Isolated town in northern border region

Just past noon, the fifth wave of attacks from the Northern Barbarians began.

But this time, the Northern Barbarians' fierce pride was completely lost.

Xiao Lie narrowed his eyes and looked out of the city.

Those leading the way were not barbarian soldiers...

They are the common people!

The elderly, women, and children were all dressed in rags, their faces pale and emaciated.

They were tied together with ropes and stumbled toward the city wall.

Behind him were the northern barbarian cavalrymen wielding scimitars.

Some fell down and were slashed to death by the barbarian soldiers behind them; others tried to run away and were shot through the back with an arrow.

On the city wall, everyone was stunned.

Er Gou dropped the knife from his hand, his voice trembling.

"Those...those are people from Youzhou...I know that old woman...she gave me water to drink when I was stationed on the border in Youzhou..."

Bisu covered her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes.

Shen Chongyuan's face was ashen, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

"brute!"

A deathly silence reigned atop the city wall.

The soldiers' hands were trembling as they gripped their knives.

Nobody knew what to do.

射？

Those were the people of the Great Chu.

Not shooting?

They rushed to the city walls, but the city gates were in grave danger.

All eyes were on Xiao Lie.

Xiao Lie looked at the terrified faces outside the city, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a knife slicing through ice, extremely cold.

"Everyone, listen to my command!"

The city walls were silent.

"Archers, aim at the barbarian overseers behind the civilians!"

"Without my order, no one is allowed to shoot the common people!"

"Messenger, give me the order!"

"Lie down! Lie on the ground and don't move! I'll protect you and keep you alive!"

On the city wall, dozens of the loudest soldiers roared simultaneously.

"Lie down! His Highness Prince Ning has ordered you to lie still on the ground! You'll be spared!"

The sound echoed across the wilderness.

The people who were being driven away were stunned at first, and then...

The people in the front row started to bend down.

An old woman was lying on the ground with her grandson, trembling all over.

The people behind them followed suit and fell down, like dominoes.

The Northern Barbarian supervisory team panicked and raised their swords to slash at the fallen civilians.

Just then—

"Fire arrows!" Arrows rained down from the city walls.

Before the barbarian soldiers could even bring their swords down, they were shot through the throat.

One, two, ten, dozens!

After the civilians fell to the ground, the Northern Barbarians' human shields were gone, and the attacking troops behind them were exposed to the firepower from the city walls.

The Northern Barbarian commander saw this scene from afar and his expression changed slightly.

He did not order a retreat. He knew that if he failed to capture the city today, he would not only lose face, but the coalition of more than a dozen tribes would also inevitably collapse.

"Continue the attack!"

He brandished his knife and roared.

"Get those useless fools up! Kill anyone who doesn't!"

The barbarian soldiers began to use the backs of their swords to strike the civilians lying on the ground, forcing them to stand up.

From the city wall, Xiao Lie witnessed this scene.

He gritted his teeth and then made a decision that surprised everyone.

"Stop firing arrows."

Xiao Lie put down his spear.

Shen Chongyuan was taken aback.

"Your Highness?"

"I want to have a talk with them."

Xiao Lie took out a piece of white cloth from his pocket, smeared some blood on the city wall with his finger, and began to write furiously.

Then, an arrow with a white cloth tied to it was shot in front of the Northern Barbarian military and government.

Upon seeing this, the Northern Barbarian commander outside the city frowned and waved his hand, signaling a halt to the attack.

A brief silence fell over the field.

Xiao Lie stood on the city wall, his voice not loud, but it carried clearly to the people below.

"Commander of the Northern Barbarians, may I speak with you?"

There was a moment of silence below the city, then a rough voice rang out, carrying a heavy grassland accent.

"Prince Ning, Xiao Lie, what do you wish to discuss?"

"Let's talk about how to let you die with some dignity."

On the city wall, someone couldn't help but laugh.

The Northern Barbarian commander snorted coldly.

"How arrogant! How many soldiers do you have in your city? Two thousand? Three thousand? I have a hundred thousand troops; each of them could drown you with a single spit."

"Then why did you stop the attack?"

Xiao Lie's voice was calm.

"You've led your troops deep into my Great Chu, thousands of miles away. Even if you plunder four provinces, how long will your provisions last?"

"As long as you fail to conquer Cangwu City, the Great Chu Canal will thaw within half a month, and my Great Chu Heavenly Army will arrive in an instant!"

Silence fell outside the city.

Xiao Lie continued.

"I'm giving you a chance."

"Withdraw from my Great Chu territory, and I will open trade; our war will end forever!"

"Otherwise... as you saw, those five hundred corpses below the city walls are your fate."

The Northern Barbarian commander remained silent for a long time before suddenly realizing what was happening.

"You've managed to hold out until now with the strength of a single city, yet you're talking to me about 'Eternal Rest of Armies'?"

"Your soldiers probably won't agree!"

"You're stalling for time!"

Xiao Lie smiled.

"Hey, you're not stupid after all."

On the city wall, everyone watched Xiao Lie with tension.

What is Your Highness trying to do?

Why are you talking nonsense with those barbarian Tartars from the north?

But Xiao Lie didn't explain. He just stood there with that enigmatic smile on his lips.

He's waiting...

Wait for a team to arrive!

East of the city.

On the frozen Canghe River, Shen Chongyuan led three hundred cavalrymen, moving silently.

The horse's legs were wrapped in rags, and its hooves made a soft rustling sound as they trod on the ice.

They sneaked out from the east gate while Xiao Lie was "negotiating".

The ice was very slippery, and when someone fell, they were immediately helped up by those around them.

No one spoke, and no one lit a torch.

Four hundred men and four hundred horses—this is half of Xiao Lie's fortune!

Xiao Lie had already made the arrangements last night.

The Northern Barbarian city of Cangwu is surrounded by water on three sides, so the Northern Barbarian army of 100,000 could only attack from the north.

However, the frozen Canghe River is not impassable, but it is difficult to traverse and not conducive to the deployment of a large army.

The Northern Barbarians never expected that Cangwu City, with its limited forces, would dare to send men to launch a sneak attack.

It is precisely because it is unexpected that an opportunity can be seized.

Shen Chongyuan bypassed the ice and arrived at the flank of the Northern Barbarian army formation.

Because of the precedents of the Ice Cone Formation and Xiao Lie's raid on the city to steal horses, the Northern Barbarian army is now attacking the city with infantry.

This infantry formation, caught completely off guard by an elite cavalry force flanking them, was practically waiting to die!

Shen Chongyuan lay quietly on the snow, his right hand gripping his warhorse tightly, waiting for orders from the city wall.

From the city wall, Xiao Lie looked down and immediately saw Shen Chongyuan, who remained motionless.

Beneath the city walls, the Northern Barbarian commander's patience finally ran out.

His voice turned cold.

"Prince Ning, Xiao Lie! Since you don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for being impolite."

He waved his hand.

"Attack! Get all the people up! Kill anyone who dares to lie down!"

The bugle sounded again.

The barbarian soldiers began stabbing the civilians lying on the ground with the tips of their knives.

Screams, cries, and curses mingled together, echoing across the wilderness.

On the city wall, Xiao Lie's expression changed, and he became utterly enraged.

But his voice remained calm. "Messenger! Announce the order!"

Dozens of loud-voiced soldiers roared in unison once again.

"Fellow villagers! Stand up! Run towards the city gate! As long as you reach the city wall, I will escort you into the city! Run!"

The people lying on the ground were stunned.

then……

The first old lady stood up.

She grabbed her grandson and ran desperately toward the city gate.

The second, the third, the hundredth, the thousandth.

The people surged towards Cangwu City like a flood bursting its banks.

The Northern Barbarian commander's expression changed drastically.

"Follow them! Follow them immediately!"

The northern barbarian soldiers chased after them like mad dogs!

The common people rushed forward, followed by the barbarian soldiers, creating a chaotic and disorderly scene.

Xiao Lie stood atop the city wall, his gaze piercing.

"Archers! Launch! Over the civilians, fire at the barbarian soldiers behind! Fire!"

The arrows traced a high parabola, soaring over the running civilians and raining down on the heads of the barbarian soldiers behind them.

Barbarian soldiers fell in droves, their screams echoing throughout the battlefield. The barbarian army's formation was torn open by this volley of arrows.

Hearing the screams behind them, the fleeing people ran even faster.

Meanwhile, on the flank of the battlefield.

Shen Chongyuan saw Xiao Lie waving the Great Chu army flag on the city wall!

That was the order to "take action"!

He mounted his horse and drew the long sword from his waist.

"Brothers! Follow me and kill!"

"kill!"

Three hundred cavalrymen roared simultaneously and leaped from the ice, like a sharp dagger piercing the right flank of the Northern Barbarian army.

The right flank of the Northern Barbarians consisted of archers, who were completely unprepared.

They were focused on the crowd and the rain of arrows ahead, and had no idea that a cavalry unit would suddenly appear from their flank.

Shen Chongyuan took the lead, charging into the enemy ranks. With a swipe of his longsword, a head flew off.

Three hundred cavalrymen followed and charged in, ramming with shields, thrusting with spears, and slashing with sabers, completely tearing apart the previous crack!

The entire Northern Barbarian army was thrown into complete chaos!

At the city gate, the people had already run down to the city walls.

Xiao Lie waved his hand.

"Open the city gates!"

The city gates burst open with a roar.

The people poured into the city gates, and the guards immediately guided them to run into the city.

But Xiao Lie didn't let them all run inside.

He stood inside the city gate, watching the people rushing in, and suddenly made a decision that shocked everyone.

"Stop!"

He shouted a stern rebuke. The people stood frozen in place, staring at him in terror.

Xiao Lie didn't explain. He waved his hand, and the soldiers behind him threw bundles of knives and spears on the ground.

"Those who want to live, grab your weapons, turn around, and kill the barbarians behind you!"

At the city gate, all was deathly silent.

An old man who ran in asked in a trembling voice.

"Your Highness...we...we don't want to fight..."

"They'll either die or they won't!"

Xiao Lie's voice was as cold as ice.

"How could the men of Great Chu be such cowards!"

"There are wolves behind you!"

"We killed your relatives, humiliated your sisters, stole your savings, and destroyed your homes!"

"What are you all standing there for? Follow me and slaughter them!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xiao Lie spurred his horse and charged out with the remaining four hundred cavalry!

Xiao Lie had no choice. First, he didn't know if there were any Northern Barbarian spies among these people. Second, his eight hundred men were no match for the Northern Barbarian's thousand-strong supervisory team.

The old man's eyes reddened.

He bent down, trembling as he picked up a knife, and turned to face the barbarian soldiers outside the city.

"Your Highness is right. I'm already sixty, I've lived enough! Today, I'll kill as many as I can."

"revenge!"

The second person picked up the knife.

The third person...

The tenth person...

The hundredth person...

The old woman who had run in with her grandson pushed him to the foot of the city wall, turned around, picked up a knife, and stood beside the old man.

"grandmother!"

The grandson cried.

The old lady did not turn around.

"Don't look! Close your eyes! Grandma will be back in a little while!"

At the city gate, more than half of the people who ran in picked up knives.

Xiao Lie took the lead.

Behind them were cavalry, infantry, and civilians!

Two forces converged outside the city.

The Northern Barbarians' supervisory team was scattered by the civilians, covered by a rain of arrows, and attacked from the flank by Shen Chongyuan's cavalry, leaving them in a state of disarray.

Now, Xiao Lie led his men to attack from the front, launching a pincer attack from three sides.

With red eyes, the people rushed towards the barbarian soldiers who had once driven them away.

Some people slashed with knives, some bit with their teeth, and some clung to the legs of the barbarian soldiers.

The old woman stabbed a barbarian soldier in the stomach with a knife. The soldier screamed and fell to the ground. Her hand was shaking, her whole body was shaking, but she did not let go.

"This knife was inflicted by my daughter-in-law!"

She pulled out the knife and stabbed him again.

"This knife is from my son!"

The battle outside the city lasted for less than half an incense stick's time.

The Northern Barbarians' supervisory team and right wing were completely annihilated, and nearly two thousand barbarian soldiers fell in pools of blood.

On Xiao Lie's side, the casualties were less than three hundred.

The people were covered in blood and collapsed outside the city.

Xiao Lie stood in the middle of the pile of corpses, covered in blood, panting heavily.

He won this round!

But the Northern Barbarian commander was no fool.

He stood on a high slope in the distance, watching the gates of Cangwu City wide open and seeing Xiao Lie's troops still outside the city without withdrawing. A sinister smile slowly crept onto his lips.

"What a fine Prince Ning... Xiao Lie!"

He turned around and looked at the reserve force behind him that had not been used yet—30,000 cavalry!

Fully armed, with strong warhorses, they had been conserving their energy and strength.

This is the moment they've been waiting for.

"Rush!"

The head coach brandished his sword and roared in anger.

"While their city gates are wide open, charge in! Seize the gates! Capture Cangwu City!"

Thirty thousand cavalrymen spurred their horses at the same time.

The earth trembled again, this time more violently than ever before.

Five thousand warhorses formed a dense charging formation, like a black torrent pouring out of the Northern Barbarian camp.

They ignored the icicles on the ground, the rain of arrows from the city walls, and all casualties.

They have only one goal...

Seize the city!

On the city wall, Bisu was the first to see it.

Her pupils suddenly contracted, and she roared with her last bit of strength.

"Your Highness—Northern Barbarian Cavalry—"

Xiao Lie turned around abruptly, his pupils shrinking.

Thirty thousand cavalrymen charged in with the force of wind and thunder.

His troops were still outside the city. The city gates were wide open!

If the northern barbarian cavalry charged, he wouldn't have time to retreat back into the city, and the city gates wouldn't have time to close...

Cangwu City is finished!

"Everyone—return to town! Quickly!"

Xiao Lie roared, turned his horse around, and galloped wildly toward the city gate.

The crowd outside the city began to surge back. Civilians, infantry, and cavalry—everyone ran towards the city gate like madmen.

But a man's two legs cannot outrun a warhorse's four legs.

The northern barbarian cavalry are getting closer and closer!

1,500 steps!

One thousand steps!

Eight hundred steps!

Five hundred steps!

In an instant, the battlefield became a race against time to save lives!