sovbooks Chapter 132 I've heard that General Yuan from Qingzhou is unconventional in his use of people.
Chapter 132 I've heard that General Yuan from Qingzhou is unconventional in his use of people.
Gan Ning's naval warships blocked the river, while Zhao Yun's infantry and cavalry formed ranks outside the north gate of Dancheng.
On the city wall, a large banner bearing the character "Song" hung limply in the wind.
On the city wall, Song Xian stood with his hand on his sword, looking at the imposing military formation outside the city.
Behind him were thousands of garrison soldiers, their faces pale and their bodies wounded and sick.
He knew it was time for him to perform.
If he wanted to survive, he naturally had no choice but to surrender to Yuan Tan.
But even if it means surrendering...
We need to make something of ourselves.
Otherwise, after surrendering, you'll just be relegated to the sidelines.
As for how this was done, well, it was done by sacrificing the lives of these cannon fodder!
"Brothers!"
Song Xian turned around and began his performance.
"General Wei has led the main force north to rendezvous with the supply convoy. It's us who were left behind!"
The city was deathly silent, save for heavy breathing and suppressed coughs.
"It is all my incompetence that has left my brothers trapped in this isolated city!"
Song Xian pounded his chest, his eyes reddening.
"But this is not abandonment! General Wei must ensure the army's survival and the supply lines remain intact! Every extra moment we hold out here gives the army a better chance of survival! And gives the Marquis of Wen a greater hope for his cause!"
He drew his sword and pointed it out of the city:
"Look! The Qingzhou army is right outside the city! They want our lives, and they want to bypass us to pursue our comrades! Can we let them pass?"
"cannot!"
A pre-arranged bodyguard shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Yes! No!"
Song Xian roared, turning the tip of his sword to the north.
"Our comrades-in-arms are waiting for supplies and reinforcements in the north! Every day we hold out, they can escape further! We're shedding our last drop of blood here so they can return to Xiapi alive! Is it worth it?"
"value!"
More voices rose up.
Even though many people think it's not worth it, and that staying here won't cost them a penny more, why not?
Will I get a share of the year-end bonus?
But since so many people are shouting like that, if I don't shout it, wouldn't I seem like I'm not fitting in?
"good!"
Song Xian pointed his sword at the heavens.
"Then let those traitors from Qingzhou see what the backbone of the Lü family is! We only have three days' worth of provisions! If reinforcements don't arrive in three days, I, Song Xian, will be the first to jump off this city wall, I will never be taken prisoner! But until then, every moment must be paid for with the blood of the enemy below!"
"Fight to the death! Fight to the death!"
More people were "infected" by Song Xian, shouting themselves hoarse and engaging in a fierce battle.
Outside the city, Gan Ning squinted at the indistinct figures on the city wall and the commotion coming from it, and clicked his tongue:
"This Song Xian, he certainly knows how to stir up trouble."
Zhao Yun gazed at the city wall, his expression calm:
"A cornered beast's struggle is pitiful, its spirit broken. A forceful attack will inevitably result in heavy casualties."
"He wanted to hold out and buy time so that Wei Xu and Sun Ce could escape further away."
Gan Ning said to Zhao Yun,
"The city is full of wounded and sick soldiers, not many combat-ready troops, but if pushed too far, even throwing a brick from the city wall could kill someone. It's not worth fighting head-on."
Zhao Yun nodded as well.
Gan Ning continued:
"I've surrounded the southern waterway with my navy; he can't escape. The city's food supplies are exhausted, so we'll just have to wait it out. Zilong, you and Zang Ba, lead the main infantry and cavalry forces to bypass Dancheng and continue northward. Wei Xu and Sun Ce are leading nearly 80,000 men; they can't move fast, and they're easily frightened. It's the perfect time to annihilate them."
Zhao Yun nodded:
"That suits me perfectly. Our lord has also given orders that General Louban has led his elite cavalry deep behind enemy lines to capture Xiaoguan and cut off their supply lines. Our troops must coordinate with him in pursuit to ensure his safe return."
"Did the building crew succeed?"
Gan Ning's eyes lit up, and he grinned.
"Alright! Wei Xu and Sun Ce are now sitting ducks. Leave this place to me, you all go quickly."
……
The following day, Qingzhou naval warships began hurling stones at the walls of Dancheng.
The stones were small but densely packed, not intended to collapse the city walls, but only to suppress the city walls and kill the defenders.
Song Xian hid behind the parapet, listening to the muffled thuds of stones hitting the parapet and the occasional screams.
He noticed that Zhao Yun's infantry and cavalry camp outside the city was breaking camp and heading east.
"We've gone around it..."
Song Xian understood.
The enemy commander saw through his intentions and decided not to entangle himself with him in this isolated city, instead sending his main force to pursue Wei Xu.
Leaving behind online trolls only traps him.
He breathed a sigh of relief, but then a wave of complex emotions surged up again.
The opponent disdains to launch a full-scale attack on the city, believing that he is already doomed.
Since the other party only wants to trap us, then let's keep guarding against it.
Just right.
Song Xian made up his mind and ordered the defense line to be contracted, focusing on the areas facing the river and sluice gates to reduce unnecessary casualties.
He had to cooperate with the other side and finish this siege drama.
Three days later, the food ran out.
He could then surrender the city with dignity, even when he was exhausted and helpless.
He not only saved the lives of his wounded subordinates, but also maintained his reputation for fighting to the very end.
As for Wei Xu, Sun Ce, and Lü Bu... Song Xian looked north with indifferent eyes.
He has done what he could.
That can be considered as fulfilling one's duty to one's lord.
As for the future, may you have good luck.
That's all I'm capable of!
The stone projectiles launched from outside the city became sparse, serving more as a deterrent.
Gan Ning didn't seem to be in a hurry; he simply kept the waterways firmly locked down.
Song Xian walked down the city wall and returned to the government office.
The guards brought out the last bit of rice porridge.
He sipped his drink slowly, pondering his words when opening the city gates and his attitude after surrendering.
You need to appear unwilling, but helpless;
Retain dignity, but be pragmatic.
I've heard that General Yuan from Qingzhou is unconventional in his selection of personnel...
……
Wei Xu's army was on its way back.
Inside the command tent, the main generals were holding a meeting.
Wei Xu looked ashen-faced, Sun Ce remained silent, and Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and others also looked grave.
The tent flap was suddenly flung open, and a blood-soaked, defeated soldier was dragged in by his guards and collapsed to the ground.
"General! Xiaoguan... Xiaoguan has fallen! General Cao Xing... has been killed in battle!"
The tent fell into a deathly silence.
"What?"
Wei Xu suddenly stood up.
"Xiaoguan has nearly ten thousand soldiers, how could it be lost?"
The routed soldiers gasped for breath:
"General Cao, under orders from General Wei, escorted the last batch of provisions to Dancheng... Upon arrival, the city gates were wide open, and no defenders were seen. He was immediately met with a volley of crossbow bolts upon entering the city... General Cao was killed on the spot... Enemy troops, enemy troops, poured out of the city, all cavalry, wielding long spears and clad in scale armor... Brothers... We were routed..."
"Where is the garrison commander, Wang Shi? Where is he?"
Wei Xu roared.
"I don't know... They may have surrendered, or they may have died in battle..."
An uproar erupted inside the tent.
The fall of Xiaoguan meant that the shortest route for retreating north to Xiapi was cut off, and the last batch of grain supplies was lost.
"General Wei!" a general couldn't help but speak up, "General Cao was sent by you to guard the grain supplies. Now that Xiaoguan has changed hands and the supply route is cut off, this..."
Holy crap!
Who is this guy?! How dare he question me?!
Believe it or not, when I get back, I'll get my brother-in-law to kill you!
Wei Xu's face flushed red, and he wanted to explain, but he was speechless for a moment.
Sun Ce spoke up, quelling the commotion.
That's enough.
Hehe, Wei Xu isn't very capable. Now it's my turn to win people's hearts.
He walked up to the routed soldiers and asked in a deep voice, "Did you see clearly? Cavalry, spears, scale armor?"
"Look, look closely! Those people seem impervious to swords and spears, they're incredibly difficult to fight!"
Sun Ce returned to his seat and looked at his generals:
"They are Yuan Tan's elite troops. General Cao Xing was brave and fierce, but he was ambushed and killed... However, I estimate that this cavalry force is not large, at most one or two thousand. But its elite status should not be underestimated."
He paused, then continued, "Although our army has lost General Cao Xing and supplies at Xiaoguan, our main force remains intact, numbering around 60,000 to 70,000. No matter how skilled the enemy cavalry is, they will find it difficult to shake our army if they charge head-on."
This is good news.
Wei continued speaking, his voice dry and hoarse:
"The news of the fall of Xiaoguan may not have reached Xiapi yet. Lord Wen's main force is currently locked in a stalemate with Yuan Tan and may not be aware of it. We need to quickly secure a retreat route, or... or find another way back to Xiapi."
Sun Ce nodded:
"That's right. We might be able to detect something amiss from the battlefield movements in Xiapi, and they might send reinforcements. The most urgent task is to stabilize morale and find an opportunity to break through Dancheng. As long as we can join forces with the reinforcements from Xiapi, we still have a chance of survival."
(PS: I was shocked when I saw the monthly votes after get off work today. I didn't expect that two godfathers (Godfather of Book Friend 20220921105440839 and Godfather of Pipi Shan) had given me so many votes. When I rode my bike home after get off work, I felt like I was floating.)
I'm so happy, even happier than finding a girlfriend! I'm so grateful, the only way I can repay my two adoptive fathers for their kindness is by diligently writing these words!
I've decided to stay up all night and work on this to provide the best reading experience for my two godfathers and all my dear readers. You can read it tomorrow morning; no need to wait.
Also, because my two godfathers have been incredibly kind to me, I may not be able to finish all the chapters I owe today, but I will do my best to make up for them!
Thank you again! I bow deeply to my two godfathers!