jdhmnovel Chapter 836 Dawn of Black Iron City: Embers and Rebirth (Page 12)
Chapter 836 Dawn of Black Iron City: Embers and Rebirth (Page 12)
Part 1: Blood-stained white robes and newly settled dust
As the sun set, a blood-red, bewitching sunset painted the horizon, as if to dye the entire world red. The crimson afterglow fell upon the crumbling walls of Black Iron City, adding an even more eerie and ominous atmosphere to the already sinister ruins. The air was thick with the pungent, acrid smell of blood, the acrid stench of gunpowder, and an indescribable odor of burning, a mixture that made one want to vomit.
Lin Xiaoyan stood alone in the center of the once spacious and empty square of the city lord's mansion. Not long ago, a thrilling and brutal bloody battle that determined the life and death of the city had just taken place on this land.
She wore a simple, white long gown, her signature attire, but now it was stained beyond recognition with the blood of her enemies. The mottled bloodstains resembled an abstract painting casually splashed by a great artist, both shocking and tragically beautiful. Her once neatly combed, meticulously styled black hair was no longer as smooth and sleek as before, but rather slightly disheveled, with a few strands clinging to her sweat-dampened forehead and cheeks.
At this moment, Lin Xiaoyan's beautiful face was completely expressionless, replaced by a chilling, icy coldness, making her appear as austere and solemn as a jade statue frozen in the bitter cold. However, behind this beautiful yet utterly indifferent face lay eyes that, despite countless life-or-death struggles, had not completely dissipated. But as time slowly passed, the chilling killing intent emanating from the edge of death gradually faded from her eyes, returning to a state of near-death silence…
However, upon closer inspection, one can perceive the turbulent undercurrents beneath the calm surface. It is an extreme exhaustion, as if every bone in one's body has been dismantled and reassembled; it is a deep-seated pain, not only physical but also spiritual—for the lost lives, for the shattered homes, and for one's own blood-stained hands.
Not long ago, she struggled back from the brink of death. That meticulously planned betrayal, the combined attack by Ma San and General Liu, nearly cost her her life. But fate seemed to play a cruel joke on her; after the excruciating pain of death, there was not nothingness, but a transformative rebirth. Her internal energy bottleneck shattered suddenly, and her martial arts prowess, instead of declining, rose, propelling her into a completely new realm she had previously sought but could not attain.
Fueled by this sudden surge of power, and fueled by an unyielding fire of revenge and a protective instinct within her, she killed Ma San. Her former subordinate, who had served under her but ultimately betrayed her, lay nearby, eyes wide open, his face frozen in disbelief and terror. A charred fist mark marred his chest—the result of a strike imbued with new internal energy characteristics from Lin Xiaoyan's advancement.
She had successfully turned the tables, avenged her great grudge, and even improved her martial arts skills as a result. This should have been a moment of ecstatic joy, a tremendous victory that would keep anyone awake all night with excitement. But Lin Xiaoyan felt no joy whatsoever, only a heavy, almost exhausting sense of relief, a sense of liberation from a heavy burden. It was as if she had carried a thousand-pound weight, traversed countless mountains and rivers, and could finally put it down for a while and catch her breath.
"Sister Xiaoyan." A gentle, concerned voice sounded beside me.
Bai Jie quickly walked to Lin Xiaoyan's side. Her condition was slightly better than Lin Xiaoyan's, but her clothes were disheveled, her hair was covered in dust, and her face also showed the exhaustion of battle and lingering shock. She first looked Lin Xiaoyan up and down with concern, making sure she was alright, before turning her gaze to Ma San's corpse on the ground. Her eyes were complex, containing hatred, regret, and a hint of relief that everything had finally settled.
"Is it all over?" Bai Jie asked softly, her voice a little hoarse.
Lin Xiaoyan slowly shook her head, her voice low and slightly hoarse: "No, it's not over yet." Her gaze swept across the square and the streets of Black Iron City in the distance. "Ma San and General Liu were the leaders of the rebel army. With their deaths, the main force of the rebel army naturally collapsed. But 'collapse' does not mean 'elimination.' Those soldiers who participated in the rebellion, those remnants lurking in the shadows, those petty thieves who took advantage of the chaos... as long as they are still around, Black Iron City can never be truly safe, and the people cannot feel at ease."
Her tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable determination. Having just experienced a brush with death, she understood even more the preciousness of peace and tranquility, and was also more aware that any hidden danger could potentially lead to new disasters in the future.
As Lin Xiaoyan said, after Ma San was personally killed by her and General Liu was beheaded in a fierce battle with Lin Ping, the once-fierce rebel army instantly lost its command center and became a disorganized mess. Without a leader, fear spread rapidly, and the soldiers began to scatter and flee, their former arrogance vanishing completely.
"Sister Lin Ping and Sister Lin Xue have already led the main force and begun to clear out the entire city according to the plan," Bai Jie reported. "They asked me to stay here to take care of you, handle the follow-up matters at the City Lord's Mansion, and be responsible for liaison."
Lin Xiaoyan nodded, having absolute trust in Lin Ping and Lin Xue's abilities. Lin Ping was brave and skilled in battle, calm and reliable, and was her most capable general; Lin Xue was meticulous, skilled in intelligence gathering and coordination, and could always sort out complex situations in an orderly manner. With the two of them in charge, the framework of the cleanup operation would not be disrupted.
"We cannot give the rebels any chance to regroup." Lin Xiaoyan took a deep breath, trying to dispel her physical exhaustion and the gloom in her heart, her eyes sharpening again. "Ma San and General Liu have been operating for many years, with numerous followers. It's hard to guarantee that there aren't any who have escaped, and they might even have secret strongholds in some corners of the city. The crackdown must be thorough, a 'carpet search, grid-based sweep,' leaving no suspicious individuals or any place where rebels might be hiding!"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a convincing power that invigorated Bai Jie, who was standing beside her.
"Sister Xiaoyan, don't worry, I'll go and relay your orders right away. Tell all the teams to be on high alert and to search thoroughly." Bai Jie said, turning to leave.
"Wait a minute," Lin Xiaoyan called after her, adding, "There are a few more points that must be emphasized: First, differentiate between those who are coerced or misled into participating in the rebellion. Those ordinary soldiers who lay down their weapons and surrender voluntarily will be treated leniently, registered, and placed under centralized custody until further investigation and disposition after the war. But those die-hards, those who stubbornly resist, and the core henchmen of Ma San and General Liu, will be executed without exception! Second, strictly prohibit disturbing the people. Our purpose in suppressing the rebels is to protect the people and restore order. We must not allow soldiers to use the pretext of suppression to loot. Anyone found doing so will be dealt with according to military law! Third, pay attention to your own safety. The routed rebels are like trapped beasts; they may launch a final, desperate counterattack. Be extremely careful and support each other."
These three points were based on Lin Xiaoyan's assessment of the current situation and her strict requirements for the discipline of her troops. She knew that the more chaotic the moment, the more important it was to maintain a clear mind and strict discipline; otherwise, the victory in the suppression campaign might be greatly diminished due to subsequent chaos and disorder, and could even trigger new public resentment.
"I understand, Sister Xiaoyan!" Bai Jie nodded solemnly, making sure she remembered Lin Xiaoyan's orders. "I'll do it right away!"
Watching Bai Jie's hurried departure, Lin Xiaoyan once again turned her gaze to the corpses and chaos in the square. She slowly walked to Ma San's body, squatted down, and looked at that once-familiar face with complicated emotions. She remembered Ma San's naivety when he first joined the party, his high spirits when he achieved military merits, and the way he patted his chest and swore loyalty at the dinner table... In the end, everything turned into nothing but illusion and betrayal.
"Was it power, or desire, that made you lose yourself?" she murmured, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible. There was no answer, nor was an answer needed. The dead are gone; the path of the living must continue.
She stood up, no longer looking at the corpse, but gazing into the depths of Black Iron City. There, the echoes of battle had not yet completely faded; sporadic shouts and the clashing of weapons, like distant rumbles of thunder, faintly resounded. The cleanup operation had only just begun. She knew this would be no easy battle. The real test might have just begun.
Part Two: The Tug-of-War and Clearance in the Streets and Alleys
Black Iron City was once a prosperous and orderly border town. Its towering walls, wide streets, rows of shops, and peaceful, contented inhabitants formed its former glory. However, Black Iron City has now become a vast battlefield and a labyrinth.
Although the main force of the rebels had been routed, a considerable number of remnants remained scattered throughout the city. Some of them fought stubbornly in small groups, occupying advantageous houses or alleyways; others broke up into smaller groups, changed into civilian clothes, and tried to blend in with the crowd; still others took advantage of the chaos to openly burn, kill, and loot in some remote areas, venting their despair and bestiality in the face of defeat.
Lin Ping's "Iron-Blooded Battalion," the most powerful unit under Lin Xiaoyan's command, is currently tasked with the crucial mission of wiping out the main resistance forces. Like sharp daggers, they advance along the main streets into the heart of the city.
"There are rebel archers at the left alley entrance! Take cover!" Lin Ping's voice boomed, wielding a heavy long-handled sword, and she took the lead. She had just cleaved a rebel soldier's spear in two and then kicked him to the ground with a clean, swift, and explosive motion.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" Several cold arrows shot out from the alley entrance with a whoosh, embedding themselves in the stone wall in front of them, scattering sparks.
"Shieldbearers! Cover! Archers, suppress!" Lin Ping quickly issued the orders.
Immediately, several soldiers wielding massive shields stepped forward, forming a sturdy shield wall. Behind them, archers used the shield wall for cover, peering out to return fire. Arrows rained down on the alleyway like locusts, quickly suppressing the enemy's firepower.
"First squad, follow me! Clear the alleyway!" Lin Ping roared, brandishing her sword and charging towards the alleyway entrance. Her figure was imposing and fierce; each swing of her sword carried the force of splitting mountains and shattering rocks. The rebel soldiers who stood in her way were either killed or wounded. The soldiers of the first squad, their morale high, followed closely behind, like tigers descending a mountain, swiftly rushing into the alleyway entrance and engaging the remaining rebels in fierce close-quarters combat.
Urban warfare is always the most brutal and demanding form of combat, testing the soldiers' skills to the fullest. Confined spaces, obstructed vision, and the inability to deploy formations mean that every advance is accompanied by bloodshed and sacrifice. Although the rebel soldiers were already terrified, they fought like cornered beasts, displaying exceptionally fierce resistance.
Lin Ping led the charge, her sword flashing, each strike aimed precisely at the enemy's vitals. Her armor was stained with blood, and her arm was grazed by a stray arrow, but she seemed oblivious, her eyes fixed only on the enemy and the path ahead. She knew she had to hold the line, clearing a path for her brothers behind her and removing obstacles to ensure the peace of Black Iron City.
Unlike Lin Ping's "Iron-Blooded Battalion" which launched a frontal assault, Lin Xue's "Scout Battalion" and some auxiliary troops adopted a more flexible and meticulous approach to mopping up the city. Instead of a direct confrontation, they broke into dozens of small search teams, which, like a fine spider web, covered every corner of the city.
"Team One, responsible for the northern part of Dongcheng District, focusing on investigating blacksmith shops, granaries, and abandoned warehouses!"
"Second team, in the southern part of the West District, be aware of attics and cellars in residential areas; the rebels are likely hiding there!"
"Third squad, follow me to the south gate to prevent the remnants of the rebel army from breaking through there!"
Lin Xue calmly issued orders to each squad through pre-positioned messengers. She herself led an elite scout squad, navigating the most complex alleyways of the old town. The densely packed houses and narrow roads, like a maze, made it ideal for hiding enemies.