Chapter 71

At dusk, the sound of waves could be heard faintly in the distance. As they rounded a mountain, the view suddenly opened up. A narrow stream wound through an emerald valley, merging into a great river. At this moment, the sun had not yet set in the west, while the full moon was rising in the east. The sun and moon illuminated the Yangtze River, its green waters surging and roaring, vast and mighty. The mountains on both banks were steep and undulating, covered with lush forests, stretching westward into the depths of the evening glow.

Seeing this magnificent sight, Liang Wenjing felt his heart broaden, momentarily forgetting his troubles.

Just as he was lost in thought, he suddenly heard Xue Rong call out, "Your Highness, please look, that is Hezhou City."

In the twilight, a dark and massive city lay nestled between the mountains and the water, resembling a colossal beast crouching at the confluence of two rivers. Especially on the side facing the water, the city walls stood a hundred feet high, towering and imposing, facing the river and the sky, a truly spectacular sight.

Hezhou City was a large and formidable fortress. Li Wuchang, upon seeing it, felt a sudden brightness in his eyes and was invigorated, knowing that the most crucial part of the Iron Blood Heavenly Pride's plot would take place in Hezhou City.

The group moved toward Hezhou City. They had not walked two li when dust rose ahead, and a troop of cavalry approached. The leading general dismounted and bowed deeply to Liang Wenjing, and the others followed suit.

"Sichuan Military Governor Wang Li pays his respects to Your Highness."

The leading general, who was about fifty years old, had a broad forehead and face, with speckled temples and a prominent red mole between his eyebrows.

Without waiting for Liang Wenjing to respond, Wang Li continued, "Your Highness was startled by the bandits and has been traveling for a long time. It is not suitable to stay in this desolate place for long. My subordinates have already prepared fine wine and delicacies to welcome Your Highness."

He raised his hand and said, "Your Highness, please!"

Liang Wenjing hesitated, "Governor Wang..."

Wang Li's expression turned serious, interrupting him, "I have lost the Sword Gate and know that I deserve the death penalty. The specific circumstances will be reported to Your Highness once we are in the city."

Upon entering the city and the governor's residence, a banquet was already set up in the main hall. Servant girls, with lowered eyes, stood along the path, bowing to Liang Wenjing as he entered.

Suddenly, the sound of hooves and a commotion came from outside. Liang Wenjing was startled as Bai Pu, Duanmu Changge, Yan Gang, and Liang Tiande burst in.

Liang Wenjing was shocked, and the four of them stood in silence, the hall falling into a tense quiet. The musicians, sensing the tension, stopped their performances.

Just as Liang Wenjing was about to speak, Bai Pu fell to the ground and said solemnly, "I failed to protect Your Highness, and I deserve the death penalty. Please punish me, Your Highness."

Wang Li, guessing Liang Wenjing's thoughts, believed he was angry at the four for their negligence but did not want to punish them harshly in front of everyone, losing his magnanimity. He thus suggested giving the four two hundred military lashes.

Liang Wenjing, unwilling to have Liang Tiande punished, had to acknowledge the title of Prince of Huai'an to find a way out.

Afterward, the governor of Hezhou, Li Hansheng, the naval commander, Lu De, the cavalry commander, Xiang Zongdao, and the infantry commander, Lin Mengshi, all came to pay their respects to Liang Wenjing.

After some pleasantries, just as they were about to continue the music and dancing, a soldier stumbled in from outside, shouting, "Bad news!"

"What is the matter?" Wang Li asked calmly, displaying the demeanor of a great general.

It turned out that the governor of Luzhou, Liu Zheng, had defected, and Luzhou had fallen. The Mongol general Uryankhadai was leading an army of thirty thousand troops advancing toward Hezhou by land. The Mongol general Uryankhadai had led the vanguard of several tens of thousands to camp three hundred li away from Hezhou. The Luzhou navy, led by Shi Tianze and with Liu Zheng as deputy, was sailing eastward along the river.

The Mongol Khan Möngke had left the camp at Liupanshan and was leading an army of one hundred thousand to camp at the Sword Gate.

The group was momentarily at a loss, turning to Liang Wenjing for advice. Liang Wenjing, in a fit of nonsense, said that the Mongols would be at the city gates the next day, and a battle was imminent. He suggested they rest and conserve their strength to fight the Tartars the next day.

After refusing Yue Chan's offer to share his bed, Liang Wenjing was about to sleep when a black shadow descended from the roof and landed in the courtyard. It was Xiao Yuling.

Seeing Yue Chan by Liang Wenjing's side, Xiao Yuling became furious and shouted, "So you're no different from those shameless men!"

Before Liang Wenjing could respond, Bai Pu, his sleeves fluttering, arrived and said with a smile, "You have great courage, but today you will not escape."

Xiao Yuling spat and charged forward with her saber, engaging Bai Pu in combat.

Although Xiao Yuling was skilled, she was no match for Bai Pu. After a few moves, she was captured and imprisoned in the stone dungeon of the governor's residence.

The next day, the Mongols indeed arrived at the city gates.

Standing on the city wall, looking into the distance, the white Mongol tents stretched along the undulating mountains. A cold autumn wind blew through the city, stirring up a mist of dust that scattered into the sky.

A distant reed pipe sounded, as if rising from the depths of the earth, blending with the pounding of leather drums, creating a heart-stirring resonance in the air.

The Mongol army surged out of their camp like a tide, three ten-thousand-strong units lining up in the withered grass. The horses and the autumn wind alternately neighed, and the Mongol army advanced toward Hezhou City.

The Mongols pushed massive ladders up the hill. On the city walls, thousands of strong bows and crossbows were loaded, and the stone-throwing machines were filled with sharp rocks. The ropes holding the huge logs were taut.

When the ladders were three hundred paces from the city walls, tens of thousands of Mongols let out a deafening roar, and the charge began.

The clear whistling of arrows and the rumbling of logs and stones echoed in the air above the hill. The Mongol soldiers let out piercing screams as the powerful arrows pierced their leather armor, and their helmets dented under the impact of the falling rocks, blood and flesh splattering the green grass.

The heavy logs knocked over the tall ladders, crushing the soldiers beneath them, who let out heart-wrenching cries.

Under the relentless barrage of arrows and stones, the Mongol army began to falter and retreat. The Song army's morale soared, and tens of thousands of defenders shouted in unison, their voices echoing with the distant river waves, lingering for a long time.

"Whoosh," a long arrow flashed through the air, piercing a Song soldier waving a large flag. The flag fell from his hand, spinning in the air before landing in the blood-soaked grass.

The Song army fell silent, looking down. Below the city walls stood a black horse, its hooves and mane flying. On the saddle sat a general in a blue robe, holding a large bow and pointing it at the city walls.

"Whoosh," a second arrow came, piercing a Song soldier operating a crossbow. The arrow continued, piercing the heart of the soldier behind him.

A third arrow came, and Bai Pu, quick and agile, stepped forward and deflected it with his fan, causing the arrow to veer off and pierce the head of a guard behind Wang Li.

After three arrows, Bajian spurred his horse forward, greatly boosting the morale of the Mongol army, which let out a thunderous roar, advancing with Bajian's horse.

Wang Li ordered the army to rain arrows and stones upon the Mongols, who, despite the heavy casualties, twice managed to set up the ladders. The dead and wounded piled up in a bloody heap at the base of the city walls, and the injured writhed in pain. Bajian, bending his bow and firing arrows, ensured that each arrow found its mark, never missing. However, the Song army, with the advantage of the high ground, held out for half an hour before the Mongol army gradually retreated.