Chapter 126: line with translation of chapter title

Since that's the case, we will take the initiative to attack!

With Guan Zhen's thoughts racing, he quickly made a decision.

I and Ma Yan will lead the troops out the main gate, and when the enemy has not yet secured their footing and is hindered by the trench, we will strike them mid-crossing!

Guan Shan, you and He Hui together lead a force out the south gate; if you see fireworks rising within the city, then attack the enemy's left wing!

Qin Fei and Zhang Kai, you two lead a force out the north gate; if you see fireworks rising within the city, attack the enemy's right wing!

Zhang Kai and He Hui are respectively the Bijang of the Fifth Camp and the Ninth Camp.

General Guan, what about me?

Hearing Guan Zhen dispatch troops and assign commanders, yet omitting his own name, Zhou Kuan immediately could not wait to ask.

Guan Zhen gave a slight smile,

Old Zhou, only with you guarding the city can I be at ease.

Zhou Kuan's eyes showed a hint of disappointment.

Although going out to fight is dangerous, he would rather brave this danger than remain cooped up in the city!

Seeing Zhou Kuan's unwilling expression, Guan Zhen continued,

Since the enemy wants to take Mu Shan Cheng, we will give them this opportunity!

Hearing Guan Zhen's subsequent arrangements, even Gu Han, who is accustomed to risky tactics, couldn't help but gasp.

He is the sort who goes barefoot and fears no shoes, so he always chooses the approach with greater risk and greater reward.

But Guan Zhen bears the safety of the entire Mu Shan Cheng.

To still be able to make such a risky move is absolutely a decisive and courageous decision!

After the arrangements were settled, the logistics soldiers inside the city immediately began organizing the evacuation of the populace.

But many of the populace shouted, wanting to share life and death with Mu Shan Cheng, refusing to leave no matter what.

Soldiers are iron-blooded, unafraid of life and death.

The border troops' populace also refuses to show weakness.

What was originally a united front became, at this moment, an obstacle to carrying out the plan.

In desperation, Zhou Kuan could only step forward together with Gu Han to persuade everyone to evacuate as much as possible.

Yet they still encountered resistance from the populace.

Some even suspected that the generals were cowardly, believing they could not hold Mu Shan Cheng, hence ordering the evacuation.

Just as Zhou Kuan was frazzled, Gu Han suddenly had a brainwave.

He climbed onto the platform and shouted loudly to everyone,

I am Gu Han of the Logistics Camp; surely you have all heard of my name.

Some of the resisting populace gradually halted their actions, curiously looking at Gu Han.

Now Gu Han's reputation in Mu Shan Cheng is second to none.

Apart from Guan Zhen, as the defender of Mu Shan Cheng, whose fame spreads far.

Although the Bijang of each camp hold high rank, their fame among the populace may not truly match Gu Han's.

Seeing the noisy crowd gradually quiet down, Gu Han immediately continued,

General Guan's order to evacuate is not out of fear of the saber-toothed army, but to better carry out the plan.

Since you all also wish to contribute to Mu Shan Cheng, please, after the burning of a single incense stick, create a scene of clamor within the city.

As for the subsequent actions, we will take charge; how about that?

Gu Han's suggestion gained the agreement of many of the populace.

In the crowd, a white-bearded elder climbed up and shouted,

My son is a Captain of Hundred in the Mu Shan army; he died on the battlefield yesterday.

As long as we can kill those damned saber-toothed troops, even if it costs this old man his life, I will not hesitate!

Since Commander Gu has said this, then I, old man, believe Commander Gu will surely follow through!

The elder is clearly a person of high virtue and prestige in Mu Shan Cheng.

After he spoke, the multitude of populace voiced their approval in loud acclaim.

Under the organization of the Logistics Camp, they gradually withdrew into the city, clearing a battlefield at the city gate.

Watching the crowd depart, Zhou Kuan came to Gu Han's side and said anxiously,

If we cannot withstand the saber-toothed army, the populace will likely face grave danger.

Gu Han smiled and said,

General, since ancient times, he who wins the people's hearts wins the realm.

Although the sovereign's martial prowess exceeds others, if he does not win the people's hearts, he will not become a ruler of a state.

Since the populace is united, wishing to aid the Mu Shan army in defending the city, we cannot betray their goodwill.

You must believe that with the people's help, this battle we will surely win, with no possibility of loss!

He who wins the people's hearts wins the realm!

These words also left Zhou Kuan unable to help but fall silent.

Although he is a veteran of many battles, his judgment of the situation and understanding of the people's hearts are actually not as thorough as Gu Han's.

That is truly a dereliction of duty.

The time is about right; it's our turn to appear.

Gu Han smiled, then followed Zhou Kuan toward the city tower.

At this moment, the saber-toothed army has already left thousands of corpses at the city gate.

However, the saber-toothed forces ahead, though fearful, still continue to rush forward to their deaths.

Among the saber-toothed pig army.

Xiao Yuanshan, sitting on the back of a saber-toothed pig king as big as a small hill, smiled lightly and said,

"Zhang Meng, your plan is not bad."

Zhang Meng gave a mysterious smile, clasped his hands in salute,

"Everything relies on the general's decisiveness."

Watching countless saber-toothed pig soldiers march to their deaths, they showed not a hint of pity.

It's because this group of people, riding saber-toothed pigs to charge forward, are almost no different from those sending themselves to death.

They are not the true saber-toothed pig army, but prisoners of Dan Ren Cheng!

The death row prisoners of Dan Ren Cheng certainly aren't that many.

But under Xiao Yuanshan's order, all prisoners in jail were driven onto the battlefield!

Those prisoners, although unwilling, were also greedy for life and afraid of death.

But with the saber-toothed pig army blocking behind them, any prisoner who tried to flee would be slain on the spot!

In other words, whether they advance or retreat, it's a dead end.

Moreover, Xiao Yuanshan also declared that if they chose to flee, they would be treated as deserters!

Not only would they die, but their families would also be implicated!

More and more prisoners and saber-toothed pigs died on the battlefield, literally using their flesh and blood to fill many trenches and gullies.

Just as they saw a glimmer of hope, the gate of Mu Shan Cheng suddenly opened on its own.

A thunderous shout, like a clap of thunder, suddenly rang out.

"Xiao Yuanshan, dare you fight me!"

Watching Guan Zhen charge out from the city and instantly slay over ten people with the force of breaking bamboo, Xiao Yuanshan let out a cold snort,

"Even a defeated underling dares to act ferociously!"

He stepped forward, suddenly leaping from the saber-toothed pig king's back, and lunged at Guan Zhen in midair.

Guan Zhen's lieutenant Ma Yan then led a force of over a thousand troops to begin blocking the attacking saber-toothed pig army.

Besides that, Di Ying also came to help after being persuaded by Gu Han to face the enemy head-on.

In an instant, corpses from both sides piled up into mountains on the battlefield.

However, with the aid of the Horse Rejection obstacles, Arrow Towers, and soldiers in the trenches.

The losses of the saber-toothed pig army far exceeded those of the Mu Shan army.

As time passed, more and more soldiers of the saber-toothed pig army fell, gradually filling all the trenches.

Even the prepared Horse Rejection obstacles lost their function under the piling corpses.

The saber-toothed pig army trampled over corpses, gradually pushing the battle line toward the gate of Mu Shan Cheng.

The Mu Shan army fought while retreating, slowly withdrawing into Mu Shan Cheng.

"It seems yesterday's battle has left the Bijang of Mu Shan Cheng utterly exhausted."