Chapter 345 We are willing to die with the general!
Below the north gate of Yanmen Pass.
Since the start of the war, all houses have been emptied, and the civilians have been temporarily relocated to other places by Xiao Mo, while the soldiers of the Northern Wilderness have been stationed nearby for easier mobilization.
That night, before dawn, the Northern Wilderness Army issued an order that all soldiers, except those who remained to guard the city walls, should assemble at the North Gate.
A soldier named Chen Dong naturally obeyed military orders and assembled at the north gate early on.
Chen Dong sat on the ground to rest, occasionally taking a sip of water.
It has now been thirtieth day of the siege.
However, there was no news whatsoever about the main force of the Northern Wilderness Army.
Chen Dong didn't know if, even if he managed to survive today, the main force would be able to come to his aid.
and
Can I really make it through today?
He hadn't eaten for two or three days, and most importantly, he heard that the city's protective formation seemed to be on the verge of collapse.
Even an ordinary soldier like Chen Dong knew that the city-protecting formation was the lifeblood of a city.
"General!"
"General!"
"Greetings, General!"
Just as Chen Dong was feeling increasingly desperate, the voices of soldiers rang out from not far away.
Chen Dong looked up and saw a man dressed in silver-white armor slowly walking towards him.
Chen Dong subconsciously stood up and watched the general approach.
His thoughts drifted back to a few months ago.
At the beginning, when Chen Dong's tens of thousands of men were assigned to General Xiao's command, Chen Dong heard many veterans complaining.
They complained that this so-called "Frost King" and "Third Young Master of the Northern Garrison" was far too young.
These veterans felt that Xiao Mo's attack on Wei, a weak country, was nothing special, and they guessed that he was just trying to gain merit by following along.
In the eyes of these veterans, Xiao Mo could at most be a deputy general, or lead the army to do some simple tasks. How could he be allowed to attack a city on his own?
They believed that Xiao Mo, this young general, would lead them astray.
These veterans even said in private, "Xiao's third son hasn't even grown up yet, how could he possibly fight a war?"
If it weren't for General Li and General Zhao serving as Xiao Mo's deputies, some veterans would have distrusted Xiao Mo even more.
However, after the first major battle at Horseshoe City, Chen Dong clearly felt that more and more veterans were changing their opinion of General Xiao.
The veterans started saying things like, "This Frost King seems to have some ability?" "This Third Young Master doesn't seem to be the same kind of playboy as the Second Young Master?" "This kid seems alright."
Later, when General Xiao led his army to break through Horseshoe City, Chen Dong found that those veterans were completely speechless.
This young general, whom they said was still a kid who hadn't even grown his hair yet, conquered these veterans with one great battle after another.
On several occasions when Chen Dong saw General Xiao in the military camp, he felt a sense of pride and felt that he had not followed the wrong person. As General Xiao's soldier, he felt proud.
Especially after defending Yanmen Pass, Chen Dong often saw General Xiao standing on the city wall defending against the enemy.
Not long after General Xiao left the city wall, he led the Snow-Treading Dragon Riders into the enemy ranks.
Watching General Xiao's heroic figure on the battlefield, charging in and out seven times, Chen Dong was filled with excitement!
Although Chen Dong is currently only an infantryman, he can't help but fantasize about one day being promoted to Snow-Treading Dragon Rider and fighting alongside General Xiao.
In the time that followed, Chen Dong heard that General Xiao had not slept a wink since he began defending the city, and had not even eaten a single piece of spirit beast flesh. Even when he was injured, General Xiao did not use spirit herbs or medicines, but simply bandaged himself up and left everything to his soldiers.
Chen Dong didn't know how to describe it.
In short, Chen Dong felt very safe, believing that no matter what happened, the general would not abandon them and that the general would stand with them through thick and thin!
Chen Dong discovered that he wasn't the only one who felt this way.
All the soldiers guarding Yanmen Pass gradually came to trust General Xiao wholeheartedly and unconditionally.
Especially after these days of life-and-death battles, in the hearts of the young soldiers who have only recently joined the Northern Wilderness Army, General Xiao's prestige has surpassed that of the Prince!
"General!"
When Xiao Mo walked up to Chen Dong, Chen Dong called out nervously.
"Yes, you've had a tough time these past few days." Xiao Mo nodded and continued walking forward.
Standing on the high platform in front, Xiao Mo surveyed the assembled Northern Wilderness Army soldiers.
The soldiers of the Northern Wilderness were all looking at Xiao Mo, eagerly anticipating every word he would say.
Before long, jar after jar of liquor was pushed over by a cart.
The soldiers distributed clay bowls and poured a bowl of wine for each of them.
"It has been twenty-nine days since we took up our position at Yanmen Pass, and today is the thirtieth day!"
Xiao Mo's voice echoed outwards, and below the high platform, tens of thousands of soldiers held wine cups, their eyes fixed intently on the general who had shared their hardships.
"To be honest, I don't know if the main force of the Northern Wilderness Army will be able to provide support tomorrow."
But I know that since the army has ordered us to hold out for thirty days, we must do it!
We did it, and we have a clear conscience!
We did it! We have no regrets towards the Qin state!
We did it! We have lived up to the expectations of the people of the Northern Wilderness!
Previously, the Wei army boasted that they would definitely conquer us within half a month.
It has now been twenty-nine days.
As it turns out!
You are all warriors! There are no cowards!
You have all done very well.
Now, our city has been without food for two days, and the city's protective formation is about to collapse.
If we continue to defend Yanmen Pass to the death, we will only be at the mercy of others.
Should we surrender now? Have we lost everything?
No!
We're still alive!
Today, my Northern Wilderness Army will fight one last battle against the Wei Kingdom! We will defend this final day with our flesh and blood!
In this battle, you will all face a slim chance of survival.
If anyone wants to leave, I won't blame them, because they have done everything they could in those twenty-nine days.
Not to mention the tens of thousands of local men from Yanmen Pass who joined our army; they already had wives and children in the city.
Those who want to leave, let them go. We are still comrades-in-arms and brothers!
but!
If you want to die, take one step forward!
"despair!"
As Xiao Mo finished speaking, all 5,223 Snow-Treading Dragon Riders and 25,420 soldiers of the Northern Wilderness Army took a step forward, and not one of them retreated.
Looking at the solemnly standing 30,000 soldiers, Xiao Mo raised his wine bowl: "Xiao Mo! I beg you all to die with me!"
Thirty thousand people shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the sky:
"We are willing to die with the general!"
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com