192: Chapter 193 The Strategist's Secret Weapon

Lei Lie stood beneath the city walls, watching the lamp above that was still lit but had failed to sound an alarm, the corner of his mouth curling slightly.

" Ladders. "

The single word fell.

The scaling ladders, long wrapped in thick cloth, were raised silently.

One ladder.

Three ladders.

Ten ladders.

More.

Armored warriors, carrying blades and shields, pressed up along the ladders.

They ascended extremely quickly.

No one roared.

No one jostled.

The person in the lead had just climbed onto the ramparts, while those behind were already halfway up. Shields spread horizontally first, followed by the blades, forcefully suppressing the last remnants of resistance struggling on the ramparts.

A minor leader drew his blade, eyes reddened as he lunged forward, but before he had even charged halfway, he slammed headlong into a heavy shield.

A dull " thud " sounded.

He was sent flying backward by the impact.

Before he even hit the ground, a long blade had already pierced through the gaps in his armor.

The warriors did not entangle themselves on the ramparts.

Suppress.

Clear.

Then, they immediately split up to rush toward the city gate tower and the winch room.

A moment later, the heavy iron bolt beneath the city gate was lifted bit by bit from the inside.

The sound of the wooden wheels turning seemed extremely faint in the night.

And extremely slow.

Yet, for this city, this faint and slow sound was like having its throat slit open.

" Open. "

Following that low shout from inside.

The thick city gate cracked open inward.

The gap was small.

But it was enough.

The next moment, the knights who had been waiting in formation outside immediately spurred their horses and charged in.

Their horses' hooves were wrapped in soft leather, and as they stepped on the ground, the muffled sound struck like a drumbeat against one's heart.

They were not charging into the city chaotically.

Instead, they split up along several pre-designated main streets, first cutting off the barracks, then the Granary, and then the nodes outside the City Lord's Mansion where forces might gather.

The priests followed behind, waving their hands, and layers of soft white light fell upon the people of Flower City.

This was to stabilize their condition.

It allowed their fatigue to recede, suppressed wounds before they could even form, and made their steps steadier.

Further back, the Summoner raised a hand to release their spirit contract.

Shadow beasts resembling black dogs crouched low as they darted into the alleyways.

There were also palm-sized flying spirit creatures flapping their wings, soaring directly over the rooftops to lock onto everyone in the city who still thought of fleeing.

The entire city finally began to descend into chaos.

But this chaos was confined only to the military.

Among the common folk, they had not yet awakened.

Most people were still wrapped in their quilts, sleeping in their beds, unaware that the weapons of war had already changed hands outside.

A dog in one household suddenly stood up and let out a " woo " toward the window. Just as its ears pricked up, it saw a squad of dark, armored figures sweep past the street. The dog tucked its tail between its legs and actually slowly laid back down.

It was not that it wouldn't bark.

It was because the Aura that had descended upon the city that night was so fierce that even a beast dared not bark recklessly.

...

The City Lord's Mansion was the last place.

Not because it was difficult to attack.

It was because Lei Lie wanted to chop off the " limbs " of the entire city first, before turning back to pinch its head.

By the time he led his men to the gates of the mansion, someone inside had finally been startled awake.

Someone rushed out, disheveled and carrying a blade, shouting " Enemy attack " .

That sentence was only halfway shouted.

A heavy fist had already smashed into his face.

He collapsed on the spot.

The mansion gates were smashed open.

Lei Lie did not even pause, drawing his sword and walking inside.

There were not many people along the way who tried to stop him.

Or rather, they hadn't had time to gather.

Blood splattered along the long corridor, lamps were knocked, swaying one after another, and the firelight reflected on the armor, illuminating that " Hua " character with particular clarity.

The City Lord was startled awake from his couch.

He had been sleeping deeply when he suddenly heard hurried and chaotic footsteps outside, and instinctively reached for the blade by his bed.

Just as his hand reached out, the door was kicked open with a " bang " .

Several dark figures poured in.

A chill instantly pressed against his neck.

The City Lord stiffened completely.

He hadn't even had time to see who the intruders were before his legs went weak.

" W-who are you? "

His voice drifted, and his heart beat so hard it felt like it was about to jump out of his chest.

Lei Lie walked up to him and looked down.

No answer.

Only a cold laugh.

Immediately, he raised his hand and flung open the room door.

The night wind poured in at once.

Outside the door, in front of the City Lord's Mansion, the flag that had originally belonged to this city was gone.

In its place was a large flag with the " Hua " character, just raised, snapping in the wind amidst the firelight.

When the City Lord saw that flag, his face turned as white as paper.

He finally understood what had happened.

But it was also at this moment that his last bit of desire to resist dissipated.

The city... has fallen!

It didn't fall after a night of fierce fighting.

It wasn't taken by an army of thousands fighting tooth and nail.

It was that he hadn't even woken up, and the city was already gone.

What kind of opponent had he... provoked?!

Lei Lie had no intention of paying attention to his shock and turned to walk out.

" Keep a close watch. "

" Before dawn, whoever dares to move recklessly, kill them. "

Someone behind him immediately replied in a deep voice.

The firelight flickered, making the entire City Lord's Mansion appear in alternating light and shadow.

On the streets outside the mansion, the Flower City army had completely taken over all key nodes. The city gates, barracks, Granary, and mansion gates had all fallen into the hands of Flower City.

From start to finish, it took less time than a single meal.

And most of the city's common folk were still asleep.

...

Lei Lie stood in front of the City Lord's Mansion and looked up at the night sky.

The sky was still dark.

Tonight, it had only just begun.

Almost at the same moment, in the southeast direction, a low cluster of firelight suddenly flashed on the city walls.

Another breath later, the northwest.

Another breath, the north.

The south.

In the further night, on the city walls of one city after another, old flags fell and new flags rose in succession.

The large " Hua " flags unfurled simultaneously in the night winds of different directions.

Like blades.

And like a tide.

The first city had thus fallen!

...

Those firelights that lit up simultaneously were not an illusion.

The large " Hua " flag of the first city had just unfurled in the night wind when the city walls of the second, third, and fourth cities were also successively sliced open by blade light.

...

The second city, at the third quarter of the Zi hour.

This city was even quieter than the first.

It was so quiet that not even a dog barked twice.

After the Flower City assassins crept onto the city walls, they discovered that the night watch was even looser than they had imagined.

They were supposed to be responsible for the night watch, but dozens of people had actually fallen asleep against the parapets!

One person was huddled in a corner wrapped in a coat, his head bobbing, looking like he was about to topple over.

As for the one in the City Lord's Mansion...

He was sleeping even more deeply.

By the time the Flower City warriors broke through the doors, he was still clutching his brocade quilt, turning over in a daze, and cursed in his mouth:

" Who is it... in the middle of the night... "

The next moment, a blade pressed against his neck.

The City Lord shuddered, his eyes snapping open.

The lamps in the room were lit.

On all sides, there were only armored silhouettes.

He froze for two breaths, mouth agape, forgetting even to breathe.

" Y-you... "

No one wasted words with him.

A Flower City soldier reached out and flung it open.

The window was wide open.

Outside, in front of the City Lord's Mansion, the large " Hua " flag had already been raised into the air.

The City Lord stared at that flag, his brain going " buzz " as if he had been stunned by a blow from a club.

He couldn't even figure out if he had woken up first, or if the city had been lost first.

By the time he finally came to his senses, the entire City Lord's Mansion had been completely taken over by Flower City.

...

The third city, at the beginning of the Chou hour.

This one died even more quietly.

It was not because Flower City charged faster.

It was because the people inside had long since stopped wanting to risk their lives for the City Lord.

The one guarding the east gate was a tall, thin soldier.

Just as the Flower City assassins crept to the bottom of the gate tower, he had already sensed that something was wrong.

But he didn't shout.

Nor did he raise a torch.

He just stood in place, gripping his blade, listening to the footsteps of the few personal guards behind him growing closer, his expression sinking bit by bit.

" Chief? "

Someone called out to him in a hushed voice.

He didn't reply.

Until in the shadows beneath the wall, a very faint small " Hua " flag gently swayed in the night.

His eyelid twitched.

The next moment, he suddenly turned around.

His blade swept horizontally.

The personal guard behind him, who was about to open his mouth to sound the alarm, didn't even have time to react before his throat was slashed.

The remaining few froze instantly.

" Whoever dares to shout... "

The tall, thin soldier's voice was extremely low, low enough to sound vicious.

" ...I will kill first. "

Everyone's face went deathly pale.

He stared at them, gritted his teeth, and sheathed his blade.

" Open the gate. "

" Hasn't the City Lord sucked enough of our blood over these years? "

" Tonight, whoever wants to risk their life for him, go do it yourself! "

No one made a sound.

And no one moved.

But it was after this single breath of dead silence that someone in the gate tower suddenly lowered their head and went to move the iron bolt.

Once someone made the first move.

There would be a second, a third.

A moment later, the gate of the third city opened on its own.

When the Flower City knights rode into the city, they didn't even need to charge.

The tall, thin soldier stood by the gate, watching squads of dark, armored figures sweep past him, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, and in the end, he lowered his head.

That night, he did not guard the gate for the City Lord.

He opened the gate for Flower City.

...

The fourth city, at the first quarter of the Chou hour.

In this city, there was actually someone who truly wasn't afraid of death.

As soon as the firelight rose on the city walls, that person, carrying a heavy axe, was the first to rush out, his voice booming so loudly that half the ramparts rang.

" Damn it! "

" Where did these ignorant fools come from, daring to attack my city! "

" Die for me! "

After this shout, he stomped his feet, and his whole body truly charged out like a crazed bear.

The wind of his axe swirled, and he cleaved a Flower City vanguard head-on.

The surrounding garrison had been on the verge of collapsing, but seeing him charge like this, it was as if they had suddenly regained some life.

" General Zhao! "

" General Zhao is here! "

The burly man heard the shouts behind him and his eyes grew even redder.

He swung his axe and, with a grim smile, smashed it toward the leading warrior opposite him.

" Come! "

" You ignorant fool, you dare to attack the city I guard? "

" I'll hack you to pieces first! "

The Flower City lieutenant said nothing, but at the very moment the axe fell, he twisted his feet and flicked his spear tip upward.

" Clang! "

A sharp ringing sound.

The burly man felt his tiger's mouth suddenly go numb, and his entire arm felt as if it had been struck by lightning.

His expression changed drastically, and he had been forced back three steps.

Before he could steady himself, the spear opposite him had already struck for the second time.

This time, it wasn't a hard collision.

The spear tip circled around and slipped directly under his armpit.

The burly man's roar was still stuck in his throat, and his whole body was flipped sideways.

The axe slipped from his hand.

He slammed heavily onto the ground.

He stared with wide eyes, as if he still wanted to push himself up.

But the Flower City lieutenant followed up with one step and thrust his spear downward.

" Pfft. "

Armor pierced.

Throat punctured.

The person who had just been shouting " Die for me " was dead after the second exchange.

The bit of courage that had just returned to the ramparts died along with him.

The remaining defenders looked at the corpse, forgetting even to flee for a moment.

They just stood there blankly, watching the Flower City lieutenant pull out his spear, watching the blood on the tip drip into the night.

The next moment, the entire section of the ramparts completely collapsed.

...

The fifth city, at the second quarter of the Chou hour.

The City Lord of this city had quite a tough backbone.

When the Flower City people burst in, he was standing in the main hall draped in a robe, his back held straight, and although his face was pale, his voice did not tremble.

" Capturing me is useless. "

He stared at the Flower City lieutenant before him and gritted his teeth:

" I will not surrender. "

" If you kill me, my generals, and the hundred thousand soldiers in my city, will all avenge me! "

" You will not walk out of this city alive! "

He spoke very firmly.

And with great integrity.

The Flower City lieutenant listened, but was not angry.

He just looked at him and replied indifferently.

" Is that so? "

After speaking, he beckoned.

Someone outside the hall responded immediately.

Immediately after, three or four figures were escorted in like gourds on a string.

Some still had dust on their faces.

Some had crooked hair crowns.

There was even one limping as he walked.

But the City Lord recognized them at a glance.

These were the very " generals " he had just spoken of.

The City Lord's face, which had been tight just a moment ago, froze on the spot.

" You... "

His eyes widened instantly.

" How could... "

" Could it be... "

The generals who had been escorted in lowered their heads, as dejected as a flock of defeated chickens.

After a long time, someone finally choked out a sentence.

" City Lord... "

" We... have been defeated! "

The City Lord stared at them blankly.

For only an instant.

Those eyes that had been stubborn just a moment ago suddenly cleared.

As if he had suddenly understood something.

The next moment—

" Thump. "

He knelt down cleanly and decisively, not even bothering to adjust the hem of his robe.

" The might of Flower City is divine! "

" I am willing to surrender! "

" I surrender! "

The entire hall suddenly went quiet for a moment.

Even the Flower City soldiers holding the prisoners were stunned for half a breath.

The generals who had been escorted in were even more dumbfounded, as if it were their first day knowing their own City Lord.

The Flower City lieutenant looked at the man kneeling on the ground, the corner of his mouth twitching uncontrollably.

He had originally thought that tonight would take some effort.

Who knew this City Lord would flip faster than a book page.

A moment later, someone in the hall couldn't hold it back and let out a low cough.

Immediately after, even those escorted generals buried their heads even lower.

They had no choice.

It was truly too embarrassing.

...

The sixth city, at the third quarter of the Chou hour.

Arriving here, they finally encountered a decent bone.

The city walls looked quiet.

But as soon as the Flower City people crept up, they immediately sensed that something was wrong.

The night watch of this city had not slept.

Horns, fire basins, and reserve troops were all stuck in their proper positions.

The assassins had just finished off the first wave of defenders when the second wave lunged out from the shadows.

" Enemy attack! "

This shout finally rang out after all.

Immediately after, the city walls lit up with bright fire.

A garrison general emerged in armor, his reaction startlingly fast, and he pressed his forces up almost immediately.

Shields rose on the ramparts.

Long spears stood like a forest.

Bowstrings were drawn in rows.

Several Flower City vanguard warriors had just climbed onto the ramparts when they were forced back half a step.

" General! "

A Flower City soldier nearby changed expression slightly.

" They are prepared! "

The leading lieutenant also frowned.

The things happening right now exceeded his expectations.

But at this very moment, he suddenly remembered the brocade pouch the strategist had given him before they set out.

" If you encounter an unexpected situation, open the brocade pouch. "