Infinite Professions

Chapter 444: Chapter 227: Decision, Part 2

At this moment, he clung to the opportunity as if grasping a lifeline, desperately advising Xiao Ye, "Your Highness, at this point, this is the only chance for reversal. Qinghe is the ancestral land of the Song Clan, and Li Mubai only relies on their influence. As long as this city is conquered and their foundation cut off, Li Mubai will have no choice but to retreat to Jinyang, where Your Highness can then lead reinforcements from the prefecture to achieve victory."

"..."

Upon hearing these words, Xiao Ye also fell silent.

He truly understood that the fault did not lie with Qingxuan; he was, after all, a victim as well. The way events unfolded exceeded everyone’s expectations.

However, though he was not to blame, it didn’t mean he couldn’t bear the blame. After all, with casualties so severe, someone had to take responsibility, didn’t they?

This responsibility he could not bear, nor could his educated and military aides, leaving Qingxuan as the scapegoat.

But making someone a scapegoat did not solve the problem.

Now, should they advance or retreat?

If they advanced, they would need to continue the assault. With the Jinyang Elite Soldiers already defeated and the Underworld Divine War likely compromised, two out of three routes had failed, leaving only himself. Could he turn the tide of battle?

Even if possible, at what cost?

To advance recklessly would be unwise!

But if he retreated...

Jinyang was his initial battle, and even the rebellion of the Song Clan was forced by him. If the chaos was not quelled, how could he maintain his standing in Yangzhou? What would the noble families of the prefecture think of him, and what would the world say about him, not to mention the implications for the Northern Capital Region and the southern states?

Retreat was not an option; retreat would lead to disgrace and ruin, causing his hard-earned reputation, built upon tens of thousands of public memorials, to flow eastward like water. Years of effort in the Jinling Prefecture would be lost in an instant.

More critically, letting the tiger return to the mountain would result in endless troubles. The Song Clan would grow stronger, becoming a tiger resting beside the bed. If he wished to return and attack Jinyang in the future, he would face numerous doubts and obstacles.

These consequences he could neither bear nor was willing to bear.

Therefore...

Faced with Qingxuan’s nervous yet hopeful gaze, Xiao Ye took a deep breath, then addressed the crowd, "This battle permits victory, not defeat. Xu Hu!"

"At your command!"

A man stepped forward, his back like a tiger’s and waist like a bear’s, red beard like a dragon’s, clad in iron armor exuding evil qi.

He was Xu Hu, the trusted general and leader of the Tiger Brave Forces under Xiao Ye.

Xiao Ye’s cold eyes fixed on him, "Prepare the Tiger Brave Army for battle. In the next engagement, capture this city!"

"Yes!!!"

Xu Hu responded, turning to leave.

"Your Highness!"

Seeing this, the people around were agitated.

"My decision is made; there’s no need to say more!"

Yet Xiao Ye, steadfast in his command, swiftly silenced the crowd.

"No wonder you are a Hidden Dragon, making great decisions even if the cycle of reincarnation leaves you ignorant, and the spiritual sense of divine beings is not restored!"

Seeing this, Qingxuan was invigorated and immediately spoke, "I ask Your Highness to wait a moment. There are numerous spies from various Jinyang families within the city. Although not highly useful, they can be crucial at key moments. Your Highness’s Tiger Guard is an elite force capable of launching a surprise night attack, coordinating from inside and outside to break this city!"

Xiao Ye turned his gaze, coldly observing him, ultimately speaking no more than necessary, "I will follow your plan, Daoist."

...

With this plan settled, the battle grew fiercer.

The previous assaults were merely coordinated displays with the Jinyang Elite Soldiers. Though realistic, they were ultimately restrained.

Now things were different; Xiao Ye dedicated himself fully, with the three armies relentlessly attacking in turn, using flesh and blood to deplete the enemy forces. Stone Throwing, Thunder Bombs were all launched without concern for losses, purely for attrition.

Meanwhile, in the rear, the Tiger Brave Forbidden Guard indulged in feasting, preparing themselves to take the city in one decisive effort once refreshed.

Thus, by dusk, under the blood-red light of the setting sun, the signal to retreat sounded at last.

Both sides withdrew, each gravely suffering, licking their wounds in silence.

Shortly, dusk passed, and the night-draped the battlefield, enveloping inside and outside the city in stillness.

Unbeknownst to all, under this cloak of night, an elite troop silently advanced, crawling towards the city walls.

The man leading them, broad-backed and bear-like, had an extraordinary presence. He was none other than General Xu Hu.

At the rear, within the camps, Qingxuan wielded magic, observing the energies of both sides.

"This Tiger Brave Forbidden Guard is the personal troop before the Hidden Dragon’s command tent. Though they number only three hundred, each learns martial arts and achieves True Qi, with ten Gang Qi Martial Sect captains benefiting from the Hidden Dragon Fortune."

"The leader, Xu Hu, associated with the Western Seven Stars and possessing the White Tiger Star Mandate, serves as the Celestial Destiny General of the Hidden Dragon, further empowered by its fortune. He is naturally endowed with divine strength, surpassing gang qi martial sects and possessing the power of the Fourth Realm."

"After days of attrition, both sides have suffered heavy casualties. Now, with the Tiger Brave’s night assault, the Song Clan simply cannot withstand it; after all, they lack the Hidden Dragon Fortune, and even Li Mubai with the Celestial Halberd Mandate hasn’t arrived. Who can resist the spearhead of Xu Hu?"

"As for Song Xiang, the world has its laws, and Yin and Yang are distinct. In matters of Human Dao and martial arts, even a Fourth-rank True God like the Ancestor dare not interfere. If he were to intervene, how much Divine Power could withstand the heavenly wrath? Not to mention the Ancestor and Venerable Donglian would intercept him."

"In summary, the advantage is with me, this battle is certain to succeed!"

Qingxuan’s eyes gleamed brightly, analyzing the enemy and ourselves, penetrating the battlefield.

At this time, Xu Hu also led his troops and reached beneath the city walls.

"Fire in the water!"

"Clang clang clang!"

Soon, chaos erupted within the city, flames rose everywhere, accompanied by the sound of gongs and drums.

"It’s now!"

Xu Hu’s eyes narrowed, and he immediately threw out hooks, attaching them to the high walls.

Opening the city gate secretly was impractical, as the defenders were Song Clan descendants and Yellow Turban Warriors, whose faith was solid and unshakeable. Those undercover agents could not get close, so they could only create chaos all over the city.

But this was enough for the Tiger Brave Forbidden Guard. Three hundred men simultaneously hurled hooks. Without waiting for the garrison to react, they mobilized True Qi, leaped up Lightweight Skill, borrowing the hook’s force. Even in armor, they could soar up, landing on the wall.

"Kill!!!"

Behind, in the camp of the state soldiers, countless torches illuminated, and Xiao Ye led his army out, launching the attack again.

"Who dares to block me!"

On the city wall, under the illumination of firelight, Xu Hu stood naked, wielding two battle halberds, sweeping among the defenders, creating a bloodbath as terrifying as a Ghost God.

The defending soldiers also reacted, pressing in with swords, spears, sabers, and halberds, and fired strong bows and crossbows, but they couldn’t break through his naked body. Through the blood-red blood, a faint brilliance showed, displaying the power of the fierce star.

It was indeed Star Entering Fate, White Tiger’s massacre!

With the Power of Hidden Dragon, the White Tiger Star Mandate was even stronger, exceeding the Third Realm Limit, a Fourth Realm powerhouse.

Xu Hu was so terrifying, and those Tiger Brave Forbidden Guards were also very fierce, clad in three-layer iron armor. Using True Qi for power, even strong bows and crossbows were difficult to penetrate, while they dashed like the wind, slaughtering wantonly among the defenders, quickly capturing the wall.

Xu Hu even flew down, a man with dual halberds attacking the city gate, followed by several Gang Qi Martial Sect members, intending to open the gate and let the army inside.

But unexpectedly...

"Song Jian is here, the traitor general shall not escape!"

An angry roar, thunderous, an old general came riding a horse, the Cyan Dragon Crescent Blade cleaving towards Xu Hu.

It was the Qinghe County Captain—Song Jian!

Decades had passed, the once steady middle-aged now full of white frost, but still robust and brave. Even Xu Hu dared not take a direct hit from the Cyan Dragon’s slash, being forced to retreat.

This retreat placed him within the opponent’s blade momentum. The Cyan Dragon Crescent Blade’s fierce opening and closing created a sky full of sharp blade light, Xu Hu had to meet it with his halberd.

"General!"

Behind, several Martial Arts Captain and some Forbidden Guards saw this, wanting to rush forward to assist, but were blocked by figures leaping down, especially those few Martial Arts members.

Several figures, some clad in cyan robes, exuding an air of elegance, and some in Yellow Turban Golden Armor, like Dharma Guardian Generals.

"Where are you going!?"

The one in cyan robes brandished his sword, directly blocking two Martial Arts members, while Yellow Turban Captains intercepted opponents behind them.

It was the same below and above the city, numerous academy disciples and Yellow Turban Warriors charged out, entangling with those three hundred Tiger Braves, blood splattering, hard to distinguish.

"Get in there for me!"

As the slaughter continued inside, the troops outside reached the wall. Ladders were placed on the wall, and soldiers climbed up like ants.

Xiao Ye was behind, clad in armor supervising the battle, eyes reflecting the fierce firelight.

Finally...

"Buzz!!!"

The tightly closed city gate slowly opened, revealing people fighting inside, as blade light and sword shadows intertwined fiercely.

"Xu Hu?"

Xiao Ye’s gaze sharpened, noticing Xu Hu’s figure and the already open city gate. He immediately swung his sword and ordered, "Rush in!"

"Your Highness, don’t!!!"

At the city gate, in the battlefield, watching the opened gate and the state army cavalry charging in, Xu Hu couldn’t care less about the opponent’s knife momentum like a wild dragon, exerting all his strength, roaring furiously like thunder.

Unfortunately, the battlefield was too noisy, even such a furious roar was hard to carry beyond a hundred paces.

The state army cavalry charged like a dragon, rushing into the city.