Chapter 422
Chapter 422
In truth, those two honey traps had been orchestrated by Shen Lang, who had requested them from the Hidden Yuan Society. After all, the society had beautiful women in abundance. The most brilliant part was that the two women were unaware they were merely pawns meant to heighten Jin Shiying’s vigilance; they believed the Hidden Yuan Society had sent them with the genuine intention of winning him over. Thus, their attempts were all the more deadly. Since Shen Lang had designed the script for their seduction, when the honey traps were exposed, the women were made to look utterly disgraceful, completely cooling Jin Shiying’s heart.
After experiencing two honey traps in such a short time, Jin Shiying’s heart instantly grew colder and harder than iron. Only then did the State of Wu make their move, sending Wu You to seduce him. This time, the honey trap was truly formidable, almost impossible to escape. Under normal circumstances, Jin Shiying might have genuinely fallen for her.
But by then, he was like a man who had just recovered from a cold, carrying antibodies to fight it off. In contrast, Wu You, in her attempt to seduce him, ended up developing genuine feelings. Yet, in Jin Shiying’s eyes, her every action was a performance, all of it a deceptive facade. Furthermore, Jin Shiying knew his father, Jin Zhuo, was not dead, and he knew Shen Lang was a man of wondrous plots and schemes. He never had any intention of betraying the Jin Clan to begin with. Thus, the honey trap prepared by the State of Wu had failed spectacularly.
It must be said, Shen Lang’s talent for tormenting people was nothing short of miraculous. Once he decided to target someone, they could never escape his grasp. So, was this preemptive honey trap inoculation, performed without Jin Shiying’s knowledge, a just act? Not particularly. Was it cruel to Jin Shiying, then? No. It wasn’t cruel at all.
True cruelty would have been to kill him in advance out of fear that he might betray you. Some people, like ostriches, bury their heads in the sand and pretend not to see anything, only to cry that people’s hearts are not what they used to be when the betrayal actually happens. But to completely eliminate the seeds of betrayal before they can sprout—that could be called true benevolence. As for the injustice done to Jin Shiying, deceiving him for a lifetime would be enough.
***
Wu Mu wanted to lead the troops into the Great Citadel himself, but he knew the commander must remain in the safest position, so he couldn't. Wu You, who had been consumed with anxiety for days, also wished to enter the citadel and be with Jin Shiying, but she couldn't; she was pregnant and had to protect the child in her womb. The elite troops of the State of Wu moved with incredible speed, vanishing into the Great Citadel in an instant. From the gate, Jin Shiying glanced back once at Wu Mu and Wu You outside. Twilight had fallen, and it was very dark, but even in the gloom, Wu You could feel his gaze. She puckered her lips and blew him a kiss through the air. A complex smile on his face, Jin Shiying disappeared into the citadel.
Wu You suddenly spoke.
“Grand Marshal, don’t you think this is going a little too smoothly?”
Wu Mu asked, “What are you trying to say?”
“I know it’s dark, and our elite troops wore straw sandals instead of armor to enter the Great Citadel silently, but for not a single enemy to be alarmed as they entered… isn’t that a bit strange?”
“Look at the top of the wall!”
Wu You looked up at the ramparts of the Great Citadel. The Jin Clan’s forces were still patrolling as usual, and the soldiers on the walls were still watching the ground below with vigilance. Even the searchlight, reflecting light from a lighthouse on the sea, was aimed at the top of the citadel, not the ground, to watch for enemy attacks. Everything was normal.
Wu Mu said, “It’s because the one who opened the gate was Jin Shiying. With Jin Mulan resting, he’s the highest-ranking commander in the citadel. He knows the perfect moment to open the gates. Besides, our soldiers followed the trenches all the way to the entrance, and the trenches are covered with wooden planks. How could the enemy possibly discover us?”
Wu You smiled and replied, “That makes sense. I suppose I was being too suspicious.”
Just then, the sharp sound of a gong suddenly rang out from within the citadel.
“Enemy attack! Enemy attack! The enemy has entered the citadel!”
An incredibly shrill voice pierced the air, and the entire citadel instantly erupted into a frenzy. Moments later, countless torches were lit inside.
“Prepare for battle!”
A great commotion broke out within the Great Citadel, filled with the sounds of clashing and killing. Only then did Commander Wu Mu breathe a sigh of relief.
“A resounding success. With six thousand of our elite troops inside the citadel, the Jin Clan has no chance of survival.”
Wu You said, “They’re certainly finished. There are only two or three thousand troops left in the citadel at most, and all of them are exhausted. If this fortress weren’t so incredibly sturdy, they would have lost this battle long ago. Now that the gates are open, they have no chance left. It’s a foregone conclusion that we will take Raging Tide City. Grand Marshal, Jin Shiying has performed a great service in capturing the city in this battle.”
Wu Mu laughed heartily. “Don’t you worry. His contributions will not be forgotten!”
The shouts of battle from within the citadel grew more intense, and soon, the great gates began to slowly close again.
“Grand Marshal, they’re trying to close the gates.”
Startled, Wu Mu’s eyelids twitched violently. Watching the closing gates, he had to make a choice. Should he entrust the situation inside to the six thousand elites led by Wu Lian? Or should he commit more troops to the assault? If he sent in more forces, the army, which had already fought for days and nights, would be completely exhausted. After a moment’s hesitation, Wu Mu decided to err on the side of caution and commit more troops.
“Lian Zhan, Tan Xiong. You two will lead a force of four thousand and enter the citadel to support Wu Lian. You must take the fortress within the hour and kill every last soldier of the Jin Clan.”
“Yes, sir!”
In an instant, two of Wu Mu’s generals led four thousand elite soldiers, who were already assembled, and charged into the citadel. At that moment, the Wu army had a full ten thousand men inside the Great Citadel, while the Jin Clan’s forces numbered three thousand at most. The outcome of this battle was a foregone conclusion. Though Wu Mu felt a knot of tension in his heart, he feigned composure, picked up a teapot, poured himself a cup, and slowly took a sip.
*The die is cast. The fall of the Jin Clan and the change of masters in Raging Tide City are now inevitable.*
Wu Mu relaxed. Once this battle was successfully concluded, taking Wang'ai Island and Jinshan Island would be child’s play. The only thing left to consider was how to govern the Leizhou Archipelago.
*Your Majesty, I will not disappoint you.*
***
Inside the Great Citadel.
As expected, the ten thousand soldiers of the Wu army swept through everything in their path, meeting no real resistance. From the very beginning, their war cries pierced the heavens. The Jin Clan’s warriors were mostly defending the walls, so there were few troops inside the citadel to begin with. A moment later, Jin Mulan’s voice echoed from within.
“A traitor has opened the gates! A small contingent will remain on the walls! All other forces, assemble and defend the main hall of the inner citadel!”
Following Jin Mulan’s command, the main force defending the walls retreated and headed toward the main hall in the center of the citadel. Following the lead of Jin Shiying, who acted as their guide, the ten thousand Wu soldiers surged like a tide toward the main hall of the central keep with imposing might.
“General Wu Lian, across the training grounds ahead is the central keep. Jin Mulan is leading all her forces there to make a final stand. Once you take the keep and capture Jin Mulan, the rest of the Jin Clan’s army will surely surrender, and the battle for Raging Tide City will be over.”
This Great Citadel, built by Qiu Tianwei, was utterly devoid of any aesthetic sense. There were no gardens or ponds inside, only cold, imposing stone. The main hall of the central keep was where Qiu Tianwei usually discussed official matters. In front of the keep was a massive training ground, tens of thousands of square meters in size, capable of assembling an army of over ten thousand. Qiu Tianwei often enjoyed standing on the high terrace of the keep, watching his army drill.
The ten thousand soldiers of the Wu army soon entered the training grounds in front of the main hall. The grounds were vast, but with such a large army pouring in, it instantly felt crowded.
“All forces, assemble and form ranks!”
Wu Lian shouted, and the ten thousand Wu soldiers formed up on the training grounds, creating a watertight encirclement around the main hall of the keep ahead. Jin Mulan, with her two to three thousand soldiers, was packed inside the hall.
General Wu Lian said, “Lady Jin Mulan, you are surrounded! You have gathered your forces in a place that is difficult to defend. Your annihilation is now a certainty. Why not surrender now?”
From within the main hall of the keep, Jin Mulan’s voice rang out.
“As long as I live, I will defend this city! You will take it only after I am dead!”
General Wu Lian sneered at her words. He and Jin Mulan’s remnant forces were separated by nothing more than a wall and a door. This was hardly as sturdy as a city wall or gate; it could be breached with ease. And yet, Jin Mulan was still spouting bravado, clueless to the reality of her situation.
*So you all want to die? Then I’ll grant your wish.*
General Wu Lian bellowed, “All forces, prepare for battle! We will storm the main hall and slaughter every last one of the enemy! Kill them! Kill!”
The killing intent of the ten thousand soldiers was sky-high; they were in a state of extreme excitement. With glory just within their grasp, how could they not be thrilled? This city would soon belong to the State of Wu. Moreover, Commander Wu Mu had promised that once Raging Tide City was taken, all the gold in the Jin Clan’s fortress would be theirs. Since the Jin Clan was resisting so stubbornly, they had no choice but to kill them all.
“Wait!”
At that moment, Jin Shiying stopped them.
“I will go in and persuade them to surrender. I will go alone!”
Wu Lian was taken aback by his words.
“Jin Shiying, if you go in there, you won’t just be killed—your body will be torn to shreds.”
“Even so, I cannot stand by and watch the last of the Jin Clan’s soldiers be slaughtered. I will go in and urge them to surrender.”
Wu Lian sneered inwardly.
*Jin Shiying, a whore trying to pass as a virtuous woman. A clear traitor, now pretending to care for his former masters, lamenting that they might all be killed.*
However, this was consistent with Grand Marshal Wu Mu’s assessment of the man: an indecisive fellow who craved wealth and glory but clung to a line of morality. Utterly ridiculous. In truth, Wu Lian was itching to send Jin Shiying to his death. If Jin Shiying came under Wu Mu’s command, he could become a threat to Wu Lian’s own position.
Wu Lian said to him, “If you insist, then go. But if you die in there, don’t you dare blame me!”
Jin Shiying raised his hands high to show he was unarmed and said, “Lady Mulan, it is Jin Shiying. I am coming in alone to negotiate. Lady Mulan, we have no hope of winning this battle. Let us surrender! If the Jin Clan is to preserve its last ounce of strength, shouldn’t we lead these forces back to our fief?”