655 The Helan Gorge (2/2)
When the cloud approached the city, they shut the gate and strictly forbade any access. They were on a look out for the black horse carriage, so why would they give it the opportunity to enter the city?
As the black carriage went past the caravan, the wagoners were so scared that they hurriedly grabbed the reins and moved the carriages away, making room for the black carriage. What followed the chaos was absolute quietness, even deathly stillness.
Ning Que ignored those businessmen and guards who were on edge, ready for all possible dangers. Instead, he drove to the front of the mountain and then went off the carriage. He went to the gate, looking up at the two mountain-like gates.
On the wall, as the sound of the arching crossbows died away, several big crossbows struggled to adjust the angle, aiming at Ning Que down by the wall. Hundreds of archers aimed at the black carriage farther away, ready to shoot at any time. One could even hear the sound of the burning oil heating the stone. The Tang military regarded him as a siege force!
In the face of so many well-trained Tang soldiers, even all cavalries and priests of the Golden Palace could not conquer the city in a short time. Therefore, Ning Que knew that he could not confront the tough with toughness.
”I'm Ning Que. I want to pass through the city,” he looked up to say.
Though his voice was not loud, it was clearly heard by everyone on the wall. Then he continued, ”I was one of you. I achieved countless military merits, which can be found in the archives of the military. I don't want to fight with you. All I want is to swap all my military merits for a chance to pass.”
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Helan City was extremely important to the Tang Empire. Its army commander was usually known as General Helan in the military, second only to the Four Imperial Generals and the few senior generals.
The current General Helan was Han Qing, who had been stationed in the bitterly cold city for more than a decade. With a half barbarian's descent, he was still trusted by the Emperor and was granted such an important post.
Under the guard of more than a dozen shields, General Han Qing came to the wall. He looked at Ning Que down by the gate, ”A Tang soldier should be ashamed of seeking reward for his contributions. If you want to enter the city with the Daughter of Yama, you can whistle for it.”
”I want to pass through the city, not enter it.”
”The road is blocked.”
”Why?”
”As a general of Tang, how can I let you bring the Daughter of Yama to the city?”
”Because of the public opinion, my wife may bring calamity to the world, so you refuse us?”
”Yes.”
”After the carriage passes through the city, we will be in another country. Even if there is a calamity, it will be other's problem. So why can't we pass? After we go to the Eastern Wilderness, whether we live or die, we will resign to fate. But I don't want to be killed in my own country.”
General Han Qing seemed to be touched by the last sentence of Ning Que and fell into silence.
A vice-general beside him said anxiously, ”General, what are you waiting for? The stupid madman dares to shout under the city. Release the arrows and drop the stones, seize the opportunity to kill him!”
Another vice-general frowned slightly, ”How could Ning Que be killed so easily?”
”No matter how strong a cultivator is, it is not impossible to kill him.”
”I did not mean that. I mean that no one is willing to do it in our country. Don't forget that he is Mr. Thirteen from the Academy. With the approach of the black cloud, both the Military Ministry and the Northern Military Camp are so quiet these days. Why don't they try to find the black carriage? Because they don't want to take this responsibility! Do you want us to take it?”
”So, are you willing to let him enter the city with the Daughter of Yama?”
”Of course not. But this is cultivators' business. If we want to kill him, we have to wait for people from the Imperial Center Administration and the Southern Gate Temple.”
”The Daughter of Yama can destroy the whole world. This is not only the cultivators' business, it's also our responsibility! As Tang soldiers, how can we be so coward?”
”Enough.”
General Han Qing berated, ”Whether to kill him or not, or to stop him outside the city until the arrival of those cultivators, it is not up to us.”
General, what are you going to do?”
”We're going to ask for instructions from His Majesty, of course.”