Simultaneous Transmigration: The Re-merging of 99 Selves

Chapter 161 Removing the Life and Death Talisman

"Chase him! Catch the assassin!"

"Fire arrows! Fire arrows!"

Chaos reigned in the Jin army camp, with torches lit up everywhere and arrows raining down.

But Zhao Yu was too fast, moving freely between the tents, and the arrows couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.

After a few leaps and bounds, it disappeared into the night.

Inside the command tent, Wanyan Kuang leaned against the table, his face pale, still recovering from the shock he had just experienced.

For a brief moment, he really thought he was going to die.

"I will never forget the life-saving grace of the Dharma King." Wanyan Kuang cupped his hands to Dharma King Duoerzhi, still feeling lingering fear.

"You're too kind, Commander," said Dharma King Dorjee in a deep voice. "This assassin is extremely skilled in martial arts. You must be extra cautious in the future."

Wanyan Kuang's face darkened: "Hmph, the Song people have run out of tricks and have resorted to such despicable methods. Issue the order to all camps to strengthen their vigilance and set up more sentries. Starting tomorrow, intensify the offensive and make sure to capture the Song emperor."

He thought this was just the Song army's last stand, but he didn't expect that this was only the beginning.

In the following days, Zhao Yu sneaked into the Jin camp every night. Since he couldn't assassinate the commander-in-chief, he specifically targeted the generals in charge of the troops.

Today they kill a Mouke, tomorrow they behead a Meng'an; they appear and disappear unpredictably, impossible to guard against.

Not every general has a master like Dharma King Dorje to protect him.

Over the course of several days, the Jin army suffered dozens of losses among its mid-level generals, severely impacting its command structure.

The Jin generals were filled with dread at night, fearing that Song assassins would sneak into their tents, and they dared not even remove their armor to sleep.

If you don't get enough rest at night, you naturally won't have the energy to lead the battle during the day.

Without a capable general to oversee the battle, the Jin army's offensive slowed down considerably, giving Zaoyang City a much-needed respite.

When Wanyan Kuang learned of the news, he was furious.

He originally intended to launch a full-scale attack after all the northern reinforcements had arrived, but the successive assassinations made the generals feel insecure, and if the situation dragged on any longer, morale would collapse.

"Great! Excellent!"

Inside the command tent, Wanyan Kuang slammed his fist on the table, his eyes fierce: "Send down the order! From this day forward, attack the city day and night in shifts. I want to see how long the Song people can hold out! Zaoyang must be captured within three days! If we fail, all the generals at the front will be punished!"

The generals under his command had long been holding back their anger, and upon hearing this, they responded with a resounding roar.

The Jin army went all out, launching attacks day and night in waves, giving the Song army on the city walls no chance to catch their breath.

The pressure on Zaoyang City suddenly increased, the casualties among the soldiers on the city walls grew, and the city walls were on the verge of collapse.

Just when Wanyan Kuang thought the city was about to fall, inside Zaoyang City, Zhao Yu looked at the receipt handed over by the commander of his personal guards and slowly nodded.

"Your Excellency, all explosives have been planted. The fuses are also connected, and we can detonate them at any time."

Zhao Yu walked to the top of the city wall, looked at the Jin soldiers surging in like a tide below, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Wanyan Kuang wants a quick victory, perfect. Let him taste what it means for the heavens and earth to shatter."

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The bluestone slabs on the city wall of Zaoyang had long been soaked in blood, turning them dark brown and making them sticky and slippery to walk on.

Xia Zhen leaned against the crenellation, his long sword with its blade chipped. His armor was covered in cracks, and blood-soaked strips of cloth were wrapped around his shoulders and waist.

That was left behind by the Jin centurion who had just stormed the city wall.

The man was exceptionally brave and fierce, wielding a spiked club with great force, and killed three Song soldiers in succession. In the end, Xia Zhen had to personally rush up and fight him hand to hand before finally beheading him on the city wall.

Of course, he also took two hits himself, and his injuries were not minor.

His eyes were bloodshot; he hadn't closed them for three days straight, and he was only holding on by sheer willpower.

The shouts of battle subsided slightly, but he dared not relax for a moment. His voice hoarse, he ordered, "Reserves, move in! Bring all the recently dismantled roof beams to the front, and seal the gap in the west wall with sandbags! Quickly!"

The soldiers dragged their weary bodies back and forth, their faces etched with exhaustion, yet none dared to stop.

After days of fierce attacks, nearly half of the three thousand defenders have been lost, and those who can still stand on the city wall are all wounded.

Just then, the sound of gongs and drums suddenly rang out from outside the city.

Xia Zhen, who was peeking out to observe the enemy's situation, seemed not to hear, until his personal guard tugged at his arm forcefully: "Grand Commandant, the Jin dogs have withdrawn!"

Xia Zhen suddenly came to his senses, stiffly turned his neck, looked at the Jin soldiers retreating like a tide below the city, and let out a long sigh of relief.

His legs gave way and he collapsed onto the blood-stained stone slab, no longer caring about his dignity, panting heavily.

"Pass down the order: hurry up and eat some dry rations, then change shifts and rest. In less than half an hour, the Jurchens will definitely charge again. Then... then we'll have to keep fighting."

Just as the guards were about to leave, one of Zhao Yu's personal guards strode up the city wall: "Grand Commandant Xia, His Majesty has ordered you to quickly retreat your troops into the heart of the city and hold the fortified position. The city walls are no longer needed."

"What did you say?" Xia Zhen sprang to his feet, grabbing the man by the collar. "Abandon the city walls? You must be a spy sent by the Jurchens! How dare you falsely convey military orders! I'll chop you down!"

"Grand Commandant, please calm down." The man took out a warrant from his robes and handed it over. "This is the Emperor's warrant. The Emperor will understand at a glance. He has ordered that the Jin troops be allowed to enter the city immediately without fail. The Emperor has his own plan to defeat the enemy."

Xia Zhen released his grip, snatched the warrant, and looked at it three times.

The handwriting is indeed Zhao Yu's own.

His expression shifted rapidly, muttering "Absurd, utterly absurd," before turning to head down the city walls: "No, I must see the Emperor! Abandoning the city walls is tantamount to suicide!"

"Grand Commandant, please wait! Before I came, His Majesty repeatedly instructed me that this is a military order, and it must be carried out immediately without delay. If you insist on seeing His Majesty, you must first follow the order. No one can bear the responsibility for delaying military operations."

Xia Zhen stopped in his tracks, his chest heaving violently.

He stared at the order for a long time, then gritted his teeth and slammed his fist into the city bricks: "Pass the order! Alternate cover fire, retreat into the city! Deploy defenses according to the street fighting plan!"

Despite their doubts, the Song soldiers began their retreat in an orderly manner after the military order was given.

Teams of soldiers withdrew from the city walls and took refuge in the government office in the center of the city.

The city walls, which had been filled with deafening shouts of battle, quickly fell silent, leaving only scattered weapons and bloodstains everywhere.

After Xia Zhen finished setting up the defenses, he hurried to the temporary camp where Zhao Yu was located.

"Your Majesty..."

Before he could even offer any advice, Zhao Yu turned around, flicked his finger, and sent a burst of internal energy striking Xia Zhen's vital point on his waist.

"Well……"

Xia Zhen groaned, feeling his limbs and bones instantly relax, and even the pain from his wounds lessened.

"I have removed the life-and-death talisman from your body." Zhao Yu withdrew his hand. "From this day forward, you are free. Whether you stay or leave is entirely up to you."

Xia Zhen stood there, stunned, and reached out to touch his ribs, somewhat bewildered.

The restriction that had tormented him for so long, forcing him to submit, was just lifted like that? At this crucial moment when he needed men most, with the enemy at the gates?

He couldn't tell whether he should be happy or sad.