Chapter 1446 - 349: Charge! (Part 2)

Chapter 1446: Chapter 349: Charge! (Part 2)

Lord Pingye drew his barbarian sword and signaled them to line up and leave the camp heading west,

none of them dared to ask why.

The battlefield was clearly to the east, yet they kept marching west, west, and further west.

If not for their faith in Lord Pingye’s formidable reputation,

had any other commander directed them in this manner,

they might have thought this commander was leading them to desert.

Fortunately, thanks to the rear being the Yan people’s supply line, the various armies marching west didn’t have to worry about supplies.

After a long march over several days,

finally,

Wang River,

appeared before them.

......

Jade Plate City is still Jade Plate City;

yet Jade Plate City is no longer the same Jade Plate City.

Once, Jade Plate City and Ying Capital City faced each other across the river, known for their flower boats and dancing girls.

Ying Capital’s prosperity was expected; as the capital of the Situ Family, it had been developed over a century, integrating politics, military, and economic centers. If Ying Capital didn’t thrive, it would be truly perplexing.

In comparison, the splendor of Jade Plate City revealed a pure beauty.

Scholars and poets from the Jin land loved to travel to Jade Plate City, compose poetry across the river, or drink on the flower boats.

During Yao Zizhan’s travels in Jin land, he once left the verse, "Why care for Ying City, my heart lies within the Jade Plate."

Yao Zizhan was famously romantic, but also notoriously particular; if Jade Plate City truly wasn’t great, he, who was accustomed to the romantic scenes of Qian State’s Jiangnan, would never have praised it like this.

Sadly,

years of war and unrest led Jade Plate City to the state it is now; although the city walls have been repaired, walking within it remains extraordinarily desolate.

The only signs of life outside the city are due to the supply line of the army passing through here.

Walking on the city wall, Lord Zheng couldn’t help but feel nostalgic.

Nostalgia for a renowned city’s decline and its trough; sometimes, emotions stirred by the scene aren’t uncontrollable, purely depending on whether you have the leisure for it, and right now, at least for these few days, Lord Zheng had that leisure.

So, taking a moment for sentiment amidst busyness.

"Alas....."

A sigh came from someone beside him, it was Gou Moli.

Lord Zheng was amused,

said:

"Why are you sighing?"

The current state of Jade Plate City, you, the wild people’s king, have more than fifty percent of the blame.

"My Lord, have you been here before?"

"It’s my first time within the city walls." Lord Zheng said.

During the first Battle of Wang River, Lord Zheng was watching opera in Shengle.

During the second Battle of Wang River, with Prince Jingnan leading the army again, Lord Zheng was ordered to lead the troops, soon after being arranged to cross the river from downstream for a rear attack.

Upon returning after guarding Snow Sea Pass, it was just the time for slaughtering captives.

Back then, beneath Jade Plate City, there were countless Chu people’s corpses, and Lord Zheng couldn’t be bothered to dirty his boots.

It was said that when the Yan Army entered Jade Plate City later, they found it full of human remains; Chu people ate the so-called "two-legged sheep" due to food shortages during the siege.

Thus, the slaughter of the forty thousand Blue Luan Army wasn’t too unjust.

Last time passing Wang River, he deliberately avoided Jade Plate City because he was accompanied by Xiong Liqing.

Returning, Lord Zheng hurriedly headed back to prepare for the campaign against Chu, thus missed seeing Jade Plate City.

This time, it truly was his first time.

"My Lord, previously in Jade Plate City, standing on the street and taking a deep breath, you could smell various cosmetics; lifting a handful of water from the river, you could taste the flavor of wine.

Back then, Jade Plate City was truly a wonderful place; if only considering this city alone, it wouldn’t lose out to Qian State’s Jiangnan at all.

However,

it is precisely because it is now desolate that it has a peculiar sentiment and atmosphere;

in my subordinate’s opinion,

it must be for chasing that feeling that you specially came in to take a look.

This,

is also a kind of beauty."

Thus, you cannot but admire the learning and reflective ability of such genuine talents; "beauty" is a concept habitually recognized between Lord Zheng and the demons, occasionally discussed, and Gou Moli has become familiar with it and even uses it.

Lord Zheng neither agreed nor disagreed,

he simply took out his China brand large iron box, pulled out a cigarette, and bit it between his lips.

"My Lord, the troops we brought this time are quite assorted."

The variety of troops brought this time is such that even the Qian people are left behind.

But Lord Zheng seemed unconcerned,

said:

"When we are at the location, there will be no time to fuss over it."

Everyone will be on a boatgoing downriver to a place where they are surrounded by "Chu songs" on all sides; apart from banding together, there is only the option to band together.

Besides, with Prince Jingnan’s banner overhead, and Lord Zheng’s status evident, there’s no fear of getting these complex troops to obey orders.

Gou Moli echoed with a laugh, saying:

"So sometimes it seems, Qian people deserve it; they barely managed to produce a Tattoo-faced Master, only to end up getting him killed by their own people.

Otherwise,

given Qian State’s power, how could they fall to this state?"

"Some people look at national destiny over centuries; others look at their own power, just different perspectives." Lord Zheng said.

"Yes, my Lord, you are right."

Lord Zheng took out a fire striker, lit the cigarette,

said:

"According to the reports from the Spy Bureau, that old Minister Zhong of Qian State might have already passed away, only Qian State hasn’t disclosed it yet."

"No wonder Qian State hasn’t made any moves at the borders; earlier, I thought that with such intense fighting here against Chu, Qian State couldn’t be so foolish as to not stir up something at the borders. Turns out this is the reason."