Chapter 167 (1/2)
Chapter 167
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Six hours later, Zhao Yang, who had been delayed by the fire at Chidu, flanked the city along with 500 thousand troops, made up from the Northwestern Army and stray troops from the Southwestern Army!
In the meeting hall, Chu Qiao had assumed Cao Mengtong's position. She was dressed in black, sitting upright in his chair while staring at the people in front of her. The familiar faces previously had disappeared. Over ten commanders, who sensed that the situation was not in their favor, fled with their personal armies. The Second Army's commanders were nowhere to be seen, while the leader of the Third Army had surrendered himself to Xia, along with his army of 50,000. The general of Beishuo, Xia An, seeing that defeat was imminent, fled towards the inner mainland of Yan Bei with the defense troops of Beishuo, claiming to chase after the deserters.
The people sitting in this meeting hall were now commanders of middle to low rank. In the seat meant for the leader of the seventh section belonging to the eighth platoon of the Second Army sat a fat chef. Their leader had fled the battlefield along with 5,000 people. He refused to leave, trying to persuade his other comrades to defend Beishuo alongside him. However, he was nearly beaten up to death in return. Presently, all his other comrades had died, leaving him alone. When Chu Qiao informed the representatives of the various military departments to attend this meeting, there was no one else from this section other than this chef. Hence, without even removing his apron, he dashed to attending this meeting.
In the country's turbulent times, where its existence was threatened, the most loyal subjects were not those high-ranked officials who lived their lives in luxury. They were occupied with trying to escape and surrender, trying to betray their compatriots in order to find their own escape route. At this time, it was the small figures who were deemed as insignificant that stepped up to shoulder the responsibility of protecting their countries with their own shoulders and brains. The happenings of this world was a mockery indeed.
”General, what should we do?” Yin Liangyu was a scholar in the Military Supplies Department previously. His task was to record the movement of rations. When his superior escaped, he threw his job to him, saying that he would be promoted upon assuming his post. Before Yin Liangyu had time to object, the man had vanished into thin air. Subsequently, Yin Liangyu had been promoted by over 20 ranks in two days, becoming the vice-commander of the Second Army and the second highest figure of authority in Beishuo City.
Chu Qiao turned around and said calmly, ”Everyone can express their own views.”
The crowd remained silent, looking at each other carefully. They were unknown figures that fought at the frontline previously. How would they have any ideas? After a short while, an honest-looking conscript stood up. He was dressed in plain clothes that had been stained with blood, while the others were not sure if the clothes actually belonged to him.
Seeing that the crowd's gaze had been fixated on himself, the man turned shy. He hesitated for a long while before gathering his courage to whisper, ”I am a soldier from Xitao Village. My village elders have been injured, hence they told me to come. They wanted me to ask if General will retreat? Will you abandon us?”
”That's right!” someone echoed out. ”General, will you be like General Xia An? He claimed to chase the deserters, but did not come back.”
Chu Qiao replied calmly, ”Rest assured. Even if we retreat, I'll be the last one to step out of the gates of Beishuo.”
”That's good!” Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.
A man with a full beard on his face suddenly exclaimed, ”I don't know any tactics. Whatever General wants me to do, I will do.”
”Yes!”
”Yes, we will listen to General!”
Chu Qiao thought for a long while before she stood up and said, ”In this case, please go back immediately to gather some troops. When dawn breaks, we will fight the Xia army to the death!”
Everyone in the hall obliged, seemingly more willing to follow orders than to express their opinions. In a short while, the meeting hall had quietened down. Yin Liangyu sat in his seat as if he had a question to ask.
”General Yi, feel free to speak your mind.”
Yin Liangyu thought for a long while before saying, ”General, I do not know much about military warfare. However, three days ago, when General Yu Zeqi from the Third Army escaped, he burnt the majority of the ration vault. Currently, there are less than 40,000 combat-trained troops in the city. Even with the 30,000 people you brought back, there are less than 70,000 people altogether. The majority of them are conscripts. The forces from Xia are strong. Would we be able to beat them if we clashed with them head on?”
Chu Qiao frowned. As she was about to speak, Yin Liangyu explained hurriedly, ”I don't intend to escape. I'm…I'm just a little worried.”
Chu Qiao smiled and replied, ”General Yi, I know that you don't intend to escape, but you don't need to be so pessimistic. If I am willing to stay here, I would have the confidence of winning the battle.”
Yin Liangyu stood up and said excitedly, ”Does General have a sure-fire way of winning?”
”I don't have a way to guarantee victory, but I have a piece of news that you might want to listen.”
”What news?”
”The First Army led by Your Highness, together with the Luori troops led by Lady Yu, are on the way back to reinforce us. As long as we last ten days, they will arrive.”