Chapter 889

“What!”

In the Left State Councilor’s office in Ryukyo City, Kim Hyun-sung stood up in shock. “You said the Great Yu Empire army acted?”

“My Lord State Councilor, yes, they were too ruthless. We just threw some stones, and they opened fire with guns and cannons. Hundreds died. Now everyone has scattered.”

The young man kneeling before Kim Hyun-sung was covered in blood. His arm was injured and bleeding continuously.

“The poisoner hasn’t returned. Our men saw him caught red-handed by Hwang Ja-man’s people. Alas, all our plans are ruined! That damned Hwang Ja-man, that dog villain!”

Kim Hyun-sung’s eyes darted back and forth. The current situation clearly exceeded his expectations. The Great Yu Empire army did not act according to his assumed steps.

According to his plan, after poisoning them today, the Great Yu Empire army’s soldiers would all lose their combat effectiveness tomorrow due to drinking poisoned spring water.

That would be their moment to lead the army in an attack. Today was merely to intentionally create a conflict.

However, the Great Yu Empire army was now reacting fiercely. At this rate, they clearly had no intention of holding back.

“We can’t wait any longer. I’m afraid Yun Changfeng has already learned of the poisoning. Now that Hwang Ja-man has gone to the grand camp, they will likely target us next,” Kim Hyun-sung said with a frown.

“Raise an army now?” a Ryukyo City noble exclaimed in surprise. “My Lord State Councilor, how is that possible? Can we defeat them? This poisoning failed; we should stop.”

Kim Hyun-sung sneered, “You think Yun Changfeng dares to be so reckless for no reason? He must have received orders. Our every move is probably already under the Great Yu Empire’s surveillance. Now, there is only one choice: fight. Otherwise, it’s just waiting for death.”

With that, he turned to the Goryeo general beside him and said, “You are to immediately lead troops into the city. Also, send someone to notify Li Cheng-jae. He has firearm units. If we cooperate, there’s still a glimmer of hope to force the Great Yu Empire to compromise. After all, they are fighting a war at home now and cannot afford to exhaust themselves against us.”

The general nodded and took the order. At this, Kim Hyun-sung pulled out a piece of paper. He said, “This paper bears all your signatures and seals. Now you have no retreat; you must stand with me.”

“Alas.”

The Ryukyo City nobles all sighed deeply.

Just as they were in disarray, a servant rushed in frantically. Upon reaching Kim Hyun-sung, he immediately knelt and cried, “My Lord State Councilor, it’s bad! Hwang Ja-man, leading the Great Yu Empire army, is arresting people everywhere! Your Majesty, Your Majesty has been arrested!”

“Your Majesty!” Kim Hyun-sung’s body swayed, almost fainting. This matter should have been entirely within their control, but now everything seemed to have reversed. They had become extremely passive.

The other nobles, hearing this, all turned pale with fear. One person said, “Hwang Ja-man has always been at odds with us. He must surely be coming for us. Now, our entire families, young and old, have probably been arrested by him. What can we do?!”

“It’s over! All is lost! We are all going to die!”

“…”

The great hall descended into chaos.

Kim Hyun-sung gasped for breath. He snorted coldly, “None of you will leave today! Now, you are to immediately order your men to lead troops to protect His Majesty! Otherwise, you will all be buried with His Majesty!”

As his words fell, a line of soldiers emerged from behind the door, each drawing their swords.

The Ryukyo City nobles, seeing this, immediately turned ashen. They had no choice but to surrender their military tallies.

A look of madness appeared in Kim Hyun-sung’s eyes. He shouted loudly, “Great Yu Empire, today, let us decide the victor!”

With that, he immediately sent men to lead troops into the city.

At this time, Yun Changfeng had assembled the remaining army. They immediately controlled all city gates. Soon, they saw the Goryeo army rushing into the city.

These soldiers were dressed as commoners, but they carried swords. Seeing the Great Yu Empire soldiers at the gate, they charged forward.

The Great Yu Empire soldiers guarding the city gates were well prepared for this situation. If the Goryeo people thought the Great Yu Empire soldiers would be soft-hearted upon seeing Goryeo common people, they were gravely mistaken.

Moreover, they had already learned that these common people were disguised soldiers.

“First rank, fire!” The regiment commander guarding the North Gate calmly gave the order.

Over two thousand men had already formed ranks at the city gate: two hundred men per group, arranged in three columns (front, middle, and rear).

Although the southern expeditionary army had already adopted breech-loading rifles, the rotation of equipment had not yet reached them. After all, the Goryeo local army basically had no access to firearms, and Conqueror Muskets were already sufficient for use.

“Bang, bang, bang…”

Flames and white smoke erupted. The charging Goryeo soldiers immediately fell, over four hundred of them.

“Second rank, fire!”

“Bang, bang, bang…”

“Third rank!”

“First rank!”

Orders were issued one after another. Conqueror Muskets formed a continuous barrage of firepower within one hundred and fifty meters. Because they were rifled muskets, Conqueror Muskets could maintain sufficient accuracy within one hundred and fifty meters.

Under the fierce firepower, the soldiers of the Ryukyo City nobility fell in swathes. At this point, they finally experienced the despair of facing firearms.

They had not even reached the front when they had already suffered over two thousand casualties. Such heavy losses completely routed this group of soldiers disguised as common people.

“A rabble!” The defending regiment commander said disdainfully. In his eyes, Goryeo soldiers had always been incompetent, but once they gained an advantage, they would be exceptionally cruel.

If they were at a disadvantage now, it was estimated that all of them would be brutally massacred by Goryeo soldiers. Their vile character had been proven when Japanese pirates attacked the Great Yu Empire’s coast.

At the same time, battles successively broke out outside other city gates, but facing the Great Yu Empire’s fierce firepower, they soon abandoned a pile of corpses and fled.

From early morning until evening, intermittent fighting continued. The Goryeo soldiers who died outside the city gates numbered over twenty thousand.

When night fell, Ryukyo City instantly fell silent. The Goryeo common people within the city all hid in their homes, fearing collateral damage. Only the sounds of the Great Yu Empire army running back and forth on the streets could be heard.

“No more troops will come now.” In Kim Hyun-sung’s residence, the nobles were all disheartened.

News continuously poured in. Their armies were annihilated one by one. Not a single person could break through the city gates.

The news of defeat made Kim Hyun-sung appear mad. At this point, his hair was disheveled, and his eyes were filled with madness.

Although he was partly acting for the King of Goryeo, he genuinely did not want to lose his own status in Goryeo. Precisely because of this, he wanted to drive out the Great Yu Empire soldiers, so that Hwang Ja-man would no longer be an obstacle.

“Thud!”

Just as they were gripped by fear, the gate of the residence was suddenly kicked open. Large numbers of Great Yu Empire soldiers, armed with guns, stormed in. Hwang Ja-man walked towards them triumphantly.

“Kim Hyun-sung, this farce in Ryukyo City should end now, shouldn’t it? Fighting the Great Yu Empire army, which drove out the barbarians and the Japanese, you are truly tired of living! Hahaha…”