Chapter 100: Enemy Assault

Zheng An was utterly stunned, "Your Highness wants me to compete against a woman?" Isn't that humiliating him?

Zhu Ti stood in the center, extending her greenish hand, pointing toward Zheng An, "Are you not daring? Or let me give you three moves." She had ample patience for the leeks, but this person wasn't a target she could cut down, not worthy of her good patience.

Zheng An's eyes were about to burst, "You dare humiliate me?"

Against a woman, winning would be inglorious, losing—how could he still get by in Youzhou?

Zhu Ti had accepted massive, boundless big data, mainly advanced data from later generations; she couldn't be bothered to analyze the narrow-mindedness of feudal officials. She walked straight up to Zheng An's seat, slipped her slender jade-like fingers onto his shoulder and dragged him out……

The hall suddenly fell silent.

"Go ahead. Or do you want to take a weapon?"

Zheng An was held there; those who wanted to speak up for him saw the Chancellor calmly squinting at his own desk, and everyone, sensing the situation, stayed silent.

Zheng An glanced at the Great King above; the Great King's face full of expectation, his eyes urging, "Come on, make a move!"

Zheng An had no moves left; he was truly stuck, with no choice. At this moment he deeply regretted his quick tongue—just that earlier action, this beautiful woman is definitely not the type who stays home to tend husband and children.

Zhu Ti disliked his hemming and hawing, not being decisive, and threw a straight punch at him; Zheng An had no choice but to act.

He finally went on the offensive; Zhu Ti dodged three times without retaliating. After the three concessive moves were used up and Zheng An attacked again, she didn't dodge, reached out and firmly grabbed his arm, swinging him down with a thud— the man, a head taller than her, was flung to the ground by her casual swing!

One move KO!

How can a woman have such great strength?!

The hall grew even quieter; no one knew what others were thinking, but Zhao Chuan and Zhang Tu simultaneously felt their backs tighten—danger!

What tremendous strength! Her face is too deceiving!

The Great King had already started clapping and cheering; now it was the Grand Tutor's turn to stare at the desk patterns—"You really don't give any face to your subordinates!"

As expected, Zheng An got up, walked to the Great King and knelt, asking to resign and go home to farm.

The Great King waved his hand indifferently, "It's a fine day, just chat casually, don't take it seriously; go back, practice well, then find Zhu Ti to spar…"

The Great King was extremely pleased with Zhu Ti's martial prowess, trying hard not to smile, advising the subordinate who couldn't step down—he truly is a great king.

Just as he was earnestly advising, suddenly a buzzing sound rang in his ears, different from the usual clear, cheerful notification after completing a task.

The Great King furtively pulled it out and glanced at it—just one glance—and he was startled by the red large letters flashing across the whole screen……

【Enemy Assault Warning! Enemy Assault Warning! Enemy Assault Warning! Please, my lord, strive to repel the enemies and protect the people! Once again, remind: my lord is already bound to the heart of the lord of Youzhou City; if the city falls, people perish.】

The Great King sprang to his feet; the first to notice the anomaly was Ling Yin, because the Great King's heartbeat and breathing were disrupted.

"What time is it now?"

Zhao Bao didn't understand the Great King's meaning, bowed and replied, "Your Highness, it's just past the you hour."

The Great King pinched his palm, striving to calm himself and think.

On New Year's Eve, after a year's busyness, the people were at their most idle; the brightly lit Vermilion Bird Avenue after nightfall was a good place for them to stroll. They'd happily go there even if they bought nothing, just to walk around, look at the lights, look at the houses, and feel happy.

"Then there must still be people outside on Vermilion Bird Avenue now? Zhao Chuan, convey the king's order: evacuate the civilians as fast as possible! Those near the Prince's Manor, send them into the battlements of Southern Splendor Gate; those near Youzhou City, order them to return to the city immediately, go home, shut and bar the doors and windows, and hide!"

Everyone in the room jumped, startled—what is this for?

Xue Xiang rose, "Your Highness, why is this……"

The Great King cut him off directly, "There are enemies moving south!"

He left his seat and asked Zhang Tu, "You're still sitting—how many people are at Eastern Splendor Gate and Western Splendor Gate tonight? Leave some archers to guard the manor walls; the rest go to Youzhou City to resist the enemy! Zhao Chuan is responsible for defending Youzhou City, Zhang Tu for the Prince's Manor!"

He was anxious and spinning around, completely inexperienced, yet nobody in the room moved!

The Great King kicked over the kneeling, weeping Zheng An begging for leave in the center of the hall, "Get lost and guard the city! If the city falls, you'll all die; repel the enemies, then you can come back and be sentimental—no rush!"

All the officials were dazed by his move—weren't they just drinking? They were all in the same hall, no one had come to report, how did the Great King know the Northern Barbarians were moving south?

The Chancellor wanted to ask, but seeing the Great King's expression didn't look fake, he became doubtful, "Your Highness… how do you know?"

"I just know it; if I say there's an enemy assault, there is. Move quickly! Keep dawdling and I won't keep good-for-nothings! Ling Yin!"

Ling Yin drew the sword he was holding and held it sideways, "Who dares defy the order!"

Zhang Tu and Zhao Bao rose and hurried out of the hall; then the whole hall sprang into motion, the Great King repeatedly shouting for Tong Chen to fetch his Sun-Shooting Bow.

The Chancellor and Grand Tutor exchanged a glance, filled with confusion and shock; if it's fake, accompanying the Great King on a toss would be nothing, just a drill; if it's real… time is indeed precious.

After the Great King calmed a bit, he issued orders one by one: "Everyone else stay in this hall; the walls of the Secluded Prefecture Prince's Manor are higher and safer. Zhao Bao, convey the king's order: all militia who participate in tonight's battle and show valor will be given official positions in the Personal Guard Battalion. Then go to the armory and bring out the sabers I prepared for the cavalry, give them to Zhao Chuan to distribute to the militia lacking weapons. This time we will surely repel the enemies at any cost and preserve Youzhou."

"Your Highness, won't you send someone to notify Upper Valley Pass?"

"……There's no time."

Zhao Bao ran off; the Great King suddenly thought of something, rose and went to the side chamber for changing clothes, leaving the civil officials staring at each other.

As soon as he entered the side chamber, he opened the full topographic map of Youzhou, examined the north of the Secluded Prefecture Prince's Manor, zoomed in and zoomed in, quickly spotting a conspicuous troop, because their numbers were not small.

Roughly estimated at one or two thousand, the Great King breathed a sigh of relief—not a large army. Moreover, there's still some distance from the Secluded Prefecture Prince's Manor; if everything goes smoothly, the civilians should have time to evacuate.

With two thousand, the numbers aren't far off from the Personal Guard Battalion's; even if the Personal Guard Army is inexperienced, victory isn't impossible.

We can't let the battle drag into Youzhou City, or Vermilion Bird Avenue will be destroyed.

He believed these people weren't aiming for the shaky old city of Youzhou; they were after Vermilion Bird Avenue and the Secluded Prefecture Prince's Manor.

When he came out again, the Bright Light Hall was already surrounded by two hundred personal guards; the Great King snapped, "What are you doing surrounding me? Follow me to guard the city!"

The Chancellor had already gone to help with arrangements; only the Grand Tutor remained guarding him, and upon hearing this he rushed over shouting, "Absolutely not!"

The Great King shook his head; Ling Yin separated the Grand Tutor from him, and the Great King led the two hundred personal guards of the Bright Light Hall straight to the stables.