9: Defending the city

Lu Xingchen said in a deep voice, "How much time do the enemy forces have left until they reach the city walls?"

"Two hours." Lin Wanqing looked at Lu Xingchen solemnly.

"Lu Dazhuang, I suggest you immediately lead your troops to retreat. Transport as much grain as possible, and burn everything that cannot be transported, leaving not a single grain for the Fengming Kingdom."

Lu Dazhuang frowned deeply, pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice, "We cannot retreat. Zigui City is the largest food supply base for our army. If it is occupied by the Fengming Kingdom, we will fall into chaos without a fight and be put on the defensive."

"More importantly, the two countries have had a long-standing grudge. Judging from past battles, whenever Zigui City was occupied, the Fengming Kingdom's army would surely massacre the city. What will happen to the hundreds of thousands of commoners in the city then?"

Lin Wanqing was stunned for a moment, then shouted, "Then what can we do? Lu Dazhuang, there are over ten thousand people on the other side! How can your thousand new recruits and my Horse Bow Squadron possibly hold them off?"

Lu Xingchen: "My thousand new recruits are enough. Miss Wanqing, thank you for coming to deliver the message; you may leave now. I, Lu Dazhuang, would rather die than flee!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Wanqing was taken aback.

Originally, in her eyes, Lu Dazhuang was just a new recruit with some skill.

She never expected him to have such a grand vision.

Holding Zigui City to the death was something Lin Wanqing dared not even imagine. But he dared to do it.

Seeing Lin Wanqing's dazed expression, Lu Xingchen said no more, turned, and walked out the door, preparing to meet the enemy.

Just then, Lin Wanqing grabbed Lu Xingchen's hand.

Lu Xingchen paused slightly and asked, "Does Miss Wanqing have anything else?"

Lin Wanqing said solemnly, "I want to stay and defend Zigui City with you!"

Hearing this, Lu Xingchen was overjoyed.

Lin Wanqing's strength had already reached Three-Star Martial Master, and with that Horse Bow Squadron, it was a formidable fighting force.

Although he did not know why Lin Wanqing made such a choice, having someone help was, of course, for the best.

Lu Xingchen nodded heavily: "Thank you, Miss Wanqing. Prepare for battle!"

An hour later, the enemy army arrived at the city walls.

The vast army surrounded Zigui City, making it impenetrable.

Lu Xingchen stood on the city wall and checked his System panel.

Host: Lu Xingchen

Realm: Ten-Star Martial Artist

Experience Points: 120 / 150

exchange points: 510

Talents: Eagle Eye (20), Strong Strike (11), Frenzy (16), Blade Edge (11)

Profession: None

With the great battle imminent, Lu Xingchen wanted to increase his combat power as much as possible.

He thought for a moment, used up his remaining talent points, and raised "Blade Edge" and "Strong Strike" to level 20.

Then he selected items in the System Mall.

Lu Xingchen was a little conflicted.

He wanted to buy a profound rank low grade spirit sword and also alloy arrowheads; both would play a huge role in the upcoming battle.

After a moment of thought, he still chose to buy one hundred alloy arrowheads.

In a siege battle, the role of bows and arrows was still greater than close-quarters combat.

After doing all this, Lu Xingchen used his battle Qi to amplify his voice and shouted, "Warriors, the Fengming Kingdom's army is despicable and shameless, ambushing our Zigui City. The Great General will never stand idly by; we only need to hold out for three days, and he will surely lead his army to reinforce us."

"At that time, we will attack from inside and out, completely defeating this enemy army, and you will all be heroes of the Dayan Kingdom! Hold out for three days!"

"Hold out for three days!" The soldiers shouted in unison.

With just a few short sentences, Lu Xingchen ignited the fighting spirit of the warriors.

Just then, an enemy general, alone on horseback, rode to the city gate and shouted, "Defenders of Zigui City, I advise you to give up resistance and not do something as foolish as throwing an egg against a rock. As long as you open the gates and surrender, I, Wu Gang, will guarantee your safety!"

Lu Xingchen drew his bow and nocked an arrow, using an alloy arrowhead, and shot an arrow at Wu Gang.

Wu Gang did not expect Lu Xingchen's vision to be so far-reaching. Carelessly, he was shot in the shoulder and fell from his horse.

Two Martial Masters immediately appeared from the enemy army and carried Wu Gang back.

Seeing this scene, the new recruits on the city wall were greatly encouraged.

"Captain Lu is mighty!"

"We will win!"

For a time, the morale of the Dayan Kingdom rose again.

The siege battle officially began.

The enemy army had infiltrated by forced march and did not carry large siege equipment; this was Lu Xingchen's opportunity.

Ladders were erected one after another, and the two sides engaged in close combat.

The battle quickly escalated into a fierce struggle.

The Horse Bow Squadron brought by Lin Wanqing played a huge role.

Their aim was generally good, and every arrow could injure or kill an enemy.

Lin Wanqing, on the other hand, wielded her snow-white long sword to destroy the ladders; ordinary enemy soldiers could not withstand a single strike from her.

Every time a ladder was pushed down, a large number of enemy soldiers were killed or wounded.

Lu Xingchen, holding the zichen bow, commanded from the center of the city wall.

Relying on his "Eagle Eye" talent, he could see every enemy on the city wall.

Every one of his arrows was perfectly placed, blunting the enemy's offensive.

Congratulations to the host for killing a One-Star Martial Artist, gaining one experience point and one exchange point!

Congratulations to the host for killing a Five-Star Martial Artist, gaining five experience points and five exchange points!

...Congratulations to the host for advancing to One-Star Martial Master, gaining fifteen experience points and fifteen talent points!

The battle lasted all day until sunset, when the enemy army sounded the gongs to retreat.

The city walls were piled with the bodies of soldiers from both sides.

Lu Xingchen walked to Lin Wanqing's side and said in a deep voice, "Miss Wanqing, you are injured."

At this moment, Lin Wanqing's face was pale, and there was a deep wound on her right shoulder.

Lu Xingchen immediately opened the System Mall, exchanged two Second-Grade rejuvenation pills for two hundred exchange points, and handed one to Lin Wanqing.

Lin Wanqing took the Medicinal Pill, examined it carefully, and then exclaimed, "A Second-Grade Medicinal Pill?"

"Lu Dazhuang, our entire Dayan Kingdom doesn't have many Second-Grade Alchemists. Where did you get this Second-Grade Medicinal Pill?"

Lu Xingchen chuckled, "If we survive this battle, I'll tell you."

"It's a deal!"

Lin Wanqing swallowed the Medicinal Pill in one gulp. The wound on her shoulder quickly stopped bleeding and began to slowly heal.

Lu Xingchen shouted loudly, "Wang Xing, report the battle situation!"

A few minutes later, Wang Xing trotted to Lu Xingchen's front.

"Captain Lu, after today's battle, we lost over three hundred men, and over two hundred were seriously wounded. The Horse Bow Squadron had no casualties, and our effective fighting strength is only about six hundred men."

Hearing this, Lu Xingchen's brows furrowed tightly.

"This won't do! It's only the first day, and the casualties are already so heavy. The longer we drag this on, the fiercer the enemy's offensive will become. At that rate, let alone three days, we won't even last through the second day!"