Chapter 109
Several fleeing Li soldiers hastily stole a few horses and stumbled southwards. Their route was winding and circuitous, clearly indicating their intention to shake off their pursuers. Having confirmed that the An army was not in pursuit, they finally sped towards their destination.
The small team, hidden in the shadows, followed closely behind, watching them enter a distant city.
It was a city built in the desert, like a deeply rooted dead tree root that had sprung up in the sea of sand. The gray-brown city walls had been eroded by wind and sand for thousands of years, leaving winding marks.
The city walls, though decaying, stretched on and on, their scale far exceeding that of any oasis.
"There are at least 50,000 people inside the city. What should we do? Launch a full-scale attack or outsmart them?" Xie Chengnan asked.
"storm."
Xie Chengnan was not surprised by his decision.
The journey had been far from smooth, with the Xili forces constantly appearing in sight, employing underhanded tactics like ambushes, poisons, and luring the enemy. While all's fair in war, everyone was seething with resentment. A direct, clear-cut strike that utterly crushed the enemy's will was undoubtedly the most effective way to overcome their cunning with brute force.
Let the Xili people know that Anguo is not afraid to fight them, and that his despicable methods are utterly insignificant in the face of an indomitable will.
However, even a strong offensive requires the right methods and approaches.
A strong offensive relies on overwhelming superiority in resources and military force.
Their only advantage now is in numbers. Whether it's combat experience in the desert or supplies and equipment, they are no match for the Xili people who have lived here for a long time.
The scouts have already drawn up a topographical map of the city.
Gu Shuan tapped a section of the city wall on the sand table with his finger. "At three quarters past Hai hour, a thousand soldiers will carry oil and launch a feigned attack from the north, while two thousand cavalry archers will launch a feigned attack from the east to provide support. The remaining troops will wait until the Li army's fire moves to the east and north before launching a surprise attack on the city through the main gate."
"Commander, in my humble opinion, if we launch a strong attack from the main gate..." The deputy general pointed to the solid and intact section of the city wall, "In this vast desert, sand is everywhere, but it's hard to find even a pebble. Catapults are useless, and siege engines are too conspicuous. I'm afraid our main force will be detected by the enemy before it even reaches the city gate."
The deputy general's words made sense, and the generals who participated in the discussion fell silent in thought.
But then Xie Chengnan suddenly scoffed, "Conspicuous?"
"Tens of thousands of troops are at the city gates, torches illuminate the area for miles, and the battle cries shake the heavens. How do you intend to hide?" He truly found the person who said this laughable. He actually dared to try and deceive the Xili people by acting out of fear of harming them.
"Since we have chosen to launch a full-scale attack, we must make them see clearly—see clearly how the siege engines of our Great An smashed through the city gates, see clearly how the soldiers of our An Kingdom broke through the city walls, and see clearly how the banners of An Kingdom fluttered and were planted step by step on the high ground of their city walls!"
Some people worried that his actions were too obvious, but he still felt that he wasn't making enough noise!
Upon hearing this, Deputy General Xiao's brow twitched. He felt that this General of the Cavalry was even more sharp and aggressive than before, with a wolf-like madness in his sharpness. It must be his imagination.
Even before the two sides clashed, the smell of gunpowder already permeated the air among their colleagues and soldiers.
Gu Shuan'an's headache started again. He had a gut feeling that Xie Chengnan's changes, while they could be considered growth, might become a variable.
Variables can be good or bad. But we can't let him run wild like a runaway horse.
He immediately finalized the next action plan and intentionally excluded Xie Chengnan from it.
"General of the Flying Cavalry is still recovering from his injuries, and this battle is dangerous, so he need not accompany the army for the time being. I entrust all matters in the rear to you?" Although the tone was one of discussion, the words left no room for argument.
Xie Chengnan seemed to see through his thoughts, chuckled, and accepted it calmly, "Alright, then thank you for your consideration and concern, Commander."
Xie Chengnan was quite content to be free from personally fighting the enemy.
After arranging all the logistical matters, he stayed at the base camp and wandered around aimlessly when he had nothing to do.
It wasn't aimless; the general had a very specific plan. He walked from east to west, from the sentry post to the rear medical tent.
However, when they had traveled halfway and the medical tent was almost in sight, they suddenly noticed a suspicious person.
His attire was not that of the Anguo military uniform; rather, he resembled a local vagrant, and he was furtively loitering in front of the medical tent. No one knew how or when this person had sneaked in!
Although Gu Shuan did not allow Xie Chengnan to participate in the war, he agreed with his point of view.
This will be the most direct confrontation between the two armies since the start of the Self-Propelled Army. Whether it is to establish national prestige, boost morale, or instill fear in the people of Xili, they are determined to win this battle and take this city.
Bugles sounded across the sky, their roar shaking the heavens. Spears clashed, weapons clashed, blood soaked the yellow sand, and after several days of fierce fighting, the city finally fell.
When Xie Chengnan saw Anguo's battle flag hanging at the highest point of the city's watchtower, fluttering in the wind, he led the remaining supply troops into the city in a grand manner.
Casualties were inevitable, but for the absolute victory in this battle, the losses were not significant.
Gu Shuan was injured, but not seriously. Just in case, the deputy general specially invited Lin Yi to help him treat his injuries.
“I’ll go with you,” Xie Chengnan said.
Lin Yi thought he was just jealous and didn't want her to have any contact with Gu Shuan, and was about to say a few words of advice.
But he looked serious, showing none of the feigned obedience and grievance he usually displayed when jealous.
What's puzzling is that there was another person with them, a tall, middle-aged man in his forties. His muscles were solid, like a rusty giant sword, and his aura was filled with a bloodthirsty, violent energy.
When their eyes met accidentally, Lin Yi couldn't help but shudder.
He had killed people, many people. His eyes were fierce, filled with a distrust that kept people at arm's length.
Lin Yi couldn't figure out which character this was from the original book.
Zhan Xian was also there.
Gu Shuan's injury was on his shoulder. When Lin Yi arrived, Zhan Xian had already given him emergency treatment and the bleeding had stopped.
Lin glanced at it, took out a bottle of ointment, but did not apply it immediately.
Putting aside the fact that her family was watching from the sidelines, the fact that they were alone together as a man and a woman presented the perfect opportunity to apply medicine and treat their wounds.
The system had repeatedly reminded her that, as the host, she bore a heavy responsibility and had to advance the main storyline. In a romance novel, the most crucial plot point was for the male and female leads to overcome their past grievances and reconcile. Lin Yi was more than happy to help them achieve this.
She, a villainous cannon fodder character, has kissed Xie Chengnan countless times, while the real male and female leads seem to have never even held hands. Even she, a complete novice in love, can't stand it anymore.
Opportunity knocks but once; such a golden opportunity should be left to Zhan Xian.
Although Zhan Xian was unpretentious and unrestrained like a rough man in the military, she was actually quite shy when it came to such matters.
Lin Yi hesitated, wondering how to find an excuse to have Zhan Xian apply medicine to Gu Shuan, while he and Xie Chengnan could make a successful retreat.
Turning around, she saw that the man Xie Chengnan had brought and Zhan Xian seemed to have made eye contact.
It wasn't that I found someone I liked, but rather that I was drawn to them.
The man stared at Zhan Xian, scrutinizing her, while Zhan Xian also frowned and sized him up.
Lin Yi looked at him, then at her, feeling that the atmosphere was strangely eerie and comical. Finally, she looked at Xie Chengnan and asked in a low voice, "What's going on?"
Xie Chengnan crossed his arms, feigning indifference.
Gu Shuan asked at the same time, "Who is this person? Did you bring him?"
Xie Chengnan opened his mouth, but swallowed his words: "Let them say it themselves."
The man stared at Zhan Xian for a long time, so long that Gu Shu'an could no longer suppress her anger before finally asking, "Who is Zhan Qihong to you?"
The question was abrupt and offensive, but Zhan Xian answered truthfully, "It is indeed my father."
The man seemed to be recalling something, then asked incredulously, "You are Zhan Xian?"
"You recognize me?"
The man clapped his hands heavily, eager to say something, but then became alert and asked, "Is he the commander-in-chief of Anguo?"
"yes."
"Sent by the emperor?"
His attitude was strange. If he was from Anguo, he showed no respect for His Majesty Anguo. On the contrary, he was quite hostile when he asked Gu Shuan if he was sent by the emperor. But if he was from Xili, he recognized Zhan Xian.
Only Xie Chengnan, who knew the whole story beforehand, was unsurprised and, not one to miss a good show, added fuel to the fire: "This is His Highness the Crown Prince, the Emperor's biological son."
The man's expression instantly turned as if he had swallowed a fly, and his teeth clenched so tightly they made a grinding sound.
Xie Chengnan patted him on the shoulder like a good buddy, "Didn't you already guess? Relax, let's get down to business."
The man deflated, though his expression remained grim. He pulled a wooden plaque from his chest, held it up to Zhan Xian, and said, "Since your surname is Zhan, you should recognize this."
It's more than just recognizing them.
It was half a bloodstained wooden plaque; Zhan Xian had a perfectly intact one. It was the one that Lin Yi picked up when she first arrived in Mingzhou, after she had a fight with Qiu Qing at the wonton shop, and then entrusted Gu Shu'an to give it to her.
Zhan Xian's pupils dilated in shock, filled with disbelief: "Where did you get this?!"
The wooden plaque was made from the Podocarpus macrophyllus tree in the Zhan family courtyard. Initially, her father carved it for her and her brother to play with, and later each member of the Zhan family army received one. Could this person be—!
"This was given to me by the commander-in-chief."
The title of "Grand Marshal" is not uncommon in the military, but in the hearts of the Zhan family army, there is only one Grand Marshal.
"You're also... from the Zhan family army?" His voice trembled violently.
"I am." The man glared at Gu Shuan with hatred. "I am a former member of the Zhan family army. Don't be so hasty in arresting me, brat. I have evidence that can clear the Zhan family army of its crimes. If you arrest me now, it will be against all reason!"
Suddenly, Lin Yi remembered something and blurted out, "That day in the oasis, in that house, was it you?"
"It's me."
Zhan Xian had obviously thought of that too, "Why didn't you show yourself then?"
"At that time, I was not sure whether you came here to attack Xili or to clear the name of the commander-in-chief."
These two things may seem to be in conflict, but in reality they are completely different.
Since this person is Zhan Xian, the warlord's own daughter, then naturally it must be the latter.
"What evidence did you just mention?"
"It's in my hands."
With these words, everyone's eyes fell on his hands.
It was that half of the blood-stained wooden plaque.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com