Chapter 192: Standoff at the Walls
Cai Xinghai had just entered Divine Hero Pass when he saw numerous torches swaying in the distance. The city’s defenders were right; Prince Donghai had indeed let the mob in.
He faced several choices: he could flee, which was understandable given the enemy’s numbers; he could fight and die in the streets, which, though foolish, would earn him a loyal minister’s reputation; or he could hide, as the city had many sturdy buildings that could hold out for a while.
However, none of these options seemed bold enough to Cai Xinghai. Even fighting back felt like a desperate move. The palace had castrated this old soldier, but it hadn’t removed his courage. He lacked Fang Daye’s experience and Chai Yue’s strategy, but when opposing forces met on a narrow path, he knew what to do.
“To the walls!” Cai Xinghai shouted, leading the charge on horseback.
Divine Hero Pass was wide to the south and narrow to the north, with two paths up the northern wall, one by the gate and the other a sloping ramp.
Cai Xinghai brought a hundred cavalrymen, and with the northern gate guards, they numbered about 150. The enemy had thousands.
Dismounting, Cai Xinghai stood on the wall, looking south. The soldiers around him were terrified, especially the guards, who trembled, unsure of what this new officer intended.
Cai Xinghai did nothing but observe. After a while, he laughed heartily. “No need to worry; they are just a rabble,” he said, turning to the soldiers. “If they had stormed the northern gate, even gods couldn’t hold them off. But look, the scattered torches show they are looters focused on plunder, not strategic points.”
The soldiers felt somewhat reassured. Cai Xinghai grew more composed, pacing back and forth. “Within a day, reinforcements will come from Shattered Iron City. We just need to hold this section of the wall to leave a path for them.”