Chapter 1099

Li Yongfu said: "Sir, do you really plan to attack Dongluo Cang with eight thousand people? If Dongluo Cang leaves behind ten thousand or more, if the garrison of Dongluo Cang simply holds fast and does not come out? Even if everything is as Mr. Yu calculated, if we cannot take Dongluo Cang in a short time, the news of the attack on Dongluo Cang, once it reaches the battlefield here, Qin Yangming will certainly go to reinforce; then the army marching to attack Dongluo Cang will fall into a dilemma of advance or retreat."

Hu Xiaotian said: "So we must seize Dongluo Cang promptly." He turned his gaze toward Liang Yinghao.

Liang Yinghao said: "I have studied the surrounding situation of Dongluo Cang. Due to transport needs, Dongluo Cang specially dug a canal, which connects to the Wushui River, a tributary of the Yongjiang River. The wharf is located inside Dongluo Cang, and entry to Dongluo Cang is via the water gate. All of Dongluo Cang's sewage flows through the hidden ditches near the water gate into the canal. These hidden ditches are about two li from Dongluo Cang."

Zhao Wusheng said: "You mean we can sneak into Dongluo Cang through the hidden ditches?"

Liang Yinghao nodded.

Zhao Wusheng pointed to the location of Dongluo Cang on the sand table and said: "Do you know how high the arrow towers of Dongluo Cang are? The area around the canal is flat as a plain; not to mention one li, even within five li any movement would be clearly visible to them." He did not understand Yu Tianxing, let alone trust him; in his view, armchair strategy and actual combat are worlds apart.

Yu Tianxing said: "This requires diverting their attention. We can place three catapults on the hill northwest of Dongluo Cang in advance, and at the agreed time launch stone barrages toward Dongluo Cang from there, using the hill's height. The range of the catapult's attack doubles; I have calculated where the stones will land, and they can fall inside Dongluo Cang. These stones will pose a great threat to Dongluo Cang; after being attacked, they will surely promptly remove the threat, sending part of their forces to the hill to destroy the catapults. While the catapults pin down their troops, our men can sneak into Dongluo Cang through the hidden ditches."

At this point Zhao Wusheng fully understood Yu Tianxing's plan and had to admit it was quite meticulous. Yet there was enormous risk; the greater the risk, the greater the challenge. He clenched his fists and said in a low voice: "Since we have decided to fight this battle, I, as a subordinate general, am willing to lead troops to sneak into Dongluo Cang."

Yu Tianxing said: "We have eight thousand troops available; the three catapults are intended to pin down the attention of Dongluo Cang's garrison. We must hold the line firmly; this position requires two thousand men. Mr. Zhu, you and your brothers are responsible: no matter what, you must pin down the enemy's main force, creating enough time and opportunity for the brothers sneaking into Dongluo Cang. Remember, defense is primary; do not recklessly take the offensive. Only once the enemy notices that Dongluo Cang is under attack may you pursue and harass them from the rear."

Zhu Ba nodded and said: "Sir, rest assured; as long as I have breath, I will hold this high ground."

Yu Tianxing said: "General Zhao, select one thousand elite marines from Wuxing Jun to accompany the lord and sneak into Dongluo Cang through the hidden ditches."

Zhao Wusheng heard this and was startled: "What?" He never imagined that Lord Hu Xiaotian would personally venture into danger.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "My swimming and martial skills are fine, but in this weather the river water is freezing cold; we need good thermal wetsuits and top-notch swimming ability. To avoid detection, we must enter the canal from beyond five li, then swim to the opening of the hidden ditch. Can you select one thousand men?"

Zhao Wusheng nodded and said: "I can select them, Sir, but let me, as a subordinate, lead the troops; how could someone of your stature personally risk danger!"

Yu Tianxing said: "General Zhao, you have other tasks; aside from the three thousand, the remaining five thousand will be led by you. You are to ambush near Bailikou. If the lord successfully takes Dongluo Cang, you shall immediately lead these five thousand to rendezvous at Dongluo Cang and encircle and annihilate the fleeing enemy troops. If the lord's attack on the city is thwarted, you will be responsible here for blocking Qin Yangming's reinforcements, ensuring the lord has time to withdraw in an orderly fashion." After saying that, he then added: "General Zhao, the burden on your shoulders is heavy; once Dongluo Cang is attacked, news will soon reach here, and Qin Yangming will dispatch reinforcements at top speed, arriving as quickly as within two shichen."

Zhao Wusheng nodded.

Xiong Tianba noticed that Yu Tianxing had forgotten him again, and hurriedly said: "What about me? What about me?"

Yu Tianxing said: "You and General Zhao will serve as his vanguard officers; remember, when fighting you charge to the front, and when retreating you stay at the rear. Understand?"

Xiong Tianba said: "Understood!"

Hu Xiaotian and Li Yongfu looked over and said: "General Li, although you are not directly involved in the fighting, Wuxing Jun is vital to our survival; even if Dongluo Cang cannot be taken, we still have a chance; if Dongliang Jun is seized, we can still retake it; but if Wuxing Jun is broken, we will have nowhere to stand."

Li Yongfu bowed with clasped fists and said: "Lord, rest assured; I, Li Yongfu, am with the city—if the city falls, I perish with it."

Hu Xiaotian patted his shoulder and said earnestly: "The city must stand, and you must remain; otherwise it would be your dereliction of duty. After this battle ends, let us sit down together and share a celebratory drink."

Yu Tianxing said: "General Li, hold Wuxing Jun; upon receiving news that our army has taken Dongluo Cang, you may deploy a hundred warships to set sail for Xiasha Port, each needing only a crew to operate, without committing large forces."

Li Yongfu said: "Isn't that just making a show of force?"

Yu Tianxing nodded and said: "Exactly, it's meant to be a show of force to scare off their navy; no actual battle is needed."

Da Yong's second batch of grain and fodder has already been transported; Dongliang Jun still has three thousand prisoners left, and these last three thousand prisoners are mostly officers of various ranks from the Nanyang Water Stronghold. The good ones are kept to the end; Hu Xiaotian must guard against Da Yong's tactic of "breaking the warrior's arm"—abandoning the remaining prisoners and launching a sudden attack. The plan for a surprise assault on Dongluo Cang has already begun to unfold; the soldiers participating in the surprise assault have already started to infiltrate the vicinity of Dongluo Cang in small groups, to regroup at night of the attack.

As the saying goes, "When the mountain rain is coming, the wind fills the tower"; the people of Dongliang Jun also seem to have sensed something unsettling. Recently, many rumors have spread in the city, the most common being that war will soon break out again. In fact, this is obvious: mighty Da Yong has suffered a defeat and cannot swallow this humiliation.

The rumors were deliberately spread by Hu Xiaotian at the prompting of Zhuge Guanqi; Yu Tianxing's plan was not concealed from Zhuge Guanqi. In Hu Xiaotian's view, Yu Tianxing's plan is nearly flawless, but he believes Zhuge Guanqi can spot its omissions and will fill them in. Zhuge Guanqi seems content to work behind the scenes, not wanting to show off or compete for credit with Yu Tianxing, and so far has never explicitly told Hu Xiaotian that he wishes to join his camp.

According to Zhuge Guanqi, Yu Tianxing is a rare talent; his battle plans are excellent. He merely advised Hu Xiaotian to spread the news of imminent war. After the news spread, many residents of Dongliang Jun began to flee, and within just seven days as many as ten thousand streamed toward Da Yong's border. Only later did Hu Xiaotian understand Zhuge Guanqi's intention: although their force for a surprise assault on Dongluo Cang is small, troop movements would still arouse outside suspicion; using the fleeing civilians of Dongliang Jun to conceal their deployments is a clever move. This shows that Yu Tianxing, in overall planning, still falls slightly short of Zhuge Guanqi.

Of course, many also flocked to Wuxing Jun; the merchants of Dongliang Jun grew increasingly pessimistic about the city's future, and the previous victory did not give them confidence. There are exceptions, such as Hu Zhongyang, who from the last battle already fully recognized Hu Xiaotian's ability, and after Hu Xiaotian took Wuxing Jun, he became wholeheartedly convinced of him. Hu Zhongyang is a merchant; his investment consists of ten catapults and six siege crossbows, and he expects his investment to yield rich returns.

When Hu Xiaotian went out to patrol the city, Hu Zhongyang happened to come looking for him; Hu Xiaotian invited Hu Zhongyang to accompany him, and the two rode side by side along the broad streets of Dongliang Jun, seeing many people hurrying along the roadsides.

Hu Zhongyang said: "Lord, ten thousand people have left Dongliang Jun in recent days." Saying this, his expression grew grave; he was also pessimistic about Dongliang Jun's current situation, having thought that Hu Xiaotian would choose to retreat to Wuxing Jun, but so far he has seen no action from Hu Xiaotian—could it be that the previous victory has addled Hu Xiaotian's mind, and he fails to perceive the danger of their present situation?

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Those who are destined to leave will always leave; keeping these people against their will is useless."

Hu Zhongyang said: "Da Yong's border remains closed to them, leaving many in a dilemma."

Hu Xiaotian said: "As long as they are willing to return, I will welcome them with open arms."

Hu Zhongyang said: "Lately there have been many rumors abroad, all saying that war will break out again!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "What is meant to come will always come!"

Hu Zhongyang said: "Lord, do you have no plan to retreat to Wuxing Jun?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "If I leave, what will you do?"

Hu Zhongyang was taken aback by Hu Xiaotian's words; aside from sharing the surname Hu, there seems to be no deeper feeling between them. If Hu Xiaotian were to stay for his sake, that would be utterly impossible. Hu Zhongyang laughed and said: "I, a humble commoner, am filled with awe and fear!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I have always wondered what business you are in, and what treasures you still have in your possession."

Hu Zhongyang said: "It's the business of buying low and selling high; in short, I never engage in a losing trade."

Hu Xiaotian was amused by his answer.

Hu Zhongyang said: "What if Da Yong makes a comeback?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "If they really come to fight, all we can do is defend the city; if we cannot hold it, we will retreat to Wuxing Jun."

Hu Zhongyang nodded, his face showing a hint of dejection; it seems the situation cannot be reversed, and Dongliang Jun will ultimately be abandoned. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to come.)