Chapter 34 (1/2)
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR (FINAL)
The Sin Of War
Day twenty three.
The late arriving spring infects the treetops, the streets and alleys of Du Cheng surrounded in light green, the spring breeze rises all around, bringing a ray of cosy warmth into the city walls.
The Nu Army surrounds Du Cheng in form of a fan, due to adopting the tactic of quickly defeat the enemy, an unexpected strategy with the element of surprise, they did not bring any heavy invasion weaponry nor food supplies, originally thinking they will very quickly capture Du Cheng, but reality proves the error in their perceptions and understanding. This city, once famous for being the capital of trade, in face of the invasion from cavalry troops totalling up to nearly a hundred and fifty thousand, actually managed to firmly hold their ground for a full twenty three days.
“We have already performed to the best of our duty.” The sky yet to light up, Military Advisor with a face somewhat pale, enters the military discussion area, saying this to the full house of Du Cheng generals.
The reaction from the generals all varied, Han Ze Ming only nods his head slightly, the slick and sly Defence Officer Jiang lets out a heavy sigh. The one known for his courage, Zhao Xin rounds his big eyes, an indignant demeanour, looking around at everyone’s reactions, in the end, he does not say anything. When Military Advisor sweeps his eyes across everyone, not leaving a single person out, the moment he once again see Gui Wan, he finds that the her that is deep into thoughts, has curved her lips into a gracefully beautiful arc, faintly letting a smile bloom.
This is a very pure smile.
Waiting for everyone to leave, Military Advisor strokes his chin with a hand, warmly saying: “It has been tough on you these past days.”
“The ones who had it tough, are the soldiers guarding the city.”
Having never experienced the struggles of war, one would not know the brutality of it.
The soldiers’ blood, the commoners’ tears.
When they first started defending the city, she ordered the capture of four hundred Nu people, tying them up above the city tower, day and night hearing their weeping mixed with sorrowful singing, amongst them were old women with grey hair, also children who were too young to understand the way of life, just because of a war between two nations, they were treated as s.h.i.+elds, standing in front of divisions of tigers and wolves. To this very day, those wave after wave of heart p.r.i.c.king singing seems to still be echoing in the ears.
“This is the sin of war, unable to be avoided!” Seeming to see the complications deep down in Gui Wan’s heart, Military Advisor guides her out of those thoughts in an orderly and patient manner.
Raising her head like a cicada, looking at Military Advisor standing before the window, the new shoots a tranquil green, horizontal branches by the side, spring proudly filling the air, only that figure in front of the window, is bone thin, both sides of his head white like snow, those eyes once defined by her as old and cunning now appears greatly vast and deep. Defending the city for around twenty days, he has actually spent each day like a year, an elderly state now complete.
Gui Wan vaguely remembers, the first time seeing him, the feather fan gently swaying, happily chatting about the interesting gossips within the Capital, and it is also this feather fan, that guided her to make decisions in defending the city, arranging armaments and food supplies.
On the third day Du Cheng was sieged, Ye Li had already intended not to care for the life and death of the Nu people, storming into Du Cheng, driving her into a cave, unable to advance nor retreat, not knowing whether to kill those four hundred Nu people, to serve as a warning to others. It was Military Advisor who warned her, killing the Nu people, will provoke anger in the Nu Army, it is better to let them go at the beginning of the siege.
Reality indeed went as Military Advisor expected, the Nu soldiers’ morale indeed fell down a lot. The Nu soldiers’ fighting spirit aroused by the first drum roll, depletes by the second, exhausted by the third. Only then, did Du Cheng struggled to hold on for over twenty days.
“Once daybreaks, the Nu Army shall be storming in.”
Her mediated thoughts interrupted, Gui Wan looks out the window, brows slightly creased: “The Nu Army’s insect attack pattern has lessened, is it in preparation of the invasion?”
“Nu King has lost his patience, will certainly exhaust all efforts in this one attack.” Military Advisor turns to look out the window, the dazzling white lighting masking his body, like a sculpture.
Can Du Cheng still stand firm?
Heart already knowing the answer, yet still unable to refrain from wanting to ask this. Lightly stroking her forehead, Gui Wan, reveals a trace of a wry smile, the words at the tip of her tongue once again swallowed back down.
“Unable to withhold for a month, will you have regrets?” Military Advisor does not even turns his head, quietly asking this.
“Will.” Stunned for a moment, Gui Wan truthfully answers.
Military Advisor slowly turns back around, that pale and exhausted face spreads a calm smile, smile lines like chrysanthemum, making Gui Wan get this feeling for the first time, that this wise old man is showing the loving care of one’s elder.
“A knot in the heart, thus produces regret, only a life with regrets, will not be incomplete.”
Rays of light entering through the windows gradually brightens, Gui Wan squints her eyes, leaving only a hint of white brilliance from the bottom of her eyes, within a trance, willow catkins scatters before her eyes, like dots of snow descending, drifting onto her cheek, a trace of coolness, just like returning to the day of parting in the Capital.
Like snowflakes, like plum blossoms, the lingering of clear yet distant, leisurely light fragrance.
That pair of hands she had once tightly clutched onto, ice cold inside out, yet she feels that it is the only warmth left in the world.
Her regrets, her concerns, slips away from her fingers in the boundless snow scene, forever frozen on that day.
A monstrous rumbling roar “honglong––” sounds from the skies.
A slight shock, Gui Wan abruptly opens her eyes, speechlessly looking towards the window where Military Advisor still stands straight, eyes fixedly staring into the distance, brus.h.i.+ng away signs of fatigue from before, those eyes of ink sea blooms into a brilliant s.h.i.+ne, a vigorous yet calm voice saying, “It’s daybreak.”
“It’s almost daybreak!” Looking at the moment a burst of light appears amongst the dark grey sky, turning his head, Ke Zhan’s voice is neither high nor low, perfectly loud enough for Ye Li who is in front of him to hear.
“Is everything ready?”
“Yes, Sire,” Ke Zhan lightly bows his body, “Left, right wings of the whole army have a.s.sembled, once daybreaks, we can storm in.”
Turning his eyes towards the southern area, Ye Li does not turn his body, looking up at the boundless scene of darkness of the skies, seeming to still be able to faintly see the light of the stars, weakly about to completely diminish, and Du Cheng stands amongst this dull scene, the mottle grey on the city walls cannot bear to hold on, scattered and lonely.
It is this isolated city, that has become his stepping stone to gain the southern regions, over these past twenty plus days, again and again he has been stopped outside the city, in this vast road of wilderness, his cavalry troops are invincible, why is it in front this rundown city wall, that they are actually being held back from further advancing?
Burst of irritations rising in his heart, he forcefully grabs the long handled weapon from his waist side, an ice cold feeling spreads from the palm of his hand, penetrating the heart, his mind suddenly rendered calm like water, a hint of cold sharpness flashes past his eyes, body tensing.
The Nu Army are heroic eagles, they will definitely be able to spread their wings into the vast skies.
Can certainly not be stalled here, Du Cheng ah Du Cheng, this s.h.i.+eld that leads into the southern region, the Nu will definitely breakthrough.
“It’s daybreak––”
A sound of a loud cry suddenly reaches the ears, unable to tell whether it is of joy or wail.
Ye Li raises his head, in the distance, a glowing red sun slowly rises high, the red glow spreading, each trace like cotton, each wisp like dust, the colour of the sky breaks into two, half bright red, half ink black.
The time has come!
Abruptly turning around, Ye Li turns towards the camp, the army arranged into neat rows, the soldiers’ eyes bright like stars, the golden blade of the long handled sword produces gleaming glory under the s.h.i.+ning red light.
“For our great Nu’s supreme honour, capture Du Cheng!” With one wave from the distant, Ye Li points towards the city in front, a face of solemn silence.
The entire army rendered pin drop silent, even the breathing of the soldiers formed a low rumble.
“Capture the city!”
The drums of war sounds like the quaking of heavens.
Once the attack to storm the city hits, Gui Wan follows Military Advisor in arriving at the city tower, standing at the southern corner of the city, they watch over the battle situation from high up.
Brutal and tragic, these two words are simply insufficient to describe the situation before their eyes.
The Nu Army who has come prepared is even more ferocious than ever before. The ladders leaning on the city walls, troops rus.h.i.+ng forth to knock down the walls, hands and feet crawling up. Their expressions grim, with no fear of death, this type of att.i.tude of putting their lives on the line, gives an astounding support to their invading attacks.
Under the commands of Military Advisor, the soldiers above the city wall releases the long arrows together, densely with no open s.p.a.ce, they shoot towards the soldiers trying to climb the walls, the long arrows pierces through the air wave after wave, countless screams sounds from the below the walls, the soldiers leading the climbs directly falls down, the soldiers following behind courageously continues to advance, with not even the time to look at their fallen comrade.
A soldier managed to escape the heavy danger, climbing to the top of the wall, a city defending soldier of Du Cheng pounces forward, long handled swords from both sides stabbing into one another, and together they fall down into the city.
Fresh blood dripping and spraying, limbs seen everywhere. In the laws of war, no one can possibly see the insignificance in any one person, all that can be seen is how powerful one side is, how weak one side is. And the weaker party is doomed to die. Perhaps every soldier present are all deeply aware of this one point, that is why their eyes turn red in bloodl.u.s.t, the wielding of blade, can only lead to the brutality of striking towards the enemy.
Gui Wan stands above the damaged and crumbling city tower, clearly seeing the borderlines of the Qi Ling – Nu Tribe nations, such that is this deserted, this vast. And right now, on this land filled with soldiers, these strong soldiers are divided into groups, they are wielding weapons, charging towards Du Cheng with the desire to kill.
The attacks coming successively without stop, having just stopped one wave, another wave will immediately come after, not knowing of exhaustion, with no fear.
The number of bows and arrows are no longer enough, Military Advisor immediately changes tactics, intending to proceed to have a direct collision with soldiers down at the city gates, the ones pus.h.i.+ng back the Nu Army are also to take on a round of offensive attacks. This approach has never been used before in the past twenty plus days, and right now they have already reached a moment of life and death, Military Advisor appears to have decided to take the risk of desperately fighting back. In order to not bring any adverse impacts to the people within the city, the soldiers leaving the city is a kind of sacrifice, regardless of victory or defeat, they are not able to return to the city, fighting to the last soldier, last general standing.
Taking advantage of the little s.p.a.ce left to spare from the Nu Army’s advances, Military Advisor puts forward this suggestion, the city tower falls into silence like stagnant water, the three great generals solemnly stands above the tower, looking into the distance, their eyes filled with determination, having heard Military Advisor’s words, they share looks amongst one another, their eyes communicating emotions unknown to others.
Zhao Xin strides out, one knee on the ground, resonantly saying: “This general pleads to take the front line.”
“No!” A loud cry, is actually from the one who would always reprimand his impulsiveness, Han Ze Ming, “You are the only bloodline left of your family, nor are you married or have children, you cannot go.”
His roar loud and clear, the soldiers on the city wall could all hear it, Gui Wan is stunned, Military Advisor also presses his lips together without a word.
“It is because old man I have no wife no descendants, which means old man I should be the one going out, one life making up the entire family. Should I be letting you go instead then? Your wife back home had only just given birth to a fair and chubby son for you the past year, could it be you want to leave her to be widowed mother? Also old Jiang, your elderly mother is frail and sick, should you go, how is she to live? That’s why I am saying, it is better for old man I to go, there is only me alone back home!” Zhao Xin’s loud voice does not fall short from Han Ze Ming’s, every word and sentence retorting back, and even revealing a prideful smile, as though he has thoroughly gained the upper hand.
Nose hit with a sour feeling, Gui Wan suppresses the impulse to let tears fall, squeezing out a smile: “This important duty shall be handed to General Zhao then.”
Zhao Xin immediately jumps up, mouth forming a huge childlike smile, glancing towards Han, Jiang, his eyes seeming to be telling these two people, see, old man I has won right? Turning his head, he once again loudly shouts: “Great men, who is willing to accompany this old man to kill the Nu dogs?”
His loud roar richly dignified, spreading to every little corner of the tower, spreading into each and every soldier’s ears. Every soldier raises their heads, looking up to the city tower. First one hand, then two, three, like the sparks of twinkling stars, setting the prairie ablaze, countless hands raised high, from the eyes of all the soldiers, there reveals the glow of courage. Amongst them are old soldiers in their forties[1], are youngsters yet to reach their twenties, all scrambling to raise their hands first, hating to be last, in fear of the city falling.
“General, take me along, I am also a single life making up the entire family.”
“I want to go, my sword skills are the best, has once killed nine Nu soldiers……”
Once these cries floods the city tower, overflowing inside, not only Gui Wan, but Military Advisor and the generals were all stunned. These soldiers in such unkempt conditions, due to illnesses, injuries, death, these soldiers when compared to the Nu Army’s mighty strength, can barely be regarded as qualified soldiers. Many soldiers wounded, only able to roughly bandage their injuries, also some soldiers with wounded left hands, right hands holding a sword, right hands wounded, left hands grasping hold of a dagger-axe. All these faces covered in bruises, making all who sees them, not one that is not deeply touched.
In face of such a situation, Gui Wan could only sneakily turn her face away, wiping away those tears at risk of falling, before turning back around, responding with a brilliantly bright smile: “Brave men have no fear, you are all heroes of Qi Ling!”
Heroes, in previous ruling periods, had always have countless people using their brushes to depict the meaning behind this word in later generations, they are perhaps those who blaze the road leading to a new era, or are perhaps warriors who rescued the people in times of danger of distress, or are perhaps officials leading inst.i.tutional reformations.
But right now, heroes, is but one word used to describe these soldiers holding their hands up high. Every drop of blood they shed, eventually gathers to form a long stream, flowing outside the gates of Du Cheng, a continuous flow that will cover this vast land.
The drums of wars once again sounds, the Nu Army shall very soon be attacking the city again.
Zhao Xin leads ten thousand defending soldiers, leaving from the city gates, outside the gates of Du Cheng, they and the Nu Army directly face one another in head to head conflict for the first time.
To describe this battle, only the words “moving” and “tragic” can be used, and these words alone are originally not enough to make up for even a millionth of real war situations.
The Nu Army puts forth their full effort in launching their attack, Zhao Xin leads the troops into collision, the war horns deeply sonorous, cavalry units in full armour. Amongst the countless roaring of soldiers and horses, this war between two unequal forces begins.
The Nu Army’s ferociousness is a rarity even within the history of war, they pounce forward like wolves like tigers, slas.h.i.+ng as soon as they spot an enemy, the densely populated units like the flow of a black river, within a short moment of efforts, they had already stretched across the entire s.p.a.ce before the city gates of Du Cheng. And the ten thousand soldiers lead by Zhao Xin, cannot be described as imposing, they are crazy, they are the heroic lions that have been released from their cages, their breathing heavy, wielding long handled swords in hand, upon seeing the black colour, all heads forth in tearing and killing, such desire of jade and stone burns together, causing the Nu Army to be stunned on the spot.
The defending soldiers of Du Cheng charges into the Nu Army’s ranks like a cutting blade, although there is a great difference in number, but they slice east, slice west, making the Nu Army suffer heavy losses every time, flowing blood forming rivers.