This is the worst strategy! The very worst! The Zhou army is already very close. Sending troops out of the city to save people now won’t bring them back, and the soldiers who go out will likely not return either. "General! We cannot hesitate any longer! I am willing to lead the troops to rescue His Majesty!" Vice General Zhao requested again. "I am willing to lead the troops to rescue His Majesty!" "I am also willing to lead the troops there! Unless the General plans to establish his own regime, please allow me to go rescue His Majesty! I implore the General!" Ye Shouguan turned to look at the anxious Vice General Zhao, then fixed his gaze on the other generals who seemed dissatisfied with him. Since they were so eager to go die, he wouldn’t stop them. "General!" General Zhao spoke urgently. Ye Shouguan pressed his lips together and said, "General Zhao, you are my most courageous warrior at Yecheng Pass... I order you to take five hundred horsemen out of the city, do not engage in battle, and retreat as soon as you rescue His Majesty!" "General, wouldn’t five hundred men be too few?" someone asked. Ye Shouguan cast a cold gaze at that commander, sternly rebuking, "We are sending troops out now to save His Majesty, not to actually fight the Zhou army! The Zhou army is already very close to us, if we send too many people, it will be difficult to get back to the city in time! Blocking the city gate will not only delay the time to close the gate, but we might also fail to close the gate in time... and the entire population of Yecheng Pass will suffer!" "But how can five hundred men possibly reach the Zhou army?" a commander argued with Ye Shouguan. Vice General Zhao, fearing that further arguments would delay the rescue of Li Tianfu and Ye Yingnan, quickly ran downstairs to muster his troops. "Ballista operators, archers, all of you stay alert. Once General Zhao saves His Majesty, don’t hold back, shoot to kill! We must obstruct the Zhou pursuit and ensure His Majesty enters the city safely!" Ye Shouguan shouted loudly. Though angry, Ye Shouguan still didn’t want his soldiers to die in vain. "Yes!" the soldiers responded. Vice General Zhao, along with the loyal warriors, stood on horseback behind the city gate, gripping his spear tightly and shouted loudly, "Open the city gate!" The ancient city gate, flickering with the glow of the fire, slowly opened, and Vice General Zhao led five hundred cavalry, lightly equipped, even without armor, and forbade the soldiers from carrying torches, to swiftly rescue Li Tianfu and Ye Yingnan before the Zhou army could react. Vice General Zhao fixed his gaze on the people mounted on the two ladders, one being the Emperor of Xiliang, and the other being someone he swore to protect in front of General Ye; he had to save both! The horseback riding became increasingly jolting as they sped up! Soon, the Zhou soldiers at the front pretended to just realize that they were being raided by Xiliang soldiers, and they were already very close to Vice General Zhao. Wei Zhaonian calculated the distance, grabbed the reins and shouted loudly, "Be alert! Prepare to fight!" The cart pushing Li Tianfu and Ye Yingnan’s ladder suddenly stopped, and the heavy shield soldiers following immediately halted. Heavy cavalry wearing chain mail charged from the sides of the heavy shield army towards Vice General Zhao’s soldiers, followed by heavy shield troops. Ye Yingnan, hung on the ladder, gradually woke up. Seeing herself bound on the ladder, she screamed in terror, wondering why she was tied to a ladder when she was with her son! Looking further, it was clearly Yecheng Pass! "Help! Help!" Ye Yingnan shouted desperately, turning to the woman dressed in Xiliang noble attire. She shouted frantically towards the Zhou army, "I have a deep-seated hatred with Ye Shouguan, he won’t open the city gate to save me! Please let me go! Let me go!" Watching the heavy cavalry and shield army charge out beneath her feet, Ye Yingnan could feel the ladder shaking and the ground trembling. She cried uncontrollably, fearing she might be caught in the chaos and perish on the battlefield. Ye Yingnan closed her eyes, not daring to look, as the sounds of clashes and screams filled her ears. Vice General Zhao had the soldiers remove their armor to be light on their feet, originally to quickly rescue Li Tianfu and Ye Yingnan, but unexpectedly... the Zhou army was well-prepared. Heavy cavalry clashed, heavy shield soldiers attacked, and the Xiliang soldiers he brought were knocked off horseback one by one, dragged behind shields, and finished off. After a fierce battle, Vice General Zhao was covered in blood. His gaze fell on Ye Yingnan and Li Tianfu, who were hanging from the ladder, almost within reach. As he was about to call for his soldiers to fight desperately, suddenly, from nowhere, a blade pierced through his chest from behind. Bai Qingyan picked up the Shooting Sun Bow, aiming at Vice General Zhao’s shoulder, controlling the force, and released the arrow... The arrow whistled through the air, cleanly penetrating Vice General Zhao’s shoulder, lodging there, causing him to grip the reins in pain as the horse reared, almost throwing him off. A young Xiliang officer grabbed the reins, holding the horse steady, and shouted loudly, "Protect the General! Retreat! Retreat!" Vice General Zhao clutched the reins with one hand, holding his wound with the other, unable to comprehend what was happening, but knowing that with his current condition, he might temporarily fail to rescue them. He gritted his teeth, glanced at Li Tianfu and the still-crying Ye Yingnan, and turned his horse around, "Retreat!" Given his current state, even if he fought his way up to rescue Ye Yingnan and His Majesty, he wouldn’t be able to safely bring them back, and might even jeopardize their lives! At present, whether it’s the Emperor or Ye Yingnan, both still hold utility value to the Zhou. The Zhou won’t rashly kill the Emperor and Ye Yingnan. Enduring immense pain, Vice General Zhao led his remaining brothers in a frenzied dash back to the interior of Yecheng Pass, yet failed to notice... there seemed to be a bit too many returning people. "Open the city gate, let Vice General Zhao in! Archers ready, intercept the pursuing troops!" Ye Shouguan stood atop the city wall, his fist clenched tightly, shouting to Vice General Zhao, "Hurry!" "Open the city gate!" Vice General Zhao shouted loudly. The city gate slowly opened, and Ye Shouguan shouted loudly, "Release the arrows!" "Release the arrows!" Atop the city wall, the archers, their bodies stiff from the cold, promptly released their arrows, thwarting the pursuing troops. The city gate was half open as Vice General Zhao led his soldiers through on horseback. Just as he was about to relax, a scream sounded from the city gate, and he turned, clutching his shoulder. To his shock, the soldiers who had entered the city with him were fighting the gate guards. The heavy cavalry, who had fought them moments ago, feared no arrow rain and charged towards the city gate. Vice General Zhao stared wide-eyed at those comrades who had returned with him... ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ɴovelfire.net Vice General Zhao understood that he had fallen into a trap. The Zhou deliberately hung Li Tianfu and Ye Yingnan on the ladder, clearly waiting for them to send troops out to rescue, planning to infiltrate their own troops into the city amidst the chaos! Too cunning! Too insidious! "Traitors have entered the city! Kill them!" Vice General Zhao turned his horse around, returning to fight those pretending to be Xiliang soldiers from the Bai family army.