The Blood Crown - Chapter 78

In the spring of the twenty-seventh year of Zhaowu, Prince Liang Chen Huan personally led thirty thousand infantry and five hundred warships to attack Yueyang, and left ten thousand soldiers and officers to guard Jingzhou.

Chen Huan knew that life and death were hanging by a thread. If he took down Yueyang first, he could abandon Jingzhou and lead his troops southward. If Zhao Fuyi took Jingzhou first, he would be attacked from both sides, and his situation would be hopeless.

Therefore, as the army approached Yueyang, he didn’t procrastinate. After setting up camp, he immediately began to attack the city, while ordering the navy to attack Dongting Lake.

Compared to the battle of Guangning City eleven years ago, Yan Sikong was now calm and composed. Xue Lang and Feng Ye commanded the defense of the city, while he assisted from the side. Although the rebel army led by Prince Liang was determined and launched a fierce attack, Yueyang still had nearly ten thousand troops, with no shortage of food and preparations fully made. The first wave of attacks lasted for four full hours, causing numerous injuries to the defenders and leaving the city riddled with holes, yet it remained unconquered. Prince Liang had no choice but to temporarily retreat.

Watching the piles of corpses below the city, the fresh black-red blood splattered on the walls, the injured soldiers wailing in pain, the broken armor and weapons scattered everywhere, the aftermath of the battle, with its thick smell of blood and intense killing intent, permeated every breath, making one’s scalp tingle.

Yan Sikong said solemnly, “The rebel army is attacking fiercely. If they fail to capture the city this time, they will soon launch a second attack. How are our losses?”

Xue Lang sighed, “The losses are not significant for now, but I fear the city cannot withstand the bombardment of siege weapons much longer.”

“General Xue, don’t worry. Back then…” Yan Sikong stopped himself from saying something, “Even with few soldiers defending a lonely city, they can still hold off a large army. It’s recorded in history. With the remaining strength of Yueyang, quickly reinforce the city walls. Prince Liang will come back soon.”

After Xue Lang left, Yan Sikong looked at Feng Ye, who stood motionless on the city wall, gazing into the distance where corpses lay scattered.

“Your Highness,” Yan Sikong walked to his side, “Are you worried about the same thing as I am?”

Feng Ye nodded, “I’m not worried about Yueyang falling, I’m worried about Chen Huan’s navy.”

“Chen Huan’s navy commander is a renowned admiral in the two lakes region. If he takes control of Dongting Lake, he can seize hundreds of warships and capture tens of thousands of sailors to use for himself. At that time, why bother attacking cities? Just surround Yueyang, cut off the city’s water source, and we’ll surrender without a fight.”

Feng Ye sighed, “Unfortunately, neither you nor I are skilled in naval warfare. I’ve never even been on a warship before in my life.”

Yan Sikong smiled bitterly, “Nor have I. I guess Chen Huan is betting heavily on his navy. Shouldn’t we send reinforcements to the navy?”

“It’s probably too late now. With Chen Huan’s main army pressing the city, if we focus on the navy, we’ll lose sight of the bigger picture, and vice versa.”

Yan Sikong narrowed his eyes, “I dare not hope for General Wang’s victory, I just hope he doesn’t lose too quickly.”

Their conversation turned out to be prophetic. Just two days later, there came news of the battle at Dongting Lake. General Wang’s navy suffered a major defeat and the rebels gained complete control of the waterway.

The rebels sent troops to seize key positions along the water channel that supplied water to the city, while building sand barriers and digging trenches to divert the water source.

In five or six days at most, the rebels would completely cut off the city’s water supply. Chen Huan had already sent people to besiege the city day and night, calling for surrender and sowing confusion among the soldiers.

Xue Lang paced anxiously, “Your Highness, what should we do? If there’s no water in the city, how can we continue?”

Feng Ye said in a deep voice, “I am already surrounded. The only way is to wait for General Zhao to capture Jingzhou and come to our rescue.”

“But when will General Zhao be able to capture Jingzhou? What if he fails?” Seeing Feng Ye remain silent, Xue Lang turned to Yan Sikong, “Lord Yan, I’ve heard that you pacified the rebellion in Kuizhou with your eloquence and strategy. Surely, you can come up with a plan for us…?”

Yan Sikong seemed unaffected by the looming crisis, his face calm as water, “General Xue, the Prince led us through the Nan Yue Mountains, launching a surprise attack on Yueyang in just ten days, to buy time for General Zhao. With our current military strength, we cannot defeat Prince Liang head-on. We can only hold out. Right now, all we can do is defend and wait for General Zhao to arrive with his mighty army.”

“But how do we defend?” A general from Yueyang slammed the table fiercely. “We’re running out of water. If the city has no water, not to mention the soldiers, the civilians might rebel first.”

“Yeah, how can we fight without water?” Another general exclaimed loudly. “In the past few days of the siege, our army has suffered heavy losses. If Prince Liang attacks the city again while we’re thirsty, how can you still say ‘defend’?”

Wang Moxiu spoke sternly, “How dare you! The Prince is here. How dare you sow discord among our soldiers?”

“You…”

Xue Lang clasped his hands towards Feng Ye, “Your Highness, what the generals said makes sense. If the water supply is cut off, the morale of the army will surely collapse, and the civilians may rebel.”

Feng Ye slowly turned his head, his sharp gaze sweeping over all the generals like a wolf, “If the soldiers are in chaos, kill the soldiers. If the civilians rebel, kill the civilians. We must not let the rebel army take this city and dominate Dongting Lake, pointing their swords at Jiangnan!”

The generals fell silent.

Yan Sikong smiled, “There’s no need to panic, gentlemen. If the rebel army blocks the water on the ground, can they block the heavenly dew that nourishes all things?”

“Lord Yan means…” Xue Lang frowned, “But whether it rains or not depends on the weather. We can’t control that.”

Yan Sikong raised his hands to the sky, “We can ask for heavenly dew to quench the thirst of Yueyang.”

Xue Lang looked doubtful, “Lord Yan, do you really have such magical abilities?”

Yan Sikong showed a mysterious smile.

Back in the room, Feng Ye lowered his voice and asked, “Kong’er, can you tell when it will rain?”

Yan Sikong wiped his weary forehead and replied, “The weather doesn’t seem like it’s going to rain at all.”

“What?” Feng Ye widened his eyes, “Then why did you make such a bold promise?”

“We only brought less than three thousand remaining soldiers with us. Yueyang is their territory. Now that the troops are restless, the situation seems like it’s about to get out of control. If we can’t solve the water shortage urgently, they might tie us up and surrender to the enemy at any moment!”

Feng Ye clenched his fists, “So, are you really going to perform a ritual now?”

“I’ll first stabilize them. If we can buy one more day, then we will. If the heavens are merciful and consider our loyalty, perhaps…”

“Ah.” Feng Ye patted Yan Sikong’s head, “Who are you trying to deceive with such nonsense?”

Yan Sikong smiled bitterly, “Buying one more day is buying one more day, until General Zhao arrives at Yueyang.”

“But what if he doesn’t come? How long can we hold on?”

“If he doesn’t arrive in three days, we’ll tie up Xue Lang during the council and control all the officials and generals. If he doesn’t come in seven days, then we, too, will have to surrender by opening the city gates.”

“We have no choice but to do that. I’ll go deploy the troops.” 

The next day, Yan Sikong set up an altar and drew formations on the city wall, dressed in a plain black Taoist robe, holding a whisk in one hand and a sheep’s hair brush in the other. He inscribed incomprehensible symbols on pieces of white paper, burned them one by one, while chanting in a manner that appeared to be praying for rain.

Although Xue Lang and his crude generals hadn’t read many books, they had heard about Zhuge Liang’s altar rituals to summon the eastern wind, so Yan Sikong, a double-degree scholar and former tutor to the crown prince, although suspected, was not openly questioned. They could only watch him busying himself.

Yan Sikong prayed for a day and a night, but there was no rain in sight. By this time, the water supply in the city had dwindled to less than three days’ worth.

The soldiers couldn’t bear it any longer and urged Yan Sikong. However, he remained oblivious, muttering to himself, completely ignoring the whispers around him.

Feng Ye cleared his throat heavily, “Do not disrespect the gods. Just wait.”

“Sir, but… how long do we have to wait?”

“Lord Yan said, at most three days and three nights, and rain will come,” Wang Moxiu said, “Lord Yan hasn’t had a drop of water in a day and a night, why are you all in such a hurry?”

Feng Ye glanced at Yan Sikong’s cracked lips and exhausted eyes, endured his heartache, and calmly said, “Trust Lord Yan. He will surely bring us the heavenly water for Yueyang!” He signaled to Wang Moxiu with his eyes, then continued, “Perhaps our sincerity has yet to move the heavens. General Xue, order all the commanders to join Lord Yan on the city wall to pray for rain together.”

“Well…” Xue Lang sighed, “Alright.”

Wang Moxiu made a gesture to Feng Ye.

Yan Sikong continued to “pray” for rain for two days and nights straight, but the sky over Yueyang remained clear, with no signs of rain. 

The generals under Xue Lang’s command couldn’t bear it any longer and angrily accused, “Lord Yan, are you playing tricks on us?”

“This matter concerns the survival of the entire city. Who dares to joke about it?” Wang Moxiu shouted.

“It’s been two days and nights of prayers, and there’s been nothing. In a few more days, we’ll die of thirst!”

“He can’t summon rain at all. We might as well surrender!”

“If this continues, we’ll surrender sooner or later.”

“Outrageous!” Feng Ye roared, “Do you all dare to surrender to traitors and rebels? Do you want to join the rebellion?”

The soldiers fell silent, but hesitancy was evident on their faces.

Feng Ye waved his hand, “Take them down.”

“Sir, what are you doing?” Xue Lang saw the situation was turning unfavorable and was about to draw his sword.

Feng Ye kicked his hand heavily, stepping on the back of it to push the drawn sword back in, then swiftly moved, clasping Xue Lang’s neck with an iron grip and pinning him against the city wall.

Wang Moxiu shouted, and the soldiers waiting below rushed up, quickly surrounding the unsuspecting Yueyang defenders on the city wall.

“You… Sir… you…” Xue Lang shouted, “Sir, I have never harbored any treason!”

Seeing the swords at their throats, the generals all knelt down, “Sir, we have never harbored any treason.”

Feng Ye handed Xue Lang over to Wang Moxiu, then helped Yan Sikong up, offering him a water flask. At the same time, he said coldly, “Very well, let’s defend the city together and wait for General Zhao’s rescue.”

Yan Sikong grasped the water flask, gulping down several mouthfuls before weakly opening his eyes. He hadn’t had a drop of water in two days, his face pallid and feeble. He looked at Feng Ye and whispered, “Well done.”

Feng Ye silently held his hand.

Now, their lives depended on General Zhao Fuyi. If he didn’t capture Jingzhou before they died of thirst, they would either die or surrender, with no way out.