The Blood Crown - Chapter 21

Yan Mao conscripted over 7,000 women aged thirteen and above who were physically fit. At this point, anyone capable of wielding a big knife or moving stones in Guangning had to participate in the war. They wouldn’t be directly on the city walls to fight but would assist with all logistical preparations.

In the midst of the crowd, Yan Mao spotted the timid Yuan Weiling. He furrowed his brows and pointed at her, saying, “You, come out.”

Yuan Weiling reluctantly stepped forward.

Yan Mao asked sternly, “What are you doing here?”

“Joining the battle.”

“Nonsense. Who will take care of your mother?”

“My mother asked me to come. She said she didn’t need to be taken care of and wanted me to help Dad.”

“You…”

Yuan Weiling stood tall, saying, “Dad, I’m much stronger than ordinary women. Even if I have to go to battle, I won’t be scared.”

Yuan Sikong pulled on Yan Mao’s sleeve, “Dad, this is the time to use all available resources. Big sister is clever and efficient; she’ll definitely be of help. Besides, they are just transporting supplies, so there won’t be any danger.”

Yan Mao scowled, “Ling’er, don’t get into trouble. Follow orders in everything.”

“Don’t worry, Dad,” Yuan Weiling stuck her tongue out, “Captain of a Thousand.”

Yan Mao led Yuan Shaoxu and Yuan Sikong into the house, “Sikong, you mentioned earlier that you have a strategy to deal with retreating enemies?”

Yuan Sikong nodded.

The three of them approached the large map spread out on the table. Yan Mao rested his hands on the table and asked, “Tell me.”

“Zhuoletai has made a significant mistake,” Yuan Sikong got straight to the point.

“Oh, what mistake?”

“He didn’t encircle the city. Of course, this mistake wasn’t intentional; it was out of necessity.”

Yan Mao stared at the map, “Yes, the terrain of Guangning, the current weather, and various other factors have prevented him from encircling the city. But there’s also another reason, and I suspect he underestimated the situation.”

Before Zhuoletai advanced on Guangning, he had taken 4,000 Shèng army prisoners. Naturally, he knew that Guangning was well-stocked with food and supplies, which made it unwise to lay siege. In such a situation, the defending side had no fear of a siege, while the attacking side couldn’t afford the cost.

Furthermore, the area around Guangning had a mountain ditch, which didn’t offer a broad enough area for Zhuoletai’s horses and cattle to graze. With the current freezing weather, there was no pasture, so both the soldiers and livestock had to bring their own supplies. As a result, Zhuoletai didn’t dare to divide his troops to besiege the city, fearing that his supplies would be intercepted.

In fact, choosing to wage war in this season was already a serious violation of military principles. But Zhuoletai had no choice because the Huang River wasn’t frozen. If they waited, they wouldn’t be able to cross it. This was a highly challenging move.

As Yuan Sikong said, Zhuoletai had perhaps also been overconfident. He probably couldn’t have imagined that a small city with only two or three thousand defenders would resist to this extent.

Therefore, he hadn’t encircled the city, allowing Li Boyun to personally go to the capital to seek reinforcements. Now, even if he wanted to lay siege, it might be too late.

Yuan Sikong continued, “Scouts report that while Zhuoletai hasn’t surrounded the city, he has established outposts to monitor Guangning’s every move. However, these outposts are likely to have vulnerabilities, especially during dark and stormy nights.”

“Are you suggesting…” Yan Mao pondered, “to leave the city?”

Yuan Sikong nodded.

Yuan Shaoxu furrowed his brow, “Leaving the city at this moment, what if the Jin forces catch us off guard? Won’t that be suicide?”

“Being trapped in the city by the Jin forces is also a form of death,” Yuan Sikong’s eyes held a calm and focused demeanor that exceeded his age. “My plan is to send a group of dedicated soldiers who, under the cover of the dark and stormy night, can bypass the outposts, get behind the Jin camp, and set up an ambush. When Zhuoletai attacks the city, the main camp will undoubtedly have weaker defenses. The dedicated soldiers will strike while the enemy is vulnerable, raid the main camp, disrupt the cattle and sheep with their muskets, and use fire to burn their supplies. If it succeeds, that’s good; if not, Zhuoletai will get a warning, and he’ll definitely return to protect his supplies. This will temporarily relieve Guangning of its danger.” He pushed the chess piece representing the soldiers into the Jin camp with a determined force.

Yuan Shaoxu expressed his concerns, “This plan is quite challenging, and I’m afraid it won’t work. As you mentioned, even if it succeeds, it’s only a temporary solution. After Zhuoletai resettles his main camp, how will we deal with his return?”

“During Zhuoletai’s retreat, we will observe carefully,” Yuan Sikong explained. “If he retreats in an orderly fashion with well-organized banners, it means he’s a competent commander. He’ll most likely send his cavalry ahead to rush back and protect the camp while he leads the elite troops in the rear. In that case, we’ll take the light cavalry with muskets and go out of the city. We’ll catch up to him and attack the infantry or siege troops when his cavalry isn’t present, disrupting his formation. If he retreats in a panic and chaos, that’s even better. We’ll directly attack the rear guard. With the Jin army having failed twice to capture the city and suffering heavy casualties, their morale is already low. If we raid their camp and they are chased by us, their army will likely fall into disarray.”

Yan Mao nodded, “Go on.”

Yuan Sikong squinted his eyes slightly, a glint of determination in his gaze, “Next, we will execute the final part of the plan to drive Zhuoletai back to the land of the barbarians.”

Li Boyun’s sacrifice had bought Guangning nearly twelve days’ worth of time. In those twelve days, they had intensified their military training, repaired the walls, and stockpiled war materials. The entire city was mobilized.

By the time Zhuoletai’s large army arrived, those who had an escape route had already fled. Those who remained were mostly poor commoners who were bound to their land and had no choice but to stay. Their fates were tied to the city.

Yan Mao sent his soldiers to go door-to-door, inspiring the people to donate all their iron utensils, clothing, and oil. They conscripted all able-bodied men and women. Li Boyun, by offering his life for the city, had inspired the people to defend their common home. Yan Mao, with his two victories against an army of 70,000 men, convinced the people that with unity, they could defend the city.

The entire city put everything on the line, and the city’s 40,000 residents contributed money, strength, and spirit to protect their homeland.

When Zhuoletai launched his third attack on the city, everyone had prepared themselves for death and did everything they could to survive.

As the enemy approached, a gust of wind scattered the snow and mist, making the view clear. On the tips of the long spears that stood like a forest, there were gory human heads!

The defending generals on the city walls were horrified; those were clearly the 4,000 Sheng army captives!

What left them most grieved and angered was that atop Zhuoletai’s flag, the highest point, was the head of Li Boyun, the Governor of Liáodōng!

His snowy hair danced in the northern wind, and under the howling blizzard, it was unknown if he could hear the mourning of the people from Liaodong.

Yuan Sikong stood by Yan Mao’s side, and he could almost hear the clenched fists of Yan Mao.

His nose felt a bit sour, and he could visualize the image of Li Boyun calmly riding away on his horse, the slim figure gradually blurring in the snowstorm. On that day, the world was dyed in one color, the snow and mist mixed up, and he seemed to have disappeared into a fairyland.