Chapter 48: Wang Meng Enters the City

In a shallow puddle about a foot square.

A palm-sized fish struggled with all its might.

Its gills opened and closed ceaselessly, telling of its longing for water.

In the vast heaven and earth, though but a small fish, it still fought desperately to live.

A huge burlap sack fell from the sky, crashing heavily into the mud and water.

In the blink of an eye, more burlap sacks rained down like hail.

The burlap sacks gradually filled the muddy riverbed, piling up like mountains.

The fish's luck was not bad; the puddle it was in was not crushed over.

"Bang!"

Amid screams, a human figure fell from above, smashing onto the ground.

After twitching for a moment, it soon had no more movement.

More burlap sacks fell, covering the people at the riverbed.

The gaze shifted upward several zhang from the riverbed, and clamorous shouts instantly resounded through the world.

Tens of thousands of Han civilian laborers, hunched over their frail bodies, shouldered hemp cloth bags packed with earth, straining forward.

Archer units composed of Xiongnu, Tiefo, and Xianbei stood beneath the city, exchanging arrows with the defending troops.

Armored Jie people holding shields stood a short distance away, vigilantly watching.

Whoever dares flee before the battle will be beheaded on the spot.

"Brothers!"

Wang Meng, carrying a burlap sack in his hand, lowered his voice and instructed the people around him.

"Carry the sacks on your backs to block arrows."

"The defending troops are busy exchanging fire with the various Hu; they won't pay too much attention to us."

"When we reach the moat, remember to hug the sacks and jump down."

"Find a good position to hide and conceal yourselves, wait for nightfall."

His expression appeared slightly gloomy. "Life and death are up to fate; whether we can survive depends on each person's fortune."

Wang Meng considered his own skills not inferior to others.

Alas, his origins were lowly, with no path to advancement.

At this moment he had actually ended up as cannon fodder vanguard, in a situation where life and death rested with Heavenly Mandate — truly helpless.

Fortunately he also knew complaining was of no use.

Just to survive, he had to fight to the death.

The Jin Kun people shouted and scolded, waving the whips in their hands.

Wang Meng's squad swiftly shouldered the sacks, gritted their teeth, and rushed toward Xiangguo City.

The defending troops on the city tower truly did not pay excessive heed to these moat-filling civilian cannon fodder.

The defending troops' main focus was all on exchanging fire with the mixed Hu.

Mixed Hu are also Hu; at the Wolf Lord's place they could also earn rewards.

Beside every archer unit there was a desk for observing and recording.

Confirm the number of mixed Hu hit; the rewards gained are split evenly among the whole unit.

Under the cruel environment of a siege battle, naturally they could not go out of the city to collect heads.

And no one could verify, on a battlefield where arrows flew like rain and shuttles, whose arrow struck the enemy.

In this situation, one defending unit was responsible for one area.

All battle achievements shared equally by everyone became the best choice.

In comparison, shooting and killing civilian commoners brought no rewards.

The defending troops also did not care about filling the moat; after all, Lin Dao's intention was to lure the Jie Hu to attack the city, thereby inflicting massive casualties on their vital forces.

In this situation, the survival rate of the moat-filling laborers naturally increased greatly.

Rushing to the moat through constant peril, Wang Meng poked his head out to look.

The originally several-zhang-deep moat, at this time, had already been filled more than halfway in many places.

He did not dare hesitate; gritting his teeth, he hugged the hemp cloth bag and jumped down onto the filled-up area.

Impact, tumbling, falling, hitting the ground, covered in mud.

Wang Meng, having fallen into the riverbed silt, scrambled and crawled into a corner, dragging a bag of earth to block in front of himself.

He curled up his body, silently waiting.

The moat-filling battle that lasted half a day announced its end as the sun sank in the west.

Rich aromas of rice and dishes wafted from the city tower, making Wang Meng — who had only drunk a bowl of thin porridge before departure — feel hunger all the more unbearable.

From a shallow puddle not far away came the sound of flapping.

It was actually a fish!

Wang Meng was overjoyed; he hurriedly pounced over, grabbed the palm-sized small fish, and bit into it.

The teeth-grating chewing sounds, rustling, made one's hair stand on end.

Fish scales, fish bones, whatever fishy stench — none could stop him.

Before hunger sufficient to drive one mad, these were nothing at all.

On the city tower, just a wall away.

"Pork floss and vegetable stewed vermicelli."

Lin Dao, who had come to inspect, greeted the soldiers: "Brothers, you've worked hard defending the city — eat your fill!"

"Thank you, Lord Lang, for your generous reward~~~"

The soldiers, beaming with joy, sincerely expressed their gratitude to Lin Dao.

Nothing else was said.

Just the single fact that Lord Lang could let them eat their fill was enough to make the soldiers willingly sell their lives for him!

Look at those Han civilian laborers outside the city.

They are also selling their lives, yet they cannot even get a full meal despite seeking it.

With such a comparison, the defending soldiers' sense of happiness instantly overflowed.

"Today's merit recording for the various departments." Lin Dao raised his voice to ensure more people could hear. "It must be tallied and completed as quickly as possible, and the rewards must also be distributed as quickly as possible."

The soldiers naturally saluted once more to express their loyalty.

Hearing the clamor transmitted from the city tower, Wang Meng at the bottom of the moat raised his head to look.

He listened for a moment, confirming that an important figure of the Qihuo Army was nearby.

He did not hesitate, and immediately shouted loudly.

"Gentlemen on the city wall!"

"We are all Han people, captured and brought here by the Hu people."

"Coerced by them, we had no choice but to charge the city; we harbor no intention of being enemies to the Qihuo Army."

"Now trapped beneath the city, we wish to surrender~~~"

The moment the shouts came from below the city, Liu Hu had already raised his shield and stepped forward to protect Lin Dao.

A crowd of armored personal guards gathered around, attempting to lead Lin Dao down from the city wall.

"No rush."

Lin Dao waved his hand. "Listen to him finish."

After Wang Meng finished shouting, Lin Dao replied in a clear voice, "How can you prove you are not spies?"

"Unable to prove it."

Wang Meng stood up, standing barefoot in the muddy river bottom.

"Our lives are like grass and mustard; life and death rest solely on a whim of you gentlemen."

"If we are spies, you gentlemen need only slaughter us."

Lin Dao smiled composedly. "From your words, you seem to be a cultured man."

"Very well, come up and speak."

A basket lowered, and before long Wang Meng ascended the city tower.

Firelight shone brightly all around; the rice buckets were filled with fragrant dishes and rice white as snow.

He allowed the personal guards to search and bind him, yet his gaze remained fixed dead on the food.

Wang Meng, in tattered rags and barefoot, indeed carried no sharp weapons on his person.

The searching personal guard, seeing him stare at the rice bucket, teased, "Don't look, you have no qualification to eat."

Wang Meng frowned slightly, then smoothed his brow. "That's not necessarily so."

He had confidence in his own ability.

As long as he could survive, there would ultimately be an opportunity to demonstrate his capability.

One day, he would be able to eat his fill.

Looking at the Han man escorted before him, Lin Dao nodded slightly. "Speak then, what is the situation on the Jie Hu side?"

"The Jie Hu are cruel; the various departments suffer unspeakably, and army morale is low."

"Within the next few days, they will certainly launch a massive assault on the city."

Lin Dao paused. "How do you know the Jie Hu are going to launch a massive assault?"

Wang Meng lowered his head and replied carefully, "The army lacks grain, yet there are too many people."

"Either consume them as rations, or consume them by attacking the city."

"The Jie Hu would never expend massive amounts of grain and grass to raise this many people."

Lin Dao laughed. "You really are a man of insight."

"Grand Commander." Wang Meng seized the chance to speak. "There are still quite a few beneath the city who, like me, cannot endure the Jie Hu's oppression. I beg the Grand Commander to show mercy and take them in."

Lin Dao asked again, "How did you know to hide in the moat and wait until nightfall to surrender?"

"It was my idea."

Hearing this, Lin Dao composed his expression and replied, "Since that is the case, you shall serve as a Civilian Head, gather the crowd, and do work in the Civilian Camp."

"Thank you, Grand Commander, for your grace~~~"

The next day, the Jie Hu indeed launched a massive assault on the city.

Large batches of ragged civilian laborers and commoners, holding sharpened wooden sticks and carrying long ladders, surged toward the city wall.

The commoners, who didn't even have leather armor, had only one function in this so-called assault.

Consume the defending army's arrows and defensive equipment.

This is the habitual tactic used by the various Hu during invasions throughout all dynasties: driving civilians to fill the moats.

Arrows fell like rain; the commoner cannon fodder fell in swathes.

Wails and crying voices resounded across the fields.

"These Hu slaves are truly damned!"

Although he had long known such a scene would occur, when truly facing it, Lin Dao still found it hard to suppress the anger in his heart.

Even treating one's own cattle and sheep at home, one would not drive them to their deaths like this.

These Jie Hu beasts must be exterminated!

"My Lord~~~"

Seeing Jin Lian approach, Lin Dao's expression turned slightly stern. "War is cruel and dangerous; how can you come here?"

Jin Lian bowed fearfully. "This slave knows her wrong; please punish me, my Lord."

"Rise and speak." Lin Dao waved his hand dismissively. "What is the matter?"

"My Lord." Jin Lian spoke up carefully. "Among the commoners who entered the city last night, someone entrusted this slave to deliver a message."

Jin Lian has a sharp tongue but a soft heart; when someone truly seeks help, and she feels the words would be useful to my Lord, she is still willing to help.

If it were Sun Rong, it wouldn't work; she does things strictly by the book, everything according to the rules.

"Speak."

"That person said the Qianghu are driving civilians to fill the moat; the civilian laborers and commoners are certainly unwilling to sell their lives for them."

"My Lord can arrange manpower to shout that those who discard their weapons and jump into the moat to survive will not be killed."

"Hm?" Lin Dao was surprised. "What is his name?"

"This person calls himself Wang Meng."

In the distant Northern Regions, Longcheng.

"The Envoy's arrival brings great comfort to this solitary one." Murong Huang, who had proclaimed himself King of Yan, enthusiastically received the visiting Xie Yi.

"The Great King's bearing is vigorous and spirited."

"Retreating the Stone Bandits to the south, destroying Buyeo to the east, annexing Gaogouli to the north, attacking and destroying the traitorous Yuwen tribe, and subjugating Buyeo."

"Expanding territory by three thousand li, increasing the populace by over ten thousand households."

"The enlightened monarchs of old dared not claim merit surpassing this~~~"

Xie Yi did not mention in the slightest that Murong Huang no longer honored Jiangzuo and had proclaimed himself King of Yan.

His words were full of flattery.

Murong Huang was wary in his heart, but his face showed continuous loud laughter.

"Envoy, please take your seat quickly; today we must drink until we are drunk."

Music started, and the dancing girls entered.

Lamplight flickered, figures enchanting and alluring.

"Great King."

After three rounds of wine, Xie Yi smiled narrowly and clapped his hands to signal. "This outer minister has come specifically to bring a gift for the Great King, and hopes the Great King will grant face and accept it."

Murong Huang laughed again. "Since the Envoy has come, it is already a great joy."

"Why go to such expense? This solitary one is ashamed."

After a round of back-and-forth polite refusal, Xie Yi's side soon presented the gifts.

Traditional gold and silver vessels, fine silks and brocades.

Everyone has these things; a glance and it's over.

Next came bottled red wine, large barrels of high-proof baijiu, glassware, various canned foods, and so on.

Liaodong is a bitterly cold land; in terms of enjoyment, it naturally cannot compare to the Central Plains.

The Murong Clan members, after waiting for inspection, curiously partook.

Everyone praised continuously.

Even Murong Huang, who harbored great ambition and outstanding ability, holding a crystal-clear glass wine cup and watching the grape wine swirl inside, was slightly lost in thought.

This gift is a bit too heavy.

Murong Ke drank a bowl of baijiu and immediately shouted in great satisfaction.

Murong Chui, however, fiddled with the canned food in his hand, his gaze fixed on Xie Yi, who was smiling and stroking his beard.

"The Envoy's gift is too heavy; I wonder how my Murong Clan should return the gift?"

"Merely some food and drink for enjoyment." Xie Yi waved his hand. "The real gift is not these."

Murong Huang was astonished. "Please, Envoy, speak plainly."

Xie Yi straightened his sleeves and replied seriously. "Great King, the opportunity to take Youzhou is right before your eyes!"

(End of Chapter)