Vol 8 Chapter 22 (1/2)

VOLUME 8 CHAPTER 22: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS THE SIEGE BATTLE AT JIANGXIA CITY (2)

Liu Bei POV

“And what about Liu Qi and her people?”

“Lord Liu Qi has gone to guard the west gate.” Gan Ning said.

If she went to guard the west gate, then that means Liu Qi believes what Yi Ji said. If the vanguard has met with the main body, then the west and east gates must be heavily guarded.

“Chen Gong, go guard the east gate with Zhou Cang.”

“Guard the east gate?” Chen Gong was baffled at first but she soon understood what I meant after a few seconds, “Will it really?”

“Just in case. If this side is the only one that gets. .h.i.t, come back then. I’ll be counting on you both.”

“My lord, I’m up here!”

“You both are way too fast, Imperial Uncle.”

Just then, Chen Dao and Zhou Cang came up.

“Let’s go, Zhou Cang.”

“Where to?”

“To the east gate.”

“Eh~~ But I just came up~~~”

“Then go back down again.”

Zhou Cang was the worst off, but I can only trouble her at this time.

“My lord, how is it?” Chen Dao asked anxiously as she came over to where I was.

“Yaa!!!” I was about to reply her when a loud cry came from below the city.

I hurriedly walked towards Gan Ning and peered out towards the city. About 100 paces out, Huang Zu was galloping with her spear pointed in front of her while Zhu Ran was galloping towards her from the opposite side as well.

The 2 spears clashed with a light *Dang*, and after a few more attacks, they separated and rode off for about several dozen meters and turned back around.

“Will Administrator Huang Zu be alright?” I asked.

“The Administrator has been defending the city for a very long time so she’ll definitely be alright.” Gan Ning answered, which brought to mind another question in me.

Why didn’t she send Gan Ning up? Why did she have to go herself? Does she hate former pirates that much?

*Ding*! Another light sound rang out when their spears met.

*Ding*! *Ding*! Both of them turned around and fought again after just a few steps.

Huang Zu was tall and her movements were quick. She was adept with attacking from both right and left with a single-handed grip and her effective reach was wide. Zhu Ran was like before, her movements were quick and her feints were very misleading. Even though I’d fought her once, I still couldn’t identify her feints.

From how things look, I felt that both sides were roughly equal and it doesn’t seem like the duel will conclude anytime soon.

“The Administrator can’t make it.”

Eh? Just as I’d come to my conclusion, Chen Dao delivered hers with a frown beside me.

“Why? I don’t feel like anyone has an upperhand yet.”

“No, look closely, my lord. The Administrator’s attacks are getting less and less accurate, probably because she is getting more and more drained.”

“Eh?! That fast?!” I don’t recall Yun Chang and the rest getting tired so quickly even though they use roughly the same weapons… Ah, right. I can’t use them as a standard for comparison.

“The Administrator’s spear is very heavy. And she specialises in heavy blows that are meant to neutralise the enemy with a single move. It’s been 30-40 bouts already so her stamina is at an end.” Gan Ning similarly looked troubled as she said so.

“Lord Gan Ning, shouldn’t you be leaving the city and supporting the Administrator?” Chen Dao couldn’t watch any longer and was tightly gripping the walls.

But Gan Ning only shook her head as she flung her scarf to her back, “The Administrator never lets anyone interrupt her duels. It’s not just me, no one else is permitted to.”

“But she’s clearly going to lose!”

I looked back at Huang Zu when Chen Dao exclaimed back at Gan Ning, and saw that her movements were clearly slower than before. There were even several attacks whrre she wasn’t quick enough to block and could only turn to the side and take the attack with her plate armour. It was clear that Huang Zu couldn’t last much longer.

“Give me your life!” Zhu Ran roared as she leapt up from her horse and slashed down at Huang Zu.

“Kuh!” It was a good thing that Zhu Ran’s position was under the sun and she was blinded so Huang Zu was able to retreat and avoid the attack.

“Open the gates! Retreat!” Huang Zu yelled up at the city, probably because she realised that she couldn’t defeat her enemy, as she brought her troops that she’d brought out of the city through the gates. Her voice was very liud and I could hear her loud and clear from where I was.

And hot on Huang Zu’s heels were the victorious Zhu Ranand her troops who surged towards the city like a rising tide.

“Open the gates and tell the archers to get ready.” Gan Ning gave out the orders after she received the orders from Huang Zu. Her voice wasn’t particularly loud but it had power behind it.

Thereafter, the city walls lightly trembled as the gates below our feet opened, swirling up a great deal of sand.

“Everyone, wait for our troops to reach the safety zone before firing at maximum range on my mark.” Gan Ning raised her hand and got ready to give the signal as she said so.

“Watch and learn, my lord. When we have our own cities, we’ll have to do the same.” Chen Dao said to me.

“I know.” I said without taking my eyes off Gan Ning.

Compared to Zi Long, Chen Dao was nicer about it and I found it easier to accept.

“We should get ready to do battle as well.”

“Un.” I said as I drew the twing swords at my back while Chen Dao pulled out her spear with her left hand.

— No good! There are enemies at the west!

“What?”

A military courier suddenly rushed in and knelt before Gan Ning before delivering this message anxiously, which Gan Ning reacted to with disbelief.

“It’s not just the west side, there are enemies on the east as well. We are under a 3-p.r.o.nged attack!”