Chapter 95: Right and Wrong (8)

The area between the two walls north of the city was packed with people—people wearing blood-stained masks.
Zhang Yanji pulled his sword from the ribcage of a Persian soldier and shooed away his personal guards who tried to persuade him to retreat.
“What the hell, when is the time to retreat? General Gao and his men have retreated from Talas to Julan City. Are we supposed to retreat from Julan City to the Four Garrison Cities in Anxi? If the Persians follow us there, will we have to hand over those cities to them as well?”
As he spoke, Zhang Yanji leaned back slightly to dodge an arrow.
“This is the moment when we must fight to the death. To advance means survival; to retreat means death. How can we retreat? Where can we go?”
Before joining Kuo’er Ge’s army, Zhang Yanji had been a young master from a wealthy family. He had never imagined he would one day eat meat heartily, drink heavily, and slice heads with a sword. Yet now he had done all these things, even uttering words so righteous they made him feel sick to his stomach.
Perhaps this was fate—he was destined to accompany Kuo’er Ge through life and death!
“But, but there are more and more Persians. How can we kill them all? Maybe we should retreat to the inner city first so we can organize our defenses better.”
The guards refused to give up and started lecturing Zhang Yanji. Though they didn’t say it outright, their message was clear—Zhang Yanji’s actions in the outer city were not helping Governor Li but only causing trouble!
“Nonsense!”
Zhang Yanji couldn’t help but curse, “Do you think the inner city is easy to defend? Look over there—see those dozens of battering rams? Once the iron gates of the outer city are broken, do you think the wooden gates of the inner city can withstand their attacks? Retreating now is just waiting for death, do you understand?”
The guards had intended to protect Zhang Yanji, but instead, they faced his anger, tears welling up in their eyes.
“Ah, what should I say about you? Standing by my side, shielding me from arrows and swords—that’s the best help you can give. Don’t worry about anything else.”
Zhang Yanji swung his sword, splitting a Persian soldier who tried to attack his lower body in two, then turned and said coldly, “Ah, ah!”
Realizing further talk was pointless, the guard gritted his teeth, drew his gleaming sword, and charged forward.
Whether he stuck his head out or pulled it back, he would face death anyway—so he might as well fight!
The guards of the Copper Warriors also drew their swords and charged forward, slightly dampening the Persians’ overwhelming momentum.

Zhou Wucui struggled to cut off the arm of a Persian soldier who was hugging him, then rolled aside to Zhang Yanji’s side and said, “Fools, nothing but fools. It’s come to this, and you still refuse to retreat? Do you want to die with everyone else?”
Zhang Yanji raised his eyebrows and said, “What, fat kid? If you’re scared, just say so. If you want to leave first, I won’t stop you!”
Zhou Wucui was stunned speechless. When did this rich boy become so stubborn?
“Laughable! How could this genius lose to a mere mortal? If you don’t leave, I’ll stay and fight to the end!”
Zhou Wucui inwardly groaned. Qi Lang had originally planned to send some elite troops to drive out the Persians since they had just entered the besieged city, thereby recapturing it. But now it seemed that their own forces wouldn’t gain any advantage and might even be split up and overwhelmed by the Persians. Surely Qi Lang wouldn’t let everyone go to their deaths upon learning this. Ah, this Zhang Yanji was good for nothing but causing trouble. Fools, nothing but fools. It was only this unparalleled genius who had to stick around and fight recklessly with this kid!
“Move aside, move aside!”
Suddenly, the city gates of the inner city opened, and Wang Xiaochun rushed out alone on horseback, heading toward the crowded crowd.
When he reached Zhang Yanji, Wang Xiaochun leaped off his horse and said, “The commander ordered me to take you back!”
“What!”
Zhang Yanji couldn’t believe his ears and shouted in anger.
“The commander wants you to come back. Stop fighting!”
Wang Xiaochun repeated it, clearly growing impatient.
“How can we go back in this situation? If we retreat, won’t the Persians follow in and take over the city?”
Zhang Yanji still refused to back down, continuing to slash around.
Seeing a savior arrive, Zhou Wucui quickly started beating the side drum. “Stop being stubborn! Even Qi Lang has spoken—why insist? Ouch…”
As he spoke, a stray arrow hit Zhou Wucui’s right arm, and he cried out in pain as he held his wound.
“You fat idiot, what’s wrong now? Don’t try to trick me into going back with your self-sacrifice tactics.”
Zhang Yanji glanced back at Zhou Wucui with a frown and said.
“Ah, I must have done some terrible deeds in my past life to end up mixed up with you. What bad luck!”
“I’ll ask you one more time—will you go back?”
“No!”
Zhang Yanji answered firmly, head held high.
“If you really don’t go back?”
“No!”
“Ah!”
Zhang Yanji cried out in pain as darkness enveloped his vision. …

He didn’t know how much time had passed. Zhang Yanji struggled to open his eyes, finding everything in front of him extremely blurry. He felt a sudden pain in his forehead, and his consciousness was somewhat hazy. Wait—his last memory was of talking to Zhou Xiaopangzi before passing out.

Instinctively, he touched the swollen lump on his head and was shocked. Good heavens, he had been knocked out by a blunt object. Who could be so cruel?

Oh! It must be him, that damn fat guy. He must have knocked him out when he refused to go back to the city and then dragged him back!

That bastard is really ruthless!

“Someone, help!”
Zhang Yanji felt as if he was in a civilian house. Struggling to get up, he tried to head outside.
Just then, the wooden door creaked open, and Zhou Wucui poked his head in. “Well, you’re awake?”
Zhang Yanji wanted to tear Zhou Wucui in half. Seeing his puffed cheeks made him even angrier. “You truly are a brother—attacking from behind!”
Zhou Wucui clearly didn’t want to waste time arguing. Waving his hand dismissively, he said, “Since you’re awake, hurry to the city walls to fight the enemy. General Gao has sent all his best troops!”
“Ah!”
Only then did Zhang Yanji realize he had retreated to the inner city. Did that mean the outer city was now completely under the control of those man-eaters?
At this thought, he was terrified. He sat up straight and stepped outside.
It was already completely dark.
Judging from the surrounding buildings, Zhang Yanji could be pretty sure he was near the north side of the city. After being knocked out by Zhou Xiaopangzi, he must have been dragged to a civilian house near the city gates to rest. That damn fat guy—why couldn’t he just talk things through? Ugh!
The group climbed up to the city wall via the horse path and realized the outside was far from as quiet as inside.
Countless torches illuminated the night sky like daylight, as both sides fought desperately for survival.
“Brother Kuo!”
Zhang Yanji had sharp eyes. As soon as he saw Li Kuo not far away, he ran over to the young man.
“Ah, General Siyue is here too!”
Only upon getting closer did he realize Li Siye, known as the most fearless general under Gao Xianzhi and feared by tens of thousands of enemies, was also on the city wall. He instinctively stepped back.
For some reason, he always felt afraid of Li Siye—maybe because he looked too fierce.
“Mm, General Siyue sensed the situation was wrong and came to help the north city,” Li Kuo explained calmly.
“Sigh! Don’t say that.”

Li Siyeh waved his hand and said, “Don’t say that. I came alone and couldn’t really help much. It was Gao Shuai’s thousand personal troops who played a crucial role.”
“Oh!”
Zhang Yanji felt a bit relieved. Although Li Siyeh hadn’t brought many troops, he was the bravest general in the Anxi army. With him stationed north of the city, the soldiers would feel much more secure—after all, that was a good thing.
“Since you’re here, you must contribute. Yanji, go lead the men and pour the boiling oil down!”
Li Kuo was clearly extremely tired, his voice hoarse.
“Mm, I’ll go right away. Brother Kuo, be careful!”
As Zhang Yanji passed by Li Kuo, he stopped for a moment before finally saying the words he had held back for so long.
Sigh, this kid! Li Kuo shook his head with a bitter smile and drew the sword at his waist. This night would likely be sleepless…
The battle atop the city walls had reached a fierce intensity. Dozens of newly built ladders had climbed the inner walls to the north of Julan City. With so many ladders, the soldiers couldn’t use grappling hooks to knock them down all at once, leaving them at a loss as to what to do.
By the time Zhang Yanji led his personal troops there, many Persian warriors had already climbed to less than five feet from the city walls.
Realizing the situation was urgent and time was of the essence, Zhang Yanji pushed aside the officer in charge of ordering the soldiers to throw logs and stones, and took command himself. “Pour all that boiling oil down! I don’t believe those Persians are made of steel!”
“Hey, did you hear that? General Zhang has given the order—hurry and pour the oil down!”
The officer was already overwhelmed with stress. Seeing Zhang Yanji was like seeing a savior, so he ignored everything else and followed Zhang Yanji’s orders.
“Sizzle!”
Dozens of pots of boiling oil were poured down the ladders, accompanied by the smell of burning flesh. Amidst the cries of pain, the Persian soldiers who had been so close to the city walls fell into an endless abyss, turning into dust.