The Great Commander's brocade robe was now stained red with his own blood. He parted his lips, trembling, "Who... who was it..."
"Who shot the cold arrow!" the surrounding personal guards exclaimed in anger.
The arrow came out of nowhere, bypassing heavy defenses. No one could have anticipated it was from Liang Xiao, two hundred and thirty paces away, and no one even had time to discern its trajectory!
Yan Jun, his face grim from the rear, immediately ordered the Great Commander to be escorted for urgent aid, while not forgetting to issue an order.
"Continue the assault on the city, do not miss this opportunity!"
The rebel forces at the front line had not received news of the Great Commander being hit, and were still desperately attacking the city.
However, the defending troops on the ramparts rained down arrows like flying locusts, accompanied by a torrent of rolling stones and logs, which heavily damaged the approaching rebels. For a time, Luzhou stood as impregnable as a golden fortress!
After shooting the brocade-robed figure below the command flag, Liang Xiao continued to target the warriors pushing the battering ram.
"Half of the warriors pushing the ram have been shot dead!"
The speed of the battering ram gradually slowed, advancing with difficulty against the barrage of arrows and stones.
The casualty count of the rebel forces at the front line soared, quickly exceeding five thousand, yet the rebels still could not breach the city walls!
Receiving successive battlefield reports, Yan Jun knew that his troops, having traveled a long distance, were exhausted. In a fit of rage, he violently whipped a male disciple of the Spring Rebirth Sect.
"Retract the pontoon bridge, retreat for now!"
The rebel alliance, which had surged forward like a tide, now retreated like a tide, in utter disarray.
The defenders of Luzhou had won the first defensive battle, and their morale soared!
"If not for the advance preparations made by Marquis Anguo and the Prefect, and Zhuo Lingjun, we would likely have suffered heavy losses even if we managed to defend against this initial onslaught!"
The defenders within the city were utterly in awe of Liang Xiao, Li Xiuyun, and Zhuo Zifang.
"The enemy will not give up so easily. We must not let our guard down!" Liang Xiao re-sheathed his Setting Sun Bow and reminded them solemnly.
The soldiers became solemn.
Gongsun Dingjun approached and whispered, "Marquis Anguo, the enemy retreated rather quickly. Your 'precious treasure' wasn't even used. Is that perhaps..."
Liang Xiao shook his head. "They possessed complete siege equipment, and their march was no different from that of regular troops. They are by no means a weak force. We merely held the advantage of defending."
"Your subordinate understands! It's just that I'm curious why they retreated so quickly; it doesn't add up..." Gongsun Dingjun chuckled, and the surrounding personal guards chimed in agreement.
Liang Xiao suddenly recalled something and asked, "I accidentally shot a brocade-robed figure under the enemy's command flag earlier. Who was that person?"
"The brocade-robed figure??" Gongsun Dingjun exclaimed in shock. "I've heard that in the southwest, there is a rebel army called the 'Sun Moon Army'. They appear and disappear like ghosts, and their leader is an eunuch of unknown origin who loves to flaunt himself in brocade robes, known as the Brocade-Robed Great Commander! Did Marquis Anguo really shoot him?"
Liang Xiao chuckled. "He was hit! That fellow has some courage, daring to oversee the battle on the front lines. But he never would have expected the Setting Sun Bow to appear in Luzhou, nor that someone could draw it, let alone aim true."
Gongsun Dingjun finally burst into hearty laughter. "Earlier, I was somewhat curious why my young lady would give the Setting Sun Bow to Marquis Anguo. Now I finally understand..."
As members of the Duke of Dingguo's manor, Qin Xin had informed Gongsun Dingjun after arriving in Luzhou, even entrusting him with protecting Liang Xiao's Setting Sun Bow to prevent its loss.
However, Gongsun Dingjun's gaze towards Liang Xiao became increasingly peculiar.
Even their old Duke of Dingguo, Gongsun Ye, could not draw this ancestral divine bow!
The defenders of Luzhou began to take shifts, resting and observing the city.
In stark contrast to the soaring morale of the Luzhou defenders, the rebel alliance, after suffering a total of seven thousand casualties, retreated in dejection.
In the command tent, the military physician's trembling hands continued to staunch the Great Commander's bleeding, saying nervously, "Your Holiness, the Great Commander is likely beyond saving..."
A wave of lamentation rose from the crowd!
The Great Commander, his face ashen, picked up the blood-stained dragon-tooth arrow from the table and said intermittently, "Report to the Pontiff and the Young Lord that whoever avenges this arrow shall be granted the highest merit..."
Before he could finish, the Great Commander's hand holding the arrow fell limply, his eyes rolled back, and he breathed his last!
"Great Commander!!" the crowd cried out in grief.
Yan Jun stared coldly at the military physician. "Aren't you known as a miracle healer?"
"Your Holiness, this wound is truly..."
As the military physician was about to defend himself, Yan Jun sternly ordered, "The military physician has delayed treatment. Drag him out to be sacrificed to the banners, to comfort the Great Commander's spirit in heaven!"
The personal guards immediately dragged the pleading and begging military physician out. Silence returned to the tent.
Knowing full well that Yan Jun was still enraged, Lu Ma'er and the others stared at the Great Commander's corpse, not daring to utter a sound.
Yan Jun regained her composure and asked, "Is it possible this arrow came from the enemy's side?"
"We asked the Great Commander's personal guards. At the time, everyone's attention was focused on the city gate and walls, and there was such a heavy arrow rain from the ramparts..." Lu Ma'er said with a dry laugh.
"I only ask if it's possible!" Yan Jun said sharply.
Lu Ma'er quickly explained, "Your Holiness, it's impossible! This arrow was shot from two hundred and thirty paces away from the city wall. At such a distance, it would be impossible to pierce the Great Commander's sternum, and the arrow would still be embedded in the ground..."
Everyone shook their heads. "Impossible!"
Yan Jun narrowed her eyes, staring at Lu Ma'er, and managed a strained smile. "Then tomorrow, General Lu will lead the troops to the city walls and demand surrender. Seize the opportunity to attack. General Lu, do not disappoint my cultivation of you."
Lu Ma'er was overjoyed and nodded vigorously. "We were just tired last night. After resting and recuperating, we'll surely take it! I hope that when the time comes, Your Holiness will..."
Yan Jun smiled coquettishly. "If you can truly lead the troops to take Luzhou, you will be a hero of the Spring Rebirth Sect. It would be only right and proper for me to give myself to you for your enjoyment."
Lu Ma'er's eyes widened, and he could only nod repeatedly.
After everyone left, the white-haired woman whispered, "Your Holiness, can we really take it..."
Yan Jun's eyes were icy as she nodded. "We must! If we wait for those allies to arrive, then it won't be our Spring Rebirth Sect that enters Luzhou. We will have failed. I firmly believe this arrow came from the defenders. Let Lu Ma'er test the waters; perhaps he will be a scapegoat. Then we can annex his troops and logically install our core disciples as commanders."
"But, to pierce a person from two hundred and thirty paces away, it's simply impossible..."
"Slap!"
Before the white-haired woman could finish, she received a slap and lowered her head in dejection.
"Who dares to question my judgment!"
"Yes, please calm your anger, Your Holiness..."
In the courtyard, the Tianshan swordsmen and the female soldiers of the Duke of Dingguo's manor protected Jian Qinwan, Yue Lian, and Zhuo Xun from the surroundings.
After Qin Xin returned, the three learned of the victory in the defense and anxiously inquired about Liang Xiao's condition.
"Marquis Anguo is perfectly safe, and it seems he shot the Sun Moon Army's 'Brocade-Robed Great Commander' with a single arrow. It's simply incredible!" Qin Xin exclaimed.
The three looked astonished.
They did not understand military matters, but they understood what a magnificent feat this was!
"It was right for my master to entrust the Setting Sun Bow to that flower-picking rogue!" Jian Qinwan's eyes flowed, her face filled with pride, her cheeks slightly flushed.
She never imagined that her nominal dowry would actually be put to use!
"Where is Young Master? Isn't he coming back?" Yue Lian asked urgently.
"Marquis Anguo is resting with the defenders, and is protected by Grandmaster Chen and Liang Manor's personal guards. There is no need to worry," Qin Xin replied.
The three then breathed a sigh of relief and went to Yue Lian's room to sleep.
At the hour of Chen the next day, just as Liang Xiao had finished his military rations, a bugle horn sounded from outside.
"Report! The enemy forces have approached within two hundred and fifty paces of the city, demanding Prefect Li, or Marquis Anguo, or Zhuo Lingjun to come out for negotiations, otherwise they will attack!"
"Negotiations?" Hearing the scout's report, everyone scoffed.
Only Liang Xiao stood up abruptly and said, "Let's go and see!"
Gongsun Dingjun was puzzled. "Marquis Anguo, why should we negotiate..."