Chapter 408 Hard Fight
The enemy troops at the west gate saw the signal from the inside and rushed to the gate without hesitation. However, they found that the gate was still closed when they arrived at the city. They realized something was wrong and wanted to evacuate quickly, but they had a glimmer of hope that the enemy might encounter some obstacles and they needed to give them a little more time. The fierce attack on the east gate and the harassment on the south and north gates were all to leave this gate open for a surprise attack.

It was just this glimmer of luck, and this moment of hesitation, when arrows rained down from the top of the city like locusts, covering the sky and the earth.

The enemy was exposed and within the range of the arrows, so they immediately became sitting ducks. Those who reacted quickly were able to block a few arrows and turn their horses around to retreat, but a large number of them had fallen behind them, blocking their way. In addition, the rain of arrows was so dense, one wave after another, that it left them no chance to breathe. Before long, all 500 cavalrymen died under the city. Even those who were not dead were just left to breathe a sigh of relief.

Helian Jing looked at the battle situation outside the city, but he did not get carried away or clean up the battlefield. He didn't know how many enemy soldiers were hiding in the darkness in the distance. It was absolutely impossible for the other side to send only a few hundred cavalry. As long as the city gate was opened, the follow-up troops would surely swarm in.

All he could do was to close the city gates tightly, guard the city strictly, and hold out for as long as he could.

The siege was also in a stalemate, and the battle in the palace entered the most brutal stage.

One thousand against six hundred, it could barely be considered an advantage, but the opponent's masters were too powerful, and their sword moves were superb. Six of them entangled Xia Chunyu and Naya, and four of them swung their swords to attack the iron stabbing formation, with the tendency to tear a hole in it.

This battle can be said to be the most difficult and dangerous battle among the hundreds of battles Xia Chunyu has experienced.

Being besieged by three masters, the opponents cooperated well, attacked from top, middle and bottom, and attacked from the front and back with measured advance and retreat. There was never a battle that made Xia Chunyu feel that death would come at any time.

But the more dangerous the moment, the more it can stimulate his fighting spirit. He is eager to fight, abandoning all distractions, paying close attention to the opponent's moves, trying to find flaws in them.

Naya beside him was also unstoppable, wielding her dual swords like swimming dragons, and she handled the three people with ease and without being at a disadvantage.

Yu Hai was in a heavy mood. Damn, where did this female killer come from? She was so powerful. The original plan was three to one, or even four to one. It was no problem to take down Xia Chunyu, and the other masters were responsible for the attack. The so-called indestructible guard camp, in the face of absolute force, wasn't it as easy as cutting melons and vegetables? As a result, a female killer appeared halfway and disrupted the plan.

No, we must get rid of these two people first.

Yu Hai issued an order, wanting the four masters responsible for the attack to turn around and surround Xia Chunyu first.

But the four masters have been surrounded by the guards. They are risking their lives to use their flesh and blood to block the masters from breaking through. For a while, blood splattered and broken limbs flew everywhere. It was so tragic that it was indescribable, but no one retreated. One step back means death, and one step forward also means death. So, they would rather die heroically. If their blood can add a glimmer of hope for victory, then it is a worthy death.

Xia Chunyu knew that the battle was unprecedentedly brutal. How many brothers fell, and how many brothers followed. Each and every one of them was a soldier under his command. They chatted and gossiped together, drank and ate meat together. Those familiar smiling faces will only become memories in the future.

Xia Chunyu's heart was bleeding and his anger was burning. These were his good brothers, comrades-in-arms who had been through life and death with him, and men of iron will. They best interpreted the word "hero" with their passion.

It is easy to live a miserable life, but it is difficult to die heroically.

Yes, they are all heroes.

Xia Chunyu shouted loudly, turned his wrist, and wielded his sword fiercely, turning defense into offense. After several rounds, he had figured out his opponent's weaknesses, and he seized the opportunity to end the fight as soon as possible.

A flash of sword light passed by, pointing directly at Xia Chunyu's left shoulder, but Xia Chunyu did not dodge at all, and chopped towards the other opponent with his long sword like a hot knife through butter. This was the only chance to exchange injury for life.

With a pop, the sharp sword blade pierced Xia Chunyu's left shoulder. At the same time, Xia Chunyu's long sword also hit the neck of another opponent. Following the momentum of the sword, he turned his hand back and the long sword went straight into the abdomen of the enemy behind him, piercing through him.

In just a moment, only one of the three masters was left. Xia Chunyu didn't care about the blood gushing from his left shoulder, and with his remaining strength, he tried his best to kill the last master.

The siege was broken, and the remaining masters were no match for Xia Chunyu at all. They were killed by Xia Chunyu with a single blow in just two rounds.

At the same time, Naya also ended the battle with bruises on her body.

"Can you still hold on?" The two of them quickly came together, back to back.

Naya said disapprovingly: "It's just a minor injury."

Xia Chunyu looked at this woman with admiration. Her skills were slightly better than his. She was indeed extremely strong.

When Naya offered to help, he was a little dismissive. Unexpectedly, she really helped a lot. Tonight, if Naya hadn't been there, he might not be able to handle it alone.

"Be careful, otherwise I won't be able to explain to Helian Xuan." Xia Chunyu warned.

Naya said calmly: "You should take care of yourself first! Don't forget that you still have a wife and son."

When mentioning Yaoyao and his unborn child, Xia Chunyu's heart warmed up. It would not be so easy for him to die. He had promised Yaoyao that he would be reunited with her alive. He wanted to welcome the new life with Yaoyao. They still had many long and beautiful years to spend together.

As they were talking, the two had already killed several enemy soldiers each.

"We all have to survive. There are still four masters left. How about it? I take three and you take one?" Xia Chunyu said in a relaxed tone.

"Bullshit, am I worse than you? Two each, divide it and see who gets it first." Naya said disdainfully.

After saying that, he leaped up and rushed towards the target.

Xia Chunyu was stunned. Too tough. Damn it, he couldn't lose to a woman, otherwise he would be laughed at by Helian Xuan for the rest of his life. This guy was too slow and couldn't catch up. Immediately, a cold light flashed in the tiger's eyes, and he was full of fighting spirit. He turned into a ferocious lion and rushed towards his target with an unstoppable momentum.

At the East Gate, the main battlefield, ladders were set up on the towering city walls. Waves of soldiers attacked and were beaten down again. However, there were ladders and enemies everywhere, and the soldiers defending the city also suffered heavy casualties.

Everyone's hearts have become numb, and they only know how to swing their swords to kill the enemies. Killing one is enough to break even, killing two is a way to save a life.

The prince was stationed in the temporary command camp closest to the city gate.

As bad news came one after another, he remained calm. The court officials around him had repeatedly advised him to evacuate, but he sat still as calm as a mountain.

This is a battle of life and death. If he retreats, people's hearts will surely be demoralized, and the city will fall without a fight. Even if he hides underground, he will be dug out. Why should he hide then?
There is no safe place in Jinling City anymore. It is better to live and die here with all the soldiers.

There is no way to retreat, so just give it your all and fight to the last man standing.

The ministers looked at the prince's firm and cold eyes and saw his determination to die bravely. They all sighed silently and at the same time had infinite admiration in their hearts. The prince, who had always been gentle and elegant, also had such determination to never give up. This was another side of him that they had never seen before.

Ye Jiayao's eyelids kept twitching tonight, making her very uneasy. She knew that the enemy had broken through the defense line of the Northwest Camp.

Thousands of horses galloped past, and even those hiding in such a deep underground secret room could feel the ground shaking.

Jinling City is finally facing its biggest crisis.

And her Chunyu and countless people she cared about were still in the city, trapped.

As the imperial capital, the walls of Jinling City are very strong. But even if they are impregnable, the disparity in strength between the enemy and us is so great that even a rotation of forces will drag down the defenders. It is only a matter of time.

Can we hold on until reinforcements arrive?

However, what Ye Jiayao is most worried about is the civil unrest. Chunyu, you must be well and live well. I can't live without you, and our children can't live without a father.

Yes, I am very strong. I have lived two lives and I am not afraid of anything.

But I'm not strong enough to lose you.

If I had not met you, my heart would be as hard as iron. However, fate made me meet you. My heart is no longer my own. Now that you are gone, my heart is gone too. What is there worth clinging to in life without you?

So, Chunyu, you must be well...

In Prince Yu's mansion, Prince Yu was more irritable than ever before, and the development of the situation was completely off the expected track.

The Fifth Prince was unable to break into the city, and it was obvious that something went wrong with the internal support.
There has been no good news from the palace for a long time, which shows that the success has not been successful.

He had invested everything he had, including 300 warriors, all assigned to Yu Hai, as well as the people arranged by Zuo Qingyun...

Why? He was clearly sure to win.

The quicksand in the clock's eyes keeps flowing, time is passing, and daybreak is about to come.

Is victory or total defeat waiting for him?
A glorious life or a cowardly death?

At this moment, these two questions really became doubts in Prince Yu's mind and turned into a question mark.

This made him feel more solemn than ever before.

The light of dawn finally broke through the sky, but the flames of war that had been burning all night showed no sign of abating. Everyone was racing against time. For the rebels who were fighting under the banner of serving the king, the longer the delay, the more danger they would face. For the soldiers who were defending the city, the longer the delay, the more hope they would have.

Just as the sun was about to rise above the horizon, a rumbling sound came from the sky, like thunder, rolling in.

The soldiers, who were already exhausted and about to collapse, looked around with expressions of surprise and doubt in their eyes.

Is it the enemy's reinforcements or our reinforcements?
This is the question on everyone’s mind.

The Fifth Prince was also looking at the movement in the distance, his heart sinking. He knew very well that those who came were definitely not his people. His people would not arrive so quickly, and would arrive at the earliest the day after tomorrow.

By then, he should have been in control of the overall situation and could issue orders to the world. Anyone who dared to disobey would be killed without mercy.

Then, the only ones coming could be his enemies.

(End of this chapter)