Chapter 658 - 470: Parting for the Greater Cause (2)

"Now, please let the strategist explain how to break through Linjiang City!"

Tang Jianjun doesn’t fully agree with Hex Chengpi attacking the city at this moment.

However, he is merely a strategist and cannot completely sway Hex Chengpi’s thoughts.

Moreover, one cannot deny that the rapid development of Hex Chengpi’s Rebel Army, now over forty thousand strong in just two months, is partly due to Hex Chengpi’s character.

Wouldn’t this man have gained so much support without his forthright and valiant nature?

So, even though the timing feels premature, Tang Jianjun thinks it’s worth trying anyway.

At least Hex Chengpi is not stubbornly dogmatic; if circumstances turn unfavorable, he won’t persist.

"Please listen to my plan," Tang Jianjun began explaining the siege tactics to the Qingshan Army leaders on the map.

"Although Linjiang City is a major city, its defenses are not strong, and there are few stationed troops."

"Our army is ten times the size of theirs; if we launch a fierce attack initially and catch them off guard, there’s a high chance of taking Linjiang City in one go."

"But if we fail to capture it quickly, the battle might enter a stalemate."

"If that happens, the Dog Court can mobilize troops from all over the province..."

Hex Chengpi laughed heartily, "I understand the strategist’s suggestion. Rest assured, if we can’t seize Linjiang City swiftly, I will retreat immediately, avoiding a prolonged battle."

The mobilization speed of the Qingshan Army was astonishing, with forty thousand troops prepared and moving toward Linjiang City in just two days.

This was not only due to their constant battle readiness but also significantly because Tang Jianjun strictly reorganized the army.

These tactics were learned from Zheng Yi, aligning with modern military organizational structures.

Compared to the relatively primitive world of the Cangyan Realm, it’s simply a devastating downgrade.

Upon receiving the news of rebels intending to attack the city, the City Lord of Linjiang City’s first thought was disdain.

"These mere rebels dare to attack our Linjiang City; they truly don’t know their place."

"I want to see how capable those peasants are."

Despite his tough words, when he ascended the city wall and saw the swiftly approaching army afar, he started to shiver.

Over ten thousand Qingshan troops, seemingly endless.

Formidable and overwhelming like waves rushing forward.

Yet the Qingshan Army seemingly thought this was not frightening enough.

Before the City Lord could recover from the shock, a dispatcher rushed in to report.

"Report! City Lord, the West City Gate is under attack by bandits."

"Report! City Lord, the South City Gate is under attack by bandits."

The City Lord’s vision suddenly turned dark.

Just the enemies in front are terrifyingly numerous, and now they’ve encircled the city.

Wait a moment...

The City Lord suddenly realized a key point.

There are attacks from the southwest as well as here, so...

"What’s happening at the North City Gate? Dispatch people to investigate immediately."

The dispatcher quickly returned, "Report, no traces of bandits found at the North City Gate."

Upon hearing this, the City Lord inexplicably relaxed.

Less than twenty miles from the North City Gate lies Lujiang Pier, home to many large ships.

"General Changg, what’s your opinion?" The City Lord’s voice still trembled slightly.

Though there were rebellions annually in recent years, most were easily dealt with by skilled tributors.

Even the more formidable ones were swiftly crushed once the Imperial Court deployed military forces.

Only the Weihe Army years ago and now the Qingshan Army reached the point of besieging a city.

Facing such a scene for the first time, the pampered City Lord managing to stand firm here was already quite commendable.

"Reporting to the City Lord, I believe there is fundamentally nothing to worry about," General Changg replied steadily.

"These rebels appear menacing only because they lack the ability to control their troops."

"Look at the enemy below; though they seem numerous, it’s only because they lack any formation, forming a chaotic mass, which makes them appear more numerous."

"If these troops were trained and assembled, they’d be at most just over ten thousand."

General Changg’s explanation only heightened the City Lord’s fear.

"Gen... General Changg. We have only over a thousand soldiers; the enemy vastly outnumbers us by tenfold, can we truly hold them back?"

General Changg asserted confidently, "City Lord, although the enemy’s numbers are large, they’ve traveled far while we await them."

"Moreover, the number of troops they can use for the siege is limited, not all can rush the city walls, so the enemies we face simultaneously will not outnumber us greatly."

"Plus, with the city walls, they will need at least a few days to mount an attack on the city."

"By then, our reinforcements will have arrived, allowing us to crush these bandits from inside and outside."

Hearing General Changg’s well-reasoned analysis, the City Lord breathed a sigh of relief, alleviating his fear.

"Very well, I’ll leave it to General Changg then."

"Rest assured, City Lord, just a bunch of petty bandits. As long as I’m alive, they won’t set foot on the city wall."

Watching the Qingshan Army draw closer, the City Lord suddenly suggested, "General Changg, since there are no enemies at the North Gate, should we transfer some troops from there to help defend?"

"Absolutely not," General Changg warned urgently. "Although no enemies are visible there, it could be a diversion strategy by the enemy."

"If we rashly transfer troops and the North City Gate gets raided, it will be too late to rush back for support."

After repeated advice from General Changg, the City Lord abandoned plans to draw troops from the North City Gate.

The Qingshan Army approached aggressively but suddenly halted two hundred steps from the city gate.

This scene left both the City Lord and General Changg utterly puzzled.

"What... what are they trying to do?" the City Lord asked in confusion.

"Unknown, my lord," General Changg admitted, unable to fathom the situation.

The principle of a siege is to attack swiftly.

This is their peak morale moment; stopping now is simply foolish.

Yet as they pondered the situation, cries of battle and clashing weapons suddenly echoed from below the city gate.

General Changg instinctively leaned over to check the drawbridge area below the gate but saw no sign of anything.

He then realized too late, his face changing dramatically: "Not good, the rebels have insiders in the city, they aim to open the gate now!"

"Begging your pardon, City Lord, I must rush to assist immediately."

General Changg, adept at Crystal Stage, essential to wield military power, leaped inside the wall.

With a thunderous crash, he landed, crushing a Qingshan soldier into pulp beneath him.

Without pause, he charged at the Qingshan soldiers attacking the gate.

No one on-site was a match for him.

Mere minutes, all the Qingshan soldiers assaulting the gate lay dead, not a single survivor.

With General Changg present, the battle outcome was never in doubt.

Still, there was no relief on General Changg’s part.

He had battled rebels before.

Most of them were merely ordinary folk unable to survive.

Faced with a death struggle, few truly dared fight to the end; most surrendered swiftly when hope seemed lost.

Even in surrender, the outcome was execution by the Official Army.

But the Qingshan Army was different.

As his sword pierced the body of the last Qingshan soldier, the opponent used his final strength to lift a blade and strike at him.

"A bunch of lunatics,"

General Changg remarked at the end.