RPAGF Chapter 136 Breaking through the siege
Chapter 136 Breaking through the siege
Shen Yanchu, the Prince of Xiang of Cangling Kingdom and also the Grand General of the Crimson Feather Army, led his guards like a pack of fierce lions as they charged into the enemy ranks.
They were blinded by rage. The Jiuli Sword seemed to come alive in Shen Yanchu's hands; with each stroke, the lives of the Imperial Guards were reaped. Shen Yanchu was like a god of death descended upon the world; his figure weaved through the crowd, leaving a trail of blood wherever he went.
Shen Yanchu's body was covered in wounds, stained with blood, a shocking and gruesome sight. However, there was no fear in his eyes, only endless determination and resolve.
His guards followed closely behind him, fighting alongside him in bloody battles. They had only one belief in their hearts: to protect their general and the glory of the Cangling Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Lin Wei, a lieutenant general in the Imperial Guard of Yan Yue Kingdom, was leading his troops in a surprise attack on Shen Yanchu and his group's rear. Lin Wei was a meticulous and ruthless man; he had carefully planned this attack, dividing Shen Yanchu and his men into several groups and surrounding them.
Lin Wei stood on horseback outside the encirclement, his gaze fixed on Shen Yanchu. Shen Yanchu was covered in blood, exuding a fierce aura, and was seriously injured, but his indomitable spirit inspired awe.
Lin Wei's lips curled into a cold smile. He shouted, "Your Highness Prince Xiang of Cangling Kingdom, General Shen Yanchu of the Crimson Feather Army, how have you been? I am Lin Wei, a Lieutenant General of the Imperial Guard of Yan Yue Kingdom, ordered to arrest you. Lay down your weapons, and I will spare your lives. Those who resist will be killed without mercy!"
Upon hearing Lin Wei's shout, Shen Yanchu laughed loudly, his laughter filled with pride and defiance, as if declaring his resolve to the enemy. His sharp gaze swept across the scene, the fury in his eyes seeming to burn the enemy to ashes.
"Lin Wei, do you think I'm afraid of you? Even if I die in battle today, I will never surrender!" Shen Yanchu roared.
He gripped the Jiuli Sword tightly, the bloodstains on its blade gleaming eerily in the sunlight. Shen Yanchu charged into the crowd once more, his guards shouting and following him into battle. They knew this was a fight to the death; there was no turning back, only fighting with all their might.
Looking at Shen Yanchu's tenacious figure, Lin Wei couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration. However, as a general of Yan Yue Kingdom, he had a mission to fulfill and could not afford to be soft-hearted. He waved his hand, signaling the Imperial Guards to intensify their offensive.
The battle intensified, and Shen Yanchu and his guards struggled to hold out amidst the enemy's encirclement. They sustained numerous wounds, but they did not give up. Shen Yanchu held only one belief in his heart: to fight to the very end for the Cangling Kingdom and for his own glory.
Just then, a stray arrow suddenly shot towards Shen Yanchu. Sensing the danger, Shen Yanchu dodged to the side, but was still grazed on the shoulder by the arrow. His guards, seeing this, quickly surrounded him to protect him.
"General, be careful!" the guards shouted.
Shen Yanchu gritted his teeth and continued wielding the Jiuli Sword. He knew that he could not afford to relax for a moment, or they would be completely wiped out.
Lin Wei was overjoyed to see Shen Yanchu injured. He ordered the Imperial Guards to launch an even fiercer attack. The Imperial Guards surged forward like a tide, and Shen Yanchu and his guards gradually found themselves in dire straits.
But Shen Yanchu did not give up; his eyes remained filled with fighting spirit. He looked at his guards and shouted, "Brothers, even if we die in battle today, we cannot let the enemy look down on us. For the Cangling Kingdom, kill!"
The guards shouted in unison, "For the sake of Cangling Kingdom, kill!"
They charged at the enemy again, engaging in a final, desperate battle. In the heat of battle, Shen Yanchu seemed to forget his injuries; he had only one goal in mind: to break through the enemy's encirclement. He could not die at the hands of these lowly men.
However, the enemy's numbers were overwhelming, and their strength was waning. Just as they were about to despair, shouts of battle suddenly erupted in the distance. It turned out that Cui Yu'an was carrying out his plan to sabotage their rear supply lines.
Shen Yanchu was overjoyed to see Cui Yu'an. He led his guards in a fierce resistance, awaiting Cui Yu'an's arrival. Cui Yu'an, with his mere twenty-odd men, surged forward like a powerful torrent, quickly breaking through the Imperial Guards' encirclement. Seeing the situation was dire, Lin Wei immediately ordered a retreat.
Shen Yanchu's plan was to find an opportunity to behead their lieutenant general, but now, although they had repelled the enemy, they had also suffered heavy losses. He immediately ordered his troops to split into two groups and begin their withdrawal along the original route.
Standing on the battlefield, Shen Yanchu looked at the corpses and bloodstains scattered everywhere, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew that this war was only the beginning, and many more challenges awaited them. But he firmly believed that as long as they had courage and faith, they would surely be able to defeat all enemies and safeguard the peace and prosperity of their region.
"Retreat quickly. Xing Ce, you lead one team, and I'll lead another. But we must be careful to avoid enemy patrols," Shen Yanchu continued. "We can use the terrain for cover and minimize the risk of exposure."
His gaze swept over everyone. "Everyone must remain vigilant and be prepared to deal with any emergencies."
The men responded in unison, "Yes!"
Shen Yanchu took a deep breath. "Alright, let's get started!"
The group quickly split into two groups and began to evacuate according to Shen Yanchu's instructions. They carefully moved through the mountains and forests, avoiding enemy patrols.
Lin Wei, having rested and regrouped, continued the pursuit and requested reinforcements from the capital. Although their numbers were small, most were his elite troops. He knew he must not underestimate them; his earlier underestimation had led to a crushing defeat.
"Issue my order: spread out the battle lines and conduct a thorough search. Once encountered, kill anyone, regardless of who they are. These people are spies of the Cangling Kingdom; do not spare them. A reward of one hundred taels of gold will be given for capturing Shen Yanchu and his accomplices alive, along with a promotion of two ranks."
"Yes!" The soldiers immediately began their orderly search and tracking. This was the Emperor's order; they dared not disobey, and it offered the chance to earn merit and a reward. No matter how powerful Prince Xiang was, with so many of us, our chances were very high.
Since ancient times, wealth and honor have always been sought amidst danger. Lin Wei mounted his horse and led his men in pursuit of the fleeing group.
After an unknown amount of time, they finally arrived at a secluded valley. The mountains were high and the forests dense, rarely visited by people—a perfect hiding place. Li Changyu dismounted and, together with his third uncle, drove the carriage deep into the valley, finding a secluded spot to hide.
Everyone got off the vehicle, and Li Changyu began assigning tasks. He instructed the monks to search for water and food nearby, while he, along with his third uncle and several strong men, set up traps around the area as a precaution. The girls rested where they were, packing their belongings.
Night fell, and the valley fell silent. Li Changyu and the others sat around the campfire, vigilantly watching their surroundings. They knew that danger could strike at any moment, but as long as they stood together, they would surely overcome the difficulties.