209: Chapter 0209 Public Praise

"Ah?"

Prefect Xu Meng froze for a moment. "General Zhao, why is that?"

"Since his crimes are irredeemable, this General will kill him first," Zhao Caiwei said indifferently.

The flesh on 'Zhang Shide's' face twitched, but his acting skills were solid. He let out a cold snort. "Bitch, kill me if you want! This General has been poisoned; I won't live long anyway!"

Zhao Caiwei didn't bother with nonsense. She thrust her spear directly, and with a 'clank,' she forcibly sliced through the iron cage's chains!!

"The door is open. General Zhang, come down."

Zhang Erzhu's face turned ashen, and a trace of shock appeared on his filthy face.

If it weren't for his strong psychological resilience, he would have clutched his head and screamed just now.

But that single moment of fear was enough for Zhao Caiwei to make her judgment!

"Fraud!"

Zhao Caiwei's gaze turned cold. She swung her long spear fiercely, directly slitting the throat of Prefect Xu Meng!

Xu Meng never expected this woman would be so decisive in her killing strike!?

Seeing the plot exposed, the dozens of other White Kings Army death guards present all pulled out concealed crossbows and fired at Zhao Caiwei and her group!

At such close range, several Cold Iron Guard elites couldn't defend themselves and were shot right off their horses!

Fortunately, Zhao Caiwei's spear techniques were exquisite, forming a whirlwind-like barrier that blocked most of the bolts.

Lin Xiao marveled inwardly. What a woman this Eldest Miss Zhao was; her mind was calm and wise, and her martial arts were no weaker than Mu Wanying's before her empowerment.

"Fire arrows!!—"

Unbeknownst to them, the eastern city gate had already been closed!

The garrison ambushed on the city walls had emerged, drawing over a hundred heavy siege crossbows specifically designed for long-range attacks!

These heavy crossbows required several people to draw and had a range of five or six hundred meters!

Heavy arrows were fired one after another. They didn't care that their own people were still on the front lines, firing indiscriminately!

Before Zhang Erzhu could even get out of the cart, he was pierced through!

Accompanied by bursts of screams, dozens more cavalrymen and horses stained the battlefield with blood!

Zhao Caiwei was naturally the focus of their attention; over a dozen arrows were shot in her direction.

The woman's spear danced like the wind, but in a momentary lapse, her mount was about to be hit!

In a flash, a black blade cleaved an arrow mid-air!

Zhao Caiwei looked at Lin Xiao beside her in astonishment. The word "thanks" was on the tip of her tongue, but she hesitated.

Because of last night's awkward scene, she hadn't spoken to Lin Xiao all day...

Lin Xiao, however, looked serious and asked, "General Zhao, are we attacking the city?"

Zhao Caiwei snapped back to her senses. What was she daydreaming about? She was still leading troops in battle!!

"Catapult cover! Cavalry, retreat for now!!"

Zhao Caiwei quickly issued orders. They had to destroy the opponent's defensive works and wear them down first, otherwise, it would be difficult to get close.

Seeing this from the rear, Zhao Yunting also immediately ordered the infantry forward, raising their shields for cover.

Stones and arrows flew back and forth outside the city.

There were casualties on both sides, but the Yan Kings Army clearly suffered more.

"Old General, we've fallen into a trap. The enemy is fully prepared, and attacking the city is too difficult. Should we retreat for now?"

Several veteran staff officers nearby felt they couldn't take the city.

"Absolutely not!"

Before Zhao Yunting could speak, a pale, beardless eunuch with a high-pitched voice spoke up first.

"If we cannot take Jingmen this time and word gets out, where will Prince Yan's prestige be? Won't the Yan Kings Army become the laughingstock of the world?"

This eunuch was surnamed Zhu. He had served Prince Yan since childhood and was the army supervisor sent by Prince Yan.

"The opponents aren't even the Silver Armor Army. Is this all your Cold Iron Guard is capable of?" Eunuch Zhu said sarcastically.

Hearing this, the soldiers' expressions turned extremely ugly!

Although this dog of a eunuch was loathsome, his words held some truth.

If a superior force fought an inferior one and couldn't win, how could they face anyone?

If their confidence wavered now, the next battle would be even harder!

Zhao Yunting was also filled with regret. He really shouldn't have listened to Prince Yan; even if it meant a capital offense, he shouldn't have complied!

He truly had grown old. Why hadn't he realized sooner that this was a massive death trap!?

"Commander, actually, we're not without a chance. The ten thousand troops under the Eldest and Second Young Masters are still on the flanks."

"If they can outflank from the north and south and break into the city, we still have a chance!"

After hearing this, Zhao Yunting regained a bit of spirit, but thinking of his two sons' abilities, he sighed again.

"Pass my command: the army is to retreat temporarily and hold a position ten miles back!"

As long as the green mountains remain, one need not worry about firewood. Since it was a trap, they couldn't keep jumping into it.

Taking things slow and planning carefully was definitely the right move!

"Zhao Yunting! You dare retreat!? Prince Yan will not let you off!!" Eunuch Zhu grew anxious.

"This old man is aged; I can't hear you!"

With a look from Zhao Yunting, two soldiers "escorted" Eunuch Zhu away.

At the front, Zhao Caiwei wasn't surprised at all when she heard the command and immediately organized the Hanguang Battalion to retreat.

Lin Xiao was frustrated. He hadn't even stacked up his Bloodlust yet, and they were already stopping?

Dammit! He had agreed to fight for just this one day, and they were actually playing the "ceasefire" card?

Just then, the sound of galloping hooves suddenly came from the rear of the army?

"It's the White Kings Army!!"

Someone shouted first, and the Yan Kings Army immediately fell into chaos!

Thousands of warhorses were seen charging toward the Yan Kings Army from the high slopes to the north and south of the east!

Like two sharp blades, they intended to pierce through the flanks of the Yan Kings Army!

"How can this be..."

Zhao Yunting's face turned deathly pale. Weren't his own ten thousand troops guarding the wings?!

Zhao Yelong, Zhao Yefei—what were they doing!?

A thought he didn't dare dwell on made Zhao Yunting's chest feel tight, and he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood!

"Kill!!"

Before long, the White Kings Army cavalry charged into the Yan Army infantry from the rear!

Under the cavalry's impact, the infantry were quickly dispersed, utterly routed, and let out bursts of wailing!

Not only that, but thousands upon thousands of cavalry and infantry also swarmed out from both sides of Jingmen City!

Zhao Caiwei's Hanguang Battalion was about to go support them when she realized they were also surrounded!!

However, what shocked Zhao Caiwei and the other Cold Iron Guard soldiers even more were the leading generals...

"Eldest Brother? Second Brother?!"

Zhao Caiwei saw in shock that the ones leading were the Dragon Battalion commanded by Zhao Yelong!?

Behind them, besides the Cold Iron Guard, was a large group from the White Kings Army!?

Lin Xiao had a "solemn" look on his face, but he was ecstatic inside!

No wonder General Zhao Kuan "singled them out for praise"; he just loved people who knew how to cause trouble!!