Chapter 755
The military and civilians are of one mind and work together to defend Fangcheng!
No one hesitated or backed down anymore. Everyone's eyes were firm, and they secretly made up their minds to use all their private military resources to fight against the Liao army.
The group sat together and quickly discussed and divided the tasks. Some were responsible for gathering their own private armies to inventory the weapons, some were responsible for preparing provisions to support the front lines, and some were responsible for pacifying the people in the city and maintaining order.
Every task was assigned in an orderly manner. Once everything was finalized, no one complained and all solemnly accepted their assignments.
Chen Li stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, his eyes filled with fervor. He raised his right hand and shouted sharply:
"Gentlemen, today's events are a turning point for all of us! If we can successfully resist the Liao Kingdom and repel the Liao army, we will not only be able to protect our city, but also have an immeasurable future, and we will never have to suffer oppression from the Liao Kingdom again!"
He paused, then spoke each word with resounding emphasis:
"Therefore, today, we will fight one last time, with all our might, to defend Fangcheng to the death and fight the Liao army to the last man!"
"Fight with all your might! Defend Fangcheng to the death!"
The merchants below stood up and shouted in unison, their voices deafening and echoing throughout the entire Yanshan Winery.
The military meeting concluded, and without further delay, everyone turned and left to carry out their assigned tasks separately.
The entire city instantly entered a tense state of preparation for war, with an atmosphere of impending conflict permeating the air.
Upon returning to their shops and residences, the merchants immediately mobilized all their employees and servants, and sent people along the streets to gather passersby, explaining the advantages and disadvantages and calling on everyone to join the resistance against the Liao.
Those with money should contribute money, and those with strength should contribute strength, so that we can protect our homeland together.
In an instant, the city was bustling with activity. Although the people were afraid, they were also inspired by the spirit of unity and concerted efforts, and responded to the call to action, actively throwing themselves into the preparations for war.
On the other side, Chen Li, accompanied by Zheng Ji and Feng Qian, hurried to the fourth floor of the Da Liao Fang, looking anxious and eager to report the merchants' decision to Xiao He.
At this moment, on the fourth floor of the Da Liao Fang, Xiao He was still standing by the window, his eyes fixed on the distant night, his expression solemn, and he was planning the subsequent preparations for battle.
Hearing footsteps, he slowly turned around and saw Chen Li and the other two. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he then gestured for the three of them to come forward.
After bowing respectfully, Chen Li and the other two quickly reported the results of the Yanshan Winery meeting, the consensus reached by everyone, and the division of labor to Xiao He, without daring to omit anything.
After hearing the report, Xiao He was taken aback. He had not expected that these merchants would be so decisive, putting aside all their concerns and giving their all to support the Han army.
After a moment of stunned silence, he couldn't help but burst into laughter, his eyes filled with approval and satisfaction:
"Good! Good! Good! You did an excellent job! You lived up to my expectations!"
The three consecutive "good"s were enough to show Xiao He's approval. He paused briefly and then gave the order:
"You must immediately go to Ma Su and integrate all the merchants' private armies into the Han army camp. Ma Su will be in charge of their command and coordination. They will work together with the Han army to guard the city gates and resist the Liao army. Do not allow any chaos to occur."
"Yes, sir!"
Chen Li bowed and accepted the order without delay. He immediately left with Zheng Ji and Feng Qian, heading straight for the Han army camp to find Ma Su and convey Xiao He's orders.
At this time, the Han army camp was already a scene of bustling activity.
Banners fluttered in the wind as soldiers, clad in armor and armed with weapons, moved about, each fulfilling their duties.
Ma Su and Fei Yi were standing in the military camp's drill ground, discussing the specifics of guarding the four gates around a city defense map. Their brows were furrowed with exhaustion, yet they dared not relax in the slightest, occasionally giving instructions to the messengers beside them.
Seeing Chen Li and the other two approaching in a hurry, Ma Su felt a sense of doubt. He stopped what he was doing, went to greet them, and asked:
"Manager Chen, why are you three rushing to the military camp instead of staying in the city to prepare for the reinforcements?"
"Could something have happened, or is there something important to report?"
Ma Su knew that Chen Li and the other two would never have come to the military camp to disturb them unless it was urgent. Judging from their expressions, they must have important news.
Chen Li stopped and bowed slightly:
"Mr. Huima, we are not here to report any changes, but to offer our support!"
Upon hearing this, both Ma Su and Fei Yi were taken aback, their faces filled with surprise. They exchanged a glance, both seeing doubt in each other's eyes.
Although the merchants have their own private armies, they have always cherished their own strength. Why would they decide to come to their aid so quickly?
Seeing this, Chen Li quickly added:
"Sir, you may not know this, but we just convened a meeting of all the merchants in the city. They have reached a consensus and are all willing to contribute their full strength, their private armies and financial resources, to help the Han army fight against the Liao army's invasion and defend Fangcheng to the death!"
“We have just been to Da Liao Fang and reported this matter to the Grand Marshal. The Grand Marshal instructed us to come here and incorporate all the private troops into the Han army camp, to be at your command.”
After hearing Chen Li's words, Ma Su and Fei Yi's doubts instantly vanished, replaced by joy and relief.
The two looked at each other and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Great! With your strong support, we will surely be able to overcome this crisis with ease!"
Ma Su spoke with a firm tone, his face revealing his gratitude. He bowed to Chen Li and the other two, his thanks coming from the bottom of his heart.
In this critical moment, the merchants' help was undoubtedly a timely and much-needed boost.
Chen Li quickly returned the greeting, his tone earnest:
"Sir, there is no need for such formalities. Our actions are not only to help the Han army defend the city, but also to plan for our own long-term interests."
"With the Han state's foundation firmly established, we merchants will have more opportunities to make a living in the future. It's simply a matter of mutual benefit."
Ma Su stepped forward and gently patted the three men on the shoulders:
"Rest assured, everyone. The Han army has always kept its promises. Today you have given your full support, and the Han state will certainly not treat you unfairly in the future and will surely grant you your wishes."
Upon hearing this, Chen Li and the other two were immediately invigorated, and their doubts completely vanished.
They knew in their hearts that the Han Kingdom was richer and had more opportunities for development than the Liao Kingdom. As long as they could help the Han army overcome this difficulty, the relationship between the Han army and merchants would definitely be further improved, and their efforts today would surely bring them rich rewards in the future.
The group became even more convinced that their decision was correct, and immediately sat down together to discuss the details of manpower allocation.
Once the agreement was reached and the division of labor was clear:
The merchants' private armies were mainly responsible for providing aid. Before the Liao army attacked the city walls, they did their best to transport food, arrows, and medicine to the Han army on the walls, ensuring the supply of the defending soldiers.
The 10,000 heavily armored cavalry accompanying the group were evenly distributed to the four city gates, ready for battle.
Once the Liao army launches its charge, the heavy cavalry will immediately leave the city to meet it, while the soldiers on the city walls will be responsible for long-range firing to suppress the Liao army's offensive and protect the heavy cavalry, forming a defensive posture that coordinates inside and outside.
Several people were discussing matters inside the main tent when suddenly a soldier rushed in:
"Sir, many civilians have come to the military camp. They have all volunteered to fight alongside us against the Liao army and defend the city!"
Upon hearing this, Ma Su and Fei Yi, who were standing beside him, were both taken aback, clearly not expecting the people to come to their aid on their own initiative.
Chen Li, however, was overjoyed and immediately said to Ma Su:
"Sir, it seems that our previous mobilization efforts in the city have been effective, and the people are willing to live and die with the city!"
Ma Su was overjoyed, a rare smile appearing on his face, and immediately gave the order:
"Excellent! With the people's support, we will surely win this battle! Chen Li, take the people outside the city to make preparations."
Chen Li accepted the order, walked out of the main tent, and arrived at the camp gate.
Looking at the dark mass of people before him, their expressions resolute, he raised his arm and shouted:
"Fellow villagers, please hurry home and fetch your tools. We will then come with you outside the city to set up defenses and fight off the Liao army to protect our homeland!"
The people were filled with excitement and echoed each other's voices. They turned around and rushed home, and a moment later, they grabbed their tools and hurriedly surged toward the nearest city gate.
Meanwhile, Fei Yi and three others each took on a task, each heading to a city gate to coordinate and arrange matters. When Fei Yi arrived at the east gate, Deng Ai was personally directing the soldiers to build defensive fortifications, ramming earth, erecting palisades, and setting up defenses, each step proceeding in an orderly manner.
Upon seeing Fei Yi arrive, Deng Ai stopped what he was doing and asked with a puzzled look:
"Mr. Fei, what brings you here at this hour? Do you have new instructions?"
"General Deng, open the city gates immediately. I will lead men out of the city shortly to set traps and block the Liao army."
Fei Yi got straight to the point, his tone crisp and decisive.
Upon hearing this, Deng Ai's doubts deepened. His gaze swept behind Fei Yi, but there was no one in sight. He couldn't help but ask further:
"Mr. Fei, you have no soldiers behind you, so how did you manage to lead people out of the city?"
Seeing this, Fei Yi smiled and explained:
"General, do not worry. The people have gone home to fetch their digging tools and will be here in a moment."
"Chen Li and others have mobilized all the people in the city. They are all willing to fight against the Liao army with us. This time, we are leading the people out of the city to dig trenches and ditches to block the Liao army far outside the city and buy more time for the defense of the city."
Deng Ai suddenly realized what was happening, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes. He immediately turned to the city guards and loudly gave the order:
"Open the city gates!"
The soldiers responded in unison and quickly turned the winch. The heavy city gate slowly opened, and a strong wind from outside rushed in.
Looking out from the city gate, Deng Ai couldn't help but laugh:
"Having served in the military for many years, this is the first time I have ever seen such a scene of people working together to fight against foreign enemies."
Fei Yi sighed softly and echoed:
"Yes, who would have thought that in this critical moment, it would be the people who stepped forward? This sentiment is invaluable and exceeded all our expectations."
As the two were chatting, a series of chaotic footsteps came from afar. People, holding hoes and shovels, rushed over like soldiers who had mustered all their strength!
Fei Yi smiled with satisfaction, waved his hand, and said loudly:
"Alright! Fellow villagers, follow me out of the city. Let's fight side by side and keep the Liao army out of the city to protect our homeland!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Fei Yi took the lead and stepped out of the city, followed closely by the people, their large group heading towards the open fields outside the city.
The group followed Fei Yi closely and quickly arrived at a place about two miles outside the city.
The terrain here is flat and not far from the city wall, making it an ideal location to set traps and block the Liao army.
Fei Yi looked around and immediately began to direct the people to divide the work and prepare. Some cleared the weeds and stones from the ground, while others planned the location of the traps.
As the news spread, more and more people from the city arrived, men, women, and children, carrying hoes, shovels, planks, and ropes. No one shirked their duty or slacked off.
At the same time, the other three city gates were also operating in sync. Chen Li, Feng Qian, and Zheng Ji each took charge of their respective tasks, and the civilians and Han soldiers cooperated with each other, and the deployment work proceeded in an orderly manner.
On the city wall, soldiers who were busy building defensive fortifications caught a glimpse of the dark mass of civilians outside the city, and a strong sense of motivation welled up in their hearts.
Most of the previous fatigue has dissipated.
Throughout Fangcheng, a powerful momentum of unity has been formed, with everyone working together to resist the Liao army. No one has retreated or slackened.
Before long, the defensive works on the city wall were completed.
The soldiers had no time to rest and rushed down from the city walls to work alongside the people outside, digging and setting traps with shrewd coordination.
With everyone working together and full of energy, a trap zone about a hundred paces wide and of suitable depth appeared outside the city wall in less than an hour. Inside the trap, sharp wooden ropes were cleverly arranged, which was enough to effectively stop the Liao army from charging.
Of course, all of this was just a precautionary measure, intended to provide an extra layer of defense in case the Liao army attacked, thus increasing the chances of victory in defending the city.
Once all the traps were in place, Fei Yi raised his hand to signal everyone to stop and loudly summoned them to assemble:
"Fellow villagers, soldiers, the traps are all complete."
He paused, then added earnestly:
"In the next few days, it may be inconvenient for everyone to travel around this area. Please bear with us. Once we have defeated the Liao army, we will send people to repair this place and restore it to its original state as soon as possible."
Hearing Fei Yi's words, the people waved their hands in response:
"Mr. Fei, rest assured, this inconvenience is nothing!"
"Yes, as long as we can repel the Liao army and defend our homeland, we are willing to do anything. We will contribute money and strength, and we will never hold anyone back!"
Hearing the people's simple yet firm words, Fei Yi was deeply moved and immediately bowed deeply to them.
"Thank you all for your understanding and help. The Han army will remember this kindness, and the Han Kingdom will certainly not let down every villager who stepped forward."
Everyone perked up instantly, and smiles of relief appeared on their faces.
Afterwards, Fei Yi arranged for everyone to return to the city in an orderly manner. The people went home to rest and recuperate, while he turned around and went straight to the main tent of the camp to report the defense situation to Ma Su.
When Fei Yi arrived at the main tent, Chen Li had already returned and was standing inside the tent talking quietly with Ma Su.
Fei Yi stepped forward with a smile:
"Manager Chen, it seems you're making good progress on your end."
Upon hearing this, Chen Li quickly turned around, a humble smile on his face:
"Not at all, it's all thanks to the high level of enthusiasm and cooperation from the people. I just did a little overall coordination. Mr. Fei, I'm sure things are going very smoothly for you as well?"
"It went very smoothly; the enthusiasm of the people exceeded expectations."
Fei Yi also laughed, his tone full of emotion:
"Such a scene of unity and solidarity in the face of national crisis is truly rare. With such people, we are sure to defeat the Liao army."
As the two were talking, Ma Su put down the city defense map in his hand, looked up and asked:
"Have you arranged the defenses on both sides?"
"Everything is ready!"
Fei Yi and Chen Li responded in unison.
Ma Su nodded slightly, his gaze returning to the city defense map, and said calmly:
"In that case, let's wait for news from the other two gates. Once the defenses on all four sides are confirmed to be correct, we can prepare for battle with peace of mind."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone waited patiently inside the tent. After a short while, about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Feng Qian entered the main tent, cupped his hands, and reported:
"Mr. Ma, the defenses at the south gate are all in place. The traps and fortifications have all been completed as required, and the civilians and soldiers have been evacuated back into the city in an orderly manner."
Ma Su nodded, signaling him to get up and rest. After another short while, Zheng Ji hurriedly returned. Seeing that everyone in the tent had arrived, he looked apologetic and quickly cupped his hands in greeting.
"I apologize for keeping you all waiting. There were quite a few people on my side, which caused a slight delay."
Seeing this, Chen Li laughed and joked:
"Old Zheng, you look so out of breath, did something go wrong? How are things going on your end?"
Jung Ki waved his hand, a relieved smile appearing on his face:
"Fortunately, I have not failed in my mission. Although I was a little slower than you all, all the defenses were completed strictly according to the plan. The traps were solid, the fortifications were complete, and there were no flaws."
Seeing that all four men had returned and that the defenses on all sides were in place, Ma Su's eyes flashed with approval:
"Now that everyone's tasks have been completed, I thank you all for your hard work. The Liao army will most likely attack tomorrow, so I will need your help to prepare for battle with us, work together, and defend Fangcheng." (End of Chapter)