Chapter 339: Changfeng, Come

Shuzhou.

Pei Family Residence.

The Pei Family is a literary and Powerful Clan in Shu; for hundreds of years, they have been an existence that everyone in Chuan Shu flocks to, basically similar to Yan Lin, equivalent to the spiritual leader of this Chuan Shu.

Therefore...

At this time, the fact that this Pei Family is strictly monitored by the Imperial Guard still makes many people feel indignant.

Every day, there are even many Knights-errant who suddenly appear at the entrance of the Pei Family Residence and suddenly launch attacks, intending to rescue Pei Yanran.

However, most of these people are like moths to a flame, eventually turning into corpses at the entrance, only to be dragged away.

But.

Despite this.

By the next day, there would still be people coming.

This is the spirit of chivalry, the spirit of the Knight-errant of this era.

Watching these Knights-errant coming one after another every day, Pei Yanran felt unbearable. Finally, she decided to sit in the high tower of the Pei Family every day, playing the zither and singing; that crisp and soft voice seemed to be able to calm people's hearts.

This kind and beautiful woman seemed to be telling others.

Do not come...

Do not make that meaningless sacrifice.

Every day upon waking, she would appear in this high tower, seemingly telling the world that she was still alive and there was no need to worry.

Sure enough.

In this way, those Knights-errant stopped coming to their deaths.

However, a strange atmosphere began to permeate the entire Shuzhou City, and this atmosphere was even slowly accumulating, slowly gathering. Everyone said nothing, but everyone understood.

It was just that, hindered by the white terror of Xie Yang, the Imperial Guard, and the Black Guard, people dared to be angry but dared not speak.

This anger, this unwillingness, this energy that seemed ready to erupt at any moment—everything was left unsaid.

"Come..."

Pei Yanran, this woman of peerless beauty and extraordinary temperament, looked toward the north with her clear, beautiful eyes at this moment; in her eyes, there flickered a trace of infatuation, a trace of joy, yet also a trace of determination.

Come.

Come quickly.

Why don't you come? Is it just because Yanran is in the city?

But, when you bring your troops to the city walls and save Chuan Shu from fire and water, what does it matter if Yanran dies?

Heh, my Changfeng.

You are a great hero who stands tall, you should not care about these romantic feelings, you should not care about the flowers and the moonlight.

To have known you in this life,

Even if it was only the first meeting.

It is enough for Yanran.

Come.

Yanran has told you about that promise of the childhood sweethearts from past and present lives to meet no matter what.

Come.

In your dreams, Yanran has already walked across the Twenty-Four Bridges, lost in the misty Jiangnan.

Do not ask in the passing years, who was lonely for whose thoughts.

And do not ask, in that sorrow of the zither, who leaned lonely on whose shoulder.

Changfeng, come.

Even if there was no first meeting.

If Yanran is no longer here.

I can also turn into a lonely spirit to help you drive away the demons and ghosts of the mountains and wilderness.

Watching you hold a three-foot spear, your brows like swords, listening to that roar of yours that shakes the wild, making the firmament dim.

Yanran is here.

You may come.

If you come and Yanran is here, I will surely dance before your battle lines.

If you come and I have passed, Yanran will sleep beneath your carriage.

Yanran's blood, Changfeng may stain.

Yanran's soul, Chuan Shu shall bear witness.

One ancient melody after another echoed throughout Yizhou.

So sorrowful, so resolute...

In Yizhou, this oppressive atmosphere became more and more intense.

Just at this moment.

A person exclaimed in the empty streets that only echoed with Pei Yanran's music.

"General Qin has launched troops from Jian Ge and captured Zitong the next day!"

"General Qin has launched troops and already captured Zitong!"

"What?"

The whole city was in an uproar, followed by people running to tell each other; many people wept with joy.

Pei Yanran's zither music also stopped abruptly at this moment, and she was instantly covered in tears.

Changfeng...

You truly did not let Pei Yanran down.

She rose to her full height, her face filled with relief and resolve; she even looked at the people in the city, who were already in a state of chaos, with eyes full of contempt and disdain.

She had already looked past life and death.

……

That same day.

Qin Zhangfeng beheaded over a dozen officials in Shu and, with an army of fifty thousand, pointed his sword toward Zitong. The garrison at Jian Ge left only five thousand men, while the defending general Zhong Lin led fifteen thousand to follow Qin Zhangfeng.

In an instant, an army of sixty-five thousand advanced with great momentum.

They conducted a forced march that same day, heading straight for Zitong.

Because Zhong Lin was in the lead and was on good terms with the Prefect of Zitong, the Prefect suspected nothing and opened the gates to let the horses through.

Who would have thought that Qin Zhangfeng's fifty thousand troops would then charge in.

With almost no loss of a single soldier or horse, they took the city of Zitong.

Once this news broke, the entire Longyan Dynasty was shocked.

Has this Qin Zhangfeng gone mad?

Does he not know that Pei Yanran is still trapped in Shuzhou City at this moment? For the sake of the nation, is he truly willing to abandon the woman he loves?

This Qin Zhangfeng's heart is truly a bit too ruthless……

However.

These people soon felt relieved; in ancient times, a woman's life was not worth much to begin with. Afterward, they were shocked by the feat of taking Zitong in just two days.

Has the combat effectiveness of the Liangzhou Army reached such a formidable level?

"What are you saying?"

At the Shu Wang Mansion in Shuzhou.

Upon hearing this news, Xie Yang suddenly jumped up, his eyes flashing with a fierce light: "What are you talking about? Qin Zhangfeng has attacked? How does he dare!"

Those around him were also filled with panic.

Has this Qin Zhangfeng really disregarded Pei Yanran's life and attacked?

Xie Yang said angrily: "Does this Qin Zhangfeng really not take me, Xie Yang, seriously! Kill that Pei Yanran for me! No, execute her entire clan, leave no one alive!"

When these words were spoken, the whole room was startled.

"Your Highness, you absolutely must not!"

"Your Highness, that Qin Zhangfeng has already reached Zitong; in three more days, he will reach Shuzhou. This, this, this……"

A group of people looked at each other, each harboring their own ulterior motives.

Fast!

Too fast!

Xie Yang sat securely in Shuzhou, relying on the natural barriers of Zitong and Jian Ge to block Qin Zhangfeng's army, but he never expected……

Zhong Lin of Jian Ge had come along with Qin Zhangfeng.

Not only that, but a city as large as Zitong, with a population of several hundred thousand, had not even been able to stop Qin Zhangfeng's advance! How could they not be afraid?

Three days.

Three days later, this Liangzhou army would be at the gates of Shuzhou!

At this moment.

The military strength of Shuzhou was depleted, with only thirty thousand Imperial Guards as effective combat forces.

How could they resist?

How could they resist?

Over there, Prefect Liu's one hundred thousand troops were marching south under Yang Fan.

In an instant, Chuan Shu was truly in great chaos.

Those who followed Xie Yang in rebellion were all two-faced; at a time like this, how could they not fear death? How could they not want to leave themselves a way out?

Xie Yang asked angrily: "Why not?"

A minister said: "Your Highness, if the enemy had been attacking Zitong for a long time, killing Pei Yanran would have thrown the Liangzhou Army into chaos, and that thief Qin Zhangfeng would have been afraid to act rashly and would not have dared to advance further."

"However, however now……"

Everyone's heart sank.

These words were correct.

Clearly, Zitong had not stopped the Liangzhou Army at all. At this time, the Liangzhou Army's momentum must be great; killing Pei Yanran now would instead incite Qin Zhangfeng's murderous intent and stir up the hatred of the Liangzhou Army.

Under these circumstances, it would be better to keep Pei Yanran alive; even when the Liangzhou Army reached the gates, she could still be used as a hostage for leverage.

Upon hearing these words, Xie Yang immediately darkened his face: "Since that is the case, bind that Pei Yanran and bring her to the city wall!"

"I want to see what that Qin Zhangfeng will do!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"