Chapter 1307: First Volume, Chapter 1307: The Death of Zhao Yulong

First Volume, Chapter 1307: The Death of Zhao Yulong

While the Imperial Court remained locked in endless debate, the battlefield situation changed daily.

Qin Feng dispatched twenty thousand cavalry, splitting them into two columns, each with a clear objective: recruit soldiers and acquire horses along the way to expand their forces.

Whether due to Qin Feng's prestige in Shedynasty or the suffering this North Expedition inflicted upon the common people, the advance of these two cavalry units proceeded with remarkable ease.

These two forces grew like rolling snowballs, their numbers swelling and their scale expanding continuously.

At the same time, the Beidi War Intelligence from Dingtao County had reached its most critical point.

With logistics completely severed, the troops stationed in Dingtao County began to disintegrate from within.

Qin Feng seized the opportunity and immediately sent out the garrison of Anyuan County to launch a fierce assault on Dingtao County.

Due to lack of supplies and severely damaged morale, the combat effectiveness of Dingtao County's defenders had plummeted.

Faced with Qin Feng's sudden, ferocious attack, their collapse far exceeded everyone's expectations.

Qin Feng even personally arrived on the battlefield, under the protection of Liu Ming and others, commanding his troops in a siege of Dingtao County.

After a day and night of brutal fighting, the weakest point of the defensive line—the eastern front—was the first to be breached.

Under cover of bow infantry, cloud ladders were raised against the City Wall, and Beijiang Shibing streamed upward; after several hours of fierce combat, they fully seized the eastern section of Dingtao County's City Wall.

Once the City Wall fell, the outcome of the war was essentially sealed.

Due to severe shortages of materials and supplies, the defenders inside the city could not wage street-to-street combat against Qin Feng.

After two days of urban fighting, only the County Yamen where Zhao Yulong remained still held out.

At this point, the County Yamen was completely surrounded; Qin Feng himself arrived at the site, gazing at the defenders still resisting desperately, and without hesitation ordered his heavy armor troops to storm inside.

A vanguard squad of thirty armored soldiers, shields raised, forcibly smashed open the County Yamen Door.

The vanguard squad's entry into the County Yamen triggered a fierce battle with the defenders, who were also clad in heavy armor.

Unfortunately, due to the vast disparity in numbers, when Qin Feng's heavy armor troops grew exhausted, they could immediately withdraw and be replaced by fresh troops.

The defenders inside the County Yamen, however, fought alone, forced to grit their teeth and press on.

As their strength waned, heavy armor became a burden, and the battle quickly turned into a one-sided massacre.

At that moment, a loud crash rang out as one heavy armor soldier was thrown backward.

Turning to look, a man emerged clad in General's Armor, wielding a long spear and carrying a Small Golden Mace at his waist—it was Zhao Yulong.

Even trapped in utter despair, Zhao Yulong had no intention of surrendering; he used his long spear to thrust aside the heavy armor soldiers before him.

After a brief but intense struggle, the long spear snapped; Zhao Yulong immediately drew his Small Golden Mace from his waist, preparing for Close Combat.

Unfortunately, the surrounding heavy armor soldiers gave Zhao Yulong no chance.

Their Long-Handled Axes, broadswords, and spears slashed at him from all directions.

Because all weapons were long and heavy, and all soldiers wore heavy armor, even Zhao Yulong's extraordinary martial prowess could not reverse the tide.

Since he could not swiftly kill the heavy armor soldiers before him with his Small Golden Mace, surrounded by ten plus armored foes, he had no choice but to be captured.

In an instant, his Heart-Protecting Mirror was shattered and flung away; moments later, his thigh was brutally crushed by a Wolf Tooth Club.

Thud.

A dull thump echoed as Zhao Yulong's right leg was shattered, forcing him to collapse onto one knee uncontrollably.

The heavy armor soldiers seized the moment, surging forward to pin Zhao Yulong to the ground and restrain him firmly.

Qin Feng, who had witnessed the entire scene, stepped forward to stand before Zhao Yulong, looking down at him with a flicker of reluctance in his eyes—but more so, anger.

"Yuxiong, you've served beside me for so long—haven't you learned anything?"

"From the moment you turned against the Beijiang Shibing, we became mortal enemies. Is this the fate worthy of former Comrades?"

In response to Qin Feng's question, Zhao Yulong showed no anger or sorrow of a defeated general; instead, his gaze remained unwavering.

"Brother Qin, across Heaven, I willingly accept defeat at your hands."

"As for targeting the common people, I was forced into it—I needed to win this war."

"This war destined to fail."

From the moment Zhao Yulong assumed command as Commander-in-Chief of the North Expedition's Front Line, he held little hope for victory; yet as a general, he was bound to fight with all his might.

As the saying goes: Do your utmost, leave the rest to Heavenly Mandate.

But in reality, he lacked the power to turn the tide; now that he had suffered Military Defeat, Zhao Yulong felt no regret—he had tried.

"Brother Qin, kill me. I will never hate you."

Feeling Zhao Yulong's steadfast gaze, Qin Feng's heart ached.

After all, from beginning to end, Zhao Yulong had never acted out of selfishness; everything he did was for the future of Shedynasty.

His goal aligned with Qin Feng's: to free Shedynasty's people from the suffering of war and bring them true peace.

Yet sadly, the two former Comrades had walked entirely different paths.

Now, when they met again, it was as enemies—sword to sword, life to death.

Qin Feng did not order the soldiers to release Zhao Yulong; knowing Zhao Yulong as he did, he was certain Zhao Yulong would unhesitatingly attempt "Capture the Leader First" to win this war.

Even if the man standing before him was a brother who had once shared life and death.

Qin Feng shook his head with a bitter smile: "Yuxiong, this war is ending. Though you won't see it, rest assured—the golden age you wished for will still come."

Hearing these words, Zhao Yulong smiled and nodded.

"Brother Qin, I believe in you…"

Qin Feng closed his eyes, took a deep breath; despite his overwhelming reluctance, he must answer to the fallen Beijiang Shibing.

Qin Feng slowly turned away, and at the same moment, the soldiers closed the County Yamen Door.

Moments later, Qin Feng stood atop the Dingtao County City Gate Tower, gazing down at the utterly broken defenders, yet felt no joy of Military Victory.

On the contrary, his heart was heavy.

At that moment, Liu Ming approached Qin Feng: "Commander, Zhao Yulong has returned to his homeland."

Hearing these words, Qin Feng's sorrowful gaze suddenly hardened: "Let it end. Let everything end."

"I do not wish for anyone else to be forced to stand against me because of the Liang Emperor."

"Beidi War Command: after all troops rest, advance toward Jingdu, and end this endless war once and for all."