The First Lackey Under The Empress

Zhao Du'an hadn't anticipated encountering a battle so soon after arriving at the Western Front.

The Yunfu rebels launched a frontal assault on the city, using the common people within the city to pin down the imperial commander Xue Shence, while enemy light cavalry quietly bypassed the defenses, heading towards the Taicang silver mine.

As a newly appointed official eager to prove himself, Grand Commandant Zhao immediately led the Shenji Camp's musketeer cavalry, following the map in his mind, taking the shortest route to the destination.

Outside Taicang Prefecture, a fierce battle was unfolding.

The city gates were tightly shut, a heavy atmosphere hung in the air, and the massive, chaotic sounds of battle could be heard even through the thick city walls.

On the high city wall, Xue Shence stood in the most conspicuous position, observing the battle. He wore lock armor, with a scarlet cloak fluttering behind him, and a halberd stood beside him.

Standing there, he was like a pillar holding the sea steady.

Below the city, the shouts of the soldiers shook the sky, the drums roared like thunder, and the rebels, like ants, braved the rain of arrows, setting up siege ladders, trying to climb the city walls.

The defending soldiers on the city walls, using rolling logs and stones to block the enemy, did their best, but were almost breached several times.

The disparity in troop strength was too great.

However, as long as the soldiers of the imperial court turned their heads and glanced at the figure surrounded by flags on the high city wall, they would feel a strong sense of confidence and high morale.

The title of "Military God" of Yu State was fully demonstrated at this moment.

"Grand Secretary Xue, how is the battle situation?" Sun Xiaozhun, the prefect of Taicang, ran to the wall, panting.

He had become even thinner than a year ago, and under the eaves of his official hat, strands of half-white hair arched out.

Xue Shence turned his head back, his eyes calm:

"Prefect, just reassure the people in the city. With me here, Taicang City is as solid as a rock."

His calm tone gave everyone a sense of security.

Sun Xiaozhun nodded, his eyes grateful. As the prefect of Taicang, when faced with the fierce attack of the rebels that day, Sun Xiaozhun had already prepared a scorched earth strategy, holding the prefecture city, intending to sacrifice himself to repay the emperor's grace.

Fortunately, Xue Shence led his troops to arrive. During this period, Xue Shence integrated the local forces and repeatedly took action, successfully containing the offensive of the Yunfu army.

If it weren't for the fact that the troop strength was really stretched thin, Xue Shence left a large number of troops on the Eastern Front to defend against Prince Jing, and the soldiers he brought were really limited. With his military command ability, he might have launched a counterattack and recovered the lost territory.

However, today the enemy seemed to realize the urgency and suddenly launched an attack on Taicang.

The current siege is already the third round.

Seeing that there were no rebels attacking the city wall for the time being, Sun Xiaozhun felt a little relieved and said bitterly:

"Grand Secretary, the enemy has been silent these days and has shown signs of retreating. Why is it so fierce today?"

Xue Shence looked down at the city and said in a deep voice:

"That Su Dan is more insane than I thought. The information that Grand Commandant Zhao led reinforcements to support the Western Front must have been known by the other party. These bandits know very well that I am now passively beaten because of insufficient troops. Once the reinforcements arrive, the situation will change.

So, they want to gain something before Zhao Du'an arrives. Prefect Sun, don't worry, don't look at the large number of rebels below, but according to my observation, they are not going all out. Their goal is not to capture the prefecture city, but to destroy it."

On a table moved to the city wall behind him, a map of Taicang Prefecture was spread out.

Several areas on it were marked.

Xue Shence did not intercept any intelligence, but made a judgment based on experience.

Therefore, when the enemy approached the prefecture city, he ordered his capable subordinates to lead cavalry to rush out of the east and west city gates and rush to support several granaries.

In order to prevent the military rations from being cut off, it also led to a shortage of troops in the city, so he had to personally supervise the battle on the city wall, relying on the city wall to resist.

"Unfortunately, I have too few troops to mobilize. I must leave enough people to defend the city to avoid the city being breached, and there are some key places that cannot be defended!"

Xue Shence clenched his fist, his lips pursed tightly.

Sun Xiaozhun comforted:

"Grand Secretary uses troops like a god, but what can we do against the enemy's superior numbers?

That Prince Mu not only turned against the southwestern border army, but also has Zhao Shixiong as his vanguard, and even massively conscripted civilians as soldiers. It is said that in Yunfu, every household has one person conscripted. Prince Mu is hiding in the Huai River and has received a lot of support from the gentry..."

"Report—"

Suddenly, a messenger with a red flag inserted behind his neck ran to the city wall, almost exhausted:

"Reporting to the general, the scouts on the west side report that a large group of rebel light cavalry has broken through the defense line and seems to be heading towards Taicang... Taicang Silver Mine!"

Silver Mine!

Su Dan's target is not the granary, but the silver mine? Could it be that...

Sun Xiaozhun's face suddenly changed. Although the silver mine is not as urgent as military rations, in the long run, fighting a war is about money and food. Once there is a problem with the silver mine, the imperial treasury, which has been temporarily relieved by the new policy, will fall into embarrassment again.

"No wonder the news of His Majesty's return to the palace has spread, but the Yunfu rebels are still attacking fiercely. The purpose is to seize the silver mine! Now that they see that they can't seize it, they want to destroy it!"

Sun Xiaozhun was very anxious and looked at Xue Shence.

The latter's face was as deep as water, but he did not appear flustered, but said lightly: "Understood."

Just... understood?

The messenger and Prefect Sun were stunned at the same time.

Xue Shence closed his eyes slightly, silent.

For a general, the most taboo is hesitation and greed. Even if he immediately ordered the troops guarding the granary to rush to Taicang, it would be too late.

Besides, who can be sure that this is not a diversion?

Sun Xiaozhun understood his meaning, his knees softened, and he almost fell. He hurriedly supported the wall with his hand. He shook his head bitterly, took off his official hat, revealing the hair that had turned half white in just one month.

If the silver mine is destroyed, even if Taicang City is defended, he, the prefect, should die to apologize.

"Kill—"

At this time, a gap suddenly opened in the enemy's army formation below the city. Dozens of mountain-like soldiers, holding a giant tree wrapped in iron skin made into a "siege hammer", shouted slogans, and under the cover of a large group of shield-bearing soldiers, attacked the tightly closed city gate.

The defending soldiers on the city wall all changed color.

Xue Shence, whose eyes were tightly closed, had bulging blue veins on the back of his right hand, and threw the halberd in his hand angrily!

"Woo!!"

The dark halberd, like a super-sized arrow, was powered by an invisible chain, rumbling out, blasting a deep pit in the flat ground outside the city gate. The soldiers closest to it were blown away by the shock wave and fell in pieces.

The rebels looked in horror at the halberd deeply plunged into the bottom of the pit and retreated like a tide.

Xue Shence looked at the sky, a trace of worry showing through the slits of his eyelids: If the reinforcements don't arrive, I'm afraid Taicang won't be able to hold on for too long.

...

...

The Taicang Silver Mine is located in the suburbs of the prefecture city. It is a huge deep pit with deep and interconnected mine tunnels inside.

Zhao Du'an led the light cavalry all the way, and when he arrived at the edge of the huge mine pit following his memory, his eyelids twitched wildly, and he saw many corpses scattered on the ground of the mine below.

Replaced by a new team of soldiers, forcing a group of mining people to move white cloth bags into the mine tunnels.

"It's gunpowder. They want to blow up the mine!" Zhao Du'an's face changed from afar.

Due to the lack of corresponding technology, the imperial court was very cautious in the use of gunpowder in mining, especially the Taicang Silver Mine.

Once detonated in a specific location, the mine pit will be buried, and it will be a huge project to clean it up and put it back into use.

"Grand Commandant, this humble general is willing to go and capture the thieves!" Behind him, Young Duke Tang Ping was furious and loudly asked for orders.

At this moment, behind Zhao Du'an, besides the masters around him, were the light cavalry transferred from the Shenji Camp, with Tang Ping as their leader.

"Okay, this place is critical and does need someone to guard it."

Zhao Du'an pondered slightly, nodded in agreement, and then looked at Yu Xiu:

"Can Divine Official help me with a favor? Point out the direction of the enemy?"

He glanced at it, and there were not many rebels in the silver mine.

Yu Xiu sat upright on her horse, frowning slightly. Just as she was about to refuse, she heard Zhao Du'an say earnestly:

"The divine official only needs to help me find out if there are any suspicious cultivators nearby. Old Zhang… Celestial Master Zhang said that if it involves heretical Taoist sorcerers or monks from the Shenlong Temple, it won't be breaking the rules."

Yu Xiu hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

She brought her right index and middle fingers together and "wiped" them across her eyes. Her eyes were filled with clear light, and her gaze swept over the mine. Yu Xiu made a hand seal, her eyes returned to normal, and she shook her head, saying:

"There are no cultivators above the Divine Chapter realm nearby, and no one is seen deep in the mine."

Not here? Could it be that the "expert" Bai隼 mentioned doesn't exist? But even so, the rebels wouldn't have gone to so much trouble to send only this few people in…

There must be others elsewhere, but it seems that Yu Xiu's Heavenly Eye Vision is limited by distance and can't see too far… As Zhao Du'an pondered, the corner of his eye suddenly caught a glimpse of a glaring light.

In broad daylight, where did the fire come from?

Zhao Du'an suddenly turned his head and was shocked to see flames rising from the direction of "Song Family Village," accompanied by thick smoke.

"Follow me." He immediately spurred his horse and led the remaining men to pursue.

As they rounded the mountain col and got closer to Song Family Village, the rising flames and white smoke increased. Many of the fires came from the village's fields, and someone was setting fire to the fields!

The most intense and brightest flames were coming from the farm where Zhao Du'an and Princess Xu Junling had stayed when they investigated the case.

…

Song Family Village.

At this moment, the entire village was sealed off by black-armored soldiers. The rebels lit torches, poured tung oil, and set fire to houses and courtyards.

On the ground and in the courtyards, there were corpses lying in pools of blood, accompanied by wails coming from all directions.

Inside the Song Family Ancestral Hall, hundreds of clansmen were gathered, men, women, old and young, all with eyes either wide with anger, filled with despair and grief, or blank with confusion.

The head of the Song family's guards, "Coach Xie," who had fought with Zhao Du'an, had one arm severed and was leaning against the wall of the ancestral hall, supported by several guards.

An old man in his fifties, wearing a Confucian hat, his face flushed, stood in front of a group of clansmen, protecting them. He carefully straightened his clothes, his back straight, and his eyes contained suppressed anger as he shouted loudly at a group of soldiers guarding the entrance of the ancestral hall, who were escorting people wearing strange white clothes:

"I am a direct disciple of Mr. Zhengyang of Yunfu and the patriarch of Song Family Village. Since you are serving King Mu, you should know that my teacher Zhengyang has a deep friendship with King Mu. If you destroy my Song Family Village, aren't you afraid that the royal court will punish you?! Leave now! I will assume you were unaware and will not pursue the matter…"

The old man was none other than the Song Scholar.

He had followed Mr. Zhengyang to the capital in the past and witnessed the entire process of Zhao Du'an's debate with Zhengyang on old and new learning at White Deer Academy with his eldest brother.

Later, Mr. Zhengyang, who was revered as the "Number One Recluse of Yu Country," publicly conceded defeat and respected Zhao Du'an as his teacher, leading his disciples back.

The Song Scholar did not follow his teacher and elder brother back to Yunfu. Instead, he returned to his clan in Taicang and devoted himself to studying the new learning.

Unexpectedly, he was suddenly faced with this disaster today.

The white-clothed people blocking the gate of the ancestral hall looked at each other and suddenly laughed.

There were five of them in total. They were clearly not soldiers, but each wore a uniform white sorcerer's robe, a conical white hat, and held a "mourning stick" tied with white silk. A palm-sized, dark-colored small coffin hung from their waists.

They were members of "White Robe Sect", a heretical sorcerer organization.

"Zhengyang? That old Confucian pedant?" The leader of the White Robe Sect sneered:

"Let's not even mention that we are not under the command of King Mu's府. Even if we take a step back, do you old fools still naively believe that the current Zhengyang is still a guest of the royal府?

Heh, this immortal master doesn't understand much about that new learning, but Zhengyang received offerings from the king, yet he willingly revered that Zhao Du'an as his teacher. Ever since he returned to Yunfu last year, he has changed to promoting new learning… If he didn't have some reputation, the royal court would have buried him alive long ago.

It's laughable that you old fools are so naive and still don't realize that you think you can use your connection with Zhengyang to gain favor with King Mu's府? Little do you know, the closer you are to that old dog Zhengyang, the faster you will die."

The Song Scholar's body trembled, but his face suddenly flushed red, and he said angrily:

"How dare you Jianghu demons insult my teacher?!"

The White Robe Sect sorcerer laughed:

"What if we insult your teacher? We will also insult your ancestors. Come, tear down this ancestral hall. Heh, although the Song family is small, it has a hundred years of incense. Destroying the ancestral hall and desecrating the ancestral graves will barely be enough to sacrifice to the喪神."

A black-armored officer next to him was quite wary of these demons and was extremely obsequious. He said yes, straightened up, and waved his hand with a stern face:

"Tear it down!"

A group of rebels rushed into the ancestral hall like wolves and began to destroy it.

The Song clansmen's eyes turned red, and they all tried to stop them like madmen:

"You can't tear it down!"

An old man threw himself on the ancestral tablets, trying to protect them, but was killed by a soldier's knife. He screamed and fell straight to the ground, but still held the tablets tightly, his eyes wide with anger, refusing to let go.

However, how could a group of clansmen stop the soldiers? Someone threw a torch, and the ancestral hall burst into flames.

The white-clothed sorcerer smiled and said, "You're all crying so annoyingly. Kill these people.

Standing straight, facing the approaching swords, the old scholar, who would rather die than bend his waist, was stunned.

Seeing the soldiers walking towards several young clansmen hiding under the offering table, the anger on the old man's face suddenly disappeared, replaced by a flattering smile. He suddenly knelt on the ground and pleaded to the white-clothed sorcerer:

"It was this old man who said the wrong thing and angered the immortal master. Please spare our lives."

As he spoke, he slapped himself in the face. Seeing the white-clothed man smiling without saying a word, he shouted and turned his head to scold:

"Stop it! Let the immortal master tear it down to enjoy himself! What's the use of keeping a bunch of wooden tablets? People… people alive are more important than anything!"

The Song clansmen were stunned, looking at the patriarch in disbelief.

The Song Scholar cried as he scolded, his fingernails piercing his palms, blood flowing freely.

The white-clothed sorcerers watched this scene with smiles and praised, "You cry well."

Then their faces turned cold:

"Kill them all. Do you think a bunch of sacrifices can run away? If we hadn't taken a fancy to your family's foundation, we wouldn't have come."

The Song Scholar was stunned and suddenly lunged at the nearest soldier, grabbing his legs and shouting:

"Xiao Wu, run!"

Xiao Wu was one of the teenagers hiding under the table, and he had been beaten by Zhao Du'an in the past.

Now, the rebellious and unruly teenager was stunned.

"You old bastard, you're looking for death!"

The soldier whose legs were grabbed had a fierce look in his eyes and stabbed down with his knife, but a shadow flashed before his eyes, and an arm was severed out of thin air.

Coach Xie, who was lying at the base of the wall, didn't know when he had rushed over. He held a knife with his only arm, his face with madness:

"Trading an arm is worth it! Old Village Master, I, Lao Xie, have eaten your Song family's offerings for ten years. Today, I can't protect the Song family, so I can only pay with my life! Kill!"

Behind him, the remaining dozen or so wounded guards of the clan pounced like mad dogs.

"Xiao Wu, run! Go to the city for help!"

A clansman pushed the teenagers under the table out of the back door of the ancestral hall and then desperately closed the door, blocking it with tables and chairs, picked up an iron rod, and charged towards the rebels.