Chapter 419 Fierce Battle
It was already the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival.
A few days in advance, Yu Cheng ordered the rear service camp to prepare to let all the generals in the army eat Yuanxiao on this day.
One bowl is not enough, half a bowl is also good.
Yuanxiao is not a precious and rare thing, but it carries a beautiful meaning, symbolizing auspicious reunion and longing.
The generals who guarded the border were unable to go home for the New Year. They had not seen their relatives for a long time and must have missed them very much. Letting them eat a bowl of Yuanxiao on this day can be a little comfort.
Sure enough, the generals were very happy to know that they would have Yuanxiao tonight. After the daily training, they looked forward to the Yuanxiao in the evening.
There were too many people in the army, and they could not cook one or two batches, so the rear service camp started to boil water at the time of Yin.
When the first pot of water had just started boiling and the dumplings were about to be put into the pot, the general suddenly ordered the army to be assembled urgently.
The Mobei army was on the move and was less than five miles away from the city gate.
The general received the order from Yu Chengshuai and immediately assembled the army and quickly headed for the city gate.
Looking at the generals and soldiers who were leaving the camp in large numbers, the people in the rear service camp were in a dilemma. They looked at the dumplings in their hands and said, "Should we boil the dumplings or not?"
The rear service officer gritted his teeth and said, "Boil them. As soon as they float on the water, pick them up and transport them in wooden barrels."
The weather was cold, and the boiling dumplings were transported to the city gate in wooden barrels. The temperature was just right for eating. If they were picked up in time, it would not have much effect if they were simmered for a while. It's
just that you need to use bowls and chopsticks to eat the dumplings, which is a bit troublesome.
The people in the rear service camp received the order and hurried to prepare wooden barrels and bowls and chopsticks.
When Yu Cheng and Shen Changze arrived at the city gate, the lieutenant general had not arrived yet. They climbed up the city wall and saw the Mobei army coming like a dense migration of ants.
Shen Changze said with a heavy face: "Your Highness, Mobei is probably sending out its entire army to attack."
Yu Cheng sighed, knowing that today would be a fierce battle, even worse than the last time.
Cheng Jinchu held a red spear and looked at the approaching Mobei army. Thinking of her father's death at the hands of the Mobei people, hatred filled her heart.
"Your Highness, the army has arrived." The general came to report.
Looking at the Mobei army that had already approached the city, Yu Cheng gave the order in a deep voice: "Open the city gates and meet the enemy!"
The Mobei army came with battering rams and ladders. If they did not leave the city to fight, they would have to force their way through the city.
If the Mobei army really broke through the city gates and climbed up the walls, the border would be in danger.
Therefore, they must defend and not let the Mobei army get close to the city gates and walls.
"Kill!" The city gates were opened, and the generals shouted and rushed out of the city, bravely and fearlessly meeting the enemy.
The two armies met one inside the city wall and fought as soon as they met.
The Mobei attack was fierce, and the iron cavalry rushed to open a path, trying to let the infantry pass through the defense of the Dazhao generals and approach the city wall.
"Archers, take your positions!" Yu Cheng waved his hand and ordered.
"Swish--" Archers all put their arrows on the wall and aimed at the bottom of the city wall. Whenever they found Mobei people approaching, they would draw their bows and shoot.
The Mobei people were also prepared, but they were too far away, and their arrows could not reach the city wall.
Living on the grasslands and mainly grazing and hunting, the Mobei people are better at riding and shooting than the generals of Dazhao. If the situation is the same, both riding and archery are better.
The fierce battle under the city was dazzling and shocking. Shen Changze and Cheng Jinchu watched from the city wall, nervous and tense.
The last rays of the setting sun in the sky were cast, without any warmth.
The evening breeze suddenly rose, blowing the battle flags.
Yu Cheng was not feeling well, and he started coughing due to the cold wind.
Perhaps it was because of the damage to his heart after the serious injury, or perhaps it was because of the unfamiliar climate and water, but Yu Cheng contracted a cough not long after arriving at the border. He was fine on weekdays, but once the wind was cold, he would cough very badly.
"Cough cough... cough cough..." The wind was strong today, and the cold air went straight into his throat, causing Yu Cheng to cough non-stop.
"Your Highness." Yang Quan hurriedly handed over the warm pear soup. Yu
Cheng forced himself to hold back his cough, took it and drank two sips.
After the warm pear soup went down his throat, Yu Cheng finally felt a little more comfortable, and his coughing stopped temporarily.
But not long after, he started coughing again.
Yang Quan worriedly said, "Your Highness, please avoid the wind first, and then observe the battle situation after the wind stops."
Yu Cheng shook his head and said hoarsely, "Give it to me, cough cough..."
Yang Quan could only hand over the pear soup again.
Yu Cheng drank two sips slowly, suppressed his cough and stared at the battlefield.
With the help of the dusk light, Yu Cheng saw the Great Prince of Mobei sitting in the rear of the Mobei Army.
It was too far away and the light was not bright enough, so he could not see clearly. He only felt that the Great Prince of Mobei was domineering and like a ferocious wolf.
Wolves are ferocious. If the Mobei people were allowed to break through the city gate, Yu Cheng dared not think about how they would treat the people in the city.
Wolves are also greedy. Taking only the border city would not satisfy them at all. Once the border is breached, Mobei will surely advance rapidly and head straight for Shangjing.
Thinking of Xie Wanruo and several children, as well as the emperor, who are far away in Shangjing...
Yu Cheng gritted his teeth and decided that the border must not be breached.
While his thoughts were racing, the soldiers came to report that the rear service camp had sent food. |
Yu Cheng came back to his senses and ordered the officers who had not yet gone to the battlefield to eat quickly.
After a while, the people from the rear service camp carried food to the city wall and distributed it to the officers on the wall.
"Your Highness." A bowl of Yuanxiao was presented to Yu Cheng.
Yu Cheng took it and looked at the plump white Yuanxiao in the bowl with mixed feelings.
Today is the Lantern Festival. He wanted to comfort the officers with a bowl of Yuanxiao, but he was one step late. The officers who had unfortunately died on the battlefield first could no longer eat it.
Yu Cheng took a bite and found that the sweet and sticky Yuanxiao was mixed with a strong bitterness and was difficult to swallow.
Shen Changze and Cheng Jinchu took the Yuanxiao and didn't care to taste it. They just wanted to finish eating it quickly so that they could
take turns to go to the battlefield. When it got dark, the generals in the city finished eating the Yuanxiao and were led out of the city by generals such as Shen Changze to take
turns to go to the battlefield. "Follow me closely." Before going to the battlefield, Shen Changze turned around and reminded Cheng Jinchu. Cheng Jinchu
agreed and followed closely behind Shen Changze to fight with him.
Time passed unknowingly and it got dark without knowing when.
Mobei had no intention of withdrawing, and instead attacked more fiercely.
The blazing torches were blown here and there by the night wind, and the light flickered.
In the swaying light and shadow, generals from both sides fell one after another, and the sound of swords and guns clashing and the screams of killing lingered in their ears.
Shen Changze and Cheng Jinchu had heard numbness, and their hearts were not moved at all. Their eyes were red from killing, and they stared sharply at the Mobei people, with only the word "kill the enemy" in their hearts.
After killing one person after another, when Cheng Jinchu felt that her hand holding the gun was sore and soft, Shen Changze called her to retreat and return to the city to rest.
It was a cold winter day, and there was still unmelted snow on the top of the mountain, but Cheng Jinchu broke out in a sweat, and the cold wind chilled him to the core.
After drinking some water and eating some dry food, and resting enough, Shen Changze and Cheng Jinchu went into battle again.
That night, the sound of killing outside the city continued all night long. Yu Cheng stood on the city wall as long as the generals fought fiercely under the city.
When the sky was about to dawn, Shen Changze and Cheng Jinchu led the army out of the city again.
After a night of fierce fighting, the generals were exhausted.
Cheng Jinchu felt that her hand holding the gun was numb and she lost consciousness. Her arms were sore and weak that it was extremely difficult to swing the gun, but she still gritted her teeth and fought together with Shen Changze.
"Husband, be careful!" Cheng Jinchu warned in a startled voice, and shot the Mobei man who ambushed Shen Changze.