Chapter 237: Chaoge Defense Battle

The cold wind was as sharp as a knife, and the sky was gray, as if even the sun had lost its warmth. The earth was covered with thick white snow, and the trees were covered with ice crystals, and the rivers were frozen into long dragons of ice.

In this vast land, life seems so fragile, and only the most tenacious creatures can survive in this desolation.

The mountains in the distance, covered with snow, seem to be the loneliest watchers between heaven and earth.

The ground was covered with a thick layer of snow, so white that the end was not visible. The occasional exposed rocks looked like wounds cracked by frost, silently telling of the harshness of nature.

In such an environment, all life seems fragile and insignificant. Animals have long since hidden in caves to avoid the biting cold.

People in the village huddled in simple houses, relying on stoves and heavy clothes to keep out the cold.

But the world outside was desolate and dead silent. Only the whistling of the wind and the occasional sound of ice cracking broke the heavy silence.

At the foot of the mountain, an ancient city stands alone, and the mottled marks on the city walls bear witness to the vicissitudes it has experienced.

Surrounding the city is a desolate plain with dead grass swaying in the cold wind. Occasionally, a few wild wolves can be seen wandering in the distance, their eyes flashing faint green light in the snow.

In this desolate land, a brutal siege is about to take place.

The attacking army came from afar, their footsteps were heavy and firm, and the neighing of war horses echoed in the air.

The soldiers' faces were deeply wrinkled by wind and frost, and their eyes flashed with desire for victory and fearlessness of death.

With the order, the siege began.

The soldiers attacking the city carried ladders and pushed battering rams, and charged towards the city walls under a hail of arrows and stones.

The defenders on the city wall were not to be outdone. They fought back with bows and arrows, stones and boiling oil. Each attack was accompanied by screams and flying blood and flesh.

The soldiers attacking the city rushed towards the city walls again and again, regardless of their lives. Their bodies were pierced by arrows and smashed by stones, but their will was as hard as the ice and snow in the north.

The defenders on the city wall held on in the severe cold, their hands were frozen red, but their hearts were burning. They knew that once the city wall was breached, their families and their homes would face destruction. Therefore, they would protect this land at all costs.

However, the cruelty of war will not change because of personal will.

As time went on, the defenders on the city walls began to feel tired, while the soldiers attacking the city continued to come in like a tide.

Finally, there was a loud bang, and a gap was created in the city wall by the battering ram, and the attacking soldiers poured into the city like a flood.

The fighting in the city was even more brutal. The streets became battlefields, the houses became fortresses, and every corner was filled with blood and death. Soldiers fought hand-to-hand in the narrow streets, and every swing of the sword was a battle of life and death. Houses were engulfed in flames, and the residents struggled in the sea of ​​fire. Their screams and cries echoed in the night sky, which was heartbreaking.

The battle lasted for several days until the last defender fell, and the soldiers who attacked the city declared victory. But the price of this victory was heavy, with corpses piled up inside and outside the city walls, blood dyed the snow red, and even the air was filled with the smell of death.

The soldiers rushed into the already dilapidated general's mansion like wolves and tigers. The roof beams had collapsed, rubble was everywhere, and it was a mess.

Yuan Futong, the once mighty general on the battlefield, was now in a state of disgrace. He hid in a secret room and tried desperately to resist. But in the end, he was pulled out of the house by the soldiers, tied up, and dragged out of the palace mercilessly like a lamb to be slaughtered.

Outside the city, Wen Zhong rode the legendary black unicorn, looking majestic and awe-inspiring. The four generals of the Mo family following behind him were even more murderous. Each of them was a brave warrior with outstanding military achievements.

When Yuan Futong was escorted before Wen Zhong, his decadent figure formed a sharp contrast with his former heroic appearance.

Wen Zhong's eyes were filled with disdain and anger, and his voice was like the north wind in the cold winter, piercing through the bones: "Yuan Futong, you were once a pillar of the court, why did you betray the country and cause this meaningless bloodshed?"

Yuan Futong raised his head. Although he was imprisoned, his eyes were still firm and full of resentment.

He loudly retorted: "King Zhou is incompetent and shameless, and the people are living in misery. I, Yuan, am raising an army to resist for the sake of the people and to comply with the will of heaven!"

Wen Zhong's brows were furrowed, his anger was like a blazing beacon fire, unable to be suppressed. He held the long sword in his hand, the cold light flashing, and angrily shouted: "You keep saying that you are pleading for the people, but you don't hesitate to let countless lives fall into the flames of war. Your so-called will of heaven is nothing but an excuse!"

Yuan Futong's eyes widened with anger, and he was about to argue again, but Wen Zhong did not give him any more chances. He swung his sword and slashed down, a cold light cut through the air, and Yuan Futong's head rolled into the dust, blood gushing out like a fountain.

At this moment, all the anger and resistance dissipated in the wind and snow along with his breath of life.

Wen Zhong sheathed his sword. There was no joy on his face, only deep fatigue and sadness.

He rode on the black unicorn, his eyes as cold as ice, scanning the devastated city. He took a deep breath of cold air, and then issued an order: "Pass on my military order, return to the capital!"

His voice carried in the cold wind. Although the soldiers were tired, they were cheered up after hearing the order to return to the court.

They quickly reorganized their team, packed up their equipment, and prepared to set off.

Then, Wen Zhong announced loudly: "Bigan was deceived and used by others. He plotted evil and murdered the emperor. We will return to Chaoge to remove the emperor's entourage and return a wise ruler to the court!"

Upon hearing this, the four generals looked solemn. They knew that the war was far from over and their real opponent was still in Chaoge, waiting for their challenge.

The 400,000-strong army, with the residual power of victory, slowly emerged from the city like a giant dragon, and moved forward at a high speed towards Chaoge.

No one at the city gates along the way dared to stop them. They just watched this mighty army from afar, feeling uneasy.

When the news reached Chaoge, Bigan's face turned pale instantly when he heard that Wen Zhong had returned to the capital.

He originally thought that by defending the city, he could delay time, but he never expected that Wen Zhong would put down the rebellion so quickly.

Bigan knew in his heart that his conspiracy had been exposed. Once Wen Zhong returned to Chaoge, the Shang Dynasty would once again face great turmoil and the outcome would be disastrous.

He immediately summoned Jiang Ziya, hoping to find a glimmer of hope from this wise man.

Jiang Ziya staggered to Bigan, looked at his panicked face, and sighed: "Why are you so panicked? Now you are the king of Shang, and it's Wen Zhong who is responsible for the rebellion!"

Bigan held Jiang Ziya's hand tightly, his voice trembling: "Sir, what should I do? Wen Zhong is powerful, I..."

Jiang Ziya closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Now there is only one way to go..."

Jiang Ziya's eyes flashed with a hint of deepness, and he said softly: "Your Majesty, the situation is urgent now, and we must take measures to stabilize people's hearts. You might as well issue an edict to publicly praise Wen Zhong's achievements, and at the same time order him to leave the army stationed there, and you will go to the capital to report. This will not only show your magnanimity, but also temporarily stabilize the situation."

Bigan's eyes revealed a hint of hesitation, and he said worriedly: "Mr. Jiang, I am worried that Wen Zhong may not obey such an order. He is powerful now, if he does not obey, what should we do?"

Jiang Ziya shook his head slightly and answered firmly: "If Wen Zhong disobeys, then he is openly plotting rebellion. Your Majesty can mobilize the army and suppress the rebellion. In this way, everyone in the world will know that he was the first to disobey your orders."

Bigan clenched his hands, his face showing no sign of worry. "But if this happens, I'm afraid it will cause even greater unrest. The world has just been pacified, and now it's involved in war again. The people will suffer terribly."

Jiang Ziya sighed slightly, his eyes revealing helplessness: "This is a helpless move, Your Majesty. There is no peaceful solution to the current situation. We can only do our best to preserve the foundation of the Shang Dynasty."

Bigan was silent for a moment and finally made up his mind. He took a deep breath and ordered people to quickly draft an edict and convey it to Wen Zhong as quickly as possible.

The imperial edict was quickly passed on, and the entire Chaoge city, inside and outside, was nervously awaiting Wen Zhong's reaction.

On the distant battlefield, Wen Zhong received the imperial edict. He unfolded the heavy imperial edict, his eyes swept over every word, but his expression was as cold as ice.

His fingers tapped lightly on the saddle of his mount, as if he was thinking about something. The four generals of the Mo family stood quietly behind him, waiting for his order.

Finally, Wen Zhong raised his head and looked firmly in the direction of Chaoge in the distance. His voice spread among the army: "Pass on my order, keep moving forward."

Upon hearing this, the four generals looked at each other in bewilderment, but no one questioned it. They knew that Wen Zhong's decisions had never been wrong.

When Bigan heard the news that Wen Zhong had disobeyed the imperial order, his face turned even paler. He knew what it meant.

At this critical juncture, he could no longer hesitate and immediately summoned Jiang Ziya.

Jiang Ziya looked at Bigan's anxious eyes and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the situation is critical now. We must act immediately. Quickly gather the army and gather all the city guards around Chaoge to build a defense line to stop Wen Zhong's attack."

Bigan took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with determination: "This is the only way. But there are many generals in Chaoge, who should I appoint as the marshal?"

Jiang Ziya's eyes were like torches, and he spoke slowly: "Kong Xuan is a brave man, with great magical powers and is deeply loved by the army. You may appoint him as the marshal. Li Jing and his wife, and Zhang Kui and his wife, are both generals with outstanding military achievements. They can be deputy generals to assist Kong Xuan."

Hearing this, Bigan's eyes flashed with surprise. He did not expect Jiang Ziya to recommend these generals. Although they were young, they were indeed fierce generals in Chaoge. Bigan readily agreed to Jiang Ziya's suggestion.

Then, Bigan ordered Kong Xuan, Li Jing and his wife, and Zhang Kui and his wife to come to the palace for discussion. They arrived soon and stood in front of Bigan with solemn faces.

Bigan looked at them and said firmly: "Kong Xuan, Chaoge is in danger now. I order you to be the marshal and lead the army of Chaoge to resist Wen Zhong's attack. Li Jing and Zhang Kui, you two will be deputy generals to assist Kong Xuan."

Kong Xuan and the others listened to the order, their faces showing determination, and they responded in unison: "We will not let your majesty down, and we swear to defend Chaoge until our death!"

Bigan nodded, a look of comfort in his eyes. He knew that this war was related to the survival of the Shang Dynasty, and he could not slack off in the slightest.

Kong Xuan and others immediately began to prepare, mobilizing troops and strengthening the city's defenses. They also sent out scouts to closely monitor the movements of Wen Zhong's army.

In Chaoge City, war drums thundered and horns blew. Soldiers shuttled in and out of the city, and the officers and men were on edge, preparing for the upcoming battle.

In the distance, Wen Zhong's army was already marching towards Chaoge in a mighty force, their steps firm and their eyes full of the light of a decisive battle.

Kong Xuan stood on the city wall, looking at the soldiers below with a sharp gaze. His face was full of seriousness, and he waved his command knife from time to time, issuing a series of orders. The soldiers were busy carrying stones, boiling oil and arrows, and everything was going on in an orderly manner. On the city wall, the crossbowmen and stone throwers were in place, and everyone's eyes were shining with the light of a decisive battle.

Li Jing and his wife and Zhang Kui and his wife were also busy on the city wall, checking the defense measures everywhere to ensure that there were no omissions. Suddenly, Li Jing stepped forward and said to Kong Xuan: "Marshal, I have a plan that may be able to slow down the enemy's offensive."

Kong Xuan turned around, frowning, "Oh? What's the plan?"

Li Jing whispered, "We can dig trenches outside the city and set traps to block the enemy's cavalry charge. At the same time, we can set up ambushes behind the trenches and annihilate them in one fell swoop when they are in trouble."

After hearing this, Kong Xuan's face darkened. He said unhappily, "Now that the enemy is about to arrive, you propose to divide the troops and set up traps? Isn't this disrupting your own formation?"

Li Jing and his wife looked at each other, and Zhang Kui also spoke in support: "Marshal, General Li's plan is very good. If it succeeds, it will indeed greatly weaken the enemy's spirit."

Kong Xuan's face became even gloomier. He shouted angrily, "Nonsense! We need manpower inside and outside the city, but you come up with such a reckless plan. What's your intention?"

At this moment, a cavalryman came galloping and shouted, "Marshal, Doctor Jiang is here!" Kong Xuan was startled, then turned around and went down the city to greet him.

Seeing Jiang Ziya, Kong Xuan stepped forward and said, "Doctor Jiang."

Jiang Ziya waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for courtesy, and went straight to the point: "General Kong, how is the city defense?"

Kong Xuan answered confidently: "Everything is ready. Once the enemy arrives, we will defeat them."

Li Jing and Zhang Kui and his wife also stepped forward to report: "Marshal, we have set up many traps outside the city and dug trenches. If the enemy army is not careful, there will be chaos."

Jiang Ziya nodded, but turned his gaze to Yang Ling, as if waiting for his opinion. Yang Ling nodded slightly, but a hint of doubt flashed across his eyes.

Although Kong Xuan's words were tall and mighty, Yang Ling always felt that his aura was somewhat inconsistent with the Kong Xuan in his memory.

The Kong Xuan in my memory is a master with extraordinary magical powers. He is the son of the legendary Yuan Feng and a top-notch master.

Did I find the wrong person?
Yang Ling pondered in his heart and decided to remain calm and observe before making any judgment.

Jiang Ziya seemed to have noticed something strange about Yang Ling, but he didn't say much. He just continued to ask, "General Li, are you sure about the strategy you proposed?"

Li Jing answered confidently: "Doctor Jiang, we have simulated battlefield situations many times. As long as the enemy falls into the trap, our ambush troops can immediately attack and annihilate them."

Jiang Ziya pondered for a moment, then turned to Kong Xuan: "Kong Xuan, what do you think of this plan?"

Kong Xuan looked slightly unhappy, but he still answered with gritted teeth: "Since General Li is confident, then I will naturally support you with all my strength."

Yang Ling looked at Kong Xuan's expression and felt that something was wrong.

Although there was no obvious objection in Kong Xuan's words, the hint of displeasure seemed to reveal his dissatisfaction with this strategy.

Jiang Ziya did not delve into the details, but simply warned: "Everyone, the situation is urgent now, we must unite as one and fight against the enemy together. Kong Xuan, you are the commander-in-chief of this defense, you must work closely with General Li and General Zhang."

Kong Xuan nodded in agreement, but the fire in his eyes was hard to conceal.

Yang Ling saw Kong Xuan's reaction, and he became even more suspicious. He quietly used the soul transmission technique to communicate with Li Jing, hoping to get some clues from him.

"The Marshal seems to be dissatisfied with your plan today. Is there any hidden reason?" Yang Ling asked directly.

Li Jing's eyes flickered slightly, and he answered in a low voice: "Brother Yang, to be honest, we did have some minor frictions with Kong Xuan. He always had reservations about the strategies we proposed, and seemed to be afraid of us."

Yang Ling frowned, which was very different from his impression of Kong Xuan.

He felt that a master with such extraordinary powers like Kong Xuan should not be so fussy about such trivial matters. His current behavior was really puzzling.

Soon, Yang Ling found an opportunity to be alone with Kong Xuan. He pretended to be relaxed and used words to test his opinion on the Phoenix Clan, trying to find clues from his response.

However, Kong Xuan seemed to know very little about the Phoenix Clan and was evasive in his words, which made Yang Ling more convinced that the Kong Xuan in front of him was not the son of Yuan Feng that he knew.

There was a sharp gleam in Yang Ling's eyes. He deliberately mentioned some events from ancient times, trying to detect something unusual from the other party's reaction.

Kong Xuan's expression gradually became unnatural, as if he had sensed Yang Ling's probing. A trace of vigilance flashed across his eyes, and he immediately stood up and said to the guards outside, "Everyone, go out. I have something important to discuss with Yang Ling alone."

The guards retreated, leaving only Yang Ling and Kong Xuan in the tent.

Kong Xuan turned around and looked directly at Yang Ling, with a hint of coldness in his tone: "Yang Ling, you seem to have some doubts about me?"

Yang Ling's heart trembled, but he remained calm on the surface: "Where did you get this from?"

A complex expression flashed across Kong Xuan's eyes. He was silent for a moment, and finally spoke: "Yang Ling, you have a sharp eye. I have to admit that I did hide something from everyone."

Yang Ling stared at Kong Xuan, trying to read the truth from his expression.

Kong Xuan took a deep breath, seemed to have made up his mind, and said slowly: "I... I am not the real Kong Xuan."

Yang Ling was shocked. He didn't expect Kong Xuan to be so frank, but what did this mean?
Kong Xuan looked at Yang Ling's shocked expression and continued, "I am just his clone. In order to stabilize the morale of the army, I have been pretending to be him until today."

Yang Ling nodded. This answer was consistent with his understanding.

He looked at Kong Xuan deeply and said slowly: "In this case, what else can we say?"

Kong Xuan smiled bitterly, he knew that once his secret was exposed, the situation would become even more unfavorable.

But he also knew that Yang Ling was not someone who would easily reveal secrets, so he decided to confess everything.

Kong Xuan's voice trembled slightly, but he tried his best to remain calm: "My original body is in seclusion and will only appear at the most critical moment. Now, although my clone has limited power, I will definitely do my best."

Yang Ling looked at Kong Xuan, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.

He knew that the power of the clone was limited after all. Kong Xuan's move was undoubtedly to protect the overall situation, but he was also taking huge risks.

"I understand," Yang Ling nodded, his tone solemn, "In that case, you should listen more to the opinions of Li Jing and his wife and Zhang Kui and his wife. They are both experienced generals with unique insights into war."

A trace of gratitude flashed in Kong Xuan's eyes, he knew that what Yang Ling said was true.

He bowed deeply to express his gratitude: "Thank you for your advice, fellow Taoist. I will humbly accept their suggestions and plan the defense together."

Then, Kong Xuan looked at Yang Ling curiously, with an inquiring look in his eyes: "However, Brother Yang, I have always been curious about your origins. You seem to know a lot of things. Are you also a disciple of a sect?"

Yang Ling smiled slightly, and he did not hide it: "I am a disciple of the Human Sect."

Hearing this, Kong Xuan opened his eyes wide in surprise: "Human Religion? That is the orthodox sect of Xuanmen, the lineage of the saints! Daoist friend, you are actually a disciple of the saint of the Human Religion, this is really surprising."

Yang Ling gently waved his hand, signaling Kong Xuan not to be too surprised: "The world is so big that nothing is impossible. Although the Human Sect is low-key, we also have our own mission. It is also a kind of fate that I can fight side by side with General Kong today."

Kong Xuan nodded. Although he still had many doubts in his heart, he knew that now was not the time to ask questions. He knew that the situation was urgent and he had to focus all his attention on the upcoming battle.

The two smiled at each other, and there seemed to be a tacit understanding between them.

They knew that in this dangerous war, only by unity could they hope to resist the powerful enemy.

Afterwards, Kong Xuan and Yang Ling walked out of the tent together and re-engaged in the intense pre-war preparations.

Kong Xuan began to listen to the advice of Li Jing and his wife and Zhang Kui and his wife more humbly, and worked with them to refine the tactical layout, while Yang Ling quietly observed and provided them with his own insights.

The defense of Chaoge City has become more stringent, and everyone is making final preparations for the upcoming battle.

Half a month passed in a flash, and the tense atmosphere inside and outside Chaoge City reached its peak.

Finally, one morning, on the plain outside Chaoge City, dust was flying, and Wen Zhong's army was like a black torrent, surging towards the city.

In the army formation with fluttering flags, a general in luxurious robe was riding on a horse, holding a spear, with a sharp gaze. It was Zhang Guifang, the vanguard under Wen Zhong.

On the city wall, Kong Xuan was wearing armor and holding a spear, staring at the enemy troops below the city with lightning eyes.

At this time, an armored messenger rode to the city and read aloud: "Bigan killed the king and usurped the throne. His crime should be punished! Today, we are here to punish the traitor by the will of heaven. I hope everyone in the city can distinguish right from wrong and quickly open the city to surrender to avoid the suffering of war."

The messenger's voice echoed across the empty battlefield, trying to shake the determination of the soldiers and civilians in Chaoge City.

After hearing this, Kong Xuan's face turned pale. He walked to the forefront of the city wall, pointed at Wen Zhong's army below the city, and said in a loud voice: "Wen Zhong, you are the villain who is acting against the will of heaven! Your Majesty Bigan is benevolent and has won the hearts of the people. He is the true king of the Shang Dynasty!

You traitors, how dare you confuse right and wrong? You are so stupid!"

His voice was like a drum beating, echoing over Chaoge City, stirring up thousands of waves. When the soldiers and civilians in the city heard Kong Xuan's words, their morale was greatly boosted, and they shouted "Your Majesty" to express their support and loyalty to Bi Gan.

At the foot of the city, Zhang Guifang heard Kong Xuan's angry rebuke, and his face suddenly turned pale and he was burning with rage.

He held a long halberd in his hand, pointed it at Chaoge City, and ordered sternly: "How dare Kong Xuan be so rude! Generals, listen to my order, attack the city!"

With the sound of trumpets, Wen Zhong's army began to attack Chaoge City fiercely.

Below the city, siege equipment such as ladders, battering rams, and catapults were used one after another, while the defenders on the city walls resisted with arrows, boiling oil, and boulders.

Kong Xuan was commanding from the top of the city wall. His voice echoed on the battlefield, inspiring every soldier defending the city: "Don't be afraid! Your Majesty Bigan is here. Chaoge City is indestructible!"

"Archers ready, stone throwers on standby!"

Following Kong Xuan's order, the defense of Chaoge City began to move. Archers drew their longbows and aimed at the enemy's siege equipment; stone throwers operated catapults, ready to throw huge stones at the enemy.

Wen Zhong's army erected siege ladders like a forest, and the soldiers swarmed up, trying to climb the city wall. But the defenders of Chaoge City were not afraid, and they poured boiling oil and rolling stones one after another, burning and knocking down the enemy soldiers climbing on the ladders.

Li Jing and his wife and Zhang Kui and his wife led their own troops and launched a fierce confrontation with the enemy. The trenches and traps outside the city also played an effective role. Wen Zhong's cavalry fell into chaos during the charge and was ambushed and annihilated.

Yang Ling quietly observed the changes on the battlefield from the sky. He knew that this battle would be a protracted one, but as long as Chaoge was defended, there was still hope of victory.

As the battle continued, casualties on both sides continued to increase, but the morale of Chaoge City became more and more firm. Although Kong Xuan's clone had limited power, his command remained calm in the face of danger, winning the trust and admiration of the soldiers.

Li Jing and his wife, as well as Zhang Kui and his wife, were both skilled in military operations and had amazing martial arts skills. They led their soldiers to firmly resist the first wave of attacks by the vanguard officer Zhang Guifang.

The battle lasted from early morning to dusk. Seeing that there was no way to make any progress, Zhang Guifang had no choice but to order a retreat.

At the sound of the gong, the wounded soldiers retreated from the battlefield in disgrace...

(End of this chapter)