Chapter 268 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

　　Before the final wall gates in the Northern Region, the lands had already been covered by snow even though it was only May. The frigid winds of the north bellowed wave after wave, grazing painfully on everyone’s face.

　　“Let’s go.” Zhao Che smiled to Wei Shuye. Even in such a desperate situation, he was still filled with confidence. Wei Shuye’s lanky figure looked at the confident Zhao Che, as he couldn’t help but feel suspicious.

　　Yan Xun had crazily assaulted their food supply, and using a human wave tactic, Zhao Che’s forces had been under heavy attack. At this time, Zhao Yang, crazed for power, suddenly attacked Zhao Che’s reinforcements and blocked off Zhuge Yue’s resupply train. That forced Zhao Che into a corner as he lost huge amounts of soldiers, and resulted in the loss of 13 provinces in the central area.

　　The moment that they recruited more soldiers and readied their counter-attack, they realized that they had already sunk into a desperate situation where they could no longer do anything to reverse their inevitable defeat.

　　On that day, Zhao Che stood on the rubble, quietly pondering for a long time. This Prince who had gone through so much finally put down his blade as he turned to Wei Shuye and said, “We lost.”

　　On that day, all the officers that were around cried. Even Wei Shuye, a prideful young master of an entire noble family, cried. It was not that they had no chance of victory, or that they had no power to return everything to normal. They had fought their best on this land of an Empire that was heading towards dissolution. They had the courage and resolution to face death.

　　Yet, they lost.

　　They did not lose to the enemy on the battlefield but were instead betrayed by their own allies. They faced the strongest adversaries the Xia Empire had ever faced at a time when the Empire was in its worst state.

　　The young prince lifted his head as the war horse dug its hooves into the ground in discomfort. The heavens were covered by snow. After exiting from this gate, they would no longer be on Xia soil. In the vast field beyond, there would no longer be any Xia flags fluttering in the wind.

　　Zhao Che stared at the sky and quietly said, “The Zhao Family will not cease to exist. Where the sun shines, there will no doubt be descendants of the Zhao Family.” He drew his whip, and as he swung, his horse bolted forward along with the massive military behind him as they passed through the gates into the vast whiteness and mountains.

　　Zhao Che’s fists were like iron as his gaze pierced into the distance. His lips lightly drawn as his determined voice sounded out, “We will come back…”

　　“Master!” He Xiao suddenly bellowed, his eyes were completely red. “This subordinate is unwilling to do so!”

　　“Commander He, this is an order!” Above the massive walls of Tang Jing, Chu Qiao was in her armor as she observed this subordinate that she had trusted the most. She articulated each word.

　　“Master, you should go and escort the Tang Emperor out. Let this subordinate stay here to defend.”

　　The sounds of fighting had already reached below her. The thunderous sounds of the horses’ hooves could be heard quickly closing upon them. The forces that the Lady of Jingan led outnumbered them ten to one. The massive cavalries charged as they initiated wave after wave of attack on the Tang capital, as though they were a massive human tsunami that none could block.

　　Chu Qiao coldly asked, “Can you really defend this place?”

　　He Xiao frowned, and without hesitation, he replied, “Even if this subordinate dies…”

　　“Even if you die, you would be unable to,” Chu Qiao sternly remarked.

　　Hearing that, He Xiao’s face froze, and just as he was about to reply, Chu Qiao continued, “As of now, the Tang Capital is surrounded, and beyond this seige, there is still Yan Xun’s huge force that numbers in the hundreds of thousands. The Tang forces are already cowering in fear from past battles. In this entire country, we are the only forces that are still capable of battle, and the enemies will undoubtedly focus on us. As long as I stand on this castle, they will not split their forces. The moment they see me leave, they will give up attack on Tang Jing and will chase after me with all they have. At that moment, we will not even have the walls of the castle to defend with. Before us will be the Yan Bei army, and behind us, there will be the Jingan Army. We will die a more horrendous death!”

　　This level of thinking was obvious to the likes of He Xiao. He frowned as he listened and clenched his teeth, without uttering a single word.

　　“He Xiao, I beseech you, bring them out and escape. I received Li Ce’s gratitude all my life, I need to repay him somehow. I cannot defend his country, but the least I can do is protect his children.”

　　He Xiao’s expression bordered on depression as he stared at Chu Qiao, suddenly saying, “Master, let others go. Let me stay beside you to protect you.”

　　Chu Qiao shook her head and lightly replied, “I can’t trust others enough.”

　　He Xiao looked on at Chu Qiao, his gaze burning like fresh magma that had just been spewed from a volcano. After so many years of fighting together, going through life and death together, the time they had spent together was more than they had spent with anyone else. Their relationship had too changed with time, from merely subordinates to a familial love.

　　This woman before him was strong, brave, kind, and sincere. At the same time, she would sometimes be afraid, she would be lost, and she would cry out loud. They were comrades in arms, friends, family. She was his master as much as his sister.

　　Light from the burning torches illuminated their faces as He Xiao stretched out his hand and embraced her. With a low and distorted voice, as though his mouth was full of blood, he said, “Take care!”

　　“You too!”

　　The warrior flipped onto the horse, while Li Shuyi shouted at Chu Qiao, “Aunt! Aunt!” He Xiao took the child into his embrace, and without any further hesitation, he led a group of elites and charged out from the south gate. At the same time, the east and west gates were opened, as two groups of soldiers charged out at the same time, mixing in with the enemies.

　　“Archers! Ready!” He Qi shouted, “Fire!” The broad plains instantly turned into a meat grinder as it sucked the lives of the warriors without hesitation. The spears and the blades shone the color of blood, as the thousands of horses galloping sounded like thunder rolling across the heavens.

　　Standing on the castle, Chu Qiao observed the battle as the memories of the past flashed in her mind. She had lived two lives, had achieved a lot, and met a lot a people. Some things she did right, and others she erred. She had not lost the chance to meet some people, and had been unfair to some. Regardless, no matter what the situation was, she had never once betrayed her own beliefs.

　　At this moment, life seemed elucidated. She closed her eyes and let the shadows of the figures walk past her eyes. She saw those she loved, those she hated, those she had let down, those she had hurt, and finally, the shadows morphed into one clear figure. As she turned around, her eyes were full of love.

　　“I love you,” she lightly called out. The wind was so big as it caressed her hair. The entire heavens were colored red. The swarm of enemies closed in as they smashed on the ancient gates, again and again, letting out a thunderous sound of destruction.

　　She placed her hand on her stomach which had finally started to bulge, carrying with it the hope of life. That was her only hope that had supported her along the way, that gave her the courage to stand without being scared and weak. They were so far apart, he would no doubt be unable to hear her.

　　Smiling gently, she lifted up her head and stared at the clear skies. “I love you…”

　　But ultimately, I was unable to accompany you.

　　The sky was so blue that her eyes were dazzled by the brightness. A stream of tears flowed down the corner of her eyes, disappearing in her helmet, soaking into her hair. She drew her blade as the enemies finally closed in on her. He Xiao had already managed to break through the enemy force from the side. The thunderous sounds of battle seemed like a wave of thunder as the white flag adorned with a red cloud fluttered overhead. The red cloud was obvious, standing out like a symbol of hope.

　　Chu Qiao turned around and her gaze swept past those young warriors. This was the Xiuli Army that was renown in the world. Yet it was already difficult to recognize many of the original faces. All these years, this hot-blooded army had followed her and battled all over the continent. They had followed behind her without any fear or cowardice.

　　The Battle of Zhen Huang, the Battle of Northwestern Regions, the Defense of Chidu, the Defense of Beishuo, the Battle of Qianzhang Lake, the Battle of Huolei Plains, the Battle of Longyin Pass, the Battle of Tang Jing, the Battle of Baizhi Pass, the Battle of Tiexian River…

　　In the past seven years, this army had proved their loyalty with their glorious record. They had battled for many countries, many factions, yet they battled only for her, for their own conscience.

　　Batches of batches of people fell, yet others charged forward to fill their place. Even if they did not hold any feelings for the country they were defending, even if their homeland was miles away, even if they did not know the fate that awaited them, one reason was enough, one order from that person was enough. As long as Chu Qiao stood before them, their loyalty and obedience was like the meteoric iron in the bottom of an icy lake. Even if the apocalypse were to occur, their loyalty did not waver.

　　There was no speech for encouragement, and there was no need to boost the morale. The young woman took off her helmet as her hair fluttered. Her eyes were crystal clear as she looked at the soldiers, and swung her blade up.

　　“We fight for freedom!” the 2,000 remaining Xiuli soldiers shouted out!

　　With a dull crash, the Tang Jing gates that had not fallen for centuries finally dropped.

　　The enemies swarmed in like a flood.

　　With the wind bellowing past, the sounds of fighting were right beside them. Chu Qiao shouted loudly, “Everyone, you may go first. I will follow behind you.”

　　“Master! This general will take my leave first!” A general flipped onto his horse while chuckling. Swing his blade, he shouted, “We fight for freedom!” Raising his blade up, he charged forth. The soldiers followed behind him as they charged towards the enormous formations of the enemy. It was as though a toddler were challenging a titan.

　　“Battle!” The piercing sounds of battle filled the entire heavens.

　　It was dusk as the cavalries made yet another charge in this sea of blades. With the cold and desolate wind blowing past, the unyielding warriors raised their blades and charged into the enemies. Tang Jing sank into the endless flames of war. Hundreds of years ago, the Rose Flag of the Great Tang Empire had once covered all the lands of this continent. The will of the Tang Empire was the will of the world. Yet, today, on the rowdy battlefield, the grand palace was covered in a layer of ash and dust. The scent of death engulfed the beautiful roads as one could hear the dying neighing of the war horses, along with the sobbing of the civilians…

　　She lifted her head as she observed the sun setting in the west. All these warriors heading for death, their boiling blood seemed to never clot, and even if they died, their name would never appear on the historic archive, they would forever sleep in this land. Even if they used all their strength, they would be unable to stop the footsteps of the Empire’s fall.