Chapter 406: Breaking the City

Tang Zizhan saw the situation, his heart tightened, and hurried forward a step to block Murong Suxue, Dankui Guidi, urgently saying, "Chief, absolutely not!"

He looked up at Murong Suxue, cold sweat still dripping down his forehead, and continued, "Going yourself into the chaos is far too dangerous! You are our backbone; if any mishap occurs, Fenglin City will truly be lost!"

"Indeed!"

Murong Ying also immediately stepped forward, reached out to support Murong Suxue's arm, echoed a line, then, seeing the resolute look in her mother's eyes, her delicate brows twisted in anxiety, she said, "Mother, you are a precious daughter; how can you risk your life?"

"A precious daughter?"

Murong Suxue let out a low laugh, her tone full of self‑mockery, "The capital has fallen......."

As she spoke, she raised her hand to brush away Murong Ying's hand, her gaze sweeping over the people in the hall; the original ferocity faded, leaving only a solemn weight as still as a cold pool.

The aura around her suddenly spread, and she said in a deep voice, "I must go to rally the troops, reorganize the army, and fight again!"

"If we truly fall into the Zhou Army's hands, what good outcome could there be?"

Murong Suxue knows better than anyone that, as a rebellious chief villain, if she falls into Chen Yan's hands, even a thousand cuts would be light.......

Therefore, we must rise to resist!

To seek a lifeline for ourselves and the Tongtian Society!

Murong Ying still wanted to argue, Tang Zizhan also propped himself up on his knee to stand, just about to say "Chief, think twice," Murong Suxue suddenly raised her hand and shouted, "Take my armor and sword!"

As the words fell, she clenched her fist, her knuckles turning white.

In her eyes lay the resolve of burning one's own boats.

Outside Fenglin City.

The night was as thick as ink, not even a sliver of moonlight.

Only where the city wall had collapsed, the rising dust was lit by torches into a dim yellow.

Broken rammed earth blocks continued to tumble down; the rebels on the city ramparts were now in chaotic turmoil, cries and screams mingling with the crisp clatter of weapons hitting the ground, drifting with the night wind.

"Such a solid wall, shattered in the blink of an eye?!"

Hua Jiao was so startled his mouth gaped; after a long moment he recovered, swallowed hard, and couldn't help but marvel inside.

He suddenly turned his head toward Chen Yan beside him—dark‑colored armor outlining his figure, tall and heroic, his young handsome face showing no hint of panic, only a composed steadiness of strategic planning.

Hua Jiao immediately clasped his fists, his voice full of reverence: "General, you truly are a deity!"

His eyes were filled with worship.

Such gazes also came from the other generals present, the foremost being Yuwen Ze.

Originally thought this would be a prolonged siege tug‑of‑war.....

But the rebels' greatest support vanished in an instant!

Chen Yan lightly squeezed the warhorse's flank, the black warhorse raised its front hoof and let out a long neigh.

He raised his hand to grasp the hilt of the sword at his waist, his dark cloak rustling in the night wind; a sharp "Clang" rang out, the Long Sword unsheathed, its blade reflecting the distant flames, emitting an imposing cold glint.

"Soldiers, the city has fallen!" He raised his arm and shouted loudly, his voice piercing the clamor, echoing across the Wilderness, "Follow me to slay the rebels, achieve glory!"

"Kill!"

The Long Sword pointed directly at the breach in Fenglin's southern city, the militia behind him instantly roared, their shouts shaking the night sky like thunder rolling over the earth.

Wei Zhou soldiers brandishing swords and spears, treading through the dust, surged toward the collapsed wall like a breached flood, unstoppable.

Toward the west city gate, Hezhou Governor Yang Langhui was reining his horse, standing before the formation, his gaze fixed on the flames and smoke from the southern city.

When he saw Chen Yan's massive army surging toward the breach like a tide, a fierce blaze ignited in his eyes, the veins on his hand gripping the sword hilt bulging.

"My Hezhou lads!"

"Having witnessed our homeland ravaged, besieged in the Baohan these days, I imagine you all have been holding your breath!"

Yang Langhui suddenly drew his Long Sword, raising the blade high above his head, his voice hoarse with excitement, "The instigators of all this are ahead, in Fenglin City!"

"Follow me, Governor, charge in, suppress the rebellion and earn merit!"

Before the words finished, his legs struck the horse's flank hard, the warhorse winced with a long neigh, carrying him like an arrow toward the west city gate.

Having lived so many years, being besieged in Baohan was the most humiliating time in Yang Langhui's life.

Finally a chance for revenge......

"Kill!"

Below the west city gate, ten thousand Hezhou soldiers could no longer hold back, each with blood‑red eyes, murderous glints, their hands gripping swords and spears turning bone‑white.

When their own Governor charged forward, the ranks erupted in angry roars, like a mountain flood long dammed suddenly gushing.....

Immediately behind, they stomped heavily toward the gate, shields smashing aside the makeshift barricades, Long Spears thrust straight at the advancing Liuren rebels.

Upon storming the city, they saw those Liuren rebels brandishing hoes and kitchen knives, the Hezhou soldiers' eyes reddening further; as blade flashes passed, rebels screamed and fell.

They cared nothing for the blunt weapons striking them, simply surged forward, hacking to death.

Where they went, the rebels wailed and fled, utterly unable to resist the frenzied onslaught.

These Hezhou soldiers, the fastest to charge and the fiercest to kill, each held a breath in their hearts......

After all, among those slaughtered and looted by the Tongtian Society and Tuyuhun were their own kin and old friends!

"The Court's heavenly soldiers are already charging in?!"

In the streets of the southern city, those Liuren rebels were huddled in the corners, trembling.

First came a continuous barrage of explosions, shaking them to the core, then the southern city's wall collapsed in a massive section like paper.

From the dust surged a dense crowd of silhouettes, the deafening "Kill" shouted with the wind into their ears, making their calves tremble.

Only fear remained in their hearts, clutching panic and helplessness.

No one expected the Court's great army would, with such overwhelming force, instantly breach the barrier they thought as solid as gold.

At the forefront, Yang Langhui reined his warhorse, raised his Long Sword, and shouted at the chaotic Liuren rebels, "Surrenderers will not be killed!"

Behind him, the Wei Zhou soldiers also shouted in unison, their voices shaking the streets, "Those who live, throw away weapons, clasp heads with both hands and squat on the ground!"

Yang Langhui's gaze burned like a torch, sweeping over the trembling Liuren, his Long Sword pointed at a man still clutching an axe, "Those who are determined to side with the rebel faction, stubbornly resist, shall be killed without pardon, their entire clan exterminated!"

"Don't kill me!"

"I surrender!"

The man trembled in fright, and with a "Clang" he tossed his hatchet, quickly covering his head and crouching on the ground.

"I am forced!"

"I never intended to oppose the Court!"

The others, seeing this, likewise followed suit, and in an instant, like a cascade of dominoes, the crisp sounds of weapons hitting the ground rose and fell.

After all, having witnessed the wall's explosion and the corpses strewn across the ground, they were already terrified to the bone…

Chen Yan led Yuwen Ze, Zhu Yi, and Hongye, urging their warhorses forward into the alleys; the iron hooves of the dark warhorse stepped over scattered weapons and halted before a Liuren rebel who was crouching with his head covered.

He lifted his hand to steady the saddle, the Long Sword angled toward the ground, its tip only a few inches from the soldier's occiput, and the cold blade aura made the opponent shiver.

"You, stand up!" Chen Yan's voice was calm yet carried an unyielding authority, without a trace of extra emotion.

The Liuren rebel froze in fear, slowly raising his head, his face smeared with tears and dust, his eyes filled with terror.

Then, trembling his lips, his hands still clasped behind his head, his strength to rise nearly gone, he said, "Don't kill me, I've already surrendered!"

As he spoke, a "Thud" sounded as he fell heavily to the ground, blood quickly staining his forehead.

From his higher position, Chen Yan looked down at the collapsed soldier, his face expressionless, sheathing the Long Sword, the blade lightly resting on the saddle, and asked in a deep voice, "Tell me, where is the rebel's main camp?"

When the words fell, his gaze darkened slightly; the Liuren soldier felt a chill rise from his feet and, trembling, pointed toward the north of the city, "At the government office over there!"

"The Heaven-Connecting Assembly Leader and the upper echelons are there!"

"Very well!" Chen Yan nodded with satisfaction, calling softly, "A Jian."

"Here," Yu Jian stepped forward immediately, replying.

A murderous glint flashed in Chen Yan's eyes, and he ordered, "You, together with Commander Hua, lead the Wei Province troops to eradicate the remaining rebels!"

"Those who refuse to surrender, kill them without hesitation!"

"Understood!" Yu Jian shouted, exchanging a glance with Hua Jiao, then turned his horse, brandishing his sword, shouting the Wei troops to charge into the deep alleys.

Chen Yan gripped the Long Sword tightly, the cold glint on the blade reflecting his fierce gaze; he turned his horse, the dark warhorse let out a long neigh, its front hooves digging the ground, and commanded, "The rest follow me to the Fenglin Government Office!"

At this moment, every second counted…

Chen could never allow them another chance to flee!

Tonight they must all be crushed, eradicating any future trouble!

Outside the government office, shouts of killing and clashing weapons rang like thunder, shaking the hall's beams and columns faintly.

Suddenly, with a "Clang", the hall doors were slammed open, and the blood‑soaked commander Feng Lingxu staggered in—

His armor riddled with gaps, his left arm bound with blood‑soaked cloth, his face splattered with dark‑red blood spots, even his hair clung to his forehead with sweat and blood.

Feng Lingxu could no longer stand, dropping to a single knee, his hoarse voice almost breaking, "Leader, it's bad!"

"Zhou Army is breaking in!"

He said, coughing twice, a strand of blood at the corner of his mouth, his eyes full of despair.

Murong Su Xue, clad in dark‑red armor, raised her sword high, swung her arm fiercely, her face resolute, and shouted loudly, "Fight the Zhou Army!"

"Better to die standing than to live cowardly as a captive!"

Before the words finished, she stepped onto the steps and burst through the hall doors, her scarlet cloak flapping wildly amid the clash.

Do not be fooled by her lofty words and fearless bravado; in truth she had no choice…

The Court's main army arrived with a speed that completely exceeded expectations.

It truly was a terrifying opponent, and we were defeated quickly and miserably!

We barely had time to react…

Behind her, Murong Ying, Tang Zizhan, and the remaining troops followed closely, raising swords and spears, roaring as they lunged at the surging Zhou Army.

"Ah!"

"Aaaah!"

On the open ground before the government office, wails rose and fell.

Although the legitimate rebel forces fought with fierce resolve, they could not withstand the Zhou Army's strong troops, powerful horses, and fierce assault.

Some even had no room to resist, clutching their wounds and emitting harrowing cries, falling to the ground one after another.

As the fighting waned, the militia soldiers, brandishing knives and spears, formed layered iron walls, encircling Murong Su Xue, Murong Ying and others at the center.

They were drenched in blood, armor shattered, their comrades few, forced to back each other, gripping weapons tightly, staring defiantly at the surrounding militia.

Chen Yan stood outside the circle, his dark armor speckled with blood, his gaze cold as he swept over the encirclement.

Gu Yuci stepped forward, raised a hand and pointed into the circle, solemnly reporting, "Grand General, the Heaven-Connecting Assembly rebel leader is inside!"

"Hoo~ Hoo~"

Murong Su Xue's scarlet cloak was torn by several slashes, soaked with dark‑red blood and dust, her disheveled hair stuck to her sweat‑damp forehead and cheeks, covering most of her face.

When she tilted her head slightly, the exposed brows and eyes, though stained with blood spots, still retained their former charm.

She was already exhausted, able to hold the sword shaft with one hand on the ground, supporting her wavering body; her chest rose and fell violently, heavy breaths clear amid the fading clash, and she asked:

"You are the Chen Yan who has wasted years of my heart's effort, sending it all down the drain, aren't you?"

Her gaze lingered on Chen Yan's young yet steady face for a moment; she twitched the corner of her mouth, sighing with a half‑smile, "Indeed, you're even younger than I imagined…"

Chen Yan stepped forward slowly, a mischievous smile curling his lips, his eyes inquisitive, and asked meaningfully, "Should I address you as the Heaven-Connecting Assembly Leader or as Former Yan's Princess Le Ping?"

"Murong Su Xue!"