Chapter 3626
Let Go When You Should
...
As Zhang Fei had imagined, the city of Gaya did not hold out for long against the Han army's relentless advance through its earthen walls.
Theoretically speaking, as long as the city gates are not opened, Gaya can hold out until the earthen walls are close to its own city walls.
But this is only in theory, not in reality.
In fact, as the Han army pressed closer and closer, the garrison inside Gaya City faced immense pressure.
Every day, the soldiers guarding the city walls could see the progress and course of the Han army. As they watched day after day, the soldiers would feel increasingly heavy pressure due to their mental fortitude, eventually leading to a mental breakdown.
In particular, the decision not to open the city gates and directly engage in battle with the Han army, but instead to focus all their efforts on defending the city, greatly affected the morale of the soldiers.
The generals have no will to fight, but the soldiers are determined to die.
Even the Kushan soldiers, who were deeply influenced by the Brahmanical system, tended to act on human instincts in this respect.
If the general lacks the will to lead the soldiers in battle, how can the soldiers perform their duties?
The Kushan soldiers, who had originally chosen to defend the city and buy time, suffered a major blow to their morale and fighting spirit due to this prolonged period of lax defense.
Even the generals defending Gaya were feeling increasingly pressured during this prolonged defense, which had been largely uneventful.
In the process of contacting reinforcements, there was no response for a long time. When a response was finally received, it was a period of time that almost made people despair.
"A month, how can I possibly hold on for a month?" As the garrison commander of Gaya City, and also belonging to the Brahmanical system, Tokaya looked at the reply he had received, his expression almost one of despair.
Standing on the city wall of Gaya, looking at the increasingly high and dense mounds of earth in the distance, Dokoye felt a chill run through her heart.
As a general within the Brahmanical system, and not a general of the Rahul lineage, Dokhoya had a very clear understanding of his own abilities.
Leading his army, driving out and suppressing the surrounding civilians, promoting the glory of Brahmanism, and proving the correctness of Brahma's words with strength—this was what he excelled at.
But to bring an army and confront the elite troops of the Han Empire head-on would be nothing short of asking for trouble, wouldn't it?
Bullying ordinary people, making them feel educated, and making them accept their caste and their class—that's something that Dokaya is good at and should do.
But now, all Doko felt was despair, nothing else.
Standing atop the city wall, Dokoye, completely oblivious to the implications of his words, failed to notice how his words were causing the soldiers' morale to plummet.
Knowing that reinforcements are unlikely to arrive in a short time, the previous tactic of using the empty promise of impending reinforcements to maintain order and morale has now essentially become a pipe dream.
Therefore, Dokoye's mental breakdown was not just a personal one, but also a devastating blow to the entire army. "Why did it take us a month to get a reply?" Gars recalled the letter that had been sent out, expressing doubt and even bewilderment about its contents.
Under normal circumstances, although their army would have to take a detour, it would take them no more than a month to reach Gaya.
Even without a month, by slightly speeding up the march, it would only take ten days to reach Gaya and fulfill the conditions for providing support.
"Isn't our mission to hold back the Han Empire's army?" Kusroy gave his answer to this question.
"That's true, but can doing this really buy time?" Garth, still somewhat skeptical, pressed for an answer.
"Based on the information we have, the Han army directly piled up soil and forcibly crossed the city wall. This time-consuming and laborious method shows that the opposing generals do not care about time and care about the lives of their soldiers. That's why they adopted such a cautious method. If that's the case, why not do as the enemy wishes?" Kusroy calmly explained how to achieve his goal.
“No wonder.” Based on this explanation and analysis, Gars understood the reason and the methods and techniques described by Kusroy. However, he still asked further, “But if we do this, won’t the Han army take Gaya? If the Han army takes this city, the only geographical advantage our army can have is Rajagriha.”
"There's not much difference in itself, is there?" Kusroy pointed to the army behind him and said bluntly, "Given our army's combat strength, what chance do we have against the elite Han Empire army? Even if our army arrives early and enters Gaya City before the Han Empire army launches its attack, strengthening the city's military capabilities, it won't change the Han army's siege tactics. As long as the Han army doesn't abandon its siege tactics, taking Gaya City is only a matter of time."
The earthen mounds piled up by the Han army would not disappear with their arrival and would still pose a deadly threat to Gaya.
By then, the Han army had completed the construction of the earthen mound, and their troops had entered the Battle of Gaya. At that time, they would engage in close combat, directly confronting each other, inside or on the walls of Gaya.
In such close combat, what role could they play against the fully armed elite troops of the Han Empire?
At that time, the army will suffer heavy losses, and Gaya will also fall. Rajagaha will not even have the troops to defend it, so how can it buy time?
After clarifying this line of thinking, Garth looked at Kusroy with a hint of admiration.
To achieve one's goal, it's not something everyone can do.
“I see. In this way, our army will not need to waste its forces, and we can allow Gaya to play its due role and delay the inevitable.” After recording the decision and judgment described by Kusroy, Gars then chose to execute it.
At the same time, he sent a copy of Kusroy's thoughts and judgments to Rahul, which can be regarded as a kind of information feedback along the way.
"Our army will proceed directly to Rajgir and reinforce its defenses." Kusroy pointed in a direction and announced their next destination.
Gaya is beyond saving, so there's no point in trying to save it.
Gaya was already beyond saving, given the earthen walls already erected by the Han army. Moreover, the morale of the soldiers and generals inside the city had been severely affected, making it utterly beyond saving.
Forcibly incorporating them could negatively impact these soldiers, causing them significant damage before the war even begins and affecting their morale. (End of Chapter)