Chapter 232
Chapter 232
“He's probably going because he's worried Tang Lun will lose out. It's also to get a share of the best gold vein.”
“I'm looking forward to seeing his reaction when he sees what happened on Forsaken Love Island. It's not just Tang Lun, is it? I also want to know what on earth happened there. Thirty thousand pirates. I can't for the life of me figure out how Shen Lang managed to wipe them out.”
Zhang Chong said nothing. He, too, was anxious. He couldn't care less about the situation on Forsaken Love Island, but he was curious about the state of Raging Tide City. Zhang Jin had taken six thousand elite soldiers, a number that represented nearly every officer available in Nujiang Commandery, pushed to their limits. There's a saying: 'the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.' Could that oriole truly succeed? That would decide the fate of both Zhang Chong and the Count of Xuanwu's Estate. Raging Tide City! Not only did the fates of three clans—the Jin Clan, the Zhang Chong Clan, and the Qiu Clan—hang in the balance, but the future of the State of Yue, the success or failure of the new government, all depended on Raging Tide City.
Zhang Chunhua said.
“Father, I must be useless. I failed to capture Qiu Yao'er, so I couldn't help your plan for Raging Tide City come to fruition smoothly.”
Zhang Chong shook his head.
“That was never something that could be obtained by force. You may not have captured Qiu Yao'er, but you did capture Qiu Xiao, didn't you? That alone is a great achievement. Chunhua, did you suffer any losses?”
Zhang Chunhua said in a quiet, tearful voice.
“I sold my rear end to Qiu Xiao.”
Zhang Chong frowned.
“Speak properly.”
“Qiu Xiao only likes men, so my rear end wouldn't sell even if I tried. Besides, he's not Shen Lang, so there's no way I'd do something like that.”
Zhang Chong closed his eyes. Whenever his daughter started spouting nonsense, he would close his eyes and ignore her. She would then find her own antics boring and stop. This was not the time for scolding or reprimanding. That would only make her more smug.
It had been a long time since Zhang Chunhua had mentioned Shen Lang. Ever since Shen Lang's great victory in the Gold Mountain Island dispute, she hadn't brought him up at all. The reason she mentioned him now was that she believed the Zhang Clan would be victorious this time. Only when the Zhang Clan was winning would Zhang Chunhua think about seducing Shen Lang.
“Father, what are we going to do this time?”
This time, Zhang Chong was leading over three thousand pirates and three thousand reinforcements he had conscripted—a total of six thousand men—marching east in grand fashion. Aside from the soldiers outside Xuanwu City and the Prefectural Manor's garrison, he had conscripted almost every soldier available. Every bit of military strength in Nujiang Commandery, whether main forces or garrisons, had been squeezed dry by Zhang Chong. He was truly painting a grand picture, quietly setting in motion a world-shaking event.
Zhang Chong sighed and said.
“What are we doing? It is said, 'aim high and you will strike the middle; aim for the middle and you will fall short.'”
Within seconds, Zhang Chunhua understood his words.
“The Raging Tide City strategy is the most important, but the outcome isn't decided yet. Is there a need for this?”
“Of course, there is!”
* * *
Raging Tide City.
An unprecedented desolation hung over Raging Tide City. Normally, it was a city of chaos and prosperity. Shops were open day and night, and countless hooligans roamed the streets, fighting and killing at a moment's notice. The streets were always chaotic, yet the shops remained orderly. Raging Tide City was a place that maintained this bizarre order. But... soon, all the hooligans vanished, and every shop closed its doors. Because everyone sensed an air of deadly danger.
At Shen Lang's command, the elite warriors of the Jin Clan who had entered Raging Tide City began to assemble. Combined with the warriors who had infiltrated the city long ago, their numbers reached a full two thousand. And in the blink of an eye, he seized the white fortress. It was the same fortress where Qiu Yao'er had once stayed. In other words, it was the very place where Shen Lang had been violated by the she-devil.
Following that, Zhang Jin, leading six thousand elite officers, occupied the black fortress to the west with the same swiftness as Shen Lang. It was the fortress where Qiu Xiao had been stationed before. In the end, the entire Raging Tide City fell into a standoff between three powers. It was a strange equilibrium. Shen Lang had actually predicted this outcome long ago. But when the situation he had anticipated actually occurred, Shen Lang had to admire Prefect Zhang Chong's prowess.
Hiding for months under the pretext of illness, only to draw his sword at the crucial moment and point it right at my back. The situation in Raging Tide City had instantly become bizarre and complex. Qiu Yao'er, with three thousand warriors, was stationed in the main fortress, which was incredibly sturdy and impregnable. Zhang Jin, with six thousand government troops, was stationed in the western fortress. Shen Lang, with two thousand elite warriors, was stationed in the eastern fortress. The three powers were hostile to one another.
Shen Lang was the weakest of the three powers. Yet, he was the one who vowed to seize Raging Tide City. Qiu Yao'er's strategy was exceedingly simple: she would defend the main fortress, and fight whoever came to challenge her. She wouldn't even mind if Zhang Jin and Shen Lang's forces joined together to attack. Zhang Jin, on the other hand, was determined to reap the spoils of their conflict. He was waiting for Shen Lang and Qiu Yao'er to fight and destroy each other. The moment Shen Lang deployed his troops to attack the Prefectural Manor, Zhang Jin planned to strike him from behind. Because of this, the three powers remained in a frustrating standoff, each warily watching the others.
Jin Shiying and the others couldn't bring themselves to question Shen Lang openly, but they were utterly pessimistic about the battle for Raging Tide City, holding no expectations whatsoever. To face the invincible warrior Qiu Yao'er with a mere two thousand men. How did Qiu Tianwei build Raging Tide City? Why did the Pirate King become the master of all pirates? It was fundamentally an achievement forged by Qiu Yao'er killing and beating down countless pirates. Her martial prowess was terrifying.
Jin Shiying was confident enough in his own strength not to fear facing the lesser pirate king, Qiu Xiao. But against Qiu Yao'er, he believed he would likely be finished in a single blow. Because Qiu Yao'er finished everyone in a single blow. Among the pirates, there was a saying: "Fear not the Pirate King, but fear the she-devil." The she-devil was not only invincible but also occupied an incredibly fortified fortress. Even if the Jin Clan's warriors numbered twenty thousand instead of two thousand, they would still be defeated.
It was truly a situation with a wolf at the front and a tiger at the back. The main concern wasn't capturing Raging Tide City, but whether they could even make it back alive. The Jin Clan's warriors weren't particularly afraid of the current situation, but most of them thought it was nine-tenths hopeless. The two thousand warriors of the Jin Clan would probably never return home.
The standoff continued for three long days. Then, suddenly, Shen Lang gave the order, and the two thousand warriors mobilized to attack the Prefectural Manor's fortress. Everyone was stunned by Shen Lang's action.
‘Is... is this suicide?’
But warriors were professionals who had to obey orders. Even if they doubted their superior's decision, even if they felt despair, every soldier still had to follow commands. Jin Shiying and Jin Zheng were no different. The two of them still hadn't accepted Shen Lang and had been in constant conflict with him. But at this crucial moment, they did not obstruct Shen Lang's decision. Because they had grown up in the Jin Clan, loyalty to the clan was etched into their very bones.
Following Shen Lang's command, the two thousand warriors charged to the base of Raging Tide City's main fortress at top speed. In their most vulnerable state, they surrounded the fortress's front gate. Facing the massive, sturdy fortress, two thousand men seemed far too weak, as if they could be crushed in an instant.
* * *
Inside the western fortress.
“General, Shen Lang has deployed his troops and surrounded Qiu Yao'er's main fortress!”
For a moment, Zhang Jin was ecstatic, repeatedly confirming the news his subordinate had brought as if he couldn't believe it. After a three-day standoff, Shen Lang had actually deployed his troops to attack the main fortress.
‘Is he insane? Has he lost his mind? The main fortress where Qiu Yao'er is stationed couldn't be taken even with twenty thousand men, yet he's attacking with a mere two thousand. And I, Zhang Jin, am right behind you with seven thousand men. Shen Lang, you're courting death!’
The news that the enemy was willingly walking into death's embrace was almost unbelievable, but regardless, a chiliarch asked him.
“General, should we deploy immediately?”
Zhang Jin shook his head.
“No. In times like these, we must not act rashly. Our goal is not only to eliminate Shen Lang but also to seize every opportunity to capture the Prefectural Manor. Therefore, we will attack when both Shen Lang and Qiu Yao'er's forces are wounded. But it's unlikely that Qiu Yao'er will be hurt!”
Zhang Jin shouted loudly.
“The six-thousand-strong army will assemble and prepare for battle at a moment's notice!”
“Yes, sir!”
* * *
Raging Tide Prefectural Manor.
Qiu Yao'er appeared atop the high fortress wall. Her gaze upon Shen Lang was devoid of any complex emotion, remaining as placid as ever.
“Shen Lang, you came after all!”
Shen Lang said.
“I did. I am here.”
“Did I not tell you never to set foot in Raging Tide City again? I said I would kill you without mercy if you did.”
“I know.”
Qiu Yao'er glanced at the two thousand warriors behind Shen Lang, then looked back at him with an emotionless gaze. She slowly raised her two Ghost Head Sabers, not even channeling her inner energy.
“Shen Lang, you start. Attack the fortress first!”
The she-devil was truly a powerful person. Even in a life-or-death battle, she told Shen Lang to attack first. A battle like this was little more than a small amusement to her. It was like watching a sports game when you already know the outcome. Shen Lang took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He was steeling his emotions and his resolve.
‘Do I have to do this? Do I really have to do this?’
‘Yes, I have to!’
‘But you slept with this woman. No, she slept with you.’
‘But she is still a stranger. I will only care for the one I love most. A strange woman I slept with can die! Qiu Yao'er is a remarkable woman, but she stands in my way, so she must die!’
Shen Lang waved his hand, and several small catapults were brought forward. On the catapults were loaded some very rare black stones. They weren't gunpowder, but black stones that resembled meteoric iron.
‘Then let's kill her.’
Shen Lang raised his hand, and the catapults were fully drawn, ready to launch three special black meteoric stones at his command. They were not devices that could explode or crush people to death, but... they could kill one person.
‘Qiu Yao'er, you are a woman of rare spirit, and I admire you greatly. But... for my wife, for the Jin Clan, and to win Raging Tide City, I have no choice but to kill you!’
And Shen Lang's hand was about to drop forcefully. Just then, Xu Qianqian rushed out and shouted at the top of her lungs.
“Shen Lang, you can't kill her! You can't kill Qiu Yao'er! She's carrying your child in her belly!”