Within a few months, the King of Wei and the King of Li joined forces to launch an attack.
The news of their alliance sent shockwaves through the court. The memories of the war two years prior, which had claimed the lives of countless soldiers and seen many opportunistic individuals thrive in the capital, were still fresh.
Upon the announcement, prices surged, especially for grain. Many impoverished civilians, unable to afford food, wept openly in the streets. However, in the current climate of uncertainty, few had the heart or the capacity to offer them solace, as everyone faced an unknown future.
Wu Caiwei felt a desire to help them but feared drawing unwanted attention. The war had just begun, and while people were struggling, their situation wasn't yet dire. She decided to wait, hoping that when desperate families reached their breaking point, a timely act of kindness could help them overcome the immediate hardship and at least preserve their lives.
Upon receiving the news, Huangfu Xingchen gazed at the bright moon above. He felt a mixture of shock and joy. Shocked because war brought suffering to the people, and joy because after years of effort, he was finally going home.
The war was not as easy for the King of Wei as he had imagined. Ever since Prince Lu ascended to the throne, it was understood that further conflicts were inevitable, especially with numerous regional princes remaining inactive. Strengthening the army thus became a pressing necessity.
Although training the complacent soldiers proved challenging, their demeanor shifted significantly after the Emperor personally executed a few as a warning. After two years of rigorous training, they had indeed improved. Witnessing his soldiers fall one by one brought a pang of grief to the King of Wei's heart.
Two years ago, it was the three of them who had jointly defeated the imperial army. Prince Liang, though, was different; he had no real ambition for the throne, merely seeking to vent his frustrations. Yet, despite having provided both the funding and the effort, it was Liang who now occupied the imperial seat.
His military strength had been inferior to Liang's back then. However, in the intervening years, he had trained his army relentlessly, day and night, and had even enlisted his younger brother, the King of Li.
He had foreseen this situation, though not experienced it firsthand. Yet, recalling the ancient saying that a general's fame is built upon the bones of countless soldiers, he gritted his teeth and faced it with a semblance of calm.
Gazing at the dense mass of the King of Wei's army, Wang Ran, the defending general, felt utterly unlucky. His family was a prominent clan, and they had sent him here for a brief period of prestige. His transfer orders had already arrived, allowing him to depart in three days. However, it was during these final three days that this calamitous event occurred.
With the enemy army looming, and having never commanded a battle before, Wang Ran was consumed by panic. Yet, he could not retreat. He summoned experienced officers to devise a strategy.
To buy time and await reinforcements, he adopted a strategy of defending the city walls and refusing to engage in open battle.
The soldiers within the city were not idle. They dismantled civilian homes, disregarding the inhabitants' wails, and forcibly carried the wooden beams to the city walls. They then went door to door, collecting oil and tinder.
Blacksmiths were also mobilized, working day and night. When they ran out of iron, they began confiscating pots and other iron implements from people's homes.
When the King of Wei once again commanded his army to attack, Wang Ran gave the order. Soldiers hurled stones and logs from above.
Soldiers who had nearly reached the top of the walls were struck down. Those with minor injuries suffered broken limbs, while others were killed outright, all rendered incapable of fighting.
Seeing his significant losses without capturing the city, the King of Wei grew anxious. The front lines were under heavy pressure, and he feared a surprise attack from the rear by other regional princes, which would lead to a pincer movement.
That night, he launched an even fiercer assault, resulting in even greater casualties. Oil was frequently poured from the walls, followed by flaming torches. Soon, the area became a pyre of bodies and flames.
The fires below the city walls raged on for a long time, preventing any further approach. The King of Wei, frustrated, reluctantly ordered his troops to withdraw.
He refused to believe that he couldn't capture a mere city. He decided to lay siege to it, wondering how long they could hold out.
Meanwhile, Wang Ran within the city was also in distress. Although their losses were relatively small, they had exhausted almost all usable resources for combat. The arrival of reinforcements was uncertain, and he wondered if they were simply waiting to die.
The Emperor had dispatched reinforcements as soon as he received the news. However, the commander of the relief force, being overly cautious and facing heavy rain, had predictably delayed their arrival by a day.
Under normal circumstances, the reinforcements should have arrived yesterday, but there was still no sign of them. Seeing the dense ranks of rebel soldiers below the city walls, Wang Ran knew he had to make a final stand.
As the battle commenced, the King of Wei immediately sensed a difference and his confidence soared.
Wang Ran watched grimly as the rebel soldiers erected ladders and began climbing the city walls. Initially, the soldiers on the ramparts could wield their swords, cutting down and pushing back the advancing enemy. However, as their numbers grew, the defenders began to fall, overwhelmed by exhaustion. They could only watch helplessly as more and more rebels swarmed the walls.
He and his officers joined the fray. At some point, the city gates were opened from within and without. As the rebel forces from outside poured in, Wang Ran knew he was finished.
Wounded repeatedly, and resolved not to burden his family, he was prepared for a heroic sacrifice. Just as he believed he was about to die, the sound of shouting and fighting erupted from outside the city. He peered out and saw a remarkable sight: two armies were clashing. One of them was the reinforcement force he had so desperately awaited.
He breathed a sigh of relief and shouted loudly, "We are saved! The reinforcements have arrived! The reinforcements have arrived!"
The soldiers defending the city, hearing this, cried out in excitement and fought with renewed vigor.
The King of Wei, sensing the tide turning, realized he still had his brother as a trump card. He nodded to a nearby guard, who moved to an open area and fired a signal flare.
Soon, another army appeared outside the city. The various forces became entangled in a chaotic and fierce battle.
Ultimately, the King of Wei emerged victorious, albeit with heavy losses. He could only consolidate his hold on the city, lacking the strength to pursue further plans. He felt a sense of unwillingness, but the King of Li, who had never been particularly enthusiastic about claiming the throne, persuaded him.
"If you rush now, have you considered the consequences? You must always ensure you can protect yourself. Those other regional princes might be waiting for your next move. When you and the court are weakened by conflict, they will be in a position to reap the benefits," the King of Li said with concern.
The King of Wei was well aware of this logic but felt a sense of resentment. Would he always be subservient to others?
"Let's take it slow for now and see what the other regional princes do," the King of Li said, looking at his brother with certainty. "Trust me, their thoughts are the same as yours, they just don't want to be the first to act."
The King of Wei hesitated for a moment, then punched the wall. Closing his eyes, he gritted his teeth and said, "Let him stay in that position a while longer."
The other regional princes, seeing no further action from the King of Li and the King of Wei, secretly marveled at their swift withdrawal.