Chapter 129: Timely Rain
The Riverside Vige was under attack from bothnd andke, and among the attackers were the Southern Armys war junks. Prince Donghai was so shocked that he nearly fainted, and Han Ruzi was equally at a loss.
This shattered almost all of his expectations.
This is the Southern Army Han Ruzi strained to peer at thekes surface, only to see threerge silhouettes, surrounded by what seemed like some smaller boats, none lit with torches, all drifting slowly toward Riverside Vige like ghostly ships.
Why? Prince Donghai asked tremulously, turning his gaze to Han Ruzi, hoping to find answers from him. Uncle knows that Im here, could it be
Could it be that the Empress Dowager has already triumphed? Han Ruzi could only draw such a conclusion.
Prince Donghai began to tremble.
Once the bnce between the Empress Dowager and the Cui n was disrupted, the narrow space in which Han Ruzi survived would cease to exist.
Han Ruzi suddenly realized someone was missing beside him. Reckless had vanished. He had said that when there was no hope left, he would not apany Han Ruzi to the death. In his view, this was probably one of those situations.
Han Ruzi felt despondent, but he was not Prince Donghai. He had long grown ustomed to desperate situations. Unless he died, he would never resign himself to fate.
Retreat, starting from the first team. Dont go into the houses, hide behind them! he ordered. No one opposed, and no one questioned. They feared that if they got an answer they didnt want to hear, they would lose thest glimmer of hope.
The militiamen were surprisingly organized. Even though retreating meant getting closer to the raging fire, no one protested.
Han Ruzi knew he had to remain calm, so he stood on the pier, facing the boats on theke, with no cover in front of him, and shouted to Prince Donghai, Does the Southern Army have a navy at Guaizi Lake?
Prince Donghai had no intention of getting closer, but was pushed by several guards behind the Emperor. The Southern Army has a fleet of war junks at the Wei River, which might be connected to Guaizi Lake. It would take at least half a day to get from the Wei River to here, which means arrangements were made during the day.
Han Ruzi had just asked the question casually, with no purpose. Chao Hua walked up from behind, sped his fists, and said, Your Majesty, may I take a few men to sabotage the boats?
Is it feasible?
Chao Hua smiled, We have been fishing and swimming in theke since we were children. Let us try.
Very well, General Chao, assemble your troops.
Seeing Han Ruzi solemnly dispatching troops, Prince Donghai wanted tough but couldnt, only emitting a few grunts from his mouth.
Chao Hua called out a series of names, selecting fourteen people. Most of them were young men from the Chao family fishing vige. They were already prepared, wearing only shorts, with knives and awls in their mouths, they walked into theke, swimming towards the distance, soon disappearing into the night.
Its useless, the soldiers on the war junks have long spears, specifically to deal with these underwater attacks. Prince Donghai still couldnt see any hope.
The retreat was almostplete. After thest hundred-man team left the pier, Han Ruzi walked towards the center of the vige under the escort of his guards.
Death by fire on one side, death by arrows and drowning on the other Prince Donghai didnt want to go anywhere.
There was a strange sound in the air. Han Ruzi and others turned to look, only to see a fire arrow descending from the sky, hitting the spot where he had just stood. Deeply embedded in the wooden bridge, it trembled slightly and the mes quickly extinguished.
The Southern Armys archery skills arent that great, Han Ruzi said with forced ease.
This is just a test shot; soon it will be a barrage of arrows. Prince Donghai was terrified, quickening his pace, wanting to get further away from the pier, but was pulled back by two guards.
Han Ruzi continued forward, neither fast nor slow, even when he heard louder noises from behind, he did not hasten his steps.
The guards kept turning back, shielding the Emperor with their bodies as much as possible.
Dozens of arrows rained down on the wooden bridge of the pier.
Han Ruzi joked, If Miss Jin were here, she would definitely be delighted. She is always short of arrows.
The Emperorsposure infected those around him. A guardughed, Yes, if the Empress were here, she could repel all attackers single-handedly.
Prince Donghai found it both amusing and frightening.
They finally reached the center of the vige. There werent many houses left to provide cover for over seven hundred people. Han Ruzi stood in the middle of the road, gazing at the mes outside, which posed a greater threat than the enemies on theke.
The mes had already engulfed a circle of fences around them, thick smoke billowed, and the heat was oppressive. The mes were attempting to leap over that open space, aiming to eradicate thest few houses and hundreds of people in the vige, much like a cat trying to catch a mouse driven into a corner, its ws and the prey just inches apart.
Was he really going to die here? Han Ruzi dared not think further.
Nearby came a chorus of pleas from the captured soldiers, locked in empty pigsties closest to the mes.
Release them, Han Ruzimanded, and immediately someone went to open the pigsties, cutting the ropes. The soldiers, hands tied behind their backs, didnt even bother to thank them. They stared at the mes from all directions, trembling in fear.
But the mes never reached them. The reeds in theke on both the north and south sides dampened the fire first, leaving only the mes on the west gate side still raging.
Several rounds of arrows were shot from theke, some prating the roofs andnding inside the houses.
No one uttered a sound, not even the soldiers abandoned their wails. Everyone waited silently likembs for the final oue.
Han Ruzi, however, harbored a glimmer of hope. He called out the names of several squad leaders andmanded, Later, your five squads will act as vanguards. Charge forward and dont stop. Your three squads will protect the left nk, your three squads will defend the right nk, and your five squads will cover the rear. Engage the enemy, but do not pursue. These few squads will protect the elderly, the women, and the children in the vige. The rest follow me, ready to obey my orders at any time
Eachmand was met with acknowledgment. Prince Donghai couldnt muster augh; he felt some admiration. Even as the fire dwindled just a little, Han Ruzi was already considering how to break through. Prince Donghai couldnt bring himself to do so; he still couldnt see any chance of sess. The fire might be weakening, but it hadnt extinguished yet, and the attackers outside the vige wouldnt diminish. When daylight came, the soldiers on the war junks in theke would be able tond via the small boats he dared not think further.
Suddenly something fell, hitting him squarely on the right cheek. Prince Donghai was terrified, clutching tightly to the guard beside him, trying to use the mans body to shield himself from the attack.
The guard pushed him away, annoyed. What are you doing?
There theres water. Prince Donghai touched his face, confirming it was a drop of water. Looking up, illuminated by the firelight, there seemed to be dark clouds in the sky.
More and more people looked up at the sky, initially puzzled, then surprised, and finally ecstatic.
Its raining! Its raining! Heaven is saving us! Its the Emperor, hes the true dragon emperor, and Heaven is saving the true dragon emperor!
This was not the miracle Han Ruzi had hoped for. Even without rain, the fire outside would have been extinguished. But this unexpected rain had a significant impact on his position.
A strong wind arose, and the mes outside made one final effort, stretching out long tongues of fire towards thebustible materials in the vige. Suddenly, a downpour began, pouring heavily, and the mes retreated.
The crowd stood dumbfounded for a moment, then erupted into cheers simultaneously. They all knelt before Han Ruzi, their clothes soaked and their hands and feet muddy, but they didnt mind.
The true dragon emperor, I told you, he is the true dragon emperor.
Prince Donghai also knelt down. There was no choice; guards pressed down on his shoulders, and he couldnt remain standing.
He was both astonished and envious. Han Ruzis luck was too good. Although summer rains were frequent, it happened toe down at this moment, truly miraculous. But he also had to admit that if Han Ruzi hadnt been prepared and had panicked from the start, this rain would have been meaningless.
Standing in the rain, Han Ruzi epted the kowtows of the people. He didnt believe much in gods or buddhas, but at this moment, he did feel a sense of destiny.
Despite being drenched, he felt a burning sensation all over his body and thought to himself, I am the Emperor, I am the Emperor
The rain came suddenly and departed just as swiftly, as if it had been sent specifically to extinguish the fire.
But the night didnt recede; without the mes, it seemed even darker. Han Ruzi, now soaked like a drowned rat, turned around. The numerous rebels could only see a blurry figure. They became even more awestruck and all prostrated themselves on the ground, even the captured government troops, not daring to move.
Even after attaining sess, one must not forget ones humble beginnings. No matter how much time passes in the future, I will remember todays followers. Han Ruzi called out, General Chao
Chao Hua and hispanions had returned, equally stunned and kneeling in the mud. Hearing the call, they crawled forward in the mud. At your service.
Go and bring me the roster prepared by Chief Clerk Chao. From now on, it shall always be by my side.
Yes. Chao Hua called someone and together they went to the meeting room to retrieve the wooden door which had served as the militias roster, standing respectfully behind the Emperor.
Long live the Emperor! the rebels shouted in unison.
Han Ruzi knew that he could keep these people with him for some time.
But the crisis was not over yet. As the cheers subsided, Han Ruzi asked Chao Hua, Whats the situation on theke?
Chao Hua replied with extreme respect, We sunk a small boat, and fortunately, the rain caught them off guard, so the enemy retreated.
The rain didntst long. The Southern Armys war junks would soon return. Han Ruzi made an order to depart, not knowing where to go, but wanting to leave the vige.
Among the people, only Prince Donghai didnt believe in the true dragon emperor theory. If Heaven truly favored Han Ruzi, it wouldnt have let him be deposed and end up in such a ce.
His concerns were more pragmatic. Covered in mud, he walked over to Han Ruzi and asked, Whats your n? Youre not counting on Heaven to help you again, are you?
Seeing Prince Donghai, Han Ruzi had an idea. The Southern Army attacked Riverside Vige under the Chai familys banner, which means neither of us have been found guilty of capital crimes.
So what? Were still going to die.
Lets go to the Southern Army, to the Capital, and demand an exnation from Grand Tutor Cui and the Empress Dowager. We must let the whole city know about this.
Prince Donghai was speechless for a moment, then said, Wait until you escape this assault.
The several hundred-man squads acting as vanguards had already left the vige. Suddenly, cries broke out, as if they had encountered the enemy as soon as they went out. Han Ruzi was about to order an attack when excited voices came from the front, Empress! The Empress has returned!
Jin Chuiduo had returned, bringing several men with her.
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