Chapter 538 The Enraged Prince Xiang
The person who wanted it returned early the next day, ready to inform King Xiang of the information he had gathered in the city.
"Your Highness, the information you asked us to gather has been found by our people inside. They say there has been some activity on nights these past few days, but we haven't seen the main army."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the military doctor outside appeared, pacing anxiously: "Your Highness, Physician Chen requests an audience."
The King of Xiang nodded to his guards and waved for them to leave. He then turned to look at Physician Chen, who was being led in and bowing to him: "Physician Chen, is there something you need?"
Doctor Chen's face darkened. After bowing, he stood up and solemnly addressed Prince Xiang: "Your Highness, 1200 men in my medical camp were wounded during yesterday's siege. In just one night, their wounds have become inflamed, swollen, and rotting. Several other doctors and I have repeatedly cleaned their wounds and discovered that yesterday's attack on the city walls involved boiling excrement and poisonous liquid—an extremely vicious act!!!"
The King of Xiang's expression instantly darkened: "How are the wounded?"
Thinking of the wounded soldiers who had been wailing in their tents all night, Doctor Chen's eyes filled with sorrow: "Your Highness, I'm afraid it's difficult to treat them. Many of their wounds have already become festering and inflamed. In this condition, most of them won't survive..."
King Xiang lowered his head and said, "Go to the logistics department and get medicine. Even if it's the best medicine, we must treat our wounded soldiers."
A few days ago, when they attacked the city, they used boiling water on the city walls, but yesterday they changed it to excrement and poison. This kind of scheme is not something that kid from the Qi family could have come up with.
King Xiang immediately realized that the person on the city wall had been replaced halfway through the battle yesterday, and King Xiang hesitated again.
If reinforcements had already arrived in the city, there would be little point in continuing the fight. However, having already lost nearly 10,000 troops, he was reluctant to give up Taiyuan, which was within his grasp.
Now that they've already fallen out over the matter, there's practically no room for negotiation. King Xiang gritted his teeth and said, "Guards! Pass on my order: continue the siege tomorrow morning!"
It would be better to test the waters first, and then make further plans if reinforcements do arrive.
As dawn broke on the holiday, the King of Xiang began beating the war drums. Chang Zhiyuan, who had been pulled up early, stood on the city wall, his heart pounding.
Zhiqi looked at Chang Zhiyuan with some disbelief: "Commander, you're truly amazing! How did you know that the King of Xiang would attack the city so early this morning?"
Chang Zhiyuan smiled slightly but didn't speak. His fists were clenched tightly, and his palms were sweaty. He paused for a moment and then asked, "Commander, wouldn't it be risky to order the troops to withdraw directly?"
Chang Zhiyuan clenched his fist and nodded slightly. He was actually a little uncertain, but there was really no better way at the moment. If he wanted to drag it out, he could only create a smokescreen so that the King of Xiang could not figure them out.
"The King of Xiang came to inquire, presumably because he felt that yesterday's events were suspicious and that today's attack was most likely a feint. We can take advantage of this psychology to set up a half-ambush, keeping him guessing about us, thus buying us a lot of time."
Hearing this, he paused for a moment, then looked at Chang Zhiyuan. His face, which resembled Lin Changning's, showed a hint of insecurity, but even more so, a firm resolve.
I believe you!
After saying this, he ordered the troops lined up below not to leave the city, and he stood quietly beside Chang Zhiyuan, watching the Xiang King's soldiers below.
King Xiang sat on his warhorse, squinting at the people on the city wall. The war drums sounded for a while, but the opposite side remained silent.
King Xiang was unsure what kind of gourd was being sold across the street, and some doubts arose in his heart. Just then, the gates of Taiyuan City suddenly opened.
Zhao Ying, the commander of the Xiangwang Guard, saw the gates of Taiyuan City wide open and his eyes lit up. He looked at the Xiangwang and said, "Your Highness!!! What a great opportunity!!"
King Xiang still harbored doubts, but seeing the excitement in Zhao Ying's eyes, he nodded slightly and said, "I suspect there's a trap. Send a team to investigate first."
Suppressing the excitement in his eyes, Zhao Ying clasped his hands in a fist salute and ordered the group beside him, "Go, send a team to scout ahead!"
Chang Zhiyuan watched quietly as about a thousand cavalrymen charged toward the gate, silently counting the distance to the trap.
Ten meters, three meters, one meter!
Seeing that the enemy had stepped into the trap he had set, Chang Zhiyuan's eyes lit up as he watched Zhiqi draw his bow and nock an arrow. The arrowhead was dipped in oil and quickly ignited. The arrow, glowing with fire, shot swiftly toward the oil pit in front of the cavalry.
Suddenly, the cavalrymen were engulfed in flames. Several irregularly shaped oil pits quickly ignited into towering fires along with the dry straw. Under the scorching heat of the flames, the cavalrymen who had come to scout ahead were thrown into chaos.
Many soldiers were thrown from their horses and instantly perished in the flames.
Only the last few hundred cavalrymen managed to turn their horses around and rejoin King Xiang's battle formation.
King Xiang sneered inwardly, "It really was a trap. I'll sound the retreat today! Do those people on the city wall think I'm a fool?"
After speaking, King Xiang quickly led his men to retreat.
Chang Zhiyuan stood atop the city wall, watching the King of Xiang lead his men away into the distance. His forehead was covered in cold sweat. He wiped the sweat away and let out a long sigh.
Hearing this, he patted Chang Zhiyuan on the shoulder and said, "Brother Chang, you are no less skilled in military strategy than Chang Ning."
To everyone's surprise, King Xiang actually withdrew his troops, and they all breathed a sigh of relief. When they looked at Chang Zhiyuan, their eyes were practically sparkling.
Seeing Chang Zhiyuan about to descend the city wall, he followed behind him like a little tail: "Commander, what's the next step? What should we do next?"
After wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Chang Zhiyuan felt a chill as a gust of wind blew by. He shivered and said:
"If we don't launch an attack within three days, King Xiang will inevitably become suspicious. Therefore, within three days, we need to launch a feint attack with a large force, while sending a smaller force to infiltrate King Xiang's camp."
"Pour the remaining oil on King Xiang's supply depot and set it on fire, destroying their provisions and supplies, especially siege equipment like siege ladders. Once these are destroyed, it will take King Xiang one to two days to rebuild them..."
He nodded in agreement: "Alright, then I'll take some people down to make the arrangements in the next few days."
Knowing that his gaze towards Chang Zhiyuan held a hint of ill intent, he leaned closer to Chang Zhiyuan and lowered his voice, saying:
"Brother Chang, would you be interested in joining our garrison? With your talent, it's a real waste to be a scholar. Why not come and join our command? With the command in front and Changning behind, you'll definitely rise to prominence faster than through the imperial examinations! What do you think?"
Chang Zhiyuan chuckled, looked at Zhiqi and gently shook his head without saying a word.
Wen Zhi looked at Zhi Qi with an expression as if he were looking at an idiot, and after Chang Zhiyuan had walked away, he couldn't help but punch Zhi Qi with his fist:
"Sometimes I don't know whether to call you clever or stupid. Do you think Brother Chang risked his life to impersonate Chang Ning because of benevolence? He is a scholar who fought alongside us on the city wall and offered advice. Regardless of whether Brother Chang can defend Taiyuan, as long as he survives this time, the Prince will definitely remember his contribution when he returns, and we commanders will owe him a favor!"
"..."
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