Chapter 185: Anxious Gongsun Zan

Night soon fell, and a day passed in the blink of an eye.

At this time, in the main military tent five miles outside Shangyin City, quite a few people were sitting.

These people were the civil and military officials under Gongsun Zan; at this time, everyone's expressions were a bit solemn.

"Everyone speak; in this situation, how should we break the deadlock?"

Gongsun Zan, sitting in the main seat, said solemnly to the civil and military officials below.

"My Lord, let this end general lead people to attack tonight; otherwise, waiting like this is not a solution!"

At this time, Yan Gang, after hearing Gongsun Zan's words, shouted loudly to him.

Gongsun Zan, after listening to Yan Gang's words, turned his gaze to the several strategists and asked in a deep voice:

"What do you think?"

At this time, the several strategists under Gongsun Zan looked at each other and shook their heads one after another.

Facing an enemy that shrinks back and does not come out, no matter how many skills you have, it is impossible to breach Shangyin City in a short time.

"My Lord, we still have three days; if we cannot capture Shangyin City within these three days, we can only retreat from Youbeiping and return to Liaoxi Commandery to defend against the imperial court's army!"

At this time, Guan Jing said to Gongsun Zan with a solemn expression.

Originally, everyone came full of confidence, thinking they could easily capture Youbeiping.

I never expected that Yan Rou and Shen Pei would not fight head-on and would defend Shangyin City like an iron bucket.

And the main thing is that they couldn't bypass Shangyin City and could only push forward all the way.

Now, the several strategists under Gongsun Zan were also a bit anxious.

"Yan Gang, tonight I, this General, will lead thirty thousand troops to feign an attack from the East Gate, and you lead the remaining forty thousand troops to launch the main attack on the North Gate."

"I, this General, do not believe that Shen Pei and Yan Rou can truly withstand the simultaneous attack of my seventy thousand troops!"

Seeing that the several strategists had no better way for a while, Gongsun Zan immediately decided to launch a strong attack first to see.

"This end general accepts the order!"

Yan Gang, upon hearing this, was overjoyed; in his opinion, he had long felt that they should attack.

Subsequently, Gongsun Zan said to the several strategists including Guan Jing and Tian Kai in a deep voice:

"I, this General, do not care what method you use; you must help me breach Youbeiping within three days."

"Otherwise, when Guan Yu's Qinglong Army arrives, we will all be finished together!"

By the end, Gongsun Zan was already a bit hysterical.

Originally, he was full of confidence, thinking of taking advantage of Liu Yu's absence to seize Youzhou and dominate one side.

I never expected that before he could be proud for long, he would feel like he was about to fall into a desperate situation!

Guan Jing and the others, upon hearing this, also tightened their expressions and responded in a deep voice:

"This subordinate accepts the order!"

Soon, two days passed in the blink of an eye.

And Gongsun Zan, within these two days, had already launched five attacks on Shangyin City.

However, every time, they were beaten back by Shen Pei and Yan Rou.

The seventy thousand troops Gongsun Zan brought also suffered over ten thousand casualties; now, the troops capable of fighting only had sixty thousand left.

And on Yan Rou's side, only about a thousand people were killed or injured; such a huge casualty ratio also made Gongsun Zan a bit confused.

This Shangyin City gave him a completely different feeling from the four commanderies he had already captured, such as Liaodong Commandery and Xuantu Commandery.

From the three-day time limit that Gongsun Zan and the others spoke of, there was still one day left.

If they couldn't capture Shangyin City, they would truly have to retreat and defend Liaoxi Commandery!

At this time, inside Gongsun Zan's main military tent, the atmosphere was exceptionally heavy, and everyone didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

At this time, they no longer had their previous high spirits; after two days of strong attacks, having suffered ten thousand casualties, they had not caused the slightest damage to Shangyin City.

"Masters, everyone speak; this Shangyin City, how can we breach it?"

At this time, Gongsun Zan looked fixedly at the several strategists including Guan Jing and Tian Kai and asked in a deep voice.

Guan Jing and the others did not dare to look at Gongsun Zan's eyes and shook their heads one after another, indicating that they had no better way.

The time was too short; if the time had been longer, it would have been better; methods like cutting off the water, besieging the city, and cutting off the grain could slowly breach Shangyin City.

However, wanting to breach Shangyin City defended by fifty thousand troops within three days was undoubtedly too difficult!

Seeing this, Gongsun Zan's heart also sank.

Gongsun Zan suddenly stood up and said loudly to the crowd:

"Everyone, we have already reached this step; this Shangyin City must be breached tomorrow no matter what!"

"Otherwise, we will just wait for the imperial court's encirclement and suppression!"

"I believe you also do not want to face such a consequence!"

"Therefore, this battle will be a decisive battle concerning our life and death!"

"Do you all have the courage to fight the enemy to the death?"

Thinking of such a consequence, everyone shivered in unison.

Immediately, a sense of ferocity also rose, and they shouted one after another:

"Fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death!"

At this time, Gongsun Zan and the others did not know that Guan Yu had already led ninety thousand troops to their rear.

And Zhou Cang, at this time, had even led ten thousand troops to Liaoxi Commandery.

"Military Advisor, we will be able to reach the rear of Gongsun Zan's army tonight; when do you think we should launch the attack?"

During the march, Guan Yu, seeing that they were about to reach their destination, asked Guo Jia, who was lying lazily on his horse.

Since Guo Jia and the others all had cultivation, Guo Jia's lazy appearance did not affect the marching speed at all.

"Let the soldiers rest tonight; after such a long journey, they need to recover some physical strength."

"I estimate that Gongsun Zan will launch a general offensive tomorrow."

"The news sent by Shen Pei over these two days shows that Gongsun Zan has launched five strong attacks in two days."

"With such high-intensity combat, their soldiers will also be unable to hold on."

"And tomorrow is the best time to attack."

"Don't forget, in Gongsun Zan's intelligence, we are also about to arrive at the battlefield!"

By the end, Guo Jia also couldn't help but laugh loudly at the crowd.

"Fine, then do as the Military Advisor says!"

After listening to Guo Jia's words, Guan Yu also agreed with a smile.

At present, they were very clear about the situation in Shangyin City; it hadn't reached a dangerous moment yet.

Maintaining the best combat power is the most reliable way.

Guan Yu and Guo Jia set up camp ten miles away from Gongsun Zan's army.

This distance could ensure that they wouldn't be discovered by the other side.

Moreover, Gongsun Zan and the others would never have thought that Guan Yu would appear behind them.

Soon, a night passed in the blink of an eye.

Gongsun Zan, who had prepared all night, after shouting loudly to his soldiers, also successfully boosted the army's morale.

Sixty thousand troops, with high momentum, arrived under Shangyin City.

"Shen Pei, Yan Rou, I, this General, give you one last chance; open the city gates and surrender now, and I can show mercy to you!"

Gongsun Zan, who arrived under the city, shouted loudly to Shen Pei and Yan Rou on the city tower. ===== CHAPTER 186 =====