Chapter 67: Sudden Assault on the City

Upon hearing this, Li Ye's expression turned ashen.

"Initially, I felt that slaughtering civilians violated heavenly principles, but it seems these beasts thoroughly deserve to be butchered."

"So be it. Knowing what the Kingdom of Annan has done, even if we slaughter every last person in Annan, I will feel no psychological burden whatsoever!" Li Ye said coldly.

The rest of the soldiers were filled with righteous indignation upon hearing what the cavalry had witnessed.

To dare ravage the common people of Dayuan in such a manner—they truly deserved to die.

Their last shred of compassion vanished completely into thin air.

Fires of rage burned fiercely in every heart, and they could not wait to instantly storm this city and wipe out every single member of the local households.

Li Ye no longer needed to give any pre-battle mobilization speech.

Princess Ruyue turned pale as she listened.

Even the northern barbarian tribes would never treat captured civilians with such cruelty.

At worst, they merely treated them as slaves to perform labor.

Yet the most basic guarantees of survival were still provided.

"These people certainly deserve to die! Were it not for the immense distance and our inability to adapt to this climate, we should have dispatched a grand army to obliterate the Kingdom of Annan."

Princess Ruyue was likewise infuriated beyond measure.

"Rest assured, even if we cannot annihilate the Kingdom of Annan this time, sooner or later we shall return to wipe them out."

Li Ye had already made up his mind.

Relying merely on trade to ensure a good life for the populace was utterly impossible.

Every single enemy had to be completely eradicated.

Only when no one dared ever again to harm the people of Dayuan would his objective be achieved.

Seeing that the time to open the city gates was approaching, Li Ye instructed his soldiers to don the attire of Annan commoners.

Some disguised themselves as a trade caravan, pretending to enter the city at the break of dawn.

Once the city gates were captured, seizing the rest of the city would become far easier.

The operation had to be swift and decisive; not a single soul within the city could be allowed to escape.

Otherwise, the surprise raid would fail.

Even with Annan's sparse garrison, once they had fully prepared and mobilized able-bodied citizens to defend the walls, breaching it thereafter would prove exceedingly difficult.

Over two hundred men were arranged to march toward the city gates.

After all, it was early morning, and too large a crowd would easily arouse suspicion.

Li Ye concealed himself to observe from a distance, while Zhao Wudi's cavalry lay fully prepared within the forest.

The Kingdom of Annan had been receiving continuous reports of military victories, and the garrison soldiers never imagined they would be attacked.

Awakening at dawn, they yawned endlessly, listless and spiritless.

They had no inkling that danger was about to befall them.

The disguised trade caravan soon arrived at the city gates and was immediately halted by the guards.

Merchant caravans entering the city were required to undergo inspection.

Simultaneously, the guards would seize the opportunity to extort money from the caravan—a standard method for the gate guards to line their pockets.

The disguised soldiers did not rush to strike, instead employing every possible means to buy time.

They waited for the rest of their troops to gather as well.

Nodding and bowing to greet the guards, they even proactively produced pieces of broken silver to offer as bribes.

Seeing the caravan members act with such savvy, the gate guards beamed with delight.

Yet a cursory inspection could still not be omitted.

They walked up to the carriages and began to search.

As they lifted the blocking fabric, the Dayuan soldiers suddenly made their move.

With lightning speed, they drew daggers and slashed across the guards' throats.

The Annan gate guards felt a sudden chill at their throats and looked over in sheer disbelief.

Blood was already gushing from their necks, and though they wanted to cry out, no sound could escape.

With a heavy thud, they collapsed to the ground.

Having struck, the soldiers immediately tossed away the covers and drew their weapons.

"Brothers, charge!"

The Dayuan soldiers wielded crossbows and blades as they surged into the city.

In the blink of an eye, every single guard at the gate was slain.

Only then did the soldiers inside the city react, shouting warnings while drawing their weapons to counterattack.

The Dayuan soldiers immediately raised their crossbows and fired at the enemy.

The immense force pierced through the front targets and struck the soldiers standing behind them as well.

Because it was a surprise assault, the effectiveness was unexpectedly high.

All the guards at the city gates were cleared out in short order.

The garrison troops atop the city walls scrambled down in a panic, though it would still take them a moment.

From the very instant the fighting began, Zhao Wudi had personally led the cavalry in a charge.

Li Ye likewise gave the order to launch the assault.

Zhao Wudi needed to lead the cavalry into the city at maximum speed and firmly secure the city gates.

Li Ye commanded his troops to shoot down the defenders on the city walls to provide covering fire.

Simultaneously, the main force was to rapidly flood into the city, seizing all other gates to ensure that not a single person inside could escape.

At this hour, the majority of the city's inhabitants had yet to wake.

Only a few vendors selling breakfast were beginning to set up their stalls.

Hearing the battle cries, they were momentarily dazed and failed to react.

They stared in utter bewilderment as the cavalry thundered past them.

Only moments later did they finally realize that enemy forces had breached the city.

Panic-stricken, they grabbed their goods and fled toward their homes, desperately seeking places to hide.

Before long, the soldiers had already stormed the ramparts.

After all, the remaining garrison was extremely meager in number and paled vastly in strength compared to elite troops.

The moment both sides made contact, the defenders crumbled into a rout.

The garrison troops on the walls were swiftly and utterly eradicated.

Confirming that the area was secure, Li Ye finally brought Princess Ruyue, Xiaocui, and the others into the city.

Princess Ruyue watched the preceding battle unfold with an expression of profound displeasure.

"Actually, I'm quite a capable fighter myself! Just let me join the battle!"

Princess Ruyue went so far as to grab Li Ye's arm and act coquettishly.

Her full bosom brushed deliberately against Li Ye's sleeve.

Even through a layer of soft armor, the softness was palpable.

Faced with such entreaties and coquetting from the capital's foremost beauty, even Li Ye almost lost his composure.

"Ahem! Absolutely not. Your task is to protect my safety! How can you court danger like this? What if you get injured? Do not be fooled into thinking our army holds the advantage; the enemy surely harbors formidable experts hidden among them."

Li Ye sternly rejected Princess Ruyue's request.

Linyue held no animosity toward Princess Ruyue whatsoever.

They had chatted most cordially throughout the journey.

Smiling, she persuaded, "His Highness's words are entirely correct. Princess Ruyue should simply stay by His Highness's side. After all, you are a person of royal blood. If you were to get hurt, the Prince Consort would likely blame His Highness upon our return to the capital."

"Linyue, do you doubt my combat prowess as well? Getting minor injuries during military campaigns is completely normal. In the past when I accompanied my father on expeditions, I always charged alongside him," Princess Ruyue retorted.

"That situation was entirely different! The Prince Consort possesses exceptionally profound martial arts and is fully capable of safeguarding you. Besides, we are fighting within a city. There's no telling from where someone might suddenly loose a hidden arrow, making it impossible to guard against completely. It is far better to exercise caution! If we were fighting on open terrain and I could be certain of your safety, I would gladly intercede with His Highness on your behalf and let you enter the fray!" Linyue said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Princess Ruyue was overjoyed. "Linyue, you are so kind! You're the only one who truly understands me!"

She thereupon ceased her demands to join the combat.

Li Ye led his troops toward the administrative office within the city.

Since the city's garrison numbered barely over two thousand men, they were easily and thoroughly annihilated.

The grand army commenced its slaughter within the city, determined to leave not a single soul alive.