As he watched the furious Yan King Xi, fear surfaced on Yan Dan's face, but he remained obstinately firm.
"Father,"
"Your son believes he has done no wrong."
"Ying Zheng harbors a wolfish ambition. If we allow him to annex Zhao, Yan will face even greater danger."
"Returning the Zhao army intact to Zhao and preventing Qin from destroying Zhao is in Yan's best interest," Yan Dan stated resolutely.
"You unfilial son! Are you truly so foolish?"
"Even now, do you not understand the concept of diplomacy?"
"Do you not comprehend national interests?"
"You're correct that Qin poses a far greater threat to Yan than Zhao does. But Qin's campaign was in response to our plea for help. Without Qin, Yan would have fallen to Zhao. Morally and strategically, Qin is now Yan's benefactor."
"At this moment, our Yan and Qin are allies."
"If you let the Zhao army retreat unscathed without pursuit, it's nothing less than betrayal."
"Even if you understand Qin's threat, you shouldn't have done anything. At the very least, you should have feigned pursuit so Qin would have no grounds for reproach."
"But your actions were utterly foolish!"
King Xi pointed at Yan Dan, berating him angrily. This son was far too disappointing.
He understood the threat Qin posed, of course.
But Yan Dan was too shortsighted, too naïve. Even if they wanted to let the Zhao army retreat, it shouldn't have been so blatant. They should have at least pretended to pursue them.
Hearing this, a hint of regret appeared on Yan Dan's face.
"Your son is guilty," Yan Dan finally admitted his fault, kneeling.
"Sigh…"
King Xi sighed and then said, "In the future, act with more prudence. Discuss all matters with Yue Cheng and Ju Xin before making decisions."
"Understood, Father," Yan Dan replied respectfully.
"Leave now."
"Zhao has already retreated, and Yan must begin preparing the provisions we promised Qin," King Xi instructed.
"Father," Yan Dan said, his expression serious.
"I have a request to make."
"Speak," King Xi responded.
"If Zhao truly reaches the point of collapse, I suggest Yan dispatch troops to Zhao," Yan Dan proposed.
"You want to contend with Qin for Zhao's territories?" King Xi frowned.
"Father, this isn't contention. It's what Yan deserves," Yan Dan said.
"Zhao has invaded Yan, slaughtered our people, and plundered our wealth. Morally and strategically, Yan has every justification to act against Zhao."
"Such an opportunity is rare should we not take a share of the spoils? Should all the benefits go to Qin and Ying Zheng?" Yan Dan sneered.
"This matter…"
"Requires careful consideration."
"If Yan moves against Zhao and Qin opposes us, it would be disastrous," King Xi said hesitantly.
Though Yan Dan's reasoning tempted him seizing Zhao's territories would indeed benefit Yan it might also antagonize Qin.
"Father," Yan Dan pressed, "this is Yan's only chance to strengthen its national power. We cannot miss this opportunity."
"Very well," King Xi relented.
"As you say, I will issue an edict for Yue Cheng to act as the situation warrants."
"However, if Yan encounters Qin forces attempting to reclaim Zhao's cities, we must retreat immediately. Under no circumstances can Yan engage Qin."
"At this moment, Yan cannot afford to make Qin an enemy," King Xi warned sternly.
"I understand, Father," Yan Dan nodded immediately.
Now that he had his father's approval, Yan Dan harbored great ambitions for Zhao's territories.
As for opposing Qin?
Ever since his mission to Qin, Yan Dan had harbored nothing but hatred for them Ying Zheng especially.
Ying Zheng had broken their previous agreement and even forced Yan to pay a steep price to secure Qin's assistance.
"Ying Zheng," Yan Dan thought coldly, clenching his fists.
"I will not lose to you. If you think you can annex Zhao entirely, I will ensure you fail."
In Wu'an City, the slaughter continued.
At the western wall, the entire city gate had fallen. Zhao Feng led his elite soldiers in a relentless attack.
The Zhao forces defending the western gate, even under Zhao Cong's command, were being pushed back step by step.
"General!"
"The third unit of ten thousand has been defeated!"
"The routed soldiers are flooding toward the central command. We can't hold them back!" a deputy reported anxiously.
"Did you not hear my orders?"
"Anyone retreating will be executed!" Zhao Cong barked.
"General!"
"The rout is unstoppable. Three entire units have been shattered by the Qin army's ferocious assault, and their morale is completely gone."
"Even the execution squads have killed over a hundred men, but it's useless!"
"Please, General, issue new orders!" the deputy pleaded desperately.
"Damn it!" Zhao Cong cursed, but his expression revealed his helplessness.
This battle was utterly humiliating.
The Qin forces had broken through the gate in less than half an hour and captured the entire wall in under an hour.
Now, in just four hours, the entire outer defense line had collapsed, leaving chaos in its wake.
The routed soldiers not only disrupted the defensive formation but also made the execution squads ineffective.
It was clear how devastating the Qin assault had been.
"Give my order," Zhao Cong commanded after some thought.
"Open three gaps in the formation to let the routed troops pass through. Dispatch ten officers to reorganize them into fighting units."
"I will personally lead the defense," Zhao Cong declared.
Meanwhile, at the western gate, Zhao Feng charged forward with unstoppable momentum.
Wherever he went, corpses piled up.
Behind him, his soldiers followed closely, tearing through the Zhao army.
"Kill!"
"Follow the general! Charge!"
The thunderous roars of Zhao Feng's men sent shivers down their enemies' spines. The Zhao forces, already low on morale, fell apart completely.
The rout spread like wildfire one soldier fled, dragging five others with him; five led fifty, and fifty led five hundred.
This is the power of a routed army.
Seeing this, Zhao Feng roared, "All units, pursue the routed forces and press the attack!"
He knew this was the moment to maximize the chaos and crush the remaining Zhao forces.
The pursuit continued as Zhao Feng led nearly 100,000 soldiers into the city, wreaking havoc and hunting down the Zhao remnants.
On the eastern and southern gates, the siege continued in a fierce deadlock, far from breaking through.
"It seems the key to victory lies with Zhao Feng," Wang Jian observed gravely.
"If he breaks into the inner city from the west, the defenses that Pang Nuan set up will collapse entirely."
Time passed as the relentless assault raged on.
The entire city of Wu'an was engulfed in the sounds of battle cries and slaughter.
Meanwhile, at the western gate…
Zhao Feng had already led his forces to breach the outer city walls, arriving at the inner defenses where Zhao Cong himself was stationed.
"General!"
"The number of retreating troops keeps growing. The five passageways we left open are far from sufficient."
"The Qin army is pursuing the retreating soldiers relentlessly. They're pressing forward hard."
"If the Qin army manages to chase their way through, our forces will collapse!"
A Zhao officer urgently reported.
"Shield units, seal off all passageways!"
"Spearmen, take position!"
"Archers, prepare to cover the rear!"
Zhao Cong issued his orders immediately.
The once-open passageways began closing in an orderly fashion, and as they sealed shut, the shield units formed a tight defensive wall.
"Let us through!"
"Please, let us pass!"
"The Qin army is right behind us open the way!"
"General, have mercy! Let us through…"
The retreating Zhao soldiers desperately shouted, some even pushing against the newly formed shield formations.
"All retreating soldiers, listen up! Turn around and face the Qin army immediately!" Zhao Cong bellowed. "Anyone who dares to retreat further will be executed on the spot!"
"Spears, thrust!"
"Archers, prepare to fire!"
On command, countless spears emerged from behind the shields, instantly skewering the chaotic Zhao soldiers. Some fell lifeless where they stood, and archers surrounded the area, ready to enforce the order.
Under such harsh measures, many of the fleeing troops hesitated and began to back away, no longer daring to approach.
Zhao Cong's ruthless methods successfully prevented the retreating soldiers from breaking apart his formation.
"I'll say it again every soldier, turn back and fight the Qin army. Otherwise, face execution!" Zhao Cong roared, forcing the retreating troops to turn and engage the enemy.
Meanwhile, at the rear, waves of black-armored Qin soldiers were advancing rapidly in pursuit.
"This Zhao general guarding the western gate is no fool," Zhao Feng observed from a distance, smirking. "He managed to rally his troops even amidst such chaos. Interesting."
"Very well, this only makes things more exciting."
Zhao Feng sneered, his eyes fixed on the well-formed Zhao shield wall up ahead.
"All units, prepare for battle!"
"Attack!"
Zhao Feng gave his command coldly.
As always, his troops charged forward relentlessly, their battle cries echoing through the air.
"Follow the general!"
"Kill!"
The Qin soldiers roared as they surged forward.
"Dragon Palm!"
"Die!"
Zhao Feng raised his left hand, quietly gathering his inner energy. With a single strike, he unleashed a powerful blast.
Amidst the cacophony of battle, the faint sound of a dragon's roar could barely be heard. Yet, the chaos on the battlefield drowned out all other sounds, and even those who heard the roar didn't think much of it.
With a thunderous boom, a dragon-shaped shadow burst forth, accompanied by a gust of energy that swept across dozens of feet.
In an instant, the energy tore through the ranks of the fleeing Zhao soldiers.
"Aaargh…"
Screams of agony pierced the air as dozens of Zhao soldiers were hurled away, some torn apart on the spot.
Meanwhile, Zhao Feng's ears were filled with a series of notifications signaling the collection of various attributes.
"Master's strength has surely reached the level of a grandmaster perhaps even beyond innate limits," muttered Tu Sui and Wei Quan as they exchanged a look of utter shock.
However, none of this was spoken aloud. On the battlefield, amidst the chaos of retreating troops and clashing armies, such feats were dismissed as the stuff of legend or divine intervention.
"This was only about one-thirtieth of my inner energy. If I unleashed my full power, hundreds within a span of dozens of feet would perish."
Zhao Feng smiled inwardly as he evaluated the destruction caused by his attack. This wasn't even his full strength.
Such power made him truly invincible on the battlefield.
After testing his abilities briefly, Zhao Feng wasted no time and charged back into the fray. The battlefield was his hunting ground, a place to harvest enemies and collect their attributes.
With such a commanding presence, Zhao Feng's troops were inspired to fight even harder.
It didn't take long for the fleeing Zhao soldiers to be slaughtered entirely, with many forced to charge back into their shield wall and impale themselves on spears.
"Archers, fire!"
Seeing the advancing Qin army, Zhao Cong gave the order without hesitation, even though many retreating Zhao soldiers were still in the way.
From behind the shield wall, a dense volley of arrows was unleashed, arcing toward the Qin soldiers.
"Ah… aah…"
The rain of arrows fell, killing scores of retreating Zhao soldiers and even some Qin warriors, creating a gruesome scene of carnage.
"Advance!" Zhao Feng ordered sharply.
Without hesitation, his forces pressed forward.
As he looked at the shield formation ahead, Zhao Feng's eyes gleamed coldly.
Gathering his inner energy, he imbued it into his Dragon Spring Sword.
The sword began to hum and tremble as Zhao Feng's overpowering energy coursed through it.
When the energy reached its peak, Zhao Feng shouted, "Break!"
Swinging his sword in a wide arc, a wave of sword energy surged forward, covering an area of dozens of feet. Wherever the energy passed, over a hundred Zhao soldiers fell dead.
When the sword energy struck the shield wall, the seemingly impregnable barrier of iron shields shattered like glass.
Crack!
Boom!
Dozens of connected shields were instantly destroyed, and the soldiers holding them were cut down, their bodies falling in pieces as their cries of agony echoed briefly before falling silent.
Behind the broken shield wall, Zhao Cong stood in disbelief, his eyes wide with horror.
"How… How is this possible?" Zhao Cong muttered, staring at the figure in the distance.
His meticulously formed shield wall had been destroyed in an instant.
"Soldiers of Great Qin!"
"Kill!"
Zhao Feng's expression remained calm as he charged through the gap in the shield wall.
With the Dragon Spring Sword in hand, he cut down enemies with effortless precision. Each swing of the blade seemed to strike multiple targets simultaneously.
Though the Dragon Spring Sword was a weapon famed for remaining unstained by blood, it now dripped red, a testament to the countless lives it had claimed.
"Follow the general!"
"Kill! Kill!!"
The Qin soldiers roared as they surged forward, pouring through the breach in the shield wall.
With the formation broken, the shield wall was now a futile defense.
"Soldiers of Great Zhao!"
"The Qin are wolves cruel and savage!"
"Wu'an City is the bulwark of our nation. If it falls, Great Zhao will be in peril!"
"For the glory of Great Zhao!"
"Fight to the death against the Qin army!"
"Kill!"
Watching the Qin forces close in for hand-to-hand combat, Zhao Cong drew his sword and roared.
"For Great Zhao!"
"Kill!"
The Zhao soldiers cried out as they charged forward to meet the Qin troops.
The fierce melee continued.
At the forefront, Zhao Feng carved a bloody path through the Zhao army. Surrounded by countless enemies, he was like a one-man army.
If the so-called "one-man armies" of the Three Kingdoms era were exaggerated tales, then Zhao Feng's strength was the real deal.
The Dragon Spring Sword danced in his hand, cutting down one Zhao soldier after another with ease.
His eyes locked onto Zhao Cong, who stood in the center of the Zhao army, surrounded by layers of shield-bearers for protection.
Zhao Cong was the linchpin of the Zhao defense. Taking him down would unravel their resistance entirely. The remaining Zhao forces would scatter, their attempts to hold Wu'an City in vain.
Once Zhao Cong fell, the city would be as good as conquered.
"Quick, shoot him down!" Zhao Cong shouted, his gaze fixed on the rampaging Zhao Feng.
From his vantage point in the center of the formation, Zhao Cong could see Zhao Feng charging toward him with unmatched ferocity, leading a line of Qin soldiers behind him like a mighty dragon slicing through the battlefield.
Shield units dispersed as archers readied their bows and unleashed volleys of arrows at Zhao Feng.
"Futile," Zhao Feng muttered coldly.
With a burst of speed, he surged forward, slicing through the rain of arrows as if they were nothing.
In just an instant, Zhao Feng cut down the Zhao soldiers blocking his path and reached the shield formation where Zhao Cong stood.
Without any surprises.
With a single slash of his sword, a fierce arc of light roared through the air.
Boom!
Dozens of shield-bearing Zhao soldiers in front of him instantly fell.
"Zhao General, your life belongs to me."
Zhao Feng fixed his gaze on Zhao Cong, his eyes carrying the cold ruthlessness of a Shura.
In a flash.
Even Zhao Feng's shadow blurred as he moved, appearing before Zhao Cong in the blink of an eye.
"The one who will take your life..."
"...is Zhao Feng."
The Longquan Sword descended.
Zhao Cong had no time to react. His head was already severed by the Longquan Sword.
In the final moment before his death, he heard Zhao Feng's last words.
"He... is Zhao Feng, the Qin general who killed Lian Po."
"I... lost without regret." This was Zhao Cong's last thought.
"Zhao Cong, the Zhao commander, has been killed. All attributes +30," the system panel displayed.
Zhao Cong's head rolled, and Zhao Feng grabbed it with one hand. Standing atop Zhao Cong's war chariot, he raised his head high and roared mightily:
"Your commander is dead!!"
A single roar echoed in all directions.
The surrounding Zhao soldiers all wore expressions of fear and disbelief.
"General Zhao Cong has fallen!"
"General Zhao is dead!"
"We've lost!"
"Retreat… retreat!!"
Seeing Zhao Cong's lifeless head and the terror spreading among the Zhao soldiers, even those who had maintained their fighting spirit could no longer hold their morale.
Suddenly.
The tens of thousands of Zhao soldiers turned into a chaotic crowd, fleeing in all directions toward the inner city of Wu'an.
And this!
Was exactly what Zhao Feng wanted.
"These retreating soldiers, numbering sixty to seventy thousand, are rushing toward the city. If our troops pursue them, it will plunge Wu'an City into chaos."
"No matter how well Pang Nuan has arranged his defenses, he will be overwhelmed by these routed soldiers."
Zhao Feng smirked inwardly.
Then.
He waved his hand and commanded:
"Elite Qin warriors, heed my orders! Full-scale pursuit, kill them all!"
"Wind! Wind! Wind!"
"Follow the general to the death! Kill!"
Countless elite soldiers responded with loud cries.
With Zhao Cong's death, the entire western part of Wu'an City had fallen. Leading his Qin army, Zhao Feng pressed onward toward the inner city. The fall of Wu'an was now inevitable.
Meanwhile, at the eastern and southern gates:
"Reporting to the general!"
"The western gate has fallen, and General Zhao Cong has been killed."
"A large number of retreating troops are flooding in. Please advise, General."
The deputies reported to the commanders at the eastern and southern gates.
With Zhao Cong dead and the western gate lost, the Zhao defensive line had completely collapsed.
At the eastern gate.
And the southern gate.
The Qin elite warriors maintained their fierce assault, while the Zhao defenders atop the city walls began to falter.
"General!"
"News has just arrived."
"General Zhao Feng has broken through the western part of Wu'an City and personally killed Zhao Cong."
"Now, General Zhao Feng is advancing further into Wu'an City."
A personal guard captain reported to Wang Jian, his face brimming with excitement.
"Zhao Feng."
"As expected of my son-in-law," Wang Jian laughed heartily.
"Report!"
"The eastern gate has been breached by General Yang!"
"Report!"
"The southern gate has been breached by General Wang!"
"Our elite troops have entered the city!"
Two more messengers rushed in, reporting to Wang Jian.
Hearing this!
Wang Jian's smile grew even broader:
"Hahaha!"
"Zhao Feng has entered the inner city, causing Zhao's defenses to collapse entirely. Pang Nuan has lost."
The guard captain nodded firmly. "General Zhao Feng is truly formidable. A city defended by 300,000 Zhao soldiers fell in just one day."
"Indeed."
"Originally, I estimated it would take at least half a month to break through this city, with a loss of nearly 100,000 soldiers. But now, our losses are halved, and the speed is astonishing."
"Once the city is secured, prepare a military report to be sent to Xianyang immediately."
"With this city's fall, the destruction of Zhao is all but certain."
"Han Dan City is less than a hundred miles away."
"Once Han Dan falls, Zhao will be wiped out," Wang Jian laughed loudly.
This feat of destroying a state was destined to bring great glory to the Lan Tian army.
At the northern gate of Wu'an!
Where Pang Nuan's forces were stationed.
"General!"
"The western gate has fallen, and General Zhao Cong has been killed."
"Retreating troops are flooding toward all gates. The eastern and southern gates likely won't hold much longer."
The personal guards reported to Pang Nuan.
"Zhao Cong... How could this happen?" Pang Nuan's face darkened immediately.
Part of it was sorrow for Zhao Cong's death, but more so, it was despair over the imminent fall of Wu'an City.
"General."
"It seems the city cannot be held."
A trembling voice came from one of the officers.
"One day."
"In just one day."
"A city defended by my 300,000 troops was breached."
"A laughingstock, a joke for all under heaven."
Pang Nuan laughed bitterly. His laughter was filled with sorrow.
Before returning to serve Zhao, he had led 300,000 troops to conquer half of Yan's territory.
Now, in his first battle upon his return relying on the city's defenses, no less he lost the city in just one day.
"General…"
The Zhao officers around him were deeply worried about Pang Nuan.
"Wu'an is the gateway to Han Dan. If we retreat, Han Dan will directly face the Qin army, and our state of Zhao will be in grave danger."
"But if we don't retreat…"
"Han Dan has only 50,000 palace guards. If I die fighting here, at best, I'll inflict some losses on the Qin army. Ultimately, Zhao's forces will be exhausted, and we'll have no troops left to defend."
"I can die."
"But Zhao must not perish."
Sigh…
At this moment, Pang Nuan weighed the pros and cons.
In the end.
He bowed his head to reality.
"Open the northern gate. Order Yan Ju to lead the rear guard. The main force will retreat to Han Dan to defend it."
"In addition."
"Request the king to urgently mobilize troops from Dai Prefecture to reinforce Han Dan."
Pang Nuan's voice was heavy as he issued his commands.
After giving this order, Pang Nuan seemed to lose all his strength.
At Dragon Terrace Palace in Han Dan!
With Pang Nuan providing reinforcements, King Zhao Yan no longer felt anxious.
However.
As long as the Qin army remained, Zhao Yan did not dare to relax.
"What's the situation in Wu'an?" Zhao Yan asked Guo Kai.
"Your Majesty, rest assured."
"Wu'an has General Pang Nuan personally overseeing it, along with 300,000 Zhao troops stationed there. No matter how strong the Qin army is, they cannot breach General Pang Nuan's defenses." Guo Kai flattered with a smile.
"Naturally, I trust General Pang."
"But I don't just want to defend."
"I want to annihilate the invading Qin army to quell the hatred in my heart."
"One day."
"I will make Ying Zheng kneel at my feet."
Zhao Yan spoke with hatred.
It was all because of Ying Zheng, all because of Qin.
If not for Ying Zheng's interference, Zhao Yan might have already destroyed Yan and become the great king who expanded Zhao's territory.
But everything was ruined by Ying Zheng.
How could he not hate?
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