Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

As winter turns to spring, farmers go into the fields and habitually spread dead branches and dry wheat straw on the ground. They use a fire to soften the frozen ground, and then begin to turn the soil with great difficulty.

The cold winter lasted for a long time, and although the spring was not warm, the fire continued to rage and the black smoke was like a dragon. The farmers standing by the fields turned their heads and looked into the distance.

The sound of horse hooves made a roar as hundreds of cavalrymen rushed into the huge military camp with a chill. One after another, figures carrying swords and shields jumped off their horses and followed the man in heavy armor in front into the big tent. The flaming animal-head flags were unfurled on the top of the tent from time to time.

In front of the tent, a Chinese flag with the word "Liao" written on it was flying. Next to it was a shorter flag with the word "Guo" written in Chinese characters. Parallel to it on the left was a flag with the word "Yuan" written on it.

The general walked straight to the commander's seat and turned around. A kind face came into view. On both sides of the tent, men of different statures clasped their fists and bowed their heads: "This general greets you, Commander Guo."

"Generals."

The commander in chief, who was wearing armor with fine scales, raised his hands and clapped them heavily: "The Khitans' attack on Yizhou failed, but this is our chance. This expedition was boldly requested by my Pharmacist Guo. If anyone is unwilling, they can withdraw." He looked from left to right, seeing faces with ferocious and excited smiles, and nodded slightly: "The Jin army will not believe that someone will launch two surprise attacks in a short period of time, so pass on my order, Zhen Wuchen--"

"I am here!" The white-faced and long-bearded general stepped forward and clasped his fists.

"You lead your troops ahead, and be sure to move forward carefully and don't let anyone notice you." Pharmacist Guo stared at his generals and said, "Once we get to Yizhou, if we can seize the city, then do so. If not, then wait for my army to arrive."

"Yes."

"Zhang Linghui." The commander holding the military order looked at the general on the other side.

"The general is here!"

"You lead your troops to form a rear guard and always pay attention to the Jin cavalry. Don't let them cut off our retreat."

"The last general takes orders."

Hearing the roar, Pharmacist Guo nodded and said, "Everyone, time is running out. Return to camp and prepare. The vanguard will march out in one hour!"

"Yes!"

The roar was like thunder, deafening.

In the eighth year of Tianqing in Liao and the second year of Tianshun in Qi, refugees from Liaodong who had taken refuge in Zhongjing Road and Shangjing Road due to the war in Liaodong formed a 28,000-man resentment army. Unfortunately, they failed to conquer the rebel Dong Panger, and the first commander was beheaded for his crime. Guo Yaoshi, a native of Tiezhou, persuaded Yelu Chun to be the commander with his outstanding ability, and he also connected several outstanding generals to suppress the rest of the dissenters and became the actual commander of this army.

In early spring, this newly formed army, excited about making achievements, rushed straight to Jingyuan City in Yizhou of the Jin Dynasty. The war suddenly broke out on the border between Liao and Jin, and the Jin army was caught off guard and blocked in the city.

This was a war that no one expected.

……

The golden sun shone on the city wall from the west. Arrows that extinguished the fire were stuck in the corpses, wood, and the city walls. Black smoke rose into the sky. The stench of burnt fur kept wafting into the nose. The rubble extended all the way around the stone bullet. The angular stones were covered with brown blood. A headless corpse lay behind the stone bullet. Soldiers came over and carried it away expressionlessly.

Under the walls of Jingyuan, soldiers in Liao army uniforms carrying swords and spears retreated like a tide and disappeared from sight. The two-day siege ended briefly again in the afternoon of the year Renchen in late spring after a long battle.

The blazing city gate tower was being put out by the soldiers, the houses that were smashed to pieces could no longer be used, corpses were pushed off the city walls, and intact arrows on the ground and on the corpses were picked up and collected, while the broken arrows were thrown into wooden baskets and carried down from the top of the city wall so that intact arrowheads could be selected and used again.

The city gate opened a crack, and the Jin soldiers with sullen faces ran out quickly to collect the battering rams and stones. Some hid in the shadows, staring into the distance, constantly urging "Hurry up! Hurry up!", wishing they could bring all the supplies outside back to the city.

On the city wall, Wanyan Yinshuke, his armor stained with blood, stood tiredly by the parapet, leaning on his sword. He looked at the corpses on the ground below, his face twitched, and looked at the outline of the enemy army in the distance, and then looked at the setting sun parallel to the top of the city. After a while, he said, "Damn it, what is going on! The Liao people are crazy, how can they be so desperate!"

Although two days of high-intensity siege warfare prevented the enemy from breaking in, it also caused heavy losses to his soldiers. A total of 1,500 soldiers defending the city were killed, and only a few dozen were lucky enough to be uninjured.

Even because of the catapult, the people in the city suffered. Not only were a large number of houses destroyed by the enemy, but in order to defend the city, he also ordered the demolition of many houses. The beams of the houses became battering rams, and the tiles became stones to defend against the enemy. At the most critical moment, he even led his guards to fight on the city wall. If he was not a brave man with excellent martial arts, he would have almost died on the spot.

"Come here, while the enemy is retreating, break out again and go to Huanglongfu to tell Bojilie that the Liao army is coming in large numbers, and ask him to send people to rescue as soon as possible." After a pause, Wanyan Yinshuke continued, "Tell him that most of the defenders in the city have been transferred out, and there is not enough food and grass. If no one comes to help in three days, there is no need to come." He turned his head and said word by word, "Just collect my body."

Some brave men obeyed the order and ran down the city wall, rode their horses and went out through the open city gate.

Wanyan Yinshuke punched the top of the city wall, his bloodstained face turning slightly red.

To the southeast of Jingyuan City is Huanglongfu, and to the east is Wanyan Gao's Binzhou. What he is most worried about now is that the Liao bandits have come in large numbers this time, and the strength of the city has been tested after two days of attack. If he waits for them to attack day and night, then...

A chill ran down my spine.

...As night fell, the siege paused. Inside the resentful army camp, the smell of healing medicine mixed with the smell of blood filled the air. Bonfires were burning vigorously. Pharmacist Guo stood in the tent, frowning at the city built with simple stones on the table. After two days of siege, the Jin army in the city could still hold on. This made him realize that he had thought too simply before. It was normal for the Khitans to be defeated by this army of barbarians. If it were their heyday, the best option now would be to retreat.

"General." Zhen Wuchen walked in, clasped his fists and saluted, saying, "Today's casualties are around a thousand, including yesterday's..." He paused, pursed his lips, and said, "In the past two days, nearly three thousand people have died in this city."

"But we are about to take it down, aren't we?" Pharmacist Guo smashed the pile of stones with a rock. With a crash, the pile of stones representing Jingyuan City fell apart. He turned around and smiled: "Two days... He only has about two thousand people waiting in this city."

Zhen Wuchen tilted his head and smiled. In his sight, the commander came over and patted him on the shoulder: "Get ready. We have a lot of people, and we can rotate them even if we fight for days. Since they have few people, you can't blame others."

After walking around for a while, he turned back to his position and said, "Pass my order. Beat the drums and gather the troops. We will give the Jin people no rest tonight!"

Boom, boom——

Drumbeats sounded outside the big tent. Soon, footsteps were heard outside the tent. Generals in helmets and armor ran in with their swords hilts pressed down. The sound of issuing orders echoed in the tent.

……

As the night deepened, the exhausted Jin soldiers patrolled the city walls carrying their weapons. Two days of fierce fighting had left almost every soldier defending the city injured. Those who could still move were wrapped in white cloth strips, some of which had turned brown due to bleeding from their wounds. In the dark night, their khaki clothes looked pitch black.

Outside the city, the darkness made people's hearts beat fast. Staring for a long time even gave them the illusion that there were people moving everywhere. Many patrolling soldiers looked for a while and then looked away and continued walking.

The footsteps woke up a soldier who was sleeping against the city wall. He opened his eyes, looked around, huddled up, then closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

At dusk, Wanyan Yinshu was afraid that what he thought would come true, so he simply let all the soldiers except the seriously injured rest on the top of the city wall. Although the weather was cold now, it was not cold enough to freeze people to death, and it was better than being completely defenseless in a surprise attack.

The figure holding the torch passed by the parapet again, looked at the iron hook that was not hung on the top of the city wall, and then turned around with his team.

whoosh-

Arrows flew in from under the city.

puff--

It pierced through the neck of the soldier behind him, and blood spurted out.

"Old Eight...enemy, ah——"

Whoosh whoosh—

Arrows flashing with cold light rushed into the range of the fire from the darkness. Screams replaced the warning sounds, which startled the sleeping Jin soldiers. Some of them stood up in a daze, but were pierced by several arrows in the upper body and fell to the ground like hedgehogs. More veteran soldiers who had seen many battles clung to the parapet and did not get up immediately, but found that the rain of arrows never stopped.

"Up the shield! Up the shield!"

The commanding Mouke shouted loudly, and the man who picked up the shield from the side gritted his teeth and raised the shield suddenly above his head. The figure who was squatting and standing up suddenly shook, and the many slender black shadows inserted on the shield made him grit his teeth.

"The archers are still shooting!"

The Jurchen language echoed on the top of the city. The wounded Jurchen soldier crawled desperately behind his shield, then stood up and shot an arrow. When he took the opportunity to look down, his pupils suddenly widened. Torches were lit in the dark night. Under the light, the figures in Liao soldiers' uniforms appeared, densely packed and endless.

"The Liao army attacked the city and fought to the death—"

On the city wall, figures were half-crouching and running. Some were shot by arrows and fell down screaming, while others fought back unwillingly. The short shouts from below were soon replaced by the deafening sound of war drums. Wooden ladders with iron hooks were hung on the top of the wall, and Zhen Wuchen, the vanguard, howled: "Capture the city--"

"Capture the city——"

The roar of the mountains and the sea surged into the air, and Wanyan Yinshu, who had just put on his armor, had a dark complexion.

The premonition came true!
choke--

With his scimitar unsheathed, the young Meng'an took a step forward, and his resounding voice echoed through the city walls: "The Liao soldiers are just empty talk, warriors of the Jurchens, kill—"

In the dark night, fighting broke out again on the city wall. (End of this chapter)