Chapter 124 The Wengcheng: Your vanguard, Yunya gladly accepts.
The wool felt, soaked in water, instantly solidified into ice armor when draped over the body. Heavy infantry, shields in hand, blocked the arrows, while light infantry, draped in water-soaked wool felt, carried over a hundred bamboo water ladders to the southwest corner of the cliff. Forty modified grain carts were then pushed out, their leather water tanks containing low-temperature brine mixed with salt, connected to a ox-tendon pump.
Archers unleashed a barrage of arrows, covering the city walls and forcing back the Cloud Cliff defenders, while also providing cover for the infantry and waterwheels.
The brine was sprayed onto the city wall through bamboo pipes.
Helian Wei was completely bewildered. After a moment of stunned silence, he burst into laughter.
Why is General Helian laughing?
Helian Wei said, "Chen Liangyu has run out of tricks. Her attempt to turn water into ice has only made our city walls stronger. Once the blizzard arrives, that will be the day she is defeated! Tell the soldiers to hold on a little longer; we'll get through this soon!"
"Yes, General Helian."
The battle raged into the night. The Yunya defenders saw that Chen Liangyu's army remained motionless, with only a thousand or so infantrymen pulling waterwheels and continuously spraying water onto the city walls.
Yongjun poured the water downwards, while Linjun sprayed it upwards.
Both sides worked very hard.
After nightfall, the garrison on the walls of Yunya Town began to relax their vigilance.
No one noticed that in the darkest shadows beneath the city walls, where the torches couldn't reach, something was moving and gathering silently.
The next morning, the sky was bright and clear when suddenly dark clouds surged in from the northwest horizon and swallowed the sun.
In an instant, a blanket of snow fell.
Gunpowder canisters exploded on the east wing of Yunya. Helian Wei immediately realized that the water carts used to pour water on the city walls were Chen Liangyu's feint attack. He urgently dispatched 30% of the soldiers from the west city to reinforce the east gate.
Helian Wei did not completely let his guard down; before leaving, he doubled the number of sentries at the West Gate watchtower.
Under the cover of darkness last night, the heavy hammer soldiers who had gathered at the foot of the western city wall of Yunya Military Town took out their iron-clad wooden hammers and rhythmically struck the wall. The rammed earth inside the city wall was supported by rapidly frozen ice crystals, and the sound of ice cracking came from within the wall.
The blue bricks on the outside of the wall gradually cracked as they were tapped regularly.
A scout reports from the west gate of Yunya, "Female soldiers are attacking from the east flank!"
The lieutenant asked, "Female soldiers? How many?"
"several thousand."
The people on the west gate tower began to cheer and stir, chattering amongst themselves.
"Our Zhonglin soldiers are not moving an inch. Female soldiers attacking the city? In all my life, this is the first time I've ever seen such a rare thing."
"Deputy General, could it be that the general leading this side isn't Chen Liangyu at all? Is the army just putting on a show of force here to deceive others, and Chen Liangyu's real intention is at the East Gate? She's maneuvering around to the East Gate, taking advantage of our main force being in the West Gate to seize the opportunity to break through the city."
"Yes, yes, the Suzhou Yunhui Army was built by Chen Liangyu, and it is all female soldiers."
Are the female soldiers pretty?
"I don't believe you're not curious!"
Birds swarmed and people chattered on the city wall. Cracks began to spread in the western city wall of Yunya Town, and it broke open and burst open.
Frequent unusual noises.
The guard patrolling the city walls asked another man, "Did you hear anything?"
The wind howled sharply, like the howl of a wild beast. The soldiers on the city wall were still discussing amongst themselves, creating a noisy commotion.
"It's windy. It's too cold. Let's go inside and have some hot tea."
"Walk."
Lin Yin led his Yunyi Army to the eastern flank of Yunya Army, rushing to the scene. He shouted outside the eastern city, "Tell Zhai Ji to come out and fight!"
Yunya Military Town is surrounded by mountains to the south, and the eastern part of the town is the rear flank. Therefore, at the beginning, most of the troops were stationed on the west city tower, while the eastern flank was empty, and no trenches were dug or ambushes were laid.
Helian Wei thought, fortunately there are only a few thousand people.
Suddenly, several gunpowder canisters rolled and exploded. Fortunately, the city gate was made of bronze and iron and was sturdy enough that only a few large patches of paint were chipped off.
In Helian Wei's eyes, Lin Yin showed absolutely no sincerity in attacking the city. When he fired arrows, she would use the rocks as cover to hide. When he ignored her, she would swagger out arrogantly, spouting vulgarities and shouting that the dignified Emperor of Beiyong should go to the bandit's den to be his husband.
This woman is frivolous, immoral, and utterly despicable!
Lin Yin was the natural nemesis of rigid and loyal ministers like Helian Wei.
In Helian Wei's eyes, insulting the emperor was an insult to the country.
Helian Wei was so angry that he completely forgot that the enemy only had a few thousand soldiers, and once again spread the arrow rain from the west of the city to the east.
"Girls, hide!"
The snow fell even heavier, quickly obscuring the trajectory of the arrows as they pierced the air. The arrowheads lay buried in the ground, densely packed, like countless dead hedgehogs.
Lin Yin picked at his ear. "What are you getting angry about? You can't take a joke."
Helian Wei's lips twitched. He raised his hand, then lowered it again. The garrison on the eastern mountain of Yunya Town had already thrown down logs and boulders. Lin Yin dodged the logs, but her warhorse couldn't avoid the stones. The horse swerved, and Lin Yin fell to the ground. She spun around and regained her balance. Just then, an arrow flew from the city wall and pierced her shoulder blade.
Helian Wei remained in the bow-holding posture, standing high above and looking down coldly.
Lin Yin's expression changed abruptly. He met Lin Yin's gaze, dropped his jovial demeanor, and leaped into cover.
A moment later, the east gate of the city was flung open, and the defending soldiers inside surged out, shouting. The battle situation took a sharp turn for the worse; Lin Yin had only brought five thousand Yunhui soldiers, which was insufficient in strength.
The signal flare in the west of the city has not been fired, so Chen Liangyu should need some more time.
The only option now is to hold on and drag it out for a while.
Lin Yin broke the arrow shaft, leaving the arrowhead embedded in the flesh of his shoulder blade, and drew his sword with a backhand motion.
"Yunhui Army soldiers, prepare for battle!"
"Those who fight to the death and refuse to retreat, I will drink victory wine with you in the next life!"
The female soldiers' shouts echoed through the mountains and valleys, creating hundreds of reverberations. A signal flare burst into the air, sending a message of support to Sima Chai Chong, the magistrate of Youzhou.
Before long, as soon as the Yong army formed its battle formation, the Yunhui army began to retreat in disarray. They simply carried their spears on their backs, held short crossbows, and charged back while firing.
Yong's army indeed gave chase.
After chasing for several meters, the Yunhui Army retreated to a relatively flat area and suddenly changed their position. Their movements were like a dragon wagging its tail, seemingly disordered, but from some unknown point, they had already formed a battle formation on the wasteland outside Yunya Town.
At this moment, some of the pursuing Yong army had already entered the formation. The Zhenwei cavalry charged out with shields, blocking the retreat and cutting off the Yong army's rescue efforts. The spearmen then plunged their spears into the bodies of the Yong soldiers in the formation.
Helian Wei urgently ordered the central army to launch a strong attack on Kanwei.
Meanwhile, Gan and Kun's soldiers attacked from both flanks, using long ropes to lasso horses and hook-and-sickle spears to drag those who had broken through the encirclement back into the formation.
Lin Yin directed the troops to rotate through the various positions in turn. The Yong army, caught in a constant barrage of attacks, became overwhelmed and fell into chaos. Finally, Lin Yin waved his battle flag, and the remaining enemy forces were annihilated in the center of the formation.
The formation changed rapidly again, targeting the Yong army that was still pursuing them.
Helian Wei stood atop the city wall, watching as this unpredictable military formation annihilated its soldiers in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. He remarked, "No wonder this woman was so arrogant, daring to address His Majesty by his own name."
The Yong army was thrown into disarray, and Helian Wei shouted down, "All soldiers, listen to my command! Form ranks and counterattack!"
The Yunhui Army pursued and annihilated the Yong Army for two rounds, but before the third formation could be deployed, a signal flare rose into the sky from the west of the city.
Chen Liangyu's order to her was a feint attack; once the signal was given, she was to retreat.
Lin Yin said, "Let's stop fighting and withdraw our troops!"
In an instant, the Yunhui army scattered and fled as if they had suffered a defeat, running two miles away in the blink of an eye.
The reinforcements from Youzhou arrived late, waiting for them on the mountain path.
Lin Yin clutched his shoulder and said, "What a coincidence. If I had come a little later, I would have been able to collect my body in time."
The reinforcements' general dismounted and sheepishly apologized.
Helian Wei allowed her to retreat, recalled all his soldiers and stopped pursuing her, instead gathering his troops and rushing to the west of the city.
Yunya Military Town, West Gate Garrison Tower.
Chen Liangyu waved his flag, and the battering ram carrying the huge battering hammer smashed into the cracks in the west gate tower. Another barrage of arrows clashed, but they could not stop the battering ram's unstoppable momentum. After several impacts, the wall was smashed open.
Thirty percent of the garrison in the west of the city was transferred away by Helian Wei.
The rain of arrows stopped, and the defenders on the city wall retreated and hid in the town.
A hole had collapsed in the city wall, large enough for three horses to pass through side by side, and the vanguard army entered the military town without much effort.
There was an inner river in the city. The vanguard rode their horses onto the bridge, but little did they know that the wooden bridge was already rotten and eaten by worms. With a single step, the bridge collapsed, and the front cavalrymen and their horses fell into the river. Fortunately, the ice was thick, so the fall was solid, and they were spared from drowning.
I managed to stand up with great difficulty, and as I took a step forward, I felt something pierce through the sole of my boot.
Chen Liangyu had just arrived on horseback when he saw through the collapsed cave entrance that people and horses were all over the place.
It is a barbican.
The city is full of traps; we invite you into their clutches.
Chen Liangyu: "Vanguard! Withdraw immediately, retreat to the city..."
Before the word "outside" could be uttered, the outer gate's stone sluice gate slammed down, the heavy granite blocking the vanguard's retreat. The instant the sluice gate hit the ground, Chen Liangyu clearly saw the bluestone slabs on the ground collapse and the Yong army emerge from the earth.
Your vanguard is welcome, Yunya gladly accepts it.
Chen Liangyu's eyes were red at the corners, and his narrow eyes seemed to be filled with ice, exuding a chilling aura.
Her face was flat, with little expression.
This blood debt, I will make you pay a thousandfold!
After two days of fighting, Yunya Military Town was completely isolated.
The various battalions quickly dispersed according to their flags, dug earth to build fortifications, dug trenches and ditches, and erected watchtowers, trapping the Yunya Army in the center of the camp. Those inside could not break out, and reinforcements outside could not break in. Once their food supplies ran out, Helian Wei would only have to wait to die.
The central army set up cowhide tents outside the town, the hemp ropes creaking and vibrating when taut. In the evening, the cooks set up iron pots on the spot, and the aroma of boiling meat filled the air.
Chen Liangyu, leading the jade lion to feed the horses, looked back at the Yunya City Wall with a hole in it, and shouted, "Prepare the catapults!"
Yue Zhengyang suddenly heard Chen Liangyu talking about moving the catapults and asked, "Teacher, is it a night attack?"
"We will not attack. Since Helian Wei has set up a fortified city in advance, the town must have more than one layer. If we rashly enter the city, we will be in the dark while our troops are in the light, which will only cause our soldiers to lose their lives in vain."
Outlast them.
"Have we found our cattle?"
Yue Zhengyang said, "We didn't find them all; a few got lost."
Battle losses were inevitable, and Chen Liangyu did not pursue the matter further.
"Slaughter a few and roast them. Hey cook, which of you cooks roasts the meat the best, the most delicious?"
The cook, wearing military boots, ran up and said, "Commander, Lu Sutai is the best at barbecuing meat."
The name Lu Sutai.
One of the slick-haired young men she threw from the brothel into the army camp was skilled in swordsmanship. Swordsmanship was useless, but grilling meat was.
"Bring him here to me, Commander."
Whether it was from the smoke and fire or from the wind and sun, Lu Sutai's face was dark and he looked completely different from before. Chen Liangyu almost didn't recognize him.
"Go ahead and grill the meat. This general is hosting a banquet; you mustn't be negligent."
Lu Sutai asked in surprise, "A banquet for guests?"
On the battlefield, some dare to host a banquet, but who dares to attend?
Chen Liangyu said, "The soldiers of Yunya Town are working hard to defend the city on an empty stomach. This meal is on me!"
"Sending food to the Yong army? And beef too?" The cook pleaded, "Commander, our own soldiers haven't even had beef yet. If they keep eating dry rations, they'll choke to death."
Chen Liangyu said, "Give the scraps to the Yong army, and distribute the rest to the soldiers!"
A cheer erupted from the camp.
Yue Zhengyang asked, "Teacher, should we use poison?"
Chen Liangyu said, "This town has about 20,000 garrison soldiers. How much poison would it take to kill them all?"
Yue Zhengyang thought for a moment and said, "Does Master intend to incite the Yong army to kill each other?"
Chen Liangyu remained silent and began to groom the jade lion's mane.
The hair is smoother than satin.
***
The capital of Beiyong, the imperial court.
"Your Majesty, General Helian has sent an urgent report that Chen Liangyu may intend to capture Yunya Military Town and Hudong Grassland."
Zhai Ji asked, "Who will lead the army?"
"Chen Liangyu".
Your subject will only state one name, omitting even the title of Chen Liangyu.
Zhai Ji suddenly rose to his feet, the tassels of his crown swaying and clanging. "Chen Liangyu is the commander-in-chief personally leading the expedition to Yunya?"
He was appointed deputy commander by Chen Liangyu and came to attack.
Chen Liangyu personally took charge, clearly determined to succeed.
The court held discussions all morning, with officials and ministers offering their opinions. The issues they discussed were either urgently transporting grain and fodder through Shanhu County to support Helian Wei, or urgently ordering Marquis Bu Ren of Zhennan to send troops to reinforce Yunya and Hudong.
Not a single word was what Zhai Ji wanted to hear.
When someone mentioned again how many days it would take for Chen Liangyu to capture Yunya, Zhai Ji angrily interrupted.
"By imperial decree, effective immediately, all important state affairs shall be decided jointly by the two prime ministers, the ministers of the six ministries, and the censor-in-chief."
The officials fell silent for a moment. If the two prime ministers and the seven ministers were discussing state affairs, then what was the point of having an emperor?
"I, the Emperor, will personally lead the expedition!"
The bronze chimes in the drill ground rang forty-nine times, the horns wailed, and the war drums sounded in unison.
Riding on his horse, Zhai Ji had a high vantage point and suddenly saw a small figure struggling to push aside other soldiers, weaving through the formation and heading straight for him.
Wei Rui, with her sharp eyes, quickly brought the little girl out. "Princess, what brings you to the camp?"
Zhai Ji said, "Zhao Yang."
"Father."
Zhai Ji dismounted and reached out to pick up Zhao Yang.
She was still young, barely a child, but her eyes already held a sharp edge. She even had the Ministry of War forge a small suit of armor and a short sword for her.
He was fully armored and helmeted, with a short sword slung over his back.
Zhao Yang said, "I heard that Father Emperor is personally leading the expedition, so I will go as well."
Zhai Ji carried her to the front of the formation, asking, "My daughter, why do you wish to go to war with your father?"
Zhao Yang's face still had a youthful innocence. Sitting on Zhai Ji's arm, he looked down at the three armies, faintly revealing the imperial majesty of someone who ruled the land.
She said, "Zhaoyang wants to go to Zhonglin for a visit."
Zhai Ji laughed uncontrollably. He was still just a child, only interested in playing.
Zhao Yang continued, “Your subject admires Your Majesty’s bravery, your governance of the country and your conquest of all directions, just like a towering mountain and the North Star. Your subject wishes to become like Your Majesty, to inherit Your Majesty’s spirit, and to share Your Majesty’s burdens.”
Zhai Ji laughed again and said, "Zhao Yang, you have won my heart!" He put Zhao Yang down and said, "You are too young to go this time."
"When will I be able to go?"
"I promise you, when you turn fifteen, I will take you to see the mountains and rivers you have never seen before."
Zhao Yang gave a curtsy, his small body standing ramrod straight.
"Your son will see you off to the expedition and wait for you to defeat the Lin army and return in triumph."
Author's Note: [Zhao Yang]: The second female lead in "One Wish 2".
The two female leads are already adults when they appear in the second part, so you can enjoy it without worry!
Thank you for reading this far!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com