The cracks in the Xiping Pass city wall finally collapsed under the relentless bombardment of the Shenji cannons.
When the smoke and dust cleared, a huge V-shaped gap appeared in the city wall. Through the gap, one could even see the houses inside the city. The lowest point of the V was about ten feet above the ground. The fallen bricks piled up at the foot of the wall, forming a small hill. People could climb up the gap directly without using a ladder.
Upon seeing the scene before him, Wei Shao shook his strategist's shoulder with wild joy, exclaiming, "The city wall is breached! The city wall is breached!"
The strategist was so shaken that his head was spinning and he felt dizzy. He could only press his hat down and say, "Congratulations, Your Highness."
Xiping Pass was incredibly difficult to capture; the army of 100,000 suffered more than half its losses there. Seeing a breach finally appear in the formidable city walls, the generals and soldiers were overjoyed, cheering and jumping for joy.
"All generals, listen to my command! Quickly advance the army into the breach and capture Xiping Pass tonight!"
Qiu Jie's icy voice came from the front, instantly snapping Wei Shao out of his euphoria.
"Wait," he released the strategist and strode up behind Qiu Jie, "What are you doing?"
He was clearly the commander of this army, yet Qiu Jie dared to overstep her bounds. Was this blatant disrespect to him?
Damn it, does he really think he can do whatever he wants just because he has a broken sword?
Qiu Jie looked at the city wall of Xiping Pass and said without turning her head, "I saw Prince Shao cheering and celebrating there, and he didn't even know to issue military orders. I ordered the army to attack immediately."
Wei Shao was furious and said to the generals, "Stop right there!"
The generals all knew that Wei Shao and Qiu Jie had been at odds since the first day they met. Qiu Jie possessed the Chengjun Sword, and seeing the sword was like seeing the emperor. But Wei Shao was the army commander, also wielding the power of life and death. Everyone was in a difficult position, so they all had to stop.
Regardless, Qiu Jie was a latercomer, and her influence could not compare to that of Wei Shao, who had commanded the army until now.
Qiu Jie seemed unconcerned, sheathing her Chengjun sword and saying, "Prince Shao, since these people are all your soldiers, you should give the orders."
After saying that, she ignored Wei Shao and walked towards the main camp, surrounded by the Imperial Guards.
Wei Shao's face turned bright red to his ears. He stood there with his eyes closed, muttering to himself.
The strategist listened closely and realized that the word being repeated over and over was just one word: "endure".
"Your Highness, although the goddess was disrespectful to you, she brought the Divine Machine Artillery Battalion and bombarded the city wall. Your Highness is magnanimous, so please don't hold it against her," the strategist carefully advised. "Now that the city wall has been breached, we can send troops to rush over, and the army can rest in Xiping Pass tonight."
Wei Shao gritted his teeth and said, "If it weren't for the fact that she was sent by my mother to help me... never mind, all generals, listen to my command."
The generals came before him one after another, cupped their hands and said, "Prince Shao".
"General Li, General Qiao, you two will lead 10,000 troops to directly attack the breach."
The two generals replied, "Yes, sir."
Before they could even turn around, the strategist called out to Wei Shao, "Your Highness, although the city wall has been breached, the garrison at Xiping Pass is still there. The breach is also narrow, only allowing two or three people to pass side by side, so it's not easy. We can equip the first two thousand soldiers with large shields to prevent the enemy from using arrows to defend the breach."
Wei Shao also thought it made sense and said, "Alright, then quickly go to the camp and fetch some large shields."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a general shouted excitedly, "Prince Shao, strategist, look over there!"
Wei Shao and the others looked in the direction of the sound and saw a white flag displayed on the top of Xiping Pass, being waved continuously.
"They've surrendered!" Wei Shao clapped his hands with joy. "Great! I thought we were in for a tough fight. This is wonderful!"
The strategist said, "Then we won't fight?"
"Why fight? They've already surrendered." Wei Shao turned and walked towards the main camp. "All generals, withdraw your troops and return to camp to await the arrival of their envoy."
When the generals saw the white flag raised atop Xiping Pass, they all secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The war was nearing its end, and no one wanted to risk fighting at the last moment; it would be a great loss to die or be wounded. The enemy's surrender was the best outcome.
The soldiers felt the same way. They had been standing in formation since the afternoon and hadn't even had dinner yet. Their stomachs were growling with hunger, and the weather was freezing cold. Many of them had frostbitten fingers and toes and couldn't wait to get back to camp and warm themselves by the fire.
The generals gathered their troops and followed Wei Shao back to camp.
The strategist caught up with Wei Shao and said, "Your Highness, although the other side has raised the white flag, what if it's a trick?"
"Let them play their tricks," Wei Shao laughed nonchalantly. "They're full of wounded soldiers; what tricks can they possibly pull? Do you think they can magically patch up the city walls?"
The strategist looked back at the huge breach in the city wall.
Wei Shao is right. The city wall has such a large hole that even if it needs to be repaired, it will take at least two or three months to complete.
He caught up with Wei Shao and continued, "What if the enemy escapes?"
Wei Shao laughed loudly, "Strategist, you are overthinking it. The reason they are holding this place so tightly is because of the strategic importance of this pass. If they escape Xiping Pass, what will they use to resist my army on the plains? I am actually hoping they will escape."
After thinking it over again, the strategist realized that what Wei Shao said made a lot of sense, so he felt relieved.
Wei Shao said smugly, "The soldiers are all tired. Let's go back and rest for the night. If their commander doesn't surrender, we can attack the city again during the day."
The strategist nodded repeatedly: "Your Highness is truly far-sighted; I never thought of such a thing."
“Wei Jingzhuo is no longer in the city. The scouts say he went to rescue Zhao Xian,” Wei Shao said. “My troops are still needed to deal with him. Let’s go back to camp and have a feast, and drink until we’re drunk.”
"Your Highness, what if they launch another sneak attack?"
"Hahaha, that's even more impossible. The scouts have already found out that those left in the city are all wounded soldiers."
Wei Shao returned to camp and held a grand banquet, with drums and music playing in unison to celebrate the victory. The generals, who had been freezing since the afternoon, could finally warm themselves by the fire, drinking from large bowls and eating large chunks of meat, making a great fuss.
After drinking a round of wine, a soldier came to report.
"Meng Kuan, the garrison commander of Xiping Pass, had a white sash around his neck and his hands bound. Two attendants carried his coffin and followed him outside the camp, waiting for orders."
Wei Shao was overjoyed and said to his strategist, "Look, they've come to surrender." He then ordered his soldiers to summon Meng Kuan inside.
Meng Kuan, shirtless with a white silk ribbon around his neck, his hands bound behind his back, his eyebrows and eyelashes covered in frost, his face pale and trembling, entered the central command tent. As soon as he entered, he knelt on the ground and said, "Your Highness, this sinful subject Meng Kuan has come to accept his death."
Upon seeing Meng Kuan enter, the generals inside the tent all stood up, some already gripping the hilts of their swords.
As soon as Wei Shao gave the order, they rushed forward and hacked Meng Kuan into mincemeat.
Meng Kuan seemed terrified, his body trembling like a leaf, and he kept kowtowing.
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