Volume One: The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss Chapter 79: Assault on the City
Luocheng. The Imperial Palace.
A sudden crash shattered the tranquility of the grand hall—a white jade dish smashed to pieces, its fragments scattering in every direction.
A middle-aged man stood in majestic official robes, his beard and hair jet-black, vitality undiminished even as he approached his sixtieth year. His narrow eyes gleamed with intelligence, and his martial prowess was evident.
He calmly picked up the jade calendar and spoke, “Your Majesty, please quell your anger. The Jin army is already exhausted, fighting beasts and men alike. Our primary enemy still lies to the east—the main force of Jin!”
“Just those tens of thousands of Jin soldiers, and after all this time, they still haven’t been defeated. Now they swagger right to Luocheng’s gates.” The ruler of Wei spoke harshly. “What use are you all?”
“Wang Chuan’s martial skill borders on the divine—he is indeed exceptional and not someone we can easily contend with,” the minister sighed, compelled to sympathize with the soldiers.
Such is the opponent they face.
“But are those tens of thousands in Jin’s army also gods now? Tell me,” the Wei ruler sneered.
“Some have likened the Jin army to wild foxes entering one’s home—you can lock the doors and windows and face them slowly, but beware lest a cornered animal damages your furniture,” the official sighed softly. “Whether capturing alive or taking prisoners, we are mindful of our limits.”
“What nerve does he have? Wang Chuan has feigned weakness for years—does he dare risk everything today? What in Wei could he possibly harm?” The Wei ruler scoffed, full of disdain.
“Your Majesty, perhaps you are too concerned about this man. One who pursues the way, if not embroiled in worldly affairs, is one who strives for peace,” the official said again. “And the Jin army that seized our Yan Province now threatens to invade westward once more.”
“Do they think Wei is defenseless?” The ruler paced, gazing into the distance with a cold smile. “The Jin traitors rampage—do they think Wei has no capable men and let them act with impunity? Such shame! Each one more arrogant than the last.”
The ministers shook their heads, harboring lingering resentment toward Wang Chuan.
This crown prince truly showed no favor to his uncle.
Outside the city.
The Jin army had already lit their campfires, brazenly gathered like stars across the heavens, densely filling the vast region around Luocheng, as if the land itself had been adorned.
The patrols atop the city wall watched in silence, wary of the enemy.
Volunteers were not lacking, but the general insisted it was a trick, meant to lure them outside and give Jin’s cavalry the advantage—they must not fall for it.
Their own cavalry could return within half a day at most, and soon.
Suddenly—
The blare of attack horns and chaotic shouts pierced the night, unsettling the people within the city, who instinctively grabbed their bundles, ready to flee at a moment’s notice.
Was the Jin army truly launching an assault?
Where did they find such courage?
What was the Jin crown prince thinking? On the walls, the Wei soldiers stood ready.
The defenders were experienced veterans, hardened through countless battles, and among them, the elite guards were warriors who had crawled from heaps of the dead, survivors of unimaginable hardship and despair.
The Jin army now faced the most formidable soldiers in the realm.
And they dared to attempt a siege?
A lone rider advanced slowly toward the city gate.
The Wei soldiers guessed he came to parley, so they allowed him to approach.
It was Yang Hao, who found himself in the most humiliating of tasks.
Timidly, he proceeded, hoping no sudden arrow would end his life.
How wise, indeed.
He was, after all, merely a merchant.
“I come on behalf of His Highness the Crown Prince and the Jin army,” Yang Hao called out.
This, too, was Wang Chuan’s intention. Yet Yang Hao felt acutely embarrassed. He hoped no one recognized him.
He would need to be even more discreet in the future.
“What business?” Three generals of the Wei army stepped forward. “If you surrender, perhaps we’ll spare your lives and send you back to Jin. How about it?”
Impossible.
His Highness would never suffer such humiliation.
At this stage, there was no room for negotiation. The Wei army’s excessive demands were deliberate, no different from treating them as prisoners.
“General, we originally only sought safe passage home. We offered provisions as well—a small gesture for the people of both provinces. Today’s situation is not of our choosing,” Yang Hao sighed.
“Ridiculous! You refuse to disarm, yet expect safe passage?” The Wei commander sneered. “You still have one last chance. I’ll petition His Majesty for you.”
To surrender arms was to forfeit any hope of survival.
Yang Hao would never believe such promises. He shook his head. “Let us leave that aside for now, General. I have another matter to inquire about.”
“Speak,” said the Wei commander.
He watched to see what trickery they would attempt. The longer they delayed, the better—it favored Wei, for their cavalry would soon arrive.
This time, Jin’s army would be utterly destroyed, sparing Wei further annoyance.
They had endured them long enough.
“General, one of our soldiers went missing near Luocheng. Are you aware of this?” Yang Hao asked.
“Absurd. What does your missing soldier have to do with me?” The commander mocked. “Are you suggesting we kidnapped him?”
“Indeed,” Yang Hao nodded. “Some of our men saw Wei soldiers leaving the city and abducting him, bringing him back to Luocheng.”
“Utter nonsense! Don’t spread false rumors. Let Wang Chuan come speak to me directly,” the commander shouted from afar. “Why does he hide, afraid to show his face?”
Yet the claim was odd—could Wei soldiers have really captured a Jin soldier?
If so, it was nothing out of the ordinary; perhaps they hoped to extract intelligence and reduce casualties. Still, to act without informing him would be a grave offense, punishable by death.
Military law was merciless.
He resolved to confirm the matter with his subordinates later.
“General, such words are unseemly. We are all flesh and blood; our soldiers are men too. How can you treat one another thus before battle has even begun?” Yang Hao sighed, his face full of sorrow. “Why not conduct yourselves honorably on the battlefield?”
He himself had little understanding of the matter. Wang Chuan insisted their soldier was missing and sent Yang Hao to demand his return.
How and when the man was lost was never explained. Truly—
Yang Hao could only press on, feigning certainty. Since he claimed it, it must be true.
“I say there is no such thing, and that is final. What more do you want?” the commander replied coldly.
With so many in the Jin army, perhaps some had fled in fear, yet they dared come here and search for their own?
“General, since there is no agreement, nothing more can be discussed,” Yang Hao said helplessly.
He glanced back toward Wang Chuan, eager to ask what to do next. Should he simply return?
Was his task complete?
At that moment, Wang Chuan finally moved, striding slowly toward them.
He wore splendid robes, brimming with confidence.
Several guards and a squad of common cavalry accompanied him, their formation orderly.
“Wang Chuan, you must not approach!” The Wei commander grew instantly wary.
A figure like Wang Chuan, whose martial skills approached the divine, could not be allowed near so easily.
He alone could threaten the entire city.
If Jin’s army attempted a siege, few would believe it.
But if Wang Chuan led them, none would doubt.
He was the famed Wang Chuan.
At the command, Wang Chuan halted, dozens of steps from the wall. Yet he waved his hand, and the others advanced. The Wei soldiers grew more vigilant.
“Return Wang Daniu!”
“Hand over Wang Daniu!”
“Wei army, do not push us too far! If you have courage, meet us honorably on the field. What do you gain by secretly abducting our men?”
A dozen Jin soldiers shouted their demands.
“Your Highness?”
Yang Hao, still perplexed, rode back to Wang Chuan’s side.
Wang Chuan raised his hand, signaling him to say no more.
He preferred not to explain further, lest confusion spread.
The Wei commanders were dumbfounded.
“Who is Wang Daniu? What person is that?”
They glanced at each other, eyes wide.
“He’s the one you took—I saw it myself,” a Jin soldier insisted. “You brought him into Luocheng. Hand him over!”
“Indeed, I saw it while relieving myself. Your men sneaked over and took him,” another Jin soldier added.
The rest chimed in righteously.
“Poor Daniu—we went together to relieve ourselves. Nature called, but he was big and I was small. Lucky I ran fast, else I wouldn’t be here to seek justice for you,” the soldier wailed, turning back. “Your Highness, you must stand up for us!”
“Enough! Cease this nonsense! It’s pure fabrication. If you persist, why not present proof instead of rambling?” the commander snapped. “In battle, killing the enemy is natural. If you don’t leave, don’t blame us for showing no mercy.”
He understood, yet could not fathom why Jin’s army was so persistent, slandering them so.
“You did abduct him!”
“I don’t believe you!”
“Yes, exactly!”
“Let us enter and search!”
“That’s right, let us search!”
…
The tone abruptly shifted—the Jin soldiers spoke as one.
“General, you must not let Jin’s army into the city,” the deputy cautioned.
“I know,” the commander replied with a cold smile, gazing at Wang Chuan. He murmured, “Absurd. Is this all they have? The Jin crown prince must think us fools—how could we possibly let them in so easily?”
So that was it?
Yang Hao, behind, was stunned; it seemed he finally saw the real plan. After so much talk, the answer was astonishingly simple.
Yet it was impossible—using a missing man as an excuse to open the city gates…
If such a scheme could succeed, then besieging cities would never have needed elaborate strategies throughout history.
Countless renowned generals would have found it easy.
A siege, nothing more.
But it was far too difficult.
“If you refuse to return our man, nor allow us to enter and search, we shall have to find him ourselves,” Wang Chuan addressed those upon the wall.
His expression remained calm, deep as an abyss.
What he revealed seemed only surface-level; now even Yang Hao was uncertain what Wang Chuan truly intended.
“Your Highness, we have never seen this Wang Daniu. Please, investigate and restrain your men,” the Wei commander replied.
“Enough. There’s nothing more to say. Attack the city and search for him!” Wang Chuan declared, sweeping his arm.
At his gesture, the herald raised the command flag.
What had he just said?
Siege!
The cavalry surged forward like a flood.