Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3853: Action must be resolute

The battle beneath Jiangling City was like a giant grinding mill, continuously draining the strength of the attacking side.

While Cao Ren attempted to calmly observe the battle situation and calculate the number of Jiangdong soldiers who had bled and died on the front lines, inside the Jiangdong army camp, a silent but crucial power transfer was quietly and orderly taking place under Guan Yu's control...

To understand why Guan Yu was able to replace the wounded and dead Jiangdong military academy students and take over the troops recruited and trained by Jiangdong, we must discuss the origins of the soldiers and their relationship with their generals within the warlord forces like Sun Quan's, which had a strong private army mentality...

The soldiers in Jiangdong can be roughly divided into three categories.

Firstly, there were the old troops from Huai and Si who had risen to power in the early days of the Sun family and their descendants. This part could be considered the core force, but their numbers were limited, and most of them served as mid- to high-ranking military officers or elite guards.

Would Sun Quan just casually give away these elite soldiers to Liu Bei?

Would the other veterans be willing to give up some of their resources to Liu Bei?

Obviously, none of these are possible.

The second category of Jiangdong soldiers consisted of the private troops and retinues brought by local powerful families and fortified villages who had submitted to Jiangdong.

These Jiangdong soldiers were less like Jiangdong troops and more like someone's private property. While they could be considered relatively elite, their commanders had invested considerable time, resources, and money in their training and development, and they wouldn't easily be assigned to Liu Bei for the "attack" on Jiangling…

Therefore, the Jiangdong soldiers assigned to Liu Bei's forces were actually the largest number of soldiers in Jiangdong, recruited, and even forcibly conscripted by Jiangdong during its various campaigns, especially in the process of pacifying the Shanyue tribes.

These soldiers came from various parts of Jiangdong and were of diverse backgrounds.

There were landless peasants, exiled criminals, and a considerable number of conquered Yue tribesmen. Their loyalty to the Sun family regime was far less than that of the Huai and Si youths who had followed Sun Jian and Sun Ce in the early days. They joined the army more to make a living or to seek a way to survive in the chaotic world.

These third category of soldiers from the lower ranks of Jiangdong generally had low levels of education and had no concept of the grand significance of the nation and the people.

They appeared more pragmatic, placing greater emphasis on who led them in battle, who paid them, and who determined their life, death, honor, and disgrace...

On the battlefield, they also became accustomed to listening to familiar bugle calls, recognizing familiar flags, and following generals who could lead them to victory and reduce casualties.

Therefore, these Jiangdong soldiers "recognized their generals but not their lords".

Once the officer directly commanding them is killed, transferred, or sidelined, and the new general demonstrates sufficient ability and prestige, and can guarantee their basic interests, such as pay, food, and relatively fair treatment, these soldiers are likely to switch allegiance, or at least temporarily obey the new commander.

Now, at the gates of Jiangling, Liu Bei and Guan Yu have cleverly taken advantage of this situation.

After several days of fierce attacks, the mid- to high-ranking loyal officers that Sun Quan had planted in the army were "precisely" struck by Liu Bei, who used Xu Huang as a tool, resulting in heavy casualties.

The deaths or serious injuries of these mid- to low-ranking military officers, whom Sun Quan had deliberately placed in command, caused their troops to instantly lose their direct command core.

Although there are still many lower-level officials like squad leaders, their authority is limited, and they are equally confused and fearful about their future.

Following the casualties of officers from the military academy directly under their command, these soldiers from Jiangdong inevitably felt some fear and unease.

Just then, Guan Yu made his move.

He did not announce the takeover in a grand and high-profile manner, but rather filled the power vacuum in a calm and gradual way.

Guan Yu first ordered the reorganization of troops that had lost their structure due to the deaths of their officers, under the pretext of "overseeing the war effort and replenishing losses."

During the reorganization process, Guan Yu placed former military officers or trusted officers from Liu Bei's camp into the Jiangdong army to serve as new mid- to low-level commanders.

This was originally extremely difficult to do...

After all, the Jiangdong army originally had its own commanders, so parachuting in would naturally encounter the problem of local strongmen. But now these local strongmen are either dead or wounded, so there's no one to fight against Liu Bei's old troops who are parachuted in.

At the same time, Guan Yu personally inspected the various camps, comforted the wounded soldiers, and supervised logistical support.

It must be said that Guan Yu was truly a dignified and imposing figure. Being a tall man from the north, he stood out among a group of Yue soldiers from the south of the Yangtze River. The phrase "a crane among chickens" is insufficient to describe Guan Yu's imposing presence. Coupled with his own formidable martial prowess, he naturally possessed immense power and appeal.

For these ordinary Jiangdong soldiers who had just lost their commander and were filled with anxiety, the prospect of having such a renowned general with exceptional martial prowess who seemed capable of leading them to survival and even victory was naturally a cause for celebration. They switched sides without any hesitation.

Moreover, Guan Yu was accompanied by the title of "relative of the Han imperial family"!

Liu Bei's former subordinates, whether intentionally or unintentionally, emphasized Liu Bei's status as a "relative of the Han imperial family," implying that following Liu Bei was the "right path"...

A complete carrot and stick approach, combining kindness and severity.

Thus, under Guan Yu's reorganization, the Jiangdong soldiers who originally belonged to Sun Quan's faction, having lost their direct superiors, were gradually incorporated into Guan Yu's command system with almost no fierce resistance.

They may not yet have a deep sense of belonging to Liu Bei's group, but they have already begun to obey Guan Yu's orders.

Liu Bei observed secretly. When he saw that the potential threat of internal strife had been eliminated and that command of the army was gradually being firmly in the hands of his brothers, he felt reassured and began to plan the next step with even greater ease...

Having gained actual military power, Liu Bei felt more confident and had more room to maneuver in his subsequent "cooperation" with Cao Ren...

Liu Bei once again dispatched Sun Qian to Cao Cao's army camp.

This time, Sun Qian's attitude was different from his previous "angry questioning." He not only adopted a tough stance, expressing great regret and disappointment, but it could even be described as an ultimatum.

"General Cao!" Sun Qian cut to the chase upon meeting him, his tone heavy with sorrow and grief, seemingly overflowing with emotion. "For days we've been besieging the city, my Jiangdong soldiers have shed their blood on the walls, their corpses piled high! Your promise to join forces and breach the city still rings in our ears! Yet, to this day, your army remains stationary in the rear, all talk and no action! Do you truly intend to wait until my men have shed their last drop of blood before your army will advance?!"

"This..." Cao Ren, feeling somewhat embarrassed by such accusations, forced a smile and said, "It's not what Gongyou imagines..."

Sun Qian completely ignored Cao Ren's explanation, stepped forward, and stared intently at Cao Ren. "My lord, the Imperial Uncle, sent me here not to beg, but to inform you! If General Cao still lacks sincerity and still intends to engage in the 'when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits' scheme… then this alliance is worthless! Our army will break camp and withdraw from the Jiangling campaign! The responsibility of besieging the city, and of this land of Jingchu, will be entirely entrusted to you, General! But I wonder… heh heh! How will you explain this to Cao Cao then? And how will you deal with the impending clash between the northern and southern armies?!"

As soon as Sun Qian finished speaking, Cao Ren's expression changed drastically.

This was indeed something that Cao Ren was very worried about...

If Liu Bei were to retreat at this time, not only would the plan to "jointly attack Jiangling" completely fail, but Cao Ren would also have to face the danger of being surrounded on all sides in Jingbei alone!
Moreover, there is instability from within Xiangyang itself!

The situation in Jingzhou is about to take a sharp turn for the worse!

Seeing Sun Qian's furious expression, which seemed to leave no room for negotiation, and recalling his observation of the "true" casualties of the Jiangdong army, as well as his deduction that Liu Bei might indeed urgently need Jiangling as a foothold, Cao Ren knew that he could no longer stand by and watch...

Liu Bei has already shown his sincerity!
Now it's Cao Ren's turn to show his "sincerity"...

Otherwise, this fragile alliance would crumble instantly. Liu Bei could retreat, but Cao Ren would have to bear all the pressure alone, with no way out!

Cao Ren's expression shifted between light and shadow. After a moment, he spoke in a deep voice, adopting a magnanimous demeanor, "Why do you say such things, Master Gongyou! How could I, Cao Ren, be a treacherous person?! It was true that my camp was newly established, requiring the consolidation of the rear and reconnaissance of the enemy's situation, which is why I did not exert my full strength! Now that I see General Zuo's sincerity, if I, Cao Ren, hesitate any longer, wouldn't I become a laughingstock to the world?! Master Gongyou, just wait and see!"

Cao Ren drew his sword and chopped off the corner of the table, seemingly to demonstrate his do-or-die attitude. "Please reply to General Zuo! Tomorrow! Tomorrow! My army will march forth and join forces with General Zuo to launch a fierce attack on Jiangling City! We will not withdraw until this city is captured!"

Sun Qian stared at Cao Ren, seemingly trying to ascertain the truthfulness of his words. After a moment, he slightly bowed and said, "In that case, I will wait and see! I hope that General... will keep his word!"

After seeing Sun Qian off, Cao Ren's generous expression faded, and he frowned, pondering the matter over and over again, finally letting out a sigh...

Cao Ren instructed his deputy, "Pass down the order: prepare breakfast at dawn tomorrow, and have the entire army prepare for battle! Capture Jiangling!"

Regardless of Liu Bei's motives, at least for now, capturing Jiangling is in Cao Ren's best interest.

As for what happened after the city fell...

Then it's up to each of us to rely on our own abilities!
Above Jiangling City, the war clouds grew thicker, and a truly fierce siege seemed inevitable.

……

……

The next day, Chenshi.

The thunderous sound of war drums heralded a new round of bloody siege.

The gates of Cao Cao's camp were wide open, and squads of heavily armored infantrymen surged out amidst the officers' desperate urging and the booming of war drums, heading straight for the walls of Jiangling.

In stark contrast to their hesitant stance of the previous few days, Cao Cao's army clearly displayed their most formidable strength and determination this time.

Perhaps to make up for the negative impression of "sitting and watching the outcome," or perhaps because Cao Cao's army had indeed rushed to manufacture and assemble a batch of siege equipment in the past few days, the formation Cao Cao's army displayed appeared quite formidable. The tall siege towers were slowly pushed towards the city wall, and the archers on them constantly exchanged fire with the city wall, suppressing the activities of the cavalry defenders.

The heavy battering ram, propelled by a dozen strong soldiers, moved like a small mountain, aiming at the imposing city gate of Jiangling.

More numerous were Cao Cao's infantry, swarming like ants, carrying crude siege ladders, roaring as they launched a desperate charge towards the city walls.

"Kill! Let those river ducks who can only splash around in the water see what a real siege is like!"

The military academy officers supervising the battle waved their swords and used crude slogans full of regional discrimination to boost morale, while also instilling a sense of arrogance in the soldiers.

Faced with Cao Cao's sudden escalation of the offensive, the counterattack of the cavalry defending the city walls also became more ferocious!
Xu Huang personally supervised the battle from the city wall, remaining calm and composed, and continuously issuing concise and effective orders.

"Archers, fire a barrage at the siege tower!"

"Rolling logs and stones, bring them up! Aim at the ladder!"

"Hands crossed, ready!"

"Bring the gravy over when it's ready!"

"Watch out for enemy vehicles ramming! Go get some kerosene!"

Commands are executed efficiently and accurately.

The powerful bows and crossbows of the cavalry displayed astonishing accuracy and power, with dense arrows raining down on Cao Cao's siege towers like locusts.

Although the well balustrade had protective panels, Cao Cao's archers continued to fall from the height, screaming as they pierced arrows.

The heavy logs and stones were pushed down by the defenders with all their might, crashing down on the Cao army soldiers climbing the ladders with a terrifying whooshing sound.

Often, a single log could wipe out all the enemies on the ladder, and the mangled corpses fell to the ground, dripping with blood.

The most terrifying and most likely to terrify Cao Cao's soldiers were the hot oil and kerosene.

When Cao's soldiers braved a hail of arrows and logs to finally approach the battlements, they were met with this extremely poisonous liquid!

The soldiers who were drenched in the golden liquid instantly had their skin torn open and let out inhuman screams. Their wounds were festering and they were in great pain!

Even if they didn't die at the time, they were basically half-dead and lost their fighting ability.

Fire oil, on the other hand, was a siege weapon primarily designed to counter Cao Cao's army.

The viscous liquid poured down, followed by a rocket that instantly ignited a raging fire, engulfing the painstakingly constructed siege ladders and shield chariots, as well as the Cao army soldiers below!
The air was thick with the stench of burning flesh and the piercing cries of agony, as if it were a living hell.

Cao Cao's siege equipment suffered heavy losses under the targeted attacks of the Flying Cavalry.

The battering ram, which had been pushed to the foot of the city with great difficulty, was targeted by a concentrated barrage of boulders and oil canisters thrown from the city walls. It quickly caught fire, became paralyzed in place, and turned into a giant torch.

The siege towers were also suppressed by the crossbows and accurate fire of the cavalry, making them difficult to use effectively.

Cao Ren immediately positioned himself on a high ground behind the battlefield, closely observing the progress of the battle.

He watched as his own soldiers charged forward wave after wave, only to fall in droves under the tenacious defense of the cavalry. Their corpses almost covered the ground at the foot of the city wall, and their blood flowed in streams.

His elite troops are being decimated at a visible rate.

"this……"

Cao Ren suddenly felt that something was wrong.

The resistance of the Flying Cavalry was extremely fierce!
That's so well-organized!

The counterattack by these cavalrymen was precise and efficient, as if it had been planned in advance...

Could it be that the Jiangdong army failed to deplete the defensive reserves of the Flying Cavalry Army?

Moreover, since the Flying Cavalry is so willing to use oil and other means, aren't they afraid that a prolonged defense will inevitably lead to defeat?
Cao Ren subconsciously glanced at the direction of the southern city, which was under the jurisdiction of the Jiangdong army.

The battle over there seemed equally intense, with shouts of battle deafening.

But upon closer inspection, although the Jiangdong army's offensive was fierce, it seemed...

All talk and no action?

Their siege ladders seemed to be fewer than Cao Cao's army's, and the waves of their attacks also appeared somewhat...

A little less?
Could it be...?

Cao Ren's brows furrowed deeper and deeper, and doubts grew in his heart like poisonous weeds.

However, given that Cao Cao's army stood by and "watched the show" a few days ago, it seems reasonable that Jiangdong's army is now making a show of doing nothing.

After all, it is not gentlemanly to leave a grudge unavenged.

Cao Cao's army did the first thing, so it's no wonder that Jiangdong's army did the fifteenth.

Although he understood, Cao Ren was still unhappy, since everyone wants to only do what's expected of them and not do what's not expected of them.

Just as Cao Ren was about to send someone to inform Liu Bei that Jiangdong had done enough and that there should be limits to retaliation, and that they should put in more effort, a sudden commotion broke out on the walls of Jiangling, with a sound that seemed to soar straight into the sky!
"Report!"

A scout, who had come galloping back from the front, stumbled and crawled to Cao Ren's horse, his face contorted with extreme excitement, and roared hoarsely, "General! General! They've breached the city! The Jiangdong army... the Jiangdong army has breached the city! The south city! The south city has been breached!"

This news struck Cao Ren like a thunderbolt from a clear sky!

"What?! Say it again!" Cao Ren could hardly believe his ears.

"Absolutely true, General!" the scout exclaimed excitedly, almost incoherently. "I saw it with my own eyes! The Jiangdong army's banners have been raised on the south city wall! Jiangdong soldiers have already stormed the walls! The Flying Cavalry... the Flying Cavalry seems to be retreating!"

Cao Ren couldn't help but crane his neck to look into the distance.

The excited and frantic shouts coming from the direction of the southern city of Jiangling seemed to confirm all of this!
Entering the city!
The Jiangdong army actually scaled the city walls first!

"That woman is my servant!"

Cao Ren blurted it out!

The immense temptation, like the devil's whisper, instantly shattered the many doubts that had just arisen in Cao Ren's mind!

All the previous caution and doubts vanished completely in the face of this 'conclusive' victory, like snow meeting the blazing sun!

The desire to capture Jiangling, change the war situation in southern Jingzhou, and even reverse the Cao army's decadent posture in northern Jingzhou surged up like molten lava, overwhelming Cao Ren's reason!

Cao Ren immediately began to imagine the scenario!
Yes!

It must be because the cavalry was fighting against Cao Cao's fierce attack on the western city, leaving the southern city relatively undefended!
Liu Bei really got a good deal!
Do not!
Now is not the time to worry about this!
The fighter plane is fleeting!
If we don't follow up now, won't we just be watching Jiangling fall into Liu Bei's hands?
I, Cao Ren, have worked so hard, suffering heavy losses, only to have it all benefit someone else in the end?!

We must immediately commit all our forces to storm Jiangling before the Jiangdong army completely controls it, while the cavalry is in disarray!
"Someone come here!"

Cao Ren abruptly stood up, drew his sword, and pointed it at Jiangling. "Give the order! Charge! The city will fall today! The first to scale the walls will be rewarded with a thousand gold pieces and promoted three ranks! The first to retreat will be executed!"

"Oh ho—!"

Driven by the news of the successful siege and the promise of a hefty reward, Cao Cao's soldiers roared with deafening fury and launched the most frenzied and reckless all-out attack since the start of the war on the seemingly crumbling western city of Jiangling!

Cao Ren stared intently at the west city wall, his heart pounding and his blood boiling.

He could almost see his flag planted atop Jiangling City, Xu Huang beheaded, and the crisis in Jingbei resolved...