Chapter 665: But I, Wang Xiong, won

The dawn has not yet fully broken free from the clutch of night fog.

Pale cyan light spreads like a thin veil over Gancao City's battered yet newly repaired walls.

The walls were only recently renovated; the breach the Qi army had made has been filled with freshly fired bricks.

Wet white lime still clings in the mortar joints, and a half‑person‑high low wall has been added on the outside, its parapets densely studded with sharpened bamboo spikes whose tips glint with a cold light.

On the ramparts, a winch, a catapult, and a bolt‑crossbow line up in a row; the winch's rope, soaked in tung oil, shines a deep brown.

Morning light outlines the catapult's wooden frame with a coarse silhouette, while the bolt‑crossbow's bolts sit on the string like Long Spears, their tips wet with dew and scattering faint cold glints.

Between the bastions, armored soldiers stand solemnly on guard.

The black lamellar armor glints a somber iron hue in the dim light; the clack of armor plates striking each other mingles with the faint distant horse hooves.

A soldier named Chen Wu leans on a parapet, his gaze crossing the Outside City's wasteland toward the dust‑laden horizon.

There, a mass of dark silhouettes slowly gathers; flags rustle in the morning wind, and the large "Qi" banner can be seen fluttering ahead of the ranks.

The hooves kick up yellow sand that blots out the sky, tinting half the heavens a dusky yellow.

Chen Wu's brows involuntarily knit; his right hand instinctively grips the Horizontal Blade at his waist, the rope‑wrapped hilt glistening with sweat.

They pause in silence, eyes withdrawing from the Qi formation, then look at comrade Zhao Liu, who is polishing the bolt‑crossbow, and say gravely, "Observing the Qi troops outside the city, they seem poised for a major move!"

"Look how orderly their ranks are; they've even brought out siege engines again, unlike the probing attacks of a few days ago. They're probably gearing up for a real assault!"

Zhao Liu hears this, halts his task, hums lightly, spits into his palm, rubs his hands and says, "Not scared of a damn thing!"

"How many times have these Qi dogs come? Haven't they always been driven back featherless?"

"At worst, soldiers block, water covers!"

"Our catapults on the wall aren't harmless; last time they smashed three of their siege towers. I doubt they'll dare charge forward again!"

Behind the two, the young soldier Li Shun quickly agrees, his face bristling with youthful vigor; he pats his chest armor and declares loudly, "Exactly! We've repelled the Qi army countless times!"

A slightly older veteran, Zhang Gui, hears this, raises his hand and swiftly points to the western side of the rampart, where a twenty‑something young commander stands.

The man wears armor, a Long Sword at his waist, his handsome face exuding composure; it is the Xiazhou Marshal Wang Xiong, who has come to inspect.

Zhang Gui lowers his voice, his tone a bit dismissive: "Moreover, Marshal Wang is still standing on the rampart! That shows these are minor issues…"

"Think about it, Marshal Wang is the heir's legitimate eldest son, a golden‑branch jade‑leaf figure; if Gancao City truly became untenable, he'd flee faster than anyone!"

"He's still standing there steadily, proving our city is as solid as a golden broth!"

With those words, the surrounding soldiers nod in agreement and begin low murmurs.

"Brother Zhang makes sense; Marshal Wang surely knows what's up!"

"The officials from Chang'an are meticulous; they won't act without certainty!"

The chatter is low but carries conviction; the tension that had risen from the Qi gathering seems to have eased considerably.

Wang Xiong, standing at the center of the discussion, pays it no mind.

His gaze calmly watches the Qi formation outside the city swelling, his fingers absent‑mindedly tracing the hilt of his sword.

Two men stand beside him; on his left is Gancao City's defending commander Huang Shizhang, towering, his armor bearing several sword and blade scars—trophies from past sieges.

On his right is his deputy Hong Xi, a sharp‑featured officer with keen eyes, closely monitoring the Qi movements.

The morning wind brushes Wang Xiong's robe, rustling softly.

He glances at Huang Shizhang, his voice clear and steady, unflustered, and orders methodically, "General Huang, go issue a city‑wide alert!"

"All troops don armor and mount the walls immediately, each to his duty; no slackening allowed!"

"All able‑bodied men in the city, gather at the foot of the walls on standby, ready to reinforce the garrison at any moment!"

"Furthermore, mobilize the city's women and children to the armory to transport defensive gear—arrows, rolling stones, Fuel—ensuring ample supply on the walls without error!"

Huang Shizhang hears this, immediately clasps his fists, bows, and replies loudly, "As you command! Subordinate General will attend to it at once!"

Having spoken, he turns and strides swiftly toward a messenger on the rampart, issuing the order in a booming voice.

Soon, horn blasts echo through the city—long and urgent—piercing the morning mist and reaching every corner of Gancao City.

Hong Xi glances at the Qi troops gathering below the city, seeing their formation nearly complete—a 15,000‑strong force resembling a black dragon stretching for miles.

Siege towers, ladders and other engines line the front, their momentum fierce.

He steps forward quickly, approaches Wang Xiong, lowers his voice, and says gravely, "Marshal, Shuyi observes that the Qi's display differs greatly from before."

"This time their troops are not only orderly but also fully equipped; looking at that formation, they seem intent on a single, concentrated thrust to swallow us whole!"

"Gao Xiaoyu is mustering all his strength, aiming to seize Gancao City and open a passage to the Northern Border!"

Wang Xiong's mouth curls into a cold smile, he snorts, his eyes holding a half‑amused glint as he fixes his gaze on the 'Gao' banner before the Qi ranks; his voice low yet firm, "That still depends on Gao Xiaoyu—does his bite bite that hard?"

He pauses, taps the parapet lightly with his finger, and says confidently, "I'm not so easy to swallow!"

Hong Xi watches Wang Xiong's profile, his inner worry surging like tide, the previously suppressed unease now fully surfacing.

He furrows his brows into a deep V, the fine lines at his eyes deepening with tension; his voice, barely concealed urgency, drops further, "Marshal, Subordinate General does not doubt your plan, but… the reinforcements from Tongwan City have not arrived; they may never…"

Before the words "won't come" could be spoken, Wang Xiong abruptly cuts him off.

Wang Xiong whirls around, eyes blazing, his interruption crisp and decisive, "Go tell the city's troops and civilians that Court reinforcements are en route and will arrive soon!"

As soon as he finishes, he pauses briefly, then raises his voice, proclaiming loudly, his words cutting through the rampart's clamor and reaching all directions, "Soldiers and elders of the city! As long as we hold Gancao City and repel the Qi outside, the Court will richly reward the meritorious!"

"A bounty of a thousand taels, promotion in rank, never a broken promise!"

Sunlight pours over his armor, flashing a dazzling glare; his voice remains steady and powerful, exuding undeniable authority.

It instantly steadies the soldiers on the rampart who had been slightly stirred by Hong Xi's words.

Knowing the full situation, Hong Xi's face shows hesitation, his lips move as if to speak.

He knows well that Tongwan City's garrison has long been pinned down; the talk of reinforcements is merely a morale‑boosting ploy, and if the deception is uncovered, it could shake the troops' spirit.

"This…" he hesitates, eyes on Wang Xiong, full of difficulty.

Wang Xiong's complexion darkens, his expression hardens, his gaze sharp as a blade, and he urges, "Hurry and go!"

Hong Xi catches the resolute glint in Wang Xiong's eyes and instantly grasps his intent.

Our young master has already set his resolve to share life and death with Gancao City.

A jolt in his heart; the previous hesitation vanished instantly, replaced by a surge of fierce fighting spirit.

He thrust his fist forward, bowed, and shouted, "Yes! Subordinate General, I'll go deliver the order at once!"

Having said that, he turned and strode away like a comet, his steps firmer than when he arrived, loudly conveying Wang Xiong's words to every city‑guard soldier and the young men waiting at the foot of the wall.

Wang Xiong watched Hong Xi's departing back, slowly turned, and looked again toward the black, oppressive Qi army formation Outside City.

His right hand instinctively tightened around the Long Sword at his waist; the icy feel of the hilt through his palm gradually steadied his tumultuous thoughts.

His lips moved slightly, muttering in a low, hoarse voice that only he could hear, "Old Zhang, your choice was correct......"

"If I were in your position, I would make the same choice!"

Reinforcements had not yet arrived, yet Wang Xiong already knew the decision made by Zhangshi Zhang Wenqian, who was acting as chief of Xiazhou military affairs in Tongwan City…

Then Wang Xiong slowly lifted his gaze to the sky; the morning light had fully cleared the mist, the azure sky stretched cloudlessly, and the sun blazed.

His eyes flashed with a burning light, a mighty spirit unwilling to submit, ready to wrestle fate; word by word he declared resolutely, "But I, Wang Xiong, don't give up that easily, nor accept destiny so readily!"

"Gao Xiaoyu wants to crush Gancao City, unless he steps over my corpse!"

As soon as the words fell, the drums within the Qi army formation Outside City suddenly grew rapid and fierce, like thunderclaps, deafening.

With the drums sounding, fifteen thousand Qi troops surged toward Gancao City like a tide.

The crude yet cumbersome siege cart, pushed by infantry, emitted a screeching "creak‑creak," rolling over the rubble of the wasteland and slowly advancing toward the city wall.

Ladders were hoisted on soldiers' shoulders, countless silhouettes like ants surged toward the wall in a charge.

"Fire the arrows!" roared Huang Shizhang from the rampart.

The city‑guard soldiers, already primed, sprang into action; Bow and Arrow rain fell on the Qi troops below the city, wails rising and falling.

Beside the winch, a team of five soldiers strained the crank, tightening the bowstring of the Bed Crossbow.

At the shout "Fire!", spear‑like crossbow bolts whistled out, instantly piercing several Qi soldiers and even shooting straight through a siege cart's wooden panel, pinning it to the ground.

The Catapult was also set in motion, hurling massive stones that arced through the air, crushing into the Qi formation, killing and wounding several, and sending dust billowing from the ground.

Boulders and Fuel rolled and were poured from the wall; the Fuel ignited on contact, creating a sea of flame that scorched the attacking Qi troops to a crisp, their screams endless.

Wang Xiong, sword in hand, stood at the forefront of the rampart, his eyes scanning the battlefield sharply as he issued orders, "Insufficient forces on the left; redeploy the reserve!"

"Guard the Bed Crossbow; don't let the Qi troops get close!"

"Fuel is running low; have the women and children speed up the delivery!"

His over ninety Private Soldiers were all elite, each fearless, following Wang Xiong to fight bravely; wherever the fighting was fiercest, they rushed.

A Qi soldier luckily scrambled onto the wall, only half his body exposed, when Wang Xiong's sword pierced his chest, blood splattering his armor, glaringly bright.

Below the city, the Qi assault remained fierce; despite heavy casualties, they kept charging forward.

The defending soldiers gradually grew exhausted, and casualties began to mount.

Chen Wu's arm was struck by a stray arrow, blood gushing; he gritted his teeth, tore a piece of his robe to bandage it roughly, and kept drawing his bow.

Zhao Liu brandished his long blade, engaging in close combat with the Qi soldier on the wall; amidst the flash of blades, several more wounds appeared on his body.

The young Li Shun first stepped onto the battlefield, initially a bit panicked, but under veteran Zhang Gui's guidance he steadied, swinging his weapon fiercely to cut down foes.

The young men inside the city surged onto the wall; some helped haul arrows and boulders, others seized weapons to fight alongside the soldiers.

The women and children busied themselves at the foot of the wall, continuously ferrying arrows, Fuel and other defensive gear up to the rampart; their faces were set with resolve, showing no fear.

The battle raged from dawn until dusk; the sunset's afterglow stained the sky blood‑red, and the battlefield alike.

After suffering heavy losses, the Qi army finally sounded the retreat, dragging their weary bodies and many wounded, withdrawing slowly.

On Gancao City's walls, corpses lay everywhere; blood streamed down the walls, gathering on the ground into a small creek.

The defending force of over 1,680 soldiers, plus Wang Xiong's over ninety Private Soldiers, totaled more than 1,770 men; after a day of fierce fighting they lost over a hundred, each utterly exhausted.

Each bore wounds of varying degree, yet their eyes shone with victorious joy and resolve.

Huang Shizhang walked to Wang Xiong's side, his face smeared with smoke and sweat, his hoarse voice reporting, "Sima, the Qi army has withdrawn; our losses exceed 130, while the Qi suffered about 1,800 casualties!"

Wang Xiong nodded, his gaze fixed on the direction where the Qi forces receded, his eyes still sharp, "Send the orders: clear the battlefield quickly, treat the wounded, replenish armaments, reinforce the walls, and prepare for a Qi night raid!"

"Understood!" Huang Shizhang replied, cupping his fist.

Throughout the night there was no word; the troops and civilians of Gancao City used the darkness to rest and ready themselves. On the walls, soldiers took turns on guard, watching Outside City vigilantly.

Inside the city, the women and children continued their bustle, preparing food and medicine for the soldiers.

The wounded lay in makeshift huts, enduring the agony of their injuries, yet none complained.

At first light the next day, the Qi army outside launched another attack.

This time their assault was even fiercer than yesterday, clearly mustered for a single decisive push to capture Gancao City.

Drums, shouts, and clashing weapons intertwined, echoing through the heavens.

Wang Xiong and Huang Shizhang stood side by side on the rampart, directing troops and civilians to defend the city with all their might.

Wang Xiong still led from the front; as his Long Sword swung, Qi soldiers continually fell beneath it.

Huang Shizhang, wielding a Heavy Shield, stood before the parapet, repelling Qi attacks and shielding the soldiers behind him.

The young men inside the city grew ever more heroic, fighting shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers, using crude weapons to engage the Qi in a life‑or‑death battle.

Some of the youths even clutched boulders, leapt straight from the wall, meeting the Qi troops below in mutual destruction, their lives embodying the resolve to protect their home.

The women and children did not retreat; they braved mortal danger, darting across the walls to ferry supplies and treat the wounded.

An elderly woman carrying a bundle of arrows was grazed on the arm by a stray arrow in the chaos; she merely gritted her teeth and persisted in delivering the arrows to the soldiers.

A few young girls knelt on the ground, bandaging the wounded; tears streamed down their faces, yet they endured their fear, working methodically.

The fighting was even more brutal than yesterday; corpses piled higher on the walls, blood soaked the bricks, and the air was thick with a heavy scent of gore.

Defenders' casualties kept rising; some soldiers perished from exhaustion, others were struck by Qi weapons and fell on the spot.

Chen Wu, in a grapple with a Qi officer, was unfortunately slashed in the leg by the opponent's long blade; he fell to his knees, still clutching the officer's leg, shouting for his comrades to strike, and ultimately perished together with the foe.

Zhang Gui, to protect Li Shun, took a fatal blow for him, collapsing in a pool of blood; even as he breathed his last, he reminded Li Shun, "Hold… hold Gancao City…"