Chapter 21: Night Raid
In the Seventeenth Year of the Marquis of Shang, in July, seventy-two feudal states came to attend the alliance summit.
The process of the summit went very smoothly.
Zhang Yang reasoned with them and appealed to their emotions, ultimately...
Awakening the conscience of the major feudal states through the promise of benefits.
Tempted by the prospect of gain, all seventy-two feudal states agreed to send troops.
In the Seventeenth Year of the Marquis of Shang, in October, early winter.
The Shang Kingdom led seventy-two allied states, assembling a total force of 350,000 soldiers, boasting fifty thousand more.
The Jing Kingdom led forty-five allied states, plus fifty thousand troops from the Northern Di Tribe, also totalling 350,000 soldiers and similarly claiming to number fifty thousand more.
Both sides stationed their armies along the banks of the Shang River.
The Shang River runs east to west, its origins unknown, flowing through Great Heng before finally emptying into the sea.The Shang River surged powerfully, its broad surface stretching several hundred metres wide, resembling a vast lake.
By the riverside, Zhang Yang and the Lady of Shang strolled under the setting sun of dusk.
The Lady of Shang gazed across the river, the shimmering water reflecting the sunset and casting a glow upon her graceful face.
Though she had taken great care of her appearance, time’s passage was still evident.
Fine crow's feet marked the corners of her eyes, impossible to conceal, only lightly adorned with a touch of makeup.
This added an air of refined elegance.
A cold wind howled, rustling the Lady of Shang’s skirt with a whispering sound.
Suddenly, she lifted her head to look at Zhang Yang, a hint of worry in her eyes. “Are you confident about tomorrow’s battle, Chief Minister?”
Zhang Yang replied firmly, “Tomorrow’s battle, the victory will surely be ours.”The Lady of Shang’s lips curved slightly upwards as she smiled gently. “The Chief Minister remains as confident as ever.”
“From the very first time I met you, Chief Minister, you have always been like this~~~”
At this, the Lady of Shang looked out over the shimmering river, her gaze growing somewhat distant, tinged with wistfulness and a trace of melancholy.
Eighteen long years.
How swiftly time has flown.
Roused from her reverie, the Lady of Shang furrowed her brows deeply, her voice filled with concern. “I have heard that the Jing Kingdom, in its efforts to counter you, has developed an extremely fearsome weapon.”
“This weapon can kill from a thousand paces away, with the power to split mountains and crack stones.”
“The Jing Kingdom guards this weapon with utmost strictness; to this day, I have not obtained any concrete intelligence about it.”
Seeing her worry, Zhang Yang replied with confidence, “No matter what secret weapon the Jing Kingdom possesses, we will surely win this battle.”
Yet, despite his words, the Lady of Shang’s tightly knit brows showed no sign of relaxation.
She gazed at Zhang Yang solemnly. “Chief Minister.”
Zhang Yang detected a difference in the Lady of Shang’s tone, and looked at her with curiosity.
Their eyes met.
The Lady of Shang’s expression was gentle yet earnest as she said, “If the battle turns against us, Chief Minister, you must not risk everything—you must withdraw immediately.”
“With your skills, Chief Minister, if you choose to leave, no one can stop you.”
Zhang Yang paused, lips slightly parted, about to speak.
But this time, the Lady of Shang gave him no chance.
She raised her hand and placed it over Zhang Yang’s lips, her gaze softening with an added pleading quality. “Promise me, no matter what happens, you must survive.”
“With your abilities, Chief Minister, as long as you live, there is hope.”
“A single defeat is nothing—Chief Minister, you are still young.”
Zhang Yang suddenly realised something.
He stared into the Lady of Shang’s eyes, full of tenderness, and all the words he wanted to say finally condensed into a soft response.
“Mmm~~~”
At that moment, everything was understood without a word.
The two stood quietly by the riverbank, gazing out over the shimmering water—warm, yet tinged with a hint of intimacy.
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Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
Across the Shang River, at the Jing Kingdom’s main camp, inside the commander’s tent.
An elderly man with streaks of white in his hair and a slightly stout figure knelt beside a small table.
He was the head of the Gongsun Clan.
Known fully as Gongsun Bai, he was fifty years old this year.
Inside the tent, the light was bright, the flickering candle flames dispelling the darkness.
The lady of the Gongsun Clan stared intently at the map before her, contemplating the decisive battle planned for the next day.
The battleground was located five li away at Jindu.
At Jindu, the banks of the Shang River suddenly narrowed to only about a hundred metres, making it an ideal crossing point.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside the door.
"Young Master."
Following the call from outside, a young man in his twenties or thirties entered.
With red lips and white teeth, and handsome features, he was the lady of the Gongsun Clan’s eldest son—Gongsun Zhi.
“Father,” the lady of the Gongsun Clan approached Gongsun Bai, clasped her hands, and bowed respectfully.
"Sit down."“How are the Bed Crossbows?”
Gongsun Bai gestured for Gongsun Zhi to sit before asking seriously.
The Bed Crossbow was the devastating weapon Gongsun Bai had prepared.
It was essentially a larger version of the ordinary crossbow!
It required several people to pull the bowstring, or mechanical assistance, making it more complicated to operate.
But!
The complexity came with incredibly powerful lethality.
A typical crossbow’s range was barely a hundred paces.
The Bed Crossbow, however, could reach up to eight hundred paces!
From five hundred paces away, a single arrow could pierce through a warhorse or even an ox used for ploughing.Even warriors of ordinary 'Vitality Like a Galloping Horse' Realm, when grazed by a bolt from five hundred paces, would either be fatally wounded or severely injured.
This was Gongsun Bai’s confidence!
With such a formidable weapon at his disposal, he firmly believed that no matter how profound Zhang Yang’s skills were, as long as he was still human, he simply could not withstand it.
Gongsun Zhi replied earnestly, “Father, rest assured. I have already ordered the personal guards to stay close, watching every step.”
“No one is allowed to set foot inside the camp without my written orders.”
“These three hundred Bed Crossbows will surely help you deal a crushing defeat to the Shang Kingdom tomorrow.”
As Gongsun Zhi spoke of the Bed Crossbows, his face lit up with excitement, eyes betraying both anticipation and pride.
This was because the designer of the Bed Crossbows was his own retainer.
The very first Bed Crossbow was born in his young master’s residence.
Having witnessed the power of the Bed Crossbow, Gongsun Bai now viewed him in a new light and entrusted him with a heavy responsibility — overseeing the secret forging and training of the Bed Crossbows.Gongsun Bai smiled and nodded.
No-warlock could withstand the power of the Bed Crossbow.
Before the Bed Crossbow, whether cavalry or chariots, were nothing more than moving targets.
Three hundred Bed Crossbows were enough to change the course of the battle!
Gongsun Bai smiled and said, “Excellent. Tomorrow’s battle will decide the future of the Gongsun Clan.”
“If we win this battle, the Jing Kingdom will become nothing more than a prize in the Gongsun Clan’s hands.”
At this, Gongsun Bai spoke tenderly, “This is all your father can do for you.”
“Given time, it’s not impossible for the Gongsun Clan to rule over the Jing Kingdom and become a regional power.”
Gongsun Zhi listened, his blood burning with excitement.
Working for others could never compare to starting your own business and being your own boss.The throne of the Jing Kingdom — ha, it belongs to those with virtue.
If the Zhao Clan can hold it, then why cannot our Gongsun Clan?
Gongsun Zhi said passionately, "I will not let my father down."
Then, his expression darkened as he cursed, "Hmph, has Lord Xian already forgotten who supported him to become Sovereign?"
"He actually dares to conspire with other noble families to move against our Gongsun Clan."
"But~~~"
"That useless wretch is no match for my father."
Gongsun Bai smirked slightly, stroked his beard, and sneered coldly.
This campaign was aimed not only at the Shang Kingdom and the other noble families at home.
Sovereign Xian!
It was also his target.
A puppet unwilling to be controlled held no value in existence.
Once this war on this side was over—
Hmph, while the country lies empty, rebellious factions plot treason; King Xian faces great calamity, how pitiful and lamentable!
At that moment, hurried footsteps approached, followed by voices filled with panic.
“Chief Minister, it’s bad, very bad—there are enemies, enemies!”
“What enemies?”
Gongsun Bai’s brow furrowed tightly, a mixture of shock and fury.
But then—
“Clatter, clatter—”
The rumbling sound of horse hooves grew faint and clear by turns.
A cavalry unit bearing the Zhang Family’s banner thundered towards Gongsun Bai’s camp from just a few hundred metres away, like an invincible force.
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