Huangming

Chapter 506 Attacking the Psychology to Break the Alliance, Luring the Enemy Fails

The city walls of Chongqing Prefecture appeared increasingly dilapidated amidst the smoke of battle.

The dark blue brick wall was covered with arrow marks, and the gaps from the cannon fire had been temporarily filled with rammed earth. The Yongning soldiers on the city wall huddled behind the battlements, their eyelids so heavy they seemed to stick together.

The siege had lasted for seven days. The Ming army had never launched a full-scale attack, but harassed the city day and night like a persistent ailment, giving them no chance to even close their eyes.

Dawn.

Suddenly, deafening shouts of battle erupted from the East Gate. Ming army ladders sprang up like mushrooms after rain, and swordsmen and shieldmen charged up the city walls under a hail of arrows. The Yongning soldiers on the city walls were terrified and hastily raised their swords to resist.

Just as they concentrated their forces to defend the east gate, the roar of cannons came from the west gate again. Several cannonballs hit the base of the city wall, sending stones flying. The figures of the Ming army could be vaguely seen in the dust.

"Quickly! Go to the west gate to provide support!"

Sheyan roared from the city wall. He had just transferred half of his troops when the Ming army at the east gate suddenly retreated, leaving behind only a few corpses and siege equipment scattered all over the ground.

Such a scene plays out every day.

Sometimes, rocket attacks would strike the south gate in the dead of night, burning the tents on the city tower and sending thick smoke billowing out.

Sometimes it was a feint attack on the north gate; the Ming army would set up a large formation, but only fire a few rounds of blank cannon fire before retreating.

The Yongning soldiers were exhausted and their vigilance was decreasing. If they relaxed their guard even slightly, the Ming army would take advantage of the situation.

The day before yesterday, the Ming army broke through a corner of the rammed earth breach at the West Gate. If it weren't for She Yan's desperate effort to bring in reserve troops, Chongqing City would probably have already changed hands.

"Damn it! What exactly is Xiong Tingbi trying to do?!"

She Yan leaned against a pillar on the city wall, her eyes bloodshot.

After the fall of Fotu Pass and Erlang Pass, all news from outside the city was cut off. He was trapped in the city like a blind man, not knowing when his father She Chongming's reinforcements would arrive, nor what Zhang Tong was doing.

Morale in the city had already plummeted to rock bottom. Soldiers were complaining in private, and some even secretly deserted. When they were caught, they were beheaded in public, but this did not stop the trend of desertion.

What troubled him even more was the constraint imposed by the armory.

The troops that had previously besieged the armory were all withdrawn to defend the city, allowing Xu Keqiu and Huang Shoukui to catch their breath.

The armory was well-stocked with food and water. According to scouts, the Ming soldiers inside were still holding their ground and occasionally fired a few shots to harass the soldiers attacking from outside the city.

"If this continues, the people in the city will collapse before reinforcements arrive!"

She clenched her fists, her anxiety growing wildly like weeds.

at the same time.

Inside the main tent of the Ming army camp outside the city, the lights were on.

Xiong Tingbi, dressed in light armor, sat upright in the main seat, his expression calm and unwavering.

The generals under his command, however, were not so composed.

Ma Xianglin, clad in silver armor, was the first to stand up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed deeply, his voice booming:

"General! We have captured Erlang Pass and Fotu Pass ten days ago. Our army is well-trained and well-supplied. Why are you not launching a full-scale attack on the cities?"

His eyes were burning, and his tone carried an undisguised urgency.

"The scouts in the city have reported that Governor Xu and Deputy Commander Huang are still holding out in the armory. Although they have provisions, they cannot withstand a prolonged siege. If this continues, something unexpected may happen!"

He had barely finished speaking when Cao Wenzhao followed closely behind.

"Lord Jinglue, She Chongming has already established the state of 'Daliang' in Jiangjin, and has been offering official titles and promises to win over the local chieftains. His army has already reached 50,000 men!"
If we wait for him to lead his troops to reinforce us, our army will be caught in a pincer movement, and taking Chongqing then will be as difficult as climbing to heaven!

"Yes, my lord! Please give the order for the general offensive!"

Sun Zhen, the military officer of Datong Jingping Road, stepped forward, his tone earnest.

"We soldiers are ready for battle at any moment, only hoping to break through the city as soon as possible, kill the rebels, and avenge the people!"

Ma Rong, the military commander of Pinglu City, Zhou Tong, the military commander of Xuanfu East Route, and others echoed his sentiments, and calls for battle rose and fell in the tent.

The generals were all eager to fight, their eyes filled with a burning desire for battle.

They followed Xiong Tingbi southward, advancing all the way, and had been eager to make their mark. Now that the two passes had been breached and Chongqing was an isolated city, it was the perfect opportunity to establish their achievements.

Xiong Tingbi raised his hand to quell the noise inside the tent, and the commotion instantly subsided.

He slowly picked up the hot tea on the table, took a sip, and then slowly spoke:
"Everyone, please be patient."

His gaze swept over the generals, his tone calm and steady.

"We besieged the city for seven days without attacking, not because we were unable to, but because it was unnecessary."

"Sheyan was trapped in the city, with no reinforcements from outside and no food supplies from within. His morale was low, and he was already at his last gasp."

Our daily harassment is intended to wear down their spirit and cause them to completely collapse, both physically and mentally.

"The reinforcements from Chongming are truly a luxury..."

Ma Xianglin couldn't help but interject.

"She Chongming?"

Xiong Tingbi sneered.

"General Qin Liangyu has already secured Songkan and cut off his supply lines. His 50,000 troops are nothing but a rabble. The chieftains are all harboring their own ambitions, and the transport of grain and fodder is difficult. We can wait in comfort and wait for the enemy to tire themselves out. We will surely win this battle."

"Wait a while longer, and then we'll deal with She Chongming first. Once She Chongming is defeated, the morale of the army in the city will surely be lost, and then Chongqing will fall without a fight!"
Governor Xu and Deputy Commander Huang have held their ground for many days; three more days won't make a difference. And the credit you all desire will certainly not be less than what you'd like!

Upon hearing this, the generals, though still somewhat anxious, understood Xiong Tingbi's deeper meaning.

A direct assault on Chongqing is certainly possible.

But it will come at the cost of huge casualties.

Although it is said that one general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers, at this time, there is no need to risk the lives of our soldiers to achieve merit.

Ma Xianglin bowed and said, "This subordinate obeys the order! However, I would like to ask the General to allow me to lead the White Spear Soldiers to harass them again tonight, so that scoundrel Sheyan will not have any peace!"

Xiong Tingbi nodded in agreement: "Granted. Remember, stop when you've made your move, don't linger, preserve your strength for the final assault."

"Yes!"

South of Fotu Pass.

The Yangtze River was filled with boats and masts, covering the river, while on the north bank, the land route stretched for miles, with dust swirling in the river wind and rising straight into the sky.

She Chongming personally led 40,000 chieftain troops, advancing by land and water from Jiangjin, their spearhead aimed directly at Fotuguan, the southern gateway to Chongqing, and within a few days they were at the gates of the pass.

From a distance, Fotuguan Pass stands majestically atop a cliff, "surrounded by rivers on three sides, with sheer cliffs rising thousands of feet." The dark blue city walls meander along the mountainside, resembling an insurmountable natural barrier.

Banners fluttered atop the city walls, Ming soldiers gleamed in their armor, and bows, crossbows, rolling stones, and muskets were lined up in succession. One could even glimpse the muzzles of breech-loading cannons peeking out from behind the battlements, exuding a chilling aura.

She Chongming stood on a high slope by the river, frowning as he stared at the imposing pass. Behind him, the Yongning guards stood at attention with their hands on their swords, not daring to utter a sound.

Instead of ordering an immediate attack on the city, he issued a military order:
"Set up camp on the spot, plant flags everywhere, and guard the camp strictly!"

As soon as the order was given, the 40,000-strong army quickly spread out, with camps stretching for dozens of miles. Smoke from cooking fires and banners intertwined, completely filling the flat land below Fotu Pass.

The guards in front of him were puzzled and asked in a low voice why he didn't take advantage of the momentum to attack the city, but She Chongming shook his head and did not answer.

He had personally witnessed the fortifications of Fotu Pass.

Zhang Tong lost three thousand elite troops in his attempt to capture this place.

This was under the circumstances of his surprise attack, when the Ming army had no time to prepare defenses.

This formidable pass, built against the mountain, has walls several meters thick and foundations deeply embedded in the rock, making it impossible for ordinary battering rams and siege ladders to gain any leverage.

Not to mention that the Ming army is now heavily guarding the city, with all kinds of defensive equipment, such as muskets, rockets, rolling stones, and logs piled up like mountains, clearly indicating that they are fully prepared to defend it to the death.

She Chongming knew perfectly well that if they really tried to launch a direct attack, even if tens of thousands of people died, they might not be able to tear a hole in the city wall.

His chieftain soldiers were mostly men who grew up in the mountains. They were skilled in swordsmanship and horsemanship and adept at raids. However, if they were to charge up the city defenses, it would be like sending sheep into the tiger's den.

Siege warfare has never been the forte of these Yi soldiers.

But the skill of fighting in the mountains and ravines is ingrained in their bones.

They can traverse mountains and valleys as if walking on flat ground, and they are adept at ambushes and surprise attacks. They can maneuver around the terrain and wait for the enemy to tire themselves out. This is where their chance of victory lies.

Using one's strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses—this was She Chongming's core strategy for stationing troops at the pass.

But problems also arise.

The Ming army is holding the pass to the death, clearly intending to wait for the enemy to tire themselves out. How can we lure them out of the city and into the mountains to fight them?
Twilight Quadruple.

Inside the main tent of the central army, the candlelight flickered, while the tallow candles burned brightly, casting many shadows on the figures inside.

She Chongming sat in the main seat and immediately summoned his two trusted advisors.

Chief strategist Cai Jingui and He Ruohai, who is in charge of external liaison.

Both of these men were his strategists. Cai Jingui was a man of deep foresight, and the strategy of "taking Chongqing first and then Chengdu" originated from him.

He Ruohai was adept at networking and maneuvering; the alliance between the chieftains of Shuixi and Wusa against the Ming Dynasty was entirely due to his efforts in making connections.

After the two entered the tent and paid their respects, She Chongming got straight to the point.

"Gentlemen, our army is now at the foot of Fotu Pass, and the Ming army is holding a formidable defensive position. How can we break this deadlock and defeat the Ming army?"

Cai Jingui frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said directly:
"Your Majesty, if I may be frank, the chances of winning a direct confrontation with the Ming army at this moment are extremely low."

The Fotu Pass is a natural and difficult pass to cross. The Ming army is well-equipped and well-prepared. Although our army has 40,000 troops, most of them are temporary assembly of local chieftain soldiers, and their combat strength is uneven.

In my opinion, it would be better to temporarily abandon the siege and instead try to bring out the Yongning garrison in Chongqing. Afterward, the entire army could retreat into the surrounding mountains and forests, using the terrain to its advantage to outmaneuver the Ming army, slowly depleting their forces and crippling their supplies. Perhaps this is the safest way to achieve victory.

This pessimistic view made She Chongming frown even more.

He was unwilling to back down, and said in a deep voice, "Are we, tens of thousands of soldiers, who have come from afar, only able to avoid their sharp edge? Is there really no chance of victory at all?"

He Ruohai, standing to the side, gave a wry smile and stepped forward to add:

"Your Majesty, I do not mean to boost the morale of others and diminish our own."

The chieftain soldiers under Your Majesty's command are all hastily assembled from various tribes. They usually only obey the orders of their respective chieftains. Although Your Majesty is the ruler of the country, it is difficult to unite them into a cohesive force, and it is impossible to enforce orders and provide centralized command.

In contrast, the Ming army consists of well-trained border troops, with superior weaponry and disciplined tactics. For our army, in its current disorganized state, to confront them head-on is tantamount to throwing eggs against rocks; I see no possibility of victory whatsoever.

Their words were like a bucket of cold water poured over him, instantly making the atmosphere in the tent heavy.

She Chongming remained silent for a long time, then suddenly a glint of light flashed in his eyes. He looked up at the two of them, his tone filled with anticipation, and asked:

"If... if we could find a way to lure the Ming army into a field battle in the mountains and forests, avoiding their city defense advantages and leveraging our strengths, would there be any possibility of victory?"

Upon hearing this, Cai Jingui, who had been frowning, suddenly brightened up, his eyes blazing with hope, and he quickly said:
"Mountain warfare! This is our absolute advantage! The chieftain's soldiers are familiar with the terrain and are good at raids and ambushes. Once the Ming army leaves the city defenses and enters the mountains and forests, they are like birds with broken wings, and can only be slaughtered by our army."

only……

The Ming generals are mostly seasoned veterans, and they must know our army's strengths and weaknesses well. They are confident in holding Fotu Pass, and they certainly won't easily leave the pass to engage us in open battle in the mountains.

"This is the very reason why I summoned you two gentlemen here today to seek your advice!"

"What I need is a strategy that will get the Ming army to come out of the pass and fight us in the mountains!"
How can we lure the enemy deep into our trap, allowing us to exploit their weaknesses with our strengths? I humbly request your guidance, gentlemen!

Cai Jingui stroked his sparse beard, his brows furrowed, and hesitated for a long time before speaking:
"Your Majesty, the Ming army, from Xiong Tingbi down, is full of cautious and suspicious men. It will be difficult to lure them out of the pass for open battle."

He paused, a hint of uncertainty flashing in his eyes.

"After much thought, I believe the only solution is for our brothers to feign defeat and deliberately show weakness, so that the Ming army will see us as easily defeated and become arrogant. Perhaps this will lure them into the mountains and forests, where we can then ambush them."

He Ruohai frowned slightly upon hearing this, then his eyes suddenly lit up.

“Brother Cai’s words make sense, but luring the enemy requires timing. It would be better to take a two-pronged approach and cut off the supply lines to Fotu Pass!”

He traced the lines on the map with his fingertips and said slowly:

"Your Majesty, look at Laoya Ridge. The grain route extends from Jiangjin and passes through three narrow valleys. Both sides are cliffs and dense forests, making it an excellent place for our troops to ambush!"

Fotu Pass is a strategic pass on the outskirts of Chongqing. The Ming army would have to expend a lot of food to defend the pass. If this only land route for supplies could be cut off, they would be in a food shortage crisis within a month if their reserves were insufficient.

At that point, they will either have to abandon the pass and flee, or be forced to leave the pass to protect the grain supplies. This is the strategy of 'cutting off the supply lines and forcing the enemy to retreat'!

Upon hearing this, everyone inside the tent showed thoughtful expressions.

She Chongming stroked the curved sword at his waist, but a question arose in his mind.

With the Ming army occupying Fotuguan Pass for nearly a month, how could they not stockpile grain and fodder?

Unless Xiong Tingbi has something wrong with his head.

But he was unwilling to let go of this seemingly feasible plan, since there was no other way to force the Ming army to fight. He was desperate and had to try anything.

"Then let's settle on this plan for now, Luo Qianxiang!"

She Chongming shouted out towards the outside of the tent.

"The general is here!"

A burly general entered the tent in response to the call and knelt on one knee.

Luo Qianxiang was strong, intelligent, and brave. She Chongming admired his talent and appointed him as a subordinate general.

Upon seeing his beloved general, She Chongming immediately said:

"You will lead three thousand chieftain soldiers to attack Fotu Pass first thing tomorrow morning!"

She Chongming had sharp eyes.

"Defeat is allowed, victory is not permitted! Deliberately feign weakness and see if we can provoke the Ming army into reckless pursuit!"

He turned to look at He Ruohai.

"The cutting off of the supply lines will be carried out simultaneously. Have your Bai clan chieftain's elite troops lie in ambush at Laoya Ridge, and attack the Ming army's supply convoys as soon as they are spotted!"

"Yes!"

The two men acknowledged the order in unison and turned to leave the tent.

The next morning.

A deafening roar erupted from beneath Fotu Pass.

Luo Qianxiang rode a black horse and led three thousand chieftain soldiers to form a battle array in front of the pass.

But this team looked really disheveled.

Most of the soldiers wore tattered leather armor, some even just wrapped in burlap, and their weapons were either rusty machetes or sharpened bamboo spears.

The ranks were crooked and shaky, many people hunched their necks, looked away, and stared at the dark cannon muzzles on the fortress, their legs trembling.

"Siege!"

Luo Qianxiang drew his scimitar and shouted loudly, but his voice lacked conviction.

The chieftain's soldiers moved forward hesitantly, and when they were only three hundred paces away from the city gate, a sudden "boom boom boom" of cannon fire rang out from the city wall.

Several cannonballs whistled into the chieftain's army formation, filling the air with smoke and dust, and sending stones and flesh flying. Several soldiers were blown to pieces on the spot.

"Mom! Run!"

Someone shouted, and the already nervous chieftain's soldiers instantly collapsed, fleeing like headless flies. Some lost their weapons, while others tripped and fell, only to be trampled by those behind them as they surged forward.

Luo Qianxiang tried to regain his footing, brandishing his scimitar and roaring:

"No retreat! Charge!"

But no one listened to him, and the army collapsed like a house of cards. He himself was swept away by the fleeing soldiers and retreated, so how could he organize a counterattack?

This is no feigned defeat; they are clearly utterly vulnerable!
Cao Wenzhao, standing atop the city wall, saw everything clearly, a cold smile playing on his lips.

He was clad in heavy black iron armor, his hand resting on the sword at his waist, and said in a deep voice:

"Open the city gates! Five hundred cavalrymen, follow me out of the pass and charge!"

The city gate slowly opened, and five hundred Ming cavalry charged out like arrows released from a bow, their hooves kicking up clouds of dust as they trod the frozen earth.

The cavalry, armed with long spears, formed a wedge formation and charged fiercely towards the routed chieftain's troops.

The dull thud of spears piercing flesh, the screams of soldiers, and the clanging of weapons hitting the ground mingled together. The chieftain's soldiers suffered heavy casualties, abandoned their armor, and fled towards the mountains.

But Cao Wenzhao charged for a while, and seeing that the chieftain's soldiers had already fled into the edge of the forest, he immediately reined in his horse and shouted:

"Withdraw the troops! Return to the pass!"

The cavalrymen turned their horses around and retreated back to the fortress in an orderly fashion, with not a single one recklessly pursuing them.

Back at the city gate, Cao Wenzhao stood atop the gate tower, gazing warily towards the mountains and forests.

The chieftain's soldiers were good at guarding the mountains and forests. If they were to be pursued, they might be ambushed. Xiong Jinglue repeatedly instructed them to "stop while you're ahead and not be greedy for merit and advance rashly." At this moment, they naturally had to obey his orders.

On a distant hillside, She Chongming, riding his horse, witnessed this scene clearly, and his face instantly darkened.

He had originally hoped that the Ming army would become arrogant and reckless, falling into an ambush, but he did not expect Cao Wenzhao to be so calm and composed. Despite having the upper hand, he did not seek any credit and withdrew his troops as soon as he said he would.

"Damn it!"

She Chongming cursed under his breath, his tone full of disappointment and anxiety.

"This strategy of luring the enemy deep into our territory is now completely useless!"

He Ruohai, standing beside him, also looked grim. Looking at the formidable defenses of Fotu Pass and then at the retreating chieftain soldiers, a sense of powerlessness welled up within him.

These chieftain soldiers were unorganized, poorly equipped, and lacked morale. They couldn't even organize a proper attack, let alone lure the enemy.

"Your Majesty, the ambush at Raven Ridge..."

"Proceed as planned!"

She Chongming gritted his teeth and said:
"Even if luring the enemy fails, cutting off their supply lines will eventually force them to leave the pass!"

But he knew in his heart that this was just self-comfort.

Judging from today's situation, Fotu Pass has ample supplies, so the strategy of cutting off supplies will not work in the short term. Furthermore, the quality of the Tusi soldiers has made him less confident in ambushing the supply convoy.

That night.

Back in his tent, She Chongming grew angrier the more he thought about it.

Luo Qianxiang's defeat was like a thorn stuck in his heart.

Those chieftain soldiers were less of an army and more of a rabble, dressed in all sorts of strange clothes and carrying weapons that were a mix of new and old. They collapsed at the first sign of the enemy and couldn't even convincingly feign defeat.

"Soldiers like these would have a hard time even defending a village, let alone fighting against Xiong Tingbi's border troops!"

We must reorganize these chieftain troops before we can put them to a fight against the Ming army!
The next day, just as dawn broke.

The training ground in the camp was then fenced off.

She Chongming mobilized the troops under the command of various chieftains, a total of 40,000 men, and lined them up on the drill ground, but it appeared to be a chaotic mess.

The soldiers of the Luo clan chieftain wore blue cloth and carried rusty machetes.

The Bai clan chieftains wore animal skins and carried hunting bows at their waists.

The soldiers sent by An Bangyan, the chieftain of Shuixi, were even worse. Some were barefoot, and some were carrying their own pottery jars, looking like a group of commoners going to a market, not at all like an army.

"Stand all straight!"

She Chongming rode his horse and shouted sternly at the front of the formation, pointing his whip at a Luo clan chieftain soldier in the front row.

"You! Throw away the clay pot! What kind of soldier looks carrying this!"

The soldier shrank back and secretly glanced at Luo Yun, the chieftain of the Luo clan, behind him. Seeing that his master had not given any orders, he did not move.

Luo Yun stepped forward, a smile plastered on his face, but his tone carried a hint of firmness:

“King She, please calm down. Most of my brothers are from the mountains and are used to carrying their belongings. Besides, these earthenware jars are convenient for storing water and can be used on marches.”

She Chongming's face darkened, but he did not retaliate.

He knew that these chieftains treated their soldiers as their private property. Let alone throwing away a pottery jar, even dispatching a single soldier depended on the chieftain's whim.

He originally wanted to mix the soldiers of the various chieftains, disrupt their organization, and make them obey his command, but as soon as he put forward the idea, it was rejected by several major chieftains.

"Your Majesty, our soldiers have served us for decades. We fear that changing the generals will cause trouble."

An Kunihiko's envoy said slowly, "Why don't we train according to the original system and then follow your orders when we fight?"

That being said, the actual training was a complete mess.

The instructors sent by She Chongming taught them how to march, but the chieftain's soldiers went their own way, some fast and some slow.

When they were taught to form ranks, as soon as the front row was in place, the back row began to whisper among themselves, and some even squatted on the ground smoking their pipes.

What troubled him even more was the unequal distribution of the spoils.

All the chieftains were eyeing the looted goods in his hands. The Luo chieftain wanted a larger share of the silk, the Bai chieftain wanted to seize the silver ingots, and An Bangyan even directly asked for half of the grain, saying that "it is not easy to feed the brothers under his command."

After several days of turmoil, the troops hadn't gotten into any shape, and instead, several disputes arose over supplies and pay, causing morale to plummet.

"If it weren't for our kinship, and if we weren't all registered after the founding of the People's Republic of China, these people would probably have run away long ago."

She Chongming sighed to his confidants that night, feeling utterly powerless.

This army of 50,000 men may seem large, but in reality they are a disorganized mess that could easily collapse if they suffer even the slightest setback.

Meanwhile, in the Ming army camp, Xiong Tingbi was sitting in his tent, looking at the secret report brought by the scouts, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"She Chongming wants to reorganize the army? I'm afraid it will be difficult."

He handed the secret report to Ma Xianglin, who was standing next to him.

“Look, the chieftains are wary of each other, and the soldiers are restless. This is our opportunity.”

Ma Xianglin took the secret report, glanced at it, and asked with a puzzled look:

"General, instead of attacking them while they are still preparing their troops, we are holding back. Do we have another plan?"

"A direct assault would result in too many casualties."

Xiong Tingbi picked up his teacup and said slowly:

"To deal with such a loose alliance, the best approach is to win hearts and minds."

He had already prepared a propaganda offensive, including leaflets with the Ming army's policies written in both Han and Yi languages:
"Those chieftains who defect will be pardoned for their past actions; chieftains who lead their troops to surrender will retain their original positions and will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver and a hundred acres of fertile land for their great contributions; those who remain obstinate will be executed along with their entire families when the city falls!"

They also used spies to pass messages.

That night, dozens of Ming spies disguised themselves as merchants and refugees and infiltrated Jiangjin City and the camps of various chieftains.

Some posted leaflets at the foot of the city wall and along the drill ground, some slipped leaflets into soldiers' tents at night, and some even deliberately spread the message during meals and drills.
"Have you heard? Xiong Tingbi said that as long as you surrender, not only will you not be beheaded, but you will also be given an official position and rewards!"

"My brother ran away from Sheying a few days ago and joined the Ming army. Now he's even a junior officer!"

Rumors spread like wildfire.

At night, soldiers would often sneak out of She Chongming's camp. Some would head straight for the Ming army camp to surrender, while others would hide in the mountains and forests, too afraid to return.

The soldiers under the command of the Luo clan chieftain huddled together and whispered among themselves:
"If we follow Prince She in rebellion and we lose, we won't even be able to keep our heads. We might as well surrender to the Ming army!"

The Bai clan chieftains even went directly to their master to plead: "Master, let's stop making a fuss. The Ming army's offer is quite good. If we keep dragging this out, all our brothers will run away!"

When She Chongming learned of the news, he was both anxious and furious. He ordered a thorough investigation of the spies and even beheaded several soldiers who spread the rumors, but he could not stop it at all.

Worse still, the chieftains began to distrust each other.

The Bai chieftain suspected the Luo chieftain of colluding with the Ming army, while Luo Yun felt that the Bai chieftain wanted to monopolize the grain and provisions. The already loose alliance was further fractured.

What was bad news for She Chongming's troops was good news for the Ming army.

"My lord, good news!"

At dawn, the scout came excitedly to report.

"Last night, the two thousand soldiers of the Shuixi chieftain, led by his deputy, secretly surrendered! Several minor leaders of the Luo clan chieftain also led their men to join us!"

Upon hearing this, Xiong Tingbi put down the map in his hand, his eyes sharp as knives:

"Understood. Treat the surrendered soldiers well and let them carry messages to their former comrades in the camp. This will show that the General keeps his word and that those who surrender will be treated well."

He knew that She Chongming's camp was already in dire straits, and that in a few days, they would collapse on their own without the Ming army even having to launch a strong attack.

Meanwhile, in She Chongming's camp, He Chongming listened to the rumors coming from outside and finally realized what was going on.

His greatest enemy was not Xiong Tingbi's Ming army, but the wavering hearts within his own ranks.

Without a single victory, his Great Liang Kingdom simply cannot stand!
But
Without a stable morale among the troops, how can we win battles?
This single thread has become blocked at both ends.

ps:
A 7000-word long chapter, please vote with at least a few monthly tickets!!

(End of this chapter)