Chapter 268 (1/2)
Chapter 268
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Before the final wall gates in the Northern Region, the lands had already been covered by snow even though it was only May. The frigid winds of the north bellowed wave after wave, grazing painfully on everyone's face.
”Let's go.” Zhao Che smiled to Wei Shuye. Even in such a desperate situation, he was still filled with confidence. Wei Shuye's lanky figure looked at the confident Zhao Che, as he couldn't help but feel suspicious.
Yan Xun had crazily assaulted their food supply, and using a human wave tactic, Zhao Che's forces had been under heavy attack. At this time, Zhao Yang, crazed for power, suddenly attacked Zhao Che's reinforcements and blocked off Zhuge Yue's resupply train. That forced Zhao Che into a corner as he lost huge amounts of soldiers, and resulted in the loss of 13 provinces in the central area.
The moment that they recruited more soldiers and readied their counter-attack, they realized that they had already sunk into a desperate situation where they could no longer do anything to reverse their inevitable defeat.
On that day, Zhao Che stood on the rubble, quietly pondering for a long time. This Prince who had gone through so much finally put down his blade as he turned to Wei Shuye and said, ”We lost.”
On that day, all the officers that were around cried. Even Wei Shuye, a prideful young master of an entire noble family, cried. It was not that they had no chance of victory, or that they had no power to return everything to normal. They had fought their best on this land of an Empire that was heading towards dissolution. They had the courage and resolution to face death.
Yet, they lost.
They did not lose to the enemy on the battlefield but were instead betrayed by their own allies. They faced the strongest adversaries the Xia Empire had ever faced at a time when the Empire was in its worst state.
The young prince lifted his head as the war horse dug its hooves into the ground in discomfort. The heavens were covered by snow. After exiting from this gate, they would no longer be on Xia soil. In the vast field beyond, there would no longer be any Xia flags fluttering in the wind.
Zhao Che stared at the sky and quietly said, ”The Zhao Family will not cease to exist. Where the sun shines, there will no doubt be descendants of the Zhao Family.” He drew his whip, and as he swung, his horse bolted forward along with the massive military behind him as they passed through the gates into the vast whiteness and mountains.
Zhao Che's fists were like iron as his gaze pierced into the distance. His lips lightly drawn as his determined voice sounded out, ”We will come back…”
”Master!” He Xiao suddenly bellowed, his eyes were completely red. ”This subordinate is unwilling to do so!”
”Commander He, this is an order!” Above the massive walls of Tang Jing, Chu Qiao was in her armor as she observed this subordinate that she had trusted the most. She articulated each word.
”Master, you should go and escort the Tang Emperor out. Let this subordinate stay here to defend.”
The sounds of fighting had already reached below her. The thunderous sounds of the horses' hooves could be heard quickly closing upon them. The forces that the Lady of Jingan led outnumbered them ten to one. The massive cavalries charged as they initiated wave after wave of attack on the Tang capital, as though they were a massive human tsunami that none could block.
Chu Qiao coldly asked, ”Can you really defend this place?”
He Xiao frowned, and without hesitation, he replied, ”Even if this subordinate dies…”
”Even if you die, you would be unable to,” Chu Qiao sternly remarked.
Hearing that, He Xiao's face froze, and just as he was about to reply, Chu Qiao continued, ”As of now, the Tang Capital is surrounded, and beyond this seige, there is still Yan Xun's huge force that numbers in the hundreds of thousands. The Tang forces are already cowering in fear from past battles. In this entire country, we are the only forces that are still capable of battle, and the enemies will undoubtedly focus on us. As long as I stand on this castle, they will not split their forces. The moment they see me leave, they will give up attack on Tang Jing and will chase after me with all they have. At that moment, we will not even have the walls of the castle to defend with. Before us will be the Yan Bei army, and behind us, there will be the Jingan Army. We will die a more horrendous death!”
This level of thinking was obvious to the likes of He Xiao. He frowned as he listened and clenched his teeth, without uttering a single word.
”He Xiao, I beseech you, bring them out and escape. I received Li Ce's gratitude all my life, I need to repay him somehow. I cannot defend his country, but the least I can do is protect his children.”
He Xiao's expression bordered on depression as he stared at Chu Qiao, suddenly saying, ”Master, let others go. Let me stay beside you to protect you.”
Chu Qiao shook her head and lightly replied, ”I can't trust others enough.”
He Xiao looked on at Chu Qiao, his gaze burning like fresh magma that had just been spewed from a volcano. After so many years of fighting together, going through life and death together, the time they had spent together was more than they had spent with anyone else. Their relationship had too changed with time, from merely subordinates to a familial love.