Chapter 101: White Waste

Da Wang walked and thought, Wei Shen followed behind him, chattering nonstop.

Wei Shen saw through Da Wang's childish yet scheming mind, he proactively suggested Da Wang was still young and should stay in the prince's mansion, letting him lead people out to charge once and block the enemy's speed, giving time for the civilians outside the city to retreat.

Da Wang automatically filtered it out, he didn't want to let Shi Si's cousin go on an adventure, he wouldn't die from blade or spear wounds, but his cousin would.

But the situation has developed to this point, trying to shake off Wei Shen is impossible.

Da Wang took the Sun-Shooting Bow handed over by Tong Chen, "Notify Zhang Tu, cavalry with horses at Beihua Gate, gather, speed must be fast!"

These two hundred people by his side are almost elite, considered as the imperial guard, usually following him in and out, all have horses, and their horses are kept in the same front court stables as Da Wang's horse, not in the east or west barracks.

After mounting his horse and riding to the farthest Beihua Gate, his speed increased considerably, upon reaching Beihua Gate, Da Wang directly climbed onto the government wall to inspect the deployment.

After opening the full terrain map of Youzhou to check, the enemy has already crossed Zhi Yan Mountain and entered Youzhou territory.

On New Year's Eve, the people who had early finished their dinner, especially those living in the north of the city, many braved the severe cold, dragging their families to Zhuque Avenue to stroll.

There the lights were brilliant, the bustle extraordinary, moreover filled with the New Year's atmosphere. Their own shaky, near-collapsing shabby houses, they wouldn't even spare to light another lamp, in the pitch-black darkness where no lamp was lit, there was no festive cheer of the New Year.

So Da Wang's estimate was correct, Zhuque Avenue was packed with people as night fell.

Not a few small street vendors from inside the city pushed their stalls to set up in front of the closed shops on Zhuque Avenue, keeping a distance from shops that were open for business, they tried it out and no one drove them away, so the stall-setters became more and more numerous. They even saved on lighting, leaning against the buildings on the street was fine.

Zhuque Avenue already had a faint feeling of a bustling market square, the street had vendors' cries, children's noisy play, all of this was broken by

a squad of fast horses charging out of the Youwang府.

"The Northern Hu people have come southward, everyone go to the Youwang府 for refuge! Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Hurry to the Youwang府 for refuge!"

"The Nanhua Gate is open, seize the time!"

The street instantly fell into chaos, soldiers again sounded the gong to instruct them to put down what they were holding, preserving life is urgent.

Heading south, closer to the old city, the soldiers shouted for everyone to return to the city.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Return to the city and take cover, if there are able-bodied men at home they can go up the city walls to assist in defense!"

"Convey the order of the Youwang Prince, Youzhou Garrison reservists who show bravery will directly join the Youzhou Garrison, defend Youzhou, Da Wang will reward according to merit!"

As for this enemy attack, the people of Youzhou are actually not unfamiliar with it, after a moment of panic they followed instructions to take refuge, a large crowd surged into Nanhua Gate, while another group just entering the street turned back and ran into the city.

At this moment, Beihua Gate has already gathered about seven hundred or more cavalry, the rest went together with the infantry to Youzhou City.

Da Wang sat on the tall little date, not much shorter than other soldiers.

He raised the Sun-Shooting Bow, "The enemy troops will arrive soon, this is not a drill, it concerns the safety of this prince and every one of you. This prince has climbed onto the city wall to look, there are about two thousand or more, plus infantry our numbers are greater, as long as everyone gives it their all, we will surely win! Their target should be our prince's mansion and Zhuque Avenue, the cavalry will stand by at Beihua Gate, once they give up attacking the prince's mansion, we will go out to pursue and stall their steps, we absolutely cannot let them destroy Zhuque Avenue, otherwise the next danger will be Youzhou City. In this battle we must win! Do you have confidence?"

"Yes!"

"Good, having confidence is fine, this prince will share weal and woe with you, if we win this battle this prince will reward handsomely!" He handed the reins of the little date to a cavalryman, the meaning very clear, if they really go out to pursue, Da Wang himself will also go.

Wei Shen smacked his lips beside him, this little fatty grew up in the deep palace, how could he be so bold! He looked at Da Wang's eyes shining, this is another Wei Ke, grandfather seeing this would surely be relieved.

The city wall watchtower finally saw the enemy's traces, Da Wang tightly gripped the Sun-Shooting Bow and climbed back onto the city wall.

I really hope these people are obstinate and attack the Youwang府 a bit longer……

It's hard for Da Wang at this moment to still be thinking about his cousin, he turned his head to Ling Yin and said: "Today you spare one eye to watch Wei Shen, he is my maternal cousin." Absolutely nothing must happen to him in Youzhou, otherwise he would be too sorry to his maternal uncle and maternal grandfather.

This time the coming force is not the Xianbei great army, but also not some weakling, it is a tribe of the Liaodong Xianbei closest to Youzhou.

Youzhou that chicken rib, an imperial prince's son has come, suddenly they have many things they cannot attain, because the tribe that suffered bitterly through drought can no longer restrain their ambition to go south and plunder.

Qumu Ling, riding at the very front, squinted his eyes at the brilliantly lit Youwang府, indeed luxurious beyond compare, rarely seen in a lifetime. The Xianbei Dong's royal city and palace compared to the imperial prince's prince's mansion, simply shabby enough to make one… eyes red.

His close aide laughed loudly, "Truly like a heavenly palace! This night also don't know how much lamp oil will be spent. The Jin Dynasty emperor's turtle son also don't know how much money he brought from Chang'an!"

"No matter how much he brought, it's all ours now!"

"Brothers charge! Loot the Youwang府, this winter will be easy!"

Qumu Ling was not so optimistic, "This prince's mansion's wall is not lower than the city wall."

"What's to fear! Liang Jin is not here, which southerner doesn't fear my saber! Entering Youzhou City will definitely be easier than entering my newly moved-in neighbor's house! Youzhou's city-defending old fogeys are weaker than my great-grandfather!"

"Hahaha……"

Da Wang stood on the city wall without needing to deliberately avoid, standing straight he barely exposed his head. At this moment he just leaned against the wall looking at Youzhou's full terrain map.

He enlarged the map to the maximum, although he couldn't hear or touch it, but these people's relaxed state was clear at a glance.

Da Wang quickly locked onto the several leaders of this group, fine, arrogant, right, not taking this prince seriously, right, then let them get the Sun-Shooting Bow stained with blood, otherwise how could they deserve to be called divine weapons and sharp blades.

Wei Shen nudged Da Wang, "Hey, here they come, here they come, why are you still dazed!"

Zhang Tu took one look at this scale, strangely glanced at Da Wang, truly divine, really around two thousand people!

Da Wang immediately raised the Sun-Shooting Bow to start aiming, Wei Shen said speechlessly: "Don't be nervous, still not within bow and arrow range…!"

Before the words finished, the sound of piercing air already came from beside his ear, Da Wang's gaudy-feathered arrow also flew out one, in the line of sight the horseman running at the very front responded with a sound and fell one, falling off the horse.

"Heaven!" Wei Shen was stunned, this must be over three li?

Zhang Tu: ……

Da Wang had already raked over the map once, good, shot off target!

The biggest gap in the middle, none hit, only hit a little lackey beside!

Indeed no matter how divine the weapon, practice is still needed!

His aim is poor, wasted in vain!

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Regardless of accuracy or not, as long as it can hit people it's fine.

Seeing that formation immediately become chaotic, Da Wang reacted quickly and raised the Sun-Shooting Bow again.

Wei Shen pulled over one of his aides beside him, letting him carry Da Wang, while he handed arrows from the side— the wall was too high and Da Wang's height too rigid, he got hurt……

This was a one-sided strike against an unresisting enemy, thanks to the hit and damage buff from the Sun-Shooting Bow, Da Wang knocked a man off his horse with every arrow, though his aim was a bit off……

The enemy looked around confused, their formation slightly disordered by hidden troops, while morale rose high on the Youwang府 side.

Da Wang shot arrow after arrow, Qiu Mu Ling finally confirmed the ambush was far ahead; they quickly regrouped and charged forward— staying put meant no escape.

Wei Shen kept counting— in this moment, Da Wang's Sun-Shooting Bow had felled twelve men. Meanwhile, the little fatty's chubby arms looked perfectly normal, tsk tsk— Old Master would salivate knowing this! How could this little fatty not just take Changzhou?

When this enemy unit reached archery range, Zhang Tu was about to order a volley, but Da Wang stopped him.

"Wait! Let them come closer— you have some confidence in our wall and bronze gate, so give them some too. If they think Youwang府 is too tough to crack and turn southward, civilians won't know if evacuation's complete, and Youzhou won't know if it's prepared. Wait until they're close, then strike— this way, we can pursue them when they retreat."

Wei Shen gave Da Wang a thumbs-up: "Still, you're the sly one."

His aide: ……

When the enemy army drew near, the wall guards shouted first: "Which bandit dares cross the border! Report your name! This is the Jin Dynasty Youwang府— retreat at once!"

The enemy below had been provoked by Da Wang into fury, shouting and jostling below.

"I heard the master is a baby from the Jin Emperor's household— come out and let me see you, old man!"

"We've taken a liking to your manor— it's close enough. Send out that little prince to vacate for us, and we'll spare your lives!"

They never regarded this former slave, now frail neighbor, as worth noticing.

What difference does another prince make? Can his aides stop the iron cavalry of the steppes? One skilled archer can't save this city— this time they brought the tribe's finest two thousand warriors.

"This wall is higher than it looked from afar!"

"What's there to fear? A bunch of cowards can't hold out! Once we take this manor, this harsh winter will be easy!"

"So many lamps hung up— still quite beautiful, can't even count them, can't finish seeing them all one household at a time……

"You didn't see the main gate— it's on the south side, even more outrageous! Who knows what the southern palace looks like— these brats are so extravagant……

Qiu Mu Ling said nothing, then waved his hand directly: "Assault the city!"

"Not counting as a city? This wall is higher than the city wall!"

"They dare bring two thousand warriors to assault Youwang府 so recklessly— still relying on experience. Before, slave-capturing teams of a dozen came and went freely in Jin."

Da Wang watched amused, not for other reasons. The enemy archers began shooting, shields raised in front— looked quite professional. He laughed because they brought no ladders, yet dared to chop the bronze gate with knives to break in?

Even Meng Meng shouldn't interfere— they thought that heavy bronze gate was just Youzhou's dilapidated city gate, older than his father? Just smash it and it'd open?!

Fine, can't think of the gate.

Both sides began exchanging fire— Da Wang also raised his Sun-Shooting Bow.

This time he aimed at Qiu Mu Ling— though the man spoke not a word the whole time, Wei Shen could tell he was the one giving orders.

One arrow flew— Qiu Mu Ling's close aide collapsed with a cry, and Da Wang himself clicked his tongue.

Unacceptable— this accuracy really pissed him off.

Arrows never missed their mark, yet they always hit something to prove they were divine weapons.

Qiu Mu Ling's gaze shot over like an arrow— those eyes full of ferocity and ambition.

He saw Da Wang's head poking out between the battlements— Da Wang didn't dodge, he bared his teeth, grinned, and waved his chubby hand.

Wei Shen stepped forward to block him— this guy really knows how to provoke.

Qiu Mu Ling narrowed his eyes— that little brat is the Youwang, doesn't look simple.

Today's battle won't be easy to fight.

"Quick battle, quick decision! That little brat's on the wall— capture him alive and this trip won't be in vain."

"Charge! Capture the Youwang and make Jin pay grain as ransom!"

The wolf cavalry's archery on the steppes is indeed formidable— though the wall has natural advantage, some still got hit.

When soldiers fell beside him, the seven-year-old Da Wang's forced smile couldn't hold. Yes, this is war, not a drill on the training ground— fallen soldiers truly died, drills end and they don't get up again. His parents, wife, children can no longer wait for him……

Da Wang wanted to cry out loud in anguish, but he couldn't— this is the battlefield, he is Da Wang, cannot show weakness.

"Since you came, don't go back— today these two thousand will leave their lives here, not one less. Military Secretary? Record this for the Prince— five taels silver per enemy killed!" Bai Ge said rightly— conflict between nomadic and agrarian civilizations is unavoidable. Before he grows strong enough to strike the Xianbei court, they must know: Youzhou is no longer the old Youzhou— those who come must pay the price.

Since war demands death, he chooses to let the foreigners die.

Wei Shen gave a strange laugh: "Your Highness, bold! Brothers, though your kin may be behind you, you have your own lives and fortunes— if Youwang府 falls, we all die, fight on!" He'd long seen these Chang'an troops lacked the desperate resolve of the southwest border troops— just follow Da Wang's rear like those two hundred. These on the wall probably never saw real battle, yet he felt sympathy for his cousin— this emperor threw his son into wolf-infested Youzhou, didn't even give reliable troops.

He didn't know this was already Da Wang's hard work over half a year, after several rounds of elimination— what remained was worse than words could say.

Good soldiers aren't made overnight— just like that precious blade, not forged in a day.

While changing arrows, Da Wang comforted the soldiers beside him: "Don't panic, I've never experienced war either— first opponent was the steppe wolves. If we wipe them out today, we'll have experience thereafter!"

Qiu Mu Ling felt this wouldn't do— people kept falling, they reached the gate but a few weren't even hurt before being shot through— he never imagined this manor would be so tough to crack.

A close aide escaped behind his shield: "No way— that gate looks like iron! Need to ram it with wooden stakes!" And climbing the wall got even harder— they brought no ladders at all.

This wall is far higher than imagined— scouts only said "high," no one thought a manor's wall would be built like this.

"Retreat! Detour via the southern main street!" Qiu Mu Ling decisively gave up the frontal assault.

Who knows where this little brat got tonight's intel— good surprise plan just went bankrupt, today's been unusually rough.

Letting him just withdraw like this is impossible— returning empty-handed after all these fallen brothers? No way to face them.