Chapter 404: Shattering Chen Yan

"Retreat the whole army to defend Fenglin?"

Han Bingzhu muttered repeatedly, then lunged forward a step, Dankui Guidi, both fists clasped and raised above his head, his face showing only unmasked worry, his voice hoarse with urgency: "Lord, you must think twice!"

"If the whole army retreats to defend Fenglin, Chen Yan will definitely come to attack!"

Lifting the siege is no problem, avoiding being caught in the Court's pincer attack; it is a decisive and wise move…

But retreating to defend Fenglin City is nothing but drinking poison to quench thirst, sitting and waiting for death, right?

That place may have terrain to rely on, the city walls are sturdy, yet it becomes a passive target for attacks…

Could it be that after besieging, Chen Yan would still retreat his troops?

Indeed, there would be no room to maneuver at all…

"Indeed!"

Tang Zizhan also hurried forward a step, then Dankui Guidi, cold sweat on his forehead mixing with hot sweat streaming down: "We should split up, dispersing the main army into Hezhou…"

He steadied himself and said urgently: "Once the Tu Guyun reinforcements arrive, we will seek a decisive battle with the Zhou Army!"

In Tang Zizhan's view, the top priority is to preserve the living forces!

After all, they have no advantage in defending the city, nor any meaning…

What good is holding Fenglin then?

It would be better to wait for Tu Guyun to arrive, merge at one spot, and have the Court and Chen Yan fight a final decisive battle, settling the outcome…

Murong Su Xue slowly leaned down, looking from above at the two kneeling men, a Dark Hawk smile curling at the corner of her mouth, though the smile never reached her eyes, instead exuding a chilling coldness.

She extended her slender finger, lightly tapping the map on the desk, the sound drawn out and a bit playful: "Do you think there is such a possibility…"

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the two's anxious faces, asking word by word: "What I truly want to know is, will Chen Yan come to attack our Fenglin City?"

Murong Su Xue isn't afraid of Chen Yan's siege; she's only afraid he won't come…

Han Bingzhu suddenly looked up, dust still on his forehead, his eyes full of confusion and incomprehension, and couldn't help asking: "Lord, what do you mean?"

Beside him, Tang Zizhan was also stunned, his brows furrowing tighter, stammering: "Shuyi didn't understand…"

Murong Ying stood to the side, her delicate face equally blank with bewilderment, she hesitated a moment, then softly said: "The child also didn't understand…"

Murong Su Xue straightened up, her fingertips slowly tracing the characters 'Fenglin', the Dark Hawk smile at the corner of her mouth gradually taking on a tantalizing curve, even the fine lines at the corner of her eyes hiding calculation.

She didn't answer directly, but turned sideways, her gaze through the curtain slit toward the distant gray sky, her voice light and slow: "If we were to release the news of my presence in Fenglin, how would Chen Yan react?"

Feng Lingxu stepped forward, his complexion heavy like iron soaked in water, his lips under the twisted beard pressed into a taut line, almost blurted out: "He will definitely pour all his force into a siege, sparing no cost, to trap us completely!"

Such a perfect turtle‑in‑a‑well opportunity, especially with the Lord personally holding the defense…

If any Zhou Army commander were in his place, he would choose to eliminate future trouble!

We cannot let them escape again as they did in Qinzhou last time…

"Indeed!"

Murong Su Xue gave a slight nod, the cold light in her eyes suddenly flared, the smile at her mouth turning extremely sinister, the air around her seeming to freeze, murderous intent radiating: "So we only need to hold until Tu Guyun's main force arrives, then we can strike from inside and out…"

Speaking, she abruptly raised her hand, pressing hard on the Fenglin on the map, her knuckles whitening, her tone edged with near‑mad ferocity: "Shatter Chen Yan's invincible myth!"

Obviously, releasing her, the rebel leader of the Tongtian Society, the news of her presence in Fenglin City is to use herself as bait!

This move, though risky and crazy, has a high chance of success…

When Tu Guyun's main army arrives, they will strike from inside and out simultaneously; no matter how formidable Chen Yan is, no matter how flawless his strategy, he will still be doomed…

And holding Fenglin for these days can be said to be a piece of cake!

"No wonder Mother had previously stored all the provisions and secretly moved them to Fenglin!"

Murong Ying's eyes widened sharply, the bewilderment on her face vanishing instantly, replaced by an enlightened glow; she slapped her own forehead, admiration shining in her eyes: "So that's it!"

At that moment, Murong Ying finally understood the meaning behind her mother's earlier actions…

It turns out it had been planned all along…

Truly foresightful!

Feng Lingxu stepped forward sharply, a genuine sigh of admiration on his dark face, his rough hand giving a loud "thumbs up", his voice louder than usual: "Lord's great insight!"

Tang Zizhan quickly rose from the ground, straightened his collar, deeply clasped his fists to Murong Su Xue, bowing low, the cold sweat on his forehead still wet, his tone full of sincere admiration: "Shuyi is deeply impressed!"

Han Bingzhu also straightened up, his tense shoulders finally relaxing, worry replaced by vigor, stepping forward, both fists clasped, he said gravely: "This time we will crush the Zhou Army, wiping away past humiliation!"

Murong Su Xue slowly turned, her gaze piercing the curtain, staring straight toward the direction of Fuhan City.

The wind swept sand and dust beyond the curtain, fluttering her crimson skirt, yet she remained unmoved, fierce murderous intent swirling in her eyes.

But deep within that murderous intent lay an uncontainable anticipation—

Anticipating Chen Yan's timely fall into the trap, anticipating Tu Guyun's reinforcements arriving as promised, and even more looking forward to personally trampling that 'invincible' myth beneath our feet, watching the Zhou Army utterly annihilated outside Fenglin City…

The golden glow of the setting sun spilled over the top of Fuhan City.

The guards on the bastion rubbed their sore, swollen eyes, when suddenly someone pointed at the distant, smoke‑filled rebel camp, voice trembling with disbelief: "They're moving! They're moving!"

Everyone glanced together, seeing the long‑besieged rebels retreating step by step like receding tide, their flags chaotic yet orderly moving toward the northwest.

Someone couldn't help gripping his spear tighter, exclaiming in shock: "The rebels are retreating?"

"The rebels actually retreated!"

A ripple of whispered gossip rose on the ramparts, the tension that had been suppressed for so long suddenly easing.

Hezhou Governor Yang Langhui stood at the highest point of the arrow tower, his armor glinting coldly in the dusk.

He squinted, watching the rebels' retreat direction, a sharp glint flashing in his murky eyes, then slammed the arrow tower railing, his tone firm: "It must be the Duke of Wei's reinforcements arriving quickly!"

The rebels cannot afford to lose Fuhan; they would never withdraw without cause…

Then it can only be that Lord Chen Yan personally leads the Court's reinforcements, about to arrive!

Beside him, Hezhou Inspector Liu Zhuang clutched the bastion, trembling slightly with excitement, his beard quivering, the cloud of worry on his face cleared, leaving only uncontrollable elation.

He spun around sharply, repeatedly ordering the nearby staff officers, his voice hurried and slightly breathy: "Announce to the whole city, the Court's heavenly troops have arrived!"

He took two steps forward, gazing at the rebels' retreating backs, then emphasized: "It is the invincible Lord Chen Yan personally leading the heavenly troops, coming to rush aid to us!"

He said, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were filled with smiles; the anxiety of recent days finally turned into solid joy.

In despair, he finally welcomed hope…

The people of Bohu Han finally escaped the peril!

Two days later, at dawn.

On the official road outside the east gate of Bohu Han City, dust and smoke blotted the sun, and the clanging of iron armor sounded from afar.

Brightly armored garrison troops formed ranks on both sides of the road, their banners fluttering loudly, their momentum shaking the heavens.

"Greetings, General!"

"Greetings, General!"

In the main hall of the government office, Inspector Liu Zhuang and Governor Yang Langhui had already straightened their attire and waited; when they saw Chen Yan entering the hall in armor, the two immediately bowed, clasping fists at forehead level.

Chen Yan smiled calmly, raised his hand in a feigned gesture, and said in a steady, strong voice: "Inspector Liu, Governor Yang, no need for excessive courtesy!"

Liu and Yang froze, and instead of standing, both dropped to their knees, pounding their heads heavily on the ground.

Liu Zhuang, pressing his forehead against the cold ground, said gravely: "General Chen, please accept my bow!"

Seeing this, Yang Langhui did not hesitate; the iron plates of his armor struck the ground with a dull "clang", and he pressed his other hand to his chest armor, his tiger‑like eyes reddening: "I also bow to you!"

His face was full of solemnity.

Chen Yan was startled, clearly not expecting them to kneel and bow; a flash of surprise crossed his face, he twitched his mouth, then stepped forward two paces, reached out to support their arms, and said helplessly: "Hey, gentlemen, what are you doing?"

Liu Zhuang remained motionless, lowering his body even further until his forehead nearly touched the ground; his voice, more solemn than before, each word heavy with weight: "General, you are my benefactor!"

Inside him surged an uncontainable gratitude and respect.

Benefactor??? … Chen Yan was baffled, muttered to himself, then forced a wry smile: "This ceremony is too heavy…"

Even Chen himself couldn't understand; what on earth was happening?

"It's not heavy, not at all heavy…"

The two were helped to stand; dust fell from Yang Langhui's armor, but he didn't bother to brush it off, stepped forward half a pace, and said earnestly, with a hint of fear: "Both of us have heard; if it weren't for General you defending us before the Grand Preceptor and speaking so well…"

Speaking, he glanced at Liu Zhuang beside him, whose expression was equally grave, then turned to Chen Yan, his words dripping with gratitude: "The Grand Preceptor would likely dismiss both of us from our posts!"

Undoubtedly, it was this lord before them who saved their futures…

Otherwise, not only would they lose their offices, but their clans would also be held accountable!

This is quite a favor!

It's practically a rebirth of gratitude…

So that's how it is! … Chen Yan, watching the two who had mustered forces, suddenly understood, waved his hand and said with a smile: "It's merely a trivial effort!"

He paused, then continued: "If you gentlemen hadn't held Bohu Han City, no one's pleading would matter…"

Liu Zhuang stepped forward, clasped his fists again, full of gratitude and hope: "General, now that you have arrived, we have a chance to atone and earn merit!"

Yang Langhui immediately nodded heavily, the iron plates on his armor chimed softly with the motion, echoing: "Indeed!"

Only by staying by Lord Chen Yan, who has won countless battles, do they have a chance to convert merit into redemption…

"Governor Yang, how many Hezhou soldiers remain inside the city?"

Chen Yan nodded and got straight to the point: "I need an exact count!"

"Over 26,000!" Yang Langhui said without hesitation, almost blurted out.

He paused again, then asked in confusion: "General Chen, what are you planning…?"

Chen Yan invited the two to sit, smiled calmly, and relayed the intelligence gathered on the way here: "Gentlemen, you may not know, the rebel forces that besieged Bohu Han, after withdrawing, retreated to Fenglin…"

"What trick are the rebels up to now?" Liu Zhuang and Yang Langhui exchanged a glance, their brows slightly furrowed, and asked in doubt.

"They intend to lure me into an attack!"

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, a half‑smile, teasing: "Hold Fenglin and wait for Tuyu Hun to come to aid, then strike from inside and outside, completely wiping us out outside Fenglin City!"

"The rebels' intention is so vile?!"

Liu Zhuang was startled, his complexion turning ghost‑white in an instant, the earlier joy vanished, leaving only unmistakable panic.

He paused, then asked urgently, with a hint of worry: "General, how do you plan to respond?"

Chen Yan, far from looking serious, curled a mischievous smile and said teasingly: "Then we shall do as they wish!"