Chapter 43: The Prince Consort? Who will be it!
The massive stones, deliberately rounded by the defenders, rolled down and crashed into the enemy army, crushing soldiers into a bloody pulp in their wake. The boulders carved deadly paths through the packed ranks.
As the stones continued to fall, the Da Xuan army screamed in agony. Men were crushed, formations shattered.
Gong Shichang, witnessing this, was utterly dismayed. His face was pale with shock.
He had initially thought that leading 50,000 troops to wipe out the enemy's 3,000-strong army would be a complete rout. It should have been easy.
But he never expected this outcome. The defenses were far stronger than anticipated.
Seeing the enemy's stones still raining down, his own army's formation already disrupted, Gong Shichang's heart bled. He watched his men die by the hundreds.
"Retreat! Sound the retreat!" Finally, Gong Shichang had no choice but to issue the order, his voice heavy with defeat.
Watching the retreating army, Xia Yun and Xia Li on the city wall both breathed a sigh of relief. Their hands were trembling slightly.
Because the massive stones had already been used up. The remaining boulders visible on the walls were merely paper models, hollow and lightweight.
If the enemy had continued their siege regardless, willing to take more losses, things would have become very dangerous. They had gambled on the enemy's fear and won.
Xu Ning, on the other hand, remained calm, his expression unchanged.
After the first wave of attack was repelled, Gong Shichang's army didn't retreat far. Instead, they chose to encamp nearby, just out of range, seemingly intending to trap and starve them out.
Faced with this situation, Xu Ning said nothing. He simply ordered everyone except the garrison soldiers to go to sleep. They would need their energy.
Then, at nightfall, Xu Ning suddenly led six hundred cavalry out of the city gates, directly charging into the enemy's camp with terrifying speed.
Without lingering, they disrupted the enemy camp, killing approximately a thousand men in the chaos before retreating as quickly as they had come.
The cavalry's horses were incredibly fast. By the time the enemy reacted and tried to pursue, it was too late! They were already gone.
Gong Shichang watched the cavalry's retreating figures, seething with anger, but powerless to stop them. His hands clenched into fists.
This was not the end, but only the beginning.
In the coming days, Xu Ning's cavalry would suddenly appear at different times, charge into the camp, and then suddenly return before a proper defense could be mounted.
Throughout the night, several charges raged, keeping the Da Xuan soldiers awake and constantly on high alert. Sleep became a luxury.
Finally, dawn broke, and Gong Shichang thought he could finally get some sleep and let everyone rest. Surely the enemy would rest now.
However, the Fifth Prince, Xia Yun, suddenly led over six hundred cavalry in another assault on the camp, catching them by surprise.
The Da Xuan army was constantly harassed throughout the day. Every time they tried to rest, horns sounded and hooves thundered.
By nightfall, the Da Xuan soldiers were exhausted, their eyes bloodshot, and they seemed to have lost all their fighting spirit. They could barely stand.
But before they could rest, Xu Ning again led over six hundred cavalry to harass them once more, striking from a different direction.
That night, before daybreak, unable to bear any more, Gong Shichang had to order a retreat! His army was broken.
The enemy only pursued them symbolically for a short distance before returning, content with their victory.
Thus, the Da Xuan army of fifty thousand, having barely held out for three days, suffered over ten thousand casualties and retreated in disgrace, their morale shattered.
This time, Xu Ning was pleased, as he once again captured a large quantity of weapons, armor, and supplies left behind.
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He just needed a little more time to transform the three thousand men he had brought earlier into an invincible cavalry force!
Those three thousand cavalry, fully upgraded, would be a match for even fifty thousand enemy soldiers. They were a superweapon.
For the next period, Da Xuan, out of fear, did not send any more troops. The capital was in disarray.
Xu Ning used this time to fully equip his three thousand cavalry with upgraded weapons, armor, and horses. They were now complete.
Meanwhile, because of the two decisive victories against Da Xuan's mopping-up operations, people from the surrounding areas began to come seeking refuge in large numbers.
There were still many refugees, fleeing the chaos and taxes. Xu Ning accepted them all.
After all, these were crucial assets for building strength. People were the foundation of any kingdom.
Xu Ning also selected some men from among the refugees to join the army, expanding his forces.
However, these were only ordinary soldiers. As for the elite cavalry, Xu Ning needed to carefully consider their abilities and would select them later from the most loyal and skilled.
Six months passed in the blink of an eye, and Da Xuan remained silent, licking its wounds.
A year had passed since Xia Yun raised his army. The rebellion had lasted this long.
That day, a scout reported that an army of one hundred thousand was marching towards them, the largest force yet.
Without a word, Xu Ning led his three thousand cavalry out of the city, catching the enemy completely off guard with a sudden ambush.
Xu Ning, however, remained detached from battle, firing a shot with his upgraded bow and then retreating, only to strike again at the opportune moment. He used hit-and-run tactics relentlessly.
The 100,000-strong army ultimately held out for only half a month before being forced to withdraw, their supplies depleted and morale broken.
Upon hearing the news of the prolonged siege and defeat, Emperor Xia Qing flew into a rage. He threw his jade cup against the wall. "A bunch of useless fools! 100,000 men couldn't defeat 3,000! Who led them? Was it still Xu Ning?"
The ministers below trembled with fear but could only manage a forced reply. "Your Majesty, it was him. Xu Ning led the charge personally."
Emperor Xia Qing grew even angrier, his face red. "The top scholar of my Great Xuan Imperial Examination, a man I personally honored, why is he now the enemy's general? Don't you owe me an explanation? Why did no one stop him from leaving?"
The ministers below were speechless, exchanging helpless glances. Brother, you didn't value him. You kept him in a low position for years. That caused him to defect to the Fifth Prince. Now you blame us? Who can we blame?
Now look at the enemy. Xu Ning is shining brightly on the other side, with endless schemes and unmatched martial prowess on the battlefield. A master of both literature and martial arts, a true all-rounder. We told you he was a genius, and you were wary. Now you blame us for not keeping a close eye on him?
In the end, all the ministers dared not speak. Silence filled the hall.
Emperor Xia Qing sighed helplessly, slumping in his throne. "A bunch of useless fools! Here's what we'll do: send someone to investigate what Xu Ning's preferences are. Whether it's a lack of manpower or money, find a way to persuade him to return. We need him back."
Upon hearing this, all the ministers below fell silent again, exchanging uncomfortable glances.
They knew that Xu Ning had no interest in women. In fact, most of the people present had previously sent people to Xu Ning to discuss marriage alliances, but he had refused them all. Beautiful daughters, wealthy families, connections—none of it mattered to him.
As for money, how could such a talented person possibly be interested in worldly wealth? He had shown no desire for it.
Seeing that the ministers remained silent, Emperor Xia Qing was furious. Such a powerful state as Da Xuan was completely helpless against one man. It was humiliating.
Ultimately, Emperor Xia Qing had no choice but to order another 100,000 troops to reinforce the other side's 100,000 troops in the suppression campaign, determined to annihilate the enemy once and for all. He would not accept defeat.
Meanwhile, on Xu Ning's side, with the recent recruitment efforts, the number of ordinary soldiers, excluding the elite cavalry, had exceeded ten thousand. The army was growing.
The cavalry, through continuous selection and training, had also reached four thousand of the finest soldiers.
Xu Ning remained unhurried and did not expand recklessly. He remained as steady as a rock, continuing to develop and accumulate strength. Patience was key.
That day, Xia Li suddenly approached him with intelligence reports. "Sir, I just received news that Da Xuan has sent another 100,000 troops, and at the same time, they have sent Da Xuan's third-ranked general, Lin Lingfeng, to oversee the battle personally."
Lin Lingfeng? Xu Ning had heard of him and even met him briefly in the capital city. He was Da Xuan's most reliable veteran general, a man of integrity.
But, being reliable is good! Xu Ning nodded immediately. "It's alright! We'll talk about it later when he arrives. There's no need for concern."
It had to be said, Xia Li was truly skilled in intelligence gathering. Many times, it was thanks to her intelligence that they had repeatedly gained the upper hand. Her network was invaluable.
Xia Li looked at Xu Ning, her gaze somewhat unfocused, hesitant to speak. She lingered.
"Does Your Highness have anything else?" Seeing that she hadn't left and wasn't speaking, Xu Ning couldn't help but ask, looking up from his maps.
After a long pause, Xia Li finally gritted her teeth and spoke, her face flushing. "Sir, you must be in your thirties now. Have you considered... marriage? Is there no one who catches your eye?"
Xu Ning shook his head firmly. "Our pursuits are different. Currently, my mind is only on our ambitions. I have no time for such matters. Your Highness doesn't need to mention it again."
A hint of disappointment flashed in Xia Li's eyes, but she didn't say anything more. She turned and left, her steps slower than usual.
Xu Ning watched Xia Li's departing figure and shook his head with a small smile.
How could he not see through Xia Li's thoughts? She had been dropping hints for months.
Nonsense! Even if he had thoughts of marriage, he couldn't marry a princess! If he really helped conquer the world and became the prince consort, he probably wouldn't even be able to get into the Hanlin Academy. His freedom would be gone.
Besides, he had other, more important plans that didn't involve becoming tied to a throne.