Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 386: Chapter 371 is almost over! Give me the gun!

While Lu Chongde was worrying about the battle outside, a sudden burst of chaotic noise erupted from outside the cell.

Screams rang out, and the clashing of weapons melded into a continuous uproar.

“Governor! Governor!”

Moments later, a group of soldiers burst into the dungeon, and all the jailers were chopped down to the ground.

Lu Chongde stood up abruptly, looking toward the soldiers outside the cell.

“Who are you?”

Before he could speak, Ji He shouted out a question from beside him.

The leading soldier glanced at Ji He, at first startled, then shouted, “General Ji, the humble Bazong Zuo Wan of the Right Camp pays respect to General Ji!”

“Zuo Wan!” Ji He stared at Zuo Wan in a daze.

Zuo Wan hacked open the cell’s door lock, “Quickly unlock General Ji’s shackles!”

A flurry of soldiers then surged into the cell to release Ji He from his shackles.

At this point, Ji He’s shoulder blades were still pierced by iron nails, the deep wounds already festering and suppurating; it was only Ji He’s robust constitution that pulled him through the initial infection, but even so, his cultivation was likely ruined.

Having his shoulder blades pierced for over a month, his shoulders were already deformed, and his arms had long lost all sensation.

“Governor is over there!” Ji He did not forget Lu Chongde next to him.

Upon hearing this, Zuo Wan promptly looked toward the nearby cell, where Lu Chongde looked extremely pitiful; his face was gaunt and had become so thin and haggard that even those familiar with him might not recognize him as Lu Chongde.

“Quick!”

Zuo Wan did not hesitate, he immediately stepped forward to open the cell and unlock the shackles.

In fact, Lu Chongde was in much better condition than Ji He; he was only weak and had not been injured.

“How did you all get here?” asked Lu Chongde.

Zuo Wan said, “Governor, General Yang Zhenshan is laying siege…”

He briefly explained the current situation at Chongshan Pass.

The soldiers of the Rear Camp and the Left Camp on the eastern and western city walls had turned traitor, and the soldiers of their Right Camp were responsible for guarding the north wall.

As soon as they noticed that the soldiers of the two camps had turned, the soldiers of the Right Camp became restless and started defecting as well.

Hou Yao’s Rescue Camp was suppressing the defectors, while the traitorous soldiers were fighting back, and both sides were already in a fierce battle within the city.

Zuo Wan was a clever person; realizing the situation was chaotic, he immediately thought of Lu Chongde in the dungeon.

Saving Lu Chongde was a great merit; if they could seize the General Mansion under the leadership of Lu Chongde, they would not only be faultless but also gain credit.

The shackles were unlocked, and Lu Chongde almost stumbled with a clang.

“Governor!” Zuo Wan quickly supported him.

“No harm!” Lu Chongde quickly waved his hands, saying, “Find me a horse, we must go help General Yang!”

“Not going to the General Mansion?” Zuo Wan asked in confusion.

His thought was to take over the General Mansion, a tempting prize right in front of them.

“What’s the use of going to the General Mansion? Only by aiding General Yang in seizing the city gates and welcoming the Royal Army into the city can we save our lives, otherwise once General Yang retreats, Ji Feiyu will definitely suppress everyone inside the Pass!” Lu Chongde had a better grasp of the bigger picture than Zuo Wan.

Zuo Wan just wanted to score merits by making up for past faults and then earn new honors and rewards.

However, Lu Chongde thought of allowing Yang Zhenshan into the city, only then could they emerge victorious and capture Chongshan Pass.

Although Zuo Wan hesitated somewhat, in the end, he chose to follow Lu Chongde’s orders, helping Lu Chongde out of the dungeon and then found a bunch of horses for Lu Chongde, helping him onto a horse.

“First go to the Governor’s Office and fetch my Royal Command Flag!” Lu Chongde said somewhat feebly.

The Royal Command Flag was a symbol of his identity and authority; only with the Royal Command Flag in hand could he mobilize troops and issue orders.

As for whether Ji Feiyu would confiscate the Royal Command Flag, definitely not, first because the Governor’s Royal Command Flag was like the General’s, there were four sets, and secondly, the Royal Command Flag was only symbolic, Ji Feiyu had his own Royal Command Flag, taking Lu Chongde’s Royal Command Flag would be of no use to him.

Moreover, with Lu Chongde already reduced to a prisoner, what use would Ji Feiyu have for his Royal Command Flag?

Therefore, Lu Chongde believed that Ji Feiyu definitely had not taken his Royal Command Flag.

They soon arrived at the Governor’s Office, which was only sealed and not destroyed. All the officials inside were either killed or dispersed, but everything within the Office had not changed much.

Lu Chongde not only found his Royal Command Flag but also his official seal.

“Governor, quite a few enemies are coming over!” Zuo Wan said urgently.

Lu Chongde handed over the Royal Command Flag to him, saying, “Set up the flag, let’s fight our way out!”

At that moment, a fierce battle was taking place on the streets outside the Governor’s Office.

Zuo Wan led his men out of the dungeon and to the Governor’s Office, while Hou Yao’s Rescue Camp had pursued them and was fighting desperately on the streets, blood staining the cobblestones red.

Upon receiving the Royal Command Flag, Zuo Wan did not hesitate, found a bamboo pole, and hung it up.

“By the order of the Governor, eliminate the rebels!”

“Brothers, charge!”

What does legitimate authority mean?

Holding the Royal Command Flag and carrying the orders of the Governor, this is legitimate authority!

Had it just been Zuo Wan alone, he would be considered part of a disorderly army, a rebel, or a turncoat; without the imperial command, he would at most be a part of the chaos.

But with Lu Chongde it was different; as the Town Governor of Chushan, he was the highest official within Chongshan Pass, and his orders took precedence over Ji Feiyu’s.

Now that Zuo Wan carried the Governor’s orders, his authority was rightful, and righteousness was on his side.

“Several of you, protect Governor!”

Zuo Wan commanded his brothers beside him, then, raising the Royal Command Banner, he charged out of the Governor’s Office.

“By the order of Governor, eliminate the rebels!”

“By the order of Governor, eliminate the rebels!”

“Kill!”

On the streets, the fighting was still intense, but when Zuo Wan rushed out with the Royal Command Banner, the soldiers engaged in combat were instantly heartened and their morale soared.

At the same time, many soldiers who had switched sides began to rally around upon seeing the Royal Command Banner.

“Go, to the Imperial Carriage House and bring out my regalia!”

Lu Chongde then instructed the soldiers beside him.

But the Royal Command Banner alone wasn’t enough; it was too small to be striking and visible enough.

“Go check the side room for my official robe!”

Regalia and official attire were symbols of his identity, and the more conspicuous they were at this time, the better, as only then could they summon more soldiers who had switched sides.

Moments later, Lu Chongde changed into his official robe, and several soldiers either held his rank plaques high or beat on bronze gongs in accompaniment.

Two rank plaques—one read ’Right Deputy Imperial Censor of the Imperial Examination Hall’ and the other ’Chushan Town Governor’.

The gongs led the way, the soldiers shouted loudly: “By the order of Governor, eliminate the rebels!”

The procession exited the Governor’s Office, and Lu Chongde, supported by soldiers, mounted his horse.

Upon horseback, Lu Chongde tried his best to sit up straight.

“Shout it out!” Lu Chongde commanded.

The soldiers immediately obeyed, continuing to loudly shout: “By the order of Governor, eliminate the rebels!”

The shouts grew louder and louder, and more and more soldiers gathered around.

The sounds of fighting also intensified.

Inside the city, the battle was escalating, and though the Rescue Camp that had come to suppress the uprising still held the advantage, with the growing number of soldiers around Lu Chongde, their advantage was slowly diminishing.

Meanwhile, Yang Mingzhi had already led his soldiers to the city gates, but they faced stronger resistance there and were blocked on the streets by the gates.

Outside the city, the brutal siege continued. Soldiers from the Personal Guard Camp climbed the city walls, only to be killed or knocked down by the enemy atop.

However, when Niu Zhuang and Tang Feihu joined the fray, they were finally able to hold their ground on the city walls.

Yang Zhenshan observed the battle on the walls, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

“It’s about time! Give me the spear!”

At this point, all potential reinforcements had appeared, and all available forces had been mobilized. What remained was a fight to the finish.

Yang Zhenshan couldn’t see the situation in the city, but he could observe the chaos on the city walls to the east and west.

Yang Mingzhi handed the Mystical Iron Spear to Yang Zhenshan, who raised it, his face coldly handsome as he called out: “Personal Guard Camp, follow me to attack the wall; Five Army Camps, charge the gates!”

At his command, he led the Personal Guard Camp and the Five Army Camps towards Chongshan Pass.

The sound of horse hooves thundered, and in a blink of an eye, they had charged over a hundred yards.

Atop the city gate tower, Ji Feiyu watched the imposing Personal Guard Camp and Five Army Camps, his eyes narrowed, “Prince, if the situation becomes untenable, you must withdraw immediately!”

Prince Qing too was watching the army below the city; he knew that the final battle was about to begin, and the outcome would be decided in this very moment!

“I understand!”

He did not refuse Ji Feiyu’s well-intended advice.

Ji Feiyu nodded, holding a trident, stepped forward to the city wall, watching Yang Zhenshan as he rode swiftly towards them.

Yang Zhenshan also saw him; indeed, he had noticed Ji Feiyu and Prince Qing early on.

They had been standing in front of the city gate tower, hard to miss.

Before he even arrived, two Short Spears were flung out.

Swish, swish~~

The Short Spears, like thunderbolts, struck directly at Ji Feiyu.

Ji Feiyu’s eyes flickered as he raised the trident with precise timing to hit the Short Spears.

But it seemed he had somewhat underestimated the power of the Short Spears; his body involuntarily took several steps back.

Ji Feiyu’s face turned a bit unsightly!

Yet Yang Zhenshan’s mouth curled slightly upward.

With the city wall in sight, Yang Zhenshan leapt up, standing upon the horse’s back, “Red Cloud!”

“Neigh~~”

Red Cloud let out a neigh, its massive body leaping up, actually jumping over two zhang high, and Yang Zhenshan, using the momentum, stepped heavily on Red Cloud’s back, his figure suddenly rising and leaping onto the city wall.

Neigh~~

Red Cloud landed with another neigh and then turned to run back.

Meanwhile, soldiers of the Personal Guard Camp behind him dismounted their horses one after another; their horses were not as formidable as Red Cloud, able to leap two zhang high, nor did they possess Yang Zhenshan’s strength to jump directly onto the city wall, so they had to use ladders.

However, soldiers of the Personal Guard Camp all had cultivation around the Postnatal Fifth Layer and could easily jump onto the ten zhang high city wall with just a slight push on a ladder.

As for the soldiers of the Five Army Camps behind, well, their cultivation was much lower, most of them were just ordinary Martial Artists, so they had abandoned their horses far from the city wall and rushed towards the city gates.

Thousands of warhorses, led by Red Cloud, retreated from the battlefield.