The third company, which had been slow to arrive with support, was already entangled by the ambush troops arranged by Hou Junji to the south of the workshop.
As for Qi Sui, he had already been forced back to the gunpowder workshop.
Leaning against the workshop, he, along with the first company defending there, jointly faced the enemy.
The two sides were already in a melee, rendering the mortars useless.
Just then, a furious roar echoed from afar.
"F*ck your grandma, daring to cause trouble at the workshop while I'm away!"
"Brothers, follow me!"
It was Wu Yong's voice.
He had returned with the Fourth Battalion.
The situation at the palace was clearly perilous, and he didn't know if there were still unseen enemies watching it.
Therefore, after repelling Lu Xuanyi and Wang Zhigang, Wu Yong brought Empress Zhangsun and a group of concubines, along with Li Chengqian, Princess Chang Le, and other princes and princesses, towards Fangjiazhuang.
They had exited through the wall that was blown open when the Fourth Battalion entered the palace, so they were unaware that Li Yuan had already died.
To leave Chang'an through Tonghua Gate, one had to pass by the workshop.
Upon reaching the Longshou Canal, he heard the deafening sounds of battle from the workshop, which enraged him.
Fangjiazhuang was his home now!
The workshop was where the Tianhuo Army was stationed!
It could not be lost!
Otherwise, how could he face the Marquis's nurturing and trust?
"Men! Escort the noble ladies to the granary!"
"Yes!"
A company commander emerged from behind him and, with his subordinates, escorted Empress Zhangsun and the others towards the granary.
Beside the experimental breeding field, there was a granary where eighty thousand jin of high-quality wheat seeds were stored.
Three thousand imperial guards protected it day and night; without the imperial decree, no one was allowed to move them!
With the workshop under attack, the estate was no longer safe, and only the granary could provide a temporary refuge for the Empress and the Crown Prince.
After Empress Zhangsun and the others were escorted away.
Wu Yong waved his hand, "Brothers, kill them!"
Crossing the Longshou Canal and stepping onto the land belonging to the workshop, he saw the dense enemy forces surrounding and attacking the workshop in the distance.
The soldiers of the Fourth Battalion first unleashed a volley of grenades, then opened fire with their rifles.
The enemy forces surrounding Qi Sui and his men were caught completely off guard by Wu Yong's arrival from the rear.
Qu Zhu, who led the thousand-plus men left by Hou Junji, surveyed the scene.
His contingent had fewer than six hundred men remaining, while the four aristocratic families and over a thousand troops sent by Tubo, Nanyue, and Tujue had already perished under grenades, firearms, and mortars.
After paying such a heavy price to get close to Qi Sui's forces, another wave had emerged from behind.
This made him somewhat exasperated.
Their objective was the forging workshop where the machinery was located, but they were intercepted here.
"Charge! Charge and rendezvous with the Duke!"
Qi Sui's remaining men numbered less than thirty or forty, and all were wounded. They could only watch as the enemy surged into the workshop, powerless to stop them.
Wu Yong led his men in a charge. After a glance at Qi Sui, he threw down a remark, "Battalion Commander Qi, rest well. The Fourth Battalion will handle the rest!"
With that, he pursued Qu Zhu and his men.
However, the moment Wu Yong entered the workshop, he was stunned!
Even Qi Sui, who followed, was dumbfounded!
The workshop was already swarming with enemies, as the ambush troops pre-arranged by Hou Junji had charged in.
Even the gates of the forging workshop had been smashed open, and machines were being carried out!
Qi Sui was greatly alarmed. These machines must not be captured.
"Battalion Commander Wu! Protect the machines, or neither you nor I can account for ourselves to the Marquis!"
"Brother, given this situation, do you think our thousand-plus men can hold them back?"
Wu Yong was also helpless. Looking around, the paths between the workshops were filled with rebels!
In desperation, Qi Sui spotted the ammunition workshop behind him!
"Battalion Commander Wu, let's... let's destroy the workshop!"
Wu Yong paused, "Destroy the workshop?"
This was the Marquis's hard work, which had taken nearly a year to reach its current scale. If it were destroyed, how could he account for himself to the Marquis?
"Aren't you afraid of the Marquis's blame?"
Qi Sui pointed towards the forging workshop, "There are many machines there. The Marquis once instructed that if anything were to happen, it would be better to destroy them than let them fall into anyone else's hands!"
Hearing this, Wu Yong finally understood Qi Sui's intention. His eyes, red with anger, fixed on the enemies inside the workshop.
"Good! Then we'll destroy it!"
"Withdraw! Everyone withdraw from the workshop!"
The soldiers of the Fourth Battalion rapidly retreated out of the workshop.
After reaching the outer perimeter, Qi Sui smacked his forehead, "The Second and Third Company commanders are still here! Quickly send someone to notify them!"
Wu Yong pointed to someone beside him, "Lan Yue, you go. Take men and hurry! Give the signal after everyone has evacuated!"
"Yes, Battalion Commander!"
Lan Yue nodded and, leading two hundred soldiers from the Fourth Battalion, bypassed the gunpowder workshop and stealthily moved towards the artisan dormitories.
As they reached the drill ground, they saw the Third Company engaged in a fierce battle with Hou Junji's forces.
"Brothers, we're withdrawing! Go quickly!"
The Third Company commander, somewhat bewildered, pointed to the workshop and asked, "We're not going to fight anymore?"
Lan Yue nodded, "Battalion Commander Qi has other arrangements. Go quickly!"
Thus, the Third Company quickly disengaged from the battle and followed Lan Yue towards the artisan dormitories.
As for Hou Junji's forces, their target was the artisans and equipment within the workshop. They were even more pleased to see the Third Company retreat.
After the Third Company withdrew, they directly stormed into the workshop.
When Lan Yue and the Third Company arrived at the artisan dormitories, Qin Qiong was already wounded in several places.
Sun Simiao, along with several strong men, was guarding the severely injured and dying Shi Zhen and others.
"Quick! Support Duke Qin!"
Lan Yue waved his hand, and his soldiers instantly charged forward. With their Tang sabers flashing, they cut down dozens of enemies before rescuing Qin Qiong.
Qin Qiong refused to yield, wanting to return to battle.
Lan Yue whispered the decision of Qi Sui and Wu Yong in his ear, and Qin Qiong's eyes lit up.
"Yes, that young man can pull it off once, he can definitely pull it off twice!"
"Quick, go notify Yuan Zhenren!"
Qin Qiong pointed towards Yuan Tiangang.
Lan Yue nodded.
"Third Company Commander, quickly take Duke Qin back to the estate!"
The soldiers of the Third Company carried Qin Qiong on their backs, while others supported the wounded strong men and the eight individuals with Wu Yong, retreating towards Fangjiazhuang.
Hou Junji was overjoyed.
These people had finally retreated!
He glanced towards the forging workshop, where his subordinates were carrying machines out one by one.
Although he didn't recognize them or understand them, with the help of the artisans from before, these things would be his foundation in the future!
That brat, was it not by relying on these things that he could produce so many firearms?
If he can do it, so can I!
With this thought, Hou Junji envisioned himself leading an army of thousands, wielding firearms, and chasing Li Shimin until he had no escape.
With a smile playing on his lips, he walked towards the forging workshop.
Lan Yue, leading his men through the carnage, reached Yuan Tiangang.
Seeing Yuan Tiangang's bald head, he hesitated to recognize him. Was this the same ethereal and wise half-immortal of the past?
ps: Second update.