Gu Qingwan felt that it was inconvenient for Beichen Yuan to accompany her everywhere, so she suggested someone else lead the way. “This is a small matter, Your Highness. You can just send someone with me. There’s no need for you to go in person.”

“I’m injured and not fit for battle at the moment. I can’t do much staying in the city either. Let Murong handle things here as he sees fit.”

Just as Beichen Yuan finished speaking, the sound of thunderous war drums echoed from outside — the enemy was launching another attack.

“Northern Rong Army is attacking again,” Murong Wushuang said, turning to leave. With Beichen Yuan injured, Murong had even more on his plate.

Gu Qingwan hadn’t expected that Beirong’s army would begin their siege just as she entered the city.

Fortunately, she had entered through the west gate.

Even if Northern Rong Army’s scouts had spotted her, she was alone with just a cart — they wouldn’t bother with her.

But if she tried to leave the city alone, escaping wouldn’t be so easy.

She had never seen a siege battle in ancient times.

Since it was still early, she figured she might as well go up the city tower and observe how ancient warfare was fought.

Beichen Yuan was a bit surprised when she said she wanted to watch the battle from the tower, but he didn’t refuse.

Instead, he took her up with him.

Gu Qingwan had imagined warfare as a contest of intelligence between generals, with complex tactics and strategic maneuvers.

But reality was far more brutal — true war was savage and direct.

Tactics might exist, but once fighting broke out, it all came down to blades and blood.

Tactics meant nothing in the face of slaughter.

“Beichen Yuan, you coward! If you’ve got any guts, come out and fight me! Let me see the so-called War God of Daxia in action!”

“Beichen Yuan, these are your own people from Daxia. Don’t you care about their lives? Some War God you are — too scared to even come out and fight. Coward!”

“You bunch of turtles hiding in your shell! If you don’t come out, we’ll use these people as sacrifices for our battle flags!”

Gu Qingwan had just reached the tower when she heard the shouting below.

The enemy had taken hostages — over a hundred elderly, women, and children — trying to force Beichen Yuan to come out and fight.

The insults were vicious and relentless.

She glanced at Beichen Yuan beside her, his face dark as thunder.
“You can endure this?”

Gu Qingwan knew they were deliberately trying to provoke Beichen Yuan into leaving the city, but the insults were going too far.

A cold gleam flashed in Beichen Yuan’s eyes.

He took a bow and arrow from a nearby soldier, strung the arrow swiftly, pulled the bow — whoosh — and the arrow shot out like lightning.

The brash young soldier who had been yelling the loudest was hit cleanly through the chest and collapsed instantly.

Their position had been just beyond the enemy’s perceived arrow range, which was why they’d dared to act so arrogantly.

They hadn’t expected Beichen Yuan’s archery to be so deadly — with such strength and accuracy even at this distance. This man clearly wasn’t one to mess with — lethal indeed.

Seeing that no one from the city was reacting, the enemy quickly withdrew the hostages.

Catapults were rolled forward, shield formations were set up in the front lines, followed by siege ladders and battering rams, with archers bringing up the rear.

The army — numbering in the hundreds of thousands — advanced slowly in a fan-shaped formation toward the city.

It was clear they hadn’t deployed their full force yet, but even with just this, the pressure was immense.

Gu Qingwan spotted a figure clad in gold armor atop a war chariot among the dense ranks of enemy troops.

“Is that the commander of Northern Rong’s army?”

Beichen Yuan nodded. “Yes, that’s Beirong’s Fourth Prince, Bei Luqi. He’s the king’s most favored son and the commander of this campaign.”

“If their commander dies, would Northern Rong’s army still keep attacking Yanzhou?” Gu Qingwan asked.

Although Beichen Yuan didn’t know why she was asking, he still answered honestly, “They would.”

Once war begins, it doesn’t stop just because a single person dies — not even the commander.

Only the death of Northern Rong’s King might shift the tide. If the commander falls, another will take his place.

The battle will go on.

Gu Qingwan gave up the idea of sniping the prince with a rifle. Since his death wouldn’t change anything, she’d save her shot for later.

Boom!

With the thunderous crash of boulders striking the walls, the battle began in earnest.

Though Yanzhou had no moat, there was a trench over three meters wide and two meters deep outside the walls.

To bring their siege engines closer, the enemy would have to bridge the gap first.

Daxia’s cities did not have barbicans, meaning that breaching a single gate could allow enemies to pour in.

Fortunately, they had set up chevaux-de-frise and ground spikes at the gates, with boulders and logs prepared atop the walls, along with protective wooden boards — all meant to repel enemies climbing up with siege ladders.

Arrows rained down like a storm, accompanied by the deafening war drums and massive stones hurled by catapults. The city walls were starting to crumble in places.

At this rate, even the strongest wall would be breached before long.

Gu Qingwan spotted the catapults on the walls and frowned. Throwing stones alone wasn’t very effective.
“Is there kerosene in the city?”

“Yes. Yanzhou has oil fields. Kerosene is the last thing we’d be short of.”

Beichen Yuan instantly understood her intention when she asked.
“You want to use kerosene to fend off the enemy?”

Gu Qingwan nodded.
“Find clay jars. Fill them with kerosene. Light the wooden stoppers and throw them at the enemy.”

“Great idea,” Beichen Yuan immediately ordered Xuantian to carry it out.

He had to admit — this woman was truly clever, always able to come up with unexpected solutions. Beichen Yuan looked at her dark, cunning eyes and felt a growing emotion stir within him.

“Watch out!” Gu Qingwan shouted, seeing him distracted.

She quickly pulled him to the side. Beichen Yuan reacted quickly, shielding her in his arms.

A giant stone landed where they had just been standing, shattering into sharp fragments that struck Beichen Yuan, making him grunt softly in pain.

Gu Qingwan hadn’t expected Beichen Yuan to shield her like that.

The feeling was… strange.

“You okay?” she asked, looking at his back.

He shook his head.
“I’m fine. Let’s get down from here — it’s too dangerous.”

Worried she’d be injured by stray shots, Beichen Yuan led her away.

Today’s attack was only a test.

He was certain they wouldn’t breach the gates today, so there was no rush.

Following Beichen Yuan’s orders, Xuantian spread out through the city to find jars.

Big or small, any would do. When the citizens heard the jars could be used as weapons, they rushed to donate their own without hesitation.