Chapter 550

Da Wang raised a Jin Dynasty official military flag—was that enough to settle Bai Li Jun? Impossible. Even while sleeping, he had pre-recorded little bees thrown beneath the city walls to shout automatically.

The theme was that the Beijiang King's southward journey this time was to rescue the Taihe Emperor, uphold the state, and punish Bai Li Jun, this usurping rebel of the imperial clan.

You're not denying you killed Bai Li Jin, nor saying he abandoned the city and fled? Da Wang believed it. Now Da Wang believes Bai Li Jin is still alive, claiming Bai Li Jun this usurping rebel imprisoned the Taihe Emperor, and he's come to rescue his imperial brother!

Da Wang loves the people as his children, Da Wang elder brother friendly, younger brother respectful.

Da Wang represents justice, Da Wang upholds the Jin Dynasty's legitimacy, Da Wang exhausted his fortune marching south to support the Jin imperial house, Da Wang's intentions are painstaking indeed!

Anyway, if Bai Li Jun doesn't abdicate and hand over his good imperial brother the Taihe Emperor, this matter isn't over—Da Wang will never agree!

Ancestral rites and laws must not be disrupted—Ning De Emperor's passing aside, whether the throne passes to Bai Li Jin or not, it certainly won't go to Bai Li Jun. Bai Li Jing feels it's his duty to cleanse the Jin imperial house's door!

In short, Da Wang again pointed fingers from the moral high ground.

That annoying horn kept shouting below; those on the walls didn't know why the announcements sounded so close, and they dared not open the gates to go pick up this thing—unknown things demand caution above all.

Bai Li Jun was already shaken just listening to the content; Chen Zhong ordered arrows shot at it, but it still rang.

Feng Xiang revered the little bee as a divine artifact, wrapped it in a wooden cage for shock absorption, and hurled it over—opposing arrows used many of these little horns, yet they kept tirelessly turning the cart wheels without end.

At full daylight, cavalry stood in perfect array outside the city, yet showed no intent to attack; Chang'an grew increasingly unable to fathom the Beijiang's tactics.

Under Chen Zhong's indulgence, the news of several commanders dying before battle spread quickly. Clearly, Beijiang agents were inside the city—this show of force was no small matter, and Chang'an's civil and military officials had already begun to panic, while Da Wang was still catching up on sleep in the rear.

Perhaps he'd calculated before sleep when to attack Chang'an; in his dream he was also leading troops in battle, commanding the three thousand personal guards he'd once enfeoffed. These men staggered as they walked, unaccustomed to the land, their swords rusted iron sheets—when the armies clashed and he swung down, good heavens! The man was fine, but the blade bent… Da Wang was genuinely startled awake!

He sat up, wiped a nonexistent sweat from his forehead—oh, it was just a dream! And he had already acquired the heart of a city lord, not lazy.

At this moment, midsummer, Da Wang's royal tent was opened front and back for ventilation; as he sat up, the guards outside saw him.

"Your Highness, would you like some water?"

Da Wang had originally planned to mess with information and public opinion today, then rest, not rush the siege. Now frightened by the bent blade and the 'frail' soldiers, this guy sat there with lingering fear, unable to sleep—better to settle it quickly? Fear long nights bring many dreams; better to enter the city early and feast on the rich?

Da Wang recalled something and asked the languid Bai Ze beside him, "Is today auspicious for attacking the city?"

Bai Ze said nothing: "As long as strength is sufficient, every day is auspicious for attacking the city." Without strength, any day is wasted effort.

Da Wang: "Hah! Then I can rest easy. Originally this morning we said we wouldn't move today, but later I'll tell the Dongdu Hou—Bai Ze said today is auspicious for drawing the sword!"

Bai Ze: …Turns out I'm just the scapegoat.

Da Wang grinned contentedly, waved his hand: "Pass the order—strike camp, prepare to attack the city!"

"Yes!"

The Beijiang main camp's rear stirred again—no need to mention it—but Chang'an City was truly in chaos. Especially the old ministers of Chang'an who'd surrendered to Bai Li Jun, their hearts nearly leapt to their throats. Chu General, a martial officer, had his throat slit silently—what resistance did they have left? If the city fell, who knew whether Bai Li Jing would settle scores later? Especially those who'd followed his father and elder brother.

The newly appointed Jingzhao Yin thought just that—who knew his troublesome son would remind him, "……If the city doesn't fall, the Beijiang King still has this ability? He clearly has people inside the city. Father forgot the overnight slaughter of the Chang'an Cui clan?"

Jingzhao Yin: …Thank you, I remember now.

As for Bai Li Jun, he gained new insight into Da Wang's shamelessness—he didn't believe Bai Li Jing didn't want the Central Plains; who'd like barren desert and grasslands? It was merely that Bai Li Jing seized the initiative first, yet Bai Li Jing actually had the nerve to attack Chang'an under the state's banner! And under the pretense of rescuing Bai Li Jin—was this suddenly brotherly love? Does anyone believe that?!

Saying it like that, but he feared the common people might truly believe it!

What do the common people understand!

He didn't even dare imagine what the common people outside were thinking now, or which side they were on. He had no time to manage public opinion—he was busy replacing commanders before battle, busy planning retreat routes, all urgent matters.

A certain commandant on the opposing wall probably felt the atmosphere too agonizing—seeing the enemy delay without moving, his heart anxious, he sought his superior to complain, "……The rear tents aren't even taken down—doesn't look like they're about to act? We just don't dare let people go out and charge? Just watching them rest like this, rest well then attack the city?"

His superior said nothing, glanced at Chen Zhong in the distance. Chen Zhong seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, loudly declaring: "The Left Wise King of the Xiongnu, Lan He, clashed with Beijiang cavalry north of Shuofang—what was his fate, let me tell you? Who feels stronger than Xiongnu cavalry, come forward and challenge!"

The wall fell silent.

A death trap.

Chen Zhong again shouted: "This commander fears no death, and I believe you don't either! But as soldiers, we must die meaningfully—meaningless sacrifice pains this commander, and I must take responsibility for your lives! For the parents, wives, and children waiting for you to return home, I must take responsibility!"

After these fine words, the people of Xuanping Gate looked at the commander again and found him more approachable. Yes, this is Chang'an City—defending it still holds great advantage.

Chang'an City—over three hundred years without falling.

Finding a bit of peace, they didn't relax long, for they noticed the Beijiang main camp on the horizon seemed to…move.

The Beijiang swiftly struck camp—if all went well, they could still sleep half a night in Chang'an City tonight? Fifty thousand elite troops, nearly all from Youzhou, these cavalry from the extreme northern wilderness gazed upon Chang'an with endless longing. That was the thousand-year imperial capital—who knew how prosperous and lively it must be!

Whether for Da Wang's great cause, or military merit and stipend, or failing that, to broaden horizons and open eyes—regardless, these people felt inexplicable excitement, utterly unlike the spirit of Chang'an's conscripted soldiers. Da Wang keenly sensed this restless urge—attacking Chang'an seemed to need no mobilization at all?

Was this what visible morale looked like?

Da Wang donned his armor, mounted his horse, held the Taia in hand, never forgetting to sling the She Ri bow on his back—fully armed, he rode forward to the Eagle Riders' front.

Da Wang lifted his gaze to the distance—though Xuanping Gate wasn't far, yet……

"Officers and soldiers, why not run? Let Chang'an's garrison open their eyes, behold the grace of our Beijiang warhorses?" Da Wang's urge to frighten Chang'an's garrison could no longer be contained.

"Good! Chang'an's elders probably haven't seen so many sheep of the same color, let alone warhorses!" Wei Shen led the agreement, laughter erupting behind him.

"Depart!"

White Dragon Zero Frame activated—behind Da Wang stood the giant furry Bai Ze. With Da Wang as the boundary, to the left were the Black Armor Eagle-Bird Masked Eagle Riders, to the right the Silver Armor Fierce Beast Masked Snow Riders.

Chen Zhong appeared calm, but only he knew how tormented his heart was. Seeing the Beijiang cavalry move, he felt as if he'd finally awaited that long-delayed falling boot.

The Beijiang cavalry moved.

As if the earth began to groan, with the cavalry approaching, Chen Zhong felt faint tremors rise from his soles, climbing along the city wall's bricks and stones, spreading up every spine.

The earth shook, the mountains swayed—nothing more than this.