Chapter 588: with translation of chapter title

Tang Yu said, "We really need to solidly back this up, truly clang-clang fight a few battles; my lord is indeed a down-to-earth person, he doesn't like playing with those frivolous things."

Xie Fengxian nodded, "In that case, our purposes are the same."

"Naturally they are the same; this broken city must be torn down, then we'll take Shi Dao's front teeth and use them as a door panel." Tang Yu snapped his folding fan shut and pointed far off toward Ningyuan City.

Xie Fengxian asked, "How do we attack?"

"The provocative strategy General Chen set is too slow in my opinion!"

"I also think it's too slow!"

"Then shall we hurry up?"

"We must hurry up!"

"What tactics can we use if we hurry up?"

"A frontal assault?"

"Um… it seems only a frontal assault!"

"Then let's do a frontal assault!"

"We'll forge siege equipment on the spot and launch a night attack!"

"Won't Shi Dao then be unable to sleep?"

"Should I just not let him sleep?"

"Exactly!"

"Divide the troops into three shifts, rotating attacks on the city!"

"That way, won't we also be unable to sleep?"

Tang Yu fell silent for a moment, then said, "We still need to sleep; not sleeping would probably hinder the fight."

He turned his head to glance at Xie Fengxian, "Do you prefer sleeping by day or by night?"

"I definitely prefer sleeping at night."

"I don't mind, so I'll take the night shift and you the day; we'll launch a frontal assault for one day and one night, first testing just how hard Shi Dao's teeth really are!"

Xie Fengxian shook his head, "Too concentrated an assault isn't actually good; I have an immature little suggestion: we first launch a strong assault at midnight, then halt to rest, wait for them to relax, and launch a second wave."

"That idea is not bad; it could catch them off guard, but if Shi Dao catches on, he'll surely arrange his soldiers to stand guard in shifts!" Tang Yu said.

"Then we'll just increase the intensity of the frontal assault!" Xie Fengxian said.

"We'll feint with a spear; if we can seize that opening, our troops might smoothly scale the walls. If we fail, we'll keep pressing the assault. Our troops will rotate in three rapid waves, first pressing Shi Dao's hardness to see whether he cries or enjoys it, then we can switch tactics at any moment."

"General Xie, you've been speaking well, but suddenly some strange things have popped up." Tang Yu laughed loudly.

Xie Fengxian's expression was calm as he gazed at the distant Ningyuan City, speaking earnestly: "I like, during battle, to treat the enemy as a beautiful lover."

Tang Yu: …

"General Xie's preference is rather unusual. I like to treat the enemy as the person who bullied me in my youth; on the battlefield, the more I think of it, the angrier I get, and then I can exert my full strength."

Xie Fengxian turned his head to look at Tang Yu, "We met rather late; if we had met earlier, we could have had much to talk about—a pity."

"What's there to pity? We are now comrades-in-arms, not enemies; say what you want!" Tang Yu laughed, "But speaking of which, I feel the same—truly a case of meeting late and regretting it."

"Actually I just wanted to say that phrase."

"You really are a fake literati!"

"I've always admitted it. By the way, I just let slip a sentence: actually, a beautiful lover can also exert deadly force—I've tried it, and my childhood sweetheart loves it."

Tang Yu: …

"Damn, I suddenly don't feel like talking to you anymore."

"You have no lover? What about a mistress?" Xie Fengxian asked in surprise.

Tang Yu darkened his face, turned his head and walked down the mountain, "Don't bring up this topic with me; on these matters, we have nothing to say."

Xie Fengxian burst into laughter, "Tang Brother, you have such a handsome appearance—how could you lack a lover? I'll take care of this; after we break this broken city, I'll arrange it for you!"

Tang Yu murmured, "In my youth my family was poor, then I joined the army, campaigning day after day—where would I find a lover? Besides, this is what you yourself said: if you don't take care of this after we take Ningyuan City, I won't let it rest."

"I'll definitely manage it; it's on me!"

As they chatted and descended the mountain, a scout came forward to report, saying they had encountered a scout from Ningyuan City and asking whether they should intercept or let him pass.

The two pseudo scholars pondered briefly and almost in unison said, "Let him go, let him go!"

"The marshal has raised over thirty thousand troops; such immense military prestige must be shown to Shi Dao, first shaking his morale." Xie Fengxian added afterward.

"That's also what I wanted to say." Tang Yu laughed, "But, won't Shi Dao hear this military might and come out to surrender? If he does, our achievements would fly away!"

"That won't happen." Xie Fengxian said.

"This man is arrogant and overbearing, always looking down on everyone. When his forces were few, every time he returned to the office to discuss affairs, that brat would practically glare his nostrils at the sky, completely despising us others."

"Now I hear he has secretly recruited over ten thousand troops; as the defending side, I suspect Shi Dao this brat now looks down on the marshal!"

Tang Yu let out an oh, "So then aren't we failing to achieve the goal of shaking his morale?"

"Are you being indirect with me again, Tang Commandant? Shi Dao looks down on people, but his subordinates ought to have some sense, know their limits. We can't shake his arrogance, but we can shake his subordinates." Xie Fengxian said.

Tang Yu laughed heartily, "How strange—General Xie, with such talent, why do you remain obscure under Lu Ping'an? This shouldn't be!"

"Probably because of someone like Shi Dao!" Xie Fengxian sighed, shaking his head.

Tang Yu burst into laughter, "General Xie truly is a remarkable person!"

"You are too, you are too." Xie Fengxian replied, "Don't dawdle—let's get to work, set up camp right here, and build siege equipment."

"Go! Someone, pass the order: set up camp, fell timber, make ladders!" Tang Yu waved his hand and shouted loudly, "In this battle we won't waste time on frills—just make ladders, each of us tightening our own heads, planting our feet firmly."

"War is urgent, time is urgent, we have no leisure for other things; within two days we'll smash Ningyuan City's broken gate, and I'll treat everyone to a music house to find…"

He broke off, suddenly turning his head to Xie Fengxian, "General Xie, shouldn't the rest of that be said by you for better effect?"

Xie Fengxian gave a dismissive smile, "No lover, yet quite familiar with the music house."

"That's because I really don't understand—those girls in the music house won't let me use brute force." Tang Yu said, "Just put a little more strength in, and that little hand will come—ouch, you're gentle. Besides, I'm the type who pities fragrance and cherishes jade; I can't stand hearing a little lady sigh 'aiyai'."

The surrounding soldiers burst into loud laughter, laughing so hard their eyes almost teared up.