Ch. 586..590: The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 586-590

Chapter 586: Chapter 586: Crushing Defeat (2)_1

Fortunately, the method of extracting costly oil was known only to the princess’s people. Situ Gong and Luo Heng felt a wave of relief when they thought about it.

If everyone knew this method, they would really fear that everyone in the streets would be consuming costly oil.

Lin Ziyin came out too, closely followed by Jue Hui and others.

Chu Suifeng was worried about her. During the war, she was not allowed to go out for fear of danger. After all, the time when the two armies were fighting was the most chaotic in the city.

Moreover, there were cunning people within the Border City, both spies from the North Country and people from various paths of Daqin.

Chu Suifeng wasn’t sure that Lin Ziyin would be safe within the city, and in reality, he never dared to gamble on issues concerning Lin Ziyin’s personal safety.

But the shrewd Prince did not realize that Lin Ziyin was not a "well-behaved" canary.

Considering that the labor of the entire city was involved in the battle, could Lin Ziyin afford to sit idle in the Residence?

Luckily, she also knew that the situation was special and did not allow for any negligence. When going out, she always took enough people with her.

So at the moment, Lin Ziyin was busy directing the city’s residents to transport stones with Xiao Yang at the bottom of the city wall.

Situ Gong was an incredible strategist. He was far-sighted and meticulous in his thinking. Before the war between the North Country and the Northern Land had begun, he and Chu Suifeng had, according to the peculiar geographical location of the Border City, let every household stack large quantities of stones at the base of their walls.

As long as the enemy attacked the city, after the stones prepared under the city wall were used up, the people could transport the stones from here.

"People and carts coming should stick to the right two lanes, and people and carts going out should stick to the left. The people stay at the edges, the carts in the middle." Lin Ziyin was a woman, surely lacking strength, which meant she couldn’t handle heavy tasks. But she was great at finding things to do. She took the initiative to find things to keep busy with, never idling around.

The strong people of the city all gathered on this side of North City, and the spacious streets immediately became crowded.

Because people came to work, which required the transportation of stones, tools were naturally required. The crowd slowed down due to the congestion.

Xiao Yang’s worry on one side was no use.

However, the method Lin Ziyin used to alleviate the congestion immediately solved the problem. Everyone followed her command, and the flow of people immediately became smooth.

In this way, the process of transporting stones to the city wall speeded up immediately.

The hot oil on the city wall just ran out, and the stones were immediately supplied.

General Bayal and Billy could only watch as the soldiers of the North Country got injured.

"We cannot attack any further." Seeing groups of soldiers with skin and flesh stripped off by the hot oil, and then seeing groups of injured soldiers with bloody heads, Bayal could not remain calm anymore.

"General Bayal, we have already attacked to the bottom of the city, there is no reason to retreat now." Billy disagreed with the Chief Commander’s opinion.

"National Teacher, if we do not stop the siege now, the number of our casualties will continue to increase." Bayal’s eyes turned red.

"Keep attacking the city." Billy coldly gave the order.

"National Master, I am the Chief Commander of the North Country." Bayal’s eyes reddened. This was the first time he, as a Chief Commander, disagreed with Billy who was the National Teacher. "Sound the gold for retreat immediately."

"Hold on for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn." Billy stared at Bayal for a long time with cold eyes, but Bayal didn’t show any signs of retreating. In the end, he had to choose to step back.

"Fine, only for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn." Billy stepped back, Bayal didn’t want to make the situation worse either, so he also chose to step back.

"Wait, let the soldiers attacking the city carry the bodies of the dead on their backs." Billy observed for a moment and suddenly had an idea.

Chapter 587: Chapter 587: Crushing Defeat (3)_1

"State Preceptor," Bayal disagreed with this decision. As the Chief Commander of the North Country, Bayal had a high reputation among the Northern Soldiers. The fallen soldiers were his men, and he naturally felt their loss deeply. Moreover, the death toll was high. Those warriors lying under the city wall had died for the honor of the North Country, and if they were to use their corpses now, Bayal found it hard to accept psychologically.

Billy saw it differently. In his view, if they could take Border City, let alone make use of some soldier’s bodies, even if live sacrifices were required, he would think it worthwhile.

"General, don’t forget the expectations of our monarch and the crown prince towards these warriors." With the series of setbacks today and Bayal’s dissatisfaction with him, Billy’s temper had reached its limit. "They are fighting for the honor of the North Country, for the glory of the Monarch, for the people of the North Country. These warriors, they wouldn’t hesitate to offer up their lives, let alone their bodies."

Bayal was left silenced by his chastisement. Although he disagreed with Billy’s view, there was truth in Billy’s words.

For the monarch and the crown prince, they could not afford to lose this war.

Within the kingdom, although the monarch favored the elder prince, there were still many officials supporting the second prince. Particularly among the people, the second prince’s popularity was much higher than the elder prince.

This conquest of the Northern Land was strongly opposed by the faction of the second prince. If the troops were to return in defeat, the elder prince’s position would undoubtedly be very awkward.

As the elder prince’s relative family, Bayal naturally didn’t want to see such a result.

But if the losses of soldiers under his command during this war were too heavy, that would not be worth it either. The backers behind the second prince, Alhatu, were also no weaklings. If their side were to suffer heavy losses, they would not have the strength to back the elder prince upon their return. Either way, Bayal was in a dilemma.

"Given the existence of the Timur Family and your Hull Family, and the presence of me, the State Preceptor, that spineless Alhatu will never take the throne." Billy continued coldly. As an ally, he understood quite well what Bayal was concerned about. "But if we seize this opportunity to take Border City and capture Chu Suifeng, our North Country will undoubtedly enter a new era, laying a solid foundation for the elder prince in advance."

Striking while the iron is hot, Billy spoke directly to Bayal’s weak point.

As expected, Bayal, swayed by Billy and combined with the combative nature of the North Country’s people, eventually acquiesced to Billy’s suggestion.

"Warriors of the North Country, the time has come to devote your bodies and souls to our monarch!" yelled Billy, "Glory will be yours."

Immediately, someone passed on Billy’s commands.

Many warriors found it hard to accept the arrangement of exchanging their comrades’ bodies for their own safety.

But military orders are absolute, and they all dared not to disobey their superiors.

Surely enough, the first wave of soldiers who were attacking the city, gritted their teeth, picked up their deceased comrades’ bodies from the ground, and began climbing.

"Prince, the enemy is using bodies as shields, what do we do?" The commanding General up on the watchtower immediately noticed the unusual movements below.

"Change to the herbal ammunition." Luo Heng waved his hand in command.

The soldiers who received the order immediately began to switch their weapons, and suddenly numerous soldiers picked up the long bamboo poles placed on their sides.

When Bayal and Billy saw their soldiers using bodies to significantly reduce casualties, they both breathed a sigh of relief. The confidence of the attacking commanders seemed to have fully recovered from the blows dealt by the Northern Soldiers. Many soldiers were already halfway up the siege ladders, and victory seemed to be within sight.

Chapter 588: Chapter 588: Crushing Defeat (4)_1

"Thud, thud." Suddenly, the situation began to change again.

The soldiers who were climbing upwards were falling down in rows, screams of agony rising in waves.

The number of injured soldiers was increasing again—this time, everyone who climbed the ladder fell.

"What’s going on?" Billy was furious.

"Reporting to the National Master, the walls of North City have been covered with medicinal powder. Anyone who inhales it loses all their strength," a frantic soldier hurriedly reported.

"Chu Suifeng." Bayal looked angrily at the man on the distant city wall, wishing he could personally end Chu Suifeng’s life.

When Lin Ziyin saw the medicinal monks and her black-armored protectors hurriedly filling bamboo tubes with medicinal powder, her eyes widened in surprise. My God, there was already "biochemical" warfare in ancient times.

"Are these herbs poison?" She asked curiously.

In modern times, biochemical warfare was despised by all countries and not recognized internationally.

Master Hui Zhen, a man of the cloth, had no qualms about orchestrating such lowly tactics. No matter how Lin Ziyin looked at him, she found him especially smarmy today.

The medicinal monks were even busier than Master Hui Zhen. They continuously handed up the bamboo tubes filled with medicinal powder to the top of the city wall.

"No, it’s not poison." Master Hui Zhen answered cheerfully, "Just a powder that causes people to lose their strength."

Lin Ziyin let out a small sigh. Although it wasn’t poison, it was almost as bad. To lose one’s strength on the battlefield was akin to being poisoned for a soldier.

However, Lin Ziyin wasn’t a saint—she didn’t have the luxury of time to sympathize with the enemy. She continued to assist Xiao Yang in directing civilians to move rocks, always ready with the rear supplies.

"Sound Gold." Bayal couldn’t bear it anymore, disregarding Billy’s ill-tempered expression, he immediately issued the command.

Upon hearing the sound of gold, the soldiers of the North Country breathed a sigh of relief.

Although they valued honor as warriors, none of them were willing to die so freely in the face of defeat.

The King of Ling of the Northern Land had his soldiers blocked inside the city, but they were continually outwitted by the various tactics used against them. It was headaches all around. They might as well let the soldiers of the Northern Land come out and have a real fight.

When the men of the North Country stopped their attack, Chu Suifeng’s men, of course, didn’t foolishly take the offensive.

Both sides took this opportunity to catch their breath.

"Next, let everyone climb over the bodies." Billy was unrelenting.

Bayal disagreed, and so did many of his soldiers.

"Are you just going to give up like this and go home?" Billy looked at everyone present with a dark expression. "Chu Suifeng’s troops are penned in the city. You saw how powerful the Eight Trigrams Array that Situ Gong and Luo Heng formed is. If we let them out, are you confident of victorious? Or are you saying, you’re already afraid?"

At this point, Billy’s eyes held contempt.

As a people who worshiped martial might, the North Country men could not stand such a look of disdain.

Several generals immediately stood up in indignation. "National Master, this is an insult to us!"

"My Lord, I am willing to continue the siege!"

...

Amid the clamor of everyone, Bayal, the Chief Commander, did not speak.

To him, Billy’s provocation was utterly futile. He couldn’t let his feelings get the better of him and harm all the soldiers. He had to take responsibility for everyone under his command.

Chapter 589: Chapter 589: Crushing Defeat (5)_1

"My lord General." One of the commanders stepped forward, "I’d rather die standing than be sneered at by the common folk in retreat."

This sentiment struck a chord, and the crowd’s discussion grew even more animated.

"Even if you were to die in the line of duty, you would be the heroes of our North Country." Billy fanned the flames, "Our King will certainly never mistreat your families, and the people will forever remember you as brave warriors."

Watching his indignant subordinates, and considering the future, Bayal sighed deeply, "Does the National Master have a way to counter their poison powder?"

"I have inspected it already, that powder only temporarily weakens people without taking their lives. When we attack the city later, just have everyone cover their mouths and noses with cloth." Billy spoke carelessly, "After the previous fierce battle, Northern Land will not have much reserves of oil and stones left. As long as we can hold on, Chu Suifeng will certainly be defeated. Once we enter Border City, with our forces’ strength, what would we have to fear from Northern Land’s soldiers?"

"The National Master speaks sensibly."

"Yes, as long as we can hold on, we will definitely win." There are warmongers in every era.

These commanders, aspiring to be heroes and encouraged by Billy, quickly forgot the brutal scene earlier, their eyes glistening with pragmatic ambition.

Bayal did not share Billy’s confidence and naivety, "Chu Suifeng and Situ Gong are cunning men, they would not be unprepared."

Before he could finish speaking, Billy became displeased. "Sir General must stop building up other’s morale and damaging our own prestige. No matter how formidable Chu Suifeng and Situ Gong are, these past years, the Emperor of Daqin has continually dragged them down. Without provisions and military wages, what could they use for defense?"

War is not merely about physical strength or temporary courage. Over the years, Border City’s gear and protection have considerably fallen behind. According to the information we received, perhaps this year would be their last chance.

Because Chu Suifeng had found a way to rejuvenate Border City. If Chu Suifeng and Northern Land were given ample time, Northern Land would surely undergo drastic changes. Once Northern Land becomes wealthy and powerful, it will be even harder for North Country to attack Northern Land. When Chu Suifeng becomes powerful, even if the Emperor of Daqin was hindering him from behind, North Country might find it difficult to advance further south.

Billy and Bayal never believed that Chu Suifeng would be willing to be restrained by the Emperor of Daqin. The king is like a young tiger, fierce yet docile when powerless, but once he attains the ability to defend himself, he will unfailingly reveal his lethal claws and teeth, delivering a deadly blow.

"If you miss a good chance, General, aren’t you afraid you will regret it?" Billy was deeply discontented with Bayal’s indecisiveness. However, having been allies for many years, he naturally wouldn’t break ranks with Bayal.

"Let’s proceed according to what the National Master says." Bayal heaved a sigh.

He had thought that with the strong warriors of North Country and the aid of the Fire Bull Formation, taking Border City would be a breeze. As Bayal saw it, the greatest challenge would be the city that came after Border City. However, he hadn’t expected that Chu Suifeng and Situ Gong would be so formidable.

Chu Suifeng did not just break through the Fire Bull Formation, but also used the changing formations of the Eight Trigrams Array to deliver a heavy blow to them, greatly dampening the morale of North Country’s soldiers. The attack on the city today was truly adding insult to injury for North Country.

None of Chu Suifeng’s men had been harmed, but their soldiers suffered heavy casualties. Although the exact number was not calculated, it could be vaguely guessed based on the bodies piled upon the ground. The accumulation of so many corpses could form a small mound, making it clear just how stifled and frustrated they were in this battle.

Chapter 590: Chapter 590: Crushing Defeat (6)_1

Bayal’s thoughts at this moment were so complex that they were almost indescribable.

The difficult choices had almost turned his hair white with worry.

"Weren’t you told not to leave?" As soon as the enemy halted, Chu Suifeng immediately went to the city wall and found the busy Lin Ziyin.

Among all those people, he had spotted Lin Ziyin early on. But the war had been too intense and he couldn’t spare any time to come to her. To be honest, seeing Lin Ziyin working so hard, Chu Suifeng was both touched and upset.

In such a dangerous environment, his beloved woman always thought of him. Lin Ziyin’s actions made Chu Suifeng feel deeply warm. He was glad that the woman he had chosen to be his queen was not weak. His distress was due to the fact that Lin Ziyin was on the city wall, and his heart was hanging in fear that Lin Ziyin would come across even the slightest danger. Even though he knew that his worries might be excessive, Chu Suifeng just couldn’t help but worry. His anxiety left him feeling stifled and difficult, hence the moment he got some time, he hurried over to find Lin Ziyin.

"Don’t worry, Jue Hui and others have always been by my side. And there are so many dark-armored soldiers here, what should I be afraid of? If all else fails, isn’t there you, Prince?" Lin Ziyin said with a smile.

Her gentle voice was like a rich and mellow wine to Chu Suifeng’s ears. The formerly stern-faced man involuntarily softened his expression.

"I’m going up to take a look." The commoners could only move stones at the bottom of the city, but they hadn’t truly participated in the war. Lin Ziyin hadn’t had a real look at the situation of the Northern Army.

"Don’t go." Chu Suifeng refused dominantly.

Lin Ziyin gave a slight smile, and didn’t get angry, "Prince, I’m not made of paper. Death and blood are nothing to me."

Seeing her nonchalant expression, Chu Suifeng stared at her for quite a while. Lin Ziyin, however, stared back without any guilt.

Chu Suifeng had always known that although Lin Ziyin appeared weak, deep down she was incredibly stubborn. Seeing her gaze, Chu Suifeng knew, the girl was determined to go up to the city tower.

He sighed softly, "Just take a glance, and come down immediately afterwards."

Reluctantly compromising, his tone was helpless.

Lin Ziyin chuckled silently. Chu Suifeng really did regard her as a child.

"Prince, let’s go." Since the dominant man had willingly compromised, she had to give him a bit of encouragement in return. Lin Ziyin took the initiative to hold his hand and walked towards the city tower.

The astonished eyes of the eavesdropping crowd immediately fell on the two hands clasped tightly together. What explosive news. The prince was into men, and the "man" who had just been commanding them to move stones was the prince’s lover.

Some soldiers on the city tower also noticed the intimate movements between Chu Suifeng and Lin Ziyin, leaving everyone agog. Lin Ziyin had always been frequenting the military camp, and the beef tripe noodle soup they had been eating these days was made under her guidance. Everyone had been guessing her identity, but nobody had thought that Lin Ziyin, who was always kindly disposed, could be the prince’s lover. All this was utterly confusing!

Chu Suifeng didn’t care about people’s gazes at all. In his eyes, there was only Lin Ziyin, and his right hand was holding onto her tightly. Lin Ziyin, however, was a bit embarrassed. In the heat of the moment, she had forgotten that she was still wearing male clothes.

Seeing the soldiers’ varying expressions, Lin Ziyin was sure she could guess what they were thinking just by using her toes.

"Miss Lin." The commanders on the city wall saw Lin Ziyin arrive and hurried over to greet her.

"No need to bow." Lin Ziyin said kindly.

Si Jinhan leaned against the city wall opening, and seeing Chu Suifeng leading Lin Ziyin by the hand, his dark eyes flickered before he decisively turned his head to look at the Northern Army soldiers beneath the city wall.