IDWBE -Chapter 375 Merit

Originally, fighting outside the city had already made them find the Sanhe soldiers’ combat strength unbelievable. Unexpectedly, when it came to storming the city, the Sanhe troops were even more swift and decisive!

“I must be old.”

Yuan Qing suddenly could not help but sigh.

He had guarded the frontier for twenty years and fought countless battles, big and small, against the Wadan people. He knew them extremely well. The Wadan were no rabble that could be defeated easily!

Every battle he had fought against them had been bitter and hard.

Yet the Sanhe army’s so-called saturation assault had pushed straight into the city, leaving the Wadan with no strength to fight back. It made him feel that everything he had done over the past twenty years was a joke.

He had fought alongside Shen Chu until now, always thinking himself formidable, while the other side had been hiding their true strength all along!

“General Yuan!”

Shen Zhanao raised the hooked spear in his hand and said, “The fighting has started at the North Gate. We might as well go and add to the momentum.”

Looking at the fearless Sanhe soldiers, he no longer harbored any hope of personally killing enemies and claiming glory.

He could only hope to bolster the Sanhe army’s prestige a little. Later, when people asked where he had been during the fall of Liangmatai, he could shamelessly reply that he had charged into the city at the forefront, driving the Wadan into a corner with no way to heaven or earth.

With the help of the northwest wind, the fire inside the city grew even fiercer, showing no sign of stopping.

Many were cursing Mo Shun for using too much gunpowder. Not only had the houses near the South Gate been set ablaze, but many of the Wadan’s cattle and sheep had been burned to death as well.

“Who knows? After all this, it might even be a losing deal. Damn it, what kind of mess is this?”

Kang Bao cursed at Huang Daoji. “Let’s hurry and leave. Don’t end up getting nothing and burning ourselves to death instead.”

“Run my foot! This is the greatest stronghold north of the frontier. Even if it can’t compare to Ankang City or Jinling City, it’s still a major city. It would be a pity to let it burn down.”

Huang Daoji said irritably, “Arrange for the garrison troops to tear down the central streets. If the fire spreads across the whole city and burns down the treasury, that would be a real loss.”

As he spoke, he saw Pang Geng riding over.

“Lord Pang!”

“So it’s Lord Huang.”

Pang Geng had originally been the Commander-in-Chief of Wuzhou; now he served as the Grain Transport Commissioner of the northern frontier.

Although the post was not high in rank, like a transport commissioner, it was lucrative no matter where it was placed.

Especially now, with Great Liang and the northern frontier locked in fierce war, countless loads of grain passed through his hands daily.

Many people would fight tooth and nail for such a position.

But only he knew the bitterness within.

Faced with piles of silver, he didn’t dare touch a single coin.

Placing a surrendered general like him in such a position was practically tempting him to make a mistake!

As a former surrendering general, who knew how many pairs of eyes were watching him in secret?

If he ever lost his head and took money he shouldn’t, he might lose that head altogether.

No amount of silver was more important than his life.

He was very clear about that.

So he could see it but not eat it, and that tormented him every day.

Besides, Jiangnan had always been prosperous. As Commander-in-Chief there, he had lived like a king, enjoying the finest food and drink.

Now in this bitterly cold northern land, every day felt like a year—worse than death.

Unfortunately, he didn’t dare utter a single complaint. He could only obediently yield his former post to Tao Yingyi.

What puzzled him was that Tao Yingyi hadn’t even kept the position, casually passing it to an unknown He Shundi while eagerly coming north himself.

The thought still made Pang Geng choke with resentment.

If you didn’t want the post, you should have said so earlier!

Why make me suffer like this!

Worst of all, though he hated Tao Yingyi to the bone, he still had to smile whenever they met, hoping Tao might one day speak well of him before General He and General Shen and have him transferred back to Jiangnan.

Even if it were only as a minor gate official, he would accept it.

Anything was better than continuing to suffer here.

Thus he lived every day cautiously.

Before dawn today, the horns had suddenly sounded.

He had seen the Sanhe army bustling about the previous night but hadn’t expected them to attack the city today—under cover of darkness!

With both soldiers and civilian laborers mobilized, he, as Grain Transport Commissioner and a military man himself, could hardly stay in his tent.

At the very least, he had to put on a show.

As for whether the Sanhe army could take the city, he had no worries. As former Commander-in-Chief of Wuzhou, he had personally witnessed how the Sanhe soldiers had scaled the walls of Jinling.

As Shen Junru had once said, the Sanhe soldiers were like monkeys.

As for him? A rat.

But being timid wasn’t his fault!

Blame it on how formidable the Sanhe troops were.

He had elderly parents above and children below. If he lost his life, what would happen to them?

By the time he finished dressing and left his tent, Liangmatai’s gates had already been breached.

In a panic, he gathered a few dozen men and hurried into the city.

Inside, he saw a sea of flames and corpses everywhere. Like a headless fly, he didn’t even know where to go.

Now that he heard Huang Daoji’s voice, he was naturally delighted.

When merits were tallied later, at least there would be a witness.

He had entered the city too! It wasn’t that he hadn’t fought bravely—the enemy had simply fled too quickly!

“Lord Pang,” Huang Daoji said with a smile, “I won’t waste words. You see the fire. Let’s gather the garrison troops from Jingzhou, Yuezhou, Wuzhou and elsewhere and work together to prevent the fire from spreading.”

These garrison soldiers hadn’t needed to enter the city, yet they had all rushed in and now couldn’t be found.

“Rest assured, Lord Huang. Leave it to me.”

Though Huang Daoji was only a minor official, Pang Geng dared not slight him. He was favored by the prince and close with the Sanhe generals.

“I’ll go at once!”

He led his men through the city, intercepting any garrison troops wandering like headless flies.

When full daylight arrived, the flames gradually died down.

The sounds of fighting ceased completely, leaving only the cries of cattle and sheep.

“They ran?”

Outside the North Gate, Shen Chu, covered in blood, stared at Ye Qiu in disbelief.

“Young masters are peerless in martial arts. How could you not keep a mere Bodu?”

He couldn’t understand how two Grandmasters had failed to detain Bodu—a mere ninth-rank martial artist, not even at his peak—allowing him to flee with four or five thousand cavalry.

“Are you questioning me?” Ye Qiu said coldly.

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Shen Chu met his gaze calmly. “I simply don’t understand. With your abilities, there’s no reason you couldn’t keep Bodu. Once he’s escaped, capturing him again will be difficult.”

The Blind Man smiled. “General He’s orders were to protect you officers, not to assassinate Bodu or Xuliehu.”

“If we had left just now, your heads—and Bao Kui’s—might no longer be on your shoulders.”

“Ali came?”

Bao Kui was startled.

Ye Qiu sneered, “Does it take a Grandmaster to take your heads? Don’t you know how useless you are?”

Bao Kui laughed awkwardly.

Crude words, but true.

In the chaos of the night, neither he nor Shen Chu could have withstood a few ninth-rank assassins.

“Thank you, both of you.”

Shen Chu bowed deeply.

Ye Qiu said nothing and walked away. The Blind Man smiled, returned the salute, and followed.

Only after they were far off did Tao Yingyi ask, “General, over twenty thousand enemies slain, over twenty thousand captured. How shall we deal with the captives?”

Shen Chu said darkly, “Follow the old rules. From now on, handle them accordingly. No need to ask me again.”

“General, that’s twenty thousand people! Many were coerced by the Wadan—subjects of Great Liang!”

Bao Kui was alarmed.

Since entering the northern frontier, they had at most buried alive a thousand or so.

But now twenty thousand at once? He dared not imagine the reaction at court.

And once they began slaughtering captives, the Wadan would never surrender again—they would resist to the bitter end.

The Sanhe army might suffer greater casualties.

“Kill them!”

Shen Chu did not hesitate. “From the day they acknowledged thieves as their father, they ceased to be Liang subjects.”

“Yes!”

Tao Yingyi agreed readily, nearly jumping with excitement.

Liangmatai had fallen. Fifteen li ahead lay Xuliehu’s main camp.

The sun rose.

Lin Yi, wrapped in a padded coat, squatted beside a brazier, burying a sweet potato in the coals with a stick.

Jiao Zhong entered. “Your Highness, Prince Dai has arrived—with Shan Ruyi.”

“Shan Ruyi?”

Lin Yi was surprised. “Why bring that woman?”

“Prince Dai did not say.”

“Let him in.”

Soon Prince Dai and Shan Ruyi entered.

“This subject greets the Regent Prince.”

“This humble woman greets the Regent Prince.”

“Rise. Sit. Tea.”

Lin Yi did not even lift his head.

“Your Highness is in good spirits,” Prince Dai said with a smile.

“Nothing else to do—might as well roast sweet potatoes.”

Lin Yi looked up and saw Shan Ruyi’s alluring eyes.

“Miss Shan remains as beautiful as ever.”

“You flatter me, Your Highness.”

“No flattery. I speak the truth.”

The more he looked, the more delighted—and tempted—he felt.

Why bring such a beauty before him to tease him? To show off?

He cast Prince Dai a resentful glance.

Prince Dai hurriedly said, “I heard General Shen has taken Liangmatai. I have yet to congratulate Your Highness.”

“It was expected. No need for fuss,” Lin Yi replied lightly. “Best to finish before winter. Once snow blocks the roads, grain won’t get through. Nearly two hundred thousand men—if they don’t freeze, they’ll starve.”

“Your Highness plans brilliantly. I admire you deeply!”

Prince Dai smiled. “You labor day and night. I cannot share your burdens and feel ashamed. Miss Shan is a master of music. I thought that when Your Highness is weary, a hall filled with silk and bamboo might ease your fatigue.”

Lin Yi stared for a long moment before understanding.

“Royal Brother is truly thoughtful!”

For the first time in his life, someone was sending him a woman!

He almost thought he had misheard.

“It is merely a token of my sincerity. I hope Your Highness will accept.”

“Well… I can hardly refuse such sincerity.”

Lin Yi was delighted.

Prince Dai, seeing Lin Yi’s gaze no longer on him, took his leave.

“See Prince Dai out,” Lin Yi ordered with a smile.

After sipping tea, he said, “It’s cold; the tea cools quickly. Bring Miss Shan a fresh hot cup.”

“Yes.”

Mingyue entered with a tray. As she set down the cup before Shan Ruyi, she suddenly struck both her shoulders.

Shan Ruyi stared at her in shock.

She hadn’t even reacted before her acupoints were sealed.

Mingyue smiled. “Miss Shan is skilled in martial arts. I was a bit heavy-handed. Our teacups are delicate—wouldn’t want you breaking them.”

“Conserve your strength. The energy I’ve sent in is different. The more you struggle, the worse it gets. You might even lose your cultivation.”

“Those are grave words,” Shan Ruyi replied coldly. “I’ve walked the jianghu for years. I’ve never heard nor seen such a thing.”

“You may try,” Mingyue smiled.

Shan Ruyi forced her circulation despite feeling no inner energy. Suddenly blood surged to her throat and trickled from her lips.

She stared at Mingyue in disbelief.

“Drink your tea slowly.”

Mingyue returned to Lin Yi’s side.

Even ninth-rank experts like Yu Xiaoshi and A-Dai couldn’t free themselves once struck—how could a mere fifth-rank martial artist?

“Forgive the spectacle,” Lin Yi said, pretending not to see the blood. “Mingyue likes jokes. You’ll get used to it.”

He loved beauty—but he valued his life more.

He had no desire to die beneath a peony.

“You are too kind, Your Highness.”

Shan Ruyi wiped the blood from her lips. A flicker of hatred passed across her face.

“Mingyue.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Miss Shan must be tired. Take her to rest.”

“Yes.”

Mingyue smiled. “Miss Shan, this way please.”

“This humble woman takes her leave.”

Shan Ruyi cast Lin Yi a resentful glance before following Mingyue out.