Chapter 353: Chapter 214: Winds Rise, War Drums Thunder! (Part 2)

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Qingyun County Magistrate’s Office.

Li Zhihe had been waiting outside the county magistrate’s office for quite some time. Upon seeing Su Mu, a trace of surprise flashed in the depths of Li Zhihe’s eyes. He vaguely felt that Su Mu had changed somewhat compared to a few days ago.

"Mr. Li, please follow me."

"Alright."

Inside the main hall, Tao Xingzheng greeted Su Mu and Li Zhihe with enthusiasm as they arrived, "Director Li, Mr. Li, please have a seat."

Tao Xingzheng immediately began to recount the recent activities of the Black Mountain Rebel Army in Changfeng City. Su Mu quickly learned from Tao Xingzheng that the Black Mountain Rebel Army had not made any major moves in the past few days.

Aside from a small part of the rebel army coming out of the city to plunder and scorch the surroundings of Changfeng City, the main forces of the Black Mountain Rebel Army remained entrenched in Changfeng City. As for the specific movements of the rebels within Changfeng City,

now that Changfeng City had completely fallen and was occupied by the rebel army, several groups of spies had gone and never returned. They dared not venture in rashly, and thus could not gather more specific intelligence.

After hearing this, Su Mu could not help but feel suspicious. Moreover, he glanced around the main hall but did not see any unfamiliar faces. Li Zhihe had not mentioned anything extra upon meeting him, so Su Mu was aware that most of the reinforcements from the Ancient Qingzhou might not arrive after all.

"Now, the elite Cyan Cloud Army has completely assembled and will depart for Changfeng County today... The matter of marching and fighting will be handled by this official and County Captain Li Qiu... Once our Cyan Cloud Army converges with the Canghe County Army outside Changfeng City, I will give the order with Lord Lin to attack Changfeng City simultaneously."

"This way, Wang Xuantian will definitely reveal himself, and the task of slaying the leader of the rebels, Wang Xuantian, to restore the Qingyun Three Counties to their rightful state is entrusted to the five of you!"

Tao Xingzheng solemnly stated, immediately bowing and cupping his hands toward Zhou Qing, Shangguan Ke, Su Mu, and the Lin Family Siblings, showing full respect and courtesy.

The five of them responded with a slight bow and cupped their hands in return.

"Heh, I heard it was you who repelled Wang Xuantian that night? It’s a pity, if it were me that night, how could today’s matters have occurred? I want to see how many of my swords that so-called Black Mountain Celestial King can take!"

Zhou Qing nonchalantly uttered a sentence. Beside him, Shangguan Ke remained silent, yet he also had a desire to roll up his sleeves and quickly eradicate the rebels and return to Qingzhou.

"Convey my military order: the army shall depart for Changfeng County immediately to eradicate the Black Mountain Rebel Army led by Wang Xuantian!"

"Eradicate the rebel army, slay Wang Xuantian, set out!"

At the command, the herald’s military banner waved, and dozens of heralds disseminated the military order. Instantly, the army outside Qingyun City let out a thunderous roar, eliciting cheers from the people within the city as they sent them off.

With the martial prowess of Su Mu and others, covering several hundred miles would hardly take long; they could reach there within a day. However, now that the army was accompanying them, everyone slowed their pace.

To avoid another decapitation operation by the strong individuals of the Black Mountain Rebel Army like that night, and also to guard against the rebel army raiding the supplies and cutting off the supply route.

After marching for three days, on the third night,

the army arrived outside Changfeng City, setting up camp ten miles to the south of Changfeng City. Shortly after, the Canghe County army also arrived outside the city, setting up camp to the north.

"Order the army to bury the pots and cook!"

"Bury the pots and cook!"

Changfeng City is built at the foot of Qi Peak Mountain, surrounded by mountains on almost three sides. The command echoed through the heavens and earth, carried by the whistling peaks to distant places.

Under Tao Xingzheng, the County Magistrate’s mobilization, Qingyun County can be said to have moved out in full force, gathering nearly twenty thousand soldiers. Including the logistics and farmers recruited along the way, the number exceeded sixty thousand.

Su Mu stood on a high ground, looking down. The camp stretched like mountain ranges, or like massive beasts sprawling across the land. Soldiers clad in armor, wielding long spears, swords, and knives, patrolled through the camps.

This scene of tens of thousands on the battlefield, the sight of golden spears and armored horses, made Su Mu’s heart pound in his chest, his blood slightly heating up. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

As his gaze drew closer, Su Mu, with his extraordinary eyesight, could see the faces of the Cyan Cloud soldiers filled with excitement and joy, as well as the fear of the impending great battle.

The Black Mountain Rebel Army had occupied the Three Counties for years, wreaking havoc on them. Most of these soldiers, born into ordinary families, had suffered from the rebel army, bearing grudges against them.

The excitement and joy naturally stemmed from finally engaging in the decisive battle with the Black Mountain Rebel Army, seeking revenge and settling scores.

Furthermore, there was also the thrill of gaining military honors and achieving prominence.

Such opportunities were rare. Even dying in tomorrow’s battle would mean a substantial pension left for one’s family. In these times, to gamble one’s life for a bright future, even in death, there would be rice, oil, and salt for the family—nothing could be more worthwhile!

The Black Mountain Rebel Army, confronting the Cyan Cloud Army, was on high alert. The soldiers on the city walls, facing the two counties’ armies approaching the city, exhibited little fear. After the recent fall of Changfeng City, the rebel army’s morale was high.

Moreover, just yesterday, the Left and Right Protectors had hung the heads of Changfeng County Magistrate Gong Ming and County Captain Liu Qing on the city walls. The rebel army revered Wang Xuantian as if he were a deity!

The long night passed without words.

Before dawn the next day, the mist at the horizon was instantly scattered by the overwhelming and exhilarating sound of war drums.

"Boom boom boom!"

The sound of war drums resounded through the heavens, as a massive number of soldiers wielding swords and spears, holding shields, surged forward like a dark tide toward Changfeng City. Siege equipment also pressed forward like gigantic beasts.

"Moo——Humm——"

With a loud and powerful horn sounding through the sky, the siege began.

"Kill!"

The sound of war drums and horns could not drown out the angry roars of the twenty thousand soldiers. This shout excited Su Mu’s blood, causing it to surge violently within him.

"Whiz whiz whiz!"

When they got within the range of the archers on the city walls, arrows filled the sky, pouring down like a torrential summer rain. Shield soldiers facing the shower of arrows raised their large shields high, and the collision of arrows and shields created a sound like metal clashing.