Chapter 247 - Envy Jealousy and Hatred
At sunrise, the sun ascended, gradually dispelling the winter night's chill. Within the city, civilians and soldiers alike basked in its comforting warmth.
Collaboratively, they toiled to clear the battlefield and mend the city's walls and gates, forsaking even the luxury of a meal or a sip of soup.
Crown Prince Zhao stood by the city gate, surveying the damaged mechanism specially installed during the wall's construction—a mechanism reserved for rare exigencies. Now, reopening the gate would require sheer force.
“I owe it to the Crown Prince for informing me about this mechanism in advance. Otherwise, opening this gate wouldn't have been so straightforward.”
“It was a matter of urgency. Back then, few were privy to this secret. I stumbled upon it by chance from an aged artisan during my time at the border.”
Turning, Crown Prince Zhao cast his gaze upon Ping Shun, who had shed his helmet, revealing the countenance of a determined youth. No one would have guessed this resolute figure was once an overweight, ineffectual individual.
Had it not been for Tang Yue, he might have spent his life in the company of various women, his voice hoarse, his deeds inconsequential.
Naturally, he couldn't ascertain which fate was preferable. He merely harbored a desire for respect from others.
“No need for such formality. After all, we are like family.”
Ping Shun chuckled and nodded, grappling internally with how to address them. He was the brother-in-law of the Crown Princess. Logically, he should refer to the Crown Princess as the Crown Prince's sister-in-law. Yet, how could the Crown Prince accept such a form of address? Could he address her as his brother-in-law?
Zhao Sanlang emerged from some obscure corner, brandishing a humanoid figure in his grasp. From a distance, he exclaimed, “Haha, guess who I've captured!”
The Crown Prince turned, awaiting the newcomer's approach.
All eyes turned towards the commotion. Someone recognized the individual's identity and cried out, “Ah, it's that accursed spy!”
“The vice city lord?”
“Vice city lord my foot! He's the spy planted by North Yue in our Chu Province. If not for him silencing the news and facilitating the opening of our city gates, Chuzhou City wouldn't have fallen into enemy hands.”
“But this man saved my family a decade ago…”
“He oversaw the construction of the bridge outside the city, easing travel for our villagers.”
“The Yue Lao Temple within the city was also erected under his supervision. Rumor has it, it's efficacious. My cousin's daughter found a match there.”
……
.. “Everyone remembered every detail. As the sentence concluded, silence fell. Their misjudgment wasn't entirely unjustified; this lord's deception was masterful.
Were it not for numerous eyewitnesses who saw him alongside the North Yue soldiers, many would refuse to believe he was a spy even under duress.
Zhao Sanlang flung the man to the ground and wiped his hands, still seething from the beating he administered moments ago. He knew his actions contributed to the deaths of the thirty thousand men buried there.
Just the previous night, they had left ten thousand corpses sprawled beneath the city walls. Even the Black Armored Guard suffered nearly a hundred casualties. How could he not harbor resentment?
Crown Prince Zhao approached and gazed down at the man huddled on the ground. Time had aged him; his temples were white, his face weathered by wind and frost, resembling a frail elder.
“Considering your years of service to the people of Chu,” the elder remarked, “these thirty thousand brave souls will rest with you.” Crown Prince Zhao remained silent, unwilling to delve into possible motives or hardships. Betrayal was already the greatest gift.
“Your Highness…” The man lifted his head slightly, eyes glazed, lips parched. A bitter smile crossed his face, tears welling in his eyes. “These years, I nearly forgot my purpose in coming to Chuzhou City. What a pity…”
With his confession done, he rose and slammed his head against the city wall, blood spattering. Before his demise, he summoned his strength to cry out, “I am guilty!”
Zhao Sanlang approached and checked for signs of life, shaking his head. “He's gone.”
“Bury him,” Crown Prince Zhao instructed, turning towards the grieving civilians. “Bury him among the soldiers.”
Some disagreed. To them, he was the one responsible for their comrades' deaths. How could he be laid to rest with them? They cared little for his actions or intentions.
“Your Highness, this isn't right. How can we bury our brethren alongside our enemies?”
Crown Prince Zhao regarded them calmly. “It's an opportunity for revenge. Isn't that satisfactory?”
His explanation left them speechless; it seemed logical.
Zhao Sanlang ordered the body to be removed, then turned to Crown Prince Zhao. “Should we reinforce Wang Dingjun?”
All eyes turned to Crown Prince Zhao. They had long wanted to ask this question but hesitated, unsure of prying into their master's thoughts. Save for Generals Wang and Hu, they were unsure of their safety.
They presumed such a perilous task would end in disaster. Why was Crown Prince seemingly unconcerned?
“No need. I've received word and am on my way back.”
“They weren't attacked?” Zhao Sanlang questioned his assumptions. Perhaps Wang Dingjun hadn't mustered troops to halt the North Yue army.
“They haven't had the chance to attack. It's merely a delaying tactic. The enemy will arrive soon.”
Zhao Sanlang's curiosity heightened. How had Wang Dingjun managed to delay the enemy without sacrificing a single soldier?
The first to arrive back weren't Wang Dingjun's troops, but rather the ten thousand men under Hu Jinpeng's command. They hurried into Chuzhou City, brandishing flags and jubilantly shouting all the way, brimming with joy.
“Haha… as I expected. How could the minuscule Chuzhou City impede the might of the South Jin army?” Hu Jinpeng dismounted and knelt before Crown Prince Zhao, a smile adorning his face. “Your Highness, I am grateful to have fulfilled my duties.”
Crown Prince Zhao extended a hand, nodding in approval. “Excellent. Take some time to rest. Everyone will be rewarded generously with a hearty feast!”
Hu Jinpeng's grin widened. He turned to his men and exclaimed, “Brothers, join me for a feast!”
The soldiers erupted in cheers. As they departed, Zhao Sanlang pulled Ping Shun close, a playful smirk on his face. “Your Highness, will there truly be meat for us? Everyone has toiled through the night.” He even patted his own stomach for emphasis.
Crown Prince Zhao arched an eyebrow. “You all owe me first. Once this battle concludes, not only will you feast on meat, but also drink to your heart's content.”
Zhao Sanlang relayed the message promptly. Smiles broke out, accompanied by cheers. “For meat and wine, we'll fight until the end!”
Crown Prince Zhao hushed their cheers and issued orders, “Prepare to depart. Summon your other halves back and let the enemy witness the true might of the Black Armored Guard!”
“Roar!” The Black Armored Guard bellowed in unison, their presence towering, drawing envious and covetous glances from onlookers.
“So, this is the Black Armored Guard. It's indeed distinctive.” A general in the army observed Zhao Sanlang's formidable armor.
The Black Armored Guard's armor diverged from the norm. Not only was it weighty, but it also possessed a unique texture. Bathed in sunlight, its dark golden hue gleamed. Each piece was crafted into a sleek, well-proportioned form. The material remained a mystery, defying identification.
“Last evening, I witnessed their method of dispatching foes. Their weaponry was exceptional. I observed them effortlessly slicing through enemy spears with their blades.”
“It appears the Crown Prince has invested significantly in them. If our forces possessed such gear, we could have stood against an additional hundred thousand soldiers, let alone the one hundred and twenty thousand troops from the Northern Yue Army,” the man remarked with bitterness.
The general beside him remained composed. He shook his head and remarked, “Consider, if you were outfitted in such heavy armor, wielding a saber would be cumbersome. What purpose would it serve in defeating the enemy?”
“That seems far-fetched. How then did they achieve it?” The man clearly doubted his companion's explanation.
Left with no retort, the man shrugged and departed. He had just assisted in relocating the deceased. Upon encountering the fallen bodies of the Black Armored Guard soldiers, he attempted to lift them, only to find himself struggling to hoist them onto the handcart.
On the battlefield, resource conservation dictated the retrieval and reuse of armor and weapons from fallen soldiers. Naturally, the Black Armored Guard adhered to this practice.
Out of curiosity, he removed the armor from one of the corpses. Only upon handling it did he realize its considerable weight. Contemplating its burden, he surmised that if he were to bear such weight alongside a doubled-weight weapon, he would be rendered immobile.
Nevertheless, he couldn't fathom how the Black Armored Guard managed it. Rumors circulated that they rode mounts, armored horses at that. The sheer weight alone could easily crush adversaries to their demise.
Regardless of others' sentiments towards the Black Armored Guard, whether envy or jealousy, they couldn't refute their superiority in combat.
With this realization, the army's morale surged. If they could surpass the Black Armored Guard, it would affirm their prowess as true soldiers.
“I've heard the Crown Prince plans to recruit exceptional talents from the army to augment the Black Armored Guard,” came the news.
Upon hearing this announcement, the soldiers seemed invigorated, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to prove themselves through feats of valor!
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