Chapter 165 - 163: The Fall of the City
On the following day, after resting thoroughly and replenishing his spiritual power, Song Changming immediately resumed his training.
This time, after completing a round of training and developing a thread of inner qi, his condition was slightly better than the previous day. However, he was still mentally exhausted and too tired to continue to a second round.
Yet, after a short rest, he could still continue with body refinement and practicing martial techniques.
This suited him perfectly, as it allowed him to attend to all aspects of the Martial Tao, without solely focusing on qi refining and neglecting others.
In the future, as his spiritual power increased, the speed of his qi refining would naturally accelerate.
By April.
Father Song fell seriously ill, and Song Changming searched everywhere for medicine, spending a lot of money before he was cured.
However, after this serious illness, Father Song visibly aged, and even walking became difficult for him.
Silently, Song Changming had foreseen certain things.
After that, he spent less time practicing each day and would be by Song Father and Song’s Mother’s side whenever he had the chance.
In May.
That day, Liu Dingsheng called him to discuss important matters, and simultaneously, Liang Zhao Long, who was outside, also sent a letter.
Both were talking about the same matter.
The war in Donglai Prefecture was approaching, and it seemed almost inevitable that Donglai Prefecture would not be defended!
The reason was simple: This time, three armies were coming to besiege them.
One was an old rival, the bandit army led by the Dongcang Three Dragons, who were returning with more momentum than before!
Another was the Jianghu influence driven by the Dinghai Gang, colluding with the bandit army of Dongcang Three Dragons, and they had already attacked the port town not far from Donglai County City.
Their next target was most likely Donglai County City!
Lastly, there was a detachment sent by the Second Prince, a regular army, launching a surprise assault from another side!
In fact, the bandit army led by the Dongcang Three Dragons was also under the Second Prince.
Therefore, it was not hard to guess that the mastermind behind this raid was the Second Prince.
Moreover, Donglai Prefecture had just dispatched soldiers and grain to support the frontline, assisting Gu Wenhui’s Central Group Army in resisting the Imperial Court’s forces.
The enemy had timed the attack precisely when Donglai Prefecture’s defense was weak, creating problems for Gu Wenhui, worsening the situation.
Even if Gu Wenhui could withstand this wave and send troops back to aid, Donglai Prefecture would likely be occupied and fall first. This was highly probable.
Both Liu Dingsheng and Liang Zhao Long urged Song Changming to leave the city and seek refuge as soon as possible.
However, intelligence had delays after passing through several hands, and by the time the news reached the city, the bandit army and Dinghai Gang’s large army had already arrived at the city gates!
They came by water, utilizing this unexpected tactic to execute a blitzkrieg.
Their objective was simple: to capture the county city as quickly as possible, causing surrounding county cities to surrender without resistance.
"Truly, the world is ever-changing..." Song Changming couldn’t help but express as he listened to the sounds of slaughter outside the high walls.
Just yesterday, the county city was still peaceful, yet today it was engulfed in the flames of war.
Outside the high walls, giant stones flung by catapults flew into the city, easily demolishing houses and streets.
This immediately ignited a sense of panic among the city’s residents.
In the past, the towering and seemingly indestructible city walls no longer felt secure when war arrived.
"Changming, what should we do..." In the Song Residence, Song’s Mother, worried and frightened, asked upon seeing Song Changming return.
Song Changming glanced at Father Song, whose mobility was impaired, and said, "Mother, it’s not safe in the city. We must leave."
If it weren’t absolutely necessary, he really didn’t want to subject his elderly parents to the hardship of a long journey to escape the city.
In fact, if it were the Imperial Court’s regular army capturing Donglai, it would be easier to deal with.
To them, it would be reclaiming lost territory, and they wouldn’t act recklessly.
But this time, it was the combination of the bandit army and Jianghu gangs. To describe them as a pack of wolves and hyenas wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
Heaven knows if they might, on an impulsive thought, choose to slaughter the city!
Even if they didn’t slaughter the city, looting and destroying it was foreseeable.
Song Changming, personally, wasn’t afraid of this bandit army or the Dinghai Water Gang. However, he had to consider the safety of his elderly parents, who couldn’t endure any more hardship at their age.
"Also, Yu’Er, if she wishes to leave with us, we should take her too." Father Song suddenly interjected.
"Hmm." Song Changming nodded in response.
Generally, the third sister, Song Yu, having married, would follow her husband’s family regardless.
If the Zhao family were willing to come along, he would take them with him.
Then he would have Song Ping’an inform Liang Chuan Mountain and several friends in the city. If they wanted to abandon their official posts in the city and follow him, they should head to the West City Gate.
Soon, the Song Family’s carriage set off.
In fact, at this moment, the city’s citizens were panicked but had little understanding of the situation, still staying in the city watching, only thinking that the Governor’s Mansion could defend the County City.
After all, in the past years, Donglai County City had never fallen in battle.
Not many truly willing to give up everything and flee.
After all, outside the County City, there were wars everywhere, nowhere was absolutely safe.
To them, leaving the city could be even more dangerous.
When Song Changming arrived at the West City Gate, he only saw his third sister, Song Yu, with her son and daughter.
Zhao Dezhi’s stubborn nature flared up, unwilling to abandon his duty as Patrol Captain and become a deserter.
Zhao Huaiming also didn’t want to abandon his elderly father and escape alone, but he was concerned about Song Yu and trusted Song Changming.
So he privately asked Song Yu to take the children to find Song Changming.
"Changming, Huaiming and the others are staying in the city, will they be alright..." At this moment, Song Yu seemed lost, the situation came suddenly, leaving her no room for much thought.
Song Changming could only offer a few comforting words; it was Zhao’s family’s own decision, life and death are destined, he wouldn’t intervene much.
Even Lv Gang and Liang Chuan Mountain, whom he knew well, didn’t choose to leave with him at this time.
They were now Directors of the Patrol Armor Bureau and couldn’t abandon their subordinate guards and leave alone.
Seeing this, Song Changming didn’t insist, only hoping they could survive the calamity.
"It’s time to go, Changming." Outside another carriage, Liu Ziwen said solemnly.
"Alright." Song Changming nodded, not wasting time, and the convoy quickly left the city.
Outside, there were also people to meet and escort them.
A whole convoy, nearly a hundred strong martial artists!
This force was already quite considerable.
Even if they encountered bandits outside, truly daring to challenge them, there wouldn’t be many.
Behind them, the vast city echoed with the sounds of massacre.
Once Song Changming was farther away, arriving at a high slope, he turned to look at the County City.
At this moment, black fog rose, and fires blazed within the city.
"The city is breached." Liu Ziwen beside him spoke.
Song Changming stood silently, having lived in this County City for over twenty years, it was impossible for his heart not to be touched.
If he felt this way, Father Song and Song’s Mother even more so.
Sitting in the carriage, Song’s Mother was shedding tears, while Father Song sighed repeatedly.
Having lived their whole lives, they had never left Donglai County, now their hearts were filled with mixed emotions, unresolved anxiety surging.
"Hmm?" Liu Dingsheng also stepped out of the carriage, looking towards the distant County City.
"I wondered why the city fell so quickly! They’ve summoned numerous Fog Beasts for the siege!"
Song Changming also noticed some clues, the sky over the County City gradually gathered conspicuous scorching fog, drifting around without dispersing.
Like a giant screen or a terrifying giant beast intertwined with red and white, sprawling and ready to engulf the entire Donglai County City!
The appearance of one or two Fog Beasts wouldn’t be enough to gather such thick scorching fog in the sky.
As Liu Dingsheng said, this situation surely emerged due to the appearance of numerous Fog Beasts, causing the scorching fog to overflow.
With the opponent assisted by Fog Beast hordes, undoubtedly, the situation within the city was far more severe than they expected.
Fog Beasts consume blood, if left unchecked, who knows how many in the city will become blood fodder for these beasts.
It’s imaginable, soon, this County City will become a scene of hell on earth.
Beside him, Liu Ziwen felt some unwillingness, Liu Dingsheng also sighed heavily.
In a daze, it seemed they could hear the shrill screams emanating from the city.
In front of this war machine, they could only protect themselves.
To save the world and the people, one must possess absolute power above all else, otherwise, one will find themselves trapped in a quagmire, hard to extricate.
"Let’s go, this place is not safe." After all, Liu Dingsheng was someone who had experienced many ups and downs, quickly gathering his emotions, sitting back into the carriage, instructing the convoy to continue forward.
The team gradually moved away.
As they were just about to leave the County City domain, suddenly a scout rushed back quickly, anxiously saying.
"Elder Liu, a large cavalry troop has appeared ahead, pushing a mass of refugees toward us!"