Li Zixiang stood at the forefront of the formation with the angelic figure, witnessing firsthand his own countrymen being mowed down by enemy fire as they charged within range. Those fortunate enough to reach the base of the wall and begin climbing their ladders were immediately crushed by falling timbers, their lives ending on the spot. Even those who managed to scale the battlements were swiftly surrounded by the surging enemy forces the moment they set foot on top, and cut down by a flurry of blades.
"All of them useless. If this continues, when will we ever capture this city?" Li Zixiang heard the angel's complaint and involuntarily turned to look at him. To his surprise, the angel showed no trace of pity for their fallen countrymen, but instead berated them for their lack of effort.
If he could, Li Zixiang would have let out a sneer. Truly, these were rootless beings who understood nothing of basic humanity. Their lives, in the eyes of the angel, were likely no more valuable than ants. They should have considered who they were facing: the renowned Third Prince. If he were to allow them to breach his defenses so easily, would he still be known as the God of War?
When he felt the time was right, Li Zixiang finally ordered the retreat. The Third Prince stood on the ramparts, looking down at the mountain of corpses below and sighing. He felt no burden in killing the Xiongnu, but these were his own people.
Wu Caiwei walked to his side, took his hand, and comforted him, "This is destined to be a war of life and death. Think of the soldiers who follow you. If we don't fight back, they will be the ones who die. The battlefield is cruel."
Having experienced so many lifetimes, what kind of scene had the Third Prince not witnessed? His moment of inner turmoil was brief. He glanced at Li Zixiang, who stood nearby with a similarly troubled expression, and said meaningfully, "It seems he is more troubled than I am. What I was somewhat hesitant about, I now feel can be implemented."
That night, Li Zixiang was fast asleep when he suddenly felt someone standing by his bed. He jolted awake, his heart leaping into his throat as he looked at the dark figure before him. He instinctively exclaimed, "Who are you? Stop playing tricks."
As he spoke, he subtly reached for a weapon by his bedside. Before he could touch it, he heard the other person calmly say, "I advise you not to waste your effort."
With that, the figure directly lit the candle they held. The moment Li Zixiang saw the face, he couldn't help but cry out in surprise, "Third Prince, what are you doing here?"
"Naturally, I've come to meet you."
"The Third Prince thinks too highly of me. I, Li, have only fought on the battlefield for two years. If there is anything you wish to impart, please speak directly." Li Zixiang said with self-deprecation.
"I won't beat around the bush with you. You've seen it yourself, countless casualties in our battles. If we continue, more will die. I admire you. If you are willing to join my ranks, I can help you break free from the constraints of your primary wife and guarantee the safety of your secondary wife." The Third Prince gazed at him steadily, conveying his sincerity.
"What does the Third Prince intend to do?" To be honest, Li Zixiang was tempted at that moment. The fact that someone could evade thousands of soldiers and come to his tent alone showed immense sincerity. Moreover, it meant that taking his head would be as easy as flipping a hand, yet the Third Prince had not done so, which moved him greatly. Besides, he knew he couldn't defeat the Third Prince and would only be able to atone with his life. Even if he won, his life afterward would be stifled. If he followed the Third Prince's suggestion, he would be free to soar like a bird in the sky. The thought alone made him excited.
"Give me a token of sincerity, and I will send men to bring your secondary wife and family here to reunite with you."
Li Zixiang thought for a moment, then quickly got out of bed, went to his armor, retrieved a jade pendant from it, and handed it to the Third Prince. "This is my only way out. They will understand. Furthermore, if anyone in my family is unwilling to leave, simply knock them out and bring them by force."
The Third Prince nodded and instructed, "For the next few days, try to stall for time and quietly win over some of our men. Once your family arrives, we will act immediately."
Li Zixiang nodded and bowed respectfully to him.
The next day, Li Zixiang led his troops to the city walls and shouted, "We failed last night, but we are not afraid. If you have the guts, fight us one-on-one instead of hiding behind your walls like cowards."
"My lord, didn't the Third Prince say Li Zixiang is already one of ours? Why is he still so arrogant? Could he be insincere?"
"He shouldn't be. If I'm not mistaken, he wants us to send someone out to give them a show of force. That way, with their morale low, it will be easier to sway the troops, and his efforts to win them over will be twice as effective with half the effort," Wu Caiwei said, overhearing the whispers of the two men and revealing the crux of the matter.
An Jin's ears perked up. "I humbly request the Princess Consort to allow me to meet them."
Wu Caiwei thought for a moment and casually named ten people. She smiled, "If you go alone, won't that tell them we only have one great general? We'll send ten people at once. Let them know that everyone on our side is someone they can't afford to provoke. Only when they witness our might will they feel fear."
Upon hearing this, everyone rejoiced and descended the city walls to mount their horses. The moment the city gates opened, the taunts from outside ceased. Archers immediately took their positions, ready for any contingency.
Li Zixiang breathed a sigh of relief. This was a spur-of-the-moment decision, and he hadn't coordinated it with the Third Prince. Fortunately, they understood.
"Who is willing to go and face them?" Li Zixiang looked at the generals behind him and asked.
"Your subordinate is willing to go." Gongsun Li had come here to achieve great deeds. He was a son born of a concubine and had long been suppressed by his legitimate mother. His childhood was worse than that of the servants in the mansion. As he grew up, his legitimate mother did not even hire a tutor for him, so he could only risk his life in the military camp. If the Third Prince were here, he might still feel fear, but facing only a few young generals, he didn't believe his years of experience wouldn't allow him to defeat them.
Li Zixiang nodded. Gongsun Li immediately rode out on his warhorse to meet the enemy, wanting to set an example for his brothers. An Jin, without waiting for them to react, charged forward. The moment the two clashed, Gongsun Li cried out, "Not good!" Without even looking, he knew that the spear thrust had directly split his tiger's mouth, drawing blood. This was the first time in many years he had encountered such a situation, demonstrating the opponent's formidable martial prowess. After only three rounds, Gongsun Li was directly knocked off his horse by a spear thrust, the spear tip resting against his throat. He closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face. Thinking of his mother and sister waiting for his triumphant return at home, he was unwilling to die. Especially his sister, without his protection, his legitimate mother would surely push her into a life of misery. He did not want to die.
Li Zixiang knew the Third Prince's men were highly skilled in martial arts, but he hadn't expected them to be this powerful. He was familiar with Gongsun Li's skills, having sparred with him many times. To be honest, he had only narrowly defeated him each time. If it were himself, he would at most last four rounds against Gongsun Li. He began to feel fortunate about his choice.