If it were not for the severely worded urgent letter from the Beiliang Protectorate, the commander of the Beiliang infantry, Yan Wenluan, would not be standing on the walls of Xiaguang City right now, but on the walls of Luanhe City. Thus, when the news of the Beimang vanguard breaking through Crouching Bow City in a single day spread back, the Youzhou military and political bigwigs all felt a lingering fear. If something had happened to Great General Yan, then what was the point of defending the Gourd Gate? It must be known that in the past two or three years, the Youzhou military would always say, "It doesn't make a difference whether Beiliang has His Royal Highness or not, but Youzhou has General Yan or not." Of course, there was no one who dared to say such shameful words now.
Yan Wenluan and Chen Yunchui, the two stabilizing forces of Youzhou, walked side by side to a ballista nicknamed 'Brother Nine Oxen'. Among the Beiliang ballistae, the 'Nine Oxen' and 'Two Tigers' ballistae were widely distributed in the major cities. Yan Wenluan weighed the huge ballista that was no different from a javelin with a calm expression, but the thoughts of the people behind him were more or less the same as that ballista. According to the plan, Crouching Bow City would not be able to hold on to the death if Beimang only sent a hundred and fifty thousand soldiers south. However, even though Beimang had sent twice as many soldiers to the eastern front as expected, Crouching Bow City was still not able to hold on for even a single day. This was truly shocking. He Zhonghu, who was personally in charge of the military affairs of the three cities at the Gourd Gate, could curse Zhu Mu and Gao Shiqing to vent his anger, but the others did not have the guts or the heart to do so. After all, the six thousand people of Crouching Bow City had already died in battle. The dead were the most important. Moreover, when had those people ever embarrassed the Youzhou army?!
Huangfu Xi said with a complicated expression, "Beimang's infantry not only has a large number of refined bows and crossbows, they also have a total of six hundred catapults. First, they used twenty thousand men to take turns attacking the city. Despite the heavy losses, General Zhong Tan still ordered them to replenish each chiliarch with a thousand men, and they fought until they broke through Lying Bow City."
He Zhong suddenly sneered, "The Beimang barbarians are using Crouching Bow City to train their troops. Even an idiot would know that once these bastards break through Crouching Bow City, they'll definitely tear down half the city. When the time comes to attack Luanhe, the catapults won't just fire two rounds."
Yan Wenluan asked calmly, "Have the eight hundred cavalry in Luan He City been recalled?"
Huangfu Jin nodded and said, "He's already on his way back to Xiaguang City. No one had expected the Beimang barbarians to attack the city with such ferocity. They didn't even give the Crouching Bow City's cavalry a chance to harass them. If that Zhong Tan wasn't so stubborn, the Beimang infantry would've lost at least two to three thousand men. "
He Zhong slammed his fist on the city wall and said with great heartache, "They're all good men of our Youzhou!"
Yan Wenluan gently put down the arrow. The Xiaguang City Lord, Xie Chengshu, secretly swallowed his saliva and mustered up his courage to say, "Great General, because we moved the Liuzhou soldiers out of Crouching Bow City and Luanhe City, a commotion has occurred in Luanhe City …"
The moment this sensitive topic was brought up, everyone, including He Zhong and Huangfu Xi, looked at Yan Wenluan cautiously.
Yan Wenluan's expression remained the same. She said indifferently, "A commotion? Aren't you making it sound too easy? What? You, Xie Chengshu, are related to Luanhe City's Yang Tuo by marriage, so you're helping him play dumb? If I remember correctly, the Hupong Camp of Luanhe City that threatened the Great General with a mutiny is one of the few old battalions in Youzhou. Their two captains were the trusted subordinates of Zhong Hongwu and Liu Yuanji. When Zhong Hongwu lost his position, that captain of ours removed his armor and resigned to show his loyalty. That's fine, since most of the soldiers under Zhong Hongwu's command are like that. However, Xun Shu, who was once Old Liu's personal guard, shouldn't be so daring. Tell me, everyone present, how many of you are dissatisfied with me retreating the Liuzhou soldiers from the frontlines? "
No one on the city wall dared to breathe too loudly, especially Xiaguang City's Great General Xie Chengshu and his two deputies. They had already dropped to their knees, not daring to utter a single word of apology.
He Zhong hurriedly tried to smooth things over, saying helplessly, "Look at what you're saying. You're already putting on such a pretentious front. Who would dare to speak the truth to you?"
Yan Wenluan didn't say anything.
He Zhong sighed and smiled at the three generals of Xiaguang City. He said amiably, "All of you, rise. How many times has the Great General said that a man's knees are not for kneeling to others? Two of you have been to Mount Qingliang and met the Great General before. When have you not been told to just cup your fists and salute? "
Yan Wenluan suddenly said, "Hupong Camp, remove its name."
With these words, even He Zhong's expression changed, to say nothing of the kneeling Xie Chengshu and the other two.
If the Beiliang Old Battalion lost a battle, or even won a battle but lost to the other old battalions, it would be as uncomfortable as being stabbed. As for removing its name? That would be even more uncomfortable than being killed! In Beiliang, even if all of the old battalions died in battle, they could still retain their name. In fact, all of the old battalions loved to compete with each other. Over the years, they would first compete to see who had killed the most enemies and whose battle prowess was superior. In the end, they would even compare the number of times their battalion had been wiped out. Moreover, the one who won in the last round would be very convincing. For example, the Xiandeng Camp, which was one of the oldest battalions along with the Lotus Seed Camp, the Partridge Camp, and the Horse Camp, relied on this to win first place. For many years, they had called themselves the first old battalion. Even if they were a small soldier, they would always be arrogant when they saw the commandants or captains of other battalions on the road. As a result, there was a strange phenomenon in the Beiliang Frontier Army that outsiders could not understand. There was often a saying, "A captain in this life, a general in the next life." This meant that the leaders of the old battalions would rather be captains for their entire lives than be generals with a higher rank. If they wanted to be generals, they would rather be generals in their next lives.
Removing the name of Hupong Camp meant that there would be no more Hupong Camp in the world. It meant that all of the efforts of the seniors who had died in battle and who had retired due to injuries would be wasted.
In particular, the martyrs of the old battalions who had died in battle in other places would become lonely ghosts who would never be able to rest in peace in the eyes of the Beiliang Frontier Army.
Yan Wenluan tilted his head and lightly spat on the ground. He still spoke in a lukewarm tone, "What kind of bullshit is this? Compared to those old battalions in Liang Province, they're ten streets behind."
The old general left Xiaguang City just like that.
Huangfu Xi's expression was strange, but he could not leave Xiaguang City for the time being. He could only silently send off this infantry commander to the outskirts of the city before rushing back to the city walls. Sure enough, no one had left. They did not move at all. Xie Chengshu and the other two were still kneeling with their heads lowered. He Zhonghui, who had always been good-natured and easy to talk to, suddenly had a frighteningly gloomy expression on his face. Lu Zhonghui, the deputy general of Xiaguang City, as well as the commander of another old battalion, this middle-aged general with more scars than his son, was actually sobbing like an aggrieved child. Lu Zhonghui's Cavalry Blocking Camp was precisely the old battalions that Yan Wenluan had single-handedly created. Back then, the roads in Western Shu were rugged and rugged, making it unsuitable for the Xu family's cavalry to gallop through. The Cavalry Blocking Camp, which had already displayed its brilliance during the Battle of Western Rampart, had made even more contributions. They were known as the Cavalry Blocking Camp. Even the vanguard general Chu Lushan, who had led a thousand-man army into Shu, had not been stingy with his praise.
Yan Wenluan's "bullshit" wasn't some sarcastic remark, but a slap to his own face as the commander of Beiliang's infantry.
He Zhonghui suddenly placed his hands on the city walls. With his back facing everyone, he said softly, "How can he not be sad that Crouching Bow City is gone? In all of Beiliang, if Old Yan doesn't feel sorry for Calabash City, who would feel more sorry for him? Not only Calabash City, but all of the Youzhou infantry were personally trained by him. Is he really willing to let our Youzhou soldiers die before the Liu Province soldiers? That's impossible. Right now, the tens of thousands of Liu Province soldiers on the border of Youzhou, as well as those from Liangzhou, including the locals of Liuzhou, and those who have taken root in Lingzhou, are all watching us. "
He Zhonghui took a deep breath and said sternly, "Send an order to Luan He City. Tiger Pouncing Camp is to be stripped of its name! Lieutenant Xun Shu and the other captains are to be allowed to participate in the defense of the city! If they feel that this rebellion isn't enough to vent their anger, then fine, if they have the ability, then go and kill Luan He General Yang Cuo! At worst, I, He Zhonghui, will personally lead the troops to quell the rebellion! "
Xie Chengshu clenched his teeth and said, "This general begs the Great General to allow the soldiers of Tiger Pouncing Camp to redeem themselves. Give them a chance to take back their old name!"
He Zhonghui suddenly turned around and kicked the Sunrise City Lord away. "Do you think that Yan Wenluan is the only one who is angry at Luan He City at such a crucial time? Do you think that the six hundred li urgent letter only told our Great General Yan not to personally take the risk? Chu Lushan of the Protectorate General, our Lord Protector General has already said, 'If the soldiers of Youzhou refuse to be controlled, although the war in Liangzhou is tense, we can still send out a few capable generals to defend the city.' Listen, even Chu Lushan wants your in-laws to scram out of Luan He City! So what if I, He Zhonghui, agree?! "
The infantry commander had already left. Although Deputy Commander He Zhonghui didn't immediately leave Sunrise City, he was so angry that his face was ashen. He quickly walked down the city walls.
Huangfu Xi, who was following behind He Zhonghui, asked, "Will it be too much?"
He Zhonghui waved his hand and said heavily, "Our Youzhou army isn't that delicate!"
Huangfu Xi continued to ask, "Then what about the two hundred or so ordinary soldiers who followed Tiger Pouncing Camp and wanted to leave the city? What about them?"
He Zhonghui coldly said, "What's there to ask? Of course they will be dealt with according to military law. Immediately executed!"
Huangfu Xi looked at his back and continued to ask, "General He, I'm asking about their family members in Youzhou. What about them?"
He Zhonghui suddenly paused.
There was a long silence.
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