Under the mask, Xiao Rongyan’s eyes were dark and cold, without a trace of warmth. The fierce demonic mask was splattered red with blood, making him look like a rakshasa who had returned from hell.

Yue Shi, riding his stallion, finally broke through layer upon layer of Xiliang troops and killed his way to Xiao Rongyan’s side, completely protecting Xiao Rongyan’s left flank.

On the city walls, the Great Zhou soldiers who saw the reinforcements raised their arms and cheered loudly.

Bai Qingyan turned her head, her voice urgent yet steady as she called out loudly: “Great Yan reinforcements have arrived! Send word – no need to throw more smoke packages below the city walls. Great Zhou soldiers, don’t spare your arrows! We must fight this battle decisively! Leave no Xiliang soldier to return!”

On the city walls, not only the Great Zhou soldiers but also the citizens let out high-pitched cheers that shook the four directions.

The sudden appearance of Great Yan reinforcements was like giving the Great Zhou soldiers a bowl of stimulating tonic. They swept away their previous fatigue, each one hot-blooded and emotionally stirred, roaring that they would fight to the death with the Xiliang army.

“Liu Pinggao!” Bai Qingyan drew an arrow and aimed at Xiao Rongyan.

“This subordinate is here!” Liu Pinggao, who was shooting arrows, quickly responded.

Bai Qingyan shot an arrow toward Xiao Rongyan’s direction and loudly ordered: “I command you and Du Sanbao to deploy half the defensive forces from the city walls and immediately leave the city… to coordinate with Great Yan from inside and outside. Spare no cost to capture alive the Xiliang main general Cui Shanzhong!”

“Liu Pinggao receives the order!”

When Liu Pinggao saw Great Yan’s military banners, his blood was already boiling, and he had been waiting for Bai Qingyan’s command.

Soon, the city gates slowly opened. Liu Pinggao and Du Sanbao rode out first at the front, leading the Great Zhou soldiers pouring out in a swarm, fighting desperately.

For a moment, dust rose in all directions outside Jiangzi City, and the sounds of killing gradually reached a boiling point.

Warhorses collided, soldiers from both armies fought to the death, weapons clashed, and sparks flew.

Compared to the earlier killing sounds that shook the four directions, the current sounds of killing and roaring were simply earth-shattering, reverberating through the nine heavens.

Seeing their soldiers charge out, the Great Zhou archers immediately restrained their arrow volleys. Unlike before, when they had shot downward with full force, they now feared injuring their soldiers, so they all aimed carefully before shooting.

The citizens gripped the city gate winch tightly, trembling all over with fear. They were only waiting for the soldiers to exit before closing the city gates – they definitely didn’t want the Xiliang army to enter the city.

The two armored giant elephants brought by Yan rampaged across the battlefield, completely indiscriminate between friend and foe. Wherever they passed, there were corpses everywhere, flesh and blood mangled.

Old General Cui widened his eyes in surprise. Yan… how could Yan appear here?!

Those were… Great Yan’s royal banners!

Yan should be on the road to Yunjing, competing with the Great Zhou over who would break through Yunjing first. How could they come to Jiangzi City to save Great Zhou’s emperor?!

Seeing that before those two armored giant elephants, their Xiliang army was like ants, with no room for resistance at all – they were either trampled to death or knocked to death!

“How many troops did Yan bring?” Old General Cui shouted. “Where are the scouts?! Why didn’t the scouts come to report?!”

These Yan people had already brought their troops to kill right behind them, yet the scouts were doing such a poor job that they hadn’t discovered this!

“General! The Yan people came too quickly – our scouts simply didn’t have time to come report!” the Xiliang general protecting Old General Cui shouted. “General, we should retreat! There are more than five thousand troops in Jiangzi City. They’ve already opened the gates and charged out. They probably concealed their strength, waiting to coordinate with Yan from inside and outside. With our current troop strength, this is already Xiliang’s last hope!”

From the moment the two armored giant elephants and Great Yan’s military banners appeared on the battlefield, Xiliang’s military morale had become chaotic.

People naturally develop fear toward animals larger than themselves, let alone those two trumpeting, rampaging, armored giant elephants suddenly appearing on the battlefield. The Xiliang soldiers were unprepared and had never faced armored giant elephants in direct conflict before. They had no way to deal with them and could only passively be trampled to death without even a chance to resist. Who wouldn’t be afraid?

Just as Old General Cui was still hesitating, he heard a scout’s report…

“Report…”

A Xiliang scout with a banner on his back rode swiftly across the battlefield to Old General Cui, leaped off his horse, and knelt on one knee: “Old General Cui, our main force that went to ambush and seize the grain was deceived. The grain sacks were filled with stones. As soon as our troops went down, the Great Zhou army charged up. The two armies are currently engaged in battle, requesting reinforcements!”

Old General Cui felt a surge of metallic sweetness rush to his throat as he stared with wide eyes… his face turning completely red from holding his breath.

They had fallen into a trap!

Old General Cui tightly clutched his chest as he looked up toward the walls of Jiangzi City. Was it that girl from the Bai family?

Had she already guessed his intentions early on and made preparations accordingly!

At this moment, Old General Cui also understood where Bai Qingyan had seen through his scheme. His insistence on dispersing his forces to surround Jiangzi City, not allowing even a fly to escape, had instead exposed his purpose of seizing grain.

Last night’s camp raid was also because she knew Yan’s army would arrive today, so she acted fearlessly!

Waves of dizziness struck Old General Cui’s head, and he could barely support himself.

“General!”

“Old General!”

The generals guarding Old General Cui all called out to him.

Old General Cui clutched his chest. Reinforcements… where could reinforcements come from now?!

But Xiliang only had this much left now. If they went to rescue the Xiliang soldiers raiding for grain, they might be surrounded by Great Zhou and Yan together. If they retreated now… they might still preserve some troops.

“General!” The general beside Old General Cui gripped his arm forcefully and shouted: “We can’t hesitate anymore! I’ll lead troops to stay behind as cover while you, Old General, lead the main army in retreat!”

“Retreat! Retreat!” Old General Cui shouted.

Xiliang messengers rode frantically toward the front, shouting: “Retreat! Retreat!”

Standing on the city wall, Bai Qingyan aimed at a Xiliang general who had just received the retreat order and turned his horse around, then released her arrow…

The arrow whistled through the air, shooting off the helmet from that Xiliang general’s head. He turned to look toward the city wall, but before he could see clearly, a second arrow followed with a whistle, striking his throat precisely and causing blood to spray instantly.

From the corner of her eye, she spotted an Xiliang soldier intending to ambush Xiao Rongyan. With extremely fast and steady hand movements, she drew an arrow, nocked her bow, and released!

The Xiliang soldier who intended to ambush Xiao Rongyan hadn’t even touched Xiao Rongyan’s armor with his blade before he fell to the ground in a spray of blood.

Bai Qingyan gripped her Sun-Shooting Bow, grabbed a quiver with one hand, and hung it at her waist, her gaze locked on Xiao Rongyan. She adjusted her direction following the movements of Xiao Rongyan’s position on his stallion, striving to keep Xiao Rongyan within her line of sight.

Liu Pinggao and Du Sanbao hadn’t been fighting outside the city for long when they saw the war chariot bearing the commander’s banner trying to flee. Du Sanbao shouted: “The Xiliang dogs are trying to run! Brothers… charge! Capture Cui Shanzhong alive… redeem yourselves through merit! Kill!”