Chapter 699 Ancient Young General vs. Rich and Proud Lady 2
Wei State, Pingyang City.
In the shabby general's mansion, Huo Xiao sat at the top. He had a pale face, sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. His black hair was tied up behind his back with a cloth strip, and a few strands of hair fell down, clinging to his forehead which was soaked with cold sweat.
The military doctor is bandaging his wound.
The major general was shot in the abdomen by an arrow. He had no medical care or medicine, and there was not even water to clean the wound. After three days, the wound had already rotted away. It was a horrifying sight!
The military doctor could only cut off the rotten flesh and re-bandage it. Whether the patient could recover depended on his luck.
Several soldiers in armor sat at the bottom. They were covered in dust and their lips were dry and chapped. They had not had any water for three days and could not remember how long they had been hungry. Everyone had stretched to their limits and some even fainted on the spot.
Mr. Zhao was as strong as a mountain, tall and brave, but now he was skinny with sunken cheeks, and his armor hanging on his body was empty and clanking.
He knelt on one knee, his face full of sorrow as he said, "Major General, let's retreat! If you abandon Pingyang City, you may still have a chance of survival. If you continue like this, your body will not be able to hold on."
"The general has died in battle. Even if I risk my life, I will escort you out of the city. We still have 20,000 soldiers and horses. We will definitely be able to break out by taking the enemy by surprise!"
Pingyang City is the most important pass on the border of Wei State. The Huo family army is stationed here all year round. This year, there is a severe drought in the country, and the grain harvest is poor everywhere. The grasslands are withered and yellow, and the cattle and sheep are not well fed. The Beirong are also having a hard time, so they led their troops to attack Pingyang City.
Originally, the Huo family army could resist the Northern Rong, but the Prime Minister of Wei State controlled the government and was afraid of the Huo family stationed on the border. At the critical moment of the war, he actually cut off the Huo family's food and supplies, forcing the Huo family to hand over their military power.
Naturally, my father was unwilling to do so. The Huo family has been loyal to the royal family of Wei State for generations, and my father would never obey the orders of a treacherous minister who plays power games!
If the military power is handed over, there will be no one in Wei State who can check and balance the Prime Minister, and Wei State will be finished!
The general's mansion sold all its property and sought help everywhere, barely holding out for a few months. The Northern Rong came with great force, and the original army of 300,000 was reduced to only 40,000.
After his father died in battle, the Northern Rong attacked the city again. Huo Xiao led the remaining soldiers to defend Pingyang City to the death. He even used himself as bait to delay the main force of the enemy and lure the enemy into a trap. Only then did he barely manage to defend Pingyang City.
However, Huo Xiao was seriously injured, and only one in ten of his followers survived. More than half of Huo's army was killed, and now, including the grooms and cooks, there are only 20,000 people left.
Seeing that the young general had no intention of retreating, Zhao Hai became anxious.
Zhao Hai is Zhao Shan's younger brother. He is very good at wielding a broadsword, but he is impatient and quick-tempered.
"The Prince of Wei is just a brat, all he does is eat, drink and have fun every day, and is fooled around by the treacherous Prime Minister! The Prince of Regent is just a smiling tiger, trying to win over the general on the surface but tripping him up in secret. None of these people are good, and none of them is worth the general's life."
"The Northern Rong have sealed off Pingyang City, cut off our supply lines, and are ready to attack at any time. Staying here is a dead end. It is better to break out. We brothers can definitely get the Major General out."
The soldiers all knelt down, their faces full of sorrow, and urged in unison: "Major General, we are willing to help you break through the encirclement!"
Huo Xiao's eyes went dark. The long-term dehydration and high fever made his mind a mess.
He didn't know how long he could hold on, but he knew he had to hold on.
Since his father died in battle, he has become the backbone of the Huo family army and the backbone of the entire Pingyang City!
Huo Xiao pinched his palms hard and finally found his voice. "Defending Pingyang City was my father's last wish. The Huo family army is loyal not only to King Wei, but also to the people of Wei."
"If we abandon the city and flee, not only will Pingyang City fall completely, but the entire Wei State will have no natural defenses to defend. The Northern Rong will march straight in, and the Wei State will be in danger!"
"The Northern Rong are brutal and their customs are different from those of the Central Plains. They do not regard the people of the Central Plains as human beings. If they occupy Wei State, the fertile fields will be abandoned and turned into grasslands. The people of Wei State will be enslaved or even reduced to vegetables and eaten by the Northern Rong. No matter how difficult it is, as long as there is a soldier left, the Huo family army cannot retreat!"
"Huo Xiao is here, willing to live and die with all of you comrades!"
Everyone's eyes were red and no one mentioned retreat again.
The Major General refused to retreat, and they mentioned retreat again. It would be a shame for the Huo family army!
Zhao Hai raised his hand and slapped himself, his face filled with shame, "I, Zhao Hai, am definitely not a coward, but if I have to die, I'd rather die on the battlefield, not like now, waiting to die in a cowardly manner."
"There is no food in the army, not even a drop of water. The soldiers drink horse blood and eat grass roots, but the grass roots have been dug out. If this continues, the soldiers will starve to death."
Huo Xiao was silent for a moment, and finally made up his mind, "Then let's kill the horses! Kill the last 500 horses and share them with the soldiers."
The remaining five hundred were all strong and healthy war horses, and the old, weak and sick horses had already been killed.
All living things in the city were eaten, even mice were not spared. Grass roots and tree bark were also eaten. The earth dried up and was covered with scorched earth. Cracks appeared on the withered land.
The crops in the fields had long since died, and the farmers sat on the dry ridges, wailing but unable to shed a single tear.
Everywhere there were skinny people, with rags wrapped around their lower bodies and their upper bodies naked. Their swollen bellies were exposed, and one could see the hideous bones on their chests. Their stomachs were filled not with food, but with Guanyin soil!
A circle of people gathered around the dry well, but they could no longer pump out a drop of water. Due to the lack of water and food, the people had begun to trade their children for food.
Huo Xiao's heart ached. The young general who had never shed tears even when peeling skin and cutting meat felt sore in his eyes. He walked into the stable with a heavy heart and said to himself, "Let's start with Chi Xiao first!"
Chi Xiao is his warhorse, whom he raised personally and they have a deep friendship. For generals fighting on the battlefield, warhorses and swords are their left and right arms.
But he wanted to kill Chi Xiao with his own hands.
Chi Xiao was led out. He was very human-like and seemed to have understood his situation. Tears flowed from his eyes, but he lowered his head obediently.
Huo Xiao raised his sword, touched Chi Xiao's mane, and choked up, "I'll be quick, it won't hurt."
"Water! There's water!" Zhao Hai jumped up in shock.
Clear water poured into the yard, and Chi Xiao began to lick it in big gulps, becoming more and more excited the more he licked.
Zhao Hai scooped up a handful of water and impatiently poured it into his mouth, crying with joy, "It's really water! Clean water without the slightest odor. Everyone, drink the water!"
Everyone drank a bellyful of water and felt like they were alive again.
"Major General, God has not abandoned the Huo family army. He has given us divine water. With water, we can grow crops. With water, there is hope!"
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