Chapter 746: There's still a sliver of hope!

Chen Wang lay on his horseback, the wind whistling past his ears, but his heart sank ever deeper.

We must get there before Li Shen and the others!

In the North City Main Camp I still have nearly fifteen thousand troops under my command, and the garrison commander Zhou Hao is a core subordinate I personally promoted.

As long as the North City Main Camp stands, and Xiao Yuanhang's army hasn't yet secured its footing, I, the king, still have a chance to turn defeat into victory!

"Quick!" he bellowed, clamping his legs to the horse and turning to roar at the deputy general and his personal guards behind him, "We must get there before Li Shen!"

Soon, the outline of the North City Main Camp loomed faintly ahead.

Chen Wang lifted his head, his whole body shuddering violently.

Outside the camp, masses of troops stood in neat ranks, a dark, pressing sea.

The soldiers' iron armor overlapped like scales, their sabers curved like moons—these were the White Cloth Luo's Western Regions iron cavalry.

The camp gates were shut tight, archers on the walls lined up in a row, arrows pouring down like rain.

The two armies clashed fiercely, battle cries shaking heaven and earth.

From time to time someone toppled from his horse, but the rear showed no disorder, immediately someone stepped in to fill the gap.

Chen Wang suddenly reined in his horse, his eyes blazing with sharp light.

"They're still fighting!" joy surged through him like a tide, "The North City Main Camp still stands! They haven't surrendered!"

He threw back his head and laughed wildly, the laughter of one who has escaped disaster: "Hahaha! Heaven will not destroy me, the king!"

"Li Shen is nothing but a spineless coward, afraid of death and clinging to life!"

The deputy general, too, was overcome with emotion, his voice trembling: "Your Highness! I said there are those loyal to Your Highness! These brothers here are still fighting to the death for Your Highness!"

"Good!" Chen Wang drew his waist sword, blade pointing toward the camp, "Follow me up! We'll hit the garrison inside from front and rear, slaughtering every Western Regions barbarian without leaving a single piece of armor!"

"Kill——!"

All shouted in unison, following Chen Wang as he spurred his horse forward like an arrow released from a bow, fiercely plunging into the rear of the White Cloth Luo army.

Chen Wang took the lead, sweeping his long sword sideways, using the horse's momentum to cleave a Western Regions cavalryman from his mount in one stroke.

He did not pause, hacking left and right, felling several in succession; those behind followed close, tearing a breach in the White Cloth Luo formation.

On the camp wall, garrison commander Zhou Hao, looking down from above, instantly recognized the dark battle robe and golden crown that only the Regent King could wear.

"Look! It's Your Highness!" he exclaimed joyfully, raising his arms and shouting, "Your Highness has arrived!"

"It really is Your Highness!"

"Your Highness has brought reinforcements!"

The defenders' spirits soared, battle cries suddenly rose, and their arrows flew even thicker.

Chen Wang surged left and right through the ranks, hearing the cheers from within the camp, his blood practically boiling.

There are still those willing to shed blood and fight desperately for me, the king!

There are still those willing to help me, the king, reclaim this realm!

He thrust his sword through a Western Regions cavalryman's chest and roared loudly, "I, the king, am here!"

"Lads, follow me, the king, to slaughter the bandits!"

In response came even fiercer roars from within the camp.

The White Cloth Luo leader sat astride his horse at the very front of the battle lines, turning his head to look behind.

He saw his own rear already thrown into chaos, a troop having emerged from nowhere, now frantically charging.

"Has Chen Wang come to throw away his life?"

He snorted, turned his head, raised an eyebrow, and swung his saber forward with force: "Perfect! This battle ended too quickly; I, the king, haven't had my fill yet!"

"Just now I let you escape; this time it won't be so easy! Once I, the king, take the camp, I'll turn back and settle the score with you!"

"Raise shields! Form ranks! Smash the gate down for me!"

"Yes!"

The soldiers lifted their shields, huddled beneath them, forming a solid wall, and charged toward the camp gate through a hail of arrows.

After a moment, Chen Wang, engrossed in bloody combat, suddenly heard shouts of killing erupt behind him.

He turned to look—oh no!

Zhang Wu'an and Li Shen, leading their troops, had already cut their way to close range.

Zhang Wu'an looked ahead—had the Western Regions forces gotten there before me?

Who was attacking them from behind, and where had they come from?

Never mind, the Western Regions troops are our own; if our own are being beaten, we must certainly help them!

Are they trying to sandwich the Western Regions troops like dumplings?

Fine! Then I'll add another layer—let's see who ends up wrapping whom!

"Brothers! A chance for merit has come! Follow me in——"

He let out a loud shout, swung his great knife, and plunged into the melee; together with the Western Regions cavalry ahead, he instead formed a pincer movement against Chen Wang.

Chen Wang's pressure suddenly surged.

Uh-oh! If Li Shen recognizes me, the king, isn't that tantamount to losing my life here?

They will certainly not let me, the king, go!

A sudden idea struck him; he glanced at his dark battle robe, tore it off, reached up, pulled off his golden crown, and flung it to the ground.

Now let's see if you can still recognize me.

Li Shen's spear flashed as he elongated his neck on horseback to gaze toward the camp.

All he saw was garrison commander Zhou Hao standing atop the camp, directing the battle.

"General Zhou!" Li Shen urged his horse forward as far as he could and shouted at the top of his lungs, "It's me! Li Shen!"

"Have your men cease fire first! I have something to say!"

"General Zhou! Zhou Hao!"

Zhou Hao vaguely heard someone calling his name and stretched his neck to look into the distance.

He heard Li Shen's voice, glanced at the people beside him, was momentarily stunned, then shouted angrily, "Li Shen? Why are you with the enemy army?"

"Did you surrender?" Zhou Hao glared, "His Majesty… "

"I indeed surrendered! General Zhou, listen to me," Li Shen interrupted him without hesitation, "His Majesty's army has already entered the city! Chen Wang and Prince Qing have also been subdued!"

"My brothers in the Western City Main Camp have already surrendered! His Majesty is merciful and has not harmed a single person!"

"Why must you still risk your life for Ni Ze, leading your own brothers to die in vain?"

General Zhou shivered at those words, his hand gripping the parapet trembling slightly.

Upon hearing, Zhang Wu'an immediately gathered his inner Qi, his voice booming like a bell, "Relay His Majesty's decree!"

"Bandit leaders Chen Sheng and Xiao Jichang have both been subdued! You all quickly lay down your weapons; those who surrender will not be punished, and their official ranks will not be stripped!"

The soldiers shouted in unison, "The bandit leaders are dead! Lay down your weapons! No punishment for those who surrender!"

The guards within the camp glanced at each other, the bows, Arrow, swords and spears in their hands involuntarily drooping, all turning to look toward Chen Wang's direction.

"His Majesty is dead?"

"No, wasn't the one just now calling out His Majesty?"

"Right, where is the one who was calling out?"

Chen Wang felt half of his blood turn cold.

He lowered his head and glanced at his battle robe and golden crown, already trampled to ruins.

He was speechless.

He snapped his head around, fire blazing in his eyes, staring intently at Li Shen.

You shameless scoundrel! The enemy shouting that I should be executed is one thing, but soldiers never tire of deceit.

On what grounds do you spew nonsense here!

His complexion turned ashen, his lips trembled, his jaw clenched with a grinding sound, wishing he could instantly rush forward and tear Li Shen limb from limb.

But all around him were soldiers locked in chaotic fighting; Zhang Wu'an and Bai Bu Luo's cavalry had already pinned his own troops firmly.

Three groups of men were tangled together, none could get out.

He could only grit his teeth and slash wildly at the enemies before him, believing that if he could break into the Main Camp, there was still a sliver of hope!

However, Zhou Hao on the camp wall frowned.