Chapter 127: Facing the Ordeal and Breaking Through the Siege

After that cannon blast, the shell landed just ahead of the charging Qiang cavalry. In the swirling smoke and splattering mud, the foremost riders and their horses were blown to bits. Those behind were thrown off their mounts by the shockwave, their bodies stained with the blood and flesh of their comrades and steeds.

Even Bodo was caught in the explosion’s shock. His warhorse, startled, reared up suddenly, throwing him hard onto the muddy ground.

“General! Protect the General!” the deputy general immediately urged his horse to a halt and directed the surrounding Qiang cavalry to form a protective circle around Bodo, shielding him from accidental injury by their own charging riders.

“General! Are you alright?!” The deputy jumped down and quickly helped Bodo to his feet.

“I’m fine… I don’t even know what kind of weapon that was, but it’s truly formidable!” Bodo steadied himself with his sword and, with the deputy’s help, remounted his horse, still shaken.

“General, leave this position to me! The battlefield is perilous; please fall back to the rear to rest!” Seeing the general unharmed, the deputy breathed a sigh of relief and then requested permission.

“Have the archers and infantry hold this ground. Order the cavalry to split and attack east and west, aiding the hundred-man units in capturing the East and West Gates!” Bodo took a deep breath, flicking his riding crop. “The Liang are cunning, and with weapons like these, we cannot press a frontal assault. I will lead the left cavalry to the East Gate; you take the right cavalry to the West Gate. When we meet inside the city, the enemy will be defeated.”

Having said that, Bodo cracked his whip and led a portion of the Qiang cavalry eastward.

“Understood!” The deputy saluted in the Qiang military manner, whistled sharply, and turned with the other cavalry to the west.

Seeing the Qiang cavalry suddenly divide and flank, Qi Jun’s heart sank sharply, sensing trouble.

Liu Fuyuan had just loaded the last cannonball, ready to fire again, but Qi Jun stretched out his hand to stop him.

“The Qiang are feinting; their true aim lies elsewhere…” Qi Jun furrowed his brow, pondering how to respond.

“Brother Jun, something’s wrong! Look!” Deng Fang lifted his head and scanned the horizon, suddenly spotting a faint column of smoke rising to the east. He pointed anxiously in that direction.

Qi Jun froze for a moment, then followed Deng Fang’s gaze and saw thick smoke rising faintly over the distant city wall.

“Signal fire!” His heart tightened. The East Gate was surely about to fall.

“There’s one in the west too! To the west…” Feng Qinian shouted, trembling as he pointed westward. “Captain Qi, what are we to do? This time, we truly can’t hold!”

“Sir, I’ll move the cannon over there right away!” Liu Fuyuan, understanding the meaning of the signal fire, looked anxiously around and called nearby villagers to help transport the artillery.

“It’s too late! Everyone stay calm!” Qi Jun slapped his forehead, forcing himself to stay composed. All eyes anxiously awaited his orders.

“Before the Qiang encircle us, let’s break out through the North Gate! Judging by the situation, reinforcements won’t come. If we can get through to Minzhou, there’s still a chance!” Feng Qinian grabbed Qi Jun’s arm urgently. If escape was possible, he hoped to bring Qi Jun and Deng Fang along.

“We might be able to break out, but can we abandon tens of thousands of civilians inside the city to the Qiang’s ravages?” Qi Jun withdrew his arm from Feng’s grasp, looking at the city with clenched teeth.

“But we don’t even have enough soldiers to hold off the Qiang for fifteen minutes, let alone save civilians,” Feng Qinian said helplessly, staring at Qi Jun.

Over a thousand Qiang had fallen beneath the city walls, their fury enough to crush Anqiang City utterly.

Qi Jun knew it was futile and powerless to try to save all the people now. But he thought at least he could rescue some with his own strength.

Feng Qinian’s thoughts were understandable. At such a moment between life and death, he had no right to force anyone to follow him to death—it would be meaningless.

But as a soldier, he could not abandon the people and flee alone.

“If you want to break out, I won’t stop you,” Qi Jun sighed. “Those who wish to come with me to save others, follow me.”

“Brother Jun, I’ll go with you!” Deng Fang immediately stood beside Qi Jun without hesitation.

Liu Biao stepped out from behind Feng Qinian and stood before him.

“Sir, I’m alone and unburdened. I’ll follow you,” Liu Biao said, smiling faintly, pounding his chest lightly with a fist.

“If I could fire a few more shots at those Qiang bastards, I’d die happy today!” Liu Fuyuan said thoughtfully, slapping the cannon barrel as he stood abruptly.

Liu Kui and the other villagers were torn. Their loved ones were still in Dongling Village. Now that there was a chance to break out and survive, how could they abandon their loyalty to strangers in a city they did not know?

“Sir, I…” Liu Kui lowered his head before Qi Jun, his face dark red with guilt and helplessness.

Qi Jun knew what he wanted to say. He reached out, placing his hands on Liu Kui’s shoulders, looking up at him gently. “Uncle Kui, you’re not wrong. You must live! Yunfei and the clan elders are still worried about you.”

“You little brat…” Liu Kui’s eyes welled with tears. He wiped them away and punched Qi Jun’s chest lightly. “We’ll seek reinforcements! Don’t think I don’t know about you and my girl. Before I come back, don’t… After this battle, when you return to Dongling Village, come to my house and propose!”

Qi Jun was stunned for a moment, then solemnly nodded at Liu Kui’s serious face. He felt a wetness at the corner of his eye.

“Deng Fang, Liu Biao! You two hurry to the East and West Gates. Tell our men to retreat quickly. Those positions can’t be held anymore; don’t waste lives,” Qi Jun said urgently after a moment’s thought.

Deng Fang and Liu Biao nodded and immediately departed east and west.

“Master Feng, prepare quickly as well. The Qiang will enter the city soon. In half an hour, I will use the cannons to cover your breakout.”

Feng Qinian was momentarily stunned by Qi Jun’s words. He had secretly prepared to escape alone, but now Qi Jun was still thinking of helping him break out. He felt uneasy.

He stepped back, bowed deeply to Qi Jun, who was followed by Xiao Ming and Zhao Gui, who also bowed sincerely, their gratitude genuine.

Most chose to break out and leave the city walls, but to Qi Jun’s surprise, many county soldiers chose to stay with him.

“Master Qi, we are all from Anqiang City. Our families are inside too. If we die, we die together,” one county soldier saw the doubt on Qi Jun’s face, stood up, and saluted respectfully.

The others also stood and saluted Qi Jun.

Qi Jun nodded softly, knowing these county soldiers had made the same choice as Ma San—they were willing to entrust their lives to him.

At that moment, a sudden flurry of hurried footsteps approached from within the city, many in number.

Qi Jun hurried to the city wall and looked down. To his surprise, a large group of Anqiang citizens came rushing with all manner of farming tools.

“Master Qi, the Qiang are breaking in! None of us will survive. We’ve made up our minds—since we’re all going to die, we might as well fight them and take a few Qiang with us before we go!” a man at the front raised his hoe and shouted up to the wall.

“Brother Wang’s right! Let’s fight them!” someone behind him immediately raised a sickle in agreement.