Chapter 523: Yang Qu Retreats, Wu Chuan Advances |
Mo'ao Calendar Year 136, December 30th, Night
"Beishuo has been breached, Yang Jian was killed, Yang Zun and Yang Fa were captured alive... how is this possible, how is this possible..."
Yangju Town City, the Lord's great hall.
Cao Qianyang, seated in the main seat, rose directly from his chair upon hearing the news brought by Cai Qiuhu, his pupils trembling, his face filled with horror.
Of course, it wasn't just him. Town Lord Cao Yuankang, Army Commander Yan Chenzhou, Deputy Army Commander Wu Tianfa, along with all the high-ranking officials of Yangju present in the hall, all wore essentially the same expression.
"How is it not possible? Yang Zun exhausted all his methods, even with 180 Jun of strength he was defeated by Xia Hong. Chu Tianxu was also frightened off by Great Xia's two Beast Emperor-level puppets. You five towns were utterly foolish, fighting your own separate battles from the start, turtling up inside your town cities, allowing Great Xia to crush you one by one. It's only natural..."
Cai Qiuhu paused, looked up at Cao Qianyang seated at the head, a slight flicker of displeasure crossing his face, then continued in a deep voice, "Lord Cao, I have already pleaded with Xia Hong on your behalf. He has agreed to give you one month to withdraw with your people."
Cao Qianyang's mind was completely blank at this moment. He hadn't even been listening carefully to Cai Qiuhu's subsequent words. As soon as the other's voice stopped, he immediately showed a conflicted expression and said, "Young Fang Bo Cai, within my Yangju city there are still over 14,000 garrison troops. Outside the city, there are only 40,000 Xia troops. We previously ascertained that Great Xia's forces only have six Sun Manifestation Levels: Yuan Cheng, Qiu Peng, Xu An, Zhu Shun, Zhu Xing, and Lin Ye. If Young Fang Bo Cai would lead the honorable sirs to assist us, Yangju Town City..."
"Lord Cao!"
His initial plan had indeed been to help Yangju defend the city. But the moment he saw Beishuo City fall during the day, he immediately realized that Yangju Town City most likely could not be held.
Thinking of this, he looked up at the struggle on Cao Qianyang's face, a trace of disdain flashing deep in his eyes, then sneered and said, "Lord Cao, Beishuo City just had a full garrison of over 35,000 troops. Yang Zun, with 180 Jun, strength approaching the second transformation of the Tribulation Body Realm, couldn't hold it. Do you think these 39 people behind me can stop the Xia troops?"
"Didn't Young Fang Bo Cai say the Bone-Erosion Path has opened, we can..."
"Even if Caiqiu were to send a large army south, it wouldn't be able to save your Yangju City anytime soon. Does Lord Cao not know yet? Just now, when I was returning, over twenty more Xia military tents appeared outside the city."
Hearing this, Cao Qianyang was first stunned, but quickly understood something, his face instantly dimming.
Chuishan had long been Great Xia territory. Yangju borders Chuishan. If Yuan Cheng is determined to take Yangju Town City, he will definitely continuously reinforce from the rear. Before the major battle even began, he had a sense of this.
One Xia military tent can garrison a thousand men. Twenty more appearing at once means Yuan Cheng now commands an army of sixty thousand.
"If I'm not mistaken, the walls of Beishuo Town City were probably even mixed with the corpse of a Nightmare Abomination. Yet once the Xia troops' Silver crossbow bolts and torches came out, that wall served no purpose from start to finish. In terms of defensive fortifications, your Yangju probably isn't even half as strong as Beishuo's, not to mention your troop numbers are several times inferior. There's no hope, Lord Cao. Face reality!"
Hearing this final sentence from Cai Qiuhu, Cao Qianyang's pupils were filled with despair, his face completely darkened.
Although he clearly knew Cai Qiuhu was absolutely right, no matter what, he could not bring himself to utter the words to withdraw from the town city.
The Yangju high officials in the hall, seeing Cao Qianyang's expression, clearly understood his meaning. The entire great hall immediately fell into silence, a touch of sorrow on everyone's faces.
However, someone soon spoke up.
Cao Qianyang's son, Yangju Town Lord Cao Yuankang, was the first to step forward. His emotions were exceptionally agitated, and he spoke out angrily.
"Father, our Yangju has stood firm in the Southern Foothills for over a hundred years. Why should we fear a mere Great Xia? To just hand over the town city like this, I will never agree!"
Once Cao Yuankang spoke, others were immediately influenced and spoke up as well.
"Town Lord speaks rightly! Yangju's century-long town legacy, how can it be so easily surrendered? Even if we truly cannot stop the Xia troops, I will still take a bite out of them."
"This town city was built brick by brick, tile by tile, by generations of our Yangju ancestors. We absolutely cannot let the Xia troops occupy it so easily. Lord, your subordinate is willing to live and die with the town city. We will not retreat..."
………………
Hearing the stance of his son and his subordinates, Cao Qianyang clenched his fists, a flush of red rising on his face. He was clearly affected emotionally. He even stood up directly, evidently intending to declare his stance as well.
However, Cai Qiuhu chose this moment to interrupt him.
"Lord Cao, as long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood. Of the northern five towns, aren't Jinshan and Wuchuan still left? You retreat temporarily for now. Who knows what new changes might arise later?"
Hearing this, Cao Qianyang's expression grew serious, and a strong surge of hope immediately rose in his eyes. He asked with slight excitement, "Young Fang Bo Cai means..."
"Chu Tianxu had his face slapped by Xia Hong. How could he possibly let it go? No need to rush. Just listen to me for now. One month is enough for you to empty the town city treasury. Leave some... arrangements within the city. Perhaps the town city will be regained very soon..."
Cai Qiuhu's words acted as a reassurance for Cao Qianyang and the Yangju high officials. Their minds immediately became active again, plunging into a new round of heated discussion.
………………
The nine towns of the Southern Foothills, whether it was Bashang, the first to fall, or Beishuo, whose city was just breached by Xia troops last night, all have legacies spanning over a century.
A century is a very long span of time, long enough for people to develop a deep dependence on it. Due to the special management system of the nine towns, people living in the peripheral regions naturally have little attachment to the town city. Some, exploited too harshly, even deeply resent the town city.
But for those who have lived in the town city since childhood and enjoyed its benefits, it's a different matter entirely.
Just as the Xia people revere Xia Hong as a deity and regard Xia City as a spiritual totem, it's the same for the other towns. So even though they clearly know the Xia military's advance is fundamentally unstoppable, they are unwilling to hand over the town city.
Yang Jian was killed, Yang Fa was captured alive, Yang Zun was defeated, Beishuo City was breached. Knowing the situation was beyond recovery, a large group of Yang Clan loyalists still put up a desperate resistance, preferring death over surrendering to Great Xia.
…………
At the same time Cai Qiuhu was persuading Cao Qianyang to withdraw from Yangju, in the northern Wuchuan East Valley City, Qin Feng and Wuchuan's high officials found themselves in an extremely passive situation.
"Twenty thousand elite Xia troops are heading south, charging straight for Wuchuan Town City. We have no choice; we must return to reinforce. The supplies in Dongchuan City are only enough for two months. Once the Xia troops surround the town city, we're finished."
"Will Luo Yuan let us go? Four Sun Manifestation Levels are monitoring the four sides of Dongchuan City day and night without rest. The moment the city's main army makes a move, they will react immediately. It's clear they won't let us leave."
"Damn it, damn it, damn it! Beishuo was actually breached! That Yang Zun previously swore to us that as long as we held Donggu City, the Xia troops wouldn't be able to cause trouble. Isn't this harming us?"
"We've committed all fifty thousand troops to Donggu. The town city only has ten thousand troops. Can they hold off the Xia troops?"
"Need you ask? Beishuo City had thirty-five thousand troops and was still breached by the Xia troops. How could we possibly hold with our ten thousand?"
"The town city cannot be lost. We must return!"
"What about the forty thousand Xia troops outside the city? The moment we leave the city, they will immediately pounce. The reason we've been able to stalemate with the Xia troops these past few days is precisely because we rely on strong city defenses. If we truly engage the Xia troops in the wilderness, we have no chance of winning!"
………………
"All of you, shut up!"
Qin Feng's mind was already a complete mess. Seeing everyone endlessly debating but unable to produce a feasible plan, he finally couldn't bear it and angrily shouted, interrupting them.
After the hall quieted down, Qin Feng turned his head towards the elderly man in a blue brocade robe seated at the side, a glimmer of hope on his face. "Given the current situation, what should we do? I ask Elder Cai for guidance!"
Beishuo was lost, Yanling Commandery Governor Chu Tianxu was forced to retreat by Xia Hong. Qin Feng knew perfectly well that relying on himself alone, he definitely could not hold Wuchuan. At this moment, the only hope for Wuchuan's survival lay with the Cai Yunhe before him, or rather, with Caiqiu behind Cai Yunhe.
Cai Yunhe met Qin Feng's gaze, then turned to survey the Wuchuan high officials in the hall. A flicker of disdain passed deep in his eyes, and he shook his head inwardly.
*These lowly barbarians from a small place like the Southern Foothills, all flustered over a minor matter. And this Lord Qin Feng is even worse. Clearly holding fifty thousand troops, yet afraid of the wolf in front and the tiger behind. Where is the bearing of a leader?*
Of course, Cai Yunhe would not voice his inner thoughts. Seeing everyone's focus on him, he pondered for a moment before speaking in a deep voice, "Returning to reinforce the town city is definitely impossible. Luo Yuan's forty thousand troops must have received news of Beishuo's fall; otherwise, they wouldn't be monitoring the city's movements so intensively. Leaving the city now, forget about whether you can even get away... even if they truly let you leave Donggu City, would you dare return to Wuchuan Town City?"
Hearing this, everyone's expressions changed slightly, growing even more somber.
The news they had received was that twenty thousand elite Xia troops were heading south, charging straight for Wuchuan Town City. It looks like they intend to attack the town city. But will the Xia troops attack directly once they arrive?
As someone just said, as long as the Xia troops surround Wuchuan Town City, cutting off the connection between the town city and Donggu, severing the military supplies for the fifty thousand troops in Donggu City, they would collapse without a fight in at most a month.
With this premise, it's almost certain that when those twenty thousand elite Xia troops reach Wuchuan Town City, they won't attack directly, but will instead, like Luo Yuan's forty thousand troops outside Donggu, surround without attacking.
In such a situation, even if their fifty thousand men leave Donggu City, Luo Yuan only needs to follow closely behind. By the time they are near the town city, the twenty thousand elite Xia troops waiting rested and ready near the town city can attack from both front and rear. What would they do then?
"Ultimately, the issue you're hesitating over, from start to finish, is only one: whether to fight, or to defend!"
Cai Yunhe spoke again. This time, he didn't beat around the bush, directly pointing out Wuchuan's dilemma, then continued, "This old man has observed. Whether in equipment or cultivation level, the Xia troops are indeed slightly stronger than Wuchuan, but not to a crushing extent. If a real fight breaks out, it's not without chance of victory..."
"Elder Cai means we should take the initiative, seek battle with Luo Yuan's forces?"
Qin Feng's brow furrowed deeply, his expression somewhat unpleasant. Without waiting for Cai Yunhe's answer, he continued, "I'm afraid Luo Yuan won't fight us now. Beishuo City has already been taken. They only need to pin us down, drag it out for a month, and we'll collapse without a fight. Why would he..."
"Bait!"
Cai Yunhe only said two words, but everyone in the hall immediately understood, their expressions brightening slightly.
"Luo Yuan is monitoring the town's movements so intensively precisely because he's afraid you'll return to reinforce the town city. As long as we throw out a little bait, he'll take it. There are only forty thousand Xia troops outside the city, only six Sun Manifestation Levels. If a real fight breaks out, who wins and who loses is still uncertain..."
A struggle flashed across Qin Feng's face as an internal battle raged within him.
He had actually already thought of this method Cai Yunhe mentioned earlier. The problem was, he was truly somewhat afraid of the Xia troops. Even with ten thousand more men than the opponent, he still lacked confidence.
There was no helping it. Great Xia's eastward expansion over these four years had created a huge psychological shadow for the northern five towns and for him personally. To the point where he instinctively felt that the outcome of a frontal clash with Xia troops would inevitably be defeat.
But right now, was there any other better method?
If they didn't deal with Luo Yuan's forty thousand troops, they definitely couldn't return to the town city. Once the town city had a problem, it wouldn't just be a matter of victory or defeat.
For these high officials, it was still manageable. He had already sent his son Qin He to lead people directly back to the town city, ordering him to take charge of the city's defense while also safeguarding the family members in the city. If there was any change, he was to immediately evacuate with them.
The key was the fifty thousand troops in Donggu City. The family members and relatives of these fifty thousand soldiers all lived in Wuchuan Town City. Once the town city was breached by Xia troops, the consequences would be far more severe than just severed military supplies.
"We have to fight!"
After a brief internal struggle, Qin Feng quickly reached an answer.
Fighting was the only way to break the current deadlock. To return and reinforce the town city, they couldn't bypass Luo Yuan's forty thousand troops. Rather than dragging it out like this, it was better to have it out with them sooner, aiming for a quick resolution.
"Tianhao, immediately assemble the main army at the north city gate, making a show of intending to retreat, to lure the Xia troops into blocking us. But make it clear to the soldiers: we are leaving the city not to flee, but to engage the Xia troops in battle. Have them mentally prepared in advance."
"Your subordinate will carry this out immediately!"
Ye Tianhao clearly also agreed with taking the initiative. After cupping his hands in acknowledgment, he immediately turned and flew towards the direction of the military camp.
"In the end, we are the ones actively leaving Donggu City. Great Xia's target from the start was Yangju and Beishuo. Making a show of advancing on four fronts simultaneously was just to intimidate us, to make us turtle up. Damn it, I actually failed to see through Xia Hong's intent earlier. Otherwise, how could we have fallen into our current predicament!"
Qin Feng's face was as dark as if it could drip blood. After pondering for a moment internally, he looked at his second son, Qin Shan, below and issued a stern order. "Shan'er, gather all the Digging Realm cultivators in the city together."
Hearing this command from Qin Feng, everyone in the hall was momentarily stunned. But then, turning to look at the pitch-black sky outside, their faces were instantly filled with excitement.
Taking the initiative also had its advantages. Originally, if the Xia troops attacked the city normally, Wuchuan would be the passive party. It was predictable that Xia Hong would certainly choose to attack at dawn, since they only brought Warmth Realm cultivators.
But now, *they* were the ones seeking battle. So when to fight would inevitably be their choice.
"Our troop numbers in the city are only ten thousand more than Great Xia's, not exactly secure. But if we have tens of thousands of Digging Realm cultivators assisting, then the situation is different..."
Qin Feng murmured this internally, then closed his eyes, waiting for Ye Tianhao and Qin Shan to return with their reports.