The Blood Crown - Chapter 19

As the eastern sky turned pale, Guangning City, riddled with wounds, was shrouded under a darkened canopy of the night, a suffocating atmosphere hanging in the air.

Inside the city, lights burned brightly, and there was no rest through the night. Soldiers and civilians bustled about, repairing the city walls, tending to the wounded, taking stock of the casualties, replenishing gunpowder, and even cooking meals. Everyone wore solemn expressions, moving hurriedly, devoid of any joy from repelling the enemy.

In their hearts, everyone understood that this was merely the beginning.

In their first clash, they had experienced the might and ferocity of the Jin forces, as well as the unyielding determination of Crown Prince Zhuoletai to capture Guangning.

Having held the first assault, the question loomed: could they withstand the second, or the third? The enmity between the Central Plains and the nomadic tribes ran deep, with a history of hatred spanning thousands of years. Even without delving into the distant past, two of Zhuoletai’s uncles and one of his brothers had all died at the hands of the Sheng forces. The accumulated grievances were so profound that the day the city fell would mark the day of annihilation, and no one dared to imagine the kind of hell they and their loved ones might face.

Yuan Sikong assisted in arranging the wounded, and by now, it was past noon. He hadn’t had a drop of water or a morsel of food since the start of the battle. Feeling dizzy from hunger, he hurriedly obtained a bowl of porridge and some dry rations. First, he went home to reassure his family and then went to find Yuanmao. He wanted to know what had transpired during the previous night.

So far, Yuan Sikong had only been able to piece together the events from accounts given by soldiers and observations of the damaged city walls. He hadn’t been allowed to appear on the city wall during the battle, as Yuanmao would never permit it.

Yuanmao’s official residence had transformed into a command center. As Yuan Sikong approached, he heard a commotion inside with several voices speaking simultaneously, creating a chaotic din.

Suddenly, a loud thud echoed through the room, and Han Zhaoxing shouted, “Quiet!”

The room fell silent.

Yuan Sikong, standing just outside the door, dared not enter or peek inside. He could only eavesdrop by the wall.

Han Zhaoxing’s voice rumbled, “One at a time, speak.”

After a moment of hesitation, Chen Yulong’s voice spoke up first, “I believe that Crown Prince Zhuoletai’s personally penned letter, promising the safety of Guangning’s people, shows a genuine desire for peace. We should prioritize peace talks.”

“Safety of the people? Do you really believe he won’t harm the hair on their heads?” Hu Baicheng retorted angrily. “These Jin devils are known for their brutality and cruelty. Do you know nothing?”

“We are putting up a desperate resistance. How long can we hold out? The military strength of Zhuoletai’s forces is twenty times ours!”

“Chen, you don’t mean to surrender without a fight, do you?”

Chen Yulong raised an eyebrow, saying, “I am considering the bigger picture. A leader should not be foolishly brave!”

“Stop arguing,” Han Zhaoxing’s face turned extremely grim. “What’s the use of bickering?”

A young Guangning officer named Liang Huiyong clasped his fists and said, “I believe that although Guangning is small, we have enough provisions and clothing to endure the winter. The Jin forces, despite their 70,000 troops, are consuming a significant amount daily. Coupled with the harsh weather, they cannot sustain a long campaign. By holding our ground, we can wear them down.”

“Exactly, we have the city and provisions, how can the Jin thieves outlast us?”

However, another group of the townspeople of Guangning voiced their concerns, “Those thunder cannons have tremendous firepower, and with the large numbers of the Jin forces, we’ve already given our all in today’s battle, yet the Jin forces remain largely unscathed. In future battles, we’re likely to fare worse. If we choose peace, we can safeguard the lives of our people. If we continue a bloody battle and the city falls afterward…”

“I share the same opinion,” Chen Yulong said. “With Guangning’s limited defenses and the unfavorable situation regarding the cannons, we can only hold out for so long.”

Han Zhaoxing looked at Yuanmao, who had remained silent, and asked, “Lord Yuan, what do you think?”

Yuanmao clasped his fists and said, “I believe that whether the city stands or falls doesn’t depend on the city walls but on people’s hearts.” His voice was not loud but carried weight.

Everyone in the room turned their attention to Yuanmao.

Yuanmao paused, then continued, “The Jurchens are a barbaric tribe, untamed by nature, and it’s not uncommon for them to kill those who surrender. As Hu mentioned, if we propose peace and Crown Prince Zhuoletai attacks us when we’re unprepared… Furthermore, even if Zhuoletai genuinely keeps his promise and spares the people of Guangning, Guangning is the gateway to Liaodong, and everyone within that gateway is a citizen of Dajin. How can I selfishly protect myself?”

Han Zhaoxing furrowed his brow and then turned to Qian Anrong, saying, “Qian, you are the prefect of Guangning. What are your thoughts?”

Qian Anrong bowed and said, “I believe that we should draft a memorial, urging us to expedite it to the capital. Even if we consider peace, the decision must come from the Emperor.”

“That makes sense. The Governor-General already personally went to the capital to seek reinforcements. I’ll send someone to catch up with him.”

Yuanmao added, “I agree with what Qian has said. I will do my best to delay and hope for the Emperor’s decision.”

“Good, Yuanmao, prepare a letter to stabilize Zhuoletai.”

“Yes.”

After the crowd dispersed, Yuan Sikong finally went in search of Yuan Mao. When he saw Yuan Mao, he was shocked. Yuan Mao was covered in blood, his armor was in tatters, his face was dirty, and his eyes were bloodshot, as if he had been dug up from a pile of corpses.

“Dad!” Yuan Sikong rushed over, his voice trembling. “What happened to you? Where are you injured?”

Yuan Mao held his shoulder and said, “I’m not injured, it’s the blood of our soldiers.” He looked somber.

Yuan Sikong felt the weight of that hand on his shoulder, as if it carried the burden of the entire world. He sighed with relief for a moment. “What about big brother? Is he okay?”

“He’s fine. I put him in charge of supervising the repairs on the city walls,” Yuan Mao replied, his figure suddenly swaying.

Yuan Sikong embraced Yuan Mao. His intuition was right; Yuan Mao was leaning on him to stay upright. “Dad, let me help you sit down.”

Yuan Sikong helped Yuan Mao into a chair, lifted his clothes, and gently wiped his face. “Dad, you must be exhausted, and I bet you haven’t even eaten. Am I right?”

Yuan Mao took a deep breath, as if even speaking required great effort. “We held the city, a little fatigue is nothing.”

“I’ll go find something for you to eat,” Yuan Sikong said, preparing to leave.

But Yuan Mao grabbed his arm and said, “Lao Hu will have prepared something; don’t bother.” He looked at Yuan Sikong and asked, “Did you hear it just now?”

Yuan Sikong furrowed his brow. “Zhuo Letai must be planning something; if he truly wanted peace, he wouldn’t break his promises and cross the Huang River.”

Yuan Mao sighed. “You’re right, but after just one battle, many are losing their nerve, including Han Zhaoxing. He doesn’t dare say it openly, but Chen Yulong is voicing his concerns. I’m more worried about wavering morale than Zhuo Letai.”

“We must be vigilant against dissent,” Yuan Sikong said gravely. “I believe that if Zhuo Letai doesn’t truly want peace, we must not agree either. To protect the people of Guangning and Liaodong, we must stand our ground and make Zhuo Letai realize the futility of his actions.”

Yuan Mao spoke in a low voice, “I share your thoughts, but I’m afraid we won’t hold, and I’m afraid they’ve lost their will to fight.”

Yuan Sikong replied, “Whether we can hold or not, we’ll do our best, but we mustn’t shake the troops’ morale.” He glanced around to ensure no one was listening and whispered in Yuan Mao’s ear, “Dad, you hold the command token. If it comes to it, find a pretext to arrest Han Zhaoxing.” It was because of Han Zhaoxing that the Guangning garrison couldn’t fully obey Yuan Mao’s orders.

Yuan Mao covered his mouth and whispered back, “You haven’t mentioned this to anyone else, have you?”

Wide-eyed, Yuan Sikong shook his head.

“Promise me you won’t bring it up again,” Yuan Mao released him. “Now, go home and rest.”

“Dad, you should be the one going home. Look at your clothes.”

“If I go home like this, your mother will worry even more. Let me freshen up first,” Yuan Mao replied, smiling.

Yuan Sikong nodded reluctantly.

Han Zhaoxing used the pretext of peace negotiations to temporarily delay Zhuo Letai, and they anxiously awaited news from Li Boyun while intensifying preparations for the next battle.

Several days later, Li Boyun returned to Guangning with mixed news. The good news was that the Emperor would send reinforcements to Guangning, but the bad news was that it would take at least twenty days for the reinforcements to arrive.

Twenty days was enough time for Zhuo Letai to launch several attacks, and if they could withstand another assault like the previous one, perhaps Zhuo Letai would retreat on his own before the reinforcements arrived. However, if the Emperor’s orders were clear, they had no choice but to hold the city.

After a few days of delay, Zhuo Letai realized that the Guangning city walls had been repaired to a substantial extent, and he knew he had been deceived. The bodies of his soldiers lay unburied beneath the snow-covered city. He once again led his army to march on Guangning.

In the previous battle, Zhuo Letai had lost nearly ten thousand soldiers, but looking at his army now, there was little difference from the previous day. His forces were still formidable, and his morale remained high.

Historical records provide detailed accounts of the defense of Guangning, with a heavy emphasis on the final battle. However, the second attack by Zhuo Letai was only briefly mentioned, describing it as a day of fierce north winds and bone-chilling cold. It recounted how the soldiers of Guangning, facing Zhuo Letai’s relentless onslaught, defended the city, killing eight thousand enemies while suffering five hundred casualties. Above the city walls, limbs hung like decorations, and below the walls, corpses piled up to form makeshift ladders. The vast land of Liaodong was soaked in crimson.

In the face of war and death, the quantity of words on paper meant little. Only those who had experienced it firsthand could use their eyes that had witnessed the horrors, their noses filled with the stench of blood, and their ears that had heard the agonizing cries to depict the true nature of this earthly hell.

As dawn broke, Zhuo Letai retreated for the second time, and Guangning City held firm for the second time. That long night was marked only by the silent testimony of the corpses strewn across the city walls.

Yuan Mao had taken an arrow in his shoulder but had managed to command from the city wall until the very end. Han Zhaoxing had declared his intention to lead the soldiers in preparing for street battles but had found a way down from the city walls at the most critical moment.

After two battles, nearly two thousand soldiers were killed or injured, and the city walls were severely damaged. Supplies were depleted by seventy to eighty percent. It was nothing short of sheer determination that allowed them to hold out until Zhuo Letai’s retreat.

Most of the Guangning garrison consisted of people from Liaodong and even Guangning itself. Grief and fear had overtaken the entire city overnight, and the soldiers were physically and mentally exhausted. The city was shrouded in a heavy atmosphere, and their fighting spirit was dissipating.

During the day, Li Boyun convened all the officials and military commanders for a meeting.

“Those capable of fighting number only in the thousands, and we have temporarily conscripted two thousand able-bodied men, but the ammunition for the wind and thunder cannon is running low. Although we haven’t used the firearms yet, our soldiers are not trained to use them effectively. It will be challenging,” Han Zhaoxing reported the military situation, sighing heavily. “Lord Li, we are on the brink of a precipice.”

Li Boyun stroked his graying beard. While his eyes had lost some clarity, his wisdom remained intact. He fell into silence for a moment and then said, “Conscript all males above the age of thirteen and strong women capable of physical training.”

“But… how can we send women and children into battle?” Chen Yulong asked, incredulous.

“We must stand together as one to defend against the enemy,” Li Boyun said in a deep voice. “No matter what, we must hold out until the reinforcements arrive.”

Chen Yulong voiced his concern, “Even if the reinforcements arrive on time, we still need to wait for eighteen days. Guangning may not be able to withstand the next wave of attacks.”

“We must withstand it, even if it’s difficult. Are we to deliver our people to the wolves?” Hu Baicheng said, his hand on his forehead. “Lord Li, you are a civilian official, and we are military commanders. This defense… This defense is easier said than done.”

Li Boyun spoke with determination, “As the Governor of Liaodong, I have lost the seven northern provinces. I can’t face the people of Liaodong if Guangning falls and poisons the Central Plains. Guangning City must not fall.”

Han Zhaoxing turned his face away, his expression extremely grim.

Li Boyun surveyed the room and asked, “Have my colleagues lost their fighting spirit?”

Chen Yulong bowed respectfully and said, “Lord Li, you haven’t witnessed the danger of the Jin invaders. We haven’t lost our fighting spirit, but we are evaluating the balance of power, the number of troops, and our strength, and it’s clear that we face a difficult battle.”

After a long silence, Yuan Mao spoke up, “So, what do you suggest?”

Chen Yulong hesitated, glanced at Han Zhaoxing, and said, “Well…”

Yuan Mao’s eyes sharpened, and he suddenly raised his voice sternly, “You say I can’t fight, do you want to surrender to the Jin?!”

Chen Yulong fell to his knees with a thud, “I have absolutely no intention of doing so, please, Lord Governor, understand. I just…”

Li Boyun waved his hand to stop him, “I want to hear helpful suggestions.”

Han Zhaoxing said, “Lord Li, advocating for peace doesn’t mean advocating for surrender. If Guangning can truly hold out, why would we be willing to compromise? I fear that if the city falls, Zhuo Letai will massacre the entire city.”

Yuan Mao added, “Zhuo Letai has slaughtered sixty thousand surrendering prisoners before. Who’s to say Guangning won’t suffer the same fate? Furthermore, General Han, how do you propose to make peace? Trade? Mutual markets? Reparations? Or do you want to cede territory?”

Han Zhaoxing’s eyes widened, and he shouted, “Yuan Mao, don’t spread nonsense!”

Ceding territory was equivalent to betraying the country, and no one would dare bear such a reputation.

“Then how do you want to make peace? If Zhuo Letai wanted peace, he could have done so at the Huang River. Do you think he’s here with seventy thousand troops and siege weapons to negotiate with you? If he wanted peace, he would have negotiated at Huangshui,” Yuan Mao argued.

Han Zhaoxing was so furious his face turned purple. “You… You… You don’t want peace, so tell me, how can Guangning hold out? With only a thousand weak soldiers, two thousand civilians, and city walls filled with holes, how can we defend?”

“How? We can defend!”

Suddenly, a clear and youthful voice rang out in the meeting room, completely contrasting with the solemn atmosphere.

Everyone turned to see a handsome young man standing confidently in front of them, showing no signs of fear.

Yuan Mao tried to stop him, but Yuan Sikong firmly declared, “Zhang Wenran defeated Sun Wu’s hundred thousand with seven thousand soldiers, Zhang Xun held Suiyang for three years with no supplies or reinforcements, and Wang Jian defended Diaoyu Fortress for five months, repelling the Mongol army! Throughout history, there are countless examples of battles where a small force in a desperate situation repelled a much larger one. Guangning City may be small, but it’s strong, well-supplied, and united. How could we not defend it?”