Chapter 266 Commander
After a few days of silence, the Qi army made a move: attacking Langya Pass.
To Shen Yuexi, this move was extremely strange. The fortress at Langya Pass was so high and thick that it was not something that could be easily taken. She couldn't understand why the Qi army was attacking.
Feng Zhang and Yang Cong, who were defending the city, did not have much experience in fighting, so she was worried and rushed back to Langya Pass to defend the city.
Xiao Zhuo needed to guard the three armies and could not leave. Qiu Liming, his most capable deputy, was lying in ambush in Xiayuan Valley. Xiao Zhuo originally wanted to send his generals to assist Feng Zhang, but she was worried and insisted on going herself.
She had built the city of Langya Pass with her own hands, and she couldn't just leave it alone.
Before leaving, Xiao Zhuo said to her, "This time, the Qi army is attacking Langya Pass. You must be careful. Big Bear can't completely resist the enemy's arrows."
"Don't worry, I'll be careful," Shen Yuexi replied cheerfully, "But is their siege real or fake?"
"That's for you to judge for yourself." Xiao Zhuo said with a smile.
Shen Yuexi cried out in pain: "Please spare me, how could I tell."
"The attack my husband launched against Yongwei was a feint. The overt attack was just to attract the enemy's attention, while secretly the soldiers dug tunnels. It was a tactic of making a feint to the east and attacking in the west."
"Oh," Shen Yuexi agreed, half-comprehendingly, then asked uneasily, "What if they're not feinting?"
"I will attack their main camp depending on the situation, just like when I helped the King of Xiliang to break the siege of Leshan."
Seeing that Xiao Zhuo was thoughtful, Shen Yuexi set off with confidence and entered the city before the Qi King's army arrived.
As soon as she entered the city, she ran into Lady Li. She ran to the horse and grabbed the reins: "The King of Qi is going to attack the city. Can your nephew-in-law hold it? If not, we can prepare to escape."
When Xiao Zhuo returned to Xiaogang Village this time, Madam Li, her daughter, and Doctor Hua all came back with him. Together with his sister Chen Lan, everyone was in the city.
Shen Yuexi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Auntie, there are defenders in the city."
Compared with Madam Li, she can be regarded as a general who has experienced many battles.
"But...but we only have 5,000 people." Madam Li nervously held up four fingers. "Feng Zhang said the Qi King's army has arrived. They are all...cough...this is choking."
"I saw it all, don't worry, auntie," Shen Yuexi comforted her, "Our city is very strong, they can't take it."
Mrs. Li was choking on the incense and coughed. She fanned the incense that filled her mouth and nose with her hands. "That old man, the village head, has organized the villagers to worship the statue again. The incense is as thick as a child's arm."
Shen Yuexi looked at the smoke-filled city, feeling both amused and helpless.
It was this ethereal deity that made this place a safe haven for everyone. After several battles, the population here has only grown. In times of war, everyone longs for a stable home. Langya Pass not only provided shelter, but also allowed the people of Dayan to continue trading with the Western Rong people north of the city even during wartime.
As they were talking, Li Wan also came closer and said to Shen Yuexi, "Cousin, I just came to see my sister. She's still not used to the prosthetic hand you made for her. The iron ring has rubbed her skin red. Doctor Hua made her a leather sleeve to cushion it."
Madam Li turned to Li Wan and said, "The Qi King's army is about to attack the city, and you're still talking about these little hisses..."
"Mother, my cousin is just outside the city," Li Wan also comforted Madam Li, "Now my cousin's wife has returned to help defend the city, so don't panic. Let's go home first and don't disturb my cousin's wife."
Li Wan didn't give Madam Li any time to explain and just pulled her away.
Shen Yuexi first went to visit Shen Lan. Shen Lan's wound had healed, and with Xia Lan's help, she was trying to adapt to using her prosthetic hand. When she saw Shen Yuexi, she burst into tears again.
"I've lost my left hand, and the Duke's Mansion too. What am I going to do next?"
Shen Yuexi consoled her kindly: "Don't worry, sister. I'm here. Sister will live with us from now on."
"How can that be possible?" Shen Lan shook her head and refused. "You and Xiao Zhuo are husband and wife. How can I, as your elder sister, live with you? What will outsiders say? Have you never thought about it, sister?"
"I haven't thought about it." Shen Yuexi answered honestly.
"Oh, forget it," Chen Lan burst into laughter, "Since you married Xiao Zhuo, it seems that you have forgotten everything you learned in your childhood."
After saying that, Chen Lan picked up a book at hand, turned the pages one by one with his right hand, and pressed it with the inkstone.
Shen Yuexi asked curiously, "Sister, what book are you reading?"
"Military... military tactics." Shen Lan answered a little embarrassedly.
It took Shen Yuexi a long time to react. Shen Lan was actually studying the art of war? She asked, "Sister, why are you studying the art of war?"
Chen Lan blushed and pursed her lips without answering. Xia Lan beside her interrupted, "Master, can't you see that your sister is trying to share your worries?"
It turns out that when Shen Yuexi and Xiao Zhuo sent troops to help Mei Dai attack Zhangwu, they left Shen Lan in Xiaogang Village to recuperate. Shen Lan had told Xia Lan that her left hand was broken, leaving her disabled. Although her sister, Shen Yuexi, offered to take care of her, she knew she was a married couple, and she didn't fit in their lives. Xia Lan didn't know how to comfort her, so she found some books for Shen Lan to read.
Among the many books, Chen Lan immediately fell in love with the book on military strategy, reading it all day long. In his spare time, he also asked Yang Cong and Feng Zhang for advice on attack and defense. Unfortunately, those two people could not even read a few words and could not provide any guidance.
"Now that King Qi's army is about to attack the city, I want to lend you a hand." Shen Lan said to her sincerely, "Sister, you have done too much. Let me share some of the burden with you."
Shen Yuexi shook her head repeatedly: "There's no need for that at all, sister, just take good care of yourself."
Shen Lan pretended to be angry and said, "Do you think that my sister is useless?"
Shen Yuexi quickly shut up and shook her head.
The hat was put on unexpectedly. She didn't think too much about it. Her idea was simple: her sister was injured and she should rest.
"The Duke's Mansion has been disbanded, and my parents are nowhere to be found. You are my only relative now," Shen Lan said with some difficulty, raising her left metal prosthetic hand and placing it on Shen Yuexi's shoulder. "Let me help you."
Shen Yuexi's shoulders were hurt by the pressure, and she nodded quickly: "Okay, sister, please help me, we will go to the top of the city now."
The three of them left the mansion and climbed up the city wall to watch.
The flags and swords and spears of the 40,000 Qi Wang troops under the city almost completely covered the green space outside the city.
Feng Zhang and Yang Cong were standing on the top of the city wall, observing the situation below. Seeing Shen Yuexi and the other two coming up, Yang Cong was the first to run over and ask, "Madam, why are you all here?"
Shen Yuexi said: "We are here to help defend the city."
She looked over Yang Cong's shoulder at Feng Zhang, who was wearing armor and holding the battlement with his hands, looking majestic.
Hunter Feng Zhang was the first companion she and Xiao Zhuo had ever encountered. Back then, he was terrified by two tigers, but now he had grown into a man who was not afraid of facing tens of thousands of enemies.
"Zhangzi, why are you still standing there? Come and pay your respects to the mistress." Yang Cong called Feng Zhang impatiently.
Feng Zhang turned stiffly, first checking to see if there were any soldiers around, then he said with a tearful face, "Madam, I can't move my feet."
Shen Yuexi shook her head and smiled bitterly. She had just seen him acting so impressive and praised him, but it turned out he was completely paralyzed by the fear of forty thousand enemy troops.
Everyone looked down from above. A rider came galloping out from the Qi King's army, circled the city walls, and shouted:
"Spread the message from the Prince of Qi. Open the city gates and surrender immediately. If you refuse to change your ways, we will be destroyed together when the city is taken."
Shen Yuexi leaned over and shouted to the Qi general, "General, please tell Xiao Beiheng to attack if he feels capable. Stop talking nonsense."
The Qi general heard the woman's voice and looked up to see several women standing on the city wall. He was stunned for a long time and shouted, "Who is your commander? Let the commander answer."
"I, Shen Yuexi," Shen Yuexi raised her voice, "I am the commander."
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