"Northern Qi Eagle?"
Tang Lan leaned on his long sword and laughed shakily. "Ten years ago, I came to Bai Ling City once. At that time, the power of the Heavenly Book had not yet awakened. You were just a servant boy who served tea. Now, you are already the Prime Minister of Yihe Kingdom. Ha ha ha … the tides of life change in an instant. Northern Qi Eagle, do you want my head as a gift to Qin Yi?"
"Why not?"
The wrinkles on the Northern Qi Eagle's face were about to bloom from his smile. "Tang Lan, you have been immersed in power and wealth. You never thought you would end up like this, right? Once the cunning hare is dead, the hound is cooked. It has always been like this. You hold great power and make Qin Yin suspicious. It is reasonable for you to end up like this. If you know what's good for you, obediently hand over your head. I can still spare your subordinates on account of your virtue and prestige. "
Tang Lan paused and seemed to be moved. Just as he was about to speak, Tang Bi suddenly pulled the bowstring of an arrow box hidden behind a pomegranate tree leaf. Immediately, a series of steel arrows flew straight toward the Northern Qi Eagle.
"Father, be careful!"
The Northern Qi Eagle gave a low roar and suddenly swung the long sword in his hand. The power of heaven and earth surged in an instant. Endless frost formed an ice shield in front of the Northern Qi Eagle, blocking all the steel arrows. However, a number of Northern Qi private soldiers around them were shot to death. Their intestines were pierced and they died wretchedly. Northern Qi Eagle glanced at them and couldn't help but say with an ashen face, "This group of ignorant old men. Father, there is no need to be polite to them. Just kill them. Tang Lan cannot escape!"
"Yes."
The Northern Qi Eagle looked coldly in the direction of the manor and said, "Advance with the shield formation. Be careful of their arrow boxes."
"Yes!"
In reality, Tang Lan only had two arrow boxes. They had come in a hurry and had no time to bring more. Tang Bi had already made up his mind to kill and did not want to drag out an ignoble existence. This made Tang Lan feel helpless and pained. These old generals were all battle-hardened family soldiers of the Seven Seas Tang Sect. Now, they were all going to die here for no reason and become gifts from the Northern Qi government to Qin Yi. How ironic was this?
"Archers, fire!"
Tang Bi roared. He held a steel knife in his hand and stood guard outside the door. He did not budge an inch as he looked at the Northern Qi private army outside. He roared, "Fiery Tome, release!"
The three Heavenly Tomes exploded in an instant. Raging flames engulfed the dozens of private soldiers who were attacking outside the mansion. However, the opponent's counterattack was even fiercer. The Northern Qi Mansion was the most powerful family of Heavenly Tomes in the Yihe Kingdom. Naturally, they would not be lacking in Heavenly Tomes. A group of family generals rushed over and raised their weapons. Suddenly, a storm, raging flames, and frost swept up the walls of the mansion, killing the archers there one by one.
Wretched screams filled the air. The Prince of Zhennan's mansion was very sturdy and well-fortified. There were even four tall watchtowers inside the mansion. At this moment, a hundred archers entered the watchtowers and shot down from above. This created a great deal of pressure for the Northern Qi people outside the city. Tang Bi also ordered people to find oil from the mansion's kitchen and pour it outside. He ordered a fire and also delayed some of the opponent's attacks.
But the Northern Qi people's slow attack did not mean that Tang Lan's army could win. Tang Lan and Tang Bi both knew that the Northern Qi Mansion's military power was not less than theirs. They also had the support of all the noble families and nobles in the city. In reality, Tang Lan's army was fighting alone. There was no chance of victory. Their current resistance was only delaying.
Tang Lan's muddy eyes were filled with confusion. Sitting under the eaves, he watched the endless arrows fall into the courtyard. He said, "Tang Bi, I'm going to sleep for a while. When the Northern Qi people attack in, call me."
"Yes, Your Highness."
When Tang Bi turned to look, he was frightened by Tang Lan's expression. For the first time, despair and confusion appeared on Tang Lan's face.
…
Five hundred li away, on a small path outside the forest, dust billowed. The travelers and caravans on the road all made way. A line of 5,000 light cavalry of the National Army galloped past, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Tang Xiaoxi, dressed in a deep purple princess cloak, tightly gripped the reins of her snow pear warhorse. She rushed at the front of the formation. Her beautiful face was full of fatigue and anxiety. After two days and two nights of continuous travel, she was almost exhausted.
To the side, Tang Zhen looked at Tang Xiaoxi's appearance and couldn't help but say, "Princess, we … we've been traveling for too long. Many of the soldiers can't take it anymore. Why don't … why don't we rest for the night and leave tomorrow morning. That way, when we reach Bai Ling City, we can preserve some of our strength and battle power."
"No."
Tang Xiaoxi's elegant brows furrowed. Thinking of Tang Lan's situation in Bai Ling City, she couldn't help but feel as if a knife was twisting in her heart. Slowly, she said, "Grandfather shouldn't have ended up like this. I … I can't just watch him throw away his life. We must reach Bai Ling City as quickly as possible. We must march through the night. We must reach Bai Ling City before sunrise tomorrow.
"Yes!"
...
At night, the outside of the Duke of Zhennan's Mansion was ablaze. The attack of the Yihe Country's army was even fiercer. Even many provincial soldiers from the prefectural cities had rushed over. They used the siege chariots to smash the walls of the Duke's Mansion.
Puff!
A steel arrow shot into Tang Lan's arm. She felt a burning pain. The arrow seemed to have been dipped in poison. Tang Lan didn't care so much. She pulled out the bloody arrowhead and threw it aside. She said, "Tang Bi, how many of them are here?"
"I don't know. Many …"
"God damn it …"
Tang Lan was a little helpless. She asked, "How many warhorses do we have?"
"At least two thousand. It's enough."
"Order everyone to equip the warhorses with armor. We're going to rush out. We can't continue to sit here and wait for death. The elite soldiers of Bai Ling City are gone. These mobs might not be able to stop us."
"Yes!"
Tang Bi walked forward and helped Tang Lan onto the warhorse. However, the blood on Tang Lan's arm flowed down his fingers. Tang Bi couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, are you alright? I'll bandage it for you. We'll leave after that."
"No, it's too late." Tang Lan said, "The defense of the East Courtyard is weak. We'll kill our way out from there."
"Yes!"
The sound of hooves became more concentrated. Close to one thousand and five hundred Tang Sect cavalrymen charged out from the East Gate. However, there were still at least a thousand soldiers from Nominal Peace Country outside the East Courtyard. Tens of thousands of arrows were fired at the same time. The cavalrymen in the front row were killed one after another. They groaned and fell to the ground with their warhorses. It was an extremely tragic scene.
Tang Lan followed the army on the warhorse. Tang Bi held a heavy shield in front of Tang Lan. He shouted in a low voice, "Charge forward. Don't hesitate. Protect His Highness!"
More and more people died. The Yihe Country's army on both sides of the road increased. Many people were shouting, "Capture Tang Lan and make him a prince. Whoever seizes Tang Lan's head will be rewarded with ten million gold and be made a marquis!"
"Pfft, pfft …"
The arrows were swift and fierce. In the blink of an eye, two arrows shot into Tang Bi's abdomen armor, which wasn't protected by the shield. He let out a muffled groan but didn't say anything. He slashed the arrows with his steel blade and left the arrowheads in his body. He continued to protect Tang Lan as he charged forward.
The Prince of Zhennan's residence was about five kilometers away from the North Gate. However, this distance was like a road of death.
They fought all the way until dawn when they finally saw the North Gate in the distance.
Tang Bi's face was pale. He said, "Your Highness … Your Highness, we're about to break out of the encirclement!"
"Yes …"
Tang Lan's face was ashen. He had lost a lot of blood from his arm. He said, "The gate will definitely be heavily guarded. Send an elite team to kill our way out and climb the gate. Also … see if there are any imperial reinforcements in the distance."
"There won't be any reinforcements." Tang Bi mumbled, "The empire has already given up on us old fellows …"
Tang Lan trembled slightly. At this time, a young and valiant general of the Tang family led a few dozen men and dashed forward. Their swords danced in the air, cutting the Yihe soldiers who were blocking their way into pieces.
The moment he climbed up the gate, he was covered in blood and his chest was full of arrows. At this time, the first rays of dawn appeared. A ray of sunlight fell on his face as if it was shining on a new dream. Under the light of dawn, he saw a row of cavalry in the distance. The Purple Yinhua War Flag and the Seven Hearts Begonia War Flag fluttered in the air. He couldn't help but tremble. He turned to look at Tang Lan and said, "Your Highness, reinforcements are here …"
"Reinforcements …"
Tang Lan was excited. "Who is it?"
"It's the flag of the Kingdom Guarding Army … Princess Xi is here. Your Highness, Princess Xi is here to save us …"
"Great, open the gate!"
"Yes!"
But right at this moment, a figure suddenly descended from the sky, raised his hand, and chopped off the Tang Family's young general's head, sending it flying. Fresh blood splattered all over his face. It was none other than Luo Lan's disciple, the Saint realm powerhouse — Han Jun!
Han Jun licked his bloody palm and smiled. "Men, seal the gate. Kill them all! Don't leave a single one alive!"
The seven world palaces had sent out their troops!
Dozens of Heaven Realm and Saint Domain experts charged into the crowd, and in the blink of an eye, they had killed nearly a hundred Tang Clan soldiers. Han Jun's face was filled with rage as he bellowed, "Kill them! Kill them all! Leave Tang Lan's head for me!"
"Yes!"
...
Tang Lan's face was ashen. Looking at the tall city walls in the distance, he couldn't help but cry out in pain. He clutched his chest and cried, "Xiao Xi, my good Xiao Xi, grandfather will not be able to live to see you again …"
Tang Bi hurriedly grabbed the reins of Tang Lan's war horse and shouted, "Men, protect His Highness and charge back!"
There were not many people left in Tang Lan's army. A few dozen people had died under the sharp arrows.
In the end, only Tang Bi and Tang Lan, the two old generals, were left galloping through the streets filled with soldiers and civilians of Yihe Nation. It was a mess.
"Jiu jiu …"
The war horse whinnied. Tang Bi's war horse lost its front hooves and fell to the ground. Following that, the war horse carrying Tang Lan also fell to the ground. Tang Bi hurriedly helped the bloodied Tang Lan up. He was so anxious that tears fell from his eyes. "Duke Lan … Duke Lan … subordinate is useless, subordinate is useless …"
Tang Lan slowly shook his head. "Old friend, we tried our best …"
...
A group of Yihe Nation's civilians surrounded them. Some of them were holding a blacksmith's hammer, some were holding a hoe, and some were holding a tailor's scissors. Their faces were twisted with hatred. One of them said, "That old man is Tang Lan. He is the one who wants to overthrow Yihe Nation and make us the empire's dogs again!"
"Kill him!"
"Kill him!"
They got closer and closer. Tang Lan and Tang Bi sat back to back on the ground. They couldn't help but burst into laughter as tears rolled down their cheeks.
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