Having many children brings many blessings; the struggle for power begins with marriage.

Chapter 344 Emperor Wu: Who would be the most suitable person to manage the Northern Kingdom?

Ying Feiyu's idea was certainly wonderful, but reality is cruel.

The reason why the Northern Kingdom's offensive was getting weaker and weaker and the number of artillery shells was decreasing was mainly because the vanguard led by Mu Changtian advanced too quickly, and the artillery battalions behind them did not keep up.

The artillery battalion had a large number of ordinary soldiers, so it was quite difficult for them to move heavy artillery pieces.

The vanguard led by Mu Changtian only had a few heavy artillery pieces and not many shells. The rest were mostly small mortars, which did not offer much advantage in attacking a city.

So Mu Changtian waited until the artillery battalion arrived that night before making any decisions.

In any case, they will definitely take Lingyun City today, and then seize the time to cut off the logistics of the main force of Dawu, so that the Dawu army that entered Dayue will have no logistical support.

By the afternoon, the Northern army's counterattack had ceased, and the Northern army had set up camps far from Lingyun City, seemingly preparing for a long-term siege.

At this moment, Ying Feiyu stood on the city wall, looking at the camp of the Northern Kingdom army in the distance, and his guess was confirmed again. It must be because that kind of weapon was gone that the Northern Kingdom army did not continue to launch an attack.

In this way, it wouldn't be a problem for me to hold out until the imperial reinforcements arrive. Lingyun City also has ample food supplies, so holding out here for a few months is not a problem at all.

As dusk fell, the fiery red sunset hung in the west, and the crimson glow fell on people, turning their skin a bronze color.

The artillery units of the Northern Kingdom were basically in place, just waiting for Mu Changtian's order. Mu Changtian did not intend to waste any time and directly ordered the attack to be launched.

Meanwhile, Ying Feiyu was completely unaware of the seriousness of the problem. He had already returned to the large courtyard prepared for him by the county magistrate and was preparing to rest.

Just then, a loud explosion shattered Ying Feiyu's illusions, and a soldier rushed into the courtyard in a panic, shouting, "General, something terrible has happened! The Northern soldiers have launched another attack!"

Ying Feiyu frowned. What was going on? Could it be that the Northern Army had such a terrifying weapon?

They've already used so much, how come there's still more?

Without much thought, Ying Feiyu quickly picked up his sword again and rode straight to the city wall.

As soon as Ying Feiyu arrived at the city gate, he found that the city wall was riddled with holes from the bombing, and some sections of the wall had even collapsed. If the bombing continued, a large breach would appear in the wall before the city gate could be opened.

Ying Feiyu's face darkened.

Seeing the shells flying towards the city wall, Ying Feiyu realized that the Northern Kingdom probably didn't lack such mysterious weapons. The reason they stopped earlier was probably because they encountered something or had some plan.

No, we can't continue like this.

Just then, a lieutenant suddenly said to Ying Feiyu, "General, look! Those shells are being fired from those pipes!"

Upon hearing this, Ying Feiyu immediately looked in the direction the deputy general was pointing, and sure enough, he saw an iron ball flying out of a pipe.

Ying Feiyu thought to himself, if he could destroy this pipe, would the iron ball be unable to be launched?

Thinking of this, Ying Feiyu immediately said to his deputy general, "Deputy General Xue, you continue to lead the soldiers here to stop the Northern soldiers from attacking. I will lead the cavalry to destroy those catapults."

"Yes, General!"

Ying Feiyu then came down from the city wall and led five thousand cavalrymen out of the north city, preparing to attack from the flank and rush to the Northern Kingdom's artillery camp as quickly as possible to destroy all the "egg-throwing carts" they thought were there.

Ying Feiyu had no choice but to take this measure. Lingyun City could not be lost under any circumstances. If Lingyun City were lost, he would certainly not have a good end. He had to do everything he could to hold on until the imperial court's reinforcements arrived.

With the loss of Youping County, the logistics of the main force of Dawu were cut off, which basically meant that the operation to destroy the Northern Kingdom had failed. It was also possible that the main force of Dawu would be completely annihilated by the Northern Kingdom.

When the main force of Da Wu withdraws, it will have to fight against the Northern Kingdom soldiers who have occupied Youping County. The Northern Kingdom has such terrifying weapons, so even the main force of Da Wu will have a hard time winning.

Just as Mu Changtian was directing the Northern Kingdom soldiers to attack the city, he suddenly saw a light cavalry unit emerge from the flank and head straight for the artillery battalion. Mu Changtian couldn't help but smile slightly. He had been waiting for Ying Feiyu and the others to come out, and he didn't expect that Ying Feiyu would actually come out.

Taking over the artillery battalion of the North is no easy task.

Mu Changtian immediately ordered, "Second Artillery Battalion, aim at those cavalry and bombard them to death!"

The drums sounded rapidly, and as the command was given, the soldiers of the Second Artillery Battalion immediately turned their cannons and aimed them at Ying Feiyu and his cavalry. The next moment, countless shells poured down from two places, exploding among the cavalry. Instantly, men and horses were torn to pieces, their limbs flying everywhere, and waves of soil were churned up.

However, Ying Feiyu did not retreat because he knew this was the last chance. If they retreated now, they would still be bombarded by these iron balls. They had to destroy the things that launched the iron balls.

While dodging the iron balls falling from the sky, Ying Feiyu and his men continued their charge toward the artillery battalion. Although the artillery had a very wide range of fire, they still managed to get close to the position where the artillery battalion was located.

The next moment, some infantrymen suddenly pointed sticks at the cavalry in the distance. Before Ying Feiyu and the others could react, countless bullets flew towards them.

With cannonballs and bullets raining down, the artillery battalion's flanks formed a wall of fire, making it impossible for Ying Feiyu's cavalry to break through, no matter how hard they charged.

Seeing his soldiers fall one by one, Ying Feiyu realized that the situation was hopeless. He immediately turned his horse around and shouted, "Retreat!"

Ying Feiyu then dodged artillery shells and quickly withdrew from the battlefield amidst a hail of bullets. The siege was not over yet, and Wenren Lie and his men did not pursue Ying Feiyu's cavalry.

Their main task now is to take Lingyun City and then occupy the entire Youping County. As for the remnants of Ying Feiyu's army, they can just run away.

After Ying Feiyu led the remaining few hundred cavalrymen to withdraw from the battlefield on the flank, he did not return directly to the city to continue leading the soldiers to defend it. Instead, he led these few hundred cavalrymen to flee to the next city in Youping County.

Ying Feiyu had already realized how terrifying the Northern Kingdom was. Their soldiers were no match for the Northern Kingdom's army. The Northern Kingdom's weapons were far superior to theirs. Their ninth-rank martial artists were no different from ordinary people in the face of the Northern Kingdom's weapons. They were bound to lose this battle.

Ying Feiyu was thinking about how to shift the blame. He knew that Da Wu was bound to lose this war, so he had to report the matter of the Northern Kingdom's weapons to the court as a top priority, so that the court would understand that the defeat in this war was not his fault, but the problem of the Eldest Princess.

The woman's failure to inform them in time about the terrifying weapons possessed by the Northern Kingdom led to the defeat in the war and the Northern Kingdom's capture of Lingyun City.

The deputy general of Lingyun City was still waiting for Ying Feiyu to return and lead them in defending the city, but he did not come back for a long time. Just then, the city gate was blown open.

The garrison of Lingyun City immediately went to guard the city gate to prevent the Northern Kingdom soldiers from approaching, but the Northern Kingdom soldiers did not get close to the city gate at all.

The northern soldiers pushed in several cannons and bombarded the city gates relentlessly, quickly obliterating the soldiers guarding them.

After the city gates were cleared, the musketeers and black cavalry entered the city and quickly cleared out the Dawu soldiers inside.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the deputy general had no choice but to surrender.

The battle between Yong'an County and Lingyun City finally ended. The Northern Kingdom defeated the 300,000-strong army of Da Wu, killing nearly 200,000 Da Wu soldiers and capturing nearly 100,000 Da Wu soldiers, and successfully controlled a key city in Youping County.

Next, the Northern Kingdom only needs to use Lingyun City as a springboard to quickly conquer the other cities in Youping County, and then cut off the logistics of the main force of the Great Wu entering Dayue.

The outcome of this battle reached the Great Wu court in a very short time, and spread throughout several major dynasties. Almost all forces were shocked by the fighting power of the Northern Kingdom's army.

……

The Great Wu Dynasty.

Lizheng Hall.

At this time, the ministers in the court were unaware of what had happened in Lingyun City; they were still chatting and laughing.

The Martial Emperor, seated on his dragon throne, was unaware of what was happening. He then asked, "Now that we have conquered the Northern Kingdom, who do you, my esteemed ministers, think is the most suitable person to govern it?"

Upon hearing this, a minister said, "Your Majesty, I believe that it is most appropriate to entrust this to His Highness the Second Prince. His Highness is diligent, hardworking, and exceptionally talented. I am confident that he will be able to bring the people of the Northern Kingdom under the rule of Da Wu in a very short time."

Upon hearing someone speak up, ministers from the Second Prince's faction immediately echoed, "Your Majesty, I also believe that the Second Prince is the most suitable..."

Everyone knew that if they could control the Northern Kingdom, they would gain access to the valuable resources the Northern King had acquired there, which was an immense temptation for any prince.

Those things are all valuable, and they can bring them countless benefits in the future, so every prince wants them.

Soon, ministers from other princes' factions also began to speak out in support of the princes they had pledged allegiance to.

After the ministers had been arguing for a while, Emperor Xia suddenly looked at Chai Jiliang and said with a smile, "Minister Chai, in your opinion, who is the most suitable person to govern the Northern Kingdom?"

Chai Jiliang immediately poured cold water on the situation, saying, "Your Majesty, the war is not over yet; it is too early to discuss this matter."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor's face darkened instantly. He asked directly, "What, does Minister Chai believe that my 600,000 troops cannot destroy a small vassal state?"

Just as Chai Jiliang was about to reply, the voice of a messenger suddenly rang out from outside the main hall.

"Urgent report from Youping County!!!"

……

(End of this chapter)