Chapter 1362: Volunteering to Face the Enemy

Chapter 1362: Chapter 1197: Volunteering to Face the Enemy

Gu Chengyu tugged at the corner of his mouth; he had long suspected He Chaoguang, but it was only now that he revealed his true colors. One must admit, Prince Jing’s methods are truly effective. However, it remains unknown how many more of his covert agents are lurking here.

Gu Chengyu cast a glance back into the hall, briefly pausing his gaze on Hu Maoshen, before exchanging a look with Ming Mo. Ming Mo immediately understood and nodded in agreement.

Ming Mo knew exactly who his prince was referring to. Hu Maoshen was one of Prince Jing’s men, and naturally, he needed to be watched closely.

“My Prince, He Chaoguang did not open the city gates!” Qin Min rode back rapidly, reporting to Prince Jing.

Prince Jing reined in his horse, pondered for a moment before saying, “He must have been exposed; refrain from contacting him further, for he is no longer useful.”

There was no need to guess who it was—Gu Chengyu! Why must Gu Chengyu always stand against him? Have I not treated him well? Prince Jing closed his eyes momentarily. When he reopened them, they were filled with steadfast determination. No one, absolutely no one shall stand in his way.

“If we can’t enter the city gates, our chances of victory are halved!” Qin Min furrowed his brows tightly—the very situation he feared had come to pass. Realistically, this was a conservative estimate; who could have anticipated He Chaoguang’s sudden silence?

“There is no path of retreat, only forward movement. We must seize the initiative before the court has time to dispatch reinforcements!” Prince Jing tightened his grip on the reins, looking back.

Upon seeing the blaze stretching behind him, his heart surged with emotion. These people have always followed him; if he retreats, how could he ever face them? Or himself?

“March faster, prepare the siege ladders, and be ready to attack the city!” With a wave of his hand, Prince Jing spurred his horse forward, and the army behind him began jogging.

They were now merely three miles from the city gates, so Prince Jing no longer bothered to hide—after all, the court had already discovered them.

By the time Gu Chengyu and the Little Emperor reached the city gates, Prince Jing’s army was already at the city’s threshold. Gu Chengyu stood atop the city tower, gazing at the blazing scene below that made the outskirts as bright as day.

Prince Jing glanced up at the city tower and shouted to his men, “Storm the city!”

No more words were necessary—the court’s reinforcements had not yet arrived, and he needed to act quickly.

No sooner had he spoken than soldiers lifted the siege ladders and leaned them against the walls. Gu Chengyu’s expression turned solemn as he shouted towards those behind him, “Archers, ready!”

Gu Chengyu flung the torch he held downwards. The Capital’s city gates were protected by a moat. To lay siege to the city, one could only act at certain gate points.

Outside the city walls, there was also a trench, three meters deep and ten meters wide. Gu Chengyu had preemptively ordered fire oil to be poured into the trench. The moment his torch hit the trench, it was set ablaze with roaring flames.

“Quick, bring up the planks!” Qin Min shouted to the soldiers behind him.

The burning trench was a formidable barrier, blocking the residual enemy forces outside. Gu Chengyu observed as the enemy soldiers traversed the planks over the trench and charged toward the city gates.

The fire oil would only burn for about half an hour, but on the battlefield, even a brief moment could turn the tide. The tongues of fire mercilessly licked at the soldiers’ bodies, releasing an unbridled heat. Failing to quickly cross the trench would mean falling into a fiery abyss below.

From below came waves of anguished screams and the overpowering stench of burning flesh, terrifying the soldiers so much they nearly lost half their courage.

“Why aren’t you moving? Cross this trench, and wealth and a bright future await! Glory lies within the peril, charge!” A burly soldier, brandishing a knife, shouted at those beside him.

By now, there was no room for retreat. Inaction meant death; giving their all might still mean survival, even future ascension wasn’t out of the question.

His action greatly boosted morale, and the soldiers, boiling with passion, surged onto the planks.

One sturdy plank after another turned to ash, only to be replaced by another. These soldiers seemed tireless.

Yet, those who crossed the trench faced another challenge. From above, a barrage of fire arrows rained down upon them. Those who survived the trench found many still perished under the hail of arrows.

The court had only thirty thousand imperial guards, rushing from South City to encircle the enemy.

“Quick, ram the gate!” Qin Min shouted to those carrying the battering ram.

Soon after, the crashing sound against the city gates resonated from below. Gu Chengyu watched as the soldiers beside him lifted boulders and let them fall, smashing the climbing soldiers to pieces, splattering brains against the walls, making Gu Chengyu’s stomach churn.

The Little Emperor hadn’t experienced such a grand scene; the cries and wails of soldiers below were so harrowing that his complexion turned much paler than before.

For now, Gu Chengyu had no mind to worry about the Little Emperor’s state. He glanced at Prince Jing and Qin Min below, then turned to speak to Prince Jing, “Your servant requests to take action!”

The Little Emperor, upon hearing this, panicked, “Will the Regent King act personally?”

He had also heard of Gu Chengyu’s notable martial arts skills, but now Gu Chengyu was the court’s mainstay; should anything befall him, the consequences were unfathomable.

Relying solely on Gu Chengyu to fend off these ravenous wolves and ferocious tigers, the Little Emperor could only imagine that without him, he would surely be devoured whole by these people.

“The troops I dispatched earlier haven’t arrived yet. If we cannot hold Prince Jing during this time, I’m afraid we won’t last until reinforcements come.”

Gu Chengyu had confidence in his ability to defend himself, even though Prince Jing’s martial arts were not weak; he feared no one.

“Then be careful, and if you can’t hold your ground, do not force yourself!” The Little Emperor clenched his fists; though Gu Chengyu was now the key figure in court, he knew the situation was urgent. The fact that Gu Chengyu dared to partake indicated his confidence in his martial skills.

“Yes, rest assured, Your Majesty!” Gu Chengyu replied, then drew his sword, descending the city tower in a flash.

Prince Jing soon noticed a flowing white figure descending from the city tower. Wielding a long sword, he looked at Gu Chengyu, who was now standing not far away.

Qin Yingyuan had also been bravely fighting the enemy, but upon seeing Gu Chengyu, she got distracted and suffered a sword wound on her arm. She turned to deal with the soldier behind her, slowly moving closer to her brother.

Even amidst this chaos, with rivers of blood around, his pure, unyielding aura stood in stark contrast to his surroundings. Sometimes, she wondered why she was so persistently drawn to him. Was it her stubborn nature? Or was it that the unattainable always seemed the most desirable?

She had no answers; the more she thought, the less clear it became. When not seeing him, she didn’t think of him much, only occasionally. But upon seeing him, there seemed to be no room for anyone else in her eyes.

“My Prince! Let me handle this man!” Qin Min’s brow furrowed deeply, for everyone knew Gu Chengyu’s martial prowess was formidable. He could barely hold his own in a fight, unsure if he could withstand the challenge.

Prince Jing’s face darkened, “There’s no need!”

Gu Chengyu stood in white robes, the hem fluttering in the night wind, the treasure sword in his hand reflecting a cold silver light in the moonlight.