Chapter 149: Chapter 149: The City Falls
At this moment, that familiar sharp sound made Shang Ruyi feel as if she had been struck by lightning.
"It’s the arrow!"
Amid her shout, a cold gleam passed through the breach in the city gate, shooting straight towards the Emperor standing in the center of the long street.
"Your Majesty!"
Someone in the crowd shouted, and more people lunged towards the Emperor’s side.
However, none could match that instant flash of light akin to a meteor.
The cold gleam shot towards Chu Yang, just barely grazing his temple as the sharp wind scattered his hair wildly with a whiff, and the shrieking arrow struck heavily into the post of the sedan behind him.
The large sedan was actually swayed by the power of the single arrow.
Chu Yang was completely stunned, scarcely believing what had occurred in that moment. He slowly raised his hand, touching his disheveled hair, and then turned back to look at the sedan behind him. Before he could react, Shang Ruyi was already shouting at him, "It’s the arrow, the Turkic soldiers are coming! Ashina Shali is here!"
This time, everyone realized it. The Turkic people had launched another siege attack just after a battle had ended, even before the battlefield had been fully cleared!
The soldiers kneeling by the roadside hastily got up and charged forward, while Wang Shaoji had already drawn the sword from his waist and was waving it repeatedly, shouting, "Retreat! Quickly retreat!"
The Imperial Guard hurriedly surrounded Chu Yang.
"Quickly escort the Emperor back!"
"Protect the Emperor, quickly!"
Amidst the chaotic retreating around Chu Yang, the few imperial guards who had been escorting her had already left her side, rushing to the Emperor. She was immediately jostled in the crowd, almost unaware of where to go.
In the distance, the voices of Mu Xian and Tushere calling her desperately could still be heard.
"Miss!"
"Young Madam!"
Shang Ruyi raised her hand high, just about to respond to them when suddenly, a large hand reached out, grabbing her tightly.
"...!"
Shang Ruyi was startled. Turning her head, she found herself being pulled back by Chu Yang, who was protected by the Imperial Guard. His face was livid, his eyes bloodshot, and fear and anger interwoven on his face, presenting a nearly hideous appearance, yet he held her hand tightly, dragging her to his side.
And into the center of the Imperial Guard’s cluster.
Shang Ruyi was utterly shocked: "Your Majesty?"
Chu Yang gritted his teeth, his lips twitching incessantly, saying with a grim determination, "Come with Me!"
"..."
Shang Ruyi didn’t know why at a time like this, he suddenly wanted to take her along. Was he trying to protect her? Or, were those previous words angering him to the point that even with the Turkic soldiers approaching, he was determined to punish her strictly?
Her mind was in complete chaos, at a loss of what to do, when more arrows shot in through the breach in the city gate, and amidst a few cries of agony, many people in the crowd had already been shot and fell.
The soldiers defending the city, who were initially charging towards the city gate, hesitated as those at the forefront fell.
Previously, with the city gate as their defense, there was at least something to shield them. But now, with a large hole in the gate, what could block the Turkic people’s assault? Would they have to block it with their flesh and blood like last night?
Even if they died, what meaning would it hold?
The survivors would still face the heavy taxes of the court, and if the Emperor waged war in Liaodong, they might have to pave the way with their flesh and blood again.
All their dissatisfaction and hesitation, at that moment, shackled the soldiers’ footsteps.
Once morale wavered, the battle situation immediately changed.
No one went to block the gate anymore, and through the breach above, they could clearly see the Turkic soldiers charging with clouds of dust from afar, only a few dozen meters away, and this threatening momentum made those inside retreat step by step.
Shang Ruyi, while being pulled by her wrist, looked up at the frightened soldiers and terrified civilians around her.
If the Turkic people really breached the gate—everyone here would die.
Including her, and the man who was dragging her with him!
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi raised her head and shouted harshly at Chu Yang: "Your Majesty! At this point, Your Majesty must reward the soldiers and be generous to the people, or who can defend Yanmen City!"
The surrounding clamor nearly swallowed her voice, but how could the two people closest not hear each other’s voices?
Chu Yang lowered his head to look at her, the terror and rage intertwined in his long phoenix eyes.
He was the Emperor, a chosen one by the heavens, always having his way, yet now, a cruel reality was forcing him to relent!
He was reluctant.
But he also couldn’t not—
Seeing the Turkic soldiers closing in outside the gate, Chu Yang’s expression grew increasingly conflicted, and Shang Ruyi screamed hoarsely: "Your Majesty, will you persist stubbornly, insisting on dying here before it’s enough!?"
That sentence, like a bolt of thunder, exploded atop Chu Yang’s head.
His footsteps suddenly halted, standing in the center of the street, and before him, the Turkic soldiers were almost about to storm into Yanmen County.
Chu Yang gritted his teeth, suddenly raising his voice: "All troops, hear the order!"
Amidst the chaos, his voice sounded like thunderclaps, echoing above everyone’s head.
"For each enemy soldier slain, a reward of ten! For each enemy officer slain, a reward of a hundred! For slaying the enemy leader, a marquis title will be granted!"
...!
The crowd held their breath for a moment.
Chu Yang continued: "Yanmen County soldiers and civilians, exempt from taxes for three years!"
Everyone’s eyes sparkled with ecstatic light, and even the initially hesitant city defenders, at this moment, regained their courage.
"Starting today, I—"
At this, he paused, and Shang Ruyi, standing next to him, could clearly see the unwillingness flickering in his eyes.
For a moment, she too broke out in a cold sweat.
But, after only a brief pause, Chu Yang gritted his teeth and finally said: "Will no longer wage war in Liaodong!"
Just this sentence exploded into ecstatic cheers among the crowd!
Some even cried out towards the Emperor: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"
And then, those soldiers, revitalized, saw the approaching Turkic soldiers through the breach in the gate not as foes but as glittering gold, knowing that capturing and killing the enemy leader would lead them and their families to prosperity!
So, all those soldiers drew their swords and charged into battle with a frenzied roar.
Meanwhile, outside the city gates, the Turkic soldiers had arrived with a roar, the heavy battering ram like a giant’s fist, striking the already damaged gate.
A thunderous crash resounded.
The city gate shattered into countless pieces, and the Turkic soldiers immediately swarmed in!