The passages on the city wall were not narrow, but they could not accommodate tens of thousands of people fighting to the death. It was extremely crowded, the sharp and piercing sound of weapons clashing, the wailing and cursing were heard, and the noise was extremely loud.
The two sides fought in a melee, but there was no chaos.
At this time, two of the five ladders were destroyed, leaving only three. The Dagan border troops desperately protected them, holding off the enemy and calling on the people in the city to climb up the city wall as soon as possible.
Guo Honglei was seriously injured, bleeding profusely, and gradually losing the strength to charge, but he still held the ladder. He was struggling to swing his sword when he heard a sudden "bang" behind him. Glancing over, he saw Pan Kui and his men approaching.
"Honglei, are you okay?" Pan Kui was tall and strong, with angry eyes and as strong as an iron tower. He swept his long sword and cut off the enemy's head.
Soon, the Peng brothers and Lin Qin, who were still under Pan Kui's command, also climbed onto the city wall. In the melee, they anxiously asked, "Sir, how are you injured?"
"How many injuries did you suffer?"
Guo Honglei's face was pale, his body covered in blood, he was exhausted, and his vision was blacking out. He shook his head and replied, "I'm fine. Please get out of the way and don't block the ladder."
"You must be more careful!"
During the siege, Lin Qin and his companions were under military orders and could not stay to take care of the situation. They could only follow their orders and rush forward angrily, stepping on the broken arms and legs, corpses and blood.
"Honglei, you are seriously injured, don't rush forward - hey, you can't pull out the arrow by yourself!" The two were several feet apart, and Pan Kui hurriedly stopped him.
Guo Honglei panted and explained, "I know I can't pull it out, but I just wanted to cut off a section to make it easier to move."
"Let me see! You, come and help him." Pan Kui grabbed a soldier and ordered him to hold the arrow head and the handle tightly. He then raised his knife and chopped off a piece of wooden arrow shaft with a "click".
As the arrow trembled in the wound, Guo Honglei gritted his teeth and endured it without saying a word. The pain was so severe that he saw stars and sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Yes, you're a real hero!" Pan Kui praised with a smile, then turned and ran away without looking back, saying, "Take care, kid. See you later."
Guo Honglei's face was pale, making his sword-like eyebrows look dark. He answered loudly, "Okay! See you later."
The next moment, Pan Kui's loud voice echoed from the city wall, and he shouted in a resounding order: "Brothers, follow me! Kill them all and open the city gate!"
“Go!”
The group of dragons had a leader, and they were as powerful as a rainbow and unstoppable. The border troops fought and advanced, and the enemy soldiers fought and retreated. Da Gan gradually occupied the east gate city wall, and then took advantage of the victory to pursue the enemy downwards.
Although Guo Honglei was unable to charge, he always held the entrance of the ladder.
The snow fell heavier, the wind howled coldly. He leaned against the city wall, knife in his right hand, his lips chapped and bloodless, his mind sustained only by his unyielding spirit.
I didn't know how long it had been in such difficulty when I suddenly heard a muffled "creaking" sound from below and a series of loud shouts: "Open!"
"Open the door!"
In a blink of an eye, the east gate of Yongzhou burst open.
"ah--"
"rush!"
The soldiers outside the city gate cheered with great excitement, their morale high, and they rushed in like a tide, each one bloodthirsty. Bei Xie saw that the situation was hopeless and fled in all directions.
Guo Honglei first glanced outside the city walls, then walked inside, frowning as he surveyed the battle scene within. After a moment, he breathed a sigh of relief and smiled cheerfully. Suddenly, his vision began to swirl. Unable to hold on any longer, he slid down the city wall and suddenly lost consciousness.
Even until he fell unconscious, he still did not let go of the sword.
Two days and two nights later
Guo Honglei woke up from his coma, feeling dizzy and uncomfortable all over.
As soon as the person here moved, several people got off the bed nearby and surrounded him, asking with concern: "Sir?"
"How do you feel, kid?"
"I haven't eaten for two days and two nights. Are you hungry?"
"The doctor gave me medicine several times, did you know?"
"Hehehe, isn't that interesting?" Cao Da limped, his arm in a sling, and said proudly, "I moved here specially. We can live in the same room and chat to relieve boredom."
…
Guo Honglei slowly opened his eyes, initially dull. After a moment, they gathered focus and slowly moved, scanning them one by one: the Peng brothers, Lin Qin, Pan Kui, Ding Yuan, Cao Da...
All the good comrades were injured.
He frowned, looked at Pan Kui, who had half his face bandaged, and asked weakly, "Where are you hurt? Why is your face bandaged?"
"He's disfigured. Not only that, but he's also blind in one eye." Pan Kui grinned and smiled generously.
Guo Honglei was shocked and opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.
"What's all the fuss? It was a siege, and the enemy used boiling oil. I don't know how many brothers were disfigured." Pan Kui sighed. "It's okay for me. We've been married for twenty years. We're an old couple, and our children are grown up. Your sister-in-law won't despise me. I pity those young men who haven't married yet. I guess they feel bad."
Peng Changrong was touched by his own worries, feeling sad. He touched his right ear and said with a wry smile, "Although I wasn't disfigured, my right ear was cut off. I wonder if Cui would dislike it? Or, would she be afraid?"
"A man of integrity, why should he worry about not having a wife?" Pan Kui patted his shoulder firmly and comforted him, "Why worry? If she's a sensible girl, she won't despise you. If she despises you, she's not a good girl!"
Peng Changxing echoed, "Cui Mei probably isn't that kind of person."
Guo Honglei calmed himself down and said in a hoarse voice, "Don't worry, she won't dislike you."
"I, I...ah, I'm always a little worried." Peng Changrong sighed in frustration.
Guo Honglei looked at Pan Kui and suddenly asked, "Will you still be able to drink in the future?"
Pan Kui was stunned for a moment, "Of course! Life would be so boring if I couldn't drink."
Guo Honglei said solemnly, "When you're healed, let's have a good drink, brothers, how about that?"
"Hahaha, it's a deal!" Pan Kui folded his arms, raised his head and asked with a disdainful smile, "Tsk, come to think of it, you've always said 'don't drink during the mourning period,' and no one has ever drank with you. I'm guessing you can only drink three taels at most."
Guo Honglei smiled, "That's not necessarily true."
"Hmph, I want to see how much you weigh!" Pan Kui had an unshaven beard and was bold and unrestrained.
Everyone was upset, and regardless of the casualties, they all joined in the fun, saying, "We won't leave until we're drunk!"
"Brother Kui is a huge drinker, and few can rival him at the drinking table. Honglei, you need to practice more."
"Yeah. Kui's drinking capacity is astonishing."
…
This is the back hall of the Yongzhou government office. The rooms, big and small, and even the hall floor, are crowded with wounded soldiers. The doctors and apprentices are busy treating them day and night.
In the midst of the bustle, a voice suddenly rang out from outside the door: "Your Highness Prince Li, Your Highness the Ninth Prince, and General Dou have arrived!"
A dozen wounded soldiers were startled and hurriedly turned around or sat up.
"No need to be polite!"
"No need to bow." Prince Li strode forward, raised his hand to stop them, and said, "You are injured, so there is no need to bow."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Some of the wounded soldiers were standing, those who could not get up were sitting, and those who could not get up were lying down.
Prince Li, surrounded by his guards, praised them sternly, "You are truly brave warriors. You have fought bravely to defend our country and even sustained injuries in the struggle to recapture Yongzhou. You deserve commendation. Your merits will be rewarded soon. The imperial court will never treat brave heroes unfairly."
Facing the two princes and the commander, most of the wounded soldiers were reserved and replied hesitantly with words like "Thank you, Your Highness" and "This is my duty."
Prince Li walked closer and praised, "Guo Honglei, you were the first to climb the city wall. Your contribution is invaluable and should be credited as the first meritorious service!"
"It was just luck, I don't deserve it." Guo Honglei hadn't eaten a grain of rice in two days and two nights, and he was starving. He reluctantly responded, "The victory in this battle was all thanks to the two princes and the general's strategic planning and divine command of the troops. I dare not take any credit for it."
Prince Li said with a pleasant expression, "Rewards and punishments are clear. Merit is merit, no need to be too modest."
"Your injuries are serious. Rest well. Once you recover, continue to defend the territory!" The Ninth Prince bent down and warned.
Guo Honglei was exhausted and nodded, "Yes."
Then, Prince Li asked about medicine, meals, bedding, etc. The wounded soldiers were terrified and answered honestly.
Prince Li and the Ninth Prince stayed only a short while before rushing off to the next location to visit the wounded. Before leaving, Dou Yong instructed, "Rest assured and recuperate. You will receive the rewards you deserve, and wait patiently for a few days."
"Yes!" The wounded soldiers responded respectfully.
Afterwards, Guo Honglei drank the medicine. Soon it was noon, and the kitchen brought in some light food, and everyone ate together.
"It's busy outside, the streets are in chaos. We've suffered heavy casualties. I heard we killed over 200,000 enemies. There's a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. I don't know how long it will take to clean up." Lin Qin and the Peng brothers naturally surrounded Guo Honglei and sadly told him:
"Many brothers I knew were killed in action."
"Brother Xiaoshuan, Ah Chun, Wang Miao, Yuan Huan..."
Guo Honglei's expression was solemn. After listening to the long list of names, he sighed deeply, "Although we were injured, fortunately, our lives are safe."
"well."
"That's right. No matter how serious the injury is, it can always be healed. When a person dies, there's nothing left."
On New Year's Eve, the news of the great victory spread throughout Heqin, and the victory report had already been sent to the capital city in an express delivery of 800 miles.
"Very good!"
"We finally took back Yongzhou!"
"I knew we would win!" Jiang Yushu was overjoyed, but her smile froze as she murmured, "But I wonder how they are doing now? After more than ten days of fierce fighting, it's unlikely they'll be unscathed... I just hope they're not too badly injured."
Nanny Pan helped her sit down, suppressed her worry, and said firmly, "Good fortune will come to those who are lucky. Young Master and the others should be safe."
Guo Hongzhe was deeply worried, but he comforted his pregnant sister-in-law, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. My second brother is very skilled, and Lin Qin and the other two are also good at martial arts. Even if they are injured, it will only be a minor injury."
"I hope so." Jiang Yushu was worried and said with regret, "Oh, it would be great if we were in Liu Village. We are close and have access to the latest news."
"Don't worry, now that Yongzhou has been recaptured, you'll probably have more free time in the future," Nanny Pan tried to console him. "Once you're done with your work, you'll naturally come back to visit when you have time."
Jiang Yushu fidgeted and whispered, "The old lady has been writing to me repeatedly, and I don't know how to respond to this situation. Ah Zhe, please ask Magistrate Pan and the others about this. Once you've clarified everything, I'll write back and let the old lady know."
"Okay!" Guo Hongzhe was also restless. "There is no time to lose. I will go to the front hall to find out the news." After speaking, he left in a hurry.
For the New Year's Eve dinner, the county magistrate's wife, Mrs. He, invited Jiang Yushu warmly, but she declined politely and did not disturb other people's family reunion.
The family was worried day and night, waiting and waiting, and even after the Lantern Festival, there was still no news from Guo Honglei and his family.
In a blink of an eye, it’s already February.
Jiang Yushu was about to give birth, so she often asked a doctor to take her pulse, and the midwife also came to her house every now and then.
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, the midwife came to visit.
Jiang Yushu lay flat on her back, lifted her clothes, and let the midwife check her.
Nanny Pan stood in front of the couch, bent over, and asked with concern, "How is it? When will the baby be born?"
The midwife, over forty, was cautious and experienced. She rolled up her sleeves and carefully and earnestly felt the baby for a long moment before admonishing him, "It's full term, and the baby could go into labor at any moment. It's freezing cold, Madam Guo, so don't go out for the next few days. Stay indoors. Tell me if you start to go into labor. I'll be home day and night."
The author has something to say:
The child is born in the next chapter!
Well, today, I finally updated early [wipe sweat]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
