pdf-ebookys Chapter 479 Arrival at Lizhou
Chapter 479 Arrival at Lizhou
Lu Zhijin was completely unaware of the turbulent events unfolding in the capital. At this moment, after overcoming countless hardships, they finally arrived at Lizhou. However, when they witnessed the dilapidated state of Lizhou before their eyes, everyone felt their hearts ache.
The once prosperous Lizhou is now a ruin. City walls have collapsed, houses have burned, and the streets are filled with the stench of death and destruction. The soldiers stare wide-eyed at this horrific scene, their hearts filled with grief and anger.
They arrived too late; Lizhou had already fallen. The enemy's iron hooves mercilessly trampled this land, bringing endless suffering to its people. The soldiers clenched their fists tightly, their nails digging deep into their palms, filled with boundless hatred for the enemy's atrocities.
"General!" The adjutant's voice was choked with emotion, his eyes were bloodshot and red, as if he had just been crying.
Lu Zhijin sat on his warhorse, his body leaning slightly forward, his hands gripping the reins tightly, which creaked as he strained. His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, was fixed on the devastated scene before him, as if trying to see through the ruins and rubble to uncover the truth hidden within.
After a moment of silence, Lu Zhijin's voice was low and cold, like a winter wind that sent chills down one's spine: "Order the soldiers to search with all their might, leaving no corner unchecked, until they find out if there are any survivors." His words were concise and clear, without the slightest hesitation or doubt, revealing a decisiveness and resolve.
"Yes," the adjutant replied loudly.
The soldiers searched everywhere, leaving no corner unchecked, but in the end they found nothing; the city had become a ghost town.
Lu Zhijin couldn't understand why the enemy didn't occupy the city after capturing it, but instead left it empty.
Lu Zhijin was filled with vigilance. Could this be a trap set by the enemy? He looked around with sharp eyes, but found nothing.
Just as Lu Zhijin was filled with doubt, a soldier rushed over, panting, and said, "General, some strange symbols have been found in the west of the city. They seem to be some kind of mark."
Lu Zhijin immediately spurred his horse towards the west of the city, where he saw some crooked, rune-like symbols carved on the ground. He examined them closely but couldn't make them out. Suddenly, a deep rumbling sound came from underground, and the ground began to shake violently.
"Not good, an ambush!" Lu Zhijin shouted. In an instant, a large number of enemy troops poured out from all sides and surrounded the soldiers in the blink of an eye.
Lu Zhijin drew his sword and shouted, "Soldiers, kill!" The soldiers brandished their weapons and engaged in a fierce battle with the enemy.
Lu Zhijin knew in his heart that this must be a trap set by the enemy, using the empty city to lure them in, intending to wipe them out in one fell swoop. But he was fearless, his eyes resolute, and he led his soldiers to break through the numerous dangers.
The soldiers of the Great Zhou were brave and skilled in battle. Coupled with their advanced weaponry and large numbers, they did not fall behind despite facing a large enemy force. After a fierce battle, they still won.
"General, we've captured a few prisoners." The soldiers brought several captured enemy soldiers to Lu Zhijin.
Lu Zhijin stared sharply at the enemy soldier kneeling on the ground, his hands tied behind his back.
"Where have all the soldiers and civilians of Lizhou gone? Have you captured them?" Lu Zhijin's voice was cold and oppressive. His sharp eyes were fixed on the enemy troops in front of him, as if they could see through their hearts.
The enemy soldiers glared at him defiantly, one of them even stiffening his neck and coldly snorting, "Hmph, kill us or torture us as you please, we won't say a word!"
A cold smile crept across Lu Zhijin's lips; he was already used to such stubborn enemies. He slowly walked up to the enemy troops, looking down at them with an increasingly intense bloodlust in his eyes.
"You won't talk, huh?" Lu Zhijin's voice was deep and authoritative. "Guards, take them away and treat them well!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a group of ferocious soldiers rushed forward and dragged the enemy away without any hesitation. These soldiers had just gone through a fierce battle, and their bodies still reeked of blood. Their eyes were fierce and cold, sending chills down one's spine.
"Yes." The soldiers of Great Zhou were already impatient; they were now itching to fight the enemy.
The enemy soldiers were taken away, and the adjutant walked up to Lu Zhijin: "General, are you saying that the people of Lizhou have really been captured?"
Lu Zhijin narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice, "It's not impossible, but I believe more that they've hidden themselves."
As a prince of a different surname who was granted a title based on his military achievements, even if he was outnumbered, the King of Lingnan should still have the ability to protect himself and his people. It was impossible for him to be captured. It's just unknown where they hid. After all, Lizhou was the King of Lingnan's fiefdom, which he was very familiar with.
Even so, Lu Zhijin couldn't help but worry. He could imagine how fierce the battle must have been to abandon the city and flee.
"General." Lu Zhijin returned to his tent and carefully studied the map of Lizhou. The soldiers who had been sent to interrogate the enemy soldiers came in.
"Well? They did say that."
"Reporting to the General, after some interrogation, those people finally confessed. According to them, the soldiers and civilians of Lizhou suffered heavy casualties, with most of them already dead, and the whereabouts of the survivors unknown. They originally planned to ambush those people in the city, waiting for them to walk into their trap so they could wipe them out in one fell swoop. However, to their surprise, the first to arrive were our reinforcements!"
"Just as the general predicted, but I wonder where the King of Lingnan and his men are hiding?" the military advisor said, frowning.
"There's no need to rush. Since the King of Lingnan was able to escape successfully, he must have left a backup plan, and he may even have planted spies in secret. Now that we've arrived here, it shouldn't be long before those spies can't hold back any longer and show themselves. After all, the King of Lingnan is also anxiously waiting for his reinforcements to arrive."
Enlisting in the army, he nodded, feeling that Lu Zhijin's words made sense.
"Have the soldiers sent to investigate returned?" Lu Zhijin frowned slightly, his eyes fixed on the front, as if he were expecting something.
After the fierce battle, Lu Zhijin decisively dispatched a team of elite soldiers to the enemy's encampment for reconnaissance. He knew that understanding the enemy's situation was crucial for formulating the next strategic move.
However, as time ticked by, the soldiers sent out still hadn't returned. Lu Zhijin's unease deepened, and he began pacing in his tent, occasionally stopping to peer towards the tent entrance, hoping to catch a glimpse of the soldiers.
"They haven't returned yet." The answer came from a servant, whose tone was calm but revealed a hint of worry.
Lu Zhijin's expression turned serious. He remained silent for a moment, then decisively said, "Send another team to meet them. Make sure they are safe."