then at the exhausted soldiers on the city wall who were still fighting to the death. Her heart was heavy.

Could it be that Anqing really cannot be defended? After all the hardships I've endured to get here, am I destined to suffer defeat and die in the end?

No! Absolutely not!

She suddenly remembered Su Che's secret report: "Decisive action in the south must be taken quickly, or things may change."

The capital is in grave danger, the northern border is in grave danger. She must resolve the war in the south as soon as possible before she can return to defend it, otherwise the whole situation will be lost!

But how can we achieve a quick victory? The rebels outnumber us many times over and are in high spirits. A direct assault or a defensive strategy would only result in a war of attrition.

Her gaze once again fell upon the prominent "Prince of Jingjiang" banner in the center of the rebel army, and the smug figure beneath it.

"General Chen, are there still cavalry in the city? Even if there are only a few hundred?" she suddenly asked.

Chen Youde was taken aback: "Yes, there are. There are still General Wu's five hundred naval cavalry at the South Gate water fortress, but... Your Highness, going out of the city now is tantamount to suicide!"

"It's not about sending them to their deaths, it's about capturing the leader first!" A resolute glint flashed in Yun Jin's eyes.

"Although the rebels' offensive was fierce, their elite troops were all at the front lines, leaving the central army relatively vulnerable."

Yun Tao is confident in his superior numbers and hates me to the core, so he will not be wary of me daring to launch a counterattack outside the city!

If a cavalry force were to strike at the enemy's center, catching them off guard and killing or capturing Yun Tao, the rebel army would surely be thrown into chaos!

At that time, the city's garrison will launch a full-scale attack, coordinating from within and without, and may be able to decide the fate of the city in one battle!

"This... is too risky!" Zhou Bo exclaimed anxiously. "Your Highness, this humble general is willing to lead the troops into battle! You must not risk your life!"

"No, I'll go." Yun Jin shook her head, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"I am the Imperial Envoy and the Princess Who Protects the Nation."

Only by appearing on the front lines in person can I intimidate the rebels to the greatest extent, strike a blow to their morale, and boost the morale of my troops!

"Zhou Sima, you and General Chen are in charge of commanding the defense of the city. Wait for my signal, then open the gates and launch a full-scale counterattack! Commander Zhao!"

"Your subordinate is here!" Zhao Jianing, covered in blood, stepped forward.

"Gather all the brothers in your personal guard who can fight on horseback, and then join General Wu's naval cavalry to make a total of eight hundred riders!"

Everyone, put on your best armor, and take the 'Divine Arm Bow' and all the remaining 'Armor-Piercing Arrows'!

"Follow me out the south gate, circle around the riverbank, and strike directly at the rebels' weak flank!"

"Your Highness! You mustn't!" Zhao Jianing, Zhou Bo, Chen Youde, and others urged in unison.

"This is a military order!" Yun Jin said sternly, drawing the Shangfang sword from her waist, its cold light reflecting in the sun.

"My mind is made up! No need for further words! Commander Zhao, go and prepare immediately! Assemble at the south gate in half an incense stick's time!"

"...This subordinate obeys!" Seeing Yun Jin's resolute expression, Zhao Jianing knew that further persuasion was useless. He clasped his hands heavily, turned around, and ran away.

"Commander Zhou, General Chen, I entrust the city's defense to you. If I... do not return, you shall hold the city to the death and await the imperial reinforcements," Yun Jin said to Zhou Bo and Chen Youde, her tone calm yet carrying a tragic resolve.

"Your Highness!" Zhou Bo's tiger-like eyes were filled with tears.

"Execute the order." Yun Jin turned around and walked down the city gate tower.

Qingdai followed closely behind.

Half an incense stick later, at the South Gate Water Village.

Eight hundred cavalrymen have assembled.

Everyone changed into their finest gleaming armor, and the horses were also clad in simple leather armor.

Zhao Jianing took the lead, holding a long spear.

Yun Jin changed into a set of gleaming silver scale armor, covered with a black cloak, held a specially made lance, carried a hard bow on her back, had a sword hanging at her waist, and mounted a magnificent white horse.

Qingdai couldn't ride a horse, so Yun Jin strictly ordered her to stay in the city.

The cold wind howled, and the banners fluttered in the wind.

Eight hundred pairs of eyes were fixed on the slowly rising gate of the South Gate, and the riverbank outside the gate that was blocked by part of the rebel army.

"Open the door!" Yun Jin raised her lance.