From cute to empress

Chapter 324: Monks pray and boost morale

"Enemy attack! There is an enemy attack!"

This roar was like a thunderclap, instantly splitting the joy of the celebration and bringing me back to reality from my uneasy premonition. The cheers of the people stopped abruptly, replaced by screams of fear and hurried footsteps.

My heart sank. As expected, they took action.

"Your Majesty, please move to a safe place!" Wang Hu's anxious voice sounded in my ears, but I pushed him away.

"Protect the people! Evacuate the crowd!" I shouted the order in an unquestionable tone.

Without giving it much thought, I lifted my skirt and quickly ran towards the city wall. Behind me, Zhen Youcai followed closely, his eyes firm and calm, as if this sudden war was just the prelude to a storm to come.

Climbing the tower, the sight before me horrified me. The once ablaze capital was now enveloped in flames and thick smoke. The cries of battle, screams, and the clashing of weapons blended into a cacophony of hell on earth. The enemy army surged forward like a black tide, blades in hand, frantically assaulting the city gates. Though the defenders fought bravely, they were powerless to withstand the frenzied onslaught.

"Your Majesty, why are you here? It's too dangerous here!" A general ran up to me covered in blood and shouted anxiously.

"I am the monarch of this world. My people are suffering. How can I hide behind them?" I said sternly, my eyes sweeping over everyone on the city wall. "Propagate my decree. Today, we will live and die with the capital. We will defend our homeland to the death!"

"We will defend our homeland to the death!" The soldiers shouted in unison, their voices deafening and full of determination to face death.

"Youcai, the defense outside the city is left to you!" I turned to look at Zhen Youcai. There was a raging fire of war burning in his eyes. That was the glory and responsibility of a general.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. I will defend the city to the death and not let the enemy take a single step forward!" Zhen Youcai knelt on one knee, clasped his hands together, and said firmly.

I nodded and watched him turn and leave, his tall figure disappearing in the chaotic battlefield.

The battle was still intense, both sides were furious, blood flowed like a river on the city walls, and corpses were everywhere. I suppressed my fear and grief and continued to encourage the soldiers, cheering them on.

Just then, I saw a group of people in gray monk robes in the distance, slowly walking towards the city gate...

My heart tightened. Could it be that reinforcements from the enemy had arrived? But a closer look gave me a different feeling. The monks all had kind faces and held no weapons. Instead, they each held a wooden fish and chanted something.

"Your Majesty, it's Master Kongming from Huguo Temple!" Wang Hu said excitedly in my ear, "The master has led the monks of the temple to pray for our dynasty!"

I finally breathed a sigh of relief, a glimmer of hope rising in my heart. Master Kongming was highly respected and deeply loved by the people. His arrival was undoubtedly a shot in the arm for all the soldiers defending the city.

Master Kongming walked to the edge of the city wall, clasped his hands together, and chanted scriptures loudly. Behind him, the monks also struck wooden fish. For a moment, the solemn and dignified Buddhist sounds resounded throughout the battlefield, as if bringing a sense of peace to this bloody killing ground.

A miracle happened. The exhausted soldiers seemed to be injected with infinite strength after hearing the scriptures. Their eyes were filled with renewed fighting spirit. They brandished their weapons and fought the enemy even more bravely.

At this moment, I saw an old man in official uniform commanding several soldiers under the city wall. They worked together to push a huge wooden frame to the side of the city wall. Many bamboo tubes filled with water were tied to the wooden frame. Under the bamboo tubes were connected dense pipes that extended to the outside of the city.

"That's Mr. Liu from the Meteorological Department!" Wang Hu recognized the old man at a glance. "He's..."

Before Wang Hu finished speaking, I saw Lord Liu give an order and several soldiers simultaneously cut the rope under the bamboo tube. Suddenly, heavy rain fell from the sky, extinguishing the flames on the city wall and the enemy's arrogance.

"Your Majesty, Lord Liu used the properties of saltpeter and sulfur to create artificial rain. I believe it will soon put out the fire outside the city and slow down the enemy's offensive!" Wang Hu explained excitedly.

I nodded with satisfaction, feeling a surge of emotion. In this critical moment, it was everyone's unity that brought about this hard-earned turnaround.

At this moment, an unexpected voice came from the bottom of the city wall...

"Your Majesty, please wait a moment!" I looked over and saw several people in exotic costumes hurriedly walking towards the city wall...

I was puzzled. Why were there foreigners here at this hour? I signaled Wang Hu to go down and ask, while I continued to observe the battle outside the city.

"Your Majesty, they are envoys sent by various countries in the Western Regions!" Wang Hu quickly returned, his tone tinged with surprise and joy. "They said they witnessed the bravery of our army and the unity of our people, and were deeply moved. They are willing to provide our dynasty with food, fodder, and weapons!"

My heart was struck with a wave of warmth. It turned out that our country's years of recuperation and good neighborliness had not been in vain. In times of crisis, this goodwill also became the strength to support us in defeating powerful enemies!

"Quick, please ask the envoys to come up to the city wall!" I said excitedly.

Several envoys climbed up the city wall and looked at the fierce battle outside the city with admiration on their faces.

"Your Majesty, your country and people have shown us true courage and strength!" an envoy said, speaking in Mandarin, not very fluently. "We are willing to stand with you and resist the invaders together!"

I solemnly expressed my gratitude to them and promised to repay them generously for their assistance after the war. The envoys all said that being able to contribute to peace was the best reward.

At this moment, a deafening cry of killing suddenly came from outside the city. My heart tightened, and I quickly looked down at the city wall. I saw Zhen Youcai leading a group of cavalrymen, who, like a sharp knife, fiercely penetrated the enemy's rear.

"Kill! For Her Majesty the Empress, for our homeland!" The soldiers roared, and the weapons in their hands turned into lightning, reaping the lives of the enemy.

I clenched my fists tightly, my eyes fixed on the battle below. I saw Zhen Youcai's horse shot by the enemy, but he leaped without hesitation and engaged the enemy in a desperate fight. His armor was stained red with blood, but he remained like a lion, fearless and unstoppable.

"Talent!" I couldn't help but shout out, my heart filled with worry and anxiety.

"Your Majesty, don't worry. General Zhen is a man of good fortune!" Wang Hu comforted him.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. I knew this was not the time to let my emotions get the better of me. I had to believe in Zhen Youcai, in our army, and in the fact that victory would ultimately be ours.

As time passed, the cries of battle outside the city gradually died down, replaced by thunderous cheers. I saw the enemy's flags had been cut to the ground, and countless soldiers had abandoned their armor and weapons and fled in panic.

"We won! We won!" The soldiers on the city wall cheered and cried with joy.

I breathed a long sigh of relief and leaned tiredly against the city wall. We paid a heavy price in this battle, but we also achieved ultimate victory.

"Your Majesty!" A familiar voice came, and I suddenly raised my head. I saw Zhen Youcai covered in blood, but he couldn't hide the joy on his face. He was striding towards me.

"Youcai, are you okay?" I hurried over to him, looking him up and down, my eyes full of concern.

"I'm fine. I'm sorry to have worried Your Majesty." Zhen Youcai smiled slightly and reached out to gently wipe away the tears on my face. "I said I would protect Your Majesty, and I will definitely do it."

I looked into his determined eyes, my heart filled with emotion and happiness. At this moment, cheers rang out again, and I looked up to see countless people pouring into the streets, their hands raised high, celebrating this hard-earned victory.

I took a deep breath, turned to face the cheering crowd, and raised my hands high...