RP Chapter 1 - Chang Feng - Part 5

Chapter One - Part 5

Three days later, a merchant caravan left Qingzhou Mansion and headed for Changfeng City.

The scorching sun shone brightly.

The young merchant who led the team turned around and gave a particular ‘look’. A rather thin-looking steward knew what he was trying to say. He rode up and said in a low voice: "Sir."

"Is your injury healed?" The young man held his head high and his horse moved slowly and leisurely.

The steward was wearing a raincoat and a hat half covered her face, revealing a sharp jaw and a faint scar on her neck. {T/N: Chinese is language capable of easily not mentioning pronouns for long swathes of text at a time, no pronoun is used here but since it’s not trying to hide that it’s Weisang, who’s dressed a guy, then I’ll used use ‘her’.}

"Much better, thank you Sir." There was no resentment in her voice.

"Is this your real personality?" The young man suddenly smiled, “His Highness and I were both deceived back then."

"My real personality?" The thin steward chuckled softly, stretched out her hand to support her bamboo hat and revealed her extremely clear eyes. "I can't even see through it myself, but Sir can?”

Lieutenant Zuo Jingyun, who was pretending to be a merchant at the moment, slowly moved his gaze over to her. He stared her up and down for a moment and said only four words: "Cold-natured by birth."

Cold-natured by birth? 

Weisang chewed on these four words and, the more she thought about it, the more her lips and teeth became cold.

From Qingzhou Mansion to Changfeng City, it would take about six or seven days for those who moved fast. They were just pretending to be a merchant caravan but were secretly overseeing the soldiers dressed up as refugees. So Jingyun didn't go very fast.

Because the world was divided and there are many different Lords, there are constant wars and skirmishes. War refugees are often scattered on the highway and the guards of the cities are already used to it. They drew their swords and shouted to warn the refugees to keep back. They were not allowed to enter the city. They drove them into the surrounding barren mountains and mountains, leaving them to fend for themselves.

Settling in a tent ten miles away from Changfeng City, Weisang unwrapped the cotton on her right hand and took a rough look at the new flesh. Sure enough, no more fingernails had grown.

Yesterday the pain was shocking but today it has healed.

All things in this world, no matter how much pain they have experienced, will eventually become better as time goes by.

Weisang ducked out of the tent and looked at the vast mountains around her. They had stayed here for more than a month.

Seeing Jingyun coming down the mountain with several people covered in dust, Weisang hurriedly ran over and asked, "How is it going?"

Jingyun still ignored her. An honest-looking man behind him wiped his sweat and said with a smile: "Girl, the head of the channel has been found and is being rerouted."

"The date agreed with the Commander is about half a month away." Weisang thought about it for a moment, then looked at the extremely clear sky to cover up her inner anxiety. "Uncle Xu, will it be done in time?"

Uncle Xu pondered for a moment and did not dare to promise. Weisang's heart sank but then she heard Jingyun say: "According to the agreement, the Commander will lead the army to set off tomorrow. Let’s begin tonight.”

It is extremely dry weather in spring.

Guarding Changfeng City was the veteran Wang Chengxin. The old general didn't have any hobbies in his life but he loved wine. After dark, he would have a few drinks at his house. There was not much rain these days and the air was filled with the smell of dust. The old general poured a glass of wine and suddenly heard a report from the sergeant in the doorway: "General, the scouts in front reported that the rebel army has made a sacrifice to heaven and earth, and will set off tomorrow."

The old general's hand holding the wine glass paused slightly: "Who is the leader?"

"Jiang Zaichu."

"Prince Ning." The old general sighed in a low voice. His gray beard slightly raised and his expression remained motionless, "This day was always bound to come, and now it has."

Before he finished speaking, the dry smell of sparks filled the air, amidst the misty night. As soon as the light appeared, it was reflected in the beautiful trees and mountains in the distance, making the stars on the horizon dim.

The old general walked to the window and squinted at it: "Is there water on this mountain?"

"The weather is dry and the mountains around Changfeng City are full of refugees digging wild vegetables to satisfy their hunger. I'm afraid if they light fires in the middle of the night, the mountain might be set ablaze." The deputy general spoke worriedly. "General, should we send someone to extinguish it?"

"We are facing a formidable enemy, so we must not divide our troops." The old general suddenly turned around and said, "Send an order to the entire army to prepare for battle at the general's station early tomorrow morning!"

*

"Young Master Han, the fire has now spread to half of the mountain. I'm afraid... the city guard will order the fire to be put out."

The scorching breath swirled towards her face. Weisang stood on the mountain and looked at the fierce fire. She felt that the long hair on her temples was slightly curled by the heat.

"No." Weisang said firmly, "At this moment, the Commander is heading over with his troops. The guard of Changfeng City, General Wang, is a prudent man and will never divide his troops to put out the fire. Besides..."

"Besides, the fire will illuminate the night as bright as day. The terrain of Changfeng City is quite high and the people inside can clearly see the movements of the enemy troops outside the city, which is to their advantage. They absolutely do not want the fire to go out."

Jingyun took heed of Weisang's words and looked at the scene of fire with his hands behind his hands. He said leisurely, "The Commander has already abandoned camp."

"Thank you General Jing for informing me."

"Are you feeling a little afraid about taking such a big gamble in the current war?" Jingyun's eyes were like razor blades, as though he wanted to see if there was any weakness in the heart of the woman in front of him.

"Afraid? Will anxiety help the Commander win the battle? If it can, I will be a little afraid." Weisang smiled at the young and brave major. Half of her face reflected in the firelight, "If not, what is the use of it?"

In the spring of the third year of Guangyang in the Jin Dynasty.

Commander Jiang Zaichu led an army of 200,000 troops from south to north, arriving at the foot of Changfeng City.

On the same day, Wang Chengxin, the veteran city defender, received the imperial military order and mobilized the surrounding city defenders, which totaled more than 300,000, to kill the rebels besieging the city.

Many years later, the old people around Changfeng City would still be frightened when they recalled that battle.

Countless wars have taken place here since ancient times. However only this battle was called the "Battle of Changfeng City".

The night when the siege army arrived at Changfeng City, it was clearly a starry night, but the firelight all over the mountains and plains illuminated most of the sky as bright as day, overwhelming all the stars. The smell of smoke and rosin filled the air uneasily. The soldiers wiped their faces and scratched out black marks. The fire followed the flow of the wind and licked towards the night sky.

Everyone in Changfeng City can clearly see the enemy troops stationed there. The phalanxes stood up one after another, heads like ants, silent and fast. One of the phalanxes suddenly started to stir and a gap opened up. While the flags were tumbling, a group of people marched quickly into the main tent.

Everyone in the city held their breath.

"General, that's..."

"His Royal Highness Prince Ning." The old general held a spear in his hand and raised his head with a smile. "Very good. The army is in good condition and well-trained. He didn't let me down."

The old general waved his hand. The moment he turned around, he suddenly stopped and asked the sergeant beside him: "How long have I been stationed here?"

"It has been twenty years since the reign of the late emperor."

"Oh. When Prince Ning was still a child, the late emperor sent him to me to learn military skills. He was fed and clothed just like an ordinary soldier." The general stroked his gray beard and said, "If His Highness was stubborn, I would beat him. I beat him until he couldn't get off the ground... I never imagined that one day, I would face him as my enemy."

The sergeant knew about this past incident, so he lowered his head and did not dare to speak.

"Now that we meet on the battlefield, let's see how much this kid has improved over the years." The old man smiled with appreciation and turned to go into the city.

*

Jiang Zaichu sat down in the main tent. Before putting down his sword, he listened to the guard's announcement: "General Jing is here."

"How is it going?" Jiang Zaichu stood up to receive him. 

"The fire has been burning for more than a month and Duxiu Peak has almost turned into solid scorched earth. It is so hot that no one can set foot on it." Jingyun stood up and reported. "Commander, this mountain is already hot enough."

Jiang Zaichu nodded, "Where about the channels?"

"Mr. Xu supervises thousands of soldiers and is still digging and rerouting in the mountains."

"What about Han Weisang?" Jiang Zaichu asked after a moment of silence.

"She went into the mountains with Mr. Xu and hasn’t come down for more than ten days."

"I got it. Go and call Meng Liang. He will be the vanguard when we attack the city tomorrow."

"Commander, the one guarding the city is General Wang." Jingyun hesitated and said softly, "You and him..."

"On the battlefield, there is no friendship between master and disciple, no favors from the past." Jiang Zaichu gently wiped his sword ‘Li Kuan’ under the lamp light. A cold light filled his eyes and he said calmly, "The old general, like me, knows this clearly.” {‘Li Kuan’ vaguely means ‘Bestow Grace’}.

"But -" Jingyun lowered his head and said word by word, "Jingyun feels that the scheme that that girl proposed is… against the will of heaven."

"Is it against the way of heaven?" Jiang Zaichu stood up suddenly. Although the corners of his lips were pursed, there was no smile in his eyes. "When I, Jiang Zaichu, followed the way of heaven, what did God do to me?! What is this so-called way of heaven? Has it ever done anything for me?!"

Caught by the sudden burst of fire from the Commander, Jingyun took half a step back, bowed his head and knelt down, not daring to speak anymore.

The next day.

Jiang Zaichu took Meng Liang as the vanguard and launched a siege to the south gate of Changfeng City.

The tiger and leopard cavalry arrayed in front were only used for testing purposes. Huge boulders were dropped from the trebuchets and they hit the city wall like raindrops. After the loud bang bang bang, only light white marks were left on the blue-black stone wall, which could not shake the city at all. The soldiers carried the hundred-foot ladder and moved to the foot of the city against the hot oil and rolling stones from the top of the city walls.

Jiang Zaichu stood in the main tent, with his right hand on his sword, looking at the battle ahead.

Scouts flowed between the front line and the main tent like water, bringing back the latest battle reports.

"More than half of the Tiger calvary vanguards have suffered casualties. General Meng has sent infantry to replace them..." {Literally the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, sounded a bit cumbersome so I just called it Tiger Cavalry, I think they’re like special troops.}

"No one has boarded the city gate yet."

In the midst of the smoke, Jiang Zaichu stood quietly, with cold eyes under his slender eyebrows.

A guard under his command hesitated for a moment and said: "Commander, the past few hours have been extremely unfavorable for our side. Why don't we ask General Meng to postpone the attack on the city to avoid damaging morale in one battle."

Jiang Zaichu turned around and returned to his tent. Amidst the sounds of fighting, his voice clearly reached everyone's ears: "I have known for a long time how strong the defense of Changfeng City is. Several emperors of the Jin Dynasty melted tens of thousands of kilograms of gold collected from all over the world, as well as brass, and poured it on the city wall. It truly is an iron-clad wall. I don't expect Meng Liang to capture the city in the first battle."

The officers all looked at each other.

"After Shen-shi {3-6PM}, General Lian Xiu will lead the Guan Ning cavalry and take over from General Meng and continue the attack."

"Lian Xiu understands!"

Meng Liang, who was supervising the formation in the front, received the military order, cursed his mother fiercely, stood in front of the formation with a long sword, and shouted loudly: "Brothers! The Commander has given an order. The Tiger cavalry cannot attack for a long time, so the Guan Ning cavalry is required. They will  come and replace us!"

"We have been fighting desperately for three hours, and we are about to launch an attack on the wall, but this credit is going to be taken away by Lian Xiu! Do you accept it?!” 

“We don’t!”

"If you don't accept it, then come to hell with me! Set up the ladder before shen-shi! Then we’ll go back and celebrate our success!"

Meng Liang was the first to bear the brunt, snatching the longbow from the hands of the soldiers around him and fully opening it. The bow arrows were like shooting stars and three arrows were fired towards the top of the wall. The captain on the city wall was killed with one blow and fell straight down into the Tiger Cavalry, his brains splattered with blood.

The three armies were silent for a moment. Meng Liang wiped the blood and mud on his face and said with a ferocious expression: "Kill!"

With the power of these three arrows, the morale of the soldiers rose sharply and the soldiers followed their commander and rushed towards the city again.

There were many ladders and the soldiers were like ants, climbing up without fear of death, only to fall down one after another and their bodies were dashed to pieces. It was only that when the soldiers saw red, no one cared about life or death. They stepped on the corpses of their companions and still charged forward.

The sun moved down little by little.

The Tiger cavalry were so brave but in the end they were no match for the suffocating defenses of   Changfeng City. The ladder has been erected, and a corner of the south wall has been fought over and over again, but has never been captured.

"General Meng, the Guan Ning cavalry is here to take over!" Lian Xiu raised his command and urged his horse to Meng Liang's side.

Meng Liang's eyes were already red and he shouted hoarsely: "Get away! I haven't killed enough yet!"

"General, are you going to disobey an order?" Lian Xiu took a step forward. The soldiers around him were just waiting for his order to forcefully take away the other officer.

The guards around Meng Liang unsheathed their swords and faced them down. Meng Liang stared at the city that was as impenetrable as gold. He finally sighed and ordered: "Withdraw the troops! Give the position to the Guan Ning army!"

The Tiger Cavalry, which had been attacking for six hours, slowly retreated from the battlefield. Although they failed to defeat the enemy, they always maintained a high fighting spirit.

The defenders of the city took a breath. General Wang, who had been supervising the battle, nodded and sighed: "If we fought on the plains, this army would be unstoppable."

The Guan Ning cavalry, who took over, also watched their colleagues retreat in silence until commander Lian Xiu raised his sword and said angrily: "My calvary brothers, how did Tiger cavalry brothers fight?!"

A thunderous reply sounded on the battlefield: "Well!"

"We took advantage of the second round of charge, will we be inferior to them?!"

"No way--!"

"Okay! Then follow me and kill!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

*

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