Chapter 516: Surround on Three Sides, Leave One Path — The Blood Miasma Plains’ Disturbance and the Siege |
"Give them half an hour to let those in the city willing to surrender come out?"
"Is this Yang Zun out of his mind?"
"He's just stalling for time, waiting for people from Chencang to arrive, right?"
"We can't agree to Yang Zun's terms. Who knows what kind of people would come out? What if they stab us in the back while we're attacking the city?"
………………
At Xia Hong's signal, the negotiation document sent by Yang Zun was quickly circulated among all the generals present, immediately causing a huge stir. The vast majority of armored generals directly voiced their opposition, stating they could not agree to Yang Zun's terms.
Only those in the front row—Xia Chuan, Xu Ning, and those who had just arrived after Xiao Kangcheng, like Lu Yang and Mu Longhe—remained silent.
"If we don't agree, breaking through Beishuo City will require immense effort..."
Lu Yang spoke slowly, and upon hearing his words, everyone quieted down.
If they didn't even give the people in the city a chance to surrender, they would be forcing the people of Beishuo onto a path of no return. Setting aside the ordinary civilians for now, the defensive resolve of the Warmth Realm cultivators capable of fighting would certainly harden. In the end, the difficulty of their siege would multiply.
"A cornered army fights with desperate courage" was no mere saying.
If they paid a huge price and ultimately managed to breach the city, that would be one thing. The real fear was that the siege would be thwarted, and they wouldn't be able to take the city in a short time. The consequences would be severe.
"We understand Sir Lu's meaning! But if we follow Yang Zun's intentions, wouldn't we just be dancing to his tune?"
Hou Tong, the commander of the Allied Army's Fifth Battalion and also the Commander-in-Chief of the Beizhao Army, was the first to speak up. Seeing everyone's eyes turn to him, he paused before continuing, "Yang Zun is clearly trying to win over the people. Those in the city who are truly loyal to him are probably ready to defend the city to the death right now.
If we agree to his terms, firstly, we'd be helping him purge the fence-sitters in the city. Those who remain inside would all be staunch defenders. Our clandestine operatives planted in the city probably wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble either.
Secondly, there's only a little over an hour left until dawn. Those who leave the city won't be able to go far. Even if we confiscate their weapons, they'd still be a potential threat. If they turn around and charge the rear of our army formation, it would definitely affect our siege. Our attacking forces are limited to begin with; we can't afford to split off a group just to watch them."
After Hou Tong finished speaking, the generals who had just voiced their opposition all nodded in agreement, their meaning clear.
They weren't fools; how could they fail to see Yang Zun's intentions?
But thinking of Lu Yang's earlier words, their brows furrowed slightly again.
If they didn't agree, they would be forcing the people of Beishuo in the city onto a path of no return, which would also greatly increase the difficulty of the siege.
Yang Zun's proposal was an outright Overt Stratagem. Whether they agreed or not, it would create a huge obstacle for the Xia troops' siege.
Unable to think of a solution for the moment, everyone fell silent.
"What, no one has any ideas?"
From the moment everyone started reading the negotiation document, to Lu Yang and Hou Tong expressing their opinions, Xia Hong had remained silent, just listening quietly. Seeing everyone fall silent and unable to decide, he finally spoke up with a smile, his gaze shifting to Xia Chuan and the others in the front row.
Xia Chuan didn't seem troubled at all. Seeing Xia Hong's gaze and knowing his eldest brother intended to test him, he took a few steps forward and said with a smile, "It's simple. Commander Hou is right; agreeing to Yang Zun's terms means being led by the nose, so we definitely can't agree.
But not leaving a way out for the people in the city isn't appropriate either. Once word gets out, it could affect our subsequent attacks on the three towns of Yangju, Jinshan, and Wuchuan. My idea is..."
He paused here, walked over to a stand on the side below the main seat. A map was hanging on the stand—a complete map of Beishuo City.
He pointed to the main gates on the east, south, and north sides of Beishuo City respectively, and continued, "Since Yang Zun wants to show kindness, let's help him fulfill that kindness. We'll directly announce to the city that we will only attack from these three directions and will not touch the West Gate at all.
This way, those in the city unwilling to resist will have a way out. Moreover, since we are making a public proclamation, Yang Zun won't be able to stop them. If they try any tricks at the West Gate, they'd only be harming their own people, which would further alienate the city's inhabitants from them..."
"Just leaving the West Gate open isn't enough. We should directly tell the people in the city that as long as they don't help defend the city and stay in their homes, we will let bygones be bygones after the city falls!"
…………
Clearly, Xia Chuan wasn't the only one with a prepared plan. Xu Ning, Lu Yang, Yue Feng, and others spoke up after him, obviously having already given it some thought.
Xia Hong, seated at the head, had already brightened up upon hearing Xia Chuan's words. After hearing the subsequent suggestions from Xu Ning and the others, he looked at the people below, not hiding the appreciation in his eyes at all.
The principle of "surround an enemy on three sides, leave one side open"—the tactic of leaving an apparent escape route—was something anyone with even a little knowledge of *The Art of War* in his previous life would understand.
But this was the Ice Abyss!
During the more than three years he had been away, not only Xia Chuan, but also Xu Ning, Lu Yang, Yue Feng, and others had clearly undergone astonishing growth.
Of course, besides those present, Yuwen Tao, Yuan Cheng, Luo Yuan—who were currently leading various armies—and all the army commanders under them were likely the same.
Having achieved the purpose of the test, and feeling gratified, Xia Hong no longer wasted time. He stood up directly from his chair and said in a deep voice, "Since you all have a plan, I won't interfere. What happens next will be handled personally by Xia Chuan and his men. In one hour, we begin the siege in earnest!"
After the delay, there was now only one hour left until dawn.
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Xia Chuan and the hundred-plus generals below all bowed and answered in unison upon hearing Xia Hong's final order.
"Xu Ning, Lu Yang, Mu Longhe, Yue Feng, Liu Yuan, the five of you come with me to Beishuo City. The rest of you, return to your respective armies, take inventory of military supplies, and prepare for breaching the city!"
Xia Chuan didn't waste words either. He named Xu Ning and the other four, then directly soared into the air from the front of the army formation, heading towards the sky above Beishuo City.
"Cloud Python Army, all personnel prepare!"
"Shanhe Army, prepare."
"Longyuan Army, prepare."
"Hunting Eagle Army, prepare!"
"Yellow Armor Army, prepare."
"Dragon Garrison Captain, prepare!"
…………
As Xia Chuan and the other five flew away, the remaining generals also dispersed to the front of the army formation, beginning to signal their respective armies to prepare.
A series of ten furious shouts from commanders rang out. The qi and blood of the already battle-ready army soldiers surged dramatically. A vast, crimson wave of heat instantly rose above the entire army formation, and the temperature of the surrounding space increased once more.
"Cloud Python Army, Dragon Garrison Captain, plus eight designated armies, totaling twenty-two thousand men. This is practically the strongest force Great Xia can currently muster. The difficulty of assaulting strongholds in the Ice Abyss probably isn't any less than in the previous world..."
Looking at the formidable array of the Xia troops, Xia Hong felt a surge of excitement within.
The Cloud Python Army was currently one of Great Xia's only two eighth-level corps. The five thousand soldiers within all had strength above 10 zong. The remaining eight designated armies were all ninth-level corps, each with only two thousand men, but their strength was all above 6 zong.
As for the Dragon Garrison Captain, that went without saying. Although this force only had a thousand men, these thousand were practically the batch with the highest talent in Great Xia at present. He had already seen them during the great battle at Baimu City. Even the ordinary soldiers had strength basically above 25 zong. Moreover, the number of people with strength exceeding 30 zong was also quite considerable.
Disregarding numbers and battlefield experience, the paper strength of the Dragon Garrison Captain could already give Caiqiu's Silver Scale Army a run for its money.
Crucially, Great Xia had another, almost perversely powerful advantage: the Sacred Mark amplification.
All Warmth Realm cultivators received a thirty percent strength amplification!
"The three northern towns have connections with Chencang and Caiqiu, possessing the means to make Digging Realm cultivators fight during the day. Beishuo probably has that too, but it can't have too many. Making nearly two hundred thousand Digging Realm cultivators in the city all appear during the day—even Great Xia doesn't have that capability now, let alone Beishuo.
We must breach the city by dawn. The miasma receding from the Nine-Bend Blood Corridor is likely the Abominations deliberately pulling back. That is to say, the Abominations are also fully aware of the current situation in the Southern Foothills. The withdrawal is deliberately to give the two Feudal Towns a chance to move south, making our Great Xia draw the attention of the two towns first. Those Abominations from the Blood Mire Plains are truly vicious..."
Xia Hong's brow twitched slightly. Recalling what he discovered when returning from the Nine-Bend Blood Corridor two days ago, a few more traces of gravity appeared on his face.
His urgency in attacking Beishuo City wasn't without reason. There were two main causes: first, worry about people from Chencang arriving—delay breeds complications; second, the changes at the Nine-Bend Blood Corridor.
If the miasma in the Blood Corridor has receded, what about the Bone-Erosion Path?
He had already learned while in the Mo'ao Chuan region that the Black Wind General of the Bone-Erosion Path and the Abominations of the Blood Mire Plains were from the same faction. If the miasma of the Nine-Bend Blood Corridor was starting to recede, truly as he suspected, a deliberate move by the Abominations, then the Bone-Erosion Path would certainly undergo synchronized changes.
After all, the Blood Mire Plains faced pressure from two major Feudal Towns. There was no reason to only let Chencang move south while still blocking Caiqiu's path.
"The one who slaughtered the talents of the two Feudal Towns in the Blood Mire Plains trial was called Profound Ice; the one who ambushed me in the Manluo Flower Sea was called Thousand Faces; the one in the Bone-Erosion Path was called Black Wind. These three all have Tribulation Body Realm strength. It's basically certain they are merely subordinates of that Abomination about to awaken in the Blood Mire Plains.
The key is, they might just be the ones visible on the surface. That Abomination faction in the Blood Mire Plains, able to contend with the two major Feudal Towns for so many years, its true strength is probably far beyond imagination. They can even arbitrarily alter the flow of time. That Abomination about to awaken is definitely Disaster-level, possibly even stronger!
If we don't deal with it early, I'm afraid..."
Xia Hong's face suddenly turned several shades gloomier. During his months in Yanling Commandery City, through Jiang Xinfan and Ji Hong, he had already learned many secrets about the Blood Mire Plains. Using this information, he had roughly pieced together the situation of the Abomination faction behind the Blood Mire Plains.
The more he understood, the heavier his heart naturally became.
There was still an unaddressed ticking time bomb at Qinghepu, and now an even more terrifying existence had emerged at Yanze Lake to the north.
"The wider the footprint, the more one touches upon unknown, powerful existences. Where did all these powerful beings come from? What kind of world is the Ice Abyss..."
Xia Hong took a deep breath. Although his gaze was fixed on Beishuo City, his thoughts had already flown elsewhere.
"People of Beishuo City, listen well! Lord Leader Xia Hong is benevolent and virtuous, willing to leave a path of life for you..."
Xia Chuan worked with great efficiency. Not long after he left with Xu Ning and the other four, a loud voice rang out from the sky above Beishuo City.
As all the army generals had dispersed, the main command platform was now empty except for Xia Hong and his family of four.
Hearing Xia Chuan's voice, Li Xuanling looked up at the sky. Sensing that dawn was approaching, she took a few steps forward to stand beside Xia Hong and asked in a low voice, "Do you need my help?"
Xia Hong turned his head to look at his wife, raising an eyebrow. "No need. You watch over A-Yao and Sheng'er. I'm back now; there's no need for you to take action!"
He had to admit, his wife's talent was undeniable. She broke through to the Sun Manifestation Level in Great Xia's ninth year. Now, counting fully, it's only been three years, yet her base strength had already reached 19 jun.
Xia Hong remembered clearly that his wife's strength was 9 jun when she first broke through. That meant she was now at the middle stage of the Sun Manifestation Level.
Of course, she couldn't compare to him, but compared to Great Xia's other Sun Manifestation Level cultivators, even those from the Feudal Towns, she was in a league of her own, leading by a huge margin.
"I've prepared quite a few good things for you. After this big battle is over, your strength should be able to surge upward another wave..."
Xia Hong only said half of what he intended, but it already made Li Xuanling's eyes light up. On the journey here last night, she had already learned about the great battle at Baimu City from Xia Chuan. Although she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she could roughly sense that Xia Hong's current strength was probably far beyond her imagination.
Li Xuanling still understood her husband's temperament well. If even he called them "good things," they certainly wouldn't be simple.
"Father, I want some too..."
Hearing his eldest daughter's interruption, Xia Hong couldn't help but laugh heartily.
"Hahaha, alright, alright. A-Yao will have some, Sheng'er will have some too. Everyone will have some. Father won't forget you..."
But after saying this, he paused, his tone shifting, and a few traces of seriousness appeared on his face as he continued, "However, both of you need to keep your eyes wide open today and see clearly how the territory of our Great Xia is obtained..."
Ten years old—in his previous life, that would be just a half-grown child. Forget coming to a brutal place like a battlefield; even spending a few minutes in a slaughterhouse would probably cause psychological issues.
But this was the Ice Abyss!
Not to mention other weaker camps, just taking Great Xia as an example: even now, when Great Xia is strong enough, children around ten years old have to start learning to hunt Frost Beasts. Going back a few years was even worse. In the early days when Great Xia first moved to the Valley, ten-year-old children even had to go out into the wilderness every night, either cutting wood or gathering. Sometimes, encountering and being killed by Frost Beasts wasn't uncommon.
The incident of Xia Yusheng being kidnapped served as a wake-up call for Xia Hong. He couldn't protect the two children every single moment. Even in Xia City, it was impossible to guarantee they would never be in danger.
Rather than using confinement to indirectly ensure their safety, it was better to boldly let go and let them truly adapt to the harsh survival rules of the Ice Abyss.
Witnessing a brutal battlefield with their own eyes was the first step in that adaptation!
Li Xuanling also clearly realized her husband's intention. A flicker of hesitation crossed her face, and she instinctively wanted to say something, but before the words could come out, Xia Hong stopped her with a look.
She remained silent for a long time, finally just nodding gently.
The two children, however, were extremely excited, completely unaware of what kind of scene they were about to witness. They just stared with great interest at the soldiers below the command platform, their faces full of excitement.
"Dawn is breaking..."
Xia Hong looked up at the gradually brightening sky and murmured softly. Then he turned his head to look at the army formation below and gave a loud order:
"Beat the drums, sound the horns, begin the siege!"
*Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump...*
As soon as his order was given, dense drumbeats immediately sounded from the side of the main command platform. The drumbeats shook the heavens and earth, making the hearts of all the soldiers beat rapidly in sync.
*Woo, woo, woo...*
The drumbeats continued for over ten breaths before the deep sound of massive horns joined in.
Anyone with slightly stronger strength could basically tell that both the drumbeats and the horn blasts were sounding simultaneously from three directions.
The main gate on the east side was only the main attack direction for the Xia troops.
On the south and north sides, there were two other armies launching supporting attacks. Moreover, with the implementation of Xia Chuan's "surround three, leave one open" decision, the original ten thousand troops on the west side had been split into two groups, joining the armies on the south and north sides respectively.
So at this moment, the entire Beishuo City was under attack from three sides simultaneously.
The main gate on the east side faced twenty thousand elite Xia troops; the city gates on the south and north sides each faced fifteen thousand allied troops.
"Loose arrows!"
As the commanders of the three armies gave the order simultaneously, countless arrows rained down upon the three city gates of Beishuo City.