"My dear sister-in-law, rest assured. I have gravely wounded him, and he will not survive the night. His remaining forces have also been routed by me," Murong Xiong boasted, exaggerating his minor achievements. When Empress Dowager Murong Qing inquired, he embellished his tale.
"Your Highness the King of Runan is indeed a hero of unparalleled might!" Murong Qing exclaimed, her face breaking into a smile.
Murong Qing was no stranger to the events south of the Lugou River; she had already dispatched scouts for a thorough report.
Although Murong Xiong had suffered a defeat, it was not a complete disaster. A significant portion of his army remained, and Murong Qing needed his troops to defend against Murong Chi's onslaught.
Murong Qing herself possessed considerable troops, but firstly, they were needed to defend Youzhou's cities, the imperial city, and herself and her son. Secondly, they were for deterring and suppressing those who stirred trouble or had already rebelled in various regions. Thirdly, she intended to reap the benefits. Once Murong Xiong and his enemies had bled each other dry, she would deploy her own forces, thus dealing with Murong Xiong as well.
What Murong Qing had not anticipated was the ferocity of the Changshan Army led by Murong Chi. They fought with exceptional bravery, advancing northeastward and soon nearing the city walls. Nor had she foreseen that Prince Qi Murong Sheng and Prince Donghai Murong Hong had colluded with Murong Chi to rebel against her.
These unexpected turns of events forced Murong Qing to be cautious and to compromise.
"Heroism is an overstatement..." The battle south of the Lugou River had utterly exhausted Murong Xiong, and he had nearly lost his life at the river. He reclined on the imperial throne, caressing Murong Qing's jade-like hand, and said, "Once we repel the rebels and slay that brat, do not forget our agreement."
"After the late emperor's death, my son and I were left alone and helpless," Murong Qing said softly, suppressing the waves of nausea that rose within her and allowing him to do as he pleased. "Once the realm is pacified, I am willing to honor you as the King of Runan. If you do not mind, I am also willing to offer myself to you. However, you must also uphold your promise and designate Yi'er as the Crown Prince."
"Easily said, easily said," Murong Xiong declared with great joy. He clasped Murong Qing's hands together and smiled wickedly, "Your son is my son. What is there to object to him being made Crown Prince? Am I a man who breaks his promises? My dear sister-in-law, why not tonight..."
Murong Qing and Murong Xiong engaged in a game of 'close calls,' allowing him small liberties but evading any substantive advances with various excuses. Today, Murong Xiong's lust was aroused, and he wished to keep Murong Qing with him in the Hall of Golden Chimes.
The dignified King of Runan certainly had no shortage of women; his entourage was filled with countless beautiful concubines and alluring courtesans. His haste stemmed not only from Murong Qing's beauty but also from her status – once the Empress who presided over the empire, now the Empress Dowager, and moreover, Murong Qing was Murong Xiong's sister-in-law... To possess her and ravage her at will, what a delightful prospect! The exquisite pleasure of it, was it not profoundly marvelous and peerlessly wonderful?
"Bang!"
While Murong Xiong shamelessly pressed his suit, and Murong Qing was contemplating how to refuse him, several eunuchs stumbled in, crashing through the palace doors and rushing towards Murong Qing and Murong Xiong.
"What is this haste?" Murong Qing asked calmly, seizing the opportunity to pull her hand away from Murong Xiong's grasp.
Murong Xiong gnashed his teeth in anger, glaring ferociously at the eunuchs.
Seeing his good intentions thwarted by these lowly servants, if there were no grave matters, Murong Xiong would have had them bathed in blood within the Golden Hall.
"Outside the city... outside the city... a force has arrived. A vast, dark mass, and we do not know their numbers. They... they... are attacking the city..." an old eunuch stammered.
"The Duke of Ning and the Right Virtuous King sent out troops, but... they were defeated..." another eunuch replied, his voice trembling.
The Duke of Ning was Xielihu, who had been enfeoffed with that title for his contribution in supporting the succession.
"A force has arrived? From where?" Murong Xiong asked, startled.
The Changshan Army had retreated fifty li due to Murong Chi's injury, and the armies of Prince Qi Murong Sheng and Prince Donghai Murong Hong were still far away. Where had this force come from? And they were attacking? If Youzhou fell, all would be lost.
At this moment, Murong Qing's complexion had turned pale.
"We do not know... we do not know where they came from. However, this servant heard people say there were many ships on the sea near Huanghua County," replied a eunuch.
Huanghua County was located east of Youzhou and served as the eastern gateway to the capital of the Great Yan Kingdom.
"Prince Donghai Murong Hong?!?" Murong Xiong and Murong Qing exclaimed in unison, their faces paling as they looked at each other.
Currently, only Prince Donghai Murong Hong in the entire Great Yan Kingdom possessed a navy. This force must have been Murong Hong's using his navy, landing at Huanghua County to launch a surprise attack on Youzhou.
"My dear sister-in-law, do not worry!" Murong Xiong said to Murong Qing, "What storm can that mere Murong Hong stir up? He dares to attack the city? I shall go now and bring him his head to present at your feet."
Unbeknownst to Murong Xiong, Murong Hong was not the only force launching a surprise attack on the capital.
"Xielihu and Murong Kang, those two foolish pigs, were defeated by Murong Hong?" Murong Xiong cursed as he strode out of the palace.
Murong Qing watched Murong Xiong's retreating back with a blank expression.
"Empress Dowager, when shall we take his life?" Gu Yin Qidan appeared from nowhere and stood behind Murong Qing, his sinister gaze fixed on Murong Xiong's retreating figure as he asked.
"With the enemy at the gates, we cannot be hasty," Murong Qing replied calmly. "We shall discuss it once the crisis is resolved."
Gu Yin Qidan nodded slightly.
Murong Qing and Gu Yin Qidan had made their arrangements; taking Murong Xiong's life would be as easy as crushing an ant. For now, they were merely using him as a dog.
"Have you captured that person?" Murong Qing then asked.
Gu Yin Qidan nodded.
"Bring her in," Murong Qing said, nodding as well, and took her seat on the throne.
Gu Yin Qidan bowed and then withdrew from the hall like a phantom.
A moment later, a graceful figure was escorted into the hall by Jin Cialla.
The woman's figure was slender and graceful, like a snow lotus blooming on a cliff. As the palace gates opened, a cold wind swept in, causing her robes to flutter slightly. Under the moonlight, she appeared somewhat desolate.
The woman's beauty was exquisite, like a celestial being. Murong Qing, though confident she was not inferior, felt an overwhelming jealousy. The reason was that this woman was in the prime of her youth, while Murong Qing had long since passed hers.
...
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
"Dong! Dong! Dong!"
"Crash!"
The forces attacking Youzhou launched a night assault.
Standing on the city walls and looking down, one could see over a hundred trebuchets below, like monstrous beasts, hurling stones at Youzhou. The stones were wrapped in inflammable materials such as fire oil, turning into fiery projectiles. Flying through the air, they resembled immense meteors streaking across the dark night, smashing against the city walls, at their base, and within them. The walls trembled as if in an earthquake. Several tall watchtowers, struck by fiery projectiles, collapsed with a roar, scattering debris that formed small mountains. Within and around these piles of rubble lay corpses, or the injured, writhing and moaning in agony. It was a scene of utter devastation. Some fiery projectiles landed within the city, igniting numerous houses, and fierce fires raged throughout Youzhou.
Teams of Yan army archers, spearmen, and shield-bearers rushed back and forth on the city walls, shouting. Yan army generals waved their weapons, bellowing commands, creating a scene as chaotic and bustling as a noisy marketplace.
The city walls were also equipped with ballistae and trebuchets, which fired back at the attackers below. The area beneath the walls was a sea of torchlight, illuminating the entire wilderness. Amidst the daylight-like glow, ferocious faces flickered.
"Zhen'ao people! Zhen'ao people!"
Under the bright light of countless torches, the Yan soldiers on the city walls vaguely saw the faces of the attackers and let out a collective gasp of alarm.
No one had expected Prince Donghai Murong Hong of the Yan vassal state to have colluded with the Zhen'ao people.
The Zhen'ao people, originating from Zhen'ao Kingdom, were a group of sea bandits who occupied the region from the East Sea to the Black Water Ocean, which was the Yellow Sea.
Though not numerous, the Zhen'ao people were exceptionally brutal and ferocious. From childhood, they relished intense competitions, testing their skills in horsemanship, archery, weight-carrying, rowing, sail handling, and swimming. Even in the bone-chilling winter, these activities never ceased, thus forging their robust physiques and tempering them into iron-blooded warriors. Despite their relatively small numbers, the Zhen'ao people exhibited extraordinary fanaticism in battle, showing no fear of death, making them universally feared.
The Zhen'ao people were cruel and savage. For them, wholesale slaughter was common, and their methods of cruelty were countless. Those who survived and fell into their hands might find even a quick death a luxury. Snake pits, poison dungeons, and being dried on ship sails were everyday occurrences. The most brutal torture was known as the 'Blood Falcon,' akin to lingchi (slow slicing) or limb dismemberment. Flesh was cut from bone, limbs were severed, and then the throat was cut. Before the execution, victims were made to drink several bowls of a decoction similar to 'Mafeisan' (an anesthetic) to prevent them from dying of pain or losing consciousness prematurely, making it an exceptionally bloody and cruel ordeal.
"Advance!" A general of Donghai roared, brandishing his saber amidst the torchlight.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
At his command, rows and groups of the combined Donghai and Zhen'ao forces, pushing siege engines such as battering rams, scaling ladders, siege towers, head towers, chariot-mounted defenses, and giant crossbows, slowly advanced towards Youzhou. The guttural roars, the heavy footsteps, and the creaking of the siege engines struck the hearts of the Yan soldiers like heavy hammers, causing them to tremble and their hair to stand on end. Some timid Yan soldiers were so terrified they collapsed on the city walls.
A bloody siege battle was about to commence.