Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 303, Tian Tianrui and I

It's too late, but it's soon.

Just as Tiegen was about to get up, a figure next to him scrambled to his feet with lightning speed.

Seeing this, Tie Gen could only lie down and stay put.

The supervisory team in the distance glanced over, assuming that the person who had just fallen had survived and gotten back up, and didn't pay much attention.

On the battlefield, countless people die and are injured every moment. Falling from the city walls, some die instantly, while others are lucky enough to get up. This is all perfectly normal.

Tiegen watched helplessly as the other party snatched away the opportunity he had chosen.

It was the same veteran I had just met.

Tie Gen continued to wait for his opportunity.

A moment later, another person fell down.

The person who fell this time was a little far away, about ten meters away, and Tiegen climbed over as quietly as possible.

Just as he was halfway up, another person next to him pretended to climb up as well.

Because Tiegen had been watching the man's position the whole time, he was quite certain that the person who had just gotten up was definitely not the one who had just fallen down.

Is playing dead... really that common?

Fortunately, Tiegen eventually found an opportunity and got up before the retreat was called.

We returned to the barracks for a meal.

The moment the food was served, the soldiers' resentment erupted.

It was still porridge, half thin and half thick.

There was half a pancake left last night, but today I replaced it all with thin porridge.

We've been fighting for a whole day!

This little bit isn't even enough to fill a tooth gap.

Immediately, discontent and angry shouts rose and fell.

Tie Gen silently observed this scene.

He pretended to be dead for a day, which didn't take much to consume. A bowl of porridge was enough to keep him going. Moreover, because he was the squad leader, he also got an extra half-pancake. Therefore, he didn't step forward and chose to observe silently.

Although he was equally furious about this withholding of rations, he has now learned to remain silent.

In the end, the soldiers' anger was predictably suppressed.

Several ringleaders of the riot were killed.

The soldiers were both afraid and angry, suppressing their rage.

To Tiegen's surprise, after the suppression was over, several generals appeared and personally promised that there would be meat to eat the next day.

A slap followed by a sweet treat?

Regardless, the soldiers' resentment temporarily dissipated upon hearing that there would be meat to eat.

And so, the third day arrived.

It was still porridge in the morning, but even thinner.

The soldiers, dragging their hungry bodies, climbed the city walls and engaged in battle with the fully armed Huaiyin army.

This was undoubtedly a one-sided massacre.

Putting aside the huge gap in weaponry and equipment, just in terms of physical strength, the Huaiyin Army ate fine rice mixed with lard and dried duck meat for every meal.

The Holy Guardians have only drunk two bowls of porridge since yesterday, with the total amount of rice in them not exceeding three ounces.

They were so hungry they were dizzy and weak. Some couldn't even climb the ladder and fell halfway down, let alone fight.

This time, the Huaiyin army suffered almost zero casualties, except for a very few unlucky ones.

As for the Holy Guardians, seeing this hopeless battle, the fear, anger, and resentment in their hearts continued to accumulate, almost to the point of exploding.

Jiang Feng, the general of the Huaiyin army, observed the state of the enemy troops and noticed their fatigue. Excited, he approached Ma Laohei and said:
"General, the enemy is at its last gasp. Give me just five thousand troops and we can storm into their camp, rout them, and capture Tian the traitor alive!"

Tian Tianrui called Fang Yong a traitor, claiming he was acting on imperial orders to punish the traitor.
On Fang Yong's side, Guan Tiantianrui was called Tian the bandit, and he was also ordered to suppress the bandits.

With both sides having received the imperial edict, the outcome will depend on who has the greater strength.

The strong are the rightful.

As things stand, Fang Yong is clearly slightly stronger.

Ma Laoheidao:
"I will give you 10,000 troops, but you will not be required to break through the enemy lines. You will simply observe from afar on the city wall. Once you see fires breaking out in the enemy camp and the troops in chaos, you will lead your troops out of the city and take the enemy general's head!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Feng understood.

"General, is there any spies within the enemy ranks?"

Ma Laohei said, "One of them is an inside man, carrying a jade pendant with a dragon pattern. Kill everyone else except him!" Jiang Feng replied, "Yes!"

Ten thousand light cavalry were immediately mustered and were ready to be deployed at any time.

Meanwhile, outside, in the Holy Guard Army...

As the battle reached noon, the sun grew increasingly scorching.

The Huaiyin soldiers on the city wall had already taken turns eating lunch.

In this era, ordinary people only eat two meals a day, morning and evening. However, those engaged in heavy physical labor or those on military campaigns would have an extra meal at noon to ensure their physical strength.

The "True Records of Military Training" states: "During wartime, soldiers are fed three meals a day, relying on solid strength."

However, it is clear that the Holy Army does not have this claim.

The soldiers continued their assault on the city under the scorching sun.

Several people even fainted from the heat.

Suddenly, a soldier shouted, "Something's wrong! The camp is on fire!"

The soldiers screamed.

The camp, the granary.

Suddenly, a group of Huaiyin soldiers bypassed the layers of obstacles and rushed into the Guardian Army's camp. They then threw out torches and set the granary ablaze.

"Quickly put out the fire!"

Gao Jing shouted urgently.

"All the food is in there! Put out the fire!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers' eyes turned red.

One after another, they rushed to put out the fire.

But for some reason, the granary seemed to have been doused with kerosene, and the fire burned brighter and brighter, and it couldn't be extinguished at all.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Huaiyin army detachment escaped.

As the fire grew larger and thick smoke billowed into the sky, the Holy Army soldiers attacking the city heard that the granary was on fire. They all abandoned everything else and returned to check the situation.

Tian Tianrui and his son, along with generals such as Xiao Rang, also arrived.

"No more, all gone!"

Gao Jing said in despair.

Tears streamed down his face.

"All the food has been burned!"

Upon hearing this devastating news, the soldiers were so shaken that they could barely stand.

"Then what do we do?"

What should we eat?

"You promised we'd eat meat!"

In an instant, the crowd was agitated, and the emotions that had been suppressed for so long could no longer be contained.

The soldiers broke down, no longer caring about hierarchy or military discipline. They loudly berated the personnel guarding the granary. Some soldiers roared that they had to eat meat today, while many others, who were not well-educated, cursed the mothers of the generals present.

Tian Tianrui's mind was in complete turmoil.

With all the food burned, he didn't know how to deal with this sudden and unexpected situation.

At this moment, Gao Jing shouted loudly:

"Quiet! Quiet! Lord Tian Tianrui is still here. He will find a way. Don't panic!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's attention immediately turned to Tian Tianrui.

What could Tian Tianrui do?

But at this moment, as the leader, everyone was watching him, so he could only bite the bullet and try to boost morale.

Tian Tianrui cleared his throat and said gently, "Silence! His Majesty is in distress... We, his subjects and common people... should punish the traitor... without fear of hardship... and overcome all difficulties..."

Tian Tianrui was speaking in some incomprehensible language.

They say the hunger is only temporary.

They say that if you have your country in your heart, you can fight even without food.

They said everyone should be strong...

Suddenly, a soldier sprang to his feet and roared, "Tian Tianrui, I'll f*** your mother!"

(End of this chapter)