Chapter 69: The Spearhead Turns on Zhu Ying!

In five days of assault.

The Ming army launched repeated attacks.

The ground before the city was littered with Ming corpses; casualties were heavy.

Everywhere along the walls were scars from cannon fire, and the Yuan troops inside also suffered significant losses.

Countless ladders were propped against the walls; Ming soldiers climbed up with swords in hand, while those below shot arrows upward to suppress the defenders.

On the city towers.

Yuan troops rained arrows down upon the Ming below, and pots of boiling oil were poured over the battlements; Ming soldiers struck by the oil screamed in agony, instantly turned into burning figures, their deaths horrific.

Not only that.

Rolling stones.

Falling logs.

Continuously rained down from the towers.

Even as Ming soldiers on the ladders charged fiercely, scaling onto the walls to fight the Yuan troops at close quarters.

They were met by countless Yuan soldiers surrounding and slaughtering them.

At the city gate.

Dozens of Ming soldiers pushed a battering ram, slamming it furiously against the gate.

The gate trembled under the blows, yet still refused to break—clearly, the Yuan troops inside were fighting to the death.

“Kill, kill…”

“Kill…”

Inside and outside the city.

The cries of battle never ceased.

All saturated with the cruelest killing intent of this world.

Time slowly slipped away amid this siege.

“Damn it.”

“Those damned Yuan troops.”

In the Ming central command.

Watching their assault fail to take the towers, Zhao Yong’s face twisted with fury and frustration.

But as he glanced at the sky.

Zhao Yong could only sigh helplessly and shouted, “Sound the gong—withdraw!”

…

Inside the main camp tent!

Fu Youde sat in the central seat, with his subordinate commanders below him.

But now.

Every commander’s face was grim.

Clearly.

After days of assault, the Great Ming had suffered heavy losses.

Yet they still had not captured the city before them.

“How many soldiers have we lost in these five days?” Fu Youde asked in a low voice.

“Report, General.”

“Casualties have exceeded ten thousand,” the Chief Military Inspector replied immediately.

“Ten thousand casualties in five days.”

“Zhao Yong, Wang Bi.”

“Do you have nothing to say?”

Fu Youde turned to his two commanding officers.

“General.”

“Give us a few more days—we will break through Jincheng,” Zhao Yong said at once, his face wild with determination.

“General.”

“Nahachu has long anticipated our attack; Jincheng is taller and more heavily fortified than ordinary cities, its gates even more solid,” Wang Bi added.

“Ten thousand casualties in five days.”

“How am I to explain this to General Feng? How am I to answer to Yingtian?”

“It’s been half a month.”

“Our provisions are dwindling, our losses countless.”

“How am I to answer?”

“You promised to take Jincheng in five days—so where are you now?” Fu Youde snapped coldly.

At this moment.

Fu Youde was truly angry.

Nahachu had stationed heavy troops along two cities bordering the Great Ming; though heavily defended, Ming forces were no weaker.

Moreover, the imperial court had provided maximum support.

It had been half a month since our troops moved out.

Yet aside from Zhu Ying’s victories against the Tartars in the northern frontier, our main army had achieved nothing.

If we fail to break Nahachu’s line within a month, the Emperor will surely rage.

“General.”

“Jincheng is well-fortified, and its garrison is large; to breach it, we must fight bloody battles and sacrifice lives.”

“Besides that.”

“There is no other way.”

“Please, General, grant us more time,” Wang Bi cried out.

“It’s already been half a month.”

“If we still haven’t taken the city after a full month, the Emperor will be furious—do you think I don’t need time too?” Fu Youde said coldly.

“Your Excellency.”

“If we cannot break through by force, perhaps we must encircle the city, cut off its supply lines, and starve it out,” Zhao Yong said after a moment’s thought.

Hearing this.

Fu Youde shook his head: “You can think of it—do you think Nahachu cannot?”

“Jincheng must have stockpiled ample provisions; cutting its supply routes and besieging it is impossible.”

Hearing this.

Zhao Yong’s face darkened instantly.

“Five days.”

Fu Youde raised his hand, holding up his palm: “I give you five more days—break Jincheng within five days.”

But hearing this deadline.

Zhao Yong and Wang Bi both looked troubled.

They had already launched five days of repeated assaults; Jincheng’s defenses were tight, and the Yuan troops were fiercely brave—each fallen soldier was instantly replaced by another.

The Yuan held the advantage of defending the walls.

This was a natural edge.

As attackers, they were inherently at a disadvantage.

With nearly equal numbers, victory depended on the soldiers’ ferocity.

But after days of failed assaults, Ming morale had already begun to waver.

“General.”

“Five days may not be enough,” Zhao Yong said, struggling.

Wang Bi nodded in agreement.

Fu Youde’s expression turned instantly dark.

Just as he was about to explode in rage.

“General Zhu Ying has been ravaging the northern frontier, excelling in command.”

“Would he be willing to take charge of this siege?”

“I’m certain General Zhu Ying’s leadership could break Jincheng.”

Wang Bi shifted his gaze suddenly to Zhu Ying, who had sat silently in the corner.

With those words.

All the commanders’ eyes turned to Zhu Ying.

Instantly.

Zhu Ying became the center of attention in the tent.

Yet.

Under those stares, many commanders wore mockery, derision, and the look of spectators waiting for a show.

“Indeed.”

"I also support General Wang Bi's proposal."

"General Zhu Ying is young and capable, even called a match for ten thousand by the troops. If General Zhu Ying leads the assault, we might not even need five days," Zhao Yong snapped back to attention and immediately added his agreement.

Watching these two Huaixi commanders sing in unison.

Zhu Ying regarded them calmly, knowing full well their praise was not sincere—it was clearly meant to flatter him, to raise him high so he would fall harder.

It was also a move to shift the current predicament onto Zhu Ying.

But Fu Youde watched coldly, his mind as clear as a mirror.

Though he too was a Huaixi commander, like Feng Sheng he was not among the arrogant, boastful, and overbearing generals like Lan Yu; he understood discretion and knew better than anyone the nature of imperial power.

What Zhao Yong and the other had just said was truly excessive.

"Enough."

Fu Youde snapped coldly.

The tent, moments ago filled with an odd atmosphere, fell instantly silent.

"General Zhu has only just returned from the northern frontier six days ago, and his cavalry Qianshi camp has only just been assembled three days ago."

"How can cavalry storm a city?"

"Generals Zhao and Wang, do not make reckless suggestions," Fu Youde said sternly.

He moved directly to bypass this point.

He also protected Zhu Ying.

Seeing this,

Zhao Yong and Wang Bi both flickered with disappointment in their eyes.

…

PS: Got off the highway, arrived at my mother-in-law’s home. Brothers, please give this chapter some serious reads and support—I’m deeply grateful, love you all.

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(End of Chapter)