After landing on the shore, they were attacked fiercely once again. This time in the clear blue sky and daylight, Master Ja was steady as he calmly commanded. He would soon easily win over all the Heavy Armors which had been using the location to stubbornly struggle.

Unexpectedly, before he could feel proud, as he opened up the iron mask of the 'captives', he discovered that this wave of ambush were not Great Liang's soldiers, but a group of iron puppets!

The iron puppets were temporarily recruited from the families from the high-ranking officials and nobilities in the capital. Under a number of protective masks was a mask of a naughty child, with its big white face, showing a large smile resembling a bowl of blood, laughing at the people in front of them, their mockery beyond words.

A Western soldier was incredibly angered, as he reached out attempting to snatch off the mask, Master Ja exclaimed, "Don't touch..."

Unfortunately, it was too late. A thin lead was pulled under the mask. With only a gentle touch, the iron puppet exploded, directly bombing several Western soldiers next to it.

The mask flew out, landed at Master Ja's feet, continuing to display its mocking smile.

The Northern Camp only feigned an attack. At this time, the entire army had retreated, the Western Navy furiously charged inside the city, ready to use blood to appease their anger. They did not expect to find an empty city.

Since the news of Jiangnan's situation arrived in the capital, Yan Bei Wang had joined hands with the Ministry of Housing and evacuated the citizens of the frontlines in batches, some of whom were unwilling to leave, but after witnessing the scene of artillery fire the night before, they had already rushed to flee.

Gu Yun had given the enemy a completely empty city.

https://www.northwestflower.net/sha-po-lang/book-2/chapter-7-national-calamity/7-v

There was a horrifying silence in the empty city, plunging one's heart to panic. As soon as Master Ja waved his hand, his men immediately scattered to search inside the surrounding houses.

Residential courtyards were built along the riverside, winding and curving, and it was very easy for outsiders to get lost within them as they wandered. Sometimes, they would encounter large stones blocking the path, making the already difficult terrain become all the more complicated and confusing.

Master Ja had an ominous feeling in his heart, suddenly beginning to regret his bold advancement.

At that moment, a Western soldier cried out. All the people around him immediately became frightened birds, instantly drawing their swords. Many steel armours soon formed into a circle, canons with black muzzles pointed at the unusual locust tree.

They saw a Western soldier hanging from the tree, half of his head had been blown away, there was no telling which battle he had died in. There was a white face mask tied to his bloody head - this time it had changed into a crying face!