Chapter 1206: 1200: Certain Death - Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Chapter 1206: Chapter 1200: Certain Death

“Thank you, General!”

With a stern face, Liu Pinggao spoke, “We had an agreement that once you left the city, you could not return. However, I took it upon myself to allow you in, considering you are now citizens of Zhou. You must understand this goodwill won’t happen a second time!”

“Now you must realize… to the Xiliang army, you are already citizens of Zhou. You should know the habits of the Xiliang army: after seizing a city, they massacre!” Liu Pinggao glanced over these citizens and said loudly, “So, if any of you want to survive, you must work together with the soldiers to defend Jiangzi City!”

“And you!” Liu Pinggao once again looked at the citizens kneeling on the ground who had just returned from outside the city, “I will remember your actions this time! If you can achieve merit while resisting the enemy, all will be forgiven. But if you fail to achieve merit…”

Liu Pinggao’s voice paused, “If you fail to achieve merit and let Xiliang attack, then you will truly die!”

After speaking, Liu Pinggao turned and left…

At this point, the citizens of the city were convinced that if Jiangzi City was breached, they would surely perish.

Everyone has the desire to survive; who doesn’t want to live?

Thus, the citizens worked harder and desperately transported all the materials that could resist the enemy to the city walls.

Liu Pinggao happily went to report to Bai Qingyan, naturally recounting how he infuriated the Xiliang generals and how he made them suspicious, and how the citizens had lost hope in the Xiliang army, in detail.

“You did very well in this matter!” Bai Qingyan had a slight smile on her face, “Looking at the citizens working together now, even if Xiliang really attacks the city, I’m afraid they won’t take Jiangzi City easily.”

“Your Majesty is correct!”

“Additionally, tonight form a small team to secretly head out, set a few fires in the Xiliang camp, and return after causing chaos!” Bai Qingyan’s goal is to prevent the Xiliang soldiers from resting well.

“Yes!” Liu Pinggao accepted the order.

The news that the Xiliang army was laying siege reached Yecheng Pass, and upon hearing it, Yang Wuce urgently sent people to investigate. The scouts returned, stating Xiliang indeed surrounded Jiangzi City, but the cities along the way were asked, and the Emperor had not signaled with the wolf smoke.

Even though Yang Wuce hadn’t followed Bai Qingyan for long, he understood in his heart that Bai Qingyan always acted with discretion.

Since Bai Qingyan hadn’t signaled with the wolf smoke, it meant she didn’t want them to rush with reinforcements; she had her own plans.

Yang Wuce thought for a long time before ordering people to constantly monitor Jiangzi City’s situation. If there was any movement, they should immediately send someone to report.

Still feeling uneasy, Yang Wuce sent a small unit over, instructing them to send news back every half day.

Upon learning that Yecheng Pass finally sent people to investigate, General Cui Shanzhong was immediately uplifted, fearing that Yecheng Pass had no activity.

Yet, Yang Wuce sent scouts but didn’t bring any troops to aid, forcing General Cui Shanzhong to reassure the commanders to stay calm and not act rashly.

Soon after, a small group of only fifty arrived from Yecheng Pass, not enough even for the Xiliang army to bother with, but if they really fought… it might alert Yecheng Pass’s guard generals.

Today, another hundred-man team arrived from Yecheng Pass, frequently sending messages back and forth.

The Xiliang scouts at Yecheng Pass also sent back information, saying Yang Wuce had already gathered the army, looking ready to rush for rescue.

“Send people to keep an eye on Yecheng Pass. Let the scouts come and go freely with their reports; do not obstruct them. General, let’s attack the city tomorrow, let the scouts report to the Yecheng Pass defending generals, and I don’t believe they won’t come for rescue!” A commander under General Cui Shanzhong urged loudly, “As long as they come… we can ambush them and annihilate their forces from Yecheng Pass at a minimal cost! Then seize Yecheng Pass, and the main force from Zhou heading towards our capital Yunjing will be cut off from food supplies!”

General Cui was silent, but… the Xiliang army’s rations were also running low.

Originally, he intended to persist longer for rations, first seizing Zhou’s food supplies, and then using the Emperor of Zhou trapped in Jiangzi City as a lure to lead Yecheng Pass’s defenders for rescue, allowing the Xiliang army to set up an ambush and annihilate them in one fell swoop.

Yet, these days, they’ve been made quite miserable by the Zhou army inside those high walls.

The Zhou army occasionally opens the city gates, either changing the meal times or sending cavalry out for a spin and a fire burst, retreating as soon as the Xiliang army charged out.

Separated by high walls, the Xiliang army was helpless against the Zhou army’s harassment, inciting anger, causing them poor rest, yet only able to curse the Zhou army as cowardly weaklings.

If this keeps up, poor rest is one thing, but the true fear is that the Xiliang soldiers might think Zhou only engages in small skirmishes, underestimating Zhou, and should Zhou truly attack, it could be disastrous.

General Cui Shanzhong calculated, Zhou should soon send supplies to the front lines…

Thinking of this, General Cui turned to his lieutenant, “Have you sent people to request reinforcements from the cities yet to be captured by Zhou? Any replies?”

“Reporting, General, upon hearing that the General has taken the field, they are willing to follow you. They are already on their way, and I’ve assured them that as long as they bring enough rations for the journey, our front will provide supplies. They’ve been marching day and night, although not yet here, but they send reports daily, estimated to arrive by noon tomorrow at the latest!” the lieutenant replied.

Upon hearing this, General Cui felt assured and said, “Send General Liu immediately to rendezvous with the reinforcements, lead them to skirt Jiangzi City and ambush Zhou’s supply route! Let the besieging troops eat well tonight and rest properly, tomorrow… attack the city! Force the Yecheng Pass defenders to come to Jiangzi City,”

Remembering Xiliang’s habit of only raising smoke for meals once a day, General Cui added, “During lunch cooking today, have Huotou Army prepare the dry rations for the afternoon, let the soldiers eat dry rations tonight, do not cook meals, lest Zhou discovers and becomes vigilant, ensure everything looks as usual!”

“Yes!”

Upon hearing the order to finally attack the city, the Xiliang generals were overjoyed.

These days, Bai Qingyan sent the Bai family’s Hidden Guards, skilled at observing enemy movements, to monitor the Xiliang army opposite.

The Bai family army first noticed that, after a few peaceful days, Xiliang army… a messenger departed from the southern camp at Jiangzi City where General Cui Shanzhong was stationed, and soon afterwards, the camps outside the east, north, and west gates of Jiangzi City started moving upon receiving the messages, evidently signaling some sort of action.