World's First Traitor System (394)

Chapter 394 - The Siege of Peng City

The Later Jin attacked. Ten thousand mechanical beasts thundered towards Peng City. The Southern Tang, too, launched its assault on the Great Ming.

Standing atop Hongzhou’s walls, Li Yu once again summoned his power, painting a million ink soldiers with rain and earth as his brush and canvas.

Ten thousand mechanical beasts and a million ink soldiers.

Both Emperors, as if sharing a single mind, had refrained from deploying their main armies. Was this a mere probing attack? Or did they intend to conquer their respective targets single-handedly?

Thanks to Fan Li’s relocation policy, the Later Jin’s mechanical beasts encountered no resistance as they advanced towards Peng City. Intelligence reports placed them less than half a day away.

“Duke Jin!” Xiang Chong wailed. “What are we to do? They’re enormous! Each one as tall as half the city wall!”

Even from a distance of three or four hundred meters, the ground trembled beneath the mechanical beasts’ advance. Xiang Chong, standing atop Peng City's gatehouse, feared the walls would collapse before the beasts even reached them.

“Help me! I don’t want to be a conquered Emperor!”

With Miaoyin’s departure, Great Ci’s support had ended. Xiang Chong, desperate, finally recognized Fan Li as his only hope. He wept openly, his tears and snot mingling, his imperial dignity forgotten.

Fan Li, however, ignored him. The city's defenses were already in place. Two hundred thousand garrison troops manned the four gates, divided into rotating shifts to ensure they could withstand a prolonged siege.

Fan Li’s trading company personnel managed the logistical operations, ensuring the smooth flow of supplies from the city’s storehouses. The citizens had been ordered to remain indoors, keeping the streets clear for troop movements and supply lines.

Finally, when Xiang Chong’s wails subsided, Fan Li spoke. “Your Majesty, the garrison troops are prepared. There is no need for alarm.”

“Will… will they be enough?”

Xiang Chong sniffled, his gaze fixed on the bustling soldiers. He remained unconvinced. His own army of one hundred and eighty thousand, with their gleaming armor and polished weapons, had seemed far more impressive.

The garrison troops, by contrast, wore worn and battered armor, their weapons dark and dull, almost black, with a strange reddish tinge. But they were Fan Li’s men.

Xiang Chong, desperate for his support, dared not voice his doubts too directly. “Perhaps… perhaps we should appeal to Empress Yao Guang again?”

“For what purpose?” Fan Li asked, raising an eyebrow. Self-reliance, he believed, was always preferable to relying on others. Moreover, if he truly required reinforcements, he would turn to Wei, Han, or Wu, never to Yao Guang.

“Ask her to send Sage Ruler Miaoyin again!” Xiang Chong suggested, pleased with his own cunning. “I don’t expect her to fight for us, but her music, the ‘Heavenly Demon’s Wild Dance,’ could enhance our troops’ strength.”

Fan Li looked at him, a flicker of approval in his eyes. Xiang Chong was finally beginning to understand the importance of preparation. “A wise suggestion, Your Majesty. Indeed, an army marches on its stomach.”

Xiang Chong, thrilled by Fan Li’s praise, became excited. He glanced at the officials, his smug expression clearly conveying, “See? Even the Duke approves of my plan!”

The officials remained unconcerned with Xiang Chong's ego. They were preoccupied with the imminent arrival of the enemy.

“Your Majesty,” an elderly official said, pointing towards a distant mountain where a column of black smoke rose into the sky. It was a warning beacon. “The nearest outpost has signaled the enemy’s approach. They are less than half a day away. Even if we were to send for Sage Ruler Miaoyin now, she would not arrive in time.”

“Then… then perhaps… we should relocate the capital?” Xiang Chong stammered, his face burning with shame. But his pride mattered less than his life. If Fan Li agreed, he would flee immediately.

Fan Li ignored him. An unsettling silence descended upon the gatehouse. Then, a figure in silver armor strode towards them. It was Fan Chun. “Brother… I mean, Duke Jin! Reporting as ordered!”

“Speak.” Fan Li looked at his brother with approval. His steady demeanor, the strength of his Unity Realm cultivation, the subtle authority in his movements, were all signs of his growing maturity.

“As you commanded, the courtesans Su Qingfang of the Bright Moon Pavilion, Chen Shishi of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion, and Qin Hongyu of the Embroidered Cloud Pavilion, have arrived.”

Xiang Chong stared, dumbfounded. Courtesans? With the enemy at their gates, what was Fan Li doing? The officials, too, were stunned.

“Duke Jin… is this… appropriate?” Xiang Chong stammered, glancing from Fan Li to Fan Chun, then back to himself.

Three men, three courtesans. Even facing imminent destruction, Fan Li was indulging in his… depravity? Then, a thought occurred to him. He wouldn't be fighting. He was the Emperor. Perhaps… some… entertainment… wouldn't be amiss. He allowed himself a small, secret smile. Let Fan Li bear the brunt of public disapproval. He was merely… indulging.

He almost chuckled, but then Fan Li’s cold gaze silenced him.

“Your Majesty finds something… inappropriate?”

“Uh…” Xiang Chong stammered. “The courtesans… are they not for… our… entertainment?”

“Choose your words carefully, Your Majesty.” Fan Li’s cold face cut through Xiang Chong’s lewd thoughts. “Su Qingfang, Chen Shishi, and Qin Hongyu are daughters of respectable families, unjustly imprisoned, their fathers persecuted and killed. They were forced into prostitution. Their talent and virtue, however, remain untarnished. They entertain with their artistry, not their bodies.”

Xiang Chong’s face burned with shame. He had assumed… wrongly. “But… Duke Jin… even so… why have you summoned them?”

As he spoke, three figures, escorted by garrison troops, approached the gatehouse. Xiang Chong stared. They were indeed breathtakingly beautiful. But their demeanor was calm and composed, not the seductive allure he had anticipated. Their attire, too, was surprisingly modest – simple green and blue robes, like daughters of scholarly families.

“Duke Jin,” they said, bowing before Fan Li, ignoring Xiang Chong completely, “we are here as ordered.”

“You are no longer criminals. You have atoned for your fathers’ crimes.” Fan Li’s tone held a hint of regret. “The injustice committed 20 years ago, under the former Emperor’s rule… I cannot overturn it. For this, I apologize.”

Tears welled in the women’s eyes. “Duke Jin, you bear no responsibility for our suffering. We are eternally grateful for your kindness.”

Xiang Chong, listening to their exchange, was utterly bewildered.

“Your Majesty, my Lords,” Fan Li addressed the court, “these women, though not as powerful as Sage Ruler Miaoyin, possess exceptional musical talent. Just as she can inspire frenzy, they can inspire courage. They will aid our troops.”

The women each produced a small wooden box, revealing their instruments: a seven-stringed pipa of polished jade, a set of eight bronze bells from the Spring and Autumn Period, and a war drum crafted from divine wood an dragon skin.

Qin Hongyu struck the drum. The sound, like rolling thunder, resonated through the air, filling the Chu soldiers with a surge of strength.

“This is Qin Hongyu’s ‘Call to Arms,’” Fan Li announced.

The bells chimed, their deep, resonant tones calmed the soldiers’ minds and enhanced the flow of their spiritual energy.

“This is Chen Shishi’s ‘Chu Wind.’”

The pipa’s strings vibrated, a rapid, almost violent melody that sharpened the soldiers’ focus, shattering lingering doubts and inner demons.

“This is Su Qingfang’s ‘Refining the Spirit.’”

“Together, these three melodies will steady your minds, enhance your strength, and even… illuminate your path to enlightenment.” As Fan Li finished speaking, bursts of spiritual energy erupted amongst the garrison troops as some experienced breakthroughs in their cultivation. “Their music, unlike Miaoyin’s ‘Heavenly Demon’s Wild Dance,’ carries no risk.”

He glanced at the women. Their faces were pale, sweat poured down their skin. Inspiring thousands of soldiers was clearly taking a toll. As the final notes faded, they each coughed up blood.

“Medicine!” Fan Li commanded. Even the finest elixirs couldn’t instantly heal them, but they offered some relief. “Duke Jin,” they said weakly, “there are three more gates… we must go…”

Fan Li’s brow furrowed. He knew it would be difficult, but he hadn't anticipated this level of strain. Yet, with the enemy approaching, he couldn't allow them to rest.

“Thank you,” he said, bowing deeply.

His words were echoed by the officials and soldiers. “Thank you!” they chorused.

Only Xiang Chong remained motionless, his face a mask of confusion. He was the Emperor. Why should he thank… courtesans?

Fan Li turned to him coldly, “Your Majesty is… ungrateful?”

Xiang Chong, startled, almost fell to his knees. He stammered, “Th… thank you…” But the women had already departed, their instruments packed away. He looked at Fan Li. They hadn’t even acknowledged him.

…

Half a day later, the mechanical beasts arrived. Their roars, laced with sonic attacks, shook the very foundations of Peng City. But the garrison troops, whose morale was  bolstered by the three courtesans’ music, showed no fear. They gripped their weapons resolutely.

“Duke Jin!” Xiang Chong cried, “They’re enormous! Each one as tall as half the city wall! What are we to do?”

“We attack,” Fan Li replied calmly.

“Attack?!” Xiang Chong was aghast. Was Fan Li mad? Attack those monstrous beasts?

Fan Li, seeing his fear, smiled. “Your Majesty needn’t worry. We are defending. We have the advantage of terrain.”

“Terrain?” Xiang Chong looked around, puzzled. Did Fan Li mean the city walls?

Then, he saw it. The ground outside the city shimmered, glowing with countless runes and symbols. “Formations?”

“Indeed,” Fan Li replied.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions rocked the earth, fire and lightning erupted in a series of carefully orchestrated blasts.

“Over eight hundred Fire and Thunder Formations. Simple to construct, requiring only sufficient materials, and a day’s work for the kingdom’s seven hundred and thirty formation masters.”

Xiang Chong gaped. “Eight hundred formations? In a single day?” Even with his own eyes, he couldn't believe it.

“Is that… difficult?” Fan Li asked.

As they spoke, enormous ballistae appeared atop the walls.

“Fire!” Fan Chun commanded.

The projectiles weren't arrows, but enormous bolts, as thick as tree trunks. They slammed into the earth, exploding in a fiery rain, further igniting the Fire and Thunder Formations.

“But Duke Jin aren’t we going out of the city to attack?” Xiang Chong stammered while watching the carnage unfold.

“A wise man once said, truth lies within the range of one's cannons. Is it not satisfying to strike an enemy who cannot strike back?” Fan Li’s explanation was as nonchalant as his demeanor.

Xiang Chong gulped. “But those ballistae… I’ve never seen them before…”

“Newly developed. Recently deployed,” Fan Li explained smoothly. “It’s understandable that Your Majesty is… unfamiliar with them.”

Xiang Chong seethed inwardly. Newly developed? Why hadn't they been available during the Xiongzhou campaign? He wanted to scream, but he feared the ballistae might be turned on him.

The initial wave of mechanical beasts, decimated by the formations and ballistae, hadn't even reached the city walls. Xiang Chong, clinging to a sliver of hope, thought, “There are thousands more. Surely, some will reach the gates.”

But his hopes were dashed. The ballistae’s fiery bolts seemed endless. The garrison troops, energized by the courtesans’ music, worked tirelessly, their movements precise and efficient.

“Duke Jin, how many bolts have you prepared? They seem inexhaustible.”

If Fan Li achieved such an effortless victory, his own defeat at Xiongzhou would seem even more pathetic.

“Your Majesty finds the number excessive?” Fan Li smiled and bowed slightly. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I suffer from a childhood ailment. A fear of insufficient firepower. Thus, I tend to overstock. A few million bolts, nothing more.”