PFC Chapter 395 The Moon Goddess Cult's First Stronghold Has Been Breached!
Chapter 395 The Moon Goddess Cult's First Stronghold Has Been Breached!
the next morning,
After waking up, Han Zhong ate breakfast and listened to the reports from his spies. Once he was sure that everything was under his control, he went to Fan Li's tent.
He lifted the curtain, bent down, and went inside.
Fan Li was sitting on a wooden stool, holding a book in his hands. When he saw him come in, he put down the book, stood up, and clasped his hands in greeting.
"General Han, you've come so early, is there something important?"
Han Zhong smiled, sat down in the main seat, and placed his hands on his knees, appearing very casual.
"Mr. Fan, where is your prince now?"
Fan Li's brow twitched slightly.
He was somewhat puzzled, not understanding why Han Zhong was so concerned about his prince's position.
This was the third time Han Zhong had asked him, either openly or subtly.
Logically speaking, His Highness's position should not affect Han Zhong's attack.
In their plan, Han Zhong would at most break through the second line of defense of the Moon Goddess Cult, kill a few high-ranking members of the Moon Goddess Cult, and then retreat. He would not even touch the location of the Moon Goddess, and their prince was with the Moon Goddess.
In the end, this battle is nothing more than a show put on by both sides; there will be no real danger.
This is why he felt so comfortable letting the prince and the moon goddess stay together.
He had tried to dissuade the prince from the dangers of the battlefield, but that was only out of basic concern.
If you think about it more deeply, you'll realize that this battle won't affect the prince at all.
But Han Zhong would come and ask every few days, which made him uneasy.
Fan Li smiled, stroked his beard, and spoke in a calm and unhurried manner.
"General Han seems to be very concerned about the safety of my prince."
Han Zhong's heart stirred slightly, but his face remained unchanged.
He smiled, his tone sincere.
"Of course, after all, this is a battlefield, and things can change in an instant. If I can keep track of your prince's movements, I can naturally restrain my men and avoid friendly fire."
Fan Li smiled and waved his hand.
"General, there's no need to worry. My lord's strength has already reached the First Rank Finger Profound Realm. Even if this battle were dangerous, he would be more than capable of protecting himself on the battlefield!"
Han Zhong's smile remained, but his voice deepened.
"That would be ideal, of course. But if everything could be done flawlessly, that would be even better."
Fan Li nodded, a calm smile playing on his lips.
"But my lord is a living, breathing person, and I naturally have no idea where he is now."
Han Zhong felt a chill run down his spine!
He remained outwardly calm, but a chill ran through him.
This old fox seems to have sensed something is wrong, which is why he hasn't opened his mouth!
They actually used such a despicable excuse to fob him off!
He and Xu Longxiang clearly have a way to communicate, otherwise why would he have told him yesterday to "be responsible for notifying him of the news"?
How can you send a message if there is no way to contact the sender?
Now he was told that he didn't know what was going on between him and Xu Longxiang.
This clearly shows they don't want to tell him Xu Longxiang's location!
Han Zhong really wanted to know, but there was nothing he could do at the moment.
He couldn't press him any further, or he would really be exposed.
Now is not the time to expose the truth. At least wait until he launches the second line of defense before telling Fan Li that His Majesty sent a powerful figure to secretly help him.
Han Zhong smiled, stood up, and clasped his hands in a fist salute.
"Alright, then I won't worry about it anymore. Mr. Fan, please wait a moment, I'll go and direct the attack."
Fan Li also stood up and returned the greeting with clasped hands.
"Now that it is dawn, when does the general plan to launch the attack?"
Han Zhong smiled, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.
"soon."
Fan Li smiled faintly, as faint as the thin frost that condenses on a windowpane in winter.
"Then we await your good news, General."
Han Zhong nodded, turned around and walked out of the tent.
The curtain fell behind him with a soft "snap".
His expression immediately turned serious, as heavy as an iron plate, so heavy it seemed to drip water.
Zhou Cheng, who had been guarding outside the tent, saw Han Zhong's expression and quickly followed, lowering his voice.
"General, is something amiss?"
Han Zhong walked quickly to an empty space before stopping.
He turned around to face Zhou Cheng, his voice low, like an echo coming from underground.
"That old fox Fan Li has probably already figured out our plan."
Zhou Cheng's brows furrowed sharply, his expression turned serious, and a vein on his forehead throbbed slightly.
"Should I do something for you?"
Han Zhong shook his head, stood with his hands behind his back, and gazed at the vast, desolate mountain ridge in the distance.
"No need. The die is cast; even if Fan Li senses something, he can't change it."
Zhou Cheng nodded, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly.
Han Zhong turned his head again, staring at him with eyes as sharp as knives.
"However, if any peregrine falcons or carrier pigeons appear around Fan Li's camp, remember to intercept them immediately!"
Zhou Cheng straightened his chest, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, his voice firm.
"Yes! I understand!"
Han Zhong, still worried, added another word of advice, his voice even more somber.
"Remember, intercept every message! Whether it's being sent out or coming in, show it to me immediately!"
Zhou Cheng nodded solemnly, his gaze resolute.
"General, rest assured, not even a mosquito can escape Fan Li's tent!"
Han Zhong then turned around and walked towards the main tent.
Zhou Cheng stood there, gazing at Han Zhong's straight back, a heavy feeling welling up in his heart.
The general is right; the arrow is on the bowstring and must be released.
He took a deep breath, turned around, and walked towards Fan Li's tent.
He wants to keep a close eye on things himself.
A low tent with its curtains drawn, no lamps inside, only a few rays of morning light seeping in through the gaps, illuminating the interior in a dim light.
Fan Li sat on the wooden stool, his smile gradually fading, like the receding tide revealing the gray, cold sand beneath.
He always felt that Han Zhong's attitude was a bit off. That excessive concern and overly frequent inquiries didn't seem like normal concern between allies; it was more like... a test.
Perhaps something unexpected happened that he couldn't have predicted.
His brows were furrowed tightly, forming a deep "川" (river) shape between them.
He stood up, walked to the table, spread out a sheet of white paper, took the fine wolf-hair brush from the brush holder, and dipped it in ink.
The pen strokes landed on the paper, making a soft, scratching sound.
"Your Highness, Han Zhong's attitude is strange; he seems to have ulterior motives and his concern is not ordinary. I suspect he may be up to something. Your Highness must be careful and not trust anyone easily. If anything goes wrong, leave immediately. Remember this. Written by Fan Li, weeping."
He blew on the ink to dry it, folded the paper into thin strips, and tucked it into his sleeve.
He neither summoned the peregrine falcon nor released the carrier pigeon.
He walked to the tent flap, lifted a corner, and looked outside.
Zhou Cheng was standing not far away, with his back to the tent, like a wooden stake driven into the ground.
Fan Li lowered the tent flap, coughed a few times, his voice was very soft, but it had a peculiar rhythm—two short and one long.
In the shadows of the corner of the tent, a black figure silently emerged.
Mo Ya emerged from the shadows, dressed in black, with a cold and stern face, his hand on a short sword, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's.
He walked up to Fan Li, said nothing, and just looked at him.
Fan Li took out the secret letter from his sleeve and handed it to Mo Ya, his voice so low that only the two of them could hear it.
"This letter must be delivered to His Highness."
Mo Ya took the secret letter, tucked it into his pocket, and nodded.
"it is good."
He didn't hesitate, didn't exchange pleasantries, and didn't even glance at him.
With a flicker, he transformed into a black afterimage and silently disappeared into the gap in the tent curtain.
Fan Li gazed at the still slightly swaying curtain and let out a deep breath.
The breath was long and slow, like a stone that had been pressing on the chest for a long time finally being removed, but instead of becoming lighter, it became heavier.
He slowly sat down and closed his eyes.
Hopefully, it's not too late.
Outside the camp, the sound of bugles suddenly rang out!
"Waaaaah—waaaah—"
Three deep blasts of a horn ripped through the morning silence, echoing through the mountains!
Fifty thousand elite troops were arrayed, their banners fluttering and their weapons like a forest.
The morning light shone on the armor, giving it a cold, sharp gleam!
The warhorses snorted and their hooves paved the yellow earth, raising clouds of dust!
Han Zhong rode a tall horse, clad in black iron armor, with a long sword at his waist, his eyes blazing!
He drew his long sword from his waist, the blade drawing a bright arc in the morning light, and pointed it towards the vast, desolate mountains ahead!
"attack!"
"kill--!!!"
The 50,000-strong army shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens!
Warhorses galloped, their hooves shattering the morning light and raising clouds of dust!
The infantry followed closely behind, with swordsmen and shieldmen in front, spearmen in the middle, and archers in the rear. Their formation was strict and their steps were orderly, like a sophisticated killing machine, slowly advancing towards the first pass of the Moon God Sect!
At the pass, the Moon Goddess Cult's garrison was already on high alert.
Hundreds of white-robed followers stood atop the gate wall, holding bows and arrows and rolling stones, their faces pale and their fingers trembling.
Their eyes were filled with fear, but no one backed down.
Behind them stood a middle-aged man in a white robe, his hands behind his back, his face solemn and his eyes sharp as knives.
His name is Zhao Wuji. He is one of the guardians sent by the Moon Goddess Sect to guard the first pass. He is a second-rank martial artist.
"Do not be afraid!" His voice boomed, echoing across the pass. "The moon goddess is with us! Those who fall in battle, their souls return to the moon palace, to live forever!"
Upon hearing this, the fear in the eyes of the white-robed followers gradually faded, replaced by a fanatical, scorching light.
"Long live the Moon Goddess! Long live the Moon Goddess! Long live the Moon Goddess!"
Thousands of arrows rained down from the pass, striking the charging Qin soldiers like a storm!
The arrow pierced the air with a sharp whistling sound!
The Qin soldiers raised their iron shields and held them in front of them. Arrows struck the shields with a crisp "clanging" sound, and sparks flew everywhere!
"Fire arrows! Return fire!"
The archers of the Great Qin drew their bows and nocked their arrows, sending thousands of arrows soaring into the sky and falling towards the pass with a strong wind!
The white-robed cult members on the pass fell to the ground, shot by arrows, their screams echoing everywhere!
But the followers behind them immediately stepped forward, trampling over their fallen comrades, and continued to fire arrows!
Zhao Wuji stood on the pass, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield, his expression solemn.
He saw that the Qin infantry had already rushed to the foot of the pass, ladders were placed on the walls, and battering rams were pounding the gate!
"Roll the stones! Roll the logs! Pour the hot oil!"
Huge boulders rolled down the pass and smashed onto the heads of the Qin soldiers, splattering their brains and blood everywhere!
The log rolled down and broke the ladder, causing the soldiers on it to fall with screams!
Boiling hot oil poured down from the top of the wall, scalding the battering ram and the soldiers. Their flesh sizzled from the heat, and the air was filled with the stench of burning flesh!
But the Qin soldiers did not retreat!
They are elite soldiers, veterans who have crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and have seen battlefields far more devastating than this!
A breach was smashed in the city wall, and soldiers poured in through the gap, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the white-robed cultists defending the city!
Swords flashed and blood flew everywhere!
A white-robed cult member had his arm severed, blood gushing out, but he was oblivious. With red eyes, he picked up the knife from the ground with his other hand and continued charging forward!
A spear pierced his chest, and blood gushed from his mouth, but he clung tightly to the spear shaft to prevent the people behind him from being hurt!
His companions, stepping on his shoulders, flipped over the gap and slashed at the Qin soldiers with their swords!
The battle lasted from dawn until afternoon, and from afternoon until dusk.
Corpses littered the area above and below the pass.
The corpses of the white-robed cult members and the Qin soldiers were piled together, and blood flowed like a river, staining the gate wall a dark red.
As dusk settled, the door was finally forced open.
The Qin cavalry surged in like a tidal wave, and wherever their blades passed, the white-robed followers fell one after another, never to rise again.
Zhao Wuji stood at the highest point of the pass, looking at the corpses scattered on the ground and the charred Moon Goddess Banner, a trace of sorrow flashing in his eyes.
He drew his sword and committed suicide, blood gushing out, his body falling from the city wall, crashing into the rubble and kicking up a cloud of dust.
The first barrier has been breached.