The Bai Family Army soldiers who went to deliver the message departed yesterday afternoon. According to the Bai Family Army’s message delivery speed, they would reach Yecheng Pass by noon today at the latest. Yang Wuce from Yecheng Pass could arrive in two days with his rapid march reinforcements.

She raised her head to look at the sky, calculating the time… If the grain transport team from Bailong City set out this morning, then now… the ambush forces that Old General Cui had dispatched should have already discovered they’d been deceived and sent someone back to report to Old General Cui.

After that, it would certainly bring Xiliang’s full force assault on the city.

After the Bai Family guards notified Bailong City about the grain transport, they would continue to Pingyang City to request reinforcements. The main army from Pingyang City would still need time to arrive.

Xiliang’s assault on the city had been moved up by several hours, so all of Bai Qingyan’s other plans couldn’t keep up with the schedule.

Now, as long as she didn’t leave, Jiangzi City could hold out until Yang Wuce’s reinforcements from Yecheng Pass arrived… or until the main army from Pingyang City came, because they had not only soldiers but also the citizens of the city working together with one heart.

“Your Majesty! You are the Emperor of Great Zhou. All of us can die! But Your Majesty absolutely cannot be captured by Xiliang! Otherwise… it will hinder our Great Zhou’s grand plan to unify the realm!” Du Sanbao was still earnestly trying to persuade Bai Qingyan. “Your Majesty is Great Zhou’s anchor! The lives of our soldiers are not as important as Your Majesty’s! Even all the citizens in the city combined are not as important! Because Your Majesty is the one who will lead our Great Zhou to unify the realm. Only if Your Majesty lives, only if Your Majesty is not captured alive… can we protect more citizens’ survival and fight for a peaceful and prosperous age for more citizens! This is something that all the people in the city and all the soldiers combined could never accomplish!”

Du Sanbao’s eyes reddened as he knelt and pleaded: “Your Majesty! This subordinate knows he was wrong! It was this subordinate who rashly attacked the camp, which destroyed Your Majesty’s plan. Your Majesty… cannot let yourself bear the burden of Du Sanbao’s mistake! Your Majesty, please leave the city!”

Du Sanbao had received orders to seal off the city completely, but he worried that if Xiliang surrounded the city and they couldn’t get out, he needed to leave a passage to protect Bai Qingyan’s escape from the city.

Bai Qingyan had already resolved to stay in the city and defend it to the death. She called out loudly: “Tell the soldiers to hold on a little longer! Although Xiliang’s army has already attacked the city walls! But after fighting for a whole day… Xiliang’s army also needs to eat! They also need to rest! Xiliang’s army isn’t made of iron either!”

After speaking, she looked at Du Sanbao kneeling on the ground: “Get up! Pick up your bow and arrows!”

“Your Majesty!” Du Sanbao’s voice choked with emotion.

The Great Zhou army relied on the city walls for protection, and the soldiers didn’t even have time to take a bite of food, let alone Xiliang!

Originally, Bai Qingyan had thought that with five thousand soldiers in the city, plus the citizens, even if Xiliang had fifty thousand troops with sufficient provisions, it would be extremely difficult for them to break the city in a short time.

But Xiliang was fighting with their backs to the wall, with numerous troops, and all the soldiers dared to risk their lives to fight the Great Zhou army. They even showed increasing courage with each setback, causing Bai Qingyan to feel some worry in her heart.

Watching the Xiliang people risk their lives as if they didn’t care about dying, using their lives to clear the path for their comrades, all the siege ladders had ropes tied to their tops, with heavy shield soldiers pressed tightly against the city wall, gripping the ropes tightly to stabilize the ladders. Beneath the ladders were piled the corpses of Xiliang soldiers.

The Xiliang people had gone mad, completely fearless of death, as if they didn’t know fatigue.

If the city were breached…

Bai Qingyan didn’t dare to think about it.

If the city were breached… given Xiliang’s severe food shortage, the Great Zhou soldiers in the city probably wouldn’t survive. Xiliang would never waste grain feeding prisoners of war.

As for the citizens in the city, even if the Xiliang army didn’t kill them, they would certainly plunder all the grain in the citizens’ hands, leaving the people with no way to survive.

And if she were captured, given her younger brothers’ and sisters’ temperaments, they would certainly spare no effort to come rescue her!

Bai Qingyan absolutely could not let such a thing happen!

Therefore, Jiangzi City could only be defended to the death. She would lead the soldiers just like her forebears, never retreating until death, never removing their armor!

Looking at Old General Cui’s posture, it seemed like he was determined not to give up until he broke through the city gates today.

After briefly calculating, Bai Qingyan raised her head to feel the wind direction, then turned to look at Du Sanbao, who was shooting arrows not far away: “Du Sanbao!”

Du Sanbao, who was fiercely shooting arrows at the area below the city wall, responded and ran toward Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty!”

Bai Qingyan grabbed Du Sanbao and said, “Take people to collect all the Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers in the city. Use the same method we used against the giant elephants to deal with Xiliang’s army! Bundle all the peppercorns and chilies into small packages, dampen them, and go quickly!”

“Yes!” Du Sanbao dropped his bow and arrows, gave a loud shout, and led soldiers charging down the city wall, loudly ordering the citizens to go to spice shops and seasoning stores to bring everything and bundle them into small packages.

Soon, the citizens who heard Du Sanbao’s shouts all sprang into action.

On the city walls, soldiers fought bravely against the enemy. Below the city walls, citizens hurriedly bundled together lit charcoal with spices, pepper, and seasonings, dampened them, and sent them up to the city walls!

The Great Zhou army had all covered their faces with cloth. They had just thrown some smoking seasoning packages down below the city walls when they saw rolling dust clouds appear behind the Xiliang army, like a giant dragon charging toward the rear of Xiliang’s forces.

Soon, Xiliang’s army fell into chaos, with sounds of battle coming from behind.

Amidst the dust and sounds of killing, Bai Qingyan heard the trumpeting of giant elephants.

A soldier pointed into the distance and shouted: “Reinforcements have arrived!”

Bai Qingyan raised her eyes and stepped forward two paces, her hands gripping tightly on the city wall. She saw… in the distance, among the flying dust and sand, the fluttering banners displayed the azure bird and sparrow flags of Yan!

The azure bird and sparrow… only Yan’s royal family could use them! And there were giant elephants!

Could it be Xiao Rongyan?!

From afar, Bai Qingyan saw only a completely black stallion charging with thunderous momentum, bringing rolling yellow sand as it had already rushed into the center of Xiliang’s army, galloping freely across the battlefield like lightning.

The stallion reared and neighed, trampling down countless Xiliang soldiers. On its back, a masked man in black armor held a long sword, his black armor gleaming coldly, his cloak fluttering like an eagle spreading its wings.

His armor was bathed in blood, carrying an imposing and fierce killing intent, like an Asura who had just returned from hell, terrifyingly shocking.

It was indeed Xiao Rongyan!

Bai Qingyan watched Xiao Rongyan charging alone into Xiliang’s army with his sword, her heart leaping to her throat. She casually drew arrows from a nearby soldier’s quiver, nocked and drew her bow, sending arrow after arrow whistling from the city wall. Some brushed past Xiao Rongyan’s armor as they flew by, striking the necks of Xiliang soldiers who were trying to ambush him.

Xiao Rongyan gripped the reins tightly with one hand. Having just turned left and beheaded a Xiliang soldier with his sword, a Xiliang soldier on his right side, covered in blood and holding a spear high, was about to spend his entire life trying to knock Xiao Rongyan from his horse.

Xiao Rongyan sensed the danger. His ability to perceive approaching threats allowed him to raise his sword high before even turning around, blocking the spear thrust coming at him. Before he could swing his sword again, he saw a whistling arrow instantly pierce through that Xiliang soldier’s neck.