Chapter 1409 - 336: Infuriating_3

Chapter 1409: Chapter 336: Infuriating_3

"Isn’t it just to avoid any grudges on your mind."

"Grudges?"

Lord Zheng was momentarily confused.

"Old Lord... no, Old Prince..."

Here, the old prince clearly referred to Li Liangting.

"Hey, earlier on, you know very well, I’m not afraid you’ll laugh at me, but in my heart, I actually had that thought of putting our old lord in that position; if the Ji Family can sit there, why can’t the Li Family?

But the old lord had long expressed having no such plans, and for me, age has caught up. Although I don’t appear old, to speak from the heart, there’s nothing much left to strive for, except to have a good time killing.

Unlike them, who bring their sons and nephews to the battlefield early on for training, I have no children, nothing I can’t part with.

If this property truly ends up in Brother Zheng’s hands one day, I’ll accept it with respect. At least it’ll be a good home for them and these old brothers.

Dying on the battlefield is fate, nothing much to say, but I just wish for no disgraceful deaths; if I survive by luck, I’ll earn some honor for myself and my family, and that would be excellent."

"Brother, now is not the time for such talks."

"Brother Zheng, we’re not outsiders. I’ll lay it out for you here, I trust you understand what I mean."

As he spoke, Li Fusheng reached out and patted Zheng Fan’s thigh.

Zheng Fan nodded, signaling his understanding;

then,

silently drew his leg back.

...

At dawn the following day, the sound of bugles rang out within the Yan Army’s formation.

After besieging the city for a long time, both the leaders and soldiers had gained experience and developed habits.

The Yan people were indeed not good at siege warfare initially, but anything never attempted before proves difficult.

In Li Fusheng’s army, there wasn’t the Snow Sea Army’s specially prepared coach for Lord Zheng, but there was a tall platform, divided into three connected parts, with planks linking them.

At the start of the battle, Li Fusheng would stand on the central platform to observe the battle, while the left and right platforms had flag keepers to relay his commands.

When the army leaves the camp and each branch moves forward sequentially, it’s quite a process. It’s like a shop collecting goods before closing at night and then displaying them again the next day—tedious but necessary to avoid thieves.

"Come, Brother Zheng, please!"

Lord Zheng looked at the tall platform, instinctively resisting.

It’s neither too close nor too far from the front line, having been previously targeted by catapults, Lord Zheng genuinely dislikes such battlefield ventures.

But fortunately, since the platforms are connected, there’s ample space for maneuvering, allowing time to evade if catapults strike.

Eventually, Lord Zheng still ascended with Li Fusheng.

On the opposite city wall, the Chu people appeared to have "awakened," with cooking smoke rising inside the city.

This fusion of war and life did not feel awkward. Instead, it seemed harmonious.

Below, various troops continued to move into designated positions, while catapults and arrow towers were pushed from behind.

"Report!!!!!!!!!!!!"

A messenger cavalry arrived, dismounted swiftly, and rushed onto the platform.

"General, a... mourning procession is approaching from the east, flying the Snow Sea Army’s flag."

"Mourning procession?" Li Fusheng looked at Zheng Fan beside him.

Zheng Fan nodded, saying, "They are my people."

"Oh, let them in."

"Yes!"

"Is it for the Chu Zhuguai’s mourning?" Li Fusheng immediately grasped the point.

"Yes."

The mourning procession entered, with white cloth tied around armor and white strips on weapons, carrying a finely crafted coffin originally meant for A Ming.

Here, the Yan army was still preparing for the siege. Many soldiers sat crossed-legged, waiting, curiously lifting their heads to view the unusual attire entering.

Similarly, the Chu people on the West Mountain Fort wall were puzzled about what scheme the Yan army was up to.

The news of Shi Yuantang’s death had been ordered by Li Fusheng to be conveyed to the Chu defenders at the West Mountain Fort, but the opposing Chu commander likely suppressed the information or dismissed it as an attempt by the Yan to unsettle their forces.

Previously, when Shi Yuantang was alive, the Yan army yelled about the Fifth Prince’s rebellion and regicide.

Conversely, the Chu army retorted with cries of "Hurry and check, your Yan Emperor has suddenly died!"

Such battlefield lies about "your mother is dead" and "your father has died" were frequently thrown back and forth.

Over time, everyone had somewhat become immune.

However,

when the mourning procession unfurled a gilded Fire Phoenix flag, the Chu troops on the wall stared in shock.

Next, when a bronze chariot was pushed out, the Chu people on the wall erupted in chaos.

Rumors can spread easily, but physical evidence is hard to fabricate.

Because neither the Fire Phoenix flag nor the bronze chariot is ordinary.

Moreover, if the opposing Chu army hung out the gilded armor belonging to Prince Jingnan, the Yan army on this side would undoubtedly be unsettled.

Then, an even more excessive scene unfolded.

From the Yan mourning procession emerged a huge brawny man,

he opened the coffin,

pulled out an elder’s body clad in noble armor,

he lifted the body,

the body was fixed with lines and boards, the brawny man’s hands and mouth clenched the connected wooden board.

The body was raised,

the brawny man started to move his arms,

like manipulating a marionette, making the elder’s body start to twist.

The burly man’s legs and waist also began to twist to the rhythm.

Then,

dozens of people from the mourning procession dismounted, despite wearing mourning clothes, they pulled out red ribbons, joining in the dance steps of the leading man.

Everyone matched the movements, moving uniformly.

They were doing a yangko dance.

The Yan side was baffled.

Although this folk dance had been performed at blood-pact assemblies with the wild tribes representing Yan customs,

most Yan people had no idea they even had this custom!

Meanwhile, the Chu people on the wall cried and cursed loudly.

After a period,

the gates of West Mountain Fort unexpectedly opened, and a cavalry charged out, intending to snatch back the dishonored body of their pillar.

Li Fusheng excitedly slapped the railing in front of him,

shouting at Zheng Fan beside him;

"No wonder you didn’t want the command yesterday, everything was already under Brother Zheng’s control!"

Zheng Fan: "Huh?"

————

More to come tonight.