The explosives produced by the Zhao family weapon workshops came in several varieties: some for blasting rocks, some with strong penetrating power, some that scattered like heavenly maidens scattering flowers with strong killing power, and some that sounded loud but had mediocre lethality.

What was currently exploding outside was the type that sounded particularly loud but had relatively poor killing power.

After all, these were their own people, not external enemies. Wang Xuan naturally didn’t want to use overly cruel tactics.

Like Gan Zhuo, he didn’t think he could quickly capture Wangcai County. His goal was Jianchang. Zhou Fang’s reinforcements from Nanchang would need some time to arrive. The best strategy for Wangcai was to seek aid from Jianchang.

Despite his fierce attack, his main forces had actually gone toward Jianchang—half were ambushing along the road, half were making a flanking maneuver. As long as Jianchang’s army came out, they would attack into the city.

Capturing Jianchang would give the main army a place to rest and resupply even if they couldn’t take Wangcai.

But… Wang Xuan had overestimated Wang Yi and underestimated the power of the explosives.

These successive explosive blasts had already made the soldiers’ hearts tremble with fear. With both Wang Yi and Gan Zhuo nowhere to be seen, the deputy general below shouted for the soldiers to pick up their weapons and hold firm, but with little effect.

Just at this moment, rumors spread from within the city that the Commandery Governor was fleeing the city, that he had already boarded his carriage, and that General Gan Zhuo had run to stop him…

The rumors spread rapidly among the soldiers. By the time the deputy general heard them, military morale had already collapsed, and the rumors had transformed into: “General! The Governor has fled, what are we still defending the city for? General Gan Zhuo tried to stop the Governor from abandoning the city and was killed!”

The deputy general’s eyes widened. For a moment, he forgot to stop them from fleeing and instead asked, “How do you know this?”

“Everyone’s saying so!”

With that one sentence, the deputy general felt a chill run down his spine and knew all was lost. He immediately drew his sword and killed several soldiers who turned to flee, shouting orders that they must not spread rumors and that everyone should go up on the city walls.

“Without orders, no one is permitted to run about recklessly! Bring all the arrows and bows—reject the enemy from outside!”

But he could only hold them temporarily. With Wang Yi’s continued absence, even when the soldiers were forced onto the city walls, their will to resist was very low.

Wang Xuan keenly noticed that the arrows shot down didn’t match the number of people on the walls and were far below standard. After all, they had engaged in no few skirmishes over the past half month.

Could it be a feint of weakness, wanting to lure them in deep?

But entering the city… Could Second Uncle Yi be certain he could counterattack after letting them into the city?

Thinking about Wang Yi’s character and abilities, Wang Xuan narrowed his eyes and turned to ask, “Summon the scout battalion commander.”

The commander came running. Wang Xuan asked him, “Are you certain that Wangcai City only has Wang Yi’s one army, with no other reinforcements?”

The commander replied, “Apart from the original garrison of about a hundred soldiers stationed in Wangcai County, there is indeed only Wang Yi’s one army. We have scouts who infiltrated Wangcai in advance. If a large army had entered the city, we couldn’t have failed to receive word.”

Wang Xuan paced back and forth twice. “No reinforcements, yet Wang Yi is foolish enough to set an ambush in the inner city with just that small force?”

The opening had been created—not attacking would be a waste. Wang Xuan immediately ordered, “Bring over the two newest catapults. Launch explosives into the city! Aim at the city walls, and also target about fifty meters inside the city gate. Prepare the scaling ladders!”

The new catapults from the Zhao family weapon workshops had calibration marks, allowing them to launch farther and more accurately.

Their catapult operators had trained for two months and had basically mastered them. Today they could see their skills in action.

He had originally planned to save these for attacking Nanchang, but the opportunity had arrived at this moment. If he didn’t use them, he would regret it.

Wang Yi was finally persuaded by Gan Zhuo to abandon his escape plan. Carrying his sword with an imposing air, he followed Gan Zhuo to the city gate, planning to encourage everyone to defend Wangcai firmly.

The busy soldiers on the city wall saw Wang Yi coming up with a stern expression, and their panicked hearts settled slightly. At least they stopped running about chaotically.

Under Gan Zhuo’s shouted orders and curses, everyone finally calmed down somewhat. Just as they were about to make a determined counterattack, a whooshing sound came from the opposite side as a burning object flew high, passed over their heads, and crashed down below the city tower with a thud. The square object wrapped in hemp cloth—they were still wondering what it was when it exploded with a tremendous boom…

Everyone’s eyes widened. Before they could react, another whooshing sound came as a square hemp-wrapped package crashed down on the city tower itself. Gan Zhuo’s pupils contracted as he shouted, “Get out of the way quickly—”

Before his words fell, it exploded with a bang. Everyone’s ears rang, their vision filled with flames…

Wang Yi fell on his bottom to the ground. His limbs were weak, his eyes and ears could neither see nor hear anything else. He crawled and rolled toward the stairs below the city tower to escape…

The little fighting spirit the soldiers had just mustered instantly disintegrated. Even the Governor had fled—how many soldiers were still willing to defend the city?

Gan Zhuo was furious. He raised his sword to kill Wang Yi, but the deputy general quickly stopped Gan Zhuo, hugging his waist and shouting, “General! If you kill the Governor, General Wang won’t spare you.”

Gan Zhuo pushed him away. “If I don’t kill him today, this city cannot be defended!”

Having said that, Gan Zhuo went to capture Wang Yi to sacrifice him as an example. Wang Yi’s guards quickly shielded him and took Wang Yi fleeing down from the city tower. Seven or eight explosive packages flew over in succession. Military morale was in chaos, and the Zhao family army was already running forward carrying scaling ladders to set them against the city walls. Gan Zhuo watched Wang Yi’s fleeing back and stomped his foot hard in frustration before turning to organize the soldiers to kill the enemy.

Wang Yi ran all the way. The city was empty and desolate. Because of the battle, the common people were all hiding in their homes, so there were only panicked running soldiers on the road.

Wang Yi climbed onto his carriage. A guard slapped the horse’s rump and they quickly ran off.

Not until he was leaning in the carriage did he feel he was still alive. With trembling fear, he lifted the curtain to look outside. All the way until he left from another city gate, he discovered that whether inside or outside the city, there wasn’t a single common person.

This was impossible in cities during battles in the past.

He couldn’t help but ask the guard, “Why aren’t the common people fleeing?”

The guard replied, “The Zhao family army has strict military regulations. They must not offend the common people. As long as the common people stay in their homes, they’ll be fine. Therefore they don’t flee.”

Wang Yi pondered for a moment before asking, “But what if the common people hide enemy soldiers?”

The guard said, “As long as they hand over their weapons, the Zhao family army doesn’t pursue the matter.”

Wang Yi: “They don’t take prisoners either?”

The guard nodded. “They don’t take prisoners. They allow them to return home on their own. If they have nowhere to go, they can also register as good citizens under refugee status.”

Wang Yi fell silent. After a long while, he sighed, “We have already lost the hearts of the people. Jiangnan cannot be defended.”

The guard was silent for a moment before reminding him, “Young Master should think about where to go. You abandoned the city and fled—this is a grave offense.”

Wang Yi felt ashamed. “Let’s return to Jiankang.”

The guard: “Will the Prince punish you?”

Wang Yi: “I will go and admit my guilt myself. It shouldn’t result in death.”

Wang Yi directly had the guard bypass Nanchang, abandoning the entire Yuzhang Commandery. He no longer heeded Wang Dun’s orders and fled straight back to Jiankang.

After all, the Prince of Langya had also ordered him to return to Jiankang. Fine then, he wasn’t suited for this path anyway. He should just go back. Cousin’s demands—he truly couldn’t fulfill them!

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