Chapter 756
The entire army broke camp, ate and drank their fill, and trampled Fangcheng to the grou
Ma Su, with a calm expression and gentle tone, sat with Chen Li and the other two in the tent, slowly discussing the current situation and their respective circumstances.
He knew the importance of everyone being of one mind at this moment, so he neither tried to appease them nor exaggerated their situation, but simply analyzed the pros and cons with the three of them.
After listening to Ma Su's words, Chen Li and the other two exchanged glances and responded in unison.
“Ma, there’s no need to be so formal. Protecting Fangcheng and fighting against the Liao army is what we should do. It’s not hard work, and there’s no need to worry about it.”
"Now we are all in the same boat, sharing both honor and disgrace, and we are all one body, so naturally we must work together."
"Yes, Ma, if anything happens to you, we will not be able to escape unscathed either. Our peaceful days will be over. We will not stand idly by."
Chen Li sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in his expression:
"The Liao Kingdom is determined to completely annihilate us, regain control of Fangcheng, and bring this place back under their control. They will not leave us any way out."
Seeing the solemn expressions on their faces, Ma Su spoke up to reassure them:
"Rest assured, as long as we are still here, as long as we are of one mind, we will never allow the Liao army to run rampant in Fangcheng, and we will definitely defend this land."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a domineering and authoritative voice came from outside the tent:
"The Liao Kingdom is not qualified to be arrogant on the land of my Han Kingdom."
Everyone inside the tent was startled by the sound and immediately turned their gazes toward the tent entrance.
When they saw that the person who came was Xiao He, everyone quickly stood up and greeted him with clasped hands.
"Greetings, Grand Marshal!"
Xiao He waved his hand slightly, indicating that everyone should dispense with formalities. He glanced at everyone in the tent and then walked straight to the main seat in the main tent.
Seeing this, Ma Su calmly walked to the side below the main seat and stood quietly.
After everyone was seated, Xiao He slowly scanned the crowd with his gaze and got straight to the point:
"How are the preparations for confronting the Liao army going?"
Ma Su stepped forward and reported:
"Reporting to the Grand Marshal, everything is ready. We have set up a series of traps three miles outside the city, along the route the Liao army might take, which is enough to hinder their advance."
Hearing Ma Su's report, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face, and he praised him:
"Not bad, you guys are pretty quick, you haven't delayed anything important."
Upon hearing this, Ma Su did not take credit, but calmly replied:
"This is not the work of just a few of us. It is thanks to the shopkeeper in the city who stepped forward and mobilized all the people in the city to work together. It is because of the active cooperation of the people, who helped day and night, that we were able to complete the trap so quickly."
Upon hearing this, Xiao He looked surprised, clearly finding it hard to believe, and pressed for an answer:
"Oh? What's going on? Why are the people willing to lend a helping hand?"
Seeing this, Chen Li explained the whole story to Xiao He in detail:
"Reporting to the Grand Marshal, in setting up this trap, we not only mobilized our own private army, but also sent people into the city to explain the Liao Kingdom's ambitions to the people."
"If the Liao army breaks through Fangcheng, the people will be slaughtered and left homeless. When the people learned of this, they were all willing to contribute their meager strength."
Fei Yi, who was a bit impatient, couldn't contain his excitement and quickly added:
“That’s right, Grand Marshal. When the people learned that it was to fight against the Liao army and protect Fangcheng, they all expressed that they would be there whenever we needed them and were willing to obey our orders to fight against the Liao army together.”
Xiao He's surprise gradually dissipated, replaced by a sense of relief, and he slowly said:
"It seems that the people now truly believe in us and are willing to work together with us to fight against the Liao army."
"The Liao Kingdom is so ruthless, leaving us no way out and the people no way out either. We have no choice but to fight them to the death and protect the people of Fangcheng."
Upon hearing this, Chen Li's expression darkened further. He thought of the brutality of the Liao Kingdom and the hardships of its people, and his heart was heavy.
Ma Su noticed Chen Li's low spirits and comforted him:
"Don't be too discouraged. Although we are in a difficult situation right now, as long as we work together to defend the city and defeat the Liao army, things will definitely get better in the future, and the people will be able to live a peaceful life again."
Listening to Ma Su's comforting words, Chen Li's heaviness gradually dissipated, and hope rekindled in his eyes.
Xiao He looked at the group and said:
"Rest assured, everyone. As long as we work together and fight bravely against the enemy, the Han Kingdom will surely defeat the Liao Kingdom. The Han Kingdom will definitely be better than the Liao Kingdom in the future, and the people will be able to live and work in peace and prosperity, and will no longer have to suffer from the ravages of war."
Xiao He's words acted as a reassurance, boosting Chen Li, Fei Yi, and the others' confidence and excitement. They quickly bowed again.
"Thank you, Grand Marshal. We will do our utmost to live up to your trust and the people's expectations!"
Xiao He nodded slightly, glanced at the night view outside the window, and said:
"It's getting late, and the battle is imminent. Everyone should go back and get some rest to prepare for the upcoming battle."
Upon hearing this, everyone agreed, then got up together, left the tent, and went back to rest.
Xiao and Ma Su, due to their busy military duties, stayed at the army camp to rest.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.
On the official road outside the city, apart from the soldiers sent by the Fangcheng garrison to guard the key road standing in the cold wind, there was not a single person in sight within a radius of several miles.
Even the merchants and pedestrians who used to come and go had vanished without a trace, leaving only a deathly silence, a stark contrast to the bustling atmosphere of the past.
The soldiers guarding the various checkpoints gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes scanning the distance warily, their faces full of doubt.
At this hour in the past, although it wasn't particularly busy, there were always a few people coming and going. But today, it was so quiet, which was really unusual.
Some people whispered among themselves, speculating about the reason, but no one could come up with a clear explanation. They could only suppress their doubts and stay at their posts.
Time passed slowly, from dawn until 9 AM. The sun gradually rose higher, dispelling some of the chill, but there was still no movement outside the city.
Not to mention the Liao army, not even an ordinary civilian was seen.
This unusual silence made them increasingly uneasy.
Upon seeing this, the commanders guarding the four city gates dared not delay and immediately dispatched men on horseback to relay the unusual situation outside the city back to the Fangcheng army.
Inside the main tent of the military camp, Xiao He listened to the messages relayed from the four city gates, and his previously relaxed brows instantly furrowed.
He knew in his heart that the Liao army was always cunning, and this unusual silence was no accident; it must be the calm before the storm.
Ma Su stood to the side, and seeing Xiao He deep in thought and silent, he asked softly:
"Grand Marshal, things are acting strangely outside the city. The Liao army has yet to appear. What should we do?"
Xiao He raised his eyes, all hesitation gone, leaving only a chilling glint, and commanded:
"Pass on my order: everyone, act immediately! Set up traps at every entrance and exit point around the city, leaving no blind spots!"
"Furthermore, activate the city's full combat readiness mode. Pass down the order that all garrison troops be on high alert. Tell the soldiers that the Liao army will definitely come in the next few days, and they must not let their guard down!" Upon hearing Xiao He's order, Ma Su dared not delay and immediately turned around and walked out of the main tent to convey the instructions.
Upon receiving the order, the generals guarding each city gate immediately sprang into action, mobilizing soldiers to reinforce the city's defenses and organizing manpower to set up traps, with each soldier performing their assigned duties.
In an instant, the entire city of Fangcheng entered a state of full-scale war preparedness.
On the city wall, soldiers stood ready, weapons in hand.
At the city gate, the guards were even more stringent, and the checks for those entering and leaving were meticulous.
Inside the city, the people stayed indoors, everyone on edge, awaiting the impending war.
Meanwhile, the five cities surrounding Fangcheng presented a completely different picture.
These five cities had been besieged by the Liao army for many days. The long-term blockade and restrictions on entry and exit had plunged the cities into chaos, and the people were full of complaints and suffering.
Unable to make a living and with nowhere else to turn, many people gathered together, trying to break through the city gates, but they were all forcibly suppressed by the Liao army. Panic was a common sight in the city.
Now, the garrison commanders of these five cities are all frowning with worry.
They have been holding out for many days, their troops are being depleted day by day, and the resistance of the people is becoming increasingly fierce. If the Liao reinforcements are not arriving soon, they really don't know how much longer they can suppress the rebellion, let alone whether they can hold the city.
The prolonged lockdown not only plunged ordinary people into hardship but also caused heavy losses for merchants in the city.
Goods could not be shipped out, grain reserves were dwindling, and many merchants were on the verge of bankruptcy, filled with discontent.
The generals knew that while the people's resistance could be suppressed, the wealthy merchants in the city were far from easy to deal with.
They are wealthy and have extensive connections. If they unite to cause trouble, it will be far more difficult to deal with than the resistance of the common people. At that time, the city will probably fall on its own.
Every soldier in the garrison was hoping for reinforcements to arrive; it was their only hope to hold out and the only way out of their current predicament.
Finally, before darkness completely fell, Liao reinforcements arrived in the five cities surrounding Fangcheng.
When the banners of reinforcements appeared on the distant horizon, the generals defending the city finally felt a huge weight lifted from their hearts.
To welcome the reinforcements, a sumptuous feast had been prepared in the city to reward the Liao soldiers who had traveled a long way.
After all the Liao soldiers had settled into their camps in the city, preparations for a banquet began.
Half an hour later, the entire Liao army camp was filled with laughter and merriment.
The fatigue from days of marching and the pent-up frustration of guarding the city erupted at this moment. The garrison and the reinforcements who had arrived unleashed their pent-up emotions.
Inside the main tent, several Liao army generals sat together, drinking and complaining about their recent unpleasant experiences.
He complained about the hardships of defending the city, the resistance of the people, and the exhaustion of the march.
After complaining for a long time, everyone gradually calmed down, their expressions became serious again, and they began to discuss the specific arrangements for attacking Fangcheng.
After some discussion, the group finally decided on a plan:
The day after tomorrow morning, they officially launched an attack on Fangcheng.
The Liao army that came this time totaled 100,000 men. According to the plan, they will be divided into four teams of 20,000 men each, responsible for attacking the four gates of Fangcheng, forming an encirclement, and determined to break through Fangcheng in one fell swoop.
Now, the five cities surrounding Fangcheng have completed their preparations for war, and all the Liao soldiers have been settled in. They are just waiting to rest for one night and recharge their energy before marching into Fangcheng.
Commander Chen Xun received a clear order from the King of Liao: in this attack on Fangcheng, we must go all out and take Fangcheng no matter what, even if it costs us a lot.
Gongsun Kang also issued an order:
Raze the city to the ground, leaving no survivors.
Upon hearing this order, all the Liao army generals present showed signs of difficulty.
That was a living, breathing city, not an empty, deserted one.
Putting everything else aside, Fangcheng is a large city with a permanent population of no less than 100,000, including the elderly and children, men and women.
If the city were truly razed to the ground and no one were left alive, it would undoubtedly be a horrific massacre.
The King of Liao's order was a royal command that could not be disobeyed, so they could only silently accept it.
Despite their doubts, the 100,000 Liao soldiers were all in high spirits and firmly believed that they could easily take Fangcheng, and they did not take the defending troops of Fangcheng seriously at all.
Thus, in the military camp, all the Liao soldiers continued to eat, drink, and revel without restraint.
This celebratory atmosphere continued until late at night.
Most of the Liao soldiers were completely drunk, reeking of alcohol, some slumped on the ground...
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.
After a night of revelry, the military camp still reeked of alcohol.
The Liao soldiers gradually awoke from their hangovers.
Inside the main tent, Chen Xun and several other Liao army generals woke up one after another, each stretching and showing obvious signs of fatigue on their faces.
I drank until late last night and spent the night in my tent, but I didn't sleep very well.
Chen Xun rubbed his temples and said:
"Go back to your respective tents and rest for a while to recharge your energy. After lunch, the entire army will set off on time and march into Fangcheng."
Upon hearing this order, the generals responded in unison, each turning around and leaving the main tent to return to their own camps to rest.
Upon hearing the news, the soldiers outside the tent helped each other, their steps unsteady, back to their own tents. One by one, they collapsed onto their beds, falling into a deep sleep again without a second thought, wanting only to relieve the fatigue of their hangover as quickly as possible.
Time passed quietly, and it was almost noon when a rapid and loud rallying order suddenly rang out in the military camp, penetrating the tents and spreading to every corner of the camp.
The Liao soldiers, who were fast asleep, were awakened by the noise. Without any hesitation, they immediately jumped out of bed, quickly dressed, put on their armor, and fastened their belts…
In a short while, they were all ready and rushed out of their tents, heading towards the camp assembly point.
After several hours of rest, everyone had sobered up, and the weariness on their faces had mostly disappeared, replaced by a renewed fighting spirit.
Once all the soldiers had assembled, their ranks were neat and their morale was high.
Chen Xun took a deep breath and gave the order in a loud voice:
"All personnel, listen up! Begin breaking camp immediately, gather all supplies, and after lunch, the entire army will march to Fangcheng!" (End of Chapter)