Chapter 1103

Zhai Yuan (person), General (rank), Dongliang Jun (place), Wuxing Jun (place).

Qin Yangming (person), Hu Xiaotian (person), Wuxing Jun (place).

Vice General Yang Xian (person), Hu Xiaotian (person), Tang Boxi (person), Tang Boxi Regiment (unit).

Qin Yangming (person), Hu Xiaotian (person), Tang Boxi (person).

Zhai Yuandao: "General, perhaps he thinks he can hold Dongliang Jun without leaving, relying on the grain and fodder obtained from exchanging prisoners to fight us in a protracted war."

Qin Yangming nodded slowly; in fact, he thought the same, Hu Xiaotian probably intended that, but one oversight in a hundred plans, Hu Xiaotian likely failed to realize their true strength—the walls of Dongliang Jun absolutely cannot withstand this gathering of seventy thousand troops.

Thirty warships sailed downstream on the Yong River; the wind and snow were fierce. These thirty ships had just transported grain to Dongliang Jun, exchanging it for four thousand captives. Adding the original three thousand people on board, the total reached seven thousand. The warships then sailed upstream west for twenty li before immediately turning back. The four thousand captives used weapons and armor from the hold to fully arm themselves. The newly assembled seven thousand people intended to block the water route to Xia Sha Gang.

The place mentioned is Yong River.

The place is Yong River.

Xia Sha Gang (place).

four thousand captives (generic).

seven thousand (generic).

Liu Yincai came this time with the idea of redeeming his crimes through merit; they are not the main force of this battle. On the shore, three routes of troops encircle, their mission is to blockade Lower Sand Port, cutting off Hu Xiaotian's retreat. These four thousand prisoners, during the time they were captured, obviously suffered considerable torment; their combat effectiveness must be greatly reduced. What relieved Liu Yincai was that they could still wield weapons and wear armor, but soon this relief vanished like smoke—these soldiers ransomed with grain and fodder began to vomit and have diarrhea not long after; the warship was filled everywhere with a nauseating stench, and Liu Yincai only then realized they had been poisoned. It must be that Hu Xiaotian tampered with their food, in order to prevent these released prisoners from immediately joining the fight, he spared no despicable means, tormenting their bodies and weakening their combat power.

Qin Yangming (person), Dongliang Jun (place), North Gate (place), Huang Xincheng (person), Dongluo Cang (place), East Gate (place), Nanyang Water Fort (place), Deputy Commander Fu Cong (person), navy (generic), West Gate (place), Xia Sha Gang (place), four thousand vomiting navy soldiers (generic).

total troops 64,000 (generic).

Yu Tianxing (person), Dongliang Jun (place), city wall (generic), old cotton robe (generic), arrow tower (generic), Tang Tiehan (person), four gates (generic), Xia Sha Gang (place), enemy ships (generic), grain transport ships (generic).

Hu Zhongyang (person), Yu Tianxing (person).

Yu Tianxing said: "Has Hu Caidong finished preparations?" Besides the three catapults previously moved away, the remaining seven catapults and six siege crossbows have all been set up; we only wait for the enemy to attack and launch long-range strikes. Our task is to delay—the longer we drag it out, the more favorable the situation at East Luo Storehouse becomes.

Hu Zhongyang (person).

Yu Tianxing said: "As soon as the enemy advances into attack range, we will launch immediate action."

three stone-throwing machines (generic), boulders (generic), Dongluo Cang (place), city wall (generic), houses (generic), street (generic), patrolling guard (generic).

The sudden attack plunged the entire East Luo Storehouse into panic. Chang Fanqi, who had received the report, hurriedly rushed from the mansion to the scene; before he could even approach, a second wave of attack arrived. A boulder flew past his eyes, landing on the stables to the southeast; the roof of the stables collapsed under the impact, the hole blasted by the boulder resembled an ugly giant mouth, swallowing everything around. The ground's vibration made Chang Fanqi instinctively step back; he widened his eyes in disbelief and waved his hand to dispel the smoke and dust before him.

Two guards beside him rushed forward to shield him, panicking: "General, leave this place quickly, it's not safe."

Chang Fanqi furrowed his brows, pointed at the not‑far city wall, and hurried toward the arrow tower. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Chang Fanqi would not believe the enemy would dare to sneak attack East Luo Storehouse. Standing on the arrow tower of East Luo Storehouse, on a clear night he could see the situation within a radius of five li, but because of the continuous heavy snowfall lasting a day and a night, his visibility was naturally greatly affected. An officer came to Chang Fanqi's side to report: "General! The stone should have flown from the southwest of East Luo Storehouse..." Before his words finished, another boulder flew over, striking the arrow tower not far away, shattering its top into pieces, flying debris scattered, and the outward‑scattered stones injured many more soldiers when they landed.

Chang Fanqi (person), Dongluo Cang (place).

"General, continuing like this is no solution; their attack range is long, and the boulders will constantly threaten the safety of the city wall."

Chang Fanqi said: "Their target is the arrow tower; they want to destroy the arrow tower and then launch an attack." In the distance, the sound of boulders landing rang out again, and within a short time it had already caused dozens of casualties. Chang Fanqi said: "Pass the order: gather three thousand troops and follow me out of the city to destroy their siege weapons."

Vice General Liu Guangxiong (person), Chang Fanqi (person), Dongluo Cang (place), city wall (generic).

Zhu Ba (person), Zhan Peng (person), Liang Yinghao (person), Dongluo Cang (place), Water Gate (generic), canal (generic), Dongluo Cang (place).

Although all warriors were equipped with specially made flotation devices, the icy‑cold river water was still a harsh ordeal for their bodies. Fortunately the river surface had not frozen; as they approached the drainage tunnel of East Luo Storehouse, many warriors had already turned blue‑faced and purple‑lipped from the cold.

Liang Yinghao and Hu Xiaotian led the way into the drainage tunnel. This tunnel is used for sewage drainage inside East Luo Storehouse, filled with domestic waste, extremely foul, a breeding ground for rats and insects. However, it is now winter; snakes and insects have gone into hibernation, reducing the danger considerably. Everyone covered their mouths and noses; one thousand people were divided into ten teams and entered the tunnel in turn. Each team's leader took out a Night Pearl to provide light. Hu Xiaotian knew the air in the tunnel did not circulate, so he had prepared Night Pearls for illumination and strictly forbade lighting fires, lest they trigger an explosion in the tunnel.

Liang Yinghao (person), Hidden Edge Sword (item), iron fence (generic).

Liang Yinghao leapt over the fence first, lowered his mask and sniffed the foul air. He comes from the Hunshui Gang; although he has never received formal military training, he possesses extraordinary skill in digging tunnels and probing complex subterranean structures—he can easily discern the softness of underground soil and judge whether the subterranean environment is fit for habitation. Liang Yinghao waved his hand, signaling everyone to press on. Although the air in the drainage tunnel is foul, it will not cause human suffocation. They must pass through the drainage tunnel in the shortest possible time to enter East Luo Storehouse.

siege equipment (generic), bronze war chariot (generic), bronze top cover (generic), Dongliang Jun (place), city wall (generic), beacon fires (generic), Qin Yangming (person).

war drum (generic), Yong army (generic).

Dongliang Jun (place), city wall (generic), defending soldiers (generic).

Yu Tianxing (person), Tang Tiehan (person).

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