Extra 9
The battle with Northern Yan happened unexpectedly. By the time Su Qingqing gathered her army and rushed over, Northern Yan's cavalry had already crossed the border and marched straight in, capturing seven or eight cities.
Su Qingqing was shocked.
Even if her Su family army did not arrive in time, there were troops stationed on this side of the border. Moreover, even if the garrison on the border could not resist well, there were other garrisons nearby that could be dispatched.
How come...
It felt like the border garrisons and other nearby garrisons had all disappeared overnight, and the border of the Great Yan Dynasty was left open for the plundering of the enemy, allowing the Northern Yan cavalry to trample on it.
But on the day Su Qingqing arrived at the battlefield, an imperial edict was issued, holding Su Qingqing accountable for her failure to resist the war. She was questioned why she did not try her best to stop the Northern Yan cavalry and why she allowed the Northern Yan army to occupy seven or eight border cities in one fell swoop.
Seeing this imperial edict of accountability, Su Qingqing was so angry that she couldn't even curse.
However, Wang Yu and Zhao Kangjie were so angry that their eyes turned red.
"What the hell is this! We've been rushing here day and night, and we just arrived today. The battle hasn't even started yet, and already we're being blamed for losing the city!
What happened to the original garrison here? Were they captured and roasted by the Northern Yan people?
They didn't defend what they were supposed to defend, and their people disappeared. The emperor didn't dispatch troops from other places to support them, but just allowed them to march straight in. In the end, was it just to put the blame on our Su family army?
I've only heard of good bows being put away when all the birds are gone, but I've never heard of a good bow being broken directly when birds are flying all over the sky!
Damn, what the hell is this! "
Wang Yu was so angry that tears came out. It felt like needles were piercing his throat, making him unable to bear the pain.
Zhao Kangjie clenched his fists and said, "General, how can we fight this battle? We have been on a forced march all the way here. In order to speed up, we originally brought hardcover supplies. Now, I am afraid that the court will not provide us with any food or reinforcements. Soldiers cannot fight on an empty stomach!"
For a moment, Su Qingqing didn't know why she insisted on finishing this battle!
For the people's livelihood?
For the people?
Or it was for the man who would eventually take control of the Great Yan Dynasty.
Just as the general's tent was filled with anger, someone suddenly rushed in and reported, "General, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sent over a hundred carts of military rations and horse fodder! They've arrived."
This news is undoubtedly a timely help.
The extremely tense atmosphere in the tent was greatly relieved.
Wang Yu's eyes were red. "When we returned to Beijing in triumph, I heard people say that the reason the Crown Prince was under house arrest was because of those fierce bandits. I later had someone investigate and found that the place had always been peaceful. How could fierce bandits suddenly appear when we were passing by?
I'm afraid it was those old guys in Kyoto who did this.
Speaking of which…”
Wang Yu knew Su Qingqing's feelings for the prince. He glanced at Su Qingqing and said, "After all, the prince has us in his heart."
In this battle, perhaps it was the more than a hundred carts of military rations sent by the Crown Prince placed right in front of them, which made people feel at ease, or perhaps it was the Su family army's chief general Su Qingqing's crazy and brutal attack.
They fought this battle surprisingly smoothly.
The Northern Yan cavalry was originally arrogant and determined to win, but they were beaten badly by the Su family army for half a month. When they went to the battlefield, they almost didn't have the energy to resist, and basically stood at attention ready to be beaten.
Seeing that the morale of the Northern Yan people was low, they immediately adopted another backup plan.
That night, after capturing seven or eight cities from Dayan in one go and then being driven back to the border, the Northern Yan army camp released a Kongming lantern.
Wang Yu looked at . "What do they mean? Are they sending a secret signal?"
Zhao Kangjie folded his arms and sneered, "You can't say there's a traitor in our Su Family Army camp, right? I can't say if there are traitors elsewhere, but if there's even one traitor in our Su Family Army, I'll eat shit right there!"
Wang Yu gave him a look of disdain. "You're disgusting! This thing isn't placed properly. We need to be alert. Don't sleep tonight. I'll watch the second half of the night and you watch the first half..."
Zhao Kangjie punched Wang Yu on the shoulder. "We've all been here with the general through so many years. Who are you looking down on? The first half of the night is almost over. Do you really need me to guard it? Stop the bullshit."
Wang Yu smiled and said, "Didn't you catch a cold a few days ago?"
"That's bullshit!" Zhao Kangjie waved his hand, then sat down on the spot, supporting himself with his hands and looking up at the starry sky. "My little nephew is six years old this year. The last time I went back, he sat on my neck and asked me to teach him how to fight."
Zhao Kangjie had an older sister who married the magistrate of Datong County. The magistrate was not good at scheming in official circles, but he was very kind to his sister.
Among so many officials, all of them have three wives and four concubines. The rich ones have big houses and many women, while the poorer ones, even if they cannot have three wives and four concubines, at least after getting married, they will have one or two beautiful women around them to keep them company.
His brother-in-law is a breath of fresh air.
After being married to his sister for so many years, he has always been the only one by his side.
Wang Yu knew Zhao Kangjie's family situation. His parents died young, and he was raised by his sister. "Do you miss your nephew? Next time we go back, we can take him to the military camp to play for a few days. Children, especially little boys, love to come to the military camp. It's exciting."
Zhao Kangjie sighed, "My sister said that if he doesn't join the army, he can become an official if he studies well. If he doesn't study well, he can start a small business or go home to farm. In any case, he won't be allowed to go to the battlefield."
After Zhao Kangjie joined the army, her sister never slept well in the early years. She dreamed every day that he died on the battlefield.
Wang Yu smiled and said nothing more.
We chatted under the starlight, and before we knew it, it was dawn.
After a night without incident, Zhao Kangjie and Wang Yu felt somewhat relieved. However, they still told Su Qingqing about the other party's release of the Kongming lantern. They didn't notice anything wrong during the night. Su Qingqing pondered for a while and said, "Let's have someone keep an eye on the food and fodder."
As soon as the sun rose, a new round of fighting began again.
This battle had been going on for more than half a month, and the occupied cities had been recaptured. Riding on the victory, the Su family army was full of momentum, and Su Qingqing was even more bloodthirsty, with the killing fervor in her bones reaching a boiling point.
She had never fought a battle as excitingly as this one.
Perhaps, it was because the food and fodder were sent by Rong Que.
Later, the imperial court also sent a batch of military rations, but the soldiers in charge of logistics found on the spot that more than half of the rations were moldy stale rice.
Not to mention filling your stomach, it would be a blessing if you don’t die from eating it.
Fortunately, the prince sent military rations in advance, otherwise, instead of driving out the Northern Yan cavalry, they were poisoned by the rations sent by their own people.
In today's battle, Su Qingqing is determined to capture the opponent's first city.
Wearing a white horse and iron armor, with a spear in hand, she charged into battle with heroic spirit.
Just when everyone was immersed in the pleasure of fighting, a sharp iron arrow pierced through the crowd and hit Su Qingqing's back.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh~
An arrow was shot and hit the target directly. Before anyone could react to the sudden change, three more arrows were shot in succession, all hitting Su Qingqing's heart.
The amulet that Su Qingqing was carrying close to her body was instantly pierced by the hard and sharp arrowhead of the iron arrow, and the medicine powder inside seeped directly into Su Qingqing's hideous wound.
The world spun around in an instant, and Su Qingqing fell off her horse.
The person closest to her at that time was Wang Yu.
He was shot in the back and fell to the ground.
This stimulation almost drove Wang Yu crazy. Wang Yu screamed shrilly, "General!"
He tumbled off his horse and rushed towards Su Qingqing, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Old Zhao!"
The voice trembled to the point of splitting.
Zhao Kangjie was so irritated by this scene that his eyes were blurry and his eyes were blurry, but he could not fall down, nor even rush to Su Qingqing.
With the Northern Yan army at the gate, the lives of tens of thousands of Su family soldiers are hanging on this!
Holding the reins and the broadsword in hand, Zhao Kangjie wiped away his tears and said, "Charge!"
Those who knew what had happened were filled with hatred and became more and more courageous as they killed, as if every blow they swung was revenge for their general. Those who didn't know what had happened were only inspired by the morale of their companions.
Su Qingqing originally planned to capture only one city of the enemy, but she did not expect that Zhao Kangjie, stimulated by her fall, led the entire Su family army and forced the Northern Yan cavalry to retreat to five cities in one day.
Beiyan immediately presented a blood letter begging for mercy.
However, in the Su family army's general's tent, there was no trace of joy at the other party's blood-written plea for mercy.
"The general was shot. Although the arrow was dangerous, it didn't pierce the heart. Logically, he could still be saved. However, the general was also poisoned at the same time, and the toxin entered his bones and blood through the wound..."
This military doctor was an old doctor who had been with the Su family army for several years. When he said these words, he was like an old grandfather who was about to send his granddaughter away with his own hands.
His eyes were filled with tears and his whole body was trembling.
Not everyone can bear the sorrow of seeing a loved one die.
Su Qingqing was lying on the bed, no longer conscious. She could only hear voices, roars, and growls in her ears.
She tried hard to open her eyes, to take another look at her soldiers, to comfort Wang Yu, and to pat Zhao Kangjie on the shoulder.
But she couldn't even lift her eyelids.
She just felt like there was a piece missing in her heart, and she couldn't remember something very important.
It was as if a very important person, someone she once loved with all her heart, was missing, and she couldn't remember who this person was.
She clearly remembered everything, so why couldn't she remember this person?
That person...
Who is it...
Is there really such a person who makes her panic even before her death...
