Chen Jinzhu had long harbored disdain for the Imperial Guards. The incident involving Jiang Qianning and these so-called "dogs" had only reinforced his resentment. If not for Jiang Shicheng's orders to avoid unnecessary conflicts, he would have already dealt with them himself.
Chen Jinzhu snorted disdainfully and refocused on the approaching Dragon Cavalry. The immediate priority was to withstand the assault from those white-armored heavy cavalry.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Guards were filled with mixed emotions. They watched in dismay as their comrades fell and felt a growing sense of fear and anger. The Royal Guards were not accustomed to being treated with such contempt, and now they were forced to aid someone they despised in defending the city.
Many of them harbored thoughts of retreating. After all, Beiyang City was not their home, and its loss would not affect them personally. Some secretly began to plan their escape.
Soon, the Dragoon Army's massive force crashed into the camp wall with devastating impact. Yuan Zuozong, leading the charge, wielded his spear like a giant dragon and thrust it with tremendous force.
A thunderous "boom" resonated as Yuan Zuozong unleashed his semi-saint power. The once-solid camp wall shattered into pieces, obliterating it entirely. The defending soldiers were left in disarray, some falling from their positions and others immobilized by fear.
The Dragoon Cavalry's iron hooves trampled the remnants of the wall and the soldiers who had survived the initial assault. Chen Jinzhu's face turned pale as he witnessed the wall's destruction. Yuan Zuozong's display of semi-saint power left him terrified and on the brink of fleeing.
However, Chen Jinzhu's resolve was somewhat rekindled by the thought of reinforcements. "No, there's still a chance! If I can hold out a bit longer, City Lord Jiang will come to our aid. He's a peak-level semi-saint, and he can turn the tide!"
Chen Jinzhu steadied himself, hoping that City Lord Jiang would arrive in time. Little did he know, Jiang Shicheng had already surrendered to the enemy, leaving Chen Jinzhu's hopes misplaced.
With renewed determination, Chen Jinzhu took charge of the battlefield. "Ballistae, fire immediately! Defend the breach!"
"Guard it! Block the gap!" he ordered the Imperial Guards, though his commands were met with resistance. The senior officials of the Imperial Guard were hesitant, unwilling to use their bodies as human shields.
"What's the problem?" Chen Jinzhu demanded, his voice cold and authoritative.
"Nothing…nothing," the leader of the Forbidden Army replied, swallowing nervously. They were too intimidated to argue.
Reluctantly, the Imperial Guards moved to plug the breach, but their efforts proved futile. They were ill-prepared for the Dragoon Cavalry and could only serve as fodder.
The Dragoon Cavalry, unimpeded by the guards, continued their rampage. Yuan Zuozong led them in a ruthless assault, cutting down dozens with each strike. The defenders could only watch in terror, unable to challenge the overwhelming power of the cavalry.
Seeing their comrades slaughtered, the remaining soldiers panicked. The Dragoon Army's relentless advance left them no choice but to flee.
As they ran, they were pursued by the Dragoon Cavalry, with the defeated soldiers racing against death itself. Just when they thought they had escaped, they found themselves facing another enemy.
"Just in time!" Gao Shun exclaimed, leading his troops into the camp with a menacing grin. They were ready to trap the fleeing soldiers.
Gao Shun's orders were clear. His heavy armored infantry surged forward like a pack of predators, attacking the broken soldiers who had surrendered.
"I surrender! Spare me!" the defeated soldiers cried out, their spirits broken as they knelt in despair.
But Gao Shun's men showed no mercy. Despite their pleas, they were met with brutal force.
"Why? Why are you killing us even after we've surrendered?" the soldiers wailed.
Gao Shun watched with cold detachment. He had received Orion's explicit orders: those who surrendered were to be killed.
"Annihilate all enemies! Leave no one behind!" he commanded ruthlessly.