After two consecutive days of brutal assaults, the city still stood firm.
Through the united effort of every soldier and commoner in Poyang, they had managed to hold the line by sheer will alone.
The barbarians, on the other hand, lost another 2,000 soldiers, including a tempering organs general.
With countless siege engines destroyed and their morale shaken, they were forced to halt their attacks for several days, too afraid to return.
Assessing the battlefield now—
The barbarians had around 6,000 troops left, while Poyang retained 600 soldiers and roughly 3,000 civilians willing to fight.
Those civilians were just ordinary people.
If it were a battle in the open field, they'd be nothing but cannon fodder.
But in a defensive war, they didn't need to charge—only to carry supplies, repair walls, or serve as human shields. As long as they could slow the barbarians from scaling the walls and buy the soldiers a few more seconds to react, it was enough.
For now, the enemy dared not attack again.
Half of their remaining 6,000 troops were cavalry, and cavalry were useless against unbroken walls.
As long as the city didn't fall, Poyang could hold.
If nothing unexpected happened, once Wang Zhi returned with reinforcements, the siege would be lifted.
Chen Sanshi could hardly believe it—the greatest credit this time didn't belong to the generals or warriors, but to the common folk.
"Open the granary! Distribute food!"
The army still had plenty of supplies.
After witnessing firsthand how valuable the civilians were, Xiang Tingchun had come to like this method—using the cheapest lives for the greatest gain. He ordered even more conscription, forcing every man capable of holding a weapon to the walls.
In high spirits, he gathered all officers of Hundred-Household rank and above on the ramparts, personally pouring wine for each one.
"Brothers," he declared proudly, "with Poyang's siege nearly broken, every one of you has earned great merit! Once the war is over, rewards will come in abundance—promotion and medals, without question!"
"Hahaha, indeed!"
Prefect Ji Guangxian, wearing his red robe, raised his cup. "If His Highness the Crown Prince learns that even a small border county like ours has men this brave, he'll surely be impressed! The first merit belongs to Thousand-Household Xiang—congratulations!"
"Haha, and Prefect Ji, though a civil officer, has fought and bled alongside us—surely that too counts as a great service!"
Xiang Tingchun poured him a full cup as well.
It was clear that after these battles, the rift between the two men had disappeared.
On the same wall, while the officers laughed, toasted, and congratulated one another for promotions yet to come, the ragged commoners labored below.
Some hauled away corpses or patched the broken stonework, while others sat numbly on the cold ground, silently eating bowls of white rice—the first proper meal they'd had in days.
Celebrating halfway through the war?
Chen Sanshi had no interest in such mockery of a victory feast.
He took a token sip of wine, then turned away to help move the bodies of the fallen.
...
That night—
For the first time since the battle began, Xiang Tingchun finally went home to see his wife.
Removing his heavy armor, he scooped up his young son in his arms. "You don't need to be afraid anymore. The fighting will end soon."
"Really?"
His wife, Madam Liu, looked uneasy. "My heart keeps pounding… the barbarians won't attack again, will they?"
"You think those barbarians are made of clay?" Xiang Tingchun snorted. "An army of ten thousand was already strange enough. They can't possibly send reinforcements so soon. Even if they somehow send two thousand more, it won't help. Unless they abandon the main battlefield in Liangzhou, they'd only invite disaster upon themselves."
"I don't understand such things," Madam Liu murmured, pressing a hand to her chest. "If my husband says it's fine, then it must be fine."
He nodded, speaking with quiet pride. "When this war ends, I'll likely be reassigned. The merit from this defense is more than enough. Perhaps I'll even be transferred to one of the prosperous Jiangnan prefectures."
"That would be wonderful."
Madam Liu smiled with relief. "Finally, we can leave this dreadful place. Every day here is filled with fear. Our child can't even study under a proper teacher—how can he ever pass the examinations and earn a title?"
"Mm."
Xiang Tingchun picked up his chopsticks, ready to have a proper meal before returning to the city wall.
Just then, a maid rushed in to report.
"Master, Lord Luo requests an audience."
"What does he want?"
Holding his young son, Xiang Tingchun didn't even look up. "Is there trouble again? Another siege?"
"My lord—it's the Martial Hall!"
Luo Dongquan entered in haste, his expression pale. "That old fool Liang Shengzhi, who was in charge of guarding the south gate, took advantage of the barbarians' temporary retreat—he opened the gate and fled with his family! It looks like he's heading for Hengkang Prefecture!"
"Ran away?!"
Xiang Tingchun slammed his chopsticks onto the table. "That old bastard's tired of living!"
Such a thing could never be allowed to happen.
Xiang Tingchun immediately donned his armor again, grabbed his saber, and mounted his warhorse. Together with Luo Dongquan, he galloped straight toward the city gate.
"How many people?"
"Only seven or eight," Luo Dongquan replied quickly. "They've got a cart loaded with gold, silver, and jewels. Since they're hauling wagons, they can't have gotten far. I already sent men after them—they might've caught up by now."
"Good! Hang their damn heads on the city wall! Let's see who else dares to run!"
Killing intent surged in Xiang Tingchun's eyes.
At this point, there was no need to consider anyone's background or connections. Fleeing during wartime was treason. Even Prefect Ji Guangxian would back him for executing them.
The two rode out of the city, racing across the night fields for five li.
Soon, they saw a wagon up ahead.
"Liang Shengzhi! Deserting in the middle of war—you deserve death!"
Xiang Tingchun spurred his horse forward, overtaking the wagon and blocking the road.
"Lord Xiang."
Liang Shengzhi lifted the carriage curtain, his voice cold. "It's hiding the immortal treasure that's the real crime!"
"What did you just say?"
Xiang Tingchun froze, his eyes narrowing.
The sound of hooves echoed around them.
Three riders emerged from the darkness, cutting off their retreat.
"Prefect Xue?"
Xiang Tingchun squinted. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Xiang Tingchun!"
Xue Yuping's voice was sharp as a blade. "Hand over the immortal treasure, and I'll let you die with your body intact!"
"Immortal treasure?"
Xiang Tingchun took a deep breath and glanced at Liang Shengzhi. "You've lost your mind. You'd drag me down with you?"
Liang Shengzhi shouted hoarsely, his face twisted with rage. "Save your lies! You used the immortal treasure to blackmail us, then killed my son and tried to take the secret for yourself! I'll never forgive you!"
"Your son?"
Xiang Tingchun didn't bother to argue. He simply gave a bitter smile. "If I said the immortal treasure isn't with me, would Prefect Xue believe it?"
"What do you think?"
Xue Yuping turned to the two riders beside him—Han Cheng and Tang Ming. "Since Lord Xiang refuses to die with dignity, let's help him do it."
Slowly, Xiang Tingchun drew the long saber from his waist. The blade gleamed faintly under the moonlight.
"Lord Xiang!"
Luo Dongquan stepped forward in a panic. "Why not just hand it over? They're imperial men—if you kill them, the court will find out sooner or later. Give up the treasure, and maybe your family can still survive!"
"Ha… hahaha…"
Xiang Tingchun suddenly laughed—a mad, broken laugh that echoed through the dark fields. "Luo Dongquan… who would've thought? After twenty years of grooming you, you're the one who sells me out."
"Lord Xiang?"
Luo Dongquan blinked, feigning confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Enough, Old Luo."
Xiang Tingchun's tone turned cold as ice. He ran the blade of his saber slowly along his wrist guard, letting the steel sing. "Drop the act and do it."
Before they left the city, Luo Dongquan had said his men had already gone to intercept the deserters.
So where were they now?
There wasn't a single soldier in sight.
Did that even need to be explained?
"Groomed?"
Luo Dongquan's false smile stiffened into a sneer. "Lord Xiang, you once asked me—'By next spring, how many of us will still be alive?' Did that count me, too?
"In your eyes, everyone's just a stepping stone for your promotion. I'm no exception."
He drew his sword and stepped closer.
"So why pretend at virtue any longer?"
"Kill him!"