Zhenguan Xiaoxian Wang Li Shen Li Shimin

Looking at the retreating enemy troops, Li Tai and Li Zhi finally felt relieved. They had been extremely nervous for the past half day.

It would be a lie to say that they were not afraid. They were princes, and had been pampered and loved since childhood.

There has never been a time of danger.

The time when Li Shen rushed into the Prince of Jin's Mansion and beat Li Zhi violently was the most dangerous thing Li Zhi had ever encountered in his life.

But no one died that time either.

In the past half day today, they have seen the most dead bodies in their lives.

Walking on the city wall, watching the soldiers cleaning the wall, treating the wounded, and carrying the bodies,

The two were quite emotional.

Arriving at the temporary command post at the foot of the city, Li Zhiming and other soldiers were discussing the next defense plan.

They could only listen from the side.

"Report, Deputy Protector General, it's time to eat." The guard came in to report.

"Send it here." Li Zhiming looked up and said.

Soon the soldiers brought in the food, which was still steamed buns and stewed beef, but with more beef.

Li Tai and Li Zhi did not act pretentiously and started eating together. They were also hungry this afternoon.

Although the steamed bun was a bit rough and the beef was a bit hard, they both still ate it with gusto.

"Report~~Deputy Protector-General, the casualties have been counted." At this time, the Chief Clerk Yang Shaowei walked in to report.

"Tell me, how many casualties have we suffered?" Li Zhiming asked while eating.

Yang Shaowei took a piece of paper and looked at it for a few seconds, then replied:

“On the east wall, the enemy attacked the city twice, and we suffered a total of 2,600 casualties, including more than 1,200 deaths, more than 1,000 minor injuries, and more than 300 serious injuries.

There were more than 2,800 casualties on the west wall, including more than 800 deaths, more than 1,600 minor injuries, and more than 400 serious injuries.

The vegetable oil on the east wall was gone, and there was little vegetable oil left on the west wall. Only half of the stones and logs were left.

There are plenty of arrows, and I have already had people collecting the arrows shot by the enemy."

After Yang Shaowei finished his report, the whole audience fell silent.

"Such heavy casualties?" Li Tai couldn't help but asked in surprise.

The first siege had seen more than 600 casualties, which he already felt was a huge loss.

But now the total number of casualties has reached more than 5,000, and this is only the first day of the siege.

If that's the case, they won't last more than five days.

"Ah~~" Li Zhiming sighed from the big tent. This is war.

"My Lords, the casualties are not that great. Although today is the first day of the siege, the enemy has launched a total of

Our numbers were too different, and the enemy had too many archers. They were well prepared and had plenty of arrows.

The soldiers were defending the city under a hail of arrows, and we were lucky not to let a single enemy climb onto the city wall."

A deputy general stood up and explained to Li Tai.

This is the case when the enemy is numerous and we are few. We rely on the advantage in numbers to win. As long as the soldiers defending the city show their heads, several people will shoot arrows at you.

If you attack the enemy archers on the city wall, it will be easy for the enemies on the ladders to come up. If you attack the enemy on the ladders, the archers will shoot you.

There was nothing they could do because the number of people was too small.

“Alas, we have already suffered so many casualties on this first day. The enemy will surely attack more fiercely tomorrow.

I don’t know if we can still resist.” Li Tai sighed.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. As long as the slightly injured are able to move, they can still defend the city.

It has been three days since the Grand Protector left. I estimate that he will be back soon, and then we will be able to turn the tide."

Li Zhiming stood up and spoke. He was not only speaking to Li Tai, but also to all the generals present.

Li Zhiming's words were quite effective, and everyone became more excited after hearing them.

It was getting late after dinner. Li Zhi and Li Tai were tired after a long day, so they took their guards back to the inner city to rest.

They will not rest in the outer city as it is too dangerous. Li Zhiming even said there are spies in the city.

The inner city is safer.

"Fourth brother, I'm not saying anything discouraging, but looking at the situation today, it's not optimistic."

The two of them were riding horses and chatting on the way.

"Do you still want to leave?" Li Tai turned his head and glanced at Li Zhi.

"That's not what I meant. It's just that you see the determination of Tubo to attack the city. I think it will be more fierce tomorrow.

They are numerous and can attack in turns, but we don’t have that many people and they would be exhausted to death.

When the city is breached, we two, as princes, will definitely be captured as hostages.

That would bring further disgrace to the Tang Dynasty royal family."

Li Zhi expressed his concerns.

"Alas~~~ If that time really comes, you and I will have no choice but to die in battle. I don't want to be written into history books.

As the first prince of the Tang Dynasty to be captured, it would be better for me to die in battle, so that my name can be recorded in history." Li Tai sighed.

What is the most important thing? Reputation. Reputation is the most important thing to them.

Especially for someone like Li Tai who is well-read in poetry and books.

After hearing Li Tai's words, Li Zhi fell silent. To be honest, he didn't want to die.

The two of them were silent along the way. After entering the inner city, they each returned to their own mansions. They were also tired from the day.

Li Tai returned to his mansion, and the servants came to help him change clothes and wash up.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Du Chuke walked in.

"Well, sit down, I'll wipe it first." Li Tai said while wiping his face.

"Ah, it feels much cleaner."

After wiping it, Li Tai said comfortably, picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"Your Majesty, I heard that the siege today was very fierce and dangerous."

“Yes, I have never seen so many dead bodies in my life. Tubo has launched a general attack.

We suffered more than 5,000 casualties, more than 2,000 dead."

Li Tai nodded.

"Your Highness, do you think we can hold on?" Du Chuke asked again.

"It's hard to say today, the number of people is too different." Li Tai shook his head and continued:

"But I don't think it should be like this?"

"Why?"

“Shanbin, you and I both know that Lao Shi is a cautious person, and he will think carefully about everything he does.

Important cities are of utmost importance. Prince Ji's Mansion invested a lot of manpower, material resources and financial resources, and spent tens of millions of strings of cash to build such a huge city.

How could Old Ten let it be taken away so easily?"

Li Tai looked at Du Chuke and asked back.

After hearing this, Du Chuke thought about it and felt that although what Li Tai said made some sense, it was also a bit blind.

So he said:

“Your Highness, although His Royal Highness Prince Ji is cautious in his actions, Tubo is well prepared this time.

I have thought about what happened today, and Tubo must have been planning this for a long time.

Attacking His Majesty is the first and most important step to lure the snake out of its hole.

The news of your Majesty reached here two months ago, and Tubo must have known about it as well.

They attacked Your Majesty suddenly just to catch us off guard."

Du Chuke gave his analysis.