Chapter 316
"The barbarians are attacking the city!"
A piercing cry shattered the dark night, startling the residents of Xiangwu County who were fighting the fires. It wasn't until several constables ran madly towards the county yamen from the street that the news of the barbarian attack spread through every alley and lane.
At the mouth of the alley, Zhan Feiyu looked towards the city gate with a grave expression. "Did the barbarians bypass the Weizhou Great Camp?"
Although Xiangwu County was located on the border, it wasn't particularly dangerous unless there was a war. The Weizhou Great Camp had ten thousand stationed troops. If it were a small enemy force, the Weizhou Great Camp could directly dispatch troops to annihilate them.
If the enemy was formidable, lighting a beacon and sending for reinforcements would not only bring troops from several surrounding camps but also from the garrisons.
Moreover, Longyou Dao had a total of three hundred thousand troops stationed. Even if the barbarian tribes attacked in full force, they were not afraid at all. This was also because the Emperor allocated a large amount of military pay from the Ministry of Revenue to the army each year, which allowed them to maintain a strong and well-equipped army of three hundred thousand.
At this moment, hearing that the barbarians had bypassed the border defense camp and reached the gates of Xiangwu County, not only Zhan Feiyu was shocked, but He Nuan was also puzzled.
Even a fast horse would take an hour to reach Xiangwu County from the Weizhou Camp. How did this group of barbarians manage to evade the scouts of the Weizhou Camp and reach Xiangwu County?
He Sheng had just carried the two granddaughters of the old woman out of the fire. Some of his hair had been singed by the flames, and he had several large blisters on the back of his hand.
"Miss, let's return to the Qiu residence first!" He Sheng said in a deep voice, his brows furrowed with gravity. Regardless of what happened in the army, his priority was to protect the young lady's safety.
Almost simultaneously with He Sheng's words, four more people appeared behind Zhan Feiyu. In the darkness, their sharp eyes scanned their surroundings vigilantly. If it were just a fire, even if it was arson, with their skills, they could protect the young lady.
But if the barbarians were attacking, once the enemy broke in, there would be chaos. Even if they were all masters who could fight a hundred, facing thousands of enemies, they might not be able to protect the young lady completely.
"Miss, the Qiu residence has high walls and is difficult to attack. Even if the barbarians enter the city, they will only be in small groups, burning and looting. Moreover, once dawn breaks, the news will spread. As long as we hold on for a few hours, we will be safe." He Nuan's usual gentleness was gone. She gripped her sword, her eyes filled with killing intent.
If it weren't for the prohibition against disrespecting superiors, He Nuan would have forcibly taken Zhan Feiyu back to the Qiu residence. She knew very well that this was different from rescuing people from the fire just now.
Although He Sheng and the others obeyed Zhan Feiyu's orders and entered the fire, besides He Nuan, there were two others hidden in the dark. If real danger arose, He Sheng and the others could return immediately. Therefore, even though Zhan Feiyu was a bit willful, He Nuan and the others did not stop her.
But now it was different. They didn't know how many enemies were outside the city gate. Magistrate Zhu was a corrupt official who just held his position for nothing. The city gates of Xiangwu County were probably in disrepair, and the city walls were not strong.
The constables, yamen runners, and soldiers of the county yamen numbered less than a hundred in total. Even the retainers and guards from the households of the wealthy families in the county town had gone up to the city wall, and even the common people, but their numbers would not exceed five hundred, or even fewer.
And outside the city gate, there were at least a thousand enemies, possibly three to five thousand, all wearing armor and wielding weapons.
Compared to the well-trained and battle-hardened barbarian enemies, the constables and soldiers of Xiangwu County were nothing more than a mob. Once the city gate was breached, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Miss!" He Sheng urged anxiously.
As long as they stayed within the Qiu residence and did not come out, with He Sheng's skills, plus the Qiu residence's guards and retainers, let alone a dozen or twenty barbarian soldiers, even a hundred, they could defend the Qiu residence by relying on the city walls.
Zhan Feiyu silently watched the panicked citizens running around like headless flies. If only a small number of people were crying out during the fire just now.
But now, upon hearing the news of the barbarian attack, almost all the women and children were crying. Zhan Feiyu could imagine that if the barbarians stormed into the county town, even for a few hours, there would be corpses everywhere and rivers of blood.
"We're going to the city gate!" Zhan Feiyu's words made He Sheng, He Nuan, and the others' hearts sink, but it was also the expected outcome.
Zhan Feiyu looked at He Nuan with determination. "No need to say more, let's go now."
"Yes, Miss." He Nuan sheathed her sword, hugged Zhan Feiyu with one arm, and then several figures darted towards the city gate like a gust of wind.
...
"Sir, what should we do?" The soldier responsible for guarding the city gate's voice trembled as he looked at the dense crowd under the city gate, his legs shaking uncontrollably.
County Lieutenant Feng wiped his face fiercely. Who knew how these barbarians had appeared? He had taken a glance and saw at least three thousand of them.
On the city wall, the twenty to thirty soldiers dared not speak. Just now, they had followed County Lieutenant Feng to put out the fire, worried that some ruffians would take advantage of the situation to loot. After all, there were only two days left until the New Year, and every household had bought a lot of New Year's goods, and they must have saved some money.
If these people rushed in during the fire, stole things, and fled out of the city, and returned in three to five days, where would the constables find the people and the goods?
Therefore, County Lieutenant Feng simply ordered the city gate to be closed and sent four people to guard the city gate to prevent thieves from stealing things and running out of the city.
Fortunately, heaven had not abandoned them. If not for this, County Lieutenant Feng and the others would not have discovered the barbarian enemy in the first place. Once the three thousand enemy troops had entered the county town unimpeded, by tomorrow morning, there would likely not be a single survivor left in the entire Xiangwu County.
"Sir, why don't we run too?" a thin soldier stammered. If they stayed here, the first to die would be them if the barbarians broke through the city.
It was better to escape now, find a secluded or hidden place, and perhaps they could survive. After all, once dawn broke, the Weizhou Camp and the garrisons would surely discover the barbarians entering the city. When reinforcements arrived, the barbarians would surely flee, and they would be safe.
"Shut up!" County Lieutenant Feng roared, his icy gaze fixed on the soldier who wanted to desert, and sneered, "Can you hide alone? But what about your parents? Your brothers and sisters? Can they all hide?"
The scolded soldier flinched. His parents had died long ago. His wife had only married last year. As long as he was safe, he could remarry if his wife was gone. Moreover, after the barbarians fled, he might be able to pick up some leftovers from the wealthy families' homes, and then he would have enough money to marry two wives.
"Who's there?" Suddenly, a trembling voice sounded, startling the already uneasy twenty to thirty soldiers. They were afraid that there were barbarians inside the city who were about to open the city gate to let the enemies outside in.
County Lieutenant Feng gripped his saber tightly. As he looked at the few people approaching in the torchlight, he couldn't help but be surprised. "Miss Zhan, you?"
It was not surprising that County Lieutenant Feng was shocked. At this critical juncture, why would a young girl like Zhan Feiyu come to the most dangerous city wall? Of course, he was not surprised by He Sheng, He Nuan, and the others around her. She was a disciple of Scholar Gu and held the token of the Forbidden Dragon Guard. It was normal for her to bring more than ten guards, let alone more.
This was the third time Zhan Feiyu had seen County Lieutenant Feng. Previously, he had always followed Magistrate Zhu. Although she had seen him, they had not spoken. During the trip to Plum Valley, Zhan Feiyu had also met County Lieutenant Feng's daughter, who was a very eloquent person.
"Miss, there are at least three thousand people." He Sheng's face was grave. Compared to the dense enemy force outside the city, there were only twenty to thirty soldiers on the city wall, and crucially, they were all dejected, with no morale at all.
Compared to He Sheng's ability to see in the dark, Zhan Feiyu could only see a general outline. "They are not attacking the city at the moment; they must be waiting for the city gate to open."
No matter how weak the military strength of Xiangwu County was, there were still city gates and walls. If they attacked the city, there would inevitably be casualties. But once the city gate was opened from the inside, the three thousand barbarian troops could enter without a single soldier being killed. Then, wielding their butcher knives, the common people in the city would all become ghosts under their blades.
He Sheng looked back at Xiangwu County behind him. In the darkness, he could clearly see twenty to thirty houses on fire. The arson tonight had two purposes.
First, to make the constables and yamen runners of the county yamen go to fight the fires, leaving no one to guard the city gate. Moreover, the constables were scattered. Once the barbarians entered, they could defeat them one by one, as if entering an uninhabited land.
Second, it was to facilitate the barbarian spies lurking in the city to come and open the city gate.
"A Sheng, take everyone to guard the city gate. Kill any barbarians you see!" Zhan Feiyu had calmed down. Perhaps the wind on the city wall was too cold, making her mind exceptionally clear.
"County Lieutenant Feng, immediately take everyone here back and gather everyone you can. Once the agreed time comes and the city gate is not opened, the barbarians will definitely attack the city by force."
Zhan Feiyu knew very well that at that time, it would be impossible to rely solely on He Sheng and the others. The constables, soldiers, and even the retainers and guards of the county yamen, everyone who could ascend the city wall must come up to defend the city gate.
"Miss Zhan, even so, our people are still too few. Why don't we send someone to the garrison and the great camp to deliver a message?" County Lieutenant Feng spoke quickly. Although he raised an objection, he did not resent Zhan Feiyu's "overstepping her bounds." At this time, her standing here as a young girl was enough to earn respect.
Not to mention whether the message could be delivered, the key was that it would take at least two hours for a round trip. Distant water could not quench a nearby fire.
"I will send someone to deliver the message." Zhan Feiyu glanced downstairs again. At this time, if there were cannons, even thirty thousand enemies would not be a threat, let alone three thousand.
But now, they could only rely on swords and knives. Three hundred against three thousand, they would probably be annihilated without a trace.
"County Lieutenant Feng, after gathering the personnel, immediately ask the old, weak, women, and children in the city to send over the oil stored in their homes." Zhan Feiyu spoke quickly, "Then have them continuously boil water..."
After quickly giving instructions, Zhan Feiyu handed over the token of the Forbidden Dragon Guard. Her crisp voice was filled with sharp killing intent. "If those merchants and wealthy families refuse to cooperate, tell them that the Forbidden Dragon Guard will personally come to find them later!"
This was the token of the Forbidden Dragon Guard! Who dared to refuse? Otherwise, even if they escaped the barbarian's broadswords today, they would surely die by the Forbidden Dragon Guard's swords later.
County Lieutenant Feng took the token with both hands. "I'll go immediately!"
The wind on the city wall was strong, bringing waves of bone-chilling cold. Zhan Feiyu watched County Lieutenant Feng and the others leave, then looked outside the city gate.
...
... "Miss Zhan, even so, our people are still too few. Why don't we send someone to the garrison and the great camp to deliver a message?" County Lieutenant Feng spoke quickly. Although he raised an objection, he did not resent Zhan Feiyu's "overstepping her bounds." At this time, her standing here as a young girl was enough to earn respect.
Not to mention whether the message could be delivered, the key was that it would take at least two hours for a round trip. Distant water could not quench a nearby fire.
"I will send someone to deliver the message." Zhan Feiyu glanced downstairs again. At this time, if there were cannons, even thirty thousand enemies would not be a threat, let alone three thousand.
But now, they could only rely on swords and knives. Three hundred against three thousand, they would probably be annihilated without a trace.
"County Lieutenant Feng, after gathering the personnel, immediately ask the old, weak, women, and children in the city to send over the oil stored in their homes." Zhan Feiyu spoke quickly, "Then have them continuously boil water..."
After quickly giving instructions, Zhan Feiyu handed over the token of the Forbidden Dragon Guard. Her crisp voice was filled with sharp killing intent. "If those merchants and wealthy families refuse to cooperate, tell them that the Forbidden Dragon Guard will personally come to find them later!"
This was the token of the Forbidden Dragon Guard! Who dared to refuse? Otherwise, even if they escaped the barbarian's broadswords today, they would surely die by the Forbidden Dragon Guard's swords later.
County Lieutenant Feng took the token with both hands. "I'll go immediately!"
...