Chapter 1152

Zhuge Guanqi smiled and said: "Sir, if you trust me, just do as I say." He leaned close to Zuo Xingjian's ear and whispered a few sentences.

Zuo Xingjian's expression was half-believing, half-doubting, but he had no better option before him; he nodded and said: "Just as the master says!" He then clasped his hands toward Zhuge Yun Chun, and unexpectedly ordered the troops stationed on the city wall to be withdrawn, opened the south gate of Baiquan City, lowered the drawbridge, and remained an empty city awaiting—except that the executor was now Zhuge Guanqi.

Zhuge Guanqi stood on the city tower, gazing at the distant army gradually approaching, his expression calm and composed, not the slightest panic. Gao Yuan beside him felt somewhat uneasy in his heart and whispered: "Master, will they just march straight in?"

Zhuge Guanqi said: "They will!"

Gao Yuan said: "Then what should we do?"

Before Zhuge Guanqi could answer, Zhan Peng hurriedly came up onto the city wall, clasped his fists and bowed, saying: "Master, Zuo Xingjian led his troops and fled the city through the south gate!"

Zhuge Guanqi was not surprised; Zuo Xingjian's courage was simply too small. For such a person, the so-called empty city stratagem earlier was merely a bluff; seeing the enemy army approach, he had likely already decided to flee. Having just offered to speak on his behalf, it happened to match his intention, and he smiled, nodded, and said: "Unfold the large banner we brought!"

Zhan Peng responded, took the large banner from his pack behind him, raised it on the flagpole, and a big 'Hu' character fluttered in the wind.

Zhuge Guanqi gave Zhan Peng a few instructions, and Zhan Peng nodded repeatedly.

Not long after, Zu Chengda led over ten thousand starving and freezing remnants to the front of Baiquan City, when someone reported to him: "General, the drawbridge of Baiquan City has been lowered, the gate is wide open, and there is no one stationed on the city walls."

Zu Chengda blinked in surprise, narrowed his eyes and looked toward Baiquan City. He saw only a few scattered figures on the city wall—what act was Zuo Xingjian putting on? He and his remnant troops had been scrambling about this region like stray dogs, panicked and unable to find peace. Initially they had left Baiquan City to return to Yunyang for temporary refuge, but after being blocked at Tongyuan Bridge, they had no choice but to turn back. Although there were many cities around, they lacked the strength to capture any; after consideration, the most feasible target remained Baiquan City, the only place where their strength was relatively weaker, so they turned back again and came here. Zu Chengda knew their remaining provisions were scarce; he had resolved to fight to the death, and today, no matter the cost, he would take Baiquan City.

In fact, Zu Chengda understood that even if they captured Baiquan City it would be of little use, for there were hardly any stores here. Initially, Zuo Xingjian would not have so readily agreed to ally with Jiang Zhengyang had it not been for the famine.

The great army arrived beneath the south gate of Baiquan City; Zu Chengda ordered everyone to halt, not rushing to cross the moat, and looked up. He saw only three people standing on the city wall, along with a large banner bearing the 'Hu' character fluttering in the wind. Seeing that banner, Zu Chengda could not help but start: had Baiquan City already surrendered to Hu Xiaotian?

From the city tower came Zhan Peng's laughter: "Is it General Zu who has come? I am Zhan Peng, a commander under Sir Hu, and I have long awaited you here. General, please enter the city; we have important matters to discuss with you." Zhan Peng's voice rang out with vigor, carried far by the wind, audible inside and outside the walls.

Zu Chengda's face was full of suspicion; although he suspected the other side might be employing an empty city stratagem, he still felt uneasy. If the one using the empty city ploy were Zuo Xingjian, he would surely lead his troops in without hesitation, but after this frantic flight experience, he feared Hu Xiaotian to the extreme; seeing that Hu banner, he felt a chill from the depths of his heart.

Zhan Peng said: "General Zu, don't you remember? That day at Tongyuan Bridge we once crossed swords, and your archery is not bad!"

Upon hearing Zhan Peng's words, Zu Chengda suddenly recalled that the person on the city wall was the one who had shot down his arrowhead that day; his heart grew heavier, his gaze fixed on the wall where Zhan Peng and Gao Yuan stood on either side of Zhuge Guanqi. He secretly thought that the scholarly-looking man in the middle must be their leader.

Zhuge Guanqi remained silent, calmly gazing at the dense ranks of troops below the city.

A deputy general beside Zu Chengda whispered: "General, there must be an ambush inside the city."

Zu Chengda said nothing, his gaze locking with Zhuge Guanqi's across the distance.

Another person said: "General, they are just playing mysterious, trying to lure us into the city to then wipe us out in one fell swoop."

Zhuge Guanqi smiled: "General Zu, there is no need for doubt; there are no troops stationed in the city. We are here waiting for your arrival, with important matters to discuss. Would you be willing to enter the city for a talk?"

Zu Chengda pressed his lips together; his inner turmoil was evident, showing he was hesitating.

Zhuge Guanqi said: "General, do not overthink; besides us three, there are no troops hidden in the city. Zuo Xingjian has taken his remaining forces and fled the city."

Gao Yuan and Zhan Peng were both secretly alarmed; how could Zhuge Guanqi be so foolish as to reveal his own trump card? Now it's trouble—Zu Chengda and his lot are all desperate men with nowhere else to go; if they learn the true situation, what will happen?

Zhuge Guanqi, however, reckoned that Zu Chengda's true aim was to find a way of survival for his troops, not to take the city. Otherwise he would not have dared to propose executing the empty city stratagem for Zuo Xingjian; even so, daring to remain alone to face those ten thousand remnants requires extraordinary courage.

Yet the more Zhuge Guanqi spoke thus, the more suspicious Zu Chengda became; after a long hesitation he finally nodded and said: "Alright, I'll go see you!"

Zu Chengda spurred his horse forward, but the surrounding soldiers hurriedly urged him not to: "General, you cannot; there must be an ambush inside Baiquan City, they are clearly deceiving!"

Zu Chengda slowly shook his head and said: "I will go in alone; no one may follow me into the city. If I have not emerged within half an hour, then you may attack."

"General!"

Zu Chengda raised his right hand; his intention was clearly set.

Watching Zu Chengda approach alone on horseback, Zhuge Guanqi's face showed appreciation; he secretly praised, Zu Chengda is indeed a responsible commander, unlike Zuo Xingjian who fled the battlefield—his character is undoubtedly far superior.

Under the watch of his own troops, Zu Chengda crossed the drawbridge and entered the gate. Zhuge Guanqi judged correctly: taking the city was not Zu Chengda's aim; even capturing Baiquan City would merely be a desperate struggle, unable to solve the problem at its root. Seeing the Hu banner and having just heard Zhan Peng's words, Zu Chengda had already concluded that Baiquan City had fallen into Hu Xiaotian's hands. In fact, since fleeing Yunze, Zu Chengda had constantly considered how his men could escape their predicament. Initially he had hoped to cross the Wangchun River and go to Yunyang, but after being obstructed at Tongyuan Bridge he abandoned that idea and realized that, in this region, the only possible way to preserve their lives might be Hu Xiaotian; thus he decided to go alone to the city to have a proper talk.

Upon entering the city, Zu Chengda finally became certain that the other side had indeed set no ambush. Empty city stratagem? A bitter smile touched Zu Chengda's lips; he had just been hesitating, but Hu Xiaotian's subordinates were certainly no ordinary folk—faced with an army at the city gates they could remain so calm and composed; were it him, he probably lacked such gall.

Gao Yuan had already come to the foot of the tower to greet him. He took Zu Chengda's horse reins and smiled: "The master is waiting for you on the tower."

Zu Chengda nodded and walked slowly up the tower; he was not familiar with Zhuge Guanqi. On the contrary, he had crossed swords with Zhan Peng once, and still remembered the latter's astonishing archery. Anyone who could earn such respect from an outstanding general like Zhan Peng is certainly no ordinary person.

Zhuge Guanqi smiled: "General Zu has arrived!"

Zu Chengda said: "Sir, you are..."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "I am Zhu Guanqi!"

"Master Zhu, good!" Zu Chengda's earning Jiang Zhengyang's trust was no accident; he is both wise and brave, and skilled at handling all kinds of relations. In Yunyang, Jiang Zhengyang basically entrusted everything to him.

Zhuge Guanqi glanced at the troops standing in strict readiness below and asked: "General Zu, how many men do you still have under your command?"

Zu Chengda did not conceal anything, answering truthfully: "Over nine thousand."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Do you recall that when you fled Yunze you still had twenty thousand? In these few short days you have already lost more than half."

Zu Chengda said helplessly: "Fate toys with people." He could not help but resent Jiang Zhengyang's incompetence; if it were not for Jiang Zhengyang's negligence in defense, the outcome should not have been this.

Zhuge Guanqi asked: "General Zu, where do you intend to lead them? They follow you, believing you can bring them out of this predicament; do you in your heart have a clear objective?"

Zu Chengda was left speechless by Zhuge Guanqi's question; he could see no future or hope. Since losing the imperial grain at Yunze, he had lost all goals, and these past days he had been like a headless fly bumping about, already battered and bruised.

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Even if you were to occupy Baiquan City, could you hold it? Could you fundamentally solve the soldiers' hunger and cold?"

Zu Chengda shook his head; he could not solve it.

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Let me point you to a clear path; Sir Hu is currently recruiting new troops. If these soldiers go to enlist, Sir Hu promises to pardon their past offenses."

Zu Chengda's eyes brightened, then quickly dimmed; ordinary soldiers might still have a way out, but for himself there is no road left—losing the imperial grain is an unforgivable sin. He whispered: "Was the Yunze affair your doing?"

Zhuge Guanqi said meaningfully: "Ignorance is no crime! Jiang Zhengyang colluded with the Yunze water bandits, intending to steal the imperial grain under his guard; those bandits, seeing the grain, rebelled, intending to monopolize it, so the two sides clashed at Yunze, ultimately resulting in mutual destruction. General Zu, were you unaware?"

Zu Chengda stared blankly; after a while he shook his head and said: "I cannot do it; Lord Jiang is also seeking a path of survival for his brothers, otherwise he would never have made such a choice."

Zhuge Guanqi sighed inwardly; Zu Chengda too could be considered loyal and righteous, even now unwilling to blacken Jiang Zhengyang's name. He looked toward the soldiers outside the city and said softly: "They still follow you to this day; these men have not left because they still trust you, they firmly believe you can lead them out of this predicament, and your decision decides their lives and deaths."

Zu Chengda's inner being shook violently; as he looked outward toward the city wall and saw those exhausted soldiers below, saw their faces etched with wind and frost and weariness, saw their eyes still glimmering with hope, his nose soured and hot tears streamed down his cheeks.

Two updates delivered, please recommend! (To be continued~^~)