Humans are filled with fear towards the unknown.
The gunpowder packs that merely five griffins could carry were very limited in quantity, yet the might they produced was incomparably astonishing.
As the southern gateway of Linhai City, Nanlin Fortress had fifteen thousand soldiers densely guarding every corner of the castle.
Countless arrows, giant crossbows, and trebuchets armed it to the teeth.
Were one to truly attack by force, as Gui Qinqu had said, it might not fall even after days and nights of fighting.
Nai’er’s Wind Thunder Fortress defence line was the same. Twenty-five thousand troops, plus astronomical numbers of defensive fortifications, could block Duke Zhiwei’s over one hundred thousand strong army for several days at least.
And the present Nanlin Fortress was likewise. Twenty-five thousand cavalry attacking fifteen thousand defenders, with almost no siege equipment, might bash their heads bloody without breaking through.
But now, round after round of gunpowder packs were dropped down.
Beneath the earth-shaking explosions, the defenders upon the walls all cowered and dared not move.
Only after a full two rounds of gunpowder air raids did Gui Qinqu remember that they could shoot arrows at the griffins.
“Shoot towards the sky, shoot towards the sky…”
At Gui Qinqu’s command, several thousand soldiers braced themselves and shot arrows towards the griffins in the air.
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh…”
The arrow rain was dense, but after rising less than two hundred metres into the air, their momentum was completely spent, and they began to fall.
Meanwhile, the griffins were at three or four hundred metres altitude. This was not precision striking, merely needing to drop the gunpowder packs upon the heads of the castle defenders.
Thus, the five griffins conducted air raid after air raid.
In merely over an hour, they had dropped over one hundred thousand jin of gunpowder packs.
The suffering Linhai City defenders were completely in a state of passive beating.
“Boom…”
Suddenly, an earth-shaking explosion came from Nanlin Fortress. The entire ground trembled, and a fireball accompanied by a mushroom cloud rose slowly into the air.
At least a thousand soldiers were instantly torn to pieces.
It turned out that one gunpowder pack had blown up the fish oil warehouse within Nanlin Fortress. The several hundred thousand jin of fish oil inside exploded instantly, its power comparable to several dozen tonnes of gunpowder or more.
This fish oil had originally been stored in an underground warehouse, but for convenience of defence and transport, it had been placed in a warehouse atop the castle, hence it was struck and detonated.
This earth-shaking explosion was like a titanic force tearing the middle of the castle apart. The centre of the hundred-mu Nanlin Fortress castle collapsed alive into a vast depression.
Fish oil scattered through the sky became flames, burning fiercely everywhere.
“Add fuel to the fire, drop fire oil barrels.” At Suo Lun’s command.
Instantly, the five griffins continuously dropped fire oil barrels upon Nanlin Fortress.
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh…”
Countless fire oil barrels crashed down.
The entirety of Nanlin Fortress burned fiercely, illuminating the entire sky red, bright as day.
From within the castle came countless screams of agony and roars.
Countless Linhai City defenders began desperately trying to extinguish the flames and flee, completely unable to man their defensive posts.
“Break the gate…” At Suo Lun’s command.
Instantly, a force of over a thousand men, shielded by densely packed shields, escorted a massive gunpowder pack to the castle’s main gate.
“Retreat…”
Having successfully buried the massive gunpowder pack beneath the city gate, the army withdrew.
“Light it…”
Suo Lun lit a fire arrow, closed his eyes, and shot it out, directly striking and igniting the massive gunpowder pack.
“Boom…”
Several tonnes of gunpowder exploded instantly, once again shaking Heaven and Earth.
Not only was the entire castle gate completely shredded and sent flying, but several dozen metres of the castle’s front wall were also blown apart.
Instantly, the entirety of Nanlin Fortress lay wide open.
“Attack…”
At Suo Lun’s command.
Countless warriors wielded great swords and charged into Nanlin Fortress like a tide.
“Husband, the form of war has changed.” Princess Zhiyan said, “Is the secret base manufacturing this gunpowder sufficiently secure?”
“Very secure…” Suo Lun said.
Indeed very secure, for it had been completely relocated to the barbarian sea waters.
A team of over a thousand people had all withdrawn to a secret island in the southern barbarian sea waters.
Suo Lun gazed at the griffins continuously circling in the air and sighed, “These griffins are the true great killing weapons. Pity there are so few.”
There were indeed too few. The entire Nu Lang Kingdom had only just over twenty of them. Fortunately, the griffin knights were completely under the direct control of the king. Were they to fall into Zhili’s hands and be used against Tianshui City in the same manner, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Two hours later, the battle ended.
The gateway of Linhai City, Nanlin Fortress, had completely fallen. Commander Gui Qinqu was captured. Over nine thousand enemies were annihilated, and over five thousand were taken prisoner.
From this point, Linhai City’s fifteen thousand main force troops were nearly completely annihilated.
After extinguishing the great fire, Suo Lun’s army rested for several hours within this damaged castle, resupplying fire oil bombs, gunpowder packs, and provisions.
After daybreak, they would continue northward to attack Linhai Main City!
“Your Highness the Princess, Zhuang Zhixuan, City Lord Li Ren, and top experts of the Shadow Pavilion, you should temporarily not rest tonight.” Suo Lun said, “News of Nanlin Fortress’s fall will soon reach Linhai Main City. The Gui clan young lord Gui Qinbi is extremely cunning, and will likely immediately flee to the sea. I want you to ride griffins at the fastest speed to the Linhai City Lord’s Manor, capture Gui Qinbi, and rescue Tu Lingsi.”
“Very well!” Zhiyan said.
Then, Zhiyan, Zhuang Zhixuan, Li Ren, and ten Shadow Pavilion experts immediately mounted the griffins’ backs, spread their wings, and flew towards Linhai Main City.
…
Indeed, as Suo Lun had expected.
Before Nanlin Fortress fell, Gui Qinqu had desperately released over a dozen falcons to send messages to Linhai Main City.
Most of the falcons were shot down, but one or two escaped.
Over an hour later, Linhai City young lord Gui Qinbi received the falcon message.
“Tianshui City’s over twenty thousand strong army has attacked. Nanlin Fortress has fallen. The fifteen thousand strong army is completely annihilated.”
Upon receiving this secret message, Gui Qinbi immediately staggered, felt ice cold all over, and collapsed into his chair.
How, how was this possible?
The Tianshui City Suo clan was on the verge of destruction. Why would they dare dispatch over twenty thousand troops northward to attack Linhai City?
Of course, this was completely legitimate.
Because it was Linhai City’s Gui clan who had proactively declared war first, with Tianshui City passively responding afterwards.
Therefore, even if the two sides beat each other’s brains out and blood flowed like rivers, there was not a word to be said. For this was a formal war between nobles, a war tacitly permitted by the royal house.
But…
Did Suo Ningbing of Tianshui City not know that her true enemies were Duke Zhiwei’s over one hundred thousand strong army and Duke Tu Lingtuo’s two hundred thousand strong army?
The Linhai City Gui clan might make a great clamour, but at most they would capture Chaos Stone Island.
After capturing Chaos Stone Island, Linhai City would completely play a supporting role. Even if your Suo clan annihilated every last one of Linhai City’s fifteen thousand troops, what use would it be?
Could you possibly defeat Zhili’s four hundred thousand troops? Would you not still be destroyed?
Gui Qinbi knew that Suo Lun was already dead, and Princess Zhiyan was also missing. Presently, Tianshui City was run by Suo Ningbing and Yan Nai’er.
Women, completely mad and foolish women, acting without regard for consequences.
Gui Qinbi ground his teeth. His younger sister Gui Qinshao was like this. Her slash had been satisfying, but it had nearly placed the Linhai City Gui clan in a fatal position. Otherwise, why would the Linhai City Gui clan have charged to the forefront to fetch chestnuts from the fire for Zhili?
In his estimation, it must certainly be that Suo Ningbing and Yan Nai’er, having nothing left to lose, completely disregarded Zhili’s great army and only cared about venting their anger, hence throwing everything away to attack northward towards Linhai City.
But what Gui Qinbi could not understand was that Nanlin Fortress had a full fifteen thousand troops, several hundred thousand jin of fish oil, countless arrows, and powerful defensive fortifications. Even if Tianshui City’s over twenty thousand troops were elite, they might not capture it in seven or eight days. How could Nanlin Fortress fall in merely half a day?
His younger brother Gui Qinqu, though not exceptionally outstanding, possessed at least average intelligence. He should not have lost so disastrously?
The complete annihilation of fifteen thousand main force troops was not merely a grievous injury, but pain piercing to the bone!
“Suo Ningbing, Yan Nai’er, you two mad women, biting my Linhai City even as you face death. Truly biting to the bone.” Gui Qinbi ground his teeth inwardly, “The day Tianshui City falls, I shall certainly torment you both to death.”
But that day was that day. What should be done now?
The entire Linhai Main City had merely five thousand troops, and all were second-line troops. Could they resist Tianshui City’s over twenty thousand strong army?
Presently, two paths lay before Gui Qinbi. The first was to arm all citizens as soldiers, defend Linhai Main City, then send word to Gui Xingfu to have him lead his great army to come to their aid immediately.
The second was for him to immediately take the city lord’s manor officials and his mother Tu Lingsi to withdraw from Linhai City and go to sea to rendezvous with his father Gui Xingfu.
Undoubtedly, the second path would appear very cowardly, and would also be very damaging to his reputation.
After all, he prided himself as a young talent of the Nu Lang Kingdom, ranking among the foremost of all noble young lords. Losing Linhai City without resistance would bring an enormous stain upon his honour.
Gui Qinbi fell into a difficult choice!
He did not have much time. After daybreak, the Suo clan’s over twenty thousand strong army would continue northward.
Should he stay and defend the city with five thousand second-line troops awaiting aid? Or should he proactively abandon Linhai City and withdraw to sea to rendezvous with his father?
“Go fetch the Interior Secretary.” Gui Qinbi ordered.
“Yes, young lord!” The warrior accepted the order and departed.
A quarter hour later, Linhai City’s highest civil official, the Nu Lang Kingdom Prime Minister Yan Wuji’s clansman nephew Yan Tingyi, entered the city lord’s manor.
“Paying respects to the young lord.” Yan Tingyi said, “You summon me late at night. What are your instructions?”
Gui Qinbi handed over the secret message of Nanlin Fortress’s fall.
After reading it, Yan Tingyi trembled all over and looked at Gui Qinbi in disbelief, saying, “How, how is this possible? Tianshui City is on the verge of destruction. Only a madman would proactively come to attack Linhai City! Do they not know that our Linhai City is merely a smokescreen, and that the ones truly seeking to destroy the Suo clan are Duke Zhiwei and Duke Tu Lingtuo’s nearly four hundred thousand strong army? What use is there in them attacking Linhai City?”
Gui Qinbi said, “Suo Lun is dead. Presently, the ones running Tianshui City are Suo Ningbing and Yan Nai’er. Once women become foolish, there is no bottom line. They only care about venting anger without regard for consequences.”
“No wonder…” Yan Tingyi murmured to himself.
Indeed, when women acted foolishly, they did not consider consequences. Was not the Gui clan’s own young lady Gui Qinshao a living example? Had she not been so audacious, how would that old fox Gui Xingfu have been placed in such a passive position?
Gui Qinbi said, “Presently, there are two paths. The first, I hold firm in Linhai City and await my father’s relief army. In doing so, I might become a prisoner, or even a ghost beneath the blade. The second path, I immediately take my mother and all Linhai City officials to withdraw to sea and rendezvous with my father, proactively abandoning Linhai City. In doing so, there would be tremendous damage to my reputation.”
Taking a deep breath, Gui Qinbi looked towards Yan Tingyi and said, “Lord Interior Secretary, which of these two paths should I take?”
Yan Tingyi fell silent. After a long while, he said, “This matter is of grave importance. Tingyi dares not speak overmuch. I shall follow the young lord’s lead.”
Gui Qinbi looked coldly at Yan Tingyi. This old fox was unwilling to bear the slightest responsibility.
But Gui Qinbi truly could do nothing about him. Who made Yan Tingyi the bridge between the Linhai City Gui clan and Prime Minister Yan Wuji?
“Forget it, forget face and seek substance.” Gui Qinbi said, “I have decided. I choose the second path, withdrawing from Linhai City and going to sea to rendezvous with my father’s great army.”
Instantly, Yan Tingyi bowed and said, “The young lord is wise!”
Gui Qinbi’s decision was indeed not easy, and also indeed wise.
In his view, it did not matter if Linhai City fell for ten days or half a month. If he himself were captured or killed, that would be truly losing everything.
Tu Lingtuo’s two hundred thousand strong army was already marching. The Tianshui City Suo clan’s destruction was imminent. Let them have one last moment of mad triumph before death.
“Go make preparations. Come with me to withdraw to sea. Remember to bring only family members, and absolutely do not leak this information, or it will cause chaos within the city.” Gui Qinbi said.
“Yes.” Yan Tingyi said.
“Sigh… This will be humiliating now, but fortunately Father will certainly approve of my actions.” Gui Qinbi murmured to himself, “Second Brother, your incompetence has truly ruined me.”
Then, he walked towards the rear courtyard dungeon.
To withdraw, he must certainly bring his mother Tu Lingsi along. He could not leave any important hostages for the Suo clan.
…
Within the dungeon of the Linhai City Lord’s Manor.
Tu Lingsi had already grown thin. A month ago, after being severely beaten by Gui Xingfu, she had remained in this half-dead state.
Because Gui Xingfu deliberately did not heal her, nor let her die a sudden death, merely dragging things out like this, and using medicine to keep her mind in a constant state of delirium and confusion.
After dragging on for a year or half a year, he would report a natural death.
Gui Xingfu and Tu Lingsi had been affectionate for half a lifetime. He had always been gentle and considerate, never having raised a hand against her, never even speaking harshly. He had completely played the part of a henpecked husband.
They had never quarrelled in their entire lifetime, never had a red face.
Once he turned hostile, he was completely cold and heartless, seeking to put her to death.
Therefore, for Tu Lingsi, her world too had collapsed.
After marriage, she had truly loved her husband to the bone, filled with boundless regret for her premarital indulgences. The more understanding and trusting Gui Xingfu was, the more regretful she became.
So on the surface, Tu Lingsi was overbearing and shrewish, but inwardly she obeyed her husband in everything, compliant in all matters. Her usual shrewish tantrums she treated as bedroom pleasures. She loved Gui Xingfu so much that she truly wished to transform into a piece of flesh and grow upon his body.
However…
Everything had been false. When Gui Xingfu revealed his ferocious face, he was a thousand times more terrible than the most venomous serpent.
Tu Lingsi still could not believe to this day that this was her husband. For half her life, she had slept beside a venomous serpent. All his gentleness and consideration had been a terrifying, false mask.
At the moment he turned hostile, Tu Lingsi clearly saw the resentment and hatred in her husband’s eyes.
Regarding Tu Lingsi’s premarital indulgences, Gui Xingfu had never forgotten, harbouring hatred in his heart all along.
In her daze, sensing someone enter the dungeon, Tu Lingsi opened her eyes and saw Gui Qinbi.
This was the first time she had seen her son Gui Qinbi since the incident.
“Bi’er, Bi’er, you have finally come. Quickly release Mother, quickly go save your younger sister.” Tu Lingsi was like one seeing a lifeline.
In her view, Gui Qinbi was the most filial and most promising son.
“Mother, Gui Qinshao brought this upon herself.” Gui Qinbi said, “I shall take you away now to rendezvous with Father.”
Tu Lingsi could not believe her own ears. She shrieked, “That beast Gui Xingfu wants to give your younger sister to Zhili to ruin, and wants to personally kill your younger sister, kill me.”
Gui Qinbi said coldly, “Everything Father does is for the Gui clan family.”
Tu Lingsi felt ice cold all over. She trembled as she gazed at her own son, then let out a series of blood-weeping shrill laughs, “You truly are my Gui clan’s most filial and most promising son, exactly the same as that beast Gui Xingfu. One great beast, one little beast, haha…”
Gui Qinbi frowned, directly took out a bottle of medicine, and forcefully poured it into his mother Tu Lingsi’s mouth, then covered her mouth so she could not spit it out.
After a bout of struggling and trembling, Tu Lingsi fell unconscious.
Gui Qinbi threw Tu Lingsi over his shoulder and walked outside.
“Foolish woman, foolish beyond measure.” Gui Qinbi said coldly.
Suddenly, his gaze showed some stirring, and he reached out to give Tu Lingsi’s ample round bottom a fierce squeeze, slipping his hand into her skirt.
…
Half an hour later!
Gui Qinbi and Yan Tingyi, carrying the unconscious Tu Lingsi and a mere handful of family members, silently slipped out of Linhai Main City under cover of night.
Beside them, they had merely over a hundred warriors for protection.
“Hyah…”
Gui Qinbi’s party madly whipped their horses and galloped, fleeing towards the eastern coast.
Once they reached the sea, he would truly be safe.
And once Gui Qinbi escaped, losing Tu Lingsi, it would be a tremendous blow to Suo Lun’s plans!
Because Gui Xingfu would certainly dispatch Gui Qinbi immediately to Duke Zhiwei’s main camp. By then, capturing him would be exceedingly difficult.
And once Gui Qinbi escaped, it would be very difficult for Gui Qinshao to rightfully become City Lord of Linhai.
All male members, Gui Xingfu, Gui Qinbi, Gui Qinqu, and Gui Qinzhong, must completely die out before it would be Gui Qinshao’s turn as a woman to ascend.
…
Zhiyan, Zhuang Zhixuan, and A Shi Li Ren and the others, riding griffins, had already arrived above Linhai Main City and were about to descend upon the city lord’s manor to capture Gui Qinbi and rescue Tu Lingsi.
But at this moment, Gui Qinbi and his party, whipping their horses fiercely, had already escaped nearly a hundred li.
And once they descended upon the city lord’s manor, it would certainly mean another battle. Delaying for half an hour would basically mean they could no longer catch up to Gui Qinbi and his people.
Suddenly, Zhiyan’s beautiful eyes turned and she said, “Elder Sister Li Ren, Husband said that Gui Qinbi might flee with Tu Lingsi, so we should not descend upon the city lord’s manor, but rather continue pursuing along the coast.”
A Shi Li Ren nodded and said, “I shall follow your lead.”
Then, the party rode five griffins, continuing to fly eastward, chasing and searching for traces of Gui Qinbi.
Half an hour later!
Thirty li from the coast!
Zhiyan said, “We have discovered traces of Gui Qinbi and his party. He has indeed fled.”
“Clang…” Princess Zhiyan drew her dragon-gold sword. Gazing at the over one hundred warriors beside Gui Qinbi, she coldly ordered, “Dive, draw swords, kill!”
Instantly, the five griffins dove down towards Gui Qinbi’s fleeing party.
Gui Qinbi was terrified to the extreme!