Chapter 107: The War Drums of the West City

"What? How can there be enemy forces outside the main camp?"

West of the Fen River, within another forward camp of the rebels, the numerous captains gathered together, their faces filled with confusion upon receiving the news. Their orders were to hold the West City! Yet, reports had just arrived from the main camp east of the Fen River, claiming that a Sui ambush force had launched a night raid.

"Should we cross the river to reinforce the main camp?"

Inside the command tent, the rebel captains cast their gazes toward the two regimental commanders, awaiting a decision.

"If we cross the river, the West City will surely seize the opportunity to launch a sortie! Furthermore, before the Great General divided his forces, he stationed an elite detachment in the north. We only need to maintain our watch over the West City," one of the commanders suggested first.

The other commander nodded in agreement. Compared to Jinyang’s West City, the deployments surrounding the East City on the other side of the river were far more rigorous. Under these circumstances, it was not their place to cross the river for reinforcements.

"Report!"

Suddenly, a soldier rushed into the tent, shouting to the commanders and captains. "News from the main camp: General Yang has been captured by the Sui forces! All the guards at the main camp have broken and fled!"

As the rebel soldier spoke under the scrutiny of the crowd, before they could even process their shock or wonder why the elite ambush force in the north had failed to appear, another soldier stumbled in, panting and panic-stricken, pointing toward the East City.

"The Sui! The Sui troops have crossed the river!"

Hearing this, the two regimental commanders and the other officers snapped out of their stupor, exchanged horrified glances, and scrambled out of the tent.

At Jinyang’s West City, the garrison troops on the battlements had already received the news. As the glow of a second fire rose from the distant plains east of the Fen River, Wen Dayou, Zhang Pinggao, Xu Shixu, Zhao Wenke, and the others, who had been discussing the situation on the wall, heard the exclamations of the soldiers.

As they looked across the river, they saw a dense, dark mass of figures holding torches outside the walls of the East City, a surging tide of people pouring toward the Fen River. This sight left Wen Dayou and his companions stunned.

What was happening? Why were there so many people and so many torches? Were these the commoners of the East City? But why would they all be crossing the river now? They knew there were ten thousand rebel troops on the west bank; if the rebels from the east were to strike at the refugees' backs and seize the city, trapping them between the two rebel armies, there would be no hope for survival.

"What is going on?"

"What exactly has happened?"

Even Zhao Wenke and Xu Shixu were left in confusion; Zhang Pinggao and Wen Dayou were equally baffled.

"Zi-hou would never act this way without reason..." After frowning for a moment, Wen Dayou turned to the soldiers beside him. "Sound the drums! Assemble the entire army! Quickly!"

Wen Dayou issued the order. The sentries hurried to the drums and began to beat them with all their might. In an instant, the West City battlements were filled with a thunderous, rhythmic roar that not only pierced the dim sky but echoed through every corner of the city, inside and out. The soldiers within the city rose in a flurry to mobilize. The commoners were startled from their sleep, and officials like Jiang Baoyi, Liu Wenjing, and Pei Ji, who had been conferring throughout the night, rushed out of their quarters as they realized the gravity of the situation.

On the Fen River, the spring water remained bone-chillingly cold, but for the people of the East City, even falling into the water would not make them stop. Fu Zihou, Hu Jingyuan, and Yin Tianzong led the soldiers of the Eagle-Yang Prefecture across the pontoon bridge first.

Hearing the drums from the West City, Fu Zihou and his men looked toward the battlements, and countless commoners from the East City were stirred to excitement.

"You go into the city first," Fu Zihou said softly to Cui Wenjin.

"And you?" Cui Wenjin asked, her heart tightening as she looked at him.

"I am a captain of the Sui, and a man of this land. With rebels still outside the walls, we cannot enter first. We must protect you as you cross," Fu Zihou replied gently.

Though brief and understated, his words softened the hearts of Cui Wenjin and Lady Di, and brought tears to the eyes of the other commoners who heard him. In an age where cruel officials only knew how to exploit the people, and rebels treated women and children as mere provisions, this young captain’s vow to cover their retreat so they could reach safety moved them to their cores. They wondered what blessings they had earned to be protected by such a man.

"Be careful! I will be waiting for you inside," Cui Wenjin said, knowing she could not stop him and understanding his character.

Fu Zihou nodded. Watching Cui Wenjin lead Lady Di and the others toward the West City—and catching the lingering, seductive gaze of Lady Di—he turned to Hu Jingyuan and his men. Dropping their torches, they marched resolutely toward the south.

On the plains south of the West City, the ten thousand rebel troops had finished assembling. Hearing the drums and seeing the endless stream of refugees crossing the river, the two rebel commanders knew they could not sit idly by. They ordered their army to charge the West City, desperate to prevent the East City's defenders and the refugees from entering. They feared that if they failed, the Great General Zhen Jie would surely execute them.

As the rebel drums echoed across the plains and the eastern sky began to pale, the rebel army surged toward the West City. But as they ran, torches flickering in the dim light, they were suddenly confronted by a line of figures wielding swords and blades. The rebel vanguard, caught off guard, stumbled in their tracks, but it was too late to stop.

"Charge!" Fu Zihou wiped the blood from his blade, and with a roar, he dove into the rebel ranks.

"Kill!" Hu Jingyuan and Yin Tianzong followed without hesitation. Behind them, a volley of hundreds of arrows rained down, cutting through the torch-bearing rebels.

In the midst of the carnage, Fu Zihou fought at the forefront, his blade flashing as blood sprayed into the air. Despite being outnumbered, the Sui soldiers were emboldened by their recent victory. With his keen instincts and expert swordsmanship, Fu Zihou wove through the chaos, parrying and striking with lethal precision. Before long, the rebels began to recoil in terror. Those who tried to challenge him were either cut down or driven back, wounded.

One burly man lunged at Fu Zihou, hoping to pin him down, but before he could reach him, a sword pierced his throat from behind. As the blade was withdrawn, the man collapsed, clutching his neck as the life drained from him.

On the battlements of the West City, seeing the East City garrison engaging the rebels, Wen Dayou, Zhang Pinggao, and the others led their cavalry and recruited troops out through the city gates to join the fray.

In the city pass, Jiang Baoyi, Liu Wenjing, and Xu Shixu watched the scene unfold with bated breath.