Chapter 357: A Beaten Beast Still Fights, Bloodwashing Shangshan Jian City

Tu Tu Kesiluo and He Jing stood majestically atop the city wall, Tu Tu Kesiluo speaking with a disdainful gaze.

"Knowing you would attack, it is late. Come up now?"

Seeing this scene, a Southern Border deputy general who had just regained his senses below the wall hurriedly asked a man who looked like a commander.

"Commander Song, what do we do now?"

What to do?

Commander Song's eyes were bloodshot; he trembled as he pointed toward the towering walls of Shangshan Jian City and shouted in a deep voice: "All troops, listen to my order! Follow me into Shangshan Jian City to reclaim our lost Southern Border lands!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a deputy general in Southern Border uniform rushed forward and blocked Commander Song: "Commander Song, your forces are fewer than theirs. Attacking rashly will only lead to futile sacrifice. I think we should call it off."

Commander Song sucked in a cold breath and said sternly: "Commander Ke has ordered that this battle must reclaim Shangshan Jian City! You, a mere deputy general, dare to disobey military orders?"

That deputy general snorted: "Commander Ke is not present. You, a commander from a prefectural city, think you can order me? First state your siege plan; only if it is reasonable and well-founded will I obey your command!"

As a commanding general, he knew very well what the soldiers would face once an order was given.

Just one Tu Tu Kesiluo is so fierce; add to that the Eastern Guard troops, outnumbering them by tens of thousands. Isn't this asking for death?

Worth mentioning is that this deputy general is a close confidant of Ke Bin, accustomed to grand scenes.

Therefore, regarding this commander from a prefectural city, he could not blindly obey his orders without first understanding the situation.

If all sixty thousand men were left here yet Shangshan Jian City remained unbroken, how could he explain himself to Ke Bin upon return?

Commander Song understood the deputy general's identity clearly; now that Yan Hang was dead, the former had become Ke Bin's proxy.

Unless he persuaded this person quickly, launching an attack on the city was absolutely impossible.

Seeing the deputy general's firm attitude, Commander Song's mind raced; he immediately softened his tone: "My attack is forced. We need to pin down Jiang Jiang Mingyu at the East Gate to relieve pressure on the East Gate defenders, giving them a chance to succeed. Neither of us wishes for futile sacrifice, but now we must attack to seek victory; preserving ourselves is enough."

The deputy general frowned: "I understand your good intentions, but the East Gate defenders outnumber us, and the enemy is fewer. Why should we sacrifice ourselves to pin them down? Besides, with Tu Tu Kesiluo stationed there, what effect can our siege have?"

Commander Song's eyebrows twitched; thinking this man was extraordinary, he said in a deep voice: "You do not know: though the East Gate defenders are numerous, the main commander, Governor Yan, has fallen, likely crushing morale. Our fierce attack on the West Gate will force the enemy to shift East Gate troops for support, boosting the East Gate army's confidence in their siege. Doesn't that give both of us a better chance of victory?"

After hearing this, the deputy general hesitated; he too understood the importance of morale. Just then, a cold snort rang from the city wall: "I say, you two, decide quickly whether to attack or not. If you dawdle further, this Prince will go back to sleep!"

Both looked up and saw Tu Tu Kesiluo standing on the city wall with arms crossed, looking impatient and observing coldly. The deputy general instantly flew into a rage and demanded: "Tu Tu Kesiluo, why are you the only one on the wall? Have all enemy troops fled?"

Tu Tu Kesiluo scoffed: "This Prince will not deign to argue with scum like you. The enemy is deploying troops below the wall; they will charge up soon. You had better prepare to welcome this Prince's iron hooves!"

The deputy general's face changed; he knew too well Tu Tu Kesiluo's ferocity. If both gates were attacked simultaneously, the situation would become extremely grave. He hesitated again. Commander Song spoke in time: "Our fierce attack can disrupt the enemy's rhythm. Otherwise, if Tu Tu Kesiluo becomes overconfident, the East Gate will be even harder to handle. Even if we cannot enter the city, we can still inflict heavy casualties on enemy forces, giving the East Gate a greater opportunity."

The deputy general finally nodded: "Very well. Since circumstances force us, I will lead my sixty thousand Southern Border troops to assist your fierce attack on the West Gate, determined to kill Tu Tu Kesiluo!"

Commander Song rejoiced and immediately shouted to the Southern Border troops behind him: "All troops, listen to my order! Follow me into Shangshan Jian City, capture Tu Tu Kesiluo, and reclaim our lost Southern Border lands!"

"Kill—!"

Before the words had fully faded, hundreds of Southern Border soldiers carrying scaling ladders charged toward the distant city wall, howling.

Having been driven back earlier by Tu Tu Kesiluo alone, this was an enormous humiliation for them.

Once this matter spread, even Ke Bin would likely become a laughingstock in the Southern Border army.

The best way to wash away this humiliation was to take Shangshan Jian City, cleansing their shame with enemy blood.

Watching the rolling enemy forces approach, He Jing's lips curled.

"Your Highness, as Your Majesty and you predicted, they have indeed come."

Tu Tu Kesiluo chuckled, his effeminate face filled with disdain.

"Then play well with them. Do not let them make this trip in vain."

While speaking, the Southern Border troops below had reached within a hundred paces.

Seeing his subordinate Commandant about to order the arrows released, He Jing spoke very calmly.

"Hold steady. Release arrows within a hundred paces; within ten paces, release boulders and rolling logs."

"Wait until they climb the ladders, then pour boiling oil. If they have the luck to reach the battlements, then spear them."

Having fought alongside Tu Tu Kesiluo for so long, he knew this entire procedure by heart.

Soon, the Commandant who had been about to order the arrow release shouted toward He Jing.

"The enemy is now less than a hundred paces away."

He Jing nodded slightly.

"Release arrows!" At He Jing's command, hundreds of feathered arrows whistled from the city wall, accurately striking the Southern Border soldiers carrying scaling ladders and charging the wall. Accompanying them were stones and rolling logs, smashing more enemies to pieces.

"Hahaha!" Tu Tu Kesiluo laughed wildly atop the wall. "He Jing, with our East and West gates joining forces, these Southern Border dogs dreaming of taking Shangshan Jian City are fools! Look at them, one by one, as stupid as pigs; they truly think they can reach the wall."

He Jing snorted: "This pack of smelly lambs usually only knows how to bully commoners and show off their power. Once on the battlefield, they become idiots, lacking even basic self-defense skills. They are simply delivering themselves to us to be killed."

As he spoke, the Southern Border soldiers carrying ladders had reached close range. The One Da Jiang archers' volley shot down most of them; the rest were smashed by rolling logs flying through the air, cowering and fleeing. Seeing this, a Southern Border deputy general flew into a rage, waving his sword forward and roaring: "Everyone, advance! Today we must kill these two women!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a new rain of arrows poured down, and the deputy general's attendants fell instantly. Seeing the Southern Border army suffer heavy losses yet still press forward, Tu Tu Kesiluo scoffed, curling his lip: "He Jing, why are these beasts so greedy? Clearly unable to enter, yet they insist on climbing. Are their brains diseased?"

He Jing laughed loudly: "Your Highness speaks truth. This pack of dog-sons has nothing but recklessness in their minds. With such impulsive courage, they think to climb the wall by luck? I say they are simply seeking their own destruction!"

"Stop hiding! Everyone, advance!" The Southern Border deputy general raised his long sword high, roared once, and decisively charged toward the ladders first. The few remaining soldiers, seeing the old general's bravery, also rallied and followed.

"If I were to say, we might as well shoot this fool dead with arrows," Tu Tu Kesiluo on the wall curled his lip. "Climbing the ladders so recklessly first is just suicide, isn't it?"

He Jing raised his hand, stopping his subordinates from releasing arrows. He stared fixedly at that deputy general and sneered: "No rush. This dog still has some use. Let him lead the other Southern Border troops up first to meet death; this will save us many arrows. Then I will shoot an arrow through his dog's head. How delightful!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo laughed heartily upon hearing this: "He Jing speaks well! Look at that beast's expression of facing death without fear. These Southern Border people truly fear no death!" The two exchanged words, standing high above to watch the lives below perish in battle, yet showing not a shred of pity.

Just then, a Song army commander also shouted loudly: "Whoever climbs the wall and kills Tu Tu Kesiluo and He Jing, all spoils of war belong to you!" Upon hearing this, the Southern Border soldiers on the ladders' eyes lit up, instantly becoming even more valiant. They fought not for honor, but for the rich treasures within the city.

"Someone, throw down the rolling logs!" He Jing's face darkened. "Watch me smash these greedy beasts into meat patties!" As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of huge stones crashed down, striking the Southern Border soldiers halfway up the ladders. Screams rose and fell; over a dozen corpses fell instantly, yet this did not slow the climbing of others.

"Haha, He Jing, let us bet who kills the enemy general first? This Southern Border deputy general is almost up!" Tu Tu Kesiluo said. He Jing turned and saw that deputy general only ten zhang from the wall, climbing upward with a fierce expression, teeth gritted.

"Come, let us bet thirty taels of gold!" He Jing laughed and drew his long sword.

"Well, isn't it time for me to act?" Tu Tu Kesiluo beside him patted He Jing's shoulder, grinning. "Driving these Southern Border beasts off the wall, letting them wail amidst the rain of arrows—what a wonderful feeling!"

He Jing glanced at Tu Tu Kesiluo and smiled: "Your Highness, do you still have the mood for jokes? Quickly order the arrows released; shoot that Southern Border deputy general down!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a feathered arrow suddenly shot swiftly from midair, aiming directly at He Jing's heart. He Jing's face changed instantly; there was no time to dodge.

"It's over!" At that moment, only these two words remained in He Jing's mind.

At this critical moment, Tu Tu Kesiluo, with sharp eyes and quick hands, grabbed the arrow. Instantly, He Jing's face was covered in cold sweat.

"Hmph, the arrow technique of this Southern Jiang beast is truly insidious," Tu Tu Kesiluo sneered. "He Jing, I think you had better be careful!"

Seeing the arrow miss, the Southern Jiang deputy general roared in fury: "Keep attacking! Today I will take the heads of these One Da Jiang dogs right here on the city wall!"

He Jing was also provoked: "In that case, let's make it quick! Men, release the arrows! Pour all the hot oil from the city wall down; the more of them we scald to death, the better!"

The two armies once again plunged into fierce hand-to-hand combat. Just then, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's messenger rushed frantically to Tu Tu Kesiluo's side and shouted loudly, "Your Highness, Your Majesty has already sent people to inspect; there are no traces of the enemy at the West Gate or the North Gate. Your Majesty orders Your Highness to exit the city immediately, first to annihilate the Southern Jiang troops below the city, then to proceed to the East Gate and launch a pincer attack on the enemy together with Inspector Liao!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo was overjoyed, exclaiming repeatedly, "Excellent! I can hardly wait to annihilate these beasts! Go back and report to my elder brother immediately; within half an hour, I will definitely arrive at the East Gate to reinforce!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo then turned to He Jing and said in a deep voice, "He Jing, you lead the men to hold the city wall firmly. I will now lead the troops out of the city to fight the enemy! We will rendezvous at the East Gate in half an hour!"

Having spoken, Tu Tu Kesiluo snatched up his long sword, his figure flickered once, and he vanished into the dust and smoke below the city.

The city gate burst open with a boom. Tu Tu Kesiluo, holding his long sword, stood before the fifty-thousand-strong army and declared loudly, "Brothers, now is the time! Follow me out of the city and drive these Southern Jiang beasts to total extermination!"

"Kill—" The soldiers, brimming with pent-up anger, surged out of the city gate in a frenzy, their killing intent fierce as they targeted the Southern Jiang army under Commander Song's command.

The archers on the city wall were equally eager to shoot the Southern Jiang people into hedgehogs; arrows rained down as densely as a storm. The Southern Jiang army suffered heavy casualties, and their formation fell into chaos.

Commander Song and that Southern Jiang deputy general stared at each other, both seeing despair in the other's eyes.

The Southern Jiang deputy general ground his teeth and said, "This is simply tying one's own noose! We should not have placed our main force at the East Gate; now we have been counter-encircled by Tu Tu Kesiluo!"

Commander Song said in a deep voice, "Since matters have come to this, you and I can only fight to the death together! Brothers, give it everything!" Having spoken, his eyes turned bloodshot, and he charged into the One Da Jiang army formation at the head of the troops.

Seeing their two supreme commanders personally lead the charge, the Southern Jiang army's morale was instantly boosted; there was not a shred of intention to retreat. All of them followed, charging in and engaging the One Da Jiang people in fierce combat.

Tu Tu Kesiluo laughed loudly from his horseback: "Good! Good! This is exactly what I wanted! These Southern Jiang beasts have actually delivered themselves to die!" He pointed his sword at Commander Song and shouted, "Everyone, charge forward and capture Commander Song! Take him alive!"

Hearing the order, the soldiers surrounded Commander Song from all four sides and attacked fiercely. Commander Song, struggling on all sides, his eyes red with bloodlust, laughed heartily: "Come on! Today I will fight to the death with you all!"

Outside the city, the two armies clashed in a chaotic melee; the sounds of killing shook the heavens, weapons clashed, horse hooves thundered, mixed with terrifying screams. Commander Song had been struck by several arrows, swaying as if about to fall, yet he still fought back with all his might. Bodies lay strewn everywhere around him; red robes and white robes were indistinguishable...

While Tu Tu Kesiluo was fighting fiercely on his horseback, suddenly a scream rang out. He looked up and saw that the head of a One Da Jiang soldier had already been severed from his body, rolling on the ground. That Southern Jiang deputy general had chopped off his head with one stroke, then cut two other soldiers in half.

"Damn it!" Tu Tu Kesiluo's eyes turned bloodshot. He cherished every single soldier deeply; seeing them killed, his anger burned fiercely. He swung his long sword and galloped rapidly toward that deputy general.

"Die!" He shouted loudly, thrusting his sword directly at the deputy general's throat.

The deputy general barely managed to block that vicious strike, being forcibly knocked back several steps. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes wide with fury: "Who exactly are you? Such divine skill is truly beyond the heavens!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo sneered coldly, shook his sleeves, and said leisurely, "Before you descend to the Yellow Springs, I can generously reveal one thing—I am the famous Tu Tu Kesiluo!"

"What?!" The deputy general's head rang with a boom. So the young man before him was the god-of-war-like existence; no wonder Yan Hang had died at his hands! Now, he himself could only meet his end!

Tu Tu Kesiluo spoke no more words. With a wave of his long sword, he thrust directly at that person's throat! The deputy general struggled to block that strike, staggering, but his blade broke, and he himself was already cut in two...

The surrounding Southern Jiang soldiers stood dumbfounded; they finally realized the situation was hopeless. What a terrifying opponent was this, one who had even killed their number two figure! At this moment, they only thought of escaping with their lives as quickly as possible...

The instant the deputy general's head hit the ground, two long spears suddenly thrust at Tu Tu Kesiluo from behind.

"Die!" two Southern Jiang soldiers hissed.

Tu Tu Kesiluo sneered contemptuously, leaped with the momentum, and the spear tips grazed past his armpits. Before his feet touched the ground, he executed a flawless backflip, landing behind the two men.

"Is that all you can do?" He sneered once, swung his long sword left and right, and two heads, accompanied by a "pfft" sound, detached from their bodies.

"Not bad!" A voice came from the city wall; it was He Jing, glaring hatefully at Commander Song amidst the chaotic troops. He suddenly drew a cold arrow, aimed it at Commander Song, and sneered, "Grandson, let you taste the flavor of an arrow too!"

Only a crisp sound was heard; the arrow left the bowstring. Before Commander Song could react, the arrow had already pierced his left eye. He stumbled, fell off his horse, and after struggling, breathed his last.

"Everyone, charge!" Tu Tu Kesiluo pointed his long sword toward the East Gate and roared, "Annihilate the enemy forces at the East Gate and rescue our main force!"

He Jing on the city wall also shouted loudly: "Men, take the remaining forces in the city and follow me out to reinforce!" On one hand, he ordered the city gates opened and led the troops out to join Tu Tu Kesiluo.

After the two armies merged, they quickly encircled and mopped up the scattered enemy troops. The Southern Jiang army suffered heavy casualties; the remaining soldiers, seeing their two supreme commanders die one after another, struggled in every way, but in the end could only be at the mercy of others. They knew in their hearts that the situation was hopeless today; even those who survived would hardly escape death...

A pack of homeless dogs! Watching the disintegrating Southern Jiang troops, Tu Tu Kesiluo coldly snorted; a trace of ferocity flashed across his originally delicate face. He lightly swayed his long sword; the sword tip, carrying a cold gleam, moved through the crowd like a swimming fish. Wherever he passed, heads of Southern Jiang followers inevitably detached from their necks in confusion, tracing a blood arc in mid-air, and finally falling into the dust with a "gudong" sound.

"Want to run? Not so easy!" His slender sword eyebrows lifted slightly, and a cold smile curled his lips. With just one glance, He Jing on the city wall understood and immediately led the remaining forces in the city to break out of the encirclement.

He Jing, though appearing honest, was actually very insidious. At this moment, disregarding everything, he swung his precious blade and hacked at that group of Southern Jiang soldiers. Every strike was accurate; everyone fell to the ground with a thud. In an instant, he carved out a large empty space among the Southern Jiang troops. Hot blood splashed and wet his bearded face, yet he paid no mind, remaining extremely excited.

Soon, the One Da Jiang forces from both inside and outside the city, comprising water and fire divisions, completely surrounded the Southern Jiang troops. Now, for them, there was only one path—death; no hope of life remained. Bodies lay strewn everywhere, and wails rose and fell continuously.

"Everyone, smell this! A great battle awaits at the East Gate in a moment!" Tu Tu Kesiluo shouted coldly and spurred his horse, galloping away. Thirty thousand troops flowed behind him endlessly, their killing intent fierce.