There were two options. First, disregard everything and desperately rush into the camp to deliver Wangfei’s message to Yuwen Chu. However, the risk of doing so was that Wangfei didn’t have solid evidence, only subjective speculation. It could easily turn out to be a false alarm, becoming a big joke. The training was as serious as real combat; troublemakers couldn’t easily escape. Wangfei was worried about her husband and was far away in the capital. There shouldn’t be any major mistakes, but the messenger, lacking discretion, deserved punishment.
The second option was to wait patiently, playing along with the guard at the camp gate, waiting for his conscience to allow entry, or waiting until the end of the training to deliver Wangfei’s message to His Highness. This seemed like the safest choice, but what if danger was imminent or already underway?
Ye Xiu despairingly scratched his head, then raised his head with determination. He led his men on horseback from another direction, preparing to charge into the camp from the side.
At this time, the fire-head soldiers on the bed crossbow were still watching the spectacle. Someone nearby shouted curses, urging them to hurry up and cook before mealtime arrived. Everyone silently slipped off the crossbow, preparing to cook. Only Lao Huang didn’t leave; he claimed to have dropped something when he got down from the crossbow, a keepsake from his wife, and he needed to retrieve it.
Lao Huang was generally well-liked, so his companions didn’t give him a hard time. Instead, they urged him to hurry and find it, promising to help with his chores.
Lao Huang thanked his buddies and stayed under the crossbow. There were no others around the crossbow now, peaceful and quiet. He patiently waited for the next round of instructions from the command platform. He didn’t wait in vain; soon, a group of soldiers appeared near the crossbow silently.
Their movements were quick. First, they dug out two crossbow bolts and a hammer buried in the mud near the crossbow. Then, they bound gunpowder to the front of the bolts. They worked together efficiently, and within moments, the crossbow was loaded, string taut and ready to fire.
Lao Huang calmly walked to the spot where the shooter should stand, adjusting the direction of the crossbow arrow reflected in Wang Cangfeng’s protective glasses. He silently aimed at the target.
The sunlight was intense, sweat dripping from everyone’s faces, but no one dared to rush Lao Huang because if this succeeded, it would cause a huge commotion. Only by succeeding could they have a chance at survival.
The sound of chaos on the training ground was deafening, but here it was silent. Finally, Lao Huang sighed with relief, lifted the large iron hammer, and aimed it at the trigger of the crossbow, ready to strike. Once the hammer fell on the trigger, the bolt would shoot out and hit the Regent accurately.
With a crisp “clang,” the hammer struck the trigger, and the bolt shot out, whistling toward the distant command platform. Yes, it was heading toward the platform, with the momentum of thunder, with the gunpowder smoking, everything seemed to be set. Lao Huang shielded his eyes from the intense sunlight with one hand, gripping his heart with tension and relief as he watched the platform. In just another breath, he would complete this seemingly impossible task.
From the moment the bolt was fired to when it landed was just a blink of an eye. And the bolt was huge, with gunpowder attached to its head, causing significant damage and having a wide range of impact. Even if the Regent sensed something was wrong and tried to escape, he wouldn’t be able to.
Someone suggested, “We should pay tribute to General Min.” It was because this General Min Hongwen, who had been loyal to Emperor Zhengqian and the Great Empress Dowager and the descendants of Emperor Zheng from beginning to end, quietly gained the Regent’s trust, and after operating this carefully planned assassination event to completion, in order not to alert the enemy, he willingly sacrificed himself and sat beside the command platform, prepared to accompany the Regent to the underworld.
But at that moment, chaos erupted on the platform. Before the person who suggested bidding farewell to General Min could finish their words, people on the platform had already scattered, crazily jumping down.
Yuwen Chu’s reaction was the quickest. In fact, Ye Xiu hadn’t had time to inform him; he only heard someone shouting loudly from the side and recognized it as Ye Xiu’s voice. When he looked up, he saw the murderous intent and tension in Wang Cangfeng’s eyes.
So he forcibly pulled Yuwen Xin aside and decisively rushed down from the platform. Just as they had run a few steps, the bolt arrived. The explosive force of the gunpowder and the powerful impact of the bolt turned their chairs into powder. The splinters struck his face, and blood immediately burst out.
It was all in an instant.
The sudden turn of events threw the guards and generals into chaos. No one knew if there would be another round of attacks. Everyone sought cover to protect themselves, some searching for Yuwen Chu and Yuwen Xin, while others reacted quickly, leading their men with murderous intent towards the empty space beside the training ground.
Brave Wang Cangfeng didn’t flee; he bravely grabbed a long spear and charged towards Yuwen Chu and Yuwen Xin. He was skilled in martial arts, strong, and had a sense of imminent death. In that moment, he seemed like a demon, determined to take Yuwen Chu’s life.
He was very confident. In his eyes, this pampered-looking Regent might have some skill in archery, but he couldn’t possibly match his martial prowess. So even if he couldn’t kill Yuwen Chu today, he would definitely leave him with a memento.
But to Wang Cangfeng’s surprise, the Regent, who had just gone through a chaotic escape, didn’t panic. He calmly pushed Huayang Wang aside, drew his sword, and blocked the spear. Compared to Wang Cangfeng, Yuwen Chu might not be invincible, but he was agile, calm, and clever, always able to predict where the next thrust would be and skillfully evade it.
The surrounding guards were increasing in number, and Wang Cangfeng knew he couldn’t complete the task today. He looked at Yuwen Chu with despair, turned the spear towards his own heart, prepared to stab himself. If unsuccessful, he would die honorably, and that would be the end of it.
Someone knocked his spear away, and Wang Cangfeng heard Yuwen Chu say, “With your martial skills, it’s a waste for you to die here. Whatever your reasons for trying to kill me, I feel it’s a pity if you die without killing a few Xiongnu warriors.”
