Chapter 763: with translation of chapter title

Xiao Ningchen rushed ahead to the contracted area behind the beach.

He abruptly raised his hand: "Stop!"

The entire army suddenly halted.

He lifted his head, eyes slightly narrowed, and looked closely.

Only saw in the sparsely scattered woods, a makeshift high platform loomed not far away, towering over ten zhang above the ground.

The top of the platform was also covered with branches and leaves for concealment and camouflage.

If not this close, it would be impossible to notice.

On the platform's top, shadows moved to and fro, and something glinted through the gaps in the foliage.

Xiao Ningxun walked to his side: "Second brother, there must be crossbowmen waiting for us up there."

Xiao Ningchen suddenly realized: "Exactly, only crossbowmen would need such a high vantage point!"

"Raise shields!" he shouted sternly.

The soldiers raised their iron shields in unison, the edges interlocking to form a moving iron wall, slowly advancing forward.

Sure enough, moments later, arrows poured down like a rainstorm, striking the shield faces with a clanging sound, sending up sparks.

Although the shield wall was tight, occasionally an arrow slipped through the gaps, striking a soldier's shoulder or thigh, eliciting muffled groans here and there.

The entire shield formation slowly and resolutely kept moving forward amid the arrow rain.

"Fire tubes!" Xiao Ningchen bellowed turning around, "Come to the front! Front rank, kneel down, shields for cover!"

The soldiers carrying the fire tubes moved from beneath the shield formation to the front, kneeling on one knee, setting up the mount, aiming the bronze nozzles at the platform.

At Xiao Ningchen's command: "Ignite!"

Five torches were lit simultaneously and brought to the bronze nozzles.

The soldiers pressed down hard on the handles, and five fierce jets of flame roared out of the bronze nozzles, all striking the platform.

That crude platform, made of locally sourced wood lashed together, caught fire instantly.

Flames licked up the framework, and in an instant the platform became a huge torch.

The crossbowmen on the platform were instantly engulfed in fire, screaming as they fell from the height, rolling uncontrollably on the ground.

Soon the platform began to tilt.

Burning timbers fell one after another, emitting creaking sounds of being overloaded.

Fujiwara Yoshinobu, in the moment the flames shot skyward, turned and leapt down from the platform's rear, landing steadily on the back of a swift horse.

He glanced back at the collapsing platform, firelight flickering in his pupils: "What is this? It can spray that far!"

He hesitated no longer, decisively ordering: "Retreat to the Royal City!"

Having said that, he clamped his legs to the horse, and the warhorse shot out like an arrow, galloping toward the Royal City.

"Boom!" a tremendous roar.

The platform collapsed behind him with a thunderous crash, sparks flying everywhere, dust and smoke rolling.

Xiao Ningchen brandished his sword and charged out of the still‑flames, instantly spotting Fujiwara Yoshinobu's back not far away.

He shouted: "Give chase!"

Everyone followed him in pursuit.

But after only a few steps, the sand beside them suddenly erupted in a wave of earth.

Countless ambushers, clad in makeshift camouflage stitched from leaves, burst up from the ground like ghosts sprouting from the sand, instantly blocking the way ahead.

They had no formation, mindlessly charging in.

All fought desperately, disregarding their own lives, using their bodies to block the soldiers' pursuit.

Xiao Ningchen cut down an ambusher with one blow, but as the man fell he still reached out and clung desperately to his leg.

Xiao Ningxun stepped forward and severed that man's arm with a single stroke, yet a sudden whoosh sounded behind him.

He turned to see an ambusher who had lost his long blade, now lunging at him with a dagger.

He had no time to raise his sword, and kicked the ambusher away.

Zhao Tieshan followed up with a fierce strike, felling the man to the ground.

Xiao Er and Zhang Wu'an attacked from both sides, their long blades whirling, continually felling the ambushers.

Xiao Ran and Chen Hao fought desperately to press forward, but could only be entangled by the fanatical, self‑destructive fighting style, unable to break free.

By the time the last ambusher finally fell, Fujiwara Yoshinobu's silhouette had long since vanished.

On the warship, Xiao Yuanhang lowered the thousand‑mile mirror, the corner of his mouth twitching: "The situation is settled; issue the order, all troops retreat!"

Lu Qi let out a long breath, finally finished.

Tuan Tuan wrapped his arms around his father's neck, happily bouncing in his embrace: "Father! We won!"

Xiao Yuanhang bowed his head and kissed his daughter's forehead: "Yes, we won."

The Goryeo civilians lying on the beach, hearing the surroundings gradually quiet, all lifted their heads and looked back.

Xiao Yuanhang looked to Wang Jingzhao: "Your Majesty, please let these civilians go ashore, the farther the better."

"I will use cannon fire to blast away those underwater obstacles, so the warships can come ashore."

"Alright."

Wang Jingzhao shouted at the civilians; this time they had no hesitation, turning and running toward the shore.

After they had run far enough, Xiao Yuanhang then gave the order to fire the cannons.

The cannon's roar lasted exactly the time it takes to burn an incense stick, aimed at the underwater sharpened bamboo rafts and wooden piles, firing in rotation.

After the cannon fire ceased, Zhao Tieshan personally led a dozen or so marines into the sea.

Moments later they surfaced, shouting: "All smashed to pieces! The big ships can now come ashore!"

Xiao Yuanhang gave a slight nod: "Issue the order, all warships to come ashore in turn."

Yes!

Warships one by one slowly sailed toward the shore, their gangplanks lowered piece by piece, and tens of thousands of soldiers gradually disembarked.

Wang Jingzhao took his sister's hand and walked up to the Goryeo commoners.

The commoners all knelt on the ground and paid homage to the new king.

Wang Jingzhao shouted loudly in the Goryeo tongue, "Everyone, rise! I have returned!"

An elderly man whose beard and hair were all white shakily stood up, his voice hoarse, "Your Majesty has returned! Goryeo is saved!"

Wang Jingzhao stepped before him and firmly grasped his hand, "You have suffered."

The old man's lips trembled, and tears streamed down the furrows of his face.

Wang Jingning, imitating his brother, also took a child's hand.

The commoners all burst into loud cries, their sobs merging into one.

Wang Cheng'an walked up to Xiao Yuanhang, bowed, and said, "Prince Ning, the old minister wishes to erect a temporary recruitment center here."

"Across Goryeo there are still many scattered troops; if we can gather them, they will surely lend a hand to your army."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded, "I, too, have this intention. If Your Majesty can rally the old troops, it will greatly benefit the campaign."

"Thank you, Prince."

He moved to Wang Jingzhao's side, whispered a few words to him, and Wang Jingzhao silently nodded.

Wang Cheng'an faced the commoners and loudly proclaimed the new king's decree:

Please spread quickly the news that Goryeo now has a new king and that the Fiery Nation's Heavenly Soldiers have returned to fight the Japanese.

All former troops and scattered soldiers shall come here for reorganization and acceptance.

Those with grain shall deliver grain, those with horses shall offer horses, those with swords shall take swords; the new king records everyone's merit.

The commoners left rejoicing.

Wang Jingzhao stepped forward, bowed to Xiao Yuanhang, and said, "I could return to my homeland thanks to your army's blood‑soaked struggle; please accept my bow."

Xiao Yuanhang returned the bow and said, "Your Majesty overstates it."

He looked at Zhao Tieshan: "Leave a ten‑thousand‑strong naval force to guard the fleet. You shall personally garrison it and must not falter."

Zhao Tieshan knelt on one knee, "I obey the command! I will not let the Japanese draw even a step closer!"

"Send someone to unload the warhorses."

Yes!

The warhorses, one by one, were carefully led down the gangplank.

They had been tossed on the sea for several days, and now, confined in the cramped holds, their limbs were stiff and spirits waned.

Some, upon disembarking, fell to their forelegs and knelt on the sand, struggling several times before standing again.

Xiao Ningxun looked at the warhorses and said, "Father, these horses need a few days of care before they can fight; perhaps we should set up camp here for now?"

"Very well," Xiao Yuanhang scanned the surroundings, "Send the order: set up camp and rest immediately."

Xiao Er carried Tuan Tuan to Red Cloud's side; Tuan Tuan gently stroked Red Cloud's mane, "Good girl, eat the grass well."

Soon, news that the new Goryeo king had returned and that the Fiery Nation's Heavenly Soldiers had arrived spread like wings, reaching every inch of Goryeo.

First, a few men who looked like hunters emerged from the mountains, rusty knives in hand, claiming to be scattered troops under the former king; hearing the new king was here, they came to join.

Then dozens of youths, bearing damaged military tokens, arrived at the recruitment center.

More and more people arrived; some in groups of two or three, others in squads of dozens.

The commoners hurried their ox‑carts, loading the last grain from their homes, saying they would rather starve themselves than let the Heavenly Soldiers go hungry while they fight the Japanese.

In just a few days, the recruitment center had gathered nearly five thousand scattered Goryeo soldiers, plus several thousand young and strong civilians who volunteered to follow the army.

Wang Cheng'an re‑formed them into new units, distributed weapons, and selected dozens of hunters and herbalists familiar with the terrain to form a scouting squad.

That morning, the great army broke camp.

The Fiery Nation's iron cavalry led, with Goryeo's righteous army behind, marching grandly toward the Royal City.