Chinese New Year

Chapter 528 Eloquence
It was already the tenth day of August, and Santai had been under siege for almost half a month.

Tao Bao's attack was quite fierce. After ten days, more than a thousand people were killed or injured, but they still could not succeed.

This terrain is so tricky.

The Santai is based on the city wall and is itself a part of the wall, with half of the building inside the city and the other half outside.

In theory, it is relatively easy to attack from inside the city because the entrance is inside the city, but the problem is that there is only one spiral path leading to the stage - "Saka" means a hillside path, which is actually a spiral mountain path.

The slope is not wide and is easy to defend. Moreover, when walking on the first section of the slope, people can stand on the upper slope and shoot arrows from above, which is very troublesome.

To put it simply, Santai is a bit like the Yiquanwu fortress in Yiyang, which is built on a high mountain, and the three fortresses are connected together by suspension bridges.

Historically, at the end of the Jin Dynasty, Liu Yan led thousands of people to defend Santai, forcing Shi Le to give up the attack.

There is a water source on the platform, and the only weakness may be food. However, there is a huge ice room in the ice well platform, which leads directly to several feet underground (a total depth of fifteen feet). Not to mention food, some meat is stored there.

Difficult.

Of course, they could certainly conquer it, because who could withstand repeated attacks and long-term sieges? Didn’t the Tang army conquer a strong city like Shibao City at the cost of tens of thousands of casualties?
The question is, how much are you willing to pay?

If they don't want to attack by force, then they can just lay siege for a long time. There are only more than 3,000 defenders in the three towers, and they don't have the ability to break out. But doing so will make things look awkward.

Taobao focused on the ice well platform in the north.

According to intelligence, there were a total of more than 1,500 defenders on the stage. Except for more than 500 people who temporarily fled in after the city was broken, the remaining 1,000 people were Jie and Han warriors selected by the Dahu to protect their families.

After attacking for ten days, with over a thousand casualties, he felt that he had only killed or wounded over a hundred defenders, which was very unfair. If it weren't for the Jin army training in formation in Tongjue Garden every day, he wouldn't want to fight.

Of course, he was just thinking about it.

As a general experienced in military affairs, he knew very well that as time went on, the number of arrows in the Ice Well Platform would become fewer and fewer, and the casualties on both sides would not be so different.

As time goes by, the number of wounded soldiers who can survive on the Ice Well Platform, which is short of medical care and medicine, will decrease, and the casualties will increase.

Over time, the defenders will become more and more tired, and their combat effectiveness will become lower and lower.

In short, it’s a waste.

The defenders had no reinforcements - or so it seemed - and they could not escape. As food, arrows and personnel decreased day by day, there would always be a day when they could not hold on.

The drums roared and the command flags waved. Zhi Xiong looked at Tao Bao with difficulty, then attacked again with hundreds of soldiers.

Taobao's men sat on the ground outside, licking their wounds.

At this time, a team came to Tongjue Garden.

The leader was wearing a brand new official uniform. After getting off his horse, he walked slowly to the outside of the ice well platform.

Tao Bao took a look and realized that this was Liu Da Liu Fudu, the deputy governor of the Yicong Army.

This kid has been in high spirits recently and has become the most successful one among the surrendered people, which makes Tao Bao a little jealous.

However, he seems to look a little unhappy today.

There were two people following behind him, they were Liu Hezhu and his son Liu Hedu, the leaders of the Jie tribe who were relocated by Shi Le to the Dalu Lake area in Julu County to farm and graze. They were also Liu Da's uncle and cousin.

Why are they here?

Regardless of the doubts in his heart, Tao Bao stepped forward to greet him.

The three Lius returned the greeting hastily. After looking at each other, Liu Hezhu sighed and said, "Fudu, I'll go up with you."

Liu Da nodded.

"Didn't the two generals leave..." Tao Bao asked cautiously.

He was from Fanyang and was born into the Wuhuan tribe. He was considered a small local tyrant, so he could read and write a few words. However, he was not the same kind of person as the Liu father and son, and their relationship was ordinary and not very close.

"The beggars in Guangzong surrendered, and so did the beggars in the Dalu Lake area. Fudu sent people to persuade them to surrender. I thought about it. Lord Chen is already on the Northern Expedition. How can the Great Hu defend Xiangguo after being defeated so badly? The autumn harvest is coming soon, and Lord Chen doesn't need to transport food and grass over long distances. He can just harvest wherever he fights. Even if we help the Great Hu, we can't intercept Lord Chen's food supply. We might as well surrender and get it over with, so as to avoid being attacked by Lord Chen and the beggars."

"Did the Beggar Army really surrender?" Tao Bao asked in surprise.

"The Qihuo Army has a grudge against the Great Hu, why would they not surrender?" Liu Hezhu looked at him strangely and said, "I'm afraid they have already marched westward to besiege Xiangguo. I don't know how many soldiers the Great Hu has at hand now. I think it's very dangerous."

"You won't join the war?" Tao Bao asked.

Liu Hezhu was a little embarrassed and said vaguely: "Mr. Chen is considerate and did not force us to send troops."

Tao Bao understood.

The tribe of Liu father and son was moved to the vicinity of Dalu Lake in the south of Julu County. From Dahu's perspective, this was the core force to help him stabilize the central region of Jizhou.

But after the defeat in Yecheng, Liu and his son were already scared. When they could not count on the Da Hu, the nearby Qihuo Army was ready to move, and there were constant rumors of killing officials and returning to Jin. Do you think they were panicking?

If we are not careful, we will not be able to return to our hometown of Shangdang, and we will be besieged from all sides and die.

They actually had no choice but to surrender early and use Chen Gong's name to gain the same status as the Beggars' Army, that is, a vassal force, and get a temporary respite.

As for whether he will remain loyal to Mr. Chen in the future, it is hard to say.

In fact, Tao Bao doesn’t even know his own future and can only live one day at a time.

Who is truly loyal these days? Very few.

"Did Mr. Chen send troops to the Northern Expedition?" Tao Bao asked again.

He had been keeping an eye on the situation in the city, but there was no movement. However, he was not aware of the fact that some Jin troops were stationed outside the city.

"I heard that a general named Hou Feihu was sent to lead more than 10,000 infantry and cavalry to the north." Liu Hezhu said.

"The big bear is going to abandon the city and flee again." Tao Bao sighed.

All the men in the Qihuo Army are soldiers. If they mobilized a large number of able-bodied men, they would still have tens of thousands of people. They could attack from east to west with great momentum.

Lord Chen sent people from the south to the north, which was a two-pronged attack. Would the Hu people dare to defend Xiangguo to the death?

Tao Bao felt he didn't dare to do so as he probably only had a few thousand men at his disposal.

But I can’t say for sure—

"Where is Liang Fuci?" Tao Bao asked again.

"In Yanci, I heard that more than 10,000 men were recruited to attack the city. Shao Xu and his son personally went to the city to supervise the battle, but it has not been taken yet." Liu Hezhu said: "Liang Fuci may withdraw his troops, mainly because the situation in Yecheng has taken a sharp turn for the worse."

"What would he do?"

"Most likely he will return to Anping first and wait for Liu Cong's order."

Peach Leopard nodded.

Although Chen Gong captured Yecheng, it was still in southern Hebei.

There are still remnants of Liu Han's forces in central Hebei, such as Shi Le and Liang Fuci.

To the north of the remaining Xiongnu forces were Wang Jun of Youzhou and the Duan tribe of the Xianbei who were forced to retreat into the interior.

The situation is extremely complex and it will take time to sort it out.

How long can Chen Gong stay in Hebei? If the main force withdraws, what will happen to these surrendered people? Will they rebel and join Liu Cong again? Is it reliable?
Tao Bao felt like his head was going to explode. After Chen Gong defeated Shi Le, his elite troops were about to withdraw. If the Xiongnu came, how would they resist?

Thinking of this, his morale dropped suddenly, and he was not so enthusiastic about attacking the three platforms anymore.

At this time, the hundreds of troops sent by Zhi Xiong retreated in chaos, losing about 200 people, and their morale was extremely low.

"Don't panic. Lord Chen has recruited another 2,000 strong men in the city and handed them over to you. If you reorganize them well, you can still fight." Tao Bao said to Zhi Xiong with a wry smile.

Zhi Xiong didn't say anything and his face was a little pale.

Tao Bao took a look and found that he had been hit by an arrow in the shoulder, which had penetrated the armor plates. He was really unlucky.

Over there, uncle and nephew Liu Hezhu and Liu Da had already stepped forward and shouted.

Tao Bao tried his best to cheer himself up and called hundreds of soldiers, intending to rush forward and snatch the two men back immediately if anything went wrong.

However, after some negotiations, the uncle and nephew of the Liu family were actually allowed in and onto the ice well platform.

Tao Bao subconsciously took a few steps forward and watched from a distance.

Zhi Xiong, who was treating his wounds, also stood up curiously, put his hands on his forehead and looked up at the platform.

******
"Swoosh!" An arrow flew over and Liu Da's helmet fell to the ground.

"Sister, don't kill him!" Liu Da shouted hurriedly.

A tall woman appeared from the back of the slope, with a fierce look on her face and a bow in her hand.

She looked Liu Da up and down and sneered, "Promoted?"

"I was demoted." Liu Da said awkwardly, "I was originally General Weiyuan, but now I am only the deputy governor of the Yicong Army."

"What are you here for?" Liu asked.

"Come and save my sister." Liu Da bravely took a few steps closer and said with a flattering smile.

Liu was not afraid of him either, and placed her right hand on the hilt of the sword.

She has killed people more than once and is not a weak woman who can't even lift a finger.

"If that's all you have to say, you can go back. I won't kill you this time, but next time I come, I won't hold back." Liu said coldly.

"Sister, why do you have to do this!" Liu Da was relieved and simply walked to Liu's side, pointing at the wounded soldiers who were being carried back, and said, "There is a lack of doctors and medicine in Bingjingtai. If you get injured, you can only suffer. The lucky ones can recover as before, but the unlucky ones will die. If the whole army surrenders, we can avoid a massacre, and the injured men can be treated. Isn't it wonderful?"

Liu didn't waste any time and just drew his sword and slashed at him.

Liu Da's hair stood on end and he leaped forward to avoid the sword.

Liu looked at him coldly.

Liu Da was a little furious and cursed, "What a cruel woman, you can even kill your closest relatives. What kind of magic potion did Shi Le feed you? Damn it, I won't persuade you anymore, I'm leaving now. I'll let Tao Bao rush and beat them hard. Even if eight or ten people are exchanged for one of you, one day we can replace everyone on the Bingjing platform."

Liu Hezhu pulled him behind him, sighed, and said, "Yena, what do you want in this life?"

Liu was a little stunned by this question.

What did she want in this life? She seemed to have imagined it before.

She doesn't want the rouge and fancy clothes that ordinary women like. What she wants is the supreme status and the pleasure of holding power and controlling the overall situation.

To this end, she actively helped her husband to make plans and sort out domestic affairs.

To this end, she actively helped her husband to gather troops and horses and comforted him more.

For this reason, she once privately told her husband that Liu Cong would definitely not let Liu Yi take over the throne. At that time, the Liu Han might be in great turmoil. If the situation in Hebei could be stabilized before that, and based on this, something could be achieved.

She has big ambitions, and these are exactly what she likes most.

"Yena, Shi Le will never have another chance." Liu Hezhu said, "I am standing here today, you probably have an idea, right? The Qihuo army has rebelled and wants to seek revenge on Shi Le. Lord Chen has sent 100,000 elite troops north to attack Xiangguo. If Shi Le doesn't want to die, he has to run."

"What?" Liu's heart was shocked, and the spirit that she had managed to muster up these days was about to dissipate in an instant.

She is not a woman who knows nothing.

She just understands it too well.

The hatred between the Qihuo Army and Yecheng is as deep as the sea. Once the husband's power declines, it will be strange if they don't jump out to seek revenge.

The most crucial thing is that my uncle Liu Hezhu also rebelled, and there was no one reliable in the vast Hebei province.

Xiangguo will most likely not be able to be defended, unless my husband is determined to die, goes up to the city wall to supervise the battle, puts himself in danger first, and then places hope on outsiders.

But is there trust between him and Liu Cong?
Liu Hezhu took a few steps forward, looked at the soldiers behind Liu, and shouted, "Mo Tu, you are my shepherd. You were lucky enough to be selected as a personal soldier of the Hu family. Do you not recognize me?"

Mo Tu was frightened by Liu Hezhu's momentum and subconsciously took half a step back.

"Your family is still in Dalu Lake, so you don't care about it?" Liu Hezhu pressed on, "So many people died in Taobao. If the fight continues, he will get angry and report it to Mr. Chen. I won't be able to protect your family."

Mo Tu's face turned pale and his hands fell weakly from his waist.

"Yi Mogan, you raised your horses too thin and the big beard wanted to kill you. Who pleaded for you?" Liu Hezhu looked at a military school student and asked, "You said you would repay my family's kindness. Haha, that sounds good. Now I ask you to put down your weapons and take your people down the mountain to surrender. Are you willing?"

"I..." Yi Mogan stammered, not knowing how to answer.

Liu Hezhu called out the names of two more people, making them blush and speechless.

"Don't be silly." Liu Hezhu breathed a sigh and said, "Think about it yourself. Outside the west wall of Bingjingtai, there is a Jin army camp. Below the stage are the armies of Tao Bao, Zhi Xiong, and Cheng Xia. You can't escape, and there is no other way except death. Don't expect Liu Cong's army to come to your aid. It's impossible. Even if they come, you may not be here anymore."

"If Da Hu can recruit the men in Yecheng, why can't Lord Chen do the same? Recruit 10,000 men, divide them into 10 teams, and besiege them day and night, even if they are wiped out. What will you do? He didn't lose any of his own men, and he also eliminated the hidden dangers. What's the point of your fierce resistance? You may even be helping him. Tao Bao's soldiers have been wiped out, and Lord Chen told him to go wherever he wanted. He has no ability to resist at all. I'm afraid you will laugh in your dreams."

"If Lord Chen is really pissed off, he will mobilize soldiers from all tribes to attack Santai. To be honest, after the order was given to Daluanze, I dare not disobey it now. I can only lead the troops to fight honestly. When the time comes, our own people will fight against each other, and some of them may be your relatives and friends. Can you bear to do that?"

"Stop fighting. Just surrender and I will ensure that nothing happens to you. Lord Chen is a magnanimous man. If he agrees, Tao Bao, Zhi Xiong, and Cheng Xia will have no choice but to swallow their anger and will not cause any trouble for you."

After saying this, Liu Hezhu stood there and looked at everyone.

Liu Da was stunned.

He never thought that his uncle was so eloquent. He was not a garrison soldier, and he was almost convinced...

"Clang!" Someone threw away the equipment.

Liu, Liu Hezhu and Liu Da all looked at him.

His face turned pale, and he hurriedly picked up the weapon, saying, "I am tired from the long battle, and I didn't hold it firmly."

"Clang! Clang!" People threw away their equipment one after another.

"I really didn't hold it firmly." the man said anxiously.

No one cared about him anymore because hundreds of people had already laid down their weapons and prepared to surrender.

There are more than a thousand soldiers on the Bingjing platform, looking at each other.

A gust of wind blew, as if blowing away something called morale.

(End of this chapter)