160 Fire in Xinyang

noticed him glaring fiercely at her from his seat. She sighed inwardly—there were some people who just didn’t go well together.Seeing the third Young Miss Ye calmly walk down the stairs, the gazes an...160. Burning Xinyang

160. Burning of Xinyang

Middle of October

After enduring continuous and relentless attacks over several days, the Western Capital's army once again stormed into the city of Xinyang with overwhelming force more than a month later. However, this time there were no treasures scattered across the ground, no food or military supplies, not even panicked civilians to be found. Instead, they encountered an utterly deserted city. Apart from the sounds produced by their own presence, there was nothing else to hear in the entire city. All households had long been vacated, and within these empty houses, not a single grain of food could be found. Every shop had either been looted or destroyed on the spot; even the wells in the city were filled with debris, making them unusable.

The vanguard leading the charge sat atop his horse, staring at the deserted city with a grim expression.

"General! There's no one left in the city!" A scout returned to report.

"Damn it!" The vanguard raged; whether he was cursing the soldiers of Dazhou or himself couldn't be determined. After some cursing, he could only send someone to report to Prince Zannan who had yet to enter the city.

"What's that" The vanguard frowned and pointed at a seemingly inconspicuous dark object in a corner of the street, asking. A soldier stepped forward to investigate from where he stood before him. After a while, he returned with some uncertainty: "General, it seems to be some tung oil and grease water. It likely fell when the people of Eastern Chu fled." The vanguard's brows furrowed further; something felt amiss. He carefully observed his surroundings and noticed that similar signs were not uncommon, and there seemed to be a thick smell of alcohol in the air. They hadn't paid attention due to several taverns along the street where they had initially paused upon entering the city, but now observing closely revealed that even outside these taverns, the smell was too strong. Before he could ponder further, the streets...

The window on the upper floor next to them suddenly opened from inside. A black-clad man glanced coldly at the people below before quickly drawing his bow and shooting an arrow, then disappearing from view. These actions were completed in a split second; by the time everyone reacted and started shooting arrows toward the window, the man was already gone.

"Fire!" someone suddenly shouted in alarm. Flames burst forth on both sides of the street and quickly spread within seconds.

"Ambush! Retreat!"

Meanwhile, Xianning City once again fell into chaos as a huge explosion was heard at the city gate, followed by towering flames rising up. Even from their position in the city center, they could see the red glow on the horizon, indicating just how intense the fire was.

"Quickly! Put out the fire!" The Western Capital’s troops immediately fell into chaos. It wasn’t easy to extinguish the fires; Xianning City had always been dry and lacked water, with most wells either sealed or filled up. At that moment, the only flammable item they could find was alcohol. As if on purpose, these alcohol bottles were placed outside of taverns, some even left on the streets where one wrong move could cause a larger conflagration. The city, which should have been echoing with victory songs, was now shrouded in flames and filled with cries.

From a distance of several miles away from Xianning City atop a mountain peak, Ye Li looked at the distant city engulfed in flames and sighed softly, "Xianning is ruined." Qin Feng stood behind Ye Li, putting on a light cloak for her as he said, "No need to worry, My Lady. Most buildings in Xianning are made of earth and stone; even if most houses are burned down, rebuilding them won’t be too difficult. Moreover, we have eliminated over 50,000 Western Capital troops without losing any of our own. It’s better to burn it than leave it for the Western Capital people."

"Yes, My Lady."

As Qin Feng had said, Xianning was primarily constructed with earth and stone, not great fuel. Yet even so, they lost an entire day and night due to the fire blocking the city gates; those inside couldn’t get out while others outside couldn’t enter. By the next day when the fires gradually weakened, allowing troops from outside to enter the city, almost everyone within had perished—those who hadn't died in the flames suffocated from the thick smoke. The once magnificent Xianning City was now dark and lifeless.

As Southern Prince entered Xianning City, his expression was no longer merely grim—it was terrifyingly so. Looking at the ruins around him and the still-smoldering streets with an awful smell lingering in the air, he glared with a vicious look and gritted his teeth, "Ye Li…" The generals who accompanied the Southern Prince were all trembling as they feared saying or doing something wrong that would anger this depressed prince. After a long while, the Southern Prince suddenly let out a long laugh towards the sky, "Excellent! Never did I think after so many years, I’d encounter another worthy opponent again! Mo Liufang, you have done well with your daughter-in-law, Ye Li… if I don’t capture her alive, I’ll never be a man! Order that whoever captures Lady of Ding Kingdom will receive ten thousand taels of gold and the title of Marquis!" Hearing this, everyone was shocked; such a reward was almost equal to those offered for past princes of the Ding Kingdom. The Southern Prince turned around, scanning his surroundings with a sneer before saying coldly, "Station troops in Xianning City to guard it, and lead the rest to march towards Hongzhou!"

"Yes."

Nanjing City

Nanjing was neither the largest nor the most fortified city in the northwest, but due to its geographical location, the Xiling troops had been repeatedly blocked by the Mohist army and had not yet truly approached Nanjing. Although the northwest was already embroiled in war, the common people and merchants of Nanjing still lived very comfortably. Because it was the only route for the northwest to enter Central China, even if Nanjing fell to the Xiling troops, there would be enough time for them to escape into Central China. Moreover, the current battlefields within the Great Chu territory were not limited to the northwest, so there were fewer refugees.

"Your humble servant, Governor Sun Xingzhi of the Northwest and all officials and merchants in Nanjing City respectfully welcome Princess Consort Dingwang."

Feng Zhirao glanced at the smiling middle-aged man. This person was part of the pro-royal faction; as soon as the war began, he fled from Xinyang to Nanjing, always indifferent to the Mohist army near Nanjing and even attempted to delay the grain supplies that should have been provided. To still dare stand at the city gate to greet Princess Consort Dingwang was quite bold indeed. Ye Li wore a simple green robe without the opulence of noblewomen from Chu's capital; her dignified appearance commanded respect and forbade any frivolity. Holding onto Zhuo Jing’s hand, she dismounted gracefully and looked calmly at the rows of people who had greeted them respectfully, nodding slightly: "Governor Sun, you may stand."

Sun Xingzhi stepped forward with a smile: “Your Highness must be tired from your journey. Please enter the city to drink tea first; my subordinates will set up a banquet tonight for Your Highness.”

Ye Li raised her eyebrows slightly, did he wish to declare their guest-host relationship so urgently

"I’m afraid I must refuse Governor Sun’s kindness. With the Xiling troops rampaging within Nanjing, does Governor Sun have any solutions"

Sun Xingzhi replied with a smile: "With the Mohist army here, how can the Xiling people act so recklessly Your humble servant and the commoners of Nanjing are all very reassured." Feng Zhirao's eyebrows rose sharply as he coldly remarked: “Does Governor Sun believe that only the citizens of Nanjing City are concerned about this matter I recall that Governor Sun is the governor of Northwest, not Nanjing. Moreover... did Governor Sun just imply that it is the fault of the Mohist army for the Xiling troops to be rampaging through the northwest” Sun Xingzhi’s face stiffened but quickly he returned a polite: “Your humble servant does not dare.” Not "does not think so," but "dare not." Feng Zhirao let out a cold snort and no longer paid him any mind.

The atmosphere seemed somewhat awkward. A middle-aged man with darker skin, who had been standing behind Sun Xingzhi, quickly stepped forward: “Your humble servant... Nanjing Governor Qi Anrong greets Princess Consort.”

Ye Li nodded and said, "Viceroy Qi, I heard that the grain supplies originally intended for the Mo Family Army from Hongzhou have been delayed. What is the reason" Qi Anrong quickly glanced at Sun Xingzhi beside him and stammered, "This... Your Excellency, forgive me. The western regions were all plundered by people from Xi Ling, with Hongzhou being especially hard-hit; therefore... Therefore, these grain supplies have been delayed a few days. Please forgive me..." Ye Li pursed her lips in a faint smile and said, "I see. It has been quite troublesome for Viceroy Qi." Hearing Ye Li's words, even in the chilly tenth month, Qi Anrong couldn't help wiping sweat off his forehead; his bluish-gray eye sockets trembled slightly due to excessive indulgence in wine and women, while he repeatedly apologized with a smile: "I dare not... I dare not..."

Zhuo Jing glared at everyone coldly and said, "Are you still blocking the way Should the Queen Consort rest outside the city"

Qi Anrong hurriedly moved aside to make room for her, saying, "Your Excellency, please proceed... Your Excellency, please..."

Just as Ye Li was about to step into the city, she heard Sun Xingzhi's voice from behind: "Queen Consort, wait!"

Ye Li turned around and calmly looked at Sun Xingzhi. Her beautiful eyebrows slightly raised in a smile, she waited for him to continue. Sun Xingzhi glanced around, swallowed his saliva, then said with his chest puffed out, "Your Excellency's visit to Hongzhou is warmly welcomed by all officials and the people here, but the Mo Family Army cannot enter the city along with Your Excellency!" Ye Li smiled slightly and asked, "Why" Sun Xingzhi replied seriously, "With so many people entering the city at once, it will inevitably cause chaos. Please think carefully, Your Excellency. Moreover, according to our Great Chu laws, no more than 50 thousand soldiers can be stationed in any city. The number of soldiers accompanying Your Excellency... is there over ten thousand" As he realized that his point was valid, Sun Xingzhi's voice grew even louder.

Ye Li did not get angry but calmly stared at the middle-aged man who continued to boast in front of her.

Seeing Ye Li silent, Sun Xingzhi became increasingly pleased. Even his initial caution was gone by now; he smiled and said, "Your Excellency, do I make sense" A beautiful smile bloomed on Ye Li's lips as the smug Sun Xingzhi failed to notice that those who had been quietly following her with furrowed brows had taken a few steps back to avoid being affected.

"Viceroy Sun, are you aware that I just set fire to Xin Yang" Ye Li’s voice was clear and cold.

Sun Xingzhi involuntarily shivered; his smile still frozen on his face as he gazed blankly at the woman in front of him who had suddenly turned pale: "Y-Your Excellency..."

"If I dare to burn down Xin Yang, what is there to fear about killing a couple more useless officials" places with that kind of thing." Mosixiao agreed.After resting for a while, Mosixiao pulled Ye Li up and smiled, "We should head back now. Let's find something fun to do along the way."Ye Li raised a...