You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 68 Betrothal to Jinlan
The hatred that the Meizang tribe harbored for the Yeli tribe was so intense that it could be described in three days and three nights.

The moment the topic of swindling the wild beggars came up, the beggars on the ground perked up and eagerly signed up.

Han Shizhong looked at them and hesitated.

Among the crowd, some who were familiar with these Western Xia tribes quietly approached and whispered something in his ear.

Han Shizhong nodded as if he understood.

He began to think it over, and after a moment he made a decision: the risk was worth taking!
Originally, the plan was just to harass the Western Xia's military supplies and cause them some trouble, but if Richard's military rations were destroyed, then the opportunity to turn the tide of the war would arrive.

Han Shizhong's keen battlefield sense came into play once again, and he helped up Brother Meizang with a smile.

Thinking that this person was so important to him, but having nothing to offer him, he wondered if he could secure his loyalty to the Song Dynasty.

In a flash, Han Shizhong remembered Chen Shao's words, "Let's share wealth and honor."

He suddenly came up with an idea, grabbed Pang Ge's hand, and said, "If we can really trick the gate open, I'll become your brother. When we return to the Song Dynasty, I'll guarantee you wealth and honor, and you'll never have to suffer this humiliation again!"

“Excellent, excellent. My name is Ge Meicang Pangge. I am the leader of the Meicang tribe and the third great-grandfather of my clan.”

A soldier from the Micang tribe standing nearby questioned, "When did Linglu establish this relationship? Why hasn't the leader taken care of us? And why has he assigned us this deadly mission?"

Mei Zang Pang's face darkened, and he wished he could curse this man's ancestors for eighteen generations. He raised his hand and slapped him, angrily saying, "It's clearly written in my family tree. If we weren't related, would I have the surname Mei Zang? You're such a chatterbox, spreading rumors and trying to sow discord between me and my brother."

This idiot, can't he see this is a golden opportunity to go to the Song Dynasty and live a life of eating meat every meal and drinking wine every day?

Once we've established a firm foothold in the Song Dynasty, we'll get rid of all these men and replace them with some loyal and clever ones!
The soldier who was beaten was still indignant, but was pulled back by the people around him, and that's how he stopped talking back.

His companions also saw an opportunity. Before, everyone was just waiting to die. You gave up, I gave up. It was just a matter of sooner or later.

Now that the opportunity has presented itself, and you're still spouting nonsense, cutting off the brothers' path to survival, be careful, or I'll kill you first.

Han Shizhong ignored him, helped him into the room, and took out some dried meat and wine flasks that he carried with him.

Looking at the shabby state of this place, especially the damp pile of firewood that was emitting smoke and some green shoots that were being cooked.
Is this grain or fodder?

Feeding chickens is better than this, at least they have bran.

Han Shizhong's suspicions were largely dispelled. Let alone them, if the Song Dynasty made him live such a life, he would have quit long ago.

Although the Western Army of the Song Dynasty was known for its harsh conditions, they still had felt tents shared by two people when they went on expeditions. These felt tents were the most commonly used by the Western Army in the bitterly cold northwest, as they were the best for keeping warm in the snow and also for keeping out rain.

These people, however, had absolutely no tents or tents to use.

"Though the ceremony is simple, the sentiment is sincere. Today, I, Han Shizhong, swear brotherhood with Brother Pang of Mozang. From now on, we will be loyal to each other and share both honor and disgrace."

Pang Ge was so moved that before he could say anything, he took a few bites of the jerky, almost biting his fingers in the process. He didn't care about saving face and drank some wine in one gulp.

The Tibetans around them were all swallowing hard, their eyes shining.

After he had finally finished eating, he said, "By the great god Baishi, I, Brother Pang, have become sworn brothers with Han Shizhong today. From now on, I will regard him as my elder brother. May those who betray this brotherhood and forget this kindness be condemned by both heaven and man!"

“Brother, the weather is very foggy now. You all change into these cheap clothes. After I trick the gate open, we’ll just storm in. Those scoundrels from the Yeli tribe are usually very unprepared. They rely on guarding the grain and supplies to act arrogantly and bully others all day long, eating their own food.”

Han Shizhong was confident that his men were elite and his horses were strong, so he could escape if things went wrong.

Although the Western Xia people were skilled archers, their bows and arrows were damp in this weather, so they couldn't shoot very far and their killing power was limited; they couldn't even penetrate their own armor.

Furthermore, the people of Western Xia shouldn't have anticipated my arrival, so it's impossible that they would have arranged for these scoundrels here specifically to harm me. Unless they were incredibly shrewd.

This is a risk we can't afford to avoid!
The benefits after success are enormous.

"Brother, when do you think would be a good time to go?"

Upon hearing that they were going to kill the Yeli people, the surrounding Mecang tribesmen immediately set out to do so.

They couldn't wait a moment longer and all clamored to set off right now.

Human potential seems to be limitless. This group of people, who were already on the verge of death, suddenly roared again when they heard that they were going to kill the Yeli people.

Han Shizhong nodded and said, "Give them some wine and meat, and once they've eaten and drunk their fill, we'll set off!"
-
The mournful sound of bugles echoed through the rain, tearing through layers of white mist and signaling the failure of yet another offensive.

Outside Xingqing Village, high mounds of earth have been built. Even though the battle is still ongoing, the villagers and their people are still laboriously carrying sacks of straw onto these mounds.

They really worked hard, piling these mounds of earth even higher.

They had already tasted the bitterness of death, and now they could eat two meals a day in the village.

Those who have relatives and children at home have food even without working. What kind of life is this? Naturally, they would do anything to protect it.

The muddy water was littered with the remains of fallen bodies.

Both sides suffered heavy losses, but neither dared to give up.

Beneath the not-too-high, nor-too-sturdy stockade walls, siege equipment was scattered everywhere.

There were goose carts, oar carts, and wrecked carts.

The Xia soldiers who dragged these tools died everywhere, their bodies turned white from being soaked in the rain.

At this moment, Chen Shao was lying sprawled in the mud, panting heavily, and as usual, he cursed Tong Guan and the ancestors of the Western Army generals for eighteen generations.

Six days.

He managed to hold out for six days with these people. If it weren't for having a god-like perspective, choosing Han Shizhong as an SSS-rank general, and stockpiling a large amount of supplies, he would have been wiped out long ago.

The troops from all routes in Shaanxi should have reached their destination by now, even if they had to crawl.

Your victorious army, why don't you go and fight me? You insist on preserving your strength, don't you?

In Chen Shao's mind, Xi Jun and Tong Guan had already settled into a certain position.

Cui Lin and Yang Cheng arrived hand in hand. Upon hearing their footsteps, Chen Shao sat up straight to avoid looking too embarrassed.

When he saw that it was the two men who came, both of whom were his trusted confidants, his back immediately bent down again.

Yang Cheng noticed that he had clearly lost a lot of weight, but his spirit remained undiminished. Although he was sitting bent over in the mud and water, his body exuded exhaustion, but his eyes were still full of fighting spirit. Yang Cheng couldn't help but admire him.

Has Han Shizhong returned?

"Not yet." Cui Lin sighed and said, "Could it be that reinforcements are late and have abandoned us?"

(End of this chapter)