Sweep Yuan

Chapter 60: The Suppressive Prelude to the Siege

Achoo!

Hongxian County, West City Wall Passage.

The patrol archer Li Song hunched his shoulders, tucked the gong and mallet under his armpits, tightened his hempen clothes which were soaked with mist, and rubbed his hands and face vigorously, unable to help but complain:

"This weather is awful! It's only the beginning of winter, it's never been this cold in previous years!"

"In previous years? We wouldn't have been forced to go to the city and freeze for half a night, ugh—it's fucking cold!"

After finishing his sentence, Song Sanyang tightened his hempen robe and turned to look in the direction of the Red Turban bandits' camp. It was far away and foggy, and he could only see a faint light shining through. His worries intensified.

"Brother Li, do you think these thieves don't rest all night? Could they really be using some kind of sorcery? How are we supposed to defend the city then?"

Li Song stamped his numb feet, breathed out a few puffs of white vapor onto his chapped hands, and said with a wandering gaze:
"Perhaps it's just the laborers building siege engines? Besides, whether this city can be defended or not, we'll still go hungry. Why think about such things? It's almost dawn, let's hurry off duty and have some hot soup."

"Hehe, that's true. If we could add a few slices of ginger and eat a couple of steamed buns, that would be wonderful—Brother Li, is there some noise from the thieves' side?"

The two quickly fell silent, turning their heads to the west, trying their best to catch the faint sound.

Leader: Hey! The log is pressing down on my shoulders—

Together: Crush that Hongxian wall!

Leader: The donkey cart pushes away the dawn chill—

Together: A tip can keep a wife warm!
Leader: Arrows rain down from the top of the Eight Immortals table!

All: Those who survive will eat white flour!
Leader: The cloud ladder is 23 feet high—

Leader: The first to ascend must change into a silver saddle!

Qi: Commander Shi, the soul-summoning drum sounds—until Hongxian is breached, the bones will not be buried!

The work chants, deep and powerful, pierced through the thin mist and reached the city wall. At first, they were somewhat blurry, but gradually they became clearer and clearer.

Li Song and Song Sanyang looked at each other, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

"The enemy army has broken camp!"

At midnight they cooked, and at dawn they broke camp. Under the cover of the thin fog, the soldiers of the "Red Heart Battalion" held swords and spears in their right hands and torches in their left, while the laborers shouted slogans and pushed their equipment, heading towards the city of Hongxian.

The defenders reacted quickly. Less than a quarter of an hour after the alarm was issued, County Commandant Gao Jingyi led archers up the city wall. Half an hour later, young men from various neighborhoods also went up the city wall to assist in the defense, urged by County Magistrate Cao Shixian.

Deng Shunxing and Meng Ping, both strong and powerful, were assigned to the west city wall, where the enemy was most likely to launch a major attack. Meng Ping stepped onto the wall, glanced outside, and couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement, whispering in astonishment:
"My goodness! How come I didn't realize the enemy army was so powerful yesterday?"

In the open space to the west of the city, as far as the eye could see, there was a dense, dark mass of military formations, their breath forming a wall of white smoke.

Through the thin mist, one could still see a wide, long line of torches stretching to the horizon, representing the advancing bandit army, and the undulating chants of the laborers, which struck the hearts of the defenders like heavy hammers.

The hazy dawn and fog amplified the size of the rebel army and the fear in the hearts of the defenders.

"Fellow elders, the enemy army has not yet fully assembled and will not attack the city for the time being. Do not panic."

Seeing that the atmosphere was too oppressive and that people were already feeling suffocated before the battle even began, County Lieutenant Gao Jingyi quickly stepped forward.

“Many elders witnessed this from the city walls yesterday. The rebel army numbered no more than five thousand. Even if reinforcements came at night, they would only number eight thousand at most. There are several thousand able-bodied men in the city, and the city walls provide defense. The rebel army cannot take the city in one fell swoop.” As soon as he said this, Gao Jingyi himself felt unsure of his words.

After all, even with the addition of able-bodied men to assist in the defense, the number of the garrison was less than half that of the Red Turban rebels. Fortunately, the city walls provided a strong defense, greatly reducing the rebels' numerical advantage and preventing them from becoming too desperate.

"Yesterday, as soon as the enemy scouts arrived at the city, the magistrate dispatched an urgent messenger on horseback. It has already reached Sizhou. The reinforcements will arrive in seven or eight days at most, or three to five days at least!"

This statement is only good for fooling ignorant men and women. Hongxian is more than 200 li from Sizhou. Even if we don't take the time it takes for messengers to travel, and Sizhou sends troops immediately after receiving the report, it would only take three to five days for a small number of elite cavalry to arrive and contain the rebel army.

While distant water cannot quench immediate thirst, it cannot deny the defenders the hope of finding something to eat.

Gao Jingyi also knew that these words were not enough to motivate everyone, and he knew how to truly boost morale.

Yesterday, when the rebel army approached the city, Lin Chihu took the opportunity to collect a batch of "repelling the rebels money," but the money ended up in the pocket of the magistrate. As a Han Chinese official, he dared not speak on behalf of the Darughachi.

"Once the rebels are defeated, the magistrate will surely petition the court to exempt the entire county from taxes. In this battle, all those who donate money and grain, offer strategies and plans, or slay the heads of the rebels will be generously rewarded!"

County Magistrate Gao was spitting as he spoke, but Li Song and Song Sanyang behind him could barely keep their eyes open—anyone who had been freezing half the night and was guarding the city on an empty stomach would lose their spirits.

After finally listening to Lord Gao's nonsense, Li Song craned his neck and looked around, but found no sign of breakfast being prepared. The broth for defending the city was being boiled, but unfortunately the pot was a bit far from him; he could smell the stench but couldn't get a proper fire.

As the defenders endured their agonizing ordeal, dawn gradually broke, and the morning breeze tore through the fog, revealing the ferocious full form of the enemy formation.

The rebel army deployed three military formations around the city. The largest formation was located on the relatively open western side of the city, while there were smaller formations outside the south and north walls. Clearly, the rebel army had left one side open and their main attack was aimed at the western wall, which was the main defensive point of the defenders.

As each team and battalion flag bearer raised a yellow, diagonally folded triangular "ready" flag, Shi Shan dismounted and walked towards a three-tiered observation tower in the shape of the Chinese character "品" (pin). The tower was made of tables arranged in the shape of the Chinese character "八" (immortal).

On the city wall of Hong County, Gao Jingyi finally met Darughachi.

For the sake of his own life and official position, Lin Chihu was willing to go all out. He not only personally went up the city wall to boost morale, but also ordered people to bring up three large wooden boxes wrapped in copper, which he opened on the spot—they were full of copper coins, brocade, and paper money.

"As a member of the royal family, I should set an example in defending the city. As long as Hong County stands, I stand; if Hong County falls, I die! Leave this money on the city walls, and a reward of copper will be given for every leader of the rebels who is beheaded—"

goo goo-

Song Sanyang's eyes lit up, wishing he could possess all the gleaming copper coins. However, his deflated stomach rumbled loudly, almost drowning out the magistrate's speech.

There's no need to worry about Lord Lin Chihudu punishing us, because the sound of enemy war drums could be heard from below the city.

Dong-dong-dong——

"Fourth Brother, you take Team One and Team Two and go first! Third Brother and I will follow shortly."

Yesterday, we worked for a whole day and night, creating ten pointed wooden donkey carts, sixteen shield carts, and thirty cloud ladders, and also modified some small boats and eight-immortal tables.

Most of them were used on the western battlefield.

Shao Rong only arranged for two teams to lead the charge, partly because the attack area below the city was limited and too many people would make it difficult to deploy, and partly because he was worried about insufficient equipment and low morale, so he dared not rush in all at once.

The specific tactics were discussed last night, so there is no need to make further detailed arrangements on the battlefield.

After receiving the order, Shao Si immediately led his men, pushing two pointed wooden donkey carts and eight square tables, toward the city wall of Hong County.

(End of this chapter)