Book 20 - Chapter 1 – Besieging A City Is A Must In War (1/2)
Book 20 Chapter 1 – Besieging A City Is A Must In War
All Liangdu residents, le to defend their ho were noorld falorious military successes, they were also ‘invincible’, and because they came from the marketplace, they won the heart of the people, even enerals who ca clans, or a on the dark road Therefore, one after another wulin characters and a area caiance to the two boys
Albeit unintentionally, in his road to contend for hege publicly a, just like it suddenly happened in this place
In any other cases, Xu Ziling could not possibly be drawn directly into Kou Zhong’s ‘private business’ to conquer the world But this ti the state of the universe and pitying the fate of the citizens of this city, plus it was for the sake of dealing with Yuwen Huaji, unexpectedly he had spun a cocoon around hi]; in the end he had no choice but to take the heavy responsibility of training and organizing the troops into squads of five soldiers upon hi’s skill was derived from the heavenly book passed down from Lu Miaozi On the other hand, he iovernance; he tried to stretch the limited resources available to him as far as possible, to make the best possible use of whatever he currently had
Yuwen Huaji’s force fro, but it wasthe way they had to loot army provisions and recruited able-bodiedcities into disaster areas, forcing the people along their route to flee toward Liangdu, ’s burden more than a hundred catties heavier
This day, after much difficulty, the two boys were finally able toRestaurant, located on the north and south ates, well into the afternoon, to discuss attack and defense uests of the restaurant were all used to see these two boys, since they both were amiable and approachable, they did not like to hide inside the Zongguan Mansion, but loved to enjoy big bowl of wine and big piece oftheir speech with one or two vulgar language such as ‘hisspoke in low voice, “Currently fourteen cities and towns, du have all surrendered to us, and it has enabled us to obtain some extra rations and fodder, and relax the hardshi+p of lack of food supplies so said, “Previously, where did Liangdu’s provisions co replied, “It was froes It’s just that those hateful Khitan dog thieves killed and burned everywhere, driving the farmlands to be abandoned, and could not supply provisions as they always did Do you want to buy provisions? Upstreaainst Li Mi, downstrea it all in fiery confrontation against Li Zitong; water transportation is cut off Ay! My Ling Shao, ould have thought that ill be in the situation we are in today, unexpectedly we have to worry about firewood and rice for the entire city of nearly a hundred thousand people! Previously you advised ht”
Xu Ziling did not have the h; he asked, “So with the current provision level, howsaid, “According to that fellow, Chen Jiafeng’s esti at his current speed, in three days they will arrive to besiege the city and sever all water and land transport Even if we tighten our belts, we could only last for less than ten days”
Xu Ziling’s countenance changed, he said, “Wouldn’t it be terrible? With his jackal and wolf nature, Yuwen Huagu will definitely seize the opportunity to loot everywhere he goes, so that he won’t have to worry about lack of food supplies, while we are trapped in a besieged city, starving to death”
S said, “Currently we seem to have several thousands of people, but those who can really be sent out to deal with others are no more than twenty, those able to provide their own leather-armor, horse and weapons are only about a thousand; the nu old, weary, thin and weak, the total is only about a hundred People say that elite troops are honored but the dishonorable are many, yet I am afraid those that can be really called elite troops only re idiots This tihly bad”
Xu Ziling said with deter the city is a road that leads to dead end, we u on his way here; it’s certainly better than waiting for death here”
Kou Zhong shook his head and said, “The reason Yuwen Huagu isthe fast water route but eainst us a the way Therefore, this plan is absolutely won’t work Tell randiose, do you think we can conceal it froence gatherers? Right now all we can do is to see what Li Zitong will do”
Thisprouards, ca is asking to have an audience with two Daye”
The two boys were greatly delighted; they quickly asked Xie Jue to show hi, as covered in windblown dust from head to toe, came in The three of them met, naturally they chatted freely about what had happened after they parted
“Your arrival is so ti cheerfully said, “You guys using a ghost town and several troubled troops inflicting defeat on Khitan’s group of horse-mounted bandits, this news has spread widely over several cities in the north”
Xu Ziling asked in astonisho; how could the news spread so quickly?”
Xuan Yong said, “Anything that happens in the neighboring area north and south of the ill be particularly easy to spread, due to the flourishi+ng water traffic As soon as I heard that Yuwen Huaji is sending his troops toward Liangdu, I knew the situation can’t be good; hence I immediately traveled at double speed to here”
Kou Zhong suddenly rose up to his full height, cupped his fist toward all the restaurant guests and said, “Gentlemen, fellow countrymen, brothers, Xiaodi has an ie Dashu [big brothers, big uncles] can finish eating a bit faster and leave?”
Hearing this, everybody willingly and gladly left By the ti sat down, only the three of them remained in the restaurant, even the proprietor and the waiters allto the kitchen
Xu Ziling asked, “Does Xuan Xiong kno bad our situation is?”
Xuan Yong calmly said, “One: lack of food supplies, two: no troops to be used, three: isolated and without help Did I say it wrong?”
Greatly astonished, Kou Zhong said, “Looking at your appearance, it seems that you can resolve these three proble said, “Foodstuff is in short supply everywhere, nobody can do anything about it But these three proble If we canback to his old ho bae]”
Kou Zhong laughed and said, “Xuan Zongguan’s rehtful, it u is the only probleuan?” [Reer] he asked
Xu Ziling burst out laughing
Kou Zhong said, “Naturally the Liangdu, Pengcheng, two cities’ Da Zongguan Even if we get rid of Yuwen Huagu, an organization this scale needs souan, with experience to unify the ar with talent, to govern it Taking advantage while Li Zitong is powerless to go up north, Lin shi+hong, Li Mi and the others are too busy to care, I aarrison here, to sever the north to south route of Central Plains’ strategic pass Ha! This is an arrange stared blankly for half a day Finally he said, “We must ask Miss’ instructions on thispatted his chest and said, “Leave it to me to deal with Da Xiaojie’s side Why didn’t she co said, “We have already received a group of Wagang’s officers and soldiers back, their number is over two thousand men But we lack a place to settle Miss heard that you took over Liangdu, hence she ordered me to lead them here to take shelter Presently they are stationed in a forest thirty li north of the city
Kou Zhong was greatly delighted, “This time we are really saved”
※ ※ ※
While Yuwen Huaji’swere busy to no end, ood preparation to defend the city
This day, first thing in the ed their horses out of town, patrolling the fortification built outside the city, and went up the top of a hill overlooking the plain to the north
On their left, Tongji Canal was surging on, but there was no boat in sight
Kou Zhong spoke as if he was reciting, “besieging a city is a must in war, because not only a city concerns the overall situation or perhaps being a strategic point of any region, plus it exercise control over the transportation and econoion It is the supporting point and the lifeline of the entire war; it is really … hey … wait alooked at hi speed technique took out Lu Miaozi’s heavenly book froe, and continued reciting, “Hey! A city is thus a place that ic town like Liangdu, anybody who gains control over it will also gain control over the Tongji Canal Ha! Do I have the style to hed involuntarily, “You don’t need to convince ht Yuwen Huagu to the end”
In all seriousness, Kou Zhong said, “I was using you for practice; to win over people, youthis section of Lu Miaozi’s ‘Besieging A City Is A Must In War’, for soht very well be the crucial point whether I will be able to establish stable footing forabout?”
Xu Ziling cast his gaze toward the sun rising on the eastern horizon; he spoke indifferently, “Is it Xiangyang?”