Chapter 105: The Shuofeng Meat Grinder, Northern Liang Stained with Blood |
War Council Chamber.
The Emperor sat at the head, with the Duke of Li on his left and the Marquis of Huai on his right.
At this moment, the military dispatch from the front was in the hands of Marquis of Huai Zhao Lie.
After reading it, he stood up.
Between the three men was a terrain sand table with considerable precision.
Zhao Lie couldn't help but murmur: "This Ji Yuan is truly formidable."
"How is Xixun doing?" the Emperor asked.
The Duke of Li sighed before answering: "I visited him a few days ago. After learning of Han Yuan's death in battle, he fell gravely ill and has remained physically weak ever since. He repeatedly told me that his days are numbered, his days are numbered."
The Emperor also felt somewhat mournful—the pain of losing a son resonated with him: "His second son should be about the right age now, shouldn't he? Let him take over his elder brother's position and title."
Although Tongmen Pass had fallen due to internal betrayal, as the defending general of Wuwei he bore some connection to it, but dying for his country could reduce his guilt by one degree.
And with one reduction plus one addition, there was actually a surplus in the end. The final verdict concluded: Han Yuan perished; by imperial grace, he would receive a state funeral with national rites.
"Even mobilizing the entire northern border's forces only tied down just over ten thousand of his troops. The pressure on Shuofeng remains enormous," said the Duke of Li.
"Let General Xiao Qun take the initiative to attack," Zhao Lie suggested.
"Absolutely not." The Duke of Li waved his hand in denial. "We can't afford to lose. Even if we win, it would only force them to withdraw temporarily. But if we lose once, we'll have no ability to counterattack, and all the aristocratic families throughout Liang Prefecture will respond with rebellion. At that point, with fires erupting everywhere, we might only have a few cities left."
"If we win, Shuofeng's crisis can be resolved," Zhao Lie analyzed. "If we lose, Shuofeng falls like Wuwei—it need only be besieged to be taken."
"In the military dispatch sent back by Chen Ling (the new Inspector of Liang Prefecture), he estimates that Shuofeng's grain supplies can only last until the start of winter," said the Duke of Li.
"But can Shuofeng City hold until the start of winter?" Zhao Lie said. "It's different from Wuwei, and Ji Yuan is pouring his entire nation into it."
"Moreover, malaria has broken out there."
As the Duke of Li spoke, he lowered his head: "The possibility of holding it has decreased considerably. What we should hope for now is that Ji Yuan can take Shuofeng, but at a pyrrhic victory—his troop losses requiring at least three years to replenish and recover."
"But if Shuofeng falls again, the blow to morale would be too severe," Zhao Lie reminded him.
Actually, both men were hawks.
But among hawks, Zhao Lie was even more hawkish.
So hawkish that he made the Duke of Li seem somewhat dovish by comparison.
"What do you two think Song Shi'an is thinking?"
Just as the two were somewhat at odds, the Emperor suddenly asked.
That a county magistrate's thoughts would be seriously discussed by the Emperor and two grand ministers—
The Duke of Li slowly stood up, and like Zhao Lie, stood before the sand table, gazing at that representation of 'Shuofeng': "This young fellow trusts no one."
"In other words," the Emperor's expression grew solemn, "his idea of victory is holding out until the start of winter and Ji Yuan's retreat. Not Xiao Qun taking the initiative to strike and repelling Ji Yuan."
"If Xiao Qun loses, he'll probably curse Xiao Qun even from the Yellow Springs," the Duke of Li said self-mockingly. "And in his heart of hearts, he'll believe that we people of Qin Prefecture are irredeemable trash."
"Does this junior really think that in this entire realm, only he alone can turn the tide?" Though Zhao Lie had no particular grievance against Song Shi'an, having a young boy make up for the battles lost by the meritorious nobility did rather damage one's self-respect.
"Zhen has already given him the chance to wager against all the officials—we won't add to his troubles,"
Finally, the Emperor stood up and also looked toward 'Shuofeng', deciding: "This time, if he wins, the credit is all his. If he loses, the blame is all his as well."
.........
"Wait."
In the courtyard, Sun Jinhu saw a maid carrying tea and refreshments to the study and directly stopped her.
Then she took the tray from her hands: "I'll take it. You go rest."
"Yes, Miss."
Then she walked toward Minister Sun's study.
Earlier, her elder brother had rushed into the estate with a smile on his face to see their father.
There must be some important matter...
Thinking this, she entered the study's outer room: "Father, I've brought tea and refreshments."
"Enter."
Inside was Sun Yan's voice, quite casual.
So she walked into the room.
"That Shuofeng City is small, yet has tens of thousands inside. With malaria breaking out there, even if a deity descended, it would be impossible to defend!" Sun Heng said excitedly.
Sun Jinhu set down the wooden tray, slowly placing the cups, slowly lifting the pot, slowly pouring the tea...
"Excellent." Sun Yan also smiled as he stroked his beard. "That young upstart is truly going to die in there."
"I originally thought Ji Yuan was useless—bringing hundreds of thousands and unable to take such a broken city in a month. Fortunately, there's malaria now. Heaven truly aids Father, aids our Sun clan in grasping great power!" Sun Heng was full of anticipation for the future.
These defeats were either fought by the meritorious nobility or by neutral aristocratic families. Because of Wei Wusheng, they were even connected to the Emperor.
Moreover, with the Northern Liang valley lost, a sword hung over all of Great Yu's head.
If they continued suppressing the Jiangnan gentry—you Wei clan can play alone.
Our Sun clan will return to Jiangnan.
"Brother, with hundreds of thousands gathered together, flesh and blood flying everywhere, and malaria—among epidemic disasters, seven or eight out of ten—how could Song Shi'an have lost to the weather?" Sun Yan said without courtesy. "A loss is a loss. What Ji Yuan won was fair and square."
After pouring the tea, Sun Jinhu bowed to the two men.
Then she withdrew from the study.
Returning to her own boudoir.
As soon as she entered, she lay on the bed, looking up at the gauze canopy above, her mood somewhat dejected...
At this time, Awu at her side asked: "Miss, what's wrong?"
"Why do Father and the others hate Song Shi'an so much?" Sun Jinhu asked. "If he holds the city, wouldn't our Sun family also be safer?"
"Laoye must be considering matters from far ahead," Awu said. "I've heard that in Sheng'an City, many people are afraid of Song Shi'an returning alive. They even say that once he returns alive, he'll begin a great slaughter. Of course, Laoye certainly doesn't fear him. But surely, he also doesn't want him causing great trouble for the Sun clan."
"Tell me."
Lying on the bed, Sun Jinhu turned her head to look at Awu and asked: "Could I... could I make the Sun clan and Song clan reconcile?"
"Ah?" Even though Awu was just a young girl, she found these words naive. "Miss, do you have some method?"
With worry in her eyes, Sun Jinhu said quietly: "What other method could there be?"
.........
*Prince of Wu's Estate.*
Learning of the Shuofeng epidemic, the three men became completely anxious.
"This is bad!" As a military man who understood malaria's dangers best, Zhao Yi sensed the crisis. "Right at the hottest time too. Even if they can endure it, at most only around ten thousand people will remain in the city, of which at most four thousand will be combat-capable soldiers."
"Can four thousand troops hold it?" the Prince of Wu asked.
"Wuwei might be possible, but Shuofeng—too difficult, too difficult!" Zhao Yi shook his head repeatedly in anxiety.
"Your Highness, no matter what, there's no turning back now."
Ye Changqing also understood how critical the situation was, but still gripped his arm tightly, presenting his case with extreme seriousness: "If the front suffers setbacks, the aristocratic families will certainly make a comeback. You must still protect Song Jing!"
"Confining him for over a month with no progress on the case—will Wang Chen continue listening to me..."
The Prince of Wu knew that further interference on his part would truly be excessive.
That was the Court of Judicial Review, after all.
"If His Majesty doesn't intervene personally, it represents that he doesn't want progress on Song Jing's case," Ye Changqing said forcefully, seeing the Prince of Wu beginning to waver. "Use Your Highness's influence to pressure him—forbid him from rendering judgment. As long as the Prince of Jin doesn't intervene personally, he won't dare move."
"Will Second Brother not intervene?"
"He won't," Ye Changqing said with certainty. "Though the Second Prince competes with you, he absolutely doesn't want to lose His Majesty's favor."
"I understand, I understand."
The Prince of Wu took a deep breath and said: "I'll protect Song Jing. I will protect Song Jing."
.........
Commanding from a large ship, Luo Ting was presiding over clearing obstacles.
Halfway through the demolition, suddenly a scout rode up along the shore, shouting at him: "General! Those bastard Qi bandits have buried wood in the water again!"
Hearing this, several military officers and staff beside Luo Ting all clutched their heads.
"I really want to kill Ji Yuan's mother... This bastard, doesn't he dare fight us head-on?!"
"Our Liang Prefecture navy only advances ten li per day!"
"Clear obstacles, clear obstacles—work day and night clearing obstacles." Luo Ting frowned as he ordered. "Send another two hundred light cavalry to disperse and circle behind them, intercept grain transport—don't get entangled in battle. After killing the transport soldiers and laborers, burn the grain."
"Yes!"
Gripping the sword planted on the deck, Luo Ting said through gritted teeth: "Song Shi'an, I'm already doing everything I can to buy you time."
.........
The sky suddenly became overcast with dark clouds.
A gust of wind blew through, carrying moisture.
They had been defending the city for a full two months now.
During this time, several light rains had fallen. The pillar towers outside the city occupied by Qi forces, since their main structure was originally tamped earth, had all collapsed one after another.
Shuofeng's city walls were also riddled with damage.
And the moat had been filled with at least eight sand paths, having lost its function as a barrier.
The city head had been scaled by assault troops over a dozen times.
But they had all been beaten back.
That Wang Dalong truly lived up to being Liang Prefecture's fiercest individual warrior—enemy soldiers personally killed by his hand numbered around eighty.
Great Yu's KD King.
"Finally, a heavy rain is coming. We can rest for a few days."
Good rain indeed—even better than that downpour at Shangfang Valley (Lu Yi's face).
Song Shi'an put on a straw raincoat and wore a bamboo hat.
Then nearly a hundred officials and able-bodied laborers, all dressed in raincoats and bamboo hats, emerged from the county jail.
Over these two months, between those killed by Ji Yuan and casualties from malaria, the total reached over eighteen thousand.
Combat-capable soldiers remaining numbered only eight thousand.
Of the remaining less than twenty thousand common people, those who could be called laborers numbered less than ten thousand.
Of course, Ji Yuan's casualties must also have been enormous.
Qi forces had lost at least over twenty thousand, with countless deaths and injuries among civilian laborers from both Qi and Yu.
It could completely be called the Shuofeng Meat Grinder.
Just this Shuofeng campaign alone might claim a hundred thousand lives.
And that wasn't counting Zhao Xiang, Han Yuan, and those at Tongmen Pass.
The air was thick with the intense scent of blood.
As if the entire city had rusted over.
"Clear the silt! Hurry and clear the drainage channels—this will be a heavy rain—"
Before Song Shi'an finished speaking, torrential rain began pouring down.
Moreover, the Northern Liang wind was fucking enormous—if you went against it, the rain struck like a high-pressure water gun...
"All common people camping outside in tents, everyone go to the county office—there's room there! Bring the children, don't leave any children behind!"
Though so many had died, half the city's houses had been burned for firewood. Space had opened up and population density decreased, but some people still camped overnight in tents.
Song Shi'an faced the gale, moving against the stream of people relocating toward the county office, directing the overall situation.
The common people were one concern, but clearing silt couldn't be neglected either.
Ancient cities had very poor drainage. The capital and certain large cities were better, but places like Shuofeng with weak strategic significance and economic function could be compared to a large barrel.
In heavy rain, water absolutely had to be drained out—one reason being the danger of flooding, another being that if all the arrows in the armory got soaked, they'd be as good as wasted...
Once the weather cleared, Ji Yuan would return with renewed force.
Shuofeng would lose many, many more people for nothing.
Just as Song Shi'an was directing operations, he suddenly saw a bare-bottomed little boy sitting in the heavy rain by the roadside, wailing and crying. The common people around all ran past directly, no one paying attention.
"Where are his parents?! Does anyone know this child's parents?!" Song Shi'an shouted.
"They're dead, all dead!" A woman holding a child answered while running, then passed by Song Shi'an.
Seeing this, Song Shi'an directly picked up the sobbing child, then removed the bamboo hat from his own head, placed it on the boy's head, and ran toward the county office...
In the county office, Xinyue ran back and forth helping the common people move things, and whenever she encountered a county clerk, she asked: "Where is your laoye? He just recovered from malaria not long ago—where is he now?"
Not a single person knew, all passing by her.
And she could only continue carrying things in the rain.
The cord binding her hair slipped loose during her bustling about, her long hair completely falling down, even covering half her eyes.
Abruptly, a child wearing a bamboo hat was thrust into her arms.
She looked up—it was Song Shi'an, water streaming down his face.
He took back the bamboo hat and turned around without pausing for even a moment.
"Song Shi'an!"
Holding the child, Xinyue hurried after him, but at that instant at the county office entrance, the gale carried the sudden rain crashing toward her, making her long hair billow up like a sail.
Song Shi'an moved against the countless common people running into the county office, breaking through the wave of humanity, plunging into the storm...
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