Chapter 455

These past two days, the common folk in Hezhou City have basically celebrated the New Year.

The firecracker noise went on and on without end.

If one ignores the collapsed city walls from the explosions and the dust permeating the city, this would certainly be a very lively day.

Amidst this lively atmosphere, the flags on the city walls were changed.

On Hezhou City's walls there once hung densely the tally flag representing Gu Wenjie's identity, the gate flags commonly hung on both sides of the Lìng gate, and a general's flag bearing the character Gu.

Now only a single tally flag remains.

Moreover, it looks different from Gu Wenjie's Rebel tally flag; it is of the Court's standard pattern.

Originally swaggering, wielding a Knife and feeling like they were the heavenly king and earthly tyrant, bullying the city's common folk like weeds, the garrison, after suffering heavy casualties, became a small group that honestly knelt at the base of the city walls.

Yang Tiejiang stood with one hand on his Knife atop the city walls riddled with holes, sometimes grinning, sometimes frowning, repeatedly looking over and feeling the gaps blown open by the Shocking Heaven Thunder.

That expression made Chen Wu Yin, standing nearby, extremely suspect that Yang Tiejiang had some peculiar fetish; he looked exactly like someone who had bound a flower-like beauty but didn't know where to begin.

"Sheep Commandant, is there any problem?" Chen Wu Yin couldn't help but ask.

Yang Tiejiang turned and sat down smoothly on the blown-open gap, saying, "With this divine weapon, future siege warfare will be much easier, but…… repairing the city walls is also a big hassle!"

"Look at this blast; I've examined it closely, and you can't simply patch the hole—you must replace several layers of bricks and stones."

"I thought you, Commandant, were worried about something, but this matter probably isn't much trouble; recruiting Young Strongmen for a few days will finish it." Chen Wu Yin laughed, "Our Family Head had previously worried that this thing lacked enough power when attacking city walls, so to increase its power he seems to have put in considerable effort behind the scenes."

"When we previously fought the Qiang People, the Shocking Heaven Thunder, when merely thrown, didn't make such a big commotion; it had to be stuffed into rock to cause a shattering effect. These must be what our Family Head improved after; since we seek power, Commandant, you shouldn't begrudge destroying the city walls."

Yang Tiejiang waved his hand, "I'm not worried about the city walls; I'm concerned about a special situation."

"In fierce battles, if our army cannot promptly repair the city walls, it easily gives the enemy an opportunity; I have personally experienced this, and twice."

"In that battle, the cannon carts inside and outside the city bombarded each other; we won and entered the city smoothly, but the city walls were severely damaged. While our army was repairing the walls, the enemy gathered their routed troops and launched a Revolving Horse Spear attack, followed by another barrage of cannon cart fire, causing heavy casualties and a crushing defeat."

"As the saying goes, 'learn from a pitfall'; seeing this situation, I can't help but recall those two previous battles. The Shocking Heaven Thunder is useful, but perhaps it should be used depending on the circumstances."

Chen Wu Yin gave a slight nod, "It seems I lack the foresight you, Commandant, envisioned; I almost thought you were worrying needlessly. With such city walls, if the enemy bombards them from outside with cannon carts, defending would indeed be difficult."

"But… it seems… Commandant, it looks like someone is coming from afar."

Chen Wu Yin glanced unintentionally into the distance and suddenly saw dozens of people scattering and coming.

Yang Tiejiang stood up, stared intently, and said, "They look like refugees who have fled disaster."

"Commandant, they have weapons."

"Let's observe first; we'll talk when they get closer."

"Yes!"

Gu Wenjie dragged his weary body forward toward Hezhou City.

Although parched and dry-mouthed, he still cursed the eighteenth-generation ancestors of Chen Wuji to his nearby subordinates.

"Chen Wuji's arrogance lasts only a moment, not a lifetime; what's the point of beating me this once? He still can't do anything to me, hahaha, you dog, what can you do to me!"

"Once I take Guangyuan, I will surely level that Yunan small town to vent today's hatred!"

The subordinates following him merely nodded mechanically.

They had heard such similar words over and over since yesterday, losing count.

"You're all excellent; when I return to Hezhou City, there will be great rewards!" Gu Wenjie rested a moment, then changed the topic, "Whether Gu family members or loyal subordinates following me, everyone gets it—mansions, great houses, beauties, money and wealth, all of it; I won't play favorites with any of you, it's all the same."

Dozens of subordinates looked at each other.

They had heard this so much their ears were practically growing calluses.

"General, the city walls…… seem different." Suddenly someone said softly.

Gu Wenjie panted heavily, roughly rubbing the sweat on his forehead that had condensed into salt-like granules, and offhandedly said, "What could possibly be different about Hezhou City? But which clan would be so blind as to be hung up on the city walls?"

"No…… no, General, the city walls seem to have a gap, and also the flags have changed." That person abruptly stopped, eyes glazing.

Gu Wenjie then lifted his gaze; that glance instantly made his soul flee.

"You bastard, what's different about the city walls? This is the city being taken! Which bastard taught you to talk like that? Can't you get to the point?!" Gu Wenjie shouted in anger and, without hesitation, turned and barked, "Go, hurry, we're heading to Guangyuan Prefecture—Hezhou is lost."

"General, what about the rewards you promised us…" a subordinate asked hesitantly.

"Give!" Gu Wenjie said with a ringing tone, wary, "Now that I rely on you, how could I short you on rewards? Without you, I can't reach Guangyuan Prefecture; without me, you likewise lose rewards, houses, gold, silver, beauties—we're now grasshoppers on the same rope."

That person still doubted, "But General, Hezhou City is gone…"

"If lost, we'll retake it; without Hezhou, we still have Guangyuan Prefecture!" Gu Wenjie shouted.

"My master personally led three thousand Bīngmǎ to Guangyuan Prefecture; that place must now be our territory. Guangyuan Prefecture is richer than Hezhou—how could it lack your things?"

"As long as you safely escort me to Guangyuan Prefecture, not only will I give the previous rewards, I'll even give more. Everyone, adversity reveals true feelings; as long as you don't abandon me, I will never let you down."

"If I someday succeed, you will all hold great power!"

After a frenzy of painting grand pies, the subordinates' faces finally regained cheer; they hastily escorted Gu Wenjie forward, rushing toward Guangyuan Prefecture.

"General, how did Hezhou just disappear out of the blue? Could it be Chen Wuji's doing?" someone couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Impossible!" Gu Wenjie said firmly, "How many Bīngmǎ does Chen Wuji have? At most three or four thousand. In Qing County there is a newly recruited force that already numbers two or three thousand; Chen Wuji's mountain contingent must be the remainder, and also his elite troops."