Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Night Attack

"Alright. Say what you will. I’m with you."

Their eyes met. In her bright, stubborn gaze, Lu Xiu saw his own reflection, a tiny speck.

Though so many words were caught in his heart, in the end, they all dissolved into a barely audible sigh.

’So be it.’

At least, in this moment, they were present for each other.

"I know you’re tired. I’m a bit tired myself. After we finish this tea, let’s go rest."

Lu Xiu was the first to look away. His gaze fell back to the teacup, which he picked up again. His quiet voice was heavy with exhaustion.

"Jinye is a thousand miles from Pingzhou. It must have been difficult for you to bring this so far. How could I refuse such a kind gesture?"

The tea itself told no tales, but the slightest expression could betray a hidden heart.

Lu Xiu lowered his gaze and smiled, then raised his hand and drank it all in one gulp.

Liang Wan narrowed her eyes slightly, watching him in silence. Her face was expressionless, yet she could clearly feel the immense mountain weighing on her heart finally come crashing down.

Lu Xiu set down the cup. The black of his eyes seemed to deepen as he smiled at her. "I want to hold you."

"Okay."

The word had barely left her lips when a piercing horn blast shattered the long, silent night. The sound was like a roll of fine brocade being torn by hand—it shattered the peace, destroyed the moment. The startling, grating noise was enough to make one’s hair stand on end.

The smile on his beautiful face shattered. The hand holding hers turned ice-cold.

Liang Wan’s heart clenched so violently that she flinched in pain.

Outside the tent, the pitch-dark night was suddenly set ablaze with light.

The sleeping military camp instantly descended into chaos, filled with overlapping shouts.

A soldier on night watch burst in, flustered.

"Great General, the Zhou Army has launched a surprise attack on the city!"

As he spoke, another soldier rushed in frantically.

"Great General, the north gate has fallen! The Zhou Army’s forces are concentrated there. They are too strong, and we are too weak. We can’t hold them back."

"Report—the west gate has fallen."

As the reports came in one after another, the light in Lu Xiu’s eyes grew dimmer and dimmer.

He glanced at the woman who sat with her head down, silent from beginning to end. After a moment of silence, he said in a low voice, "Abandon the city. All troops are to retreat to Tongli Town, ten miles outside the city."

The men acknowledged the order and hurried out.

Lu Xiu didn’t look at her again. He grabbed his sword and then pulled open a small drawer. Liang Wan didn’t raise her head, but she could still sense that the man who was always so composed had, in that instant, become incredibly stiff. The knuckles of the hand gripping his sword were white.

A vice-general burst in, frantic, weapon in hand. He gasped for breath as he urged:

"Great General, if we don’t leave now, it’ll be too late—"

The sounds of clashing weapons were already clearly audible from outside.

Lu Xiu glanced at her and yanked her to her feet. "Let’s go."

Liang Wan looked up at him in surprise, her eyes red.

Lu Xiu frowned, remaining silent as he started to drag her outside.

Pulled off balance, Liang Wan stumbled. Coming to her senses, she quickly snatched up the Pouch that had fallen to the floor.

The moment they stepped out of the great tent, the night wind hit them. The sounds of fighting seemed to come from all directions. The once orderly camp was now in utter chaos, filled with the shouts of men and the neighing of horses.

The Zhou Army’s surprise attack had breached the city gates. They advanced unstoppably, cutting a path into the city and throwing the defenders into disarray, catching them completely off guard.

To continue defending the city would be like waiting to be trapped like fish in a barrel.

Men were already waiting outside the tent. They escorted them toward the South Gate.

In the cool night wind, Lu Xiu held his sword in one hand and gripped her wrist with the other, sheltering her behind him. Everywhere they went, torches blazed and cold blades glinted. The air was thick with the stench of burning and blood.

Lu Xiu walked at a frantic pace, and Liang Wan struggled to keep up. Her long, pale dress and her hair flew about her.

’A halo around the moon foretells wind. It really is true.’

By the time they reached the South Gate, the Qi Army was no longer holding its ground, but fighting as it retreated.

Lu Xiu pulled her up onto a horse with him.

The Qi Army was already weak and outnumbered. Facing a surprise attack by the main force of the Zhou Army, they had lost more than half their soldiers.

By the time they reached Tongli Town, the sky had already begun to lighten.

The remaining soldiers regrouped on the spot and awaited orders.

Pingzhou City’s location was strategic. It was a crucial, must-pass route for any invasion of Qi. If it were to fall, the Zhou Army would have a clear path for future attacks.

This was why Lu Xiu had insisted on defending Pingzhou City to the death, even when it had become an empty city, and it was also why the Zhou Army was so relentless in their assault.

Losing such an important city would not only render all their previous efforts moot, but would also be a devastating blow to morale.

Their main force had suffered a major setback. Lu Xiu hadn’t slept all night. Some vice-generals and Assistants suggested calling for reinforcements, but he did not adopt their counsel.

Several of the generals under his command were deeply confused.

One of them stepped forward, seething with rage. "Great General, Zhao Yan is in Tuyang, which is no more than fifty miles from Pingzhou! This subordinate is willing to lead the vanguard, enter the city, and fight the Zhou Army to the death! When reinforcements arrive, we will surely retake Pingzhou!"

Lu Xiu remained silent.

Someone beside him echoed the sentiment, "If we don’t take advantage of the chaos in the city and call for troops to counterattack now, it will be much harder to retake once the Zhou Army has fortified their position. We absolutely cannot miss this golden opportunity!"

Several of the men nodded in agreement.

Lu Xiu kept his brow furrowed, saying nothing.

The men exchanged glances, completely baffled as to why the Great General, who had always been so decisive, was hesitating to take a stance.

"Great General—"

The vice-general couldn’t help but speak out, his face red with anxiety.

"To abandon the city and flee so shamefully, like stray dogs—that is not our way! Even if we die in battle, we must retake the city and reclaim our honor!"

"Retake Pingzhou City! Defend Pingzhou City to the death!"

Even the wounded soldiers sitting on the ground gripped their weapons, struggled to their feet, and shouted in response.

The dejected men got to their feet one by one. Though some were wounded and others maimed, they were all men of spirit. A single call to arms rallied a hundred in response.

Lu Xiu stood alone in the center, cold and silent, surrounded by a band of soldiers who, though defeated, were not discouraged and had found their morale once more.

Liang Wan stood behind the crowd, her heart aching as if being wrenched by a hand. She sucked in a breath and forced herself to look away.

She didn’t dare to look at him, nor could she bear to.

Since that single word, "go," in the night, he hadn’t looked at her once, nor had he spoken another word to her.

Liang Wan lowered her head. Through her blurry vision, she saw raindrops fall to the ground, leaving wet marks on the dry earth.

She knew that before long, these marks would disappear, as if they had never been there at all.

But she also knew... this was only the beginning.

The shouting soldiers, still waiting for a command that never came, looked with confusion at the silent man in their midst.

The shouts gradually died down, and small voices of doubt began to surface among them.

"Pingzhou City is easy to defend and hard to attack. We held out for so long even after our supply lines were cut. Even with a surprise attack at night, the gates shouldn’t have been breached so easily. Why did those Zhou bandits have such an easy time of it?"

Someone next to him shoved him hard. "Zheng Si, what the hell are you trying to say? Are you suggesting we have a spy in our ranks?"

"Exactly! We lost, fine, but we can’t fall for the Zhou bandits’ tricks and start fighting amongst ourselves!"

"How can you believe that nonsense?"

...

Besieged by accusations, Zheng Si’s face and neck flushed red with anger. "Aren’t you even a little bit suspicious?" he demanded.

"Never mind that the gates fell too easily. Think about it—normally, we’re all extremely alert at night. How did we all sleep so soundly last night?"

"The Great General himself saved my life on the battlefield at Lu Yang. I have never doubted the Great General. Besides, if the Great General were really colluding with the enemy as the rumors say, we would all have died countless times over. Why would he wait until today?"

The man beside him slapped him hard on the shoulder. "What the hell are you trying to say? If you don’t make yourself clear, I’ll slap you silly!"

Zheng Si took a deep breath. His gaze cut through the crowd, and his finger pointed. "It was her!"

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