Chapter 258 Ambush

The moon is bright in the sky.

In the depths of the East China Sea, a fairy island emerges leisurely, like a pearl lost in the sky, bathed in the boundless silver light.

The moonlight is like a silk thread, gently spreading on the vast blue sea, the waves are sparkling, and the outline of the fairy island is interwoven into a dreamlike picture.

On the island, the ancient trees are lush, and the moonlight filtering through the branches and leaves is like fine silver sand, sprinkled all over the winding paths. The breeze blows gently, bringing bursts of flower fragrance and salty fragrance of seaweed, which makes people intoxicated. In the forest, fireflies dance, shining with the moonlight, as if the stars have fallen into the mortal world, leading the traveler into a dream world of light and shadow.

On the beach, the fine sand is like silver, and it glows softly under the moonlight. The waves gently hit the shore, making a quiet and long hum, as if the sea is telling an ancient and mysterious story.

Occasionally, one or two seagulls fly over the sea, leaving behind a series of crisp cries, adding a bit of liveliness and vitality to this quiet night.

In the distance, the mountain peaks are tall and steep, and they are more solemn and mysterious under the moonlight. The top of the mountain is shrouded in clouds and mist, as if there are immortals walking in the clouds, and the looming pavilions and towers add a bit of otherworldly atmosphere.

Occasionally, a melodious sound of the piano drifts with the wind. It is the immortals playing the piano under the moon. The music is melodious and weeping, which makes people feel relaxed and happy, as if they are in a fairyland far away from the hustle and bustle.

The entire fairy island, under the shining moon, is like a beautiful ink painting, and every scene is poetic and picturesque, intoxicating.

This is the fairyland of Penglai, the residence of saints. Naturally, there is no hustle and bustle of the world, only tranquility and beauty, which makes people yearn for it and linger.

On this moonlit night, Yu Yuan sat on the extraordinary Wuyun Camel. The beast exuded a faint aura, stepped lightly with its four hooves, and turned into a dazzling golden light in the mist, cutting through the sky, as fast as lightning, and headed straight for the legendary Penglai Fairyland.

In a flash, the golden light converged, the mist dissipated, and Yu Yuan and the Wuyun Camel had landed steadily on a towering peak in the Penglai Fairyland.

This peak is towering into the clouds, surrounded by fairy air, exotic flowers and plants, colorful butterflies flying, and a peaceful and auspicious atmosphere.

On the top of the peak, a magnificent Taoist palace suddenly came into view, magnificent and colorful, as if it was the most sacred existence between heaven and earth, exuding endless majesty and solemnity.

In front of the Taoist palace, the jade steps are stacked up and lead directly to the door of the palace. Each step seems to contain endless Taoist rhyme and magic power.

On both sides of the temple gate, there are two majestic statues of mythical beasts, with bright eyes, guarding this holy land. On the palace, the eaves and corners are flying, the beams are carved and the buildings are painted. Every detail reveals the exquisite craftsmanship and extraordinary artistic conception.

Yu Yuan slowly stepped down from the Five Cloud Camel, his eyes full of awe, and then he climbed the stairs and quickly stepped into the magnificent Taoist palace.

Yu Yuan slowly walked to the towering temple, his body shook, and he respectfully bowed, begging to see the master.

In the temple, surrounded by clouds and mist, the Golden Spirit Mother sat on the cloud bed. She was wearing a luxurious golden robe with complicated fairy patterns embroidered on it. Every stitch and thread seemed to contain endless magic power. Her face was cold and noble, like the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman descending to the earth. She was surrounded by a faint divine light and was immersed in a deep state of meditation. Those eyes, although closed, seemed to be able to see through all the vanity in the world.

Suddenly, she heard the noise outside the palace. The Holy Mother of the Golden Spirit slowly opened her eyes, which were full of wisdom and majesty, a kind of profoundness that had experienced vicissitudes and seen through the world. She gently opened her red lips and called Yu Yuan in. There was an unquestionable power in her voice, as if it could penetrate people's hearts.

"Yu Yuan, what's the matter?" The Holy Mother of the Golden Spirit's voice was cold and majestic. She frowned slightly, as if she was surprised by Yu Yuan's arrival.

Yu Yuan's heart tightened when he heard it, but he did not dare to neglect it. He quickly told her about his experience in Sishui Pass. His voice was low and heavy, and every word was like a thousand-pound stone, pressing on his heart.

"Master, I was careless and lost in the battle of Sishui Pass. I also lost my beloved disciple. It was all my fault."

When the Holy Mother of Jinling heard this, her face suddenly changed, and anger surged in her heart. She stood up suddenly, and the divine light around her body surged. She shouted angrily: "I didn't expect that the dignified Jinxian of the Chan Sect would be such an arrogant and despicable person. He dared to attack my grandson! Bullying the weak with the big, defeating the few with the many, this behavior is simply shameless!"

Her voice echoed in the hall, shaking the surrounding clouds and mist.

Seeing this, Yu Yuan secretly rejoiced in his heart, and hurriedly nodded in agreement, with a flash of resentment and unwillingness in his eyes.

"Master is right. That thief not only outnumbered the few, but also sacrificed the magic weapon Fantian Yin. If I hadn't been lucky, I'm afraid I would have died long ago."

When the Holy Mother of Jinling heard this, she became even more angry. She clenched her fists, and her nails dug deep into her palms, but she didn't feel it at all.

"We can't let this go! How can others trample on the dignity of our Jiejiao?" Her voice was firm and resolute, as if she had made up her mind.

Yu Yuan looked at his master's angry expression, and a warm current surged in his heart. He knew that no matter what happened, his master would support him. At this moment, he seemed to see hope and the dawn of revenge.

…

The first ray of sunshine in the morning quietly penetrated into Chaoge City, covering this ancient and prosperous city with a soft golden veil. On both sides of the street, the wooden wooden doors of shops creaked and were pushed open by hard-working merchants to welcome the new day. The air is filled with the faint smell of cooking smoke and the tempting aroma of the breakfast stall, intertwining into a mouth-watering market atmosphere.

In the street market, vendors carry all kinds of goods on their shoulders and place them in colorful piles of fresh fruits and vegetables. In the fish market, the fish jump and splash, attracting people around to stop and choose. The vendors shouted loudly and bargained with customers, making it very lively. Occasionally, one or two cock crows or dog barks are interspersed, adding a bit of reality and vividness to life.

In the teahouse, the early tea drinkers sit around a table, and the steaming tea exudes the fragrance of tea. They are either whispering and chatting, or quietly sipping, enjoying this rare tranquility and leisure. Not far away, the storyteller knocked on the gavel, and legendary stories spread among the crowd as he told them, sometimes causing the audience to marvel and sometimes sigh.

Children dressed in simple clothes chased and played in the alleys, and their laughter was clear and sweet, adding a bit of pure joy to the city. Women hold baskets in their hands and shuttle between the markets, picking out daily necessities for their homes. Occasionally they stop to chat with acquaintances, with warm smiles on their faces.

The entire Chaoge City seemed to be given life at this moment, and every corner was full of the breath and vitality of life. As the sun gradually rises, the hustle and bustle of the early morning market will slowly merge into the broader daylight, but the unique charm of Chaoge lingers for a long time, leaving people with endless aftertaste.

Jiang Ziya hurried through the bustling streets. The shouts of the shops on both sides and the noise of the crowd seemed to have nothing to do with him. He had only one thought in his mind - to get to Yang Mansion as soon as possible. There was no need to inform him, the familiar butler already knew people well and respectfully invited him in. After passing through the winding corridor, Jiang Ziya came to the study and gently opened the door. He saw a picture of mountains and rivers hanging on the wall. It was so majestic that it seemed to be able to suck people's hearts into it.

At this moment, a figure slowly walked out of the painting, it was Yang Ling. He was dressed in casual clothes, his face was calm, but his eyes shone with wisdom. The two people looked at each other, and without any need to say anything, they already understood each other.

"Junior brother Ziya, why are you in such a hurry?" Yang Ling asked softly, with a hint of concern in his tone.

Jiang Ziya looked solemn and said in a deep voice: "Something bad happened. The Sishui Pass has been breached."

When Yang Ling heard this, his brows furrowed and his body trembled, "How about the general?"

"All were killed, no one was spared." Jiang Ziya's voice was low and heavy, as if every word carried endless grief.

Yang Ling's eyes flashed with a trace of regret, but he quickly regained his composure, "Where is Xiqi's army?"

"They are marching towards Jiepaiguan with overwhelming force." Jiang Ziya's words revealed unconcealable anxiety and nervousness.

The two were silent for a moment, and the atmosphere in the study suddenly became solemn. Outside the window, a gust of wind blew by, and the leaves rustled, as if they were also lamenting the sudden bad news.

Yang Ling took a deep breath and looked at Jiang Ziya firmly, "Junior Brother Ziya, we must not sit still and wait for death. The loss of Bishui Pass is a big loss for us, but as long as we work together, we will be able to defend Jiepai Pass. Let Xiqi's army take another step forward."

The two sat down at the desk in the study, their figures looking particularly dignified in the candlelight.

Soon after, Jiang Ziya left the Yang Mansion and entered the court to meet Shang Wang Bigan.

"Your Majesty, the loss of Sishui Pass is undoubtedly a heavy blow to our defense line." Jiang Ziya's voice was low and powerful, revealing his deep understanding of the current situation, "But more importantly, we must Find out what forces are involved to prevent further mishaps at Jiepaiguan.”

Bigan nodded, frowning, obviously thinking about the same question, "What Aiqing said is absolutely true. The terrain of Sishui Pass is dangerous. It should be an easy-to-defend and difficult-to-attack place. Why did it fall so quickly?" Why were all the defenders killed?"

Jiang Ziya sighed and said slowly: "I guess there may be a spy inside, or Xiqi has used some tactics that we are not aware of yet. In either case, we must find out the truth as soon as possible in order to formulate a plan Countermeasures.”

When Bigan heard this, a trace of anger flashed in his eyes, "If there is really a spy inside, I swear to find him out and punish him severely! We will never let our soldiers sacrifice in vain!"

Jiang Ziya comforted him: "Your Majesty, please be patient. The most important thing now is to stabilize the morale of the military and prevent the spread of panic. At the same time, we must also strengthen the defense of Jiepaiguan to ensure nothing goes wrong."

Bigan took a deep breath and tried to calm down the anger and anxiety in his heart, "Ai Qing, you are right. Now is not the time to hold people accountable. We should unite as one to deal with the current crisis."

The two were silent for a moment, each thinking about how to deal with it.

Suddenly, Jiang Ziya's eyes lit up, and he seemed to have thought of something, "Your Majesty, I have a plan that may be able to reverse the situation."

When Bigan heard this, he immediately cast a concerned look and said, "My dear, please speak quickly."

Jiang Ziya slowly unfolded his strategy. Every detail was carefully considered, taking into account the current situation and foreseeing possible changes in the future.

After hearing this, Bi Gan's eyes flashed with admiration and respect. He knew that with Jiang Ziya's strategy, Jiepai Pass might really be able to turn danger into safety.

The two continued to discuss the specific implementation details until late at night, when the candlelight in the study gradually went out.

Jiang Ziya's strategy was simple, that is, to ask Bi Gan to recruit talents.

The next morning, when the first ray of morning light penetrated the mist like a thread and gently brushed over the ancient Chaoge city wall, the whole city seemed to be shrouded in a layer of mysterious and solemn golden light.

King Bigan of Shang, wearing a gorgeous dragon robe, stood in front of the towering palace. The attendants beside him held a golden scroll. On the scroll, the three big characters "Recruitment List" written in seal script shone brightly, as if containing endless power and hope.

As the list slowly unfolded, a breeze blew away the ink on it, turning it into dots of golden light, floating in every corner of Chaoge City.

Wherever the golden light went, whether it was a bustling city or a remote village, it aroused a boiling excitement. People stopped and looked up at the golden light, with curiosity about the unknown and longing for the future in their hearts.

With the release of the list, Chaoge City seemed to be activated by an invisible force. On both sides of the street, people talked about it, with curiosity about the unknown and desire for prosperity in their eyes. The news spread quickly across the country, mountains, forests, and seas like a spring breeze, stirring ripples in the hearts of countless talents.

The heroes rose up, like hundreds of rivers converging into the sea. They rode horses, walked, or took boats, crossing thousands of mountains and rivers, just for their loyalty to Dashang and their longing for the future.

Among them, there are elderly scholars holding scrolls, staggering but with a firm gaze; there are young warriors wearing armor, heroic, with sparks of battle in their eyes; there are also those legendary mountain spirits and wild monsters, who either transform into human form or remain in their original form, with a hint of mystery and unruliness, but also with a yearning for the fireworks of the world, and they all set foot on the road to Chaoge.

In Chaoge City, in order to welcome these talents from all directions, King Bigan of Shang specially ordered craftsmen to make careful arrangements. On both sides of the street, colorful lanterns are hung high, and each one seems to be a dream, illuminating the way forward for the talents.

In front of the palace, high platforms rise from the ground, with pens, ink, paper and inkstones placed on them, waiting for the talents to show their talents. And the King of Shang himself personally sits in charge every day, smiling and welcoming heroes from all walks of life.

In Bigan's eyes, there is no distinction between noble and humble, only the consideration of talent and loyalty.

As the days passed, the atmosphere in Chaoge City became more and more intense, as if every inch of land was filled with the collision of wisdom and passion.

King Bigan of Shang not only provided a stage for talents to show their talents, but also personally set up the "Talent Pavilion", a place for brainstorming and exchanging academic and martial arts.

Whenever night fell, the Talent Pavilion was brightly lit, and talents from all walks of life sat together, arguing about current affairs, discussing academics, or demonstrating martial arts. The scene was warm and harmonious.

Among them, there was a scholar from the far east, with unique insights into astronomy and geography, who often shared his research results with everyone in the Talent Pavilion.

His remarks were often fascinating and refreshing, and soon became the focus of everyone's attention.

There were also the two brothers Gao Ming and Gao Jue, who were transformed by the Peach Spirit and Willow Ghost, who showed their magical skills and were named generals on the spot by King Bigan of Shang, who asked them to go to the front line to help.

There were also accomplished masters from Taohua Mountain, such as Deng Zhong and Xin Huan, who were also moved by Bi Gan's thirst for talent and agreed to work for the Shang Dynasty.

The most powerful among them was Wu Wenhua, a giant about three meters tall. He was born in the North Sea and was gifted with supernatural powers. This time, he was also inspired by the recruitment list and came to Chaoge City from afar.

When Bi Gan saw this strange man, he immediately appointed him as a general and ordered him to lead his personal soldiers to guard Chaoge.

A recruitment list not only reversed the current situation of the court's talent decline, but also earned the court a good reputation for thirsting for talent.

Bi Gan was very satisfied with Jiang Ziya's strategy and wanted to worship him as a national teacher.

But this is all later. Now the most urgent task is to defend the Jiepai Pass on the front line. If the front line cannot be defended and the Xiqi army surrounds Chaoge, everything will be in vain.

…

The morning light was just breaking, the sky was white, and the Xiqi army was ready to go.

The horn sounded, shaking the valley, as if it was the most exciting music between heaven and earth, awakening the sleeping forest.

The soldiers were wearing armor, holding weapons, and their faces were filled with determination.

The war horses neighed, and the iron hooves stepped over the rugged mountain road, raising clouds of dust, but they did not stop their pace. The flags fluttered in the wind, embroidered with the totem of Xiqi, showing endless glory and determination.

The mountain road was steep, but the Xiqi army walked on flat ground.

They climbed over steep cliffs and passed through dense jungles, and every step was taken with firm faith. The generals led the way and guided the team's direction. Their figures looked particularly tall in the morning light, as if they were the gods of war descending to earth, leading this fearless army.

As the army marched, the birds and beasts in the mountains flew away in fright, as if they were also making way for this brave army.

Finally, when the afterglow of the setting sun filled the earth, the Xiqi army arrived at the Jiepai Pass.

The terrain in front of the pass was dangerous and easy to defend but difficult to attack, but the army was not afraid. They quickly lined up and prepared for the upcoming battle. The generals shouted loudly to boost morale, and the soldiers responded in unison, shaking the sky.

At the Jiepai Pass, the Xiqi army was ready for battle, with great momentum.

The afterglow of the setting sun made their armors shine with golden light, as if each soldier was covered with a layer of war god's glory. The war horses stepped on their hooves restlessly, as if they were also eager for the upcoming battle.

The defenders on the pass were afraid of this, but they had to bite the bullet and fight because of their duty. However, facing the majestic momentum of the Xiqi army, their defense line seemed so fragile, as if it would be broken at any time.

Huang Feihu had already made an agreement with Xu Gai, the defender of Jiepai Pass, that as soon as the army arrived, the city gate would be opened immediately to help him capture Jiepai Pass.

Therefore, after the 50,000 soldiers of the vanguard camp resisted the outside of Jiepai Pass, Huang Feihu only heard a heavy friction sound of "squeaking", and saw that the tall city gate of Jiepai Pass was indeed slowly opened.

Huang Feihu knew that the opportunity was rare, and he ordered the siege without saying a word.

With an order, the Xiqi army rushed to Jiepai Pass like a tide.

The generals brandished their weapons, led the way, and rushed to the front. They were brave and fearless, as if they were tireless, and only knew to charge forward and fight for the glory of Xiqi.

However, when the Xiqi soldiers rushed to the vicinity of the city gate, the huge city gate was quickly closed, exposing the Xiqi soldiers to the bows and arrows of countless Shang defenders in an instant.

The defenders who had been hiding in the dark quickly occupied the advantageous position of the city wall. Rows of archers stood upright, holding longbows in their hands, with firm and cold eyes, aiming at the surging Xiqi army below.

With an order, the soldiers guarding the city bent their bows and arrows at the same time, and the bowstrings were tight, making a low "buzzing" sound, as if it was the deepest call in nature.

In an instant, the rain of arrows was like a dark cloud pressing down on the top, densely shooting at the Xiqi soldiers attacking the city.

The offensive of the Xiqi army instantly encountered unprecedented resistance. Those warriors who rushed to the front were instantly pierced by arrows. Some fell in a pool of blood, while others wailed in pain. The scene was horrible. Their shields and armor seemed so fragile under the dense rain of arrows that they could not withstand the fatal blow from the city wall.

The siege ladders became the concentrated target of arrows.

Many Xiqi soldiers who were trying to climb were killed by ruthless arrows at the moment when they were about to touch the city wall. Their bodies fell from the ladders like kites with broken strings and fell to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.

The offensive of the Xiqi army was seriously hindered, their formation began to be chaotic, and their morale was greatly hit. Those originally brave and fearless warriors could not help but show fear when facing such a dense rain of arrows.

However, even in such a predicament, there were still some warriors in the Xiqi army. They gritted their teeth, resisted the rain of arrows, and continued to charge towards the city wall.

The soldiers followed closely behind, shouting, waving their weapons, and engaging in a fierce battle with the defenders.

In the flash of swords, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and the battle was extremely tragic.

The Xiqi army became more and more courageous, and their morale seemed to never dry up.

The night gradually fell, but the flames of the battle illuminated the entire sky and dispelled the darkness.

The soldiers fought bravely on the battlefield, and their figures were looming in the flames, as if they were gods of war walking out of hell.

Huang Feihu had wanted to retreat when he saw that the situation was not good, but seeing that the soldiers were working so hard, he simply ordered the real siege to begin.

The sound of weapons clashing, the sound of horses neighing, and the shouts of soldiers intertwined together, forming a tragic battle symphony.

One general after another stepped forward, waving their weapons, leading the charge, and engaging in a desperate fight with the enemy. Their armor was stained with blood, but their eyes were more determined, as if they had forgotten life and death, and only knew to fight for the glory of Xiqi.

The soldiers followed closely behind, holding spears or wielding swords, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. Their figures shuttled across the battlefield, like lightning, trying to tear the enemy apart.

Suddenly, a deafening roar of beasts suddenly sounded from the top of the city, breaking the noise of the battlefield.

The soldiers looked up and saw an extremely powerful black unicorn suddenly appeared on the city wall. On its back sat an old man in a black robe and with a stern face - Wen Zhong, a well-known minister of the Shang Dynasty.

The appearance of Wen Zhong seemed to inject infinite power into the defenders. He held a heavy steel whip in his hand, with a firm look in his eyes, as if he could see through everything.

He shouted loudly, and his voice penetrated every corner of the battlefield, inspiring the defenders to hold their positions and swear to die.

"Soldiers, follow me to defend the city and swear to defend Jiepai Pass to the death!" Wen Zhong's words were like a horn, awakening the fighting spirit of the defenders.

Under his leadership, the defenders cheered up, they held their weapons tightly, stood upright, and prepared for the upcoming battle.

Seeing this, the Xiqi army was not to be outdone. They shouted, waved their weapons, and launched a fierce attack on the city head.

However, under the command of Wen Zhong, the defenders cooperated tacitly and defended impenetrably. They used the height of the city wall and the cover of the arrow tower to launch a powerful counterattack against the enemy.

The battle entered a white-hot stage, and the two sides fought back and forth, and it was difficult to tell. However, under the heroic leadership of Wen Zhong, the defenders always maintained a firm belief and tenacious fighting spirit. They repelled the enemy's attacks again and again and guarded the safety of the city.

As the battle continued, the soldiers defending the city also paid a heavy price. Although they successfully resisted the repeated attacks of the Xiqi army with the towering and solid city walls and Wen Zhong's heroic command, the fierce offensive of the enemy still brought them great pressure.

On the city wall, the figures of the soldiers defending the city gradually became sparse.

Many of them have fallen in a pool of blood, some were pierced by arrows, some were stabbed by enemy spears, and others died heroically in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy.

Their armor was covered with blood and mud, their faces were full of pain and fatigue, but their eyes were still firm.

Those soldiers who were still holding their posts were also seriously injured. There were traces of fighting on their arms, legs, and even faces. Their breathing became rapid, their movements became slow, but their fighting spirit did not diminish at all.

Finally, in a decisive counterattack, Li Jing and others who had been waiting for a long time led a long-rested army to rush out of the city gate and charge towards the Xiqi army.

Wen Zhong also led the way, riding the black unicorn and jumping down from the city wall. His steel whip was invincible and no one could stop him.

Under his leadership, the defenders were in high spirits and fought bravely. In the end, they successfully repelled the enemy and killed more than 30,000 enemies!

When the battle ended and the smoke dissipated, Wen Zhong still stood on the top of the city, and his figure looked particularly tall in the afterglow of the sunset.

This ambush took advantage of the friendship between Xu Gai and Huang Feihu to lure Huang Feihu into a trap, so it played a miraculous feat and almost completely destroyed the most elite vanguard camp in the Xiqi army. It can be said that the results of the battle were quite fruitful.