Chapter 106: War

"Clang, clang..."

A series of urgent and clear bell tolls echoed through Yancheng.

Hearing this sound, the commoners and Rich Clans within Yancheng all changed color.

The commoners outside hurried home.

Those at home tightly shut their doors and windows, hiding inside with their families, shivering.

The merchants on the streets fell into chaos, disregarding their goods, scattering like birds and beasts.

Yan Prince Mansion.

Zhao Xu was eating his evening meal.

As the bell tolls arrived, the chopsticks with which Luan'er was picking up food for Zhao Xu trembled, and the mutton fell into the bowl, splashing drops of soup onto Zhao Xu's chest.

"Luan'er." Feng'er gave a coquettish rebuke and hurriedly wiped it for Zhao Xu.

But her complexion was the same as Luan'er's, both unable to hide their worry.

This bell's sound was different from the morning bell and evening drum; it was the unique sound of the Alarm Bell.

At this time, the Alarm Bell ringing only meant one thing.

The Beidi people had come.

"Do not be afraid." Zhao Xu took their hands, one on each side, "You stay in the Prince Mansion and wait for this Prince to return."

"Your Highness..."

Luan'er almost shed tears, and Feng'er also had a sorrowful expression.

They only felt heartache for the Yan Wang, who was so plagued by misfortune.

Having been insane for three years, he was then sent to this land of tigers and wolves.

Having just recovered from illness not long ago, he had encountered the Autumn Hunt of the Beidi people again.

Why the heavens were so unfair to the Yan Wang alone, they simply could not understand.

Seeing the two of them like this, Zhao Xu sighed helplessly.

They did not understand military affairs and only knew that the Beidi people's evil reputation was known abroad.

Now, with the Beidi army surrounding the city, they only felt that the situation was dire.

"Your Highness should not worry about your servants; the soldiers are still waiting for Your Highness." Feng'er pulled Luan'er and forced a small smile.

Zhao Xu nodded; now was not the time for romantic attachments.

Putting on his Armor and taking his sword, he strode out of the Prince Mansion.

At this moment, a sound of horse hooves rang out, and Chang Wei came galloping over.

Jumping down in front of Zhao Xu, he cupped his fists and said, "Your Highness, the Beidi people have arrived at the city walls."

"Let's go." Zhao Xu calmly spat out two words.

At this juncture, he could not show even a hint of lack of confidence.

But he was still somewhat nervous inside; after all, it was his first time facing war directly.

However, nervousness aside, a surge of hot blood was circulating in his body.

Yan Commandery was his fief; as the Yan Wang, he had to face the invading enemy.

If Yancheng stands, he stands.

If Yancheng falls, he falls.

Mounting his horse, he and Chang Wei headed straight for the North Gate.

The streets were quiet, without a single shadow.

But Zhao Xu knew that behind every window, there were eyes watching him.

They were afraid yet full of expectation.

They only hoped he could lead the Prince's Personal Army to drive the Beidi people away.

"Your Highness!"

Arriving at the North Gate, as soon as Zhao Xu dismounted, the soldiers guarding the gate immediately knelt on one knee and gave him a uniform military salute.

The unease on their faces turned into firm determination at this moment.

The Yan Wang had come; their Prince had not hidden in the Prince Mansion, leaving them to risk their lives on the battlefield alone.

As people of Yan Commandery, what reason did they have to fear?

Zhao Xu pressed his hand on the hilt of his sword, his gaze sharp.

Facing the soldiers, he said loudly, "Rise; this Prince will fight alongside you today and will never retreat!"

Zhao Xu's voice carried very far.

The soldiers who heard it felt a shock in their hearts and said in unison, "We swear to defend Your Highness and defend Yancheng to the death."

The gaze with which Chang Wei looked at Zhao Xu was full of admiration.

Such an Imperial Prince was the only person worth his loyalty.

Only a coward would hide in a safe place shivering with fear at this time.

Passing in front of the gate-guarding soldiers, Zhao Xu and Chang Wei climbed the city wall along the stairs.

Bursts of horse neighing sounded continuously from outside at this moment.

Simultaneously, the mockery and curses of the Beidi people also came through.

Climbing the city wall, Zhao Xu looked outside the city.

He saw that outside Yancheng was an ocean composed of Cavalry.

The Beidi Cavalry came from the north, covering the sky and earth; after the vanguard Cavalry stopped not far from the North Gate, the rear Cavalry circled the city, wrapping up the entire Yancheng.

These Beidi Cavalry were either wearing leather armor or light Scale Armor, and while galloping back and forth, they would suddenly shoot arrows at the city wall.

Some arrows landed continuously on the city wall, or flew over it.

Some arrows also struck the soldiers on the city wall, emitting the light sound of metal clashing.

"Just as Your Highness expected, the Northern Di only launched probing attacks on the three northern counties, after which their entire army came straight to Yancheng, numbering over twenty thousand," Chang Wei said while his gaze searched outside the city.

A person surrounded by numerous Cavalry caught his attention.

"Hmm, it seems they are determined to take Yancheng." Zhao Xu and Chang Wei looked toward one spot, where a middle-aged man was wearing a brocade fur coat, his presence standing out from the crowd.

When he made those arrangements initially, besides using Yancheng as bait, he had another consideration in mind.

That was, once the Northern Di were defeated, the troops from the three counties could form a defensive line with Yancheng.

This defensive line was like a pocket, capable of encircling and annihilating the Northern Di to the greatest extent.

And if the battle at Yancheng went poorly, they could also come from the north to provide support.

However, the Northern Di did not seem to care about this.

Perhaps in their common sense, for Infantry to leave the city and fight them was simply courting death.

"The Northern Di's Warhorse are truly abundant," Zhao Xu suddenly sighed with emotion.

The numerous Northern Di Cavalry each had four horses, which to the Song People was simply unimaginable.

Chang Wei clicked his tongue; he was equally envious.

Just as the two were observing the army besieging the city.

The formation of the Northern Di Cavalry suddenly shifted.

The scattered Cavalry arranged themselves into neat ranks, and the Northern Di generals rode forward one by one to the front of the Battle Formation.

A Northern Di general rode forward and shouted: "Listen, you Song People generals on the wall, this is the Black Iron Royal Tent of the Northern Di. My Great King has personally led the army here and will surely break your city. If you open the city gates now and come out to surrender, you shall be spared your lives; otherwise, once we breach the city, we will surely slaughter the city for three days, leaving not a single tile intact..."

As the voice carried over, Chang Wei's face instantly flushed red.

He pointed at the middle-aged man protected by numerous Cavalry in the Northern Di army and said: "Your Highness, could that be the Great King they speak of, Kutu?"

Zhao Xu looked at the man, and that person seemed to be looking up at the city wall as well.

He knew of the Black Iron Royal Tent that Yan Commandery faced, and he had also heard the name of this Kutu.

"Xu Lie, shoot an arrow in that direction to give them a response," Zhao Xu said indifferently.

The battle had yet to begin, but the Northern Di were already trying to subdue the enemy without fighting.

However, this also illustrated from the side how confident the Northern Di were in themselves.

If the army had besieged the city of another commandery, I fear the defending generals would truly have to consider it.

"Yes, Your Highness." Xu Lie drew an arrow from his quiver, drew his Curved Bow, and fired an Arrow straight at Kutu.

The Arrow flew a great distance and had almost lost all force by the time it reached Kutu, because the distance was very far.

But this was enough to express the will of the Yancheng defenders.

Below the city, Kutu stared at the Arrow that had landed three meters in front of him; after his surprise came shame and anger.

"Give the Song People a taste of our power," he said coldly.

Muto responded and left, and following that, a unique sound of a horn echoed.

The Northern Di Cavalry on their horses one after another drew their Curved Bow and nocked their Arrow.

"Whoosh!"

A dull sound of air being pierced rang out.

Arrows filled the sky like a swarm of locusts, pouring down toward the top of the city wall.