Chapter 11: The Nation’s Greatest Treasure
Page (1/3)
And those cannons, as thick as a bowl’s mouth, with dark, cavernous muzzles... tiger squatting cannons!
These were the true national treasures, born solely for besieging cities and breaking fortresses!
The family guards behind Xiao Zhan, seeing these genuine weapons of death, began to break out in cold sweat.
Their “Thunder Cannon” was powerful, but given the numbers, it was unrealistic to fortify every corner of such a vast royal mansion.
If the enemy bombarded from afar with these heavy guns, they wouldn’t be able to hold out at all!
“Young Lord Xiao, have you made up your mind?” Qin Cang’s voice carried an oppressive authority, leaving no room for doubt. “My patience is running thin.”
Xiao Zhan remained silent.
Qin Cang’s proposal sounded like a path to survival, yet it was riddled with deadly traps.
Surrender the military token, disband the private army, and the Yan Prince’s Mansion would become a toothless tiger.
Returning to the capital for “explanation”? That would be walking right into a trap! The Emperor wouldn’t be so kind as to spare them — no one believed that!
But refusing meant facing a dead end; a head-on clash would be like an egg hitting a stone.
Xiao Zhan’s mind raced, calculating how to break the deadlock, just as he was about to speak—
“Boom! Rumble—!”
Deafening explosions, mixed with piercing cries and battle shouts, suddenly erupted from the rear of the capital camp’s army!
In an instant, the flames surged, painting half the sky red!
Qin Cang abruptly turned around, shouting sternly, “What’s going on?!”
The formation of the capital camp immediately fell into chaos; soldiers in the rear panicked, glancing backward in confusion—a wave of turmoil swept through.
“Report—General! Terrible news! The supply camp... the supply camp has been attacked! The fire is too fierce; it can’t be saved!” A messenger soldier came rushing over, staggering and breathless, his voice cracking.
The supply camp attacked?!
Qin Cang’s heart jolted.
Who did this?!
The remnants of the Yan Prince’s forces? Impossible! With their few troops, how could they sneak past thousands of soldiers, unnoticed, and accurately find the supply camp?
“Moreover! An unknown cavalry force is fiercely assaulting our rear! They... they are carrying the banner of the Northern Garrison Army!” The messenger gasped out another thunderous revelation.
Northern Garrison Army?!
These three words sent a shock through both Xiao Zhan and Qin Cang.
The Northern Garrison Army... hasn’t it always been stationed at the northern frontier defending against barbarians? How could they be outside Yan Capital?!
Page (2/3)
Qin Cang’s cheek muscles twitched violently; the sudden turn of events caught him completely off guard.
He jerked the reins sharply, and his warhorse startled, neighing loudly and rearing up.
“What’s the panic for!” Qin Cang barked, his voice shaking the night air.
“Rear army! Dispatch a battalion to investigate the enemy and annihilate them on the spot! All other units, hold your positions steady! No disorder!”
Though there was commotion at the rear of the formation, the officers quickly suppressed it, restoring some order, but the tense atmosphere thickened, lingering unstirred.
Xiao Zhan lightly raised his arm. The twenty family guards behind him raised their AK-47s, their barrels all pointed sharply at the restless capital camp formation.
This made Qin Cang’s personal guards tighten every nerve.
“General Qin, you’re in quite the mess,” Xiao Zhan said calmly, each word clear enough for Qin Cang to hear.
“Is this ‘Northern Garrison Army’ coming after me, or after you?”
Qin Cang turned back, staring fixedly at Xiao Zhan. “Xiao Zhan, don’t get cocky! Peasant rebels like you can’t disrupt the big picture! I’ll ask one last time—do you accept my previous proposal or not?”
“Accept?” Xiao Zhan scoffed.
“General Qin, do you take me for a child? My father is truly not dead? If he weren’t, why wouldn’t he show himself? Instead, it’s you, Qin Cang, coming with the message? Aren’t you sworn enemies?”
He stepped forward: “This ‘safe place’ you mentioned, is it another secret prison? The person who saved him has ‘some connection’ to you? General Qin, do you believe your own story?”
Qin Cang’s face darkened. “I give my word as a man of honor; I would not deceive you on this matter. Believe it or not is your choice. But your time is running out.”
Before he could finish, the shouts of battle from the rear grew fiercer, and the fire drew nearer.
The clash of blades and agonized screams could be heard clearly.
“General! We can’t hold! There aren’t many of them, but they’re ferocious as hell! The brothers are about to break!” Another messenger scrambled back, bloodstained armor glistening.
Qin Cang clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked.
“Xiao Zhan!” He ground the name through his teeth.
“If you help me drive off these marauders now, I swear by heaven to guarantee your and your father’s safety. Your title as Yan Prince will remain yours!”
“Help you?” Xiao Zhan laughed.
“General Qin, are you mistaken? We’re enemies now. Why would I help you?”
He shifted tone, casually swinging his AK-47: “Unless you first show some sincerity. For example, have your men move those ballistae and tiger squatting cannons farther away—much farther. Otherwise, if my ‘Thunder Cannon’ misfires and hits our own men, that won’t be good.”
Qin Cang’s chest heaved in anger. The heavy weapons he brought to intimidate Xiao Zhan and prepare for storming the mansion had now become Xiao Zhan’s leverage.
“Xiao Zhan, don’t push your luck!”
“I’m going to push my luck. So what?” Xiao Zhan’s voice rose.
Page (3/3)
“General Qin, I’ll count to three. If those weapons aren’t moved aside, I’ll start ‘clearing house’! One!”
The deputy general behind Qin Cang went pale, glancing anxiously at his commander.
“Two!” Xiao Zhan’s teasing voice rang out again.
“General! The rear... the rear really can’t hold! If reinforcements aren’t sent soon, it will collapse!” Another messenger came running, crying out.
A vein throbbed at Qin Cang’s temple; he waved sharply, “Heavy weapons, withdraw fifty steps! Archers, stay alert!”
With the rear in desperate trouble, he had no choice but to pull back.
Following his order, the terrifying ballistae and tiger squatting cannons began to move back.
Xiao Zhan watched but did not order a shot, maintaining high vigilance.
He understood this was merely a temporary expedient by Qin Cang.
Then, the situation changed once more!
“Qin Cang, you treacherous dog! Prepare to die!” A furious roar erupted from the flank of the capital camp.
A small officer clad in Northern Garrison armor, covered in blood, brandishing a broken spear, burst through the siege, carving a bloody path. Seven or eight equally fierce soldiers followed him.
Their target was clear—they charged straight at Qin Cang’s center command!
“Protect the general!” Qin Cang’s guards rushed forward to intercept.
The small officer was indeed fierce; his broken spear flashed, knocking down two guards in a few moves, but he also sustained fresh wounds and was near collapse.
“Stop!” Xiao Zhan suddenly shouted.
The AK-47 barrels behind him rose slightly; several capital camp soldiers poised to finish off the small officer involuntarily halted.
The small officer took advantage, rolled aside to avoid a fatal blow, staggered a few steps, and dropped to one knee, only about thirty feet from Xiao Zhan and Qin Cang.
He raised his head, looking at Xiao Zhan, his voice hoarse but filled with excitement: “Is this not the Yan Prince’s heir? I am Zhao Tieniu, sent by my lord, the Prince, to come to your aid!”
At those words, Qin Cang’s breathing grew heavier, and Xiao Zhan’s heart leapt sharply.
“Your lord?” Xiao Zhan whispered.
“Which prince?” Qin Cang asked.
“Of course, Prince Yan, Xiao Yuan! Our lord is not dead but betrayed and imprisoned in secret! We are his old troops, risking our lives to rescue him. Upon learning of the heir’s peril, we came to assist!” Zhao Tieniu’s tone was resolute, each word striking like a hammer.