Chapter 567: Engaging the Enemy

Latest URL: Ning City.

Qin Shan stood on the city wall, looking at the Northern Di soldiers who were setting up camp.

In this battle, he was the main general, and Guan Tong was the Vice General.

The other Captains followed the orders of the two of them.

After consulting with Guan Tong, he decided to guard the North Gate and East Gate, while Guan Tong was responsible for guarding the South Gate and West Gate.

After the Northern Di reinforcements from Jin City arrived, the main Northern Di army that had been attacking Yanguan arrived as well.

Through reconnaissance, they discovered that the main Northern Di army that had retreated from Yanguan was estimated to be less than two hundred thousand.

And the main Northern Di army coming from the north was currently approaching one hundred and fifty thousand.

However, more Cavalry were still arriving one after another.

He estimated that the main Northern Di army besieging Ning City would approach four hundred thousand.

"Are you afraid?" Qin Shan patted the shoulder of the general beside him.

This was a Captain named Li Yi, who had been promoted from a Colonel to a Captain due to his outstanding performance in the Jinzhuzhizhan.

Li Yi shook his head, then nodded, "A little nervous, but not afraid. Ever since I joined the Prince's Personal Army, I have lived with my head on my belt."

The other two Captains heard this and all laughed, looking nonchalant.

If they were greedy for life and afraid of death, they would never have reached the position of Captain today.

"That's good. This battle is the key to the Ningjin Battle. If we hold out, we win this battle; if we don't, everything is lost." Qin Shan looked relaxed. "If I die, when you go back, you must help me take care of my wife, children, and elderly mother. If you die, I, Qin Shan, will also look after your wives, children, and elderly mothers."

The three of them heard this, their eyes reddened slightly, and they nodded heavily.

"Hahaha, the battle hasn't even started yet, why are you acting so sentimental? Maybe we can beat them until they are running for their lives." Guan Tong laughed and walked over at this moment.

Glancing outside the city, he continued: "These Northern Di soldiers coming from the south look a bit bedraggled, the ones coming from the north have more spirit. How about we swap?"

Qin Shan's brows immediately stood up.

"In your dreams. You aren't at Nan Cheng, what are you doing running over here? If Nan Cheng is lost, I will not consider personal friendship and will have you executed all the same."

Guan Tong shrank his neck and said sternly: "General Qin, this subordinate believes that the Mortars and Artillery at Nan Cheng can be reduced, and moved to the north of the city to deal with the Northern Di army coming from Jin City."

"I have already given you twelve fewer Field Artillery and twenty-four fewer Mortars. If I give you any less, can you manage?" Qin Shan asked.

This time they had brought a total of seventy-two light Field Artillery and one hundred and eight Mortars.

Neither the number of Mortars and Artillery nor the amount of ammunition was high.

"I can manage." Guan Tong was still grinning. "This subordinate speaks no falsehoods. The Northern Di army coming from the south seems to have had the spirit beaten out of them by the brothers at Yanguan."

After hesitating for a moment, Qin Shan nodded.

The Northern Di Cavalry coming from the north were just as Guan Tong said: full of spirit and murderous.

These were definitely the elite of the Northern Di.

They might even be the personal guards of the Khan Court.

At the same time, in the Northern Di camp.

As soon as Guertu led the main army, he set up camp outside Nan Cheng according to orders.

He, along with Ke'erqin, Gule, and Wuyan, headed to the north of the city and arrived at Tiemuta's tent.

Entering the tent, they looked at the man sitting on the chair opposite them and were immediately shocked.

"Khan!"

Guertu was startled and hurriedly saluted Mule Hongzhen.

Ke'erqin, Gule, and Wuyan recognized the man and bowed their waists at the same time.

Mule Hongzhen raised his hand, signaling for the four of them to forgo the formalities.

After Tiemuta arrived, he had also arrived in less than half a day.

This time, he would personally lead the main Northern Di army to take Ning City.

Otherwise, if the territory that the Northern Di had managed for over ten years fell into the hands of Yan Wang, his prestige in the Northern Di would plummet.

"Khan, we are guilty. We have yet to take Yanguan and have suffered heavy losses." Guertu looked grief-stricken.

"This cannot be blamed on you. It is not that you were not brave enough, but that Yan Wang is too cunning. Even I do not understand how he managed to gather so many troops while the plague was rampant in Yanzhou," Mule Hongzhen said slowly.

"Khan..." With Mule Hongzhen saying this, Guertu and Ke'erqin almost cried.

They had truly tried their best, but had not achieved any results, and had been worried about being reprimanded.

With Mule Hongzhen saying this, their grievances immediately dissipated.

Sighing softly, Mule Hongzhen looked at the four of them. "Do not mention the battle at Yanguan again. The most important thing right now is Ning City. No matter what the cost, we absolutely cannot let Yan Wang seize our Northern Di territory."

Failing to take Yanguan was at most a failure of advancement.

Over the past many years, they had failed to take Yanguan many times.

It would not have a major impact on him.

But losing Ning City would mean the decline of the Northern Di.

Once it could not be taken back, the confidence of the Northern Di from top to bottom would be impacted.

"Yes, Khan," the four of them, Guertu included, replied.

Mule Hongzhen nodded and asked Guertu about the number of cannons they had brought.

In order to take Yanguan, he had given almost all the cannons in Jin City to Guertu.

"Reporting to the Khan, we only have eighty-two cannons left." Guertu carefully observed Mule Hongzhen.

When they were attacking Yancheng, their artillery positions were constantly bombarded by the Yanguan Artillery, and many pieces of Artillery were damaged.

"Eighty-two!" Mule Hongzhen's pupils shrank slightly.

Although this number of Artillery made him very dissatisfied, there was no other way now.

Ning City had sufficient grain and grass, so the strategy of besieging Ning City would not work.

Furthermore, long nights bring many dreams, and he could not be certain what moves Yan Wang might make next.

Therefore, if they did not seize the opportunity to retake Ning City while it only had sixty thousand of Yan Wang's troops, things would become even more troublesome later.

Moreover, Ning City is different from Yanguan; they were only able to attack one side there.

With a siege from all four sides, they would only have an average of fifteen thousand men on each section of the city wall.

Yet they could deploy one hundred thousand heavy troops on each side.

With such a superior force, it is not impossible to settle this in one battle.

Thinking of this, he said to Gurtu, "I will give you one day to rest and reorganize."

The two hundred thousand troops he brought from Jincheng had also been marching without a moment's pause.

Now, they likewise needed to rest.

Acknowledging with a "yes," Gurtu and the others turned and left.

The morning of the following day.

The loud, resonant sound of horns rang out through the Northern Di encampment.

Under the orders of their commanders, the Northern Di soldiers slowly walked out of the camp and formed ranks in front of the gates.

Seeing this, Qin Shan immediately ordered the commanders to ascend the city walls to prepare to resist the Northern Di attack.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

After a brief preparation by both sides, the sixty pieces of Artillery gathered by the Northern Di at the North Gate opened fire first.

Cannonball after cannonball slammed heavily into the city wall.

Under the bombardment of the Cannonballs, the blue bricks shattered into dust and rose into the air.

At the same time, the Field Artillery on the city gate returned fire.

The Cannonballs flew straight into the fortifications built by the Northern Di Artillerymen.

"Anda!"

As the Artillery roared, the Northern Di soldiers let out waves of shouts and surged toward the four sides of the city wall like a tide, their momentum truly immense.