Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

The next day, Qin Jingsu led an army of two hundred thousand to Caiyun City to assume a defensive position.

This army of two hundred thousand was composed entirely of elite troops from the Northern Wilderness, which Xiao Mo had left for Qin Jingsu.

Many of them were even soldiers who had once desperately defended Yanmen Pass alongside Xiao Mo, possessing extensive experience in siege defense.

As for Xiao Mo, he led the remaining army in a direct charge toward Yaoqin City!

Although Xiao Mo and Qin Jingsu had not set a deadline, Xiao Mo knew that Qin Jingsu would defend the city with all his might. In turn, Qin Jingsu trusted that Xiao Mo would use every means possible to accelerate his own assault.

When the Sovereign of the Jin Kingdom learned of Xiao Mo’s strategy, a hint of panic appeared on his face.

But the Jin Sovereign also knew this presented an excellent opportunity for him.

The Sovereign of Jin strictly ordered Yaoqin City and the other cities to hold back Xiao Mo’s army to the death, then commanded the armies of the various Jin Dukes to attack Caiyun City!

’If we can conquer Caiyun City and kill the Qin Kingdom’s Crown Prince! Then we can encircle and trap Xiao Mo’s army.’

’The Qin Kingdom will truly be finished!’

But many things are easier said than done!

Xiao Mo’s army, like a sharp long spear, pierced through Yaoqin City in less than half a month and pressed on toward Cangmang City.

Meanwhile, during his defense of Caiyun City, Crown Prince Qin Jingsu ate and lived alongside his soldiers, guarding the city walls day and night without a single oversight.

And because the Crown Prince himself was leading an army of two hundred thousand elites, everyone in Caiyun City, from top to bottom, was united as one.

Not to mention, they all knew what Caiyun City represented, so nearly every person was prepared to die there!

However, as the various Dukes of the Jin Kingdom arrived, the pressure on Qin Jingsu mounted.

This defensive battle, which would all but decide the fate of the four kingdoms, drove the Dukes to assault the city regardless of the cost.

No matter how many men died, as long as they could wear down Caiyun City’s Grand Array even slightly, it was considered a victory.

「Two months later.」

Xiao Mo led his army to within thirty li of the Jin Kingdom’s Imperial City!

The Jin Kingdom’s Imperial Court fell into a panic. They had never imagined Xiao Mo’s advance would be so swift.

Within the Jin Imperial Court, a pro-surrender faction emerged once again.

However, most of the Jin ministers still had some fight in them.

The calls for surrender were immediately suppressed.

The Sovereign of Jin ordered that the city be defended to the very last moment!

Xiao Mo, for his part, had never expected the Jin Sovereign to surrender.

Xiao Mo made camp on the spot, rested for a day, and discussed siege strategies with his generals.

The next day, Xiao Mo personally led the army in an assault on the city.

Meanwhile, beneath the walls of Caiyun City, the various Jin Dukes conferred before once again launching an all-out assault.

Both sides were in a race against time, each fearing they would be a step too slow.

Under Xiao Mo’s relentless assault, the Jin Imperial City’s Defense Array had been worn down considerably. At one point, Xiao Mo even feigned a defeat.

The Sovereign of Jin, who had been constantly on the defensive, thought he had finally won and shattered Xiao Mo’s myth of invincibility. He was overjoyed.

So, the Jin Sovereign decisively ordered a pursuit.

As a result, they were ambushed by Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo not only utterly routed the Jin army, but he also seized the opportunity to create a breach in their City Defense Array.

But Xiao Mo gave the Jin Kingdom no chance to repair the breach in the Grand Array.

Xiao Mo commanded his army to attack day and night, tearing the breach in the Grand Array wider and wider.

”So close! We’re so close!”

Staring intently at the great battle on the city walls, Xiao Mo’s bloodshot eyes narrowed as he tightened his grip on the long spear in his hand.

’Just give me another half a month, and I can shatter the Jin Kingdom!’

’This time, I can’t possibly leave any survivors from the Jin Royal Family.’

’The Jin Kingdom hasn’t been fully brought under control yet.’

’Only when the entire Royal Family is dead will those Dukes be unable to unite.’

’Like scattered sand, they will be easy to pick off one by one.’

’And after taking the Jin Imperial City and slaughtering the Jin Royal Family, I will immediately ride to reinforce Caiyun City!’

But at Caiyun City, the situation was no longer as optimistic as it had been.

Qin Jingsu had not made a single mistake.

He sealed the city gates and refused to sally forth, focusing solely on defense.

No matter how the enemy provoked him, it was useless.

What Qin Jingsu had not anticipated, however, was how weak Caiyun City’s Defense Array was.

As one of the key strategic passes, Caiyun City’s Defense Array should not have been this fragile.

Moreover, before the Qin Kingdom had even attacked, the City Lord of Caiyun City had abandoned his post and fled.

But who could have known that the Array had gone without maintenance for years? While not completely in ruins, the Grand Array was like an old, rusty sword!

At the time, their advance had been too rushed. Furthermore, no one had anticipated the setback on the Zhao Kingdom front, which had forced the campaign in the Jin Kingdom into this desperate, all-or-nothing situation.

As a result, the army had only stopped in Caiyun City for a single day before pressing onward, never even inspecting the Grand Array!

Now, Qin Jingsu finally understood why the former City Lord had abandoned his post and fled, even running toward the Demon Race’s World.

The root cause was that the man had embezzled all the Spirit Stones and Heavenly and Earthly Treasures meant to maintain the City Defense Array, so he had simply fled to escape the consequences!

Upon learning this, though Qin Jingsu was furious, he still formulated detailed strategies to minimize the strain on the Grand Array.

But five days later, the Grand Array was finally shattered.

The shattering of Caiyun City’s Grand Array was like the scent of blood to the Jin Dukes, and they charged forward in a frenzy!

They coveted the head of the Qin Kingdom’s Eldest Prince!

It would be an unparalleled achievement!

Knowing the situation was untenable, Qin Jingsu led his remaining one hundred and fifty thousand troops out of the city to fight!

But the enemy’s forces outnumbered his by more than four to one, and they possessed far more experts of the Upper Three Realms.

After two days and two nights of brutal fighting, Qin Jingsu led his army in a retreat back into Caiyun City.

Qin Jingsu broke his army into smaller units, waging a constant guerrilla war against the Jin forces within Caiyun City.

Although this tactic did effectively delay the Jin army, unfortunately, Caiyun City was ultimately too small.

Moreover, after the Jin army seized control of the City Defense Array, even though the Grand Array was shattered, their Array Masters were able to modify it to help locate enemy troops!

「Three days later.」

Realizing the situation was untenable, Qin Jingsu led his army in an evacuation of Caiyun City.

He planned to fall back to Yaoqin City and continue to make a stand there.

But the Jin army would never give him that chance.

The Jin army pursued him like madmen, launching several attempts to encircle and destroy his forces.

Although Qin Jingsu managed to break out of the encirclement each time, his losses were devastating.

Of the original two hundred thousand soldiers, only thirty thousand remained.

”What lies ahead?”

Qin Jingsu asked the Vice General beside him, his voice weak.

”Reporting to the General, ahead is a plain in the Jin Kingdom called Shuling,” the Vice General replied.

”Shuling... Su Ling...”

Qin Jingsu let out a bitter laugh.

”’A tomb for Su.’ It seems Heaven intends for me to be buried here.”