After all, the Shang Dynasty was short of soldiers and had a vast territory, so it was unable to retaliate immediately after being attacked and had long been in a defensive posture.
Yang Cheng's annihilation of the Tuling tribe and recapture of Raoshan is a rare and great victory in recent times. It can also serve as a deterrent to the hundred tribes in the Zhou Dynasty's alliance, showing them the consequences of opposing the Great Shang!
A grand banquet was held again inside the Deer Terrace, with singing girls dancing to entertain the guests, but this time no one jumped out to assassinate them.
When the singing and dancing ended, Fei Zhong and You Hun exchanged a glance, and You Hun suddenly said, "Your Majesty, there is something I must say."
"Oh? What is it?"
You Hun glanced at Yang Cheng and Boyi and said, "Although General Yang Cheng and General Boyi have taken back Raoshan, they have not sent troops to garrison it. What is the significance of taking back Raoshan?"
That place is one of the key passes of my great Shang Dynasty. What are your intentions in abandoning it like this?
Bo Yimeng slammed his hand on the table, but Yang Cheng stopped him.
This guy is too clumsy with words; he'll definitely suffer if we let him go up and say these things.
Yang Cheng said casually, "Lord You Hun really does eat lamp wick ash and fart lightly."
With only a thousand men, how can we defend Raoshan?
Previously, 30,000 people were stationed at Raoshan. After the rebel Zhou Wu seized it, tens of thousands of Tuling people were stationed there.
Now you're sending a thousand men to guard Raoshan? What's the difference between that and sending them to their deaths?
"You spout such nonsense in Chaoge City, and those thousand brothers at the front are going to their deaths? You have quite the nerve!"
You Hun angrily shouted, "Rude! Insolent!"
"With the King before you, how dare you spout such nonsense!"
Yang Cheng scoffed, "Even the King didn't say I was rude, so what are you anyway?"
Are your rules, Lord Youhun, greater than those of the King?
Fei Zhong and You Hun had made it a habit for them to stir up trouble in the court.
However, their previous partners were all gentlemen like Bi Gan and Shang Rong, and Yang Cheng didn't tolerate their behavior.
So for a moment, You Hun pointed at Yang Cheng and couldn't say anything to refute him.
Yang Cheng then looked at Di Xin and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty is wise. It's not that Boyi and I don't want to defend Raoshan, but that Raoshan is no longer defensible."
In my battle with Mutu, I completely shattered Raoshan, leaving only a few scattered hilltops.
In this situation, Raoshan has no defensive value whatsoever. We have no natural defenses to hold it, and the rebel Zhou Wu's occupation of Raoshan is of no use to us either.
Di Xin casually waved his hand and said, "I know that you are all loyal subjects to the Great Shang and to me. Do not quarrel here over such trivial matters."
"Once we deal with that traitor Zhou Wu, everything will be fine."
Just then, a soldier rushed in and said, "Your Majesty! The traitor Zhou Wu has broken through Sishui Pass, and our army has suffered heavy losses. The army is retreating all the way!"
Di Xin's face immediately darkened.
The next moment he suddenly shouted: "I, the King, will personally lead the army into battle!"
Daji quickly pulled Di Xin back and comforted him, saying, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. The traitor Zhou Wu only broke through one pass. We lost Raoshan, but we got it back now."
Although Your Majesty possesses unparalleled bravery and your personal command would surely quell the rebellion, Chaoge needs your presence now more than ever.
Di Xin calmed his anger and asked in a deep voice, "How many rebels are there?"
The armored soldier said, "The rebels also suffered heavy losses after breaking through Sishui Pass; they should only have less than 10,000 men left."
However, seeing that the traitor Zhou Wu has broken through this important pass, he will definitely reinforce his troops here.
The Sishui Pass is more important than the Raoshan Pass. Once you break through the Sishui Pass, there is even a main road that leads directly to Chaoge City.
Therefore, Raoshan was occupied and only the Tuling tribe was stationed there, but reinforcements would definitely be sent to Sishui Pass.
Di Xin said in a deep voice: "Immediately recruit civilians around Chaoge City, and combine them with the elite armored soldiers of Chaoge City to form a mixed force of more than 10,000 people to prepare for the expedition."
"Who among you is willing to pacify Sishui Pass for me?"
Yang Cheng glanced at Fei Zhong and said with a half-smile, "Lord Fei Zhong's men lost Raoshan before, but I have now taken it back."
The garrison commander of Sishui Pass must also be one of Lord Fei Zhong's men, right?
Having lost two key passes in succession, shouldn't Lord Fei Zhong volunteer for battle to wash away this humiliation?
In fact, Yang Cheng did not know whether the garrison commander of Sishui Pass was one of Fei Zhong's men.
However, Fei Zhong and You Hun controlled the government, and most of the garrison commanders in various regions were their subordinates.
Yang Cheng had only one goal: to force Fei Zhong out of Chaoge so that he would have a chance to make his move.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
