"Sister Xiu!"
"Fang Zilan!"
Two voices came from far away, and two figures, one short and one tall, ran to Fang Zilan's side. It was Zhen Zhu and Awan. After the two of them confirmed that she was fine, they both breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm fine." Fang Zilan pointed her sword at the ground and stood up with her body supported. Awan and Zhenzhu held her arms on the left and right, supporting her to stand up straight.
"Sister Xiu..." Zhen Zhu shouted timidly. Fang Zilan's hand was shaking a little, but she still held her hand tightly, "Zhen Zhu, are you afraid of death?"
"I'm not afraid." Zhen Zhu said without hesitation, but there was an obvious look of fear on her face. Her palms were covered with fine sweat, which made Fang Zilan's hands wet.
"I'm so tired, I can't help it anymore." Fang Zilan's voice was low, but Zhen Zhu suddenly shook off her hand, took a few steps away and knelt in front of her, "Sister Xiu, Zhen Zhu needs your help, and it's been... Six years. My sister once taught me that if you live your whole life, you don’t want to live a long life, but just want to die well. If Zhen Zhu can come to Qiluo City to deliver the message and accompany Sister Xiu this time, she will die. No more complaints.”
"Silly girl." Fang Zilan stretched out her hand, and Zhen Zhu put it on hers. She squeezed out a smile and said, "My sister said that some people live a lifetime of being confused and accomplishing nothing, and some people only live for more than ten years. , but it is bright and comfortable with thick ink and heavy colors, Zhen Zhu would rather be the latter."
Fang Zilan smiled and said nothing, and looked at Awan again. However, before she could say anything, Awan said first: "You said when you were in the capital that you would lose your life in Qiluo City. Since I agreed, , there is no reason to regret it.”
She raised her eyebrows as she spoke, "But before I say anything ugly, don't think about sending yourself to death and leaving me here. If you die, I won't be able to live either."
"Okay." Fang Zilan nodded, "You guys help me down to the tower, and we'll go see how many people are left in the city and prepare for the final battle."
Awan and Zhenzhu helped Fang Zilan come down from the tower, and saw Vice General Cao and Zhou Lang waiting below. Both of them had gray heads and faces covered in blood, and they looked extremely miserable, but their eyes were as firm as ever.
"Boss." Vice General Cao limped up to Fang Zilan. She waved her hand to indicate that she was fine, and then asked, "How many people are there in the city now?"
"In the city?" Zhou Lang was stunned for a moment, and then realized what she meant, "There are still 401 soldiers and civilians in the city, and nearly half of them are injured."
Fang Zilan pursed her lips and said, "Vice General Zhou, Lao Cao, tomorrow you will divide your troops into two groups, one to guard the city gate and the other to protect the people. Count all the weapons and distribute them to everyone. Leave the bows and arrows to me, and I will guard the tower. If There are also archers in the army, let them go up to the city tower with me. As for Awan and Zhenzhu..."
"I'm going with Deputy General Zhou." A Wan interrupted her unceremoniously, "Although I'm not good at martial arts, I'm good at poisoning and plotting. Being with Deputy General Zhou won't hinder him."
Fang Zilan glanced at A Wan helplessly and said: "I have no intention of leaving you idle. Just wait a moment, I have other plans. Zhen Zhu, you follow Lao Cao among the people. Remember not to be reckless. The main thing is to save your life." "
"Okay." Zhen Zhu responded, and Awan asked curiously: "What do you want me to do?"
"Go and distribute all the brimstone, fire, and saltpeter I collected to the wounded soldiers. According to the blueprint I gave you before, form a team of five and wait at the place I marked." Fang Zilan had no expression, and Awan was shocked. , "You mean..."
She did not continue, Fang Zilan nodded slightly and said: "Yes, now is the time of last resort. Although it is very difficult to stop the Miluo people in this way, I would rather destroy everything than give it to the Miluo people. Leave every cent behind."
Awan touched the blueprint hidden in her arms and agreed resolutely: "Okay, I will live up to your trust."
"Awan, be careful." Fang Zilan looked at her deeply, her eyes filled with tears and her smile was like a flower, "Fang Zilan, you too, be careful. We will see you tomorrow."
After saying that, she folded her hands in front of her, bowed solemnly, turned around and left.
"Boss, I'm going." Vice General Cao clasped his fists and saluted, Zhou Lang also saluted, "Master Fang, I'm going too."
Fang Zilan pushed Zhen Zhu to Vice Admiral Cao, took a deep breath and said, "Go ahead, we'll see you tomorrow." After saying this, she bowed respectfully to the three of them, watched them leave, and then walked back onto the tower.
Throughout the night, except for Zhou Lang who came to the city tower to deliver bows and arrows and brought an archer, Fang Zilan did not see anyone else. Everyone stood firm in their own positions.
Fang Zilan sat on the ground, half asleep and half awake, unable to relax. It was not until daybreak that she felt she had regained some strength.
She stood up and looked far away, but found no trace of the Miluo people, which felt a little strange. It stands to reason that the city is about to be destroyed, and it is impossible for the Miluo people to do nothing at this time. She waited for a while and finally sat back down.
The weather was hot in summer, and the armor on her body felt uncomfortable, but Fang Zilan did not dare to take it off casually. She raised her hand to wipe her sweat, and as she watched the sun rise higher and higher, a vague thought came to her mind -
The people of Miluo knew that they would fight to the death, and they deliberately delayed their efforts to consume their fighting spirit and patience.
Thinking of this, she smiled bitterly, why bother? Even if they fight to the end, a few hundred people cannot stop tens of thousands of iron hooves.
"Master Fang." The archer on the side handed over the kettle, "Drink some water."
"Thank you." Fang Zilan drank the water and returned the kettle. Only then did she realize that the archer's left hand had no little finger. The entire hand was tightly packed, leaving only four fingers outside.
When the archer saw her eyes falling on his left hand, he quickly put his hand behind his back.
Fang Zilan said quietly: "Why are you so injured and why do you still have to go to the tower?"
"It doesn't matter, I can still pull the bow." The archer said with a smile, "I'm very accurate in shooting." As if he was afraid that Fang Zilan wouldn't believe it, he took the bow next to him and was about to pull the bow when she stopped him, " How old are you this year?"
"Eighteen years old." The archer put away his bow, and Fang Zilan's lips curled up slightly, "I have a friend in the north who is about the same age as you, and he is also an expert archer."
The archer's eyes lit up after hearing her words. The smile on her face grew wider, "When this battle is over, I will introduce you to him, and you can spar with him."
"Is it really possible?" The archer's face was full of expectations. Fang Zilan smiled and said seriously: "Of course it is possible. What I, Fang Zilan, have said has never been ignored."
"Thank you Master Fang." The archer looked at Fang Zilan gratefully and said, "Mr. Fang, my home is in Shitan Town in the southeast. The plague was severe in the town before. If it weren't for Master Fang, my family would not be able to survive. After the plague is over, I will I came to Qiluo City with General Shen. When Vice General Zhou asked the archers in the camp last night, I came here without even thinking, just to see Mr. Fang and thank you personally. Now that I can fight side by side with you, I Die without regrets.”
"It is my honor to fight side by side with you." Fang Zilan heard the sound of horse hooves under the city, and looked at the archer beside him. The two of them picked up their bows and arrows at the same time and hid by the city wall.
The two of them were alone and weak, and before long the back of the archer's hand was covered in blood. Seeing this, Fang Zilan shouted to him: "You rest for a while, I'll hold on..."
Before she could finish her words, she saw a stream of arrows passing by, and the archer fell down in response. His pupils suddenly dilated and blossomed into a bloody flower in front of her.
Fang Zilan hid behind the wall and watched as the person who was talking and laughing with her just now turned into one of many corpses in an instant. The surging anger and powerlessness made her involuntarily clenched her fingers.
The next moment, someone below the tower shouted: "The city is broken!"
Then there was a loud bang and the city gate fell heavily to the ground.
Fang Zilan picked up the plum sword and rushed down the tower without hesitation. Her eyes were full of Miluo people, and there was only one thought in her mind——
Even if she dies, she will kill them and be buried with them!
