Chapter 781 – Breakout, The Beautiful Persuader (5)
Even though Jiamen Pass had been breached several times, its reputation as a perilous stronghold still made people’s heads ache.
Changshou Wang had used fire to break through Jiamen Pass, and the allied forces had won with a tactic that cost them dearly.
Their side had only thirty thousand troops, hardly enough to withstand losses, let alone forcibly breach the pass.
Jiang Pengji wore a grave expression as she said, “Send someone to find out who the commanding general at the pass is.”
More importantly, she needed to confirm whether the forces garrisoned at Jiamen Pass and those attacking Wolong County were from the same faction.
If they weren’t, Jiang Pengji would have to guard against surprise attacks while also dealing with the enemies at Jiamen Pass.
Being attacked from both sides was not an understatement.
Faced with this situation, everyone’s expressions were particularly tense, and several military generals were mentally preparing themselves for a charge against the pass.
Jiang Pengji ordered the troops to set up camp and quietly observe the situation inside Jiamen Pass.
The soldier sent out called aloud, “People on the wall, my lord is Liu Xi, the governor of Wanzhou! Why do you not quickly open the gates?”
Before long, someone on the wall strung a bow and shot an arrow that landed several ten feet away from the soldier.
“Traitorous scum! What kind of governor are you? Only the governor appointed by His Majesty Longqing can pass through! Get lost!”
Upon hearing that, the soldier felt a jolt in his heart.
The so-called “His Majesty Longqing” referred to Changshou Wang, who had declared himself emperor and renamed the era to “Longqing.”
“What Longqing?! There is only one Emperor Dongqing, currently in Chenzhou’s imperial city. The ‘Emperor’ you speak of is just a traitorous fool! You rebels on the wall, do not resist! Surrender and turn to the light!” The soldier replied, only to receive another two arrows shot at him.
Unfortunately, the distance between them was too great, and they still couldn’t hit him.
Both sides engaged in a war of words, each probing for information.
After a while, a burly man clad in armor appeared on the wall.
He inquired briefly, learned the situation, and coldly ordered the soldier to bring him his bow and arrows.
With a swift motion, he drew an arrow, the heavy bowstring quickly bending into a crescent, and released the arrow aimed at the soldier’s head.
The soldier felt a chill on his head as an immense force yanked at his scalp, tipping his body backward as he was sent flying.
“Hmph!”
The burly man snorted coldly and sent a message.
“Get lost and let Liu Xi come.”
The soldier narrowly escaped, looking disheveled, while the defenders at Jiamen Pass cheered, shouting “General is divine might!” like a roaring tide.
Their voices echoed through the sky, even reaching Jiang Pengji, who was in the camp.
Before long, Jiang Pengji received the message transmitted back by the soldier.
“Fu Wang? Who is this person? Have you heard of him?”
Jiang Pengji was not well-versed in Changshou Wang’s forces, and upon hearing this unfamiliar name, she turned to ask her subordinates.
Yang Si, who had been close to Changshou Wang, as the former Chief Strategist, was well-acquainted with the military generals under him.
He pondered and shook his head in confusion. “I don’t recall Changshou Wang having a general named Fu Wang. Perhaps he joined later… But given his archery skills, he must not be an ordinary figure…”
Being able to shoot an arrow that knocked a soldier’s hairpin off from such a distance and pull him back for several meters was no ordinary military prowess!
Changshou Wang might not be impressive, but he had good luck and acting skills, having tricked many capable people into serving him early on.
Maybe Fu Wang had been caught in such a situation too.
Noticing the unusual expression on Meng Hunyun’s face, Jiang Pengji asked, “Meng Xiaowei, do you know this person?”
Meng Hunyun couldn’t help but smile wryly; he not only knew Fu Wang, but he also recognized him.
“Fu Wang is not a general under Changshou Wang; it’s understandable that you don’t know him.” Seeing everyone’s eyes on him, he opened up, “Fu Wang is a retainer of the Meng Clan, well-respected in Cangzhou, and is arguably the mightiest general under the Meng Clan. It makes sense for the Meng Clan to send forces to assist Changshou Wang given his troop shortages.”
At this point, Meng Hunyun paused and smiled at Jiang Pengji. “By the way, my lord has had a hand-to-hand encounter with him.”
Jiang Pengji was momentarily stunned. “I’ve encountered him? You mean that war general outside the Chenzhou imperial city that day was Fu Wang?”
Meng Hunyun confirmed, “Exactly.”
Li Yun also remembered and asked Meng Hunyun, “That Fu Wang… is he the one Meng Xiaowei stopped me from chasing?”
Recalling that day’s events, Li Yun still felt a bit cold sweat trickle down his back.
If Meng Hunyun hadn’t stopped him in his eagerness for achievements, Li Yun could have fallen victim to a counterattack from Fu Wang and been seriously injured.
Meng Hunyun nodded.
Over a month ago, Changshou Wang sent a surprise troop to storm the Chenzhou imperial city, forcing the Emperor and his ministers, along with Hui Jun, to flee. In the end, they were pursued by the forces led by Fu Wang. Had it not been for Jiang Pengji and Yang Jian’s troops arriving on time, Fu Wang might have returned with spoils.
Jiang Pengji had also taken Hui Jun from Fu Wang.
Reflecting on that day’s situation, Jiang Pengji casually tucked her hands into her sleeves and remarked, “That Fu Wang indeed has some skills.”
She could easily overpower Fu Wang because they were not on the same level at all.
By her standard, the people of this world were all trash in battle.
By the standards typical of this world, Fu Wang was indeed skilled.
But just how skilled was he?
Taking Li Yun as an example, while he lacked combat experience, he was the second strongest within the Wanzhou group.
If Li Yun were to face an at-peak Fu Wang, the likelihood of him losing was quite high, and if he wasn’t careful, he might even lose his life.
However, one or two individuals’ combat abilities couldn’t turn the tide of an entire battle.
No matter how strong Fu Wang was, he couldn’t take on tens of thousands.
Meng Hunyun’s expression grew solemn as he remarked, “Just that Jiamen Pass isn’t so bad by itself, but adding in Fu Wang makes things troublesome.”
Jiang Pengji pondered and asked Meng Hunyun, “How much do you know about Fu Wang? Are there any weaknesses?”
Meng Hunyun replied, “I’ve heard that Fu Wang was raised by wild wolves; as a child, he was unruly and fierce, and was kept as a pet fighter by some wealthy family in Cangzhou for entertainment purposes, like a blood sport… Except here, the blood sport involves two death row prisoners fighting; the winner gets to live. Fu Wang was raised in such an environment…”
Jiang Pengji listened to Meng Hunyun’s explanation without furrowing her brow even once.
Let alone such blood sports; even when she was a genetic warrior, she had infiltrated beast arenas to complete tasks assigned by her upper-ups.
Fighting against interstellar beasts, only the victor could live; her experiences were even harsher than what Fu Wang had undergone.
However, considering the current era, Fu Wang’s past was also quite pitiable.
“And then? How did he become a retainer of the Meng Clan?”
Meng Hunyun continued, “Fu Wang initially had no name; he was just a wild child unable to speak, brimming with raw strength but lacking control. The rich boy who kept him was a scoundrel, but his father was a remarkably incorruptible official. Upon learning of this, he angrily scolded the scoundrel and took a liking to Fu Wang’s bravery, bringing him into his service, even adopting him as a son…”
