Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 288 Stubborn

The fleet had barely entered Jiyin when the scouts brought bad news.

"Report! Murong De has breached Langya and is advancing towards Donghai County!"

"Langya is supposed to be a fortified city, yet it was so easily defeated?" Gao Xun slammed his hand on the railing.

“Not only Langya, but I’m afraid even Donghai won’t be able to hold out.” Liu Daogui wasn’t too surprised. Murong De, like Murong Chui, had fought battles all his life. Although he wasn’t as skilled as Murong Chui, he was still a fierce general.

The servants kept by the Sima family had never been on the battlefield. They were good at bullying unarmed civilians, but when they encountered the ferocious Yan army, they were destined to be beaten to a pulp.

Gao Xun asked, "Is it too late to get to the East China Sea now?"

A river breeze blows in gusts, carrying a chill in the autumn air. The crops on both banks have already been harvested, and the farmers are not idle. They are turning over the land, harvesting autumn grass, and preparing for the winter.

After the population from Pengcheng migrated here, the land gradually came back to life.

"The East Sea isn't my territory. Even if we rush there, I'm afraid we're no match for Murong De. They're well-rested and waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out, while we're running around exhausted. That's not how you fight a war,"

Liu Daogui was still quite wary of Murong De.

The Murong family suffered almost every defeat against Tuoba Gui, while Murong De repelled the Wei army three times and defended Qingzhou, demonstrating his formidable strength.

"Then how should we fight?" Liu Zun followed out, limping.

This guy's body is indeed extraordinary; after suffering such a serious injury, he was able to get out of bed in less than two months.

“Let him fight his battle, we'll fight ours. Qingzhou has deployed all its elite troops, leaving Guanggu vulnerable. We can head east along the Ji River and storm into Qingzhou!” Liu Daogui patted Shen Qingzhi on the shoulder.

This kid is now my brother-in-law, and he's been by my side for over two years without saying a word.

It was precisely this temperament that won Liu Daogui's favor.

A great general is not defined by his ability to charge into battle, but by his ability to hold his nerve in times of crisis.

Gao Xun asked, "What if Murong De attacks Pengcheng...?"

"Do you think Pengcheng is so easy to take? We have a navy, a fortified city, tens of thousands of able-bodied men, and plenty of food and weapons. Even if Murong De had 30,000 infantry and cavalry, or even 100,000 troops, it would take him at least a year or two to break through the city."

Liu Daogui had unconditional trust in Liu Muzhi.

Besides military households, Pengcheng also had Liu, Tan, Zhao, Xu, Dao, and other martial officials. They would not stand idly by and watch Pengcheng be captured, ending up with their families destroyed and their lives cut short.

These families share weal and woe with the Liu family.

The ancestors of the Zhao family fought their way from Pengcheng to Jingkou with Liu Daogui's grandfather. Zhao Lunzhi was also Liu Daogui's maternal uncle.

The Tan family aligned itself entirely with the Liu family, and the second elder brother, Liu Daolian, married a woman from the Tan family.

"This is a strategy of relieving the siege of Wei by attacking Zhao. Let's see who can hold out. If Murong De doesn't return, we'll fight for real. If Murong De returns, we'll fight a smaller battle!"

Liu Daogui glanced at the armored soldiers on the ship; their morale was quite good.

After fighting intermittently in Wancheng and recuperating for over a month, they were full of vigor.

"Hahaha, if we take Guanggu, Murong De will be a stray dog. With the Donghai and Langya waterways being so numerous, he will surely die!" Liu Zun laughed loudly.

"Exactly this!"

More than two hundred warships and cargo ships sailed down the Ji River.

After passing through Jiyin, Shanyang County, and Jibei County, you will reach Jinan County, which is the gateway to Qingzhou—Licheng.

This place is high in the south and low in the north, located north of Mount Li and south of the Ji River, hence its name.

Surrounded by mountains and rivers, when Murong De marched eastward, he chose to bypass the Yellow River and head south from Pingyuan County in the north.

However, Murong De's forces were mostly infantry and cavalry, so he couldn't get through the city.

Liu Daogui had a navy and controlled the waterways, allowing him to move freely, while the opposing Yan army had no navy.
They hurriedly brought the people into the city, closed the gates, and looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

Liu Daogui glanced at the officers and generals around him: Gao Xun, Mao Dezhu, Wang Zhongde, Xiao Chengzhi, and the injured Liu Zun, all of whom looked eager to try.

"Where is Wang Zhongde? This city is yours. If you fail to take it within three days, you will be held responsible!"

Wang Zhongde was taken aback, then his face lit up with joy. "No need for the governor to punish me. I swear I will not return until I have taken this city!"

"Brother Gao, you can order three thousand archers to suppress the defenders on the city walls from the southwest, where the terrain is high and the wind is blowing from the west, which is advantageous to our archers." Liu Daogui pointed to the high ground in the southwest. It was late autumn, and the wind was blowing from the west, which was advantageous to our archers.

"Take orders."

Liu Daogui's arrival was sudden, catching the Yan army somewhat off guard.

The soldiers guarding the city walls were filled with fear.

As soon as the war drums sounded, Wang Zhongde, shield in hand and carrying a long ladder, charged to the front. In other sieges, the able-bodied men went first, followed by the elite troops, to wear down the enemy's strength and arrows.

He did the opposite, leading a thousand elite armored soldiers in front.

Arrows rained down from the city walls.

However, the soldiers were already used to this kind of scene and didn't take it seriously at all.

Gao Xun's three thousand archers also began to exert their strength. In terms of cavalry, Liu Daogui admitted that there was a huge gap between them and the Yan army, but in terms of archery, the Yan army was completely crushed.

The crossbow was the pride of Jiangdong, boasting a long range and high accuracy. There were repeating crossbows, slingshot crossbows, and wheeled crossbows, and the arrows were specially made.

In an instant, the rammed earth walls of Licheng were covered with feathered arrows, making it look like a hedgehog.

The defending soldiers, armed with bows and arrows, were pinned down and unable to lift their heads.

"Make the drums louder!" Liu Daogui understood Wang Zhongde's meaning; he wanted to take Licheng in one fell swoop.

If we lose the first battle, it will be even more difficult to win the subsequent ones.

dong dong dong-

All the war drums on the river roared together, shaking heaven and earth.

The soldiers on the ship were also busy, pushing carts loaded with arrows off the ship.

In less than an hour of fighting, they had already used up 80,000 to 90,000 arrows... Liu Daogui felt as if they were throwing money at the city.

However, throwing money at it is much better than throwing soldiers' lives at it.

The roars on the battlefield were like thunder. No matter how the battle went, Wang Zhongde brought out the full spirit of the Northern Army.

He was fearless and his soldiers were just as brave.

Braving the stones thrown from the city wall, they frantically climbed upwards.

In the end, Wang Zhongde took the lead, leaped onto the city wall, swung his short axe, and killed two Yan soldiers in a row, with blood splattering everywhere.

As the Yan army's spears came flying in unison, Wang Zhongde, shield in hand, advanced instead of retreating, charging like a bull and knocking down two Yan soldiers. He was struck by two spears and then felled another enemy soldier.

Sometimes, a major battle depends on whether a few key individuals can hold on.

Wang Zhongde, fearless and repelling the siege of the Yan army, created an opportunity for the armored soldiers behind him.

Others climbed the city walls and fought with the Yan army.

Two fierce warriors, each wearing a leopard-skin waist protector, charged into the enemy ranks from the left and right, protecting Wang Zhongde.

Once these people gained a foothold on the city wall, the Yan army was essentially defeated.

Just as Liu Daogui had predicted, the Xianbei people were not good at defending cities, while the defenders were all Jin people. As soon as they saw the banner with the character "Liu", their legs went weak.

However, the Yan army on the city walls was still resisting under the command of a Yan general.

More and more Yan soldiers surged onto the city walls.

"All troops, attack!" Liu Daogui decided to deliver the final blow.

The army pressed on to the city, and a large number of armored soldiers stormed the city walls.

At this point, the city could no longer be defended, but the Yan army still resisted stubbornly and fought to the death.

Some even jumped off the city wall with the Northern Army soldiers in their arms.

Liu Daogui was a seasoned veteran, but this was the first time he had encountered such a tenacious enemy. He had never fought so fiercely against the Qin army before. Usually, once the situation was hopeless, the Qin army would either surrender or flee for their lives.

Murong De's ability to turn the tide when the Yan Kingdom was on the verge of collapse and to gain a foothold in Qingzhou was by no means a fluke.

Tuoba Gui massacred 50,000 elite Yan soldiers at Canhebei, prompting the later Yan army to choose to fight to the death.

Fortunately, at this moment, Wang Zhongde took control of the city tower and opened the barbican gate.

"Anyone within the city who carries a weapon shall be executed!"

Looking at the increasing casualties, Liu Daogui's eyes were bloodshot.

Xiao Chengzhi led his armored soldiers into the city.

Amid exclamations of alarm, a column of smoke shot into the sky, followed by bursts of flames and wisps of ash drifting in from time to time, filling the entire city with the pungent smell of burnt grain.

"The enemy has burned the granary!" a soldier shouted.

Liu Zun followed behind, limping and cursing, "Damn it, the Murong family is going to wipe out their lineage and show no mercy!"

On the city wall, blood pooled into several streams, gurgling down.

The wounded and fallen Yan soldiers were still shouting and fighting.

Liu Daogui frowned and decided not to enter the city. "Send the order to take the city as soon as possible. Do not shelve your weapons for three days!"

"The commander has ordered that the swords not be sheathed for three days!"

A dozen messengers were shouting in the city.

The battlefield, which had been fiercely fighting, suddenly fell silent.

Then, a deafening cheer erupted: "The Commander-in-Chief is wise—"

Some people even shouted "Long live the Governor!"

Every soldier became excited, and the corpses of Yan soldiers were thrown down from the city wall. No one could stop their advance. Half an hour later, the Yan soldiers on the city wall were wiped out.

The soldiers cheered and charged into the city.

Liu Daogui returned to the ship, his heart calm and undisturbed.

This era is so cruel; when dealing with enemies, especially such stubborn ones, one must never be soft-hearted.

Murong De committed arson, murder, and looting in Dongguan and Langya, employing even more brutal methods.

The Hu people could slaughter the Jin people, and the Jin people could slaughter the Hu people in return.

Soldiers poured into the city in waves, and even the able-bodied men who followed them carried swords and spears into the city.

When he returned, his body was covered with money, silk, and clothing.

Biluhun had been operating in Qingzhou for nearly ten years, and the city was rich in money and grain. Murong De took Qingzhou almost without bloodshed and suffered less damage from the war. Licheng alone had countless money, silk and grain.

Even at night, the fires in the city were still burning.

Occasionally, a few sinister laughs could be heard from the soldiers.

On the third day, before Liu Daogui could give any orders, the soldiers voluntarily calmed down, and the corpses in the city were carried out one by one, piling up into a small mountain outside the city.

Wang Zhongde was leading his soldiers to cut off the heads of the corpses and build a mound of skulls.

"Hahaha, that old bastard Murong De is almost seventy. If we can infuriate him like we did at Canhebei, we'll have struck it rich." Liu Zun limped up, more excited than anyone else.

Liu Daogui said, "You're overthinking it. Murong Chui is sentimental, but Murong De is not necessarily so. Besides, we didn't kill many people in this battle."

It's impossible to wipe out the entire city in three days.

"No matter what, we've finally gotten our revenge and shown that old bastard Murong De what we're capable of."

(End of this chapter)