Chapter 528 - 528. Victory In Siege
Zhang Jinglin knelt on one knee and cupped his fists at Xiao Zeyu, asking for battle. Xiao Zeyu said nothing and kept looking at the sand table before him. This battle sand table was made according to the terrain of Luo City.
Zhang Jinglin was still kneeling on the ground. He did not understand why the
Young Master disagreed with his request to fight.
“Get up first.”
Xiao Zeyu raised his hand and ordered Zhang Jinglin to get up. He then looked
at the sand table in deep thought.
“Jing Lin, look. Long Ling is now calling the shots from this position.” Xiao Zeyu pulled out his sword and pointed it at the spot where Long Ling had called out. Zhang Jinglin looked over seriously. It was outside the eastern gate, not the main gate. Suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind as he raised his head to look at Xiao Zeyu.
Xiao Zeyu saw that he understood and smiled,
“Jing Lin already understands.”
“Yes, Young Master. This position can be used to set up a pocket formation.” Zhang Jinglin’s back was covered in sweat as he admired Xiao Zeyu. If the young master had not come and been forced to fight by Long Ling, he would have fallen into Long Ling’s pocket formation.
“Yes.” Seeing that Zhang Jinglin could also tell, Xiao Zeyu nodded.
-We have to move the battlefield to the main entrance.”
Xiao Zeyu pointed the tip of his sword outside the main entrance. It was an open space where the enemy couldn’t do anything.
-I sent people to check. There are more than ten thousand soldiers in the Wan Family Army, and our city’s total number of soldiers is less than two
thousand.”
Zhang Jinglin sighed. Going out of the main gate was a one-on-one fight, but the enemy was several times more than them. Moreover, only half of their team were old generals, and the rest were newly recruited into the Xiao Family Army. Fighting against the Wan Family Army, which had been through the battlefield for a long time, was like hitting a rock with an egg.
Even if the Wan Clan Army didn’t set up any formations, they could not win.
“Yeah, that’s why we can do this…”
Xiao Zeyu spoke of his plan calmly, but Zhang Jinglin felt it was too risky.
“Isn’t this very dangerous?”
“There are dangers in war, but we can win in danger. It’s better than having more than less.”
Xiao Zeyu nodded. This method was risky but the best way to resolve Luo City’s crisis.
“Alright, I’ll immediately organize a suicide squad.”
Zhang Jinglin saw that Young Master had already made up his mind and immediately obeyed to make preparations.
The soldiers who went this time had a slim chance of survival and had to sign a life-and-death contract. They needed bold and careful people. Otherwise, it would be bad if cowards went.
Zhang Jinglin went to make preparations. Xiao Zeyu stayed in the main tent alone and looked at the sand table deeply. This time, he wanted to bring his men personally. Although it would be dangerous, with the grenades given by Qing’er, they could safely retreat into the city at the last moment.
Zhang Jinglin selected a total of too members for the suicide squad. Almost all of them were veterans of the Xiao Family’s Army. They were experienced on the battlefield and had extraordinary courage. Only a dozen of them were the best among the recruits. They wanted to make contributions and were not afraid of death.
“Young Master.”
Zhang Jinglin brought a hundred soldiers to the main tent. When he saw Xiao
Zeyu wearing his night suit, he quickly stepped forward.
“Young Master, you want to go personally? You mustn t!
The Young Master wanted to put himself in danger for such a dangerous matter. Zhang Jinglin had to stop him, whether it was for personal or public reasons.
-I’ve made up my mind. Jing Lin, you don’t have to say anything more. Today is New Year’s Eve, and tonight is the best time.”
No one could stop Xiao Zeyu from making his decision. He waved his hand and told Zhang Jinglin not to say anything more. Zhang Jinglin wanted to persuade Xiao Zeyu to think twice, but he saw that Xiao Zeyu had already walked out o the tent.
The hundred soldiers standing outside the door knelt together when they saw their young master emerge.
“Young Master.”
They were well-trained, after all, and the shout came from their dantian. Although there were only a hundred soldiers, it gave off a grandeur comparable to thousands of troops.
“Very good.”
Xiao Zeyu nodded his head, his dignified gaze sweeping across everyone present, his voice loud and clear as he said to them,
“In a while, everyone will eat something good. After eating and drinking, I will take you to kill the enemy.”
-This subordinate is willing to follow the Young Master to the death.” Hearing that the young master would personally take them there, these hundred soldiers were very excited. With the young master there, they would return triumphantly.
Seeing that he could not stop Xiao Zeyu, Zhang Jinglin could only follow his orders and make preparations.
Luo City was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and gongs and drums were heard. The Wan Family Army outside the city saw how lively the city was and thought of their relatives at home. It was the new year today. ‘Were they doing well?’
Long Ling ordered his men to go out and scold Xiao Zeyu, scolding all eight generations of his ancestors. He didn’t believe that Xiao Zeyu would be able to remain calm during the new year.
After besieging Luo City for so long, they had used up half of their rations Long Ling was also anxious. If they ran out of rations and Luo City was still not taken down, they would have to return to the capital to ask for rations. With so many troops, if they could not take down Luo City, which was only guarded by two thousand Xiao Family soldiers, he would definitely have a bad reputation because of the Emperor’s temper.
Moreover, the capital’s food was also insufficient. There were still a few other places that were at war. Where would there be extra food for them?
Therefore, he also hoped to end the battle quickly. He realized that this child of the Xiao family was too calm. No matter how much he scolded, he would not come out. He did not know if he feared death or could keep calm.
“Reporting to the Left General, the people in the city have sent a message. Luo City is celebrating the new year in a lively manner. The army has not made any movements.”
A soldier came to report. Long Ling frowned after hearing it. Despite being surrounded, the army was still in the mood to celebrate the new year. ‘Were they waiting for reinforcements?’
-Men, attack the city. We can’t let them have a peaceful New Year.”
Long Ling decided not to wait any longer. Taking advantage of the new year’s siege, his primary attack position was still the eastern city. He could retreat and defend this side, and it was also convenient to attack. He also attacked the other three directions, only to harass the Xiao Family Army in the city. He did not know which side to focus on.
But he also knew the east side had more soldiers than the other three. They cursed here daily, and the Xiao Family’s Army on the city wall had long held back their anger. They were waiting for them to attack the city and then let loose.
However, he didn’t care. There were only 2,000 people in the Xiao Family’s Army in the city. ‘Even if there were more people in the east city, how many could there be?1
When it was almost midnight, Long Ling led his troops to attack the city. As the army approached, the well-trained Wan Clan Army climbed up the city wall with ladders and lifted rolling logs to hit the city gate. They attacked with killing intent.
Zhang Jinglin led his men to throw rolling wood and thunder stones on the city wall They poured tung oil on the city wall and fired fire arrows. The soldiers who climbed the ladder to the city wall all turned into burning men and fell down the ladder. The battle was unusually intense, and the shouts and killing sounds shook the sky.
Seeing enough people gathered below the city, Zhang Jinglin pulled out a grenade and threw it down. The explosion caused the Wan Family Army to suffer heavy casualties.
Long Ling had only heard about it before, but today, he had witnessed the power of the great killing weapon. Seeing that the attack on the east side was fruitless, he ordered his men to attack from the other three directions.
However, before the soldiers he sent out to pass on the order could leave, he saw that the three teams had sent their soldiers. The soldier at the main entrance reported,
-Left General, the Xiao Family Army’s killing weapon is powerful. We couldn’t get close and suffered heavy casualties.
The soldier at the north gate reported,
-Reporting to the Left General, a burly man charged in from behind the troops. Anyone he hit with a pair of iron hammers died.
Long Ling’s expression changed drastically after hearing that, and he immediately ordered,
“Quick, send more men to protect the rations..