Today, the weather is still quite bad.
After the snowstorm yesterday, the dark clouds that had finally dispersed gathered together again, layer upon layer, and not even a ray of sunlight could penetrate.
Although it was daybreak, due to the thick dark clouds blocking the sunlight, the brightness was only slightly better than at night.
Today is the 13th day since Ogata left the Red Moon Fortress.
Today is the 11th day of the attack and defense of Red Moon Fortress.
In the main camp of the shogunate army, Inamori folded his arms and looked expressionlessly at the scarred fortress in the distance.
"Victory is finally coming." At this time, a voice came from behind Inamori, which startled Inamori.
"Lord Elder..." Inamori turned his head to look at Matsudaira Sadanobu who was walking slowly towards him with his hands behind his back.
"I thought those barbarians could only hold out for three or four days at most." Matsudaira Sadanobu walked to the side of Inamori, looking at the fortress in the distance like Inamori just now, and continued slowly, "In the end, they held out until the 11th day... Although they were just a group of barbarians, their perseverance is something we have to admire."
"...Yeah." After a change of expression on Inamori's face, he nodded with difficulty, "Although I don't want to admit it...but these barbarians have been acting more like samurai these days than some of the fallen guys among us."
Inamori turned his attention back to the Red Moon Fortress.
"According to yesterday's battle report, these barbarians have lost their outer city wall and have almost no fighters left. They are now at the end of their rope."
"Today is the last day of this battle."
"I have already made the arrangements - the Second Army will continue to attack the city, while the cavalry and the artillerymen will be ready to rush in and suppress the stubborn elements who are still resisting after the city gates are opened."
Matsudaira Sadanobu nodded and said, "Let's plant the 'three-leaf sunflower' of our Edo Shogunate on this fortress."
Inamori: “Yes!”
…
…
Red Moon Fortress, on the inner wall -
When the sky was just getting light, the remaining soldiers of the Red Moon Fortress were basically in their respective positions.
After days of bloody battles, the soldiers who can still stand on the city walls and fight have basically become extremely young people.
No matter how dumb a person is, they can feel from yesterday's difficult battle that today will be extremely difficult for them.
They may not be able to defend the fortress today.
The dark clouds that were hanging low in the sky were like a reflection of the hearts of most people in Red Moon Fortress.
Faced with this depressing situation, everyone showed different reactions.
Some young people looked frightened.
Some young people have determined expressions.
Some young people looked calm.
But no matter what emotions were on the faces of the young people, they all stood firmly in their respective positions and no one retreated.
Chanup, Retannoe, Lin Ziping and others are now standing in the middle of the inner city wall.
"...The time waiting for the Japanese army to attack is really tiring." Retanoe suddenly said this to Chanup beside him.
"Well, yes," Chanup said.
"There aren't many people left to protect us now, so when the army attacks us later..." Reitannoe suddenly smiled, "Don't get killed by accident."
"Yeah." Chanup also smiled like Retannoy, "Retannoy, you too."
…
…
A-Ming sat in the same position she had sat yesterday, gently wiping her Kentucky long rifle with a handkerchief.
The members of her "shooting team" have not arrived yet, so now only Ating is sitting here alone.
The Kentucky long rifles in A Ting's hands, which were picked up from the Cossacks who attacked the village of Qina, have been used in great service since yesterday.
Since his body recovered yesterday to the point where he could walk normally and fight on the city wall, A-Machi had no intention of returning to lie down in Kunoa's clinic.
Today - Ating will continue to fight today with these rifles of hers.
After wiping his five rifles one by one, Ating looked up and gazed outside the city.
His eyes seemed to be searching for something.
At this moment, an old male voice came into her ears from the side of Ating.
"I remember... your name is A-Ming, right? We really do have a wonderful fate."
Ating followed the voice and cast a surprised look at the owner of the voice - Tang Shen.
At this moment, Yushin, holding his snow-white Japanese sword in his left hand, was walking slowly towards Ating.
Tang Shen originally just wanted to follow the stairs to his post, but as soon as he stepped onto the stairs, he saw Ating sitting near the stairs.
Of course, Yushin is no stranger to Atachi.
After thinking for a moment, out of courtesy, Tang Shen finally decided to step forward and say hello to this person he knew.
Although he had a good night's rest, Tang Shen's face was still filled with fatigue that he couldn't hide.
Although his right arm no longer trembled, every time he moved the muscles in his right arm, waves of pain still penetrated into Tang Shen's mind and stimulated his nerves.
"Mr. Tang Shen." After slightly putting away the surprise in his eyes, Ating smiled faintly at Tang Shen, "We are indeed destined to be together..."
"I have been hearing about your heroic deeds since you first climbed the city walls and fought alongside Mr. Chanup and his men."
"I never thought... the pet merchant who used to chat and laugh with us would turn out to be such a skilled swordsman..."
Although Ah-Ming had been recuperating in Kunoya's clinic for some time, she was not oblivious to what was happening outside. She had been asking Kunoya about the current situation of the war.
Therefore, A-Ming naturally knew about the hard work of Tang Shen, Lin Ziping and others.
"A skilled swordsman... you really flatter me." Tang Shen smiled bitterly and shook his head. "Now I am just an old man whose muscles still retain the memory of how to wield a sword and a gun."
After saying that, Tang Shen shook the Japanese sword in his left hand.
"In a few years, I might not even be able to swing a knife anymore."
At this time, Atachi's eyes moved up and down along with Yugami's Japanese sword.
"Um... can I ask a question?" When asking this question, the hesitation on Ating's face flashed several times, but in the end - "curiosity" overcame "hesitation".
"Hmm? Ask it."
"The sword you use is very different from the ordinary katana... Is this the katana you modified? What is that thing hanging on the hilt?"
As a "little handicraft expert", Atachi, who had once modified her own wakizashi, was full of curiosity about the knife in Yugami's hand, which seemed to have been modified.
"This?" Tang Shen shook the Japanese sword in his left hand again, and the sword tassel hanging on the handle also shook. "This is called a sword tassel, which can be understood as a kind of decoration."
"I didn't modify this sword. It's not a katana. It's a Japanese sword."
"Japanese sword..." Atachi's pupils shrank slightly, as if he remembered something.
"This is a kind of sword from Tangtu. It combines the characteristics of Japanese katana and Tangtu's Tang sword." Tang Shen had a faint smile on his face, looking at the sword in his left hand. "Although the blade is very similar to the katana, the difference between the Japanese sword and the katana is very large. The weight and center of gravity are very different... Hmm? Miss Atachi, what's wrong with you?"
It was only then that Tang Shen realized that Atachi's expression looked a little strange.
"Nothing... I just remembered a rumor I heard before." Ating raised his eyes and looked Tang Shen up and down with a strange look. "A few months ago, my husband and I heard that several decades ago, there was a swordsman who used a Japanese sword and made a great name in the Ou region, but in the end he suddenly disappeared without a trace..."
"And that person...his name is Shinto Rouzo, also known as Shinto Fujosai."
Tang Shen's expression changed rapidly as Atachi finished speaking.
Finally - this rapidly changing complex expression transformed into a bitter smile with a hint of helplessness.
"I never thought... After so many years, I would still hear the name 'Shendu Bujingzhai' from people other than Chanup... I thought the world might have forgotten me a long time ago..."
"So... you really are...?" Ating's expression could no longer conceal his shock.
Facing the surprised look from Atachi, Yushin nodded slightly.
Afterwards, before Ah-Ming could respond to Tang Shen's nod, Tang Shen asked Ah-Ming:
"Ms. A-Machi, could you briefly tell me what rumors you have heard about me before? I am a little curious."
Having said that, Tang Shen paused.
Then, with a complicated expression on his face, he turned his head and looked outside the city.
"If you don't listen now, you may not have a chance in the future..."
"I haven't heard much about you..."
Ating used language as concisely as possible to narrate all the rumors he had heard about Shendu Bujingzhai.
After talking about "the last time there was a rumor about Shen Du, he was exposing a certain Yakuza family", Tang Shen laughed as if he was amused.
"Rumors like this... are really like a tiger..."
After stopping laughing, Tang Shen shook his head with a bitter look on his face.
"Ms. A-Ming, let me tell you the truth - many of the rumors you have heard are wrong."
"These rumors portray me as some kind of free-spirited knight."
“But that’s not the case.”
Tang Shen let out a long breath, then raised his head, looking at the dark clouds above his head with a look of reminiscence on his face.
"I am not as good as those rumors say."
"I was born as a low-ranking samurai in the Yonezawa domain. I have lived a poor life since I was young."
"The only valuable things in the house are the precious sword in my hand, which has been passed down from generation to generation in my family, as well as the 'Japanese sword technique' and the 'spear technique' of the Tang Dynasty, which have also been passed down from generation to generation."
"I have suffered from poverty for as long as I can remember."
"So after I had mastered the 'Japanese swordplay' and 'gunplay' that my family was proud of, I began my training as a warrior."
"My goal is simple - to follow the example of Miyamoto Musashi who lived two hundred years ago, to make a name for myself with my palm sword, and then to be hired as an official and escape from my poor life."
"That is to say - every time I swing my sword, I am aiming for glory and wealth."
"So at that time, I only did things that would help improve my fame and fortune - such as killing some famous swordsmen who had no grudges against me."
"I will never touch anything that is not conducive to my fame and fortune, or that will bring me great trouble - such as helping poor villagers get rid of corrupt officials ."
Tang Shen laughed at himself and shrugged.
"It's a pity... Times have changed. This is no longer the chaotic Warring States period of 200 years ago."
"During the chaotic Warring States period 200 years ago, Miyamoto Musashi was able to gain high office and wealth by making a name for himself."
"And now, no matter how hard you try, no matter how famous you make yourself, in this age without war, very few daimyo are willing to hire an outsider who has no other skills except for wielding a sword as an official."
"Of course - maybe it's just because I have bad luck. Anyway, I have worked hard for several years, but I am still a low-ranking samurai that no daimyo is willing to hire."
"Not only did I not achieve anything, I also made countless enemies. Every now and then someone would come looking for revenge."
"But - the rumor that 'the last time I appeared in the public eye was when I eliminated a group of Yakuza' is actually true."
"One day, by chance, I passed by a small town and met a little girl whose parents were killed by the Yakuza."
"Then I don't know what I was thinking, I picked up the knife and killed the Yakuza."
"At that time, I was already disheartened because I had no hope of getting an official position. I was also gradually exhausted by the enemies who kept coming to me to seek revenge."
"So after dealing with the Yakuza, I simply ran away to Ezo and lived in seclusion."
"Then, by chance, I met Chanup, who was also a young man at the time, and became close friends with him - of course, these are all stories for later."
"Does that mean you and Mr. Chanup have been friends for decades?" Ating asked.
"Well, sort of."
"Then you and Mr. Chanup have a really good relationship." Ating smiled, "Earlier, in order to inform Mr. Chanup of the 'invasion', I came here alone to find Mr. Chanup."
"Now he is holding a knife again, fighting alongside Mr. Chanup."
"Hahaha." Hearing what Ating said, Tang Shen smiled and said, "Ms. Ating, you are wrong."
"I came to inform Chanup that 'there are invaders', and then stayed here, urging him to run for his life - this was indeed for friendship."
"But I chose to draw my knife and lend a hand to Chanup, not just for friendship."
"I think..."
When Tang Shenhua said this, he suddenly got stuck, with his mouth slightly open, as if he was thinking or hesitating about something.
Seeing that Tang Shen was still silent, Ating was just thinking about whether to call Tang Shen out loud, when he heard the second half of Tang Shen's words:
"...It is far more valuable to keep Chanup alive than to keep someone like me alive, so I am standing here with a knife in hand."
A-Ming clearly heard the change in tone of Tang Shen's words.
The tone at the beginning was still a little low.
But the following words seemed to be said with a suppressed smile - as if a heavy burden had suddenly been lifted from his shoulders.
When he said the second half of the sentence, Tang Shen's eyes also shone brightly.
"Thank you, Ms. Atachi." Tang Shen raised the corners of his mouth, and a gentle smile slowly bloomed on his face. "I am very happy to be able to talk to you about this at a time when I don't know whether I can have dinner tonight."
"Time is running out now. I should go back to my post."
After saying that, Tang Shen picked up the knife and turned away.
After turning his back to Ah-Ming, Yushin raised his right hand and waved it towards Ah-Ming without turning his head: "I wish you good luck in martial arts, Miss Ah-Ming."
…
…
Outside the city, the shogunate army, the main camp.
"Lord Inamori." Inamori's confidant reported respectfully, "All troops are ready."
The confidant's brief words made Inamori let out a long sigh as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders.
"Finally... it's time."
"Yeah..." The confidant who had just reported to Inamori nodded and agreed, "It's finally time to capture the Red Moon Fortress. We've really waited too long..."
"The gods were against me yesterday." Inamori raised his head with a bitter smile and looked at the sky above his head. "At the most critical moment yesterday, a snowstorm blew up, causing our artillery attack to be delayed."
"And now, the gods are finally on my side."
"This dark cloud should be gone soon. I'm not afraid of anything now. I'm just afraid that the weather will be bad again and there will be a heavy snowstorm, which will force us to postpone our attack."
At this moment, the originally thick layer of dark clouds in the sky has now shown a tendency to disperse, and its thickness is much thinner than this morning.
Originally, when he woke up early this morning and saw such thick dark clouds, Inamori was a little worried whether a sudden snowstorm would occur today and affect their attack.
Now it seems that there is no need to worry about this matter.
"Send the order to the Second Army." Daosen straightened his back, waved the military weapon in his hand, and said loudly, "Attack!"
…
…
Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo!
During these days, the sound of conch shells, which was getting more and more urgent every day, pierced the ears of the God of War.
Holding a Japanese sword in his left hand and with his arms hanging naturally, Yushin looked out at the shogunate army that was slowly moving outside the city as the conch shells sounded.
Tang Shen now feels that he is in a very strange mood.
Obviously the war is about to start again.
It was obvious that they were already in an absolute disadvantage and might not be able to hold out until tonight.
It was obvious that I might die today.
But Thompson just feels very relaxed.
Faintly, I felt a little excited.
Thompson is actually not unfamiliar with this feeling.
He remembered the feeling.
The last time he felt this way was decades ago.
This was his last appearance in the public eye.
It was when he stood up for the girl whose parents were killed by the Yakuza.
It was a long time ago, and Tang Shen can hardly remember the details of what happened at that time.
I only remember that I wanted to be recognized by a famous family and be given a high position and generous salary, but after years of hard work, I got nothing. In this era of hereditary nobility, it is as difficult as climbing to the sky to climb up.
I only remember that I passed by that inconspicuous small town by chance, and then I met the little girl whose parents were both killed by the Yakuza.
I only remember that after listening to the little girl's story, I got excited and rushed into the Yakuza's lair with a knife in hand.
I only remember that the Yakuza were not easy to deal with. Not only were there a large number of them, but there were also many "former samurai" with superb skills among them.
Although Tang Shen can't remember the details of these things very clearly.
But there is one thing that Thompson still remembers very clearly - that was the first time he wielded the knife simply for others instead of for his own fame and fortune.
When he was holding his Japanese sword and striding towards the Yakuza's lair, Tang Shen's feelings at that moment were very similar to what he feels now... No, it should be said that they are exactly the same - he was clearly doing something that was of no benefit to him, but he felt quite relaxed and even a little excited.
Fate plays a trick on him - he was obsessed with fame, wealth and power, and wielded the knife to obtain high office and high salary. However, the last time he wielded the knife in public, it was not for fame or wealth.
Tang Shen didn't know why he had this feeling again.
But Tang Shen discovered that what he was doing now was very similar to what he did when he stood up for the little girl - he was doing things that were of no benefit to him.
What he did this time was even crazier - last time he just wiped out a group of Yakuza, but now he was confronting the shogunate's army head-on.
Tang Shen never told anyone why he suddenly changed his mind, suppressed his fear of death, and came to Chanup's aid.
Or rather... I just don’t know how to explain it to others.
Until just now - until after chatting with Atachi, Tang Shen told outsiders for the first time why he was like this.
When he personally said what he wanted to do and why he wanted to do it, Thompson suddenly felt like a huge stone that had been pressing on his chest had fallen to the ground.
My mood also became strangely relaxed with a little excitement.
Chanup is not much younger than him. He is obviously also an older man, but he is still willing to do everything he can for what he insists on.
When he realized that there was no hope of obtaining a high position and generous salary, he completely gave up his ambition, lived in seclusion in Ezo and became a pet trader. He spent decades living a life without any goals, simply living for the sake of living.
I am just an old man who is no different from an empty shell.
But Chanup's body had not yet turned into an empty shell like his.
Tang Shen felt a little embarrassed about this.
At the same time, I also feel a little envious.
The fortress beneath his feet is the home of so many people and the "refuge" that Chanup dreams of building.
Rather than letting an old fellow like myself, who is no different from an empty shell, live, it is better to let this fortress of extraordinary significance continue to exist.
So, with this thought in mind, he grabbed his knife and climbed up the wall. He has been fighting until now.
Yes.
He was now once again drawing his sword for something that would do him no good at all.
In order to allow this fortress, which is far more valuable than an old guy like him, to continue standing!
"kill--!"
“Go——!”
The shouts and screams of the people charging outside the city could be heard.
"I feel so good..."
Tang Shen murmured as if subconsciously.
The corners of his mouth unconsciously curled up slightly.
Tang Shen now feels that his body is very hot, and the blood in every vein seems to be burning.
The feeling that his whole body was on fire made Tang Shen recall the times when he was still "Shendu Bujingzhai" and fought against powerful enemies.
I haven't felt this feeling of my blood burning since I went into seclusion in Ezo.
"Quick! Build a ladder! Build a ladder!"
"Climb up! Climb up!"
The He army's long ladders have been placed on the inner city wall.
Tang Shen tore off his coat and used his left hand to push open the mouth of the Japanese sword inserted on his left waist.
At this moment, Tang Shen felt that his youthful past was slowly reviving in his body.
Yes.
He felt as if he had become the glorious, young self he once was, full of vigor and ambition, vowing to gain fame and fortune with the sword in his hand, and still having great ambitions.
I am not the pet merchant Tang Shen who is afraid of death and doesn't even want to get into any more trouble.
I am the "Unclean House" Shen Du Rou Zao.
I am not someone else.
"Kill all these barbarians!"
“Kill!”
The first group of soldiers who climbed up the city wall along the long ladder, holding various weapons, surrounded and killed the warriors and Tang Shen who appeared before them.
"...Japanese swordplay."
Tang Shen... no, it should be said that Shen Du slowly drew out the Japanese sword from his waist and raised it high above his head.
"Kamito Rouzou!"
Shen Du's voice rose.
"Here I am!"
"bring it on--!"
The roar of the old man, whose blood had not yet stopped burning, resounded throughout the world.
…
…
The sword shadow swayed.
Blood and flesh flew everywhere.
A cold light flashed.
What reached my left ear was scolding and roaring.
What reached my right ear was the clanging of spears and swords.
When you lift your head, it is like a rain of locust arrows.
Looking down, there were dead bodies everywhere.
The Ainu over there glared with red eyes and pushed another Japanese soldier off the city wall.
The Japanese man here was holding his arm with the bones exposed and wailing loudly.
The Ainu people, who were already in a desperate situation, refused to give in.
Now that the spear was gone, he drew out the machete.
Now that he had lost his machete, he grabbed the arrows.
When the arrows are gone, go and steal other people’s weapons.
When everything is gone, just use the most primitive weapons of mankind, such as fists, elbows, knees, and teeth.
They used all the methods they had to fight against the powerful enemy.
This war was destined to leave a significant mark in the thousand-year war between the Wa people and the Ainu.
This fortress was the stage for this great battle.
Ten thousand Japanese troops and more than a thousand Ainu people staged this great battle on this stage.
The Japanese, who had decided not to delay any longer, and the Ainu, who refused to retreat, simultaneously pushed the war to its climax on this day to determine the final outcome.
It's creepy, but also heart-warming.
The battlefield where brains and blood flew everywhere was brutal and terrifying.
As if the sky wanted to peek at this battle, the dark clouds dispersed even faster, and more and more sunlight shone through the gaps in the clouds and spread all over the area.
As the main commander of this war, Inamori looked indifferently at the fortress that had now turned into a meat grinder.
Chanup, who was also the main commander of this war, stood at the forefront, fighting bravely and boosting everyone's morale.
Even though the battle line was being continuously compressed, Chanup and his men fought to the death.
There is only one place.
There was only one place where the battle line was not compressed.
…
…
"Hey! A few more people over here! There's a tough master here!"
"Didn't reinforcements just arrive here?"
"They did come! But the reinforcements were killed in a short while!"
“What? How is that possible?! Weren’t there a total of 20 reinforcements coming to your side just now… Uaaaaaaa——!”
Before the soldier could finish his words, he saw the tip of a spear enlarged in his field of vision at a speed that was difficult for his eyes to catch - when he came to his senses, the spear had already pierced his head.
Shen Du held a spear in his left hand and a Japanese sword in his right hand.
He used a spear to attack enemies at medium and long distances, and used a Japanese sword to kill enemies that rushed in front of him.
Shen Du is not very clear about his family background.
He only knew that one of his ancestors was a former Ming army general who crossed the sea to Japan after the fall of the Ming Dynasty in Tang territory.
The Japanese swordsmanship used by Shen Du and the Tang Dynasty's spearmanship all came from this ancestor of his.
At this moment, Shen Du put all his efforts and used all his life's knowledge to block all the Japanese soldiers who appeared in front of him.
Faced with the dual attack of Shen Du's spear and sword, all the Japanese troops that rushed up were completely routed.
The fierce attack of spears and swords was like a violent storm, causing the Japanese soldiers to fall one after another.
The blood flowing from their bodies dyed everything bright red, forming red streams that flowed down from the city walls.
The soldiers of the He army who were besieging Tang Shen roared, roared, screamed, and wailed - all of their voices were suppressed by the command of Shen Du alone.
Only in the place where Shen Du was, the battle line did not retreat at all.
…
…
Outside the city, the shogunate army, the main camp of the entire army——
"…The battle is still quite intense." Matsudaira Sadanobu, who was sitting next to Inamori and observing the battle situation through a telescope, said softly.
"Master Laozhong, please rest assured." Inamori, who was also using a telescope to check the battle situation, said while trying to suppress a smile, "In a little while, those barbarians will not be able to hold on."
…
…
“Aaaaaaaaaa——!”, “Back off! Back off!”, “Don’t stay there anymore! There are too many people there!”…
Similar shouts were heard more and more on the city walls.
Chanup and his men's battle line was almost compressed to the steps of the inner city wall.
If the battle line retreats any further, the stairs will be lost.
If the stairs were lost, it would be equivalent to the loss of the inner city wall.
If the inner city wall is lost, the Red Moon Fortress will be lost...
Retannoe clenched the arrow in his hand, used it as a dagger, and pierced the neck of a Japanese soldier in front of him.
But at this moment, a soldier of the Japanese army who had been standing not far from Retanoë and had been waiting for an opportunity seized the opportunity and stabbed Retanoë in the stomach with his gun.
The tip of the gun sank into Reitannoe's stomach. Reitannoe was stabbed down by the gun!
"Mr. Retannoy!"
"Quick! Help Retannoy up!"
Almost at the same time, a similar sound was heard somewhere not far away.
"Chaanup!"
"Carry Chanup to safety!"
Just now, facing the sea of ​​Japanese soldiers in front of him, Chanup was accidentally stabbed in the chest, and the blood instantly dyed his clothes red...
…
…
After stabbing a Japanese soldier through the body with another blow, Shen Du wanted to retract the Japanese sword, but he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his right elbow.
This is not the pain that comes with an injury.
This is the pain that comes when the body is overwhelmed.
The severe pain slowed down Shen Du's movements by half a beat.
And it was this half-beat movement that revealed Shen Du's flaw.
A soldier not far away seized the opportunity and stabbed Shen Du in the left shoulder.
Shen Du had no time to dodge, and was shot in the left shoulder, leaving a big bloody hole.
This injury made Shen Du's face look hideous, and he was no longer able to hold the spear in his left hand, and the spear fell to the ground.
“Success!”
"He was wounded!"
The Japanese soldiers surrounding Shen Du cheered.
However - they didn't have time to cheer for long, because the scene that appeared in front of them made their cheers come to an abrupt end.
They saw that Shen Du, who had lost his spear, was still holding the Japanese sword tightly in his right hand, staring at them with his eyes, ready to draw his sword.
He still didn't fall.
Still not retreating.
…
…
Although Chanup and his team have tried their best, the material gap is difficult to make up with spirit.
Inamori and Matsudaira Sadanobu could see clearly through telescopes the battle line that Chanup and his men were pushing back again and again.
"Hahaha." Inamori put down the telescope, clapped his hands and laughed, "It will probably take less than half an hour for the Red Moon Fortress to be completely captured."
Inamori smiled with relief.
Matsudaira Sadanobu also smiled at this time.
…
…
"I'm fine..." Chanup covered his chest with his left hand and stood up, "Nothing vital was hurt."
"Mr. Chanup! What should we do now?" A young voice shouted anxiously from Chanup's side.
Chanup looked around - there were dense crowds of Japanese soldiers in front of him.
Behind him was a staircase in the inner city wall.
There aren’t many people left around me.
In this situation, there is not much that can be done.
Chanup was silent for only a moment, then he put down his hand that was covering the wound on his chest and grabbed his bow again.
"Those who are still willing to follow me! Follow me!"
Chanup knew that they were no longer able to defend the city walls.
They have been defeated.
But even if he was defeated, at the last moment, Chanup wanted to fall on the counterattack.
Chanup led the few remaining warriors, roaring and launching an impassioned but desperate counterattack against the people in front of him...
Similar scenes of despair can be seen everywhere on the inner city walls.
Many people knew they could no longer defend themselves, so they gave up on defense and launched a counterattack against the people in front of them, completely disregarding their own lives...
…
…
"Ms. Ating! Miss Ating!"
Now Yashili, also covered in blood, found Ating in the chaos.
Just like yesterday, Ah-Machi and the members of her "sniper team" were carrying out shooting support, although it was a drop in the bucket, they were still doing it resolutely.
At this moment, there were only a few soldiers left surrounding A-Ming and the other archers, protecting them.
It probably won't be long before the Japanese soldiers can completely break through the defense and reach Ating and his men.
"The city walls can no longer be defended! (Ainu language)"
After finding and running to Ating's side, Yashili spoke quickly with a sad face.
"I'll take you to find a place to hide inside the Fortress! Maybe you can survive this way!"
Yashili didn't want her beloved Atachi to die in the war between the Ainu and the Japanese.
That's why she tried her best to find A-Cheng just now, and persuaded A-Cheng to follow her. She took A-Cheng to hide somewhere in the fortress, so that maybe they could survive.
Facing Yashili's anxious exhortation, Ating's reaction was - indifference.
When Yashili just came over, Ating inexplicably threw aside the task of "assisting sniping", raised his head, and looked towards the southeast of the fortress - as if he was looking at something in the distance.
Seeing that Ating didn't react at all, Yashili, who was anxious and panicked, suddenly remembered that she didn't bring a translator with her, and Ating might not have understood what she said just now.
Just as Yashili was anxiously thinking about where to find an interpreter to help her persuade Ating——
"...Ashley. Be happy."
"Hmm?" Although Yashili didn't understand Japanese, she recognized the name "Yashili" and knew that Ating was calling her.
A-Ming smiled and retracted his gaze which was originally looking towards the southeast, and looked at Yashili.
Yashili noticed that Ating's body was trembling slightly and his eyes were slightly red.
“A miracle—really happened.”
…
…
Outside the city, southeast——
The dark clouds in the southeast sky had mostly dispersed at some point, and golden rays of light poured out from between the clouds, twisting into huge pillars of light that held up the heaven and earth.
"...Ogata-kun, it seems we arrived in time."
"Yes. It should be. But the situation inside the fortress doesn't seem optimistic."
"It doesn't matter! As long as we can catch up! We came here with three horses each. If we don't catch up, I will be very depressed."
Under this pillar of light that held up the heaven and earth, two knights appeared from below the horizon, one in front of the other.
The one walking behind the other had red hair and an exotic scimitar hanging from his waist.
The man walking in front was a yellow man with black hair and black eyes. He was wearing a set of blue and gold armor, which reflected a dazzling light under the sunlight, like a god descending from the earth.
"Ogata-kun." The red-haired young man briefly glanced at the 10,000-strong army in the distance, then looked at the young man in blue and gold armor walking in front of him, "Which direction do you plan to attack from?"
"Of course we should attack from the direction closest to the enemy's main camp." The young man in armor - Ogata said softly.
As soon as Ogata finished speaking, the sound of horses' hooves hitting the ground came from behind the two of them.
Behind the two men, on the horizon, like a rising tide, they saw dozens of knights lined up in a tight wedge formation slowly rising up.
…
…
Red Moon Fortress, inside the city——
"Mom! What are you daydreaming about? Come hide with me!"
Yashili's mother tried to persuade Yashili's grandmother.
At this moment, Yashili's mother and grandmother were in an open space somewhere in the Red Moon Fortress.
Mom just heard that the city wall was about to be lost, so she anxiously took grandma to find a place to hide.
However - just now, grandma seemed to have seen something extraordinary. She stood there in a daze, staring blankly at the southeast sky.
Mom called out to grandma several times, but she remained unmoved.
Just when mom didn't know what to do, grandma finally reacted.
"A pillar of fire that pierces through the heavens and the earth..."
Grandma murmured something in a low voice that Mom couldn't understand.