After the signal to retreat was sounded, the barbarian soldiers below the walls began pulling back in chaos.
"They're retreating?"
Chen Sanshi planted his long spear into the ground, wiping the thick, sticky blood from his face as he stood atop the wall and surveyed the battlefield.
Moments earlier, they had been in the most dangerous position imaginable. Why did the barbarians suddenly withdraw? Something unexpected must have happened.
Sure enough, news soon arrived.
While the barbarians launched their main assault at the gate, one of their commanders had led three hundred elite soldiers to strike the western wall's weakest section. They managed to break through and breach the city. A Hundred-Household Officer surnamed Qian was killed on the spot.
Fortunately, Xiang Tingchun and Shan Yuanzhi rushed over in time and personally killed that barbarian commander.
Losing a commander meant the barbarians were down to only one tempering organs expert, forcing them to retreat and regroup.
Normally, this was the perfect moment for a counterattack.
But with Poyang's limited manpower—and the barbarians keeping cavalry stationed behind for support—it was impossible.
The soldiers began cleaning the battlefield.
Chen Sanshi sat down to rest.
It wasn't until dusk that they finished the tally.
In this battle, they had killed one thousand enemies but lost two hundred soldiers, most of whom were newly recruited conscripts. Another one hundred martial hall disciples had fallen. The remaining disciples had scattered like birds, and men were already being sent out to round them up.
That meant Poyang now had barely nine hundred fighters left.
"Lord Chen, Thousand-Household Officer Xiang has summoned everyone."
Inside the command tent, the soldiers gathered. After half a day of brutal fighting, everyone was exhausted. Most carried minor wounds.
Even Sun Li's fair face was streaked with dried blood, and Sun Buqi's arm had been slashed open.
"Sanshi!"
Xiang Tingchun turned to him. "What do you think we should do next?"
"Withdraw."
Chen Sanshi gave a firm answer. "Our line is stretched too thin. Poyang's forces are too few. If we continue to hold this way, today's crisis will repeat itself tomorrow. Better to abandon the outer defenses, retreat to the county city, and fortify the inner walls. There, we still have a real chance."
"Hmm. You and I think alike."
Without even asking for others' opinions, Xiang Tingchun immediately ordered, "Feng Yong, Zhao Kang—you two will bring all civilians inside the walls by dawn tomorrow. Enforce the scorched-earth policy. Do not leave a single grain behind. Everyone else, hold your posts at the Great Wall through the night. No one leaves their position without orders!"
"Yes, sir!"
Feng Yong and Zhao Kang saluted and left.
"Prefect Ji."
Xiang Tingchun turned to Ji Guangxian. "What's the situation in Anding Prefecture?"
Ji Guangxian sighed. "The fighting there is fierce. Don't expect reinforcements anytime soon. Give up that hope, Thousand-Household Officer Xiang. But tonight, one of my clan's old retainers—a tempering organs minor achievement expert—should arrive. He can at least offer some support."
"This time, we truly owe you thanks, Prefect Ji."
Xiang Tingchun finally looked a bit relieved.
With that, they would now have four tempering organs experts against the enemy's one. Combined with the city's tall, thick walls, they stood a good chance of holding out until Anding Prefecture could send reinforcements.
If they could defend Poyang with just a thousand troops, that would count as a major military achievement.
"No need to thank me, Lord Xiang."
Ji Guangxian said flatly, "His Highness has always cared deeply for the people. He would never wish for the Great Sheng Dynasty to lose even a single city. By helping you, I'm merely serving the empire as I should."
The two men stayed behind to discuss strategy while the others dispersed one by one.
"My lord!"
Xu Bin had been waiting outside for some time. "Is there any way we can…"
"You can't go back. Neither can I."
Chen Sanshi already knew what he meant.
Xu Bin's child had probably just been born. But with the scorched-earth order, every civilian outside the walls would have to relocate into the city—and live in the streets for who knew how long. Naturally, Xu Bin was worried.
Chen Sanshi was worried too—for Lan jie'er.
He found Sun Li, who immediately understood. "I'm not under anyone's command, so leaving temporarily doesn't count as desertion. Don't worry. I'll make sure Sister Lan and your subordinate's family are taken care of."
"Thank you."
Chen Sanshi cupped his hands in gratitude.
He returned to his assigned post on the wall and checked the numbers under his command.
Twenty had fallen—most of them the ones who had followed him to reinforce Zhao Kang at the ladders.
Having a perfect memory wasn't always a blessing.
After such a brutal battle, the atmosphere was heavy and silent. Even Zhu Tong, normally loud and carefree, sat quietly atop the wall with his eyes closed, trying to rest.
Chen Sanshi meditated briefly, then resumed his training.
By fortune's grace, the Xi River tribe didn't attack again that night.
At dawn, everyone successfully retreated inside the city.
Poyang's walls stood thirty feet high and twenty feet thick—sturdy and reliable. With one tempering organs expert stationed at each of the four walls—east, south, west, and north—it was nearly impossible for the barbarians to break through quickly again.
Unfortunately, every surrounding village outside the city would be burned to ashes.
But there was no other choice.
"Lord Chen."
A tall, broad-shouldered middle-aged man with a short beard climbed up the city wall.
"And you are…?"
Chen Sanshi's heart tightened in alert.
The man before him moved with calm, steady steps, his breath long and deep—very similar to Xiang Tingchun. There was no doubt he was also a tempering organs cultivator.
"Lord Chen, no need to be nervous."
The middle-aged man smiled faintly and introduced himself. "My surname is Han, given name Cheng. I serve as the bodyguard to Prefect Xue. You may call me Guard Han."
"A pleasure to meet you."
Chen Sanshi clasped his hands in greeting.
He remembered overhearing back at the Liang residence that even a mere county magistrate like Prefect Xue had a tempering organs bodyguard. Seems that was true after all.
But during the Great Wall battle, he hadn't seen this man take action once.
He asked, "Guard Han, what brings you here?"
"There's an imperial decree."
Han Cheng gestured courteously for him to follow.
"An imperial decree?"
Chen Sanshi immediately guessed it must be related to the Yu Wen Ninth Prince—the matter the capital had been waiting to respond to.
He followed the man, eventually arriving before the gates of the county magistrate's residence.
"Lord Chen."
Han Cheng suddenly stopped and lowered his voice. "When Prefect Xue reads the imperial decree, whatever he asks of you, just agree. No matter what happens afterward… Grand Commander Sun will cover for you. Remember—no matter what, you must agree!"
"Huh?"
Chen Sanshi blinked in confusion.
Then it hit him—this Han Cheng… was actually Grand Commander Sun's man.
Sun Li and Sun Buqi had once mentioned privately that Prefect Xue served directly under the emperor, yet one of his close guards secretly worked for Grand Commander Sun. And now this man was telling him to follow the decree's command without question.
So complicated…
Only after going inside would he understand what was really going on.
"Alright, I'll remember."
Chen Sanshi nodded.
Han Cheng gave a short nod and continued leading the way.
Inside the main hall, Prefect Xue sat straight-backed on a grand chair in full official robes.
Another guard stood beside him.
Another one? Could that one be a tempering organs cultivator too?
A county magistrate with two tempering organs guards?
"Lord Chen," Prefect Xue greeted him with a smile as he rose slowly to his feet. "I did not come to greet you in person earlier. I hope you'll forgive the discourtesy."
"Prefect Xue is too kind."
Chen Sanshi bowed.
In terms of official rank, his military position actually outranked the seventh-rank magistrate by one level.
"Then, I'll get straight to the point."
Prefect Xue cleared his throat and retrieved a golden silk scroll from the table. He unrolled it carefully and began reading aloud in a formal tone:
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees—Captain of the Chengxin Command, Chen Sanshi, though still in his youth, with strength at the tempering bone stage, pursued deep into enemy territory for four hundred li, captured alive the Yu Wen Ninth Prince, and demonstrated both loyalty and valor. Therefore, he is hereby conferred the title of Fifth-Rank Flying Cavalry Officer, rewarded with one box of Bone-Tempering Treasure Pills and one jar of Imperial Wine. Thus is decreed."
"I, your servant, accept this decree with gratitude."
Chen Sanshi took the scroll respectfully with both hands.
The Fifth-Rank Flying Cavalry Officer title was an honorary military rank—glorious, but without actual administrative power.
In this world, martial titles corresponded to cultivation stages. For a sixth-rank officer like him to be granted a fifth-rank honor was already an exception.
But that didn't matter much to him.
What truly caught his interest was the Bone-Tempering Treasure Pills.
Anything bestowed by the emperor himself couldn't possibly be ordinary.
If he could use it to push his tempering bone cultivation to perfection, it would greatly aid in the battles to come.
Still, nothing in the decree seemed suspicious.
So why had Grand Commander Sun's man told him he would "cover for him"? Cover for what?
"Lord Chen," Prefect Xue said with a pleasant smile, "to be recognized by His Majesty at such a young age—your future prospects are boundless."
"Prefect Xue flatters me."
Chen Sanshi gave a polite smile, eager to claim his reward and leave.
But Prefect Xue took his time. From a tray held by a servant, he lifted a jade flask and poured a cup of wine, handing it to Chen Sanshi.
"Lord Chen," he said warmly, "this is the Imperial Wine bestowed by His Majesty. By custom, it must be drunk immediately. I trust you will not refuse His Majesty's grace."
[Verdant Blood Venom: Colorless and tasteless. Once consumed, it fuses into the flesh and blood. It remains dormant for three months. After three months, without the antidote, the intestines will rot, blood will leak from the seven orifices, and death will follow instantly.]
Poisoned wine?!
I risked my life for the empire, and the damned emperor rewards me with poison?!
So this was what Han Cheng meant by "agree to everything"?
Chen Sanshi's thoughts raced, though his face remained perfectly calm.
'The poison takes three months to act.'
'That means the emperor doesn't want me dead—not yet.'
'He wants to control me.'
Suddenly it all made sense.
The emperor had no reason to kill a mere tempering bone cultivator. If he really wanted him dead, he wouldn't need poison—certainly not one that takes three months to activate.
But control? That fit perfectly.
Do well, and the antidote comes quietly. Do poorly, and you die bleeding from every hole.
Drink it or not?
Looks like the so-called "cover" from Grand Commander Sun meant he'd be provided with the antidote later—and for now, he had to play along.
Of course, Chen Sanshi wasn't foolish enough to trust either side completely.
After all, he was just a nominal soldier under the Commander's banner. There was no real relationship between them.
Still, he had no choice.
Besides… he could now cure poisons himself.
With that thought, Chen Sanshi raised the cup and drank the entire thing in one smooth motion.