Chapter 956 Chen Xianba's Fury

"Bro, food."

Qin Xiaoyong handed the food he had fetched to his second brother.

Qin Eryong took the large bowl and chopsticks. After only a couple of bites, he immediately noticed two large pieces of salted pork at the bottom.

"Where'd this come from?"

Qin Eryong glared at his younger brother.

The Jin East Army had strict discipline. Thieves in the military were executed without pardon!

Especially in wartime, there were no opportunities for self-rehabilitation. Military Discipline Officers didn't have the leisure.

"Don't worry, Bro, I didn't steal it."

"Then where did it come from?"

"It's not stolen, just eat it."

"No, tell me, where did it come from? Otherwise, I can't eat this meat."

Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyong had no choice but to answer truthfully:

"Didn't we see Big Bro the day before yesterday? Big Bro had someone deliver this meat this morning."

In the army, with hundreds of thousands of regular soldiers, auxiliary soldiers, and laborers, finding someone was nearly impossible unless you were of high status and could send official letters to each army.

However, there was a compromise. It was difficult for auxiliary soldiers to find standard household soldiers because the latter were integrated and reorganized layer by layer. Auxiliary soldiers, on the other hand, were often managed and operated in a centralized manner based on fortresses or regional fortresses.

Qin Dayong inquired about the location of the fortress and then asked someone to inquire in detail, finally confirming the location of his two younger brothers. After a brief meeting the day before, he sent someone to deliver the meat today.

"You're confused! Big Bro has to wear armor and fight, he needs to eat meat. How can he wield his blade without meat? We're just doing labor and drills every day, not really going to the battlefield, so why do we need supplements? Didn't the old folks say that when we really go to the battlefield, our meals will include meat?

Big Bro saved his own rations, how can you have the nerve to take them!"

"I didn't want to take it either, Second Brother, but Big Bro had someone deliver it, and the messenger said that our Big Bro's troops had been transferred, and it couldn't be returned to Big Bro."

"Sigh."

Qin Eryong sighed and didn't blame his younger brother, saying:

"Eat it."

After a pause,

Qin Eryong continued:

"When the war is over, and we get our rewards, let's combine them and buy a bracelet for our sister-in-law."

"Alright."

The two brothers sat together to eat.

The speed of eating in the army was fast. Auxiliary soldiers, to some extent, were reserves for the regular soldiers, and many aspects would be aligned with them.

Not long after finishing their meal, the captain came to call people to assemble.

Qin Eryong and his brother didn't dare to delay and immediately grabbed their swords and went over.

In fact, they hadn't found an opportunity to use their swords yet, mostly doing "pushing," "carrying," "moving," and "chopping wood."

But this time, the captain ordered them to wear armor and carry their swords.

"Bro, is there going to be a battle?" Qin Xiaoyong was a little eager to try.

"No way, I heard the Chu people are shrinking back too much, the regular soldiers haven't even gotten a chance to fight, how could it be our turn?"

The team was pulled out of the military camp, accompanied by another labor camp.

Five thousand auxiliary soldiers and five thousand laborers, nearly ten thousand people, was considered a large force, although compared to the entire war situation, the transfer of these ten thousand people might be difficult to notice, after all, it wasn't a transfer of regular soldiers.

What puzzled Qin Xiaoyong was that the battlefield was facing south, but they were advancing towards the northwest, equivalent to detouring, and even crossing the Wei River again.

The road wasn't too difficult to travel, and it wasn't raining. Everyone marched during the day and camped at night, then marched during the day and camped at night.

After crossing the Wei River,

Qin Eryong and Qin Xiaoyong had no idea where they were anymore. In fact, even the captain above wasn't very clear, but after inquiring with the higher-ups, he learned that they were now located in... Sansuo Prefecture.

Sansuo Prefecture and Liusha Prefecture were two prefectures between Shanggu Prefecture and Fancheng. Both prefectures used the Wei River as their boundary, the land was somewhat narrow, but the area wasn't small.

After this team entered Sansuo Prefecture and advanced for another two days, a regular army cavalry of three thousand appeared.

Two generals rode pixiu, galloping past Qin Eryong and Qin Xiaoyong, the cavalry behind them also whipping their horses without hesitation, their nostrils practically pointed to the sky.

"Bro, those two generals are so young, and they're riding pixiu," Qin Xiaoyong said with envy.

The sons of Jin East, or rather, the sons of Yan, took pride in joining the military and were proud of their military achievements;

Of course, not everyone could be like the Regent, equipped with a purebred pixiu, so having a pixiu as a mount was already a high dream for the soldiers.

"Yes," Qin Eryong nodded in agreement. Because the pixiu galloped too fast, they didn't actually recognize that Tian Tian was the young general who had stood up for him when they were fighting over steamed buns.

...

"This humble officer greets Commander!"

"This humble officer greets Commander!"

A group of chiliarchs saluted Chen Xianba.

Chen Xianba returned the salute and said:

"Everyone, now is not the time to rest, the team needs to continue moving forward. I have arranged for people to guide you. The rainy season is coming, do not delay."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

After giving these instructions, Chen Xianba and Tian Tian rode their pixiu back the way they came.

Three days later,

This team of three thousand regular soldiers, five thousand auxiliary soldiers, and five thousand laborers finally arrived in Xiawei County, Sansuo Prefecture, and Xiawei County town was not far away.

Inside a tent,

Chen Xianba had just held a war meeting, making a series of deployments.

Next, the laborers began to set up camp, the auxiliary soldiers began to build simple siege equipment, and Chen Xianba's three thousand cavalry were completely scattered to be responsible for guarding.

"Phew..."

Chen Xianba took a sip of water, looked at Tian Tian sitting opposite him, and shook his head helplessly.

Tian Tian also smiled a little embarrassedly.

A month after crossing the Wei River and landing for battle, his father suddenly ordered him to lead a troop out. Tian Tian righteously pushed Chen Xianba forward.

Chen Xianba was so excited when he found out that he didn't decline this time, and actively went to the commander's tent to request orders.

Then,

He was the commander of this force, and Tian Tian was the deputy commander. In the Jin East military system, those who led troops independently to face a battle during wartime would be given the temporary position of Commander if their military rank wasn't high enough.

However,

What Chen Xianba didn't expect was that this time he wasn't being sent to carry out some difficult but decisive task, but to lead his three thousand cavalry, along with a team composed of auxiliary soldiers and laborers, to enter Sansuo Prefecture to remove nails.

In fact, the main force of the Chu people had long since retreated, and now the main defense of the Chu army was in Moya Prefecture, Wenqiu Prefecture, Shangyang Prefecture, and westwards to the Daze area.

It could be said that after the Jin East Army crossed the Wei River, Sansuo Prefecture and Liusha Prefecture, nominally still within the sphere of influence of the Chu State, with Chu officials, garrisons, and flags, had become an exclave.

If they swallowed this place, they would be afraid of thinning out their troops, so the essence of this military action… was just picking up scraps.

And the military goal was also very… one couldn't say vague, but rather perfunctory.

The Prince's original words were:

Take as many cities as you can.

Like dealing with a crying child, just throw down an object at random, go play, don't make a fuss.

Chen Xianba was a little disappointed, but fortunately, not too disappointed, after all, he could finally be in charge of his own command, and he cherished this opportunity very much.

The reason why he deliberately showed Tian Tian that he was unhappy was because he thought that this opportunity didn't count, and he would snatch Tian Tian again next time.

It wasn't out of malice, it was just that his hands were itching.

"When the Prince rushed to rescue Fancheng that year, Xiawei County was the first county town to be breached by Commander Gou's vanguard army when they went west from Zhennan Pass. And previously, General Li Chenghui of the Zhenbei Army also led his troops past them, no, almost bypassed them, crossed the Wei River to put pressure on the Chu army, forcing the Chu army to choose to retreat directly without other thoughts.

This county town is actually very superficial."

"So, Ba-ge, you had your men build siege equipment and sent cavalry out to give the city the impression that you're about to launch a strong attack to force them to surrender?"

"If they're smart, they should just surrender directly. Qu Peiluo's Chu Character Camp had previously infiltrated here quite a bit, and I've already sent people into the city to inform them.

As long as they're willing to surrender, everything is negotiable. Officials can continue to be officials, and wealthy families can continue to be wealthy families, as long as they contribute some food and a reward for the three armies, the rest is up to them.

Our army doesn't have the strength to completely swallow such a large piece of territory right now. The Prince's intention is probably to let us screen it here first, just do the motions and wipe the surface."

"Yes," Tian Tian nodded, he thought so too.

At this moment, two armored soldiers came in, carrying a box in their hands.

"Commander..."

"What's wrong?"

"The magistrate of Xiawei County killed our messenger and sent his head out."

...

The camp was being further deepened, the Jin East Army had its own standard system for setting up camps, to consolidate its own safety as much as possible.

At the same time, the construction of siege equipment gradually took shape as time passed. In addition, the cavalry's clearing of the outskirts of Xiawei County made the city completely isolated, and food shortages had already appeared inside.

As for the so-called reinforcements, they should have sent out a request for help long ago, but neither Chen Xianba nor Tian Tian was worried about the Chu army in other nearby cities coming to rescue.

Without the support of the imperial guards of the Great Chu and decent aristocratic private armies, the so-called reinforcements, not to mention whether they dared to come themselves, even if they did come, they wouldn't really be taken seriously.

Tian Tian originally thought that Chen Xianba would be angry about the head, but Chen Xianba wasn't, even though the messenger he sent was a trusted subordinate of his, said to have known him since Zhennan Pass and had been by his side.

Finally,

Everything was ready.

In the early morning, Chen Xianba ordered the entire army to prepare food and eat.

Tian Tian and Chen Xianba sat face to face, eating in silence.

Outside,

Qin Eryong and his brother Qin Xiaoyong were also sitting face to face eating. There was meat in their bowls.

...

"Wuwuwu..."

The sound of the military horn rang.

Chen Xianba and Tian Tian, each riding their own pixiu, came to the front of the battle.

This was a small county town, a small county town that could even be called somewhat dilapidated, with a population that wasn't too large, but at this moment, in Chen Xianba's eyes, there was no longer the frivolousness and casualness of before, but a full solemnity.

"Deputy Commander," Chen Xianba said.

Tian Tian immediately responded with a fist salute: "Commander!"

"Inspect the battle preparations for this commander."

"Yes!"

Tian Tian rode his pixiu and began to inspect the battle preparations.

In fact, this was more like going through the motions, and also a kind of ritual before the start of the war.

When Qin Xiaoyong saw Tian Tian passing in front of him, he subconsciously straightened his chest.

These days, they finally knew who their commander was;

But what made them even more excited was their deputy commander.

The Prince's eldest son! It was the young master who had once stood up for them and killed the savage, declaring his identity!

After the inspection, Tian Tian returned to Chen Xianba's side and reported:

"Reporting to the Commander, the inspection is complete, and there are no omissions!"

Chen Xianba nodded,

Looked at the messenger next to him,

Said:

"Advance!"

"The Commander has ordered, advance!"

"Yes!"

Some auxiliary soldiers began to push shield carts forward, while the remaining auxiliary soldiers advanced with shields.

From a long distance away, the Xiawei County city walls began to shoot arrows, but most of the arrows didn't even hit the shields, they didn't even reach that far, and mostly fell in front.

Qin Xiaoyong, who was entering the battlefield for the first time, was very nervous. He and his brother pushed a shield cart together.

"Younger brother, don't be afraid, the Chu people on the city walls are the most afraid, steady, keep pushing the cart, the regular soldiers are coming up behind, can't fall behind."

Qin Xiaoyong nodded vigorously and continued to push the cart attentively.

As they got closer, arrows began to constantly hit the shield carts, making a "buzzing" sound, and some tremors.

The Qin brothers were fine behind the shield cart, the defense was larger, but some of those holding shields next to them had already been hit.

Those who were hit, their comrades would subconsciously help them block, the lightly wounded would go down on their own, and the seriously wounded would be covered as they climbed behind the shield cart first.

"Clang!"

"Boom!"

The defending soldiers on the city walls began to throw rolling logs and stones, but clearly, the Yan army's ladder team hadn't come up yet;

This meant that the defending soldiers on the city walls were very nervous, and their training... might not have been much training at all.

Looking from below, there weren't many genuine Chu soldiers, and many of the defending soldiers were still wearing civilian clothes.

Although the Qin brothers were serving as auxiliary soldiers for the first time, they had "seen" a lot since joining the army, spending all day with real contemporary elites, and their vision naturally became different.

When you find that your opponent is much worse than you, you won't be so nervous.

In fact, just the advance of the shield carts and shield soldiers, without any counterattack, the defending soldiers on the city walls were already showing signs of nervousness and gradual collapse.

Seeing that the distance was almost right, Chen Xianba ordered the regular soldiers to follow up.

From a long time ago, the Yan army had relied on iron cavalry and archery skills to dominate the Xia, and the Regent had been an out-and-out cavalry fanatic since establishing his base in Cuiliu Fort.

Chen Xianba had always been a promising general seedling valued by the Prince, and this army that he had led for several years also had excellent archery skills. There was no reason why they would be good at horseback archery and then not good on the ground.

Therefore, when this group of regular soldiers advanced with bows and arrows, using the shield carts and shield soldiers as cover, and began to shoot back at the city walls, the city walls instantly became chaotic.

The accuracy of the arrows on both sides was simply not at the same level, the difference was too great.

Gradually, the people on the city walls didn't even dare to stick their heads out of the crenels.

What's more, some of the flags on the city walls had already fallen, obviously there were fleeing soldiers.

Simple peasant soldiers were pretty much like this, the difference was all-round compared to regular elites.

Chen Xianba didn't have time to build catapults, such a simple arrangement had already determined the tone of this "siege war."

Next, the ladder soldiers carried ladders and prepared to press forward, while many regular soldiers took ropes and prepared to climb the city walls.

The archers, under the cover of the shield-wielding auxiliary soldiers, were getting closer and closer to the city walls, and the suppression was getting stronger and stronger.

Just then,

The city gate of Xiawei County was opened from the inside.

A middle-aged man with a long beard, a tall and thin figure, wearing a white robe, slowly walked out barefoot.

The elegance that the Chu style was most proud of was indeed displayed on him.

Chen Xianba raised his hand, signaling to slow the attack.

In this situation, it was impossible for the city to pull any more tricks, and delaying tactics were meaningless.

The middle-aged man continued to advance, he even walked past the line of shield soldiers.

Because everyone knew that he was coming to surrender, and the city gate was still wide open, no one was in a hurry to do anything to him.

Chen Xianba then rode his pixiu to him;

"Are you the main general of the Yan army?" the man asked.

"Yes," Chen Xianba replied expressionlessly.

"I am Wang Qingmei, the magistrate of Xiawei County, here to surrender to the Yan army, the responsibility lies with me alone, please general spare these... innocent people in the city."

"Wang? I don't remember any noble family with the surname Wang in the Chu Kingdom."

"I was born into a humble family, but was not abandoned by His Majesty, and was accepted into the officialdom, but I failed to properly defend the country for His Majesty, I am truly ashamed. Now, the only thing I can do is to seek survival for the people in the city with my own death.

Please general... forgive them."

Chen Xianba nodded and said; "You want to die?"

Wang Qingmei brushed up the long hair on both sides of his temples and smiled: "A great crime to lose territory, a local official should die to defend the territory. His Majesty has been kind to me, and I will never betray Chu and join Yan."

"You misunderstood, I'm not trying to persuade you to surrender."

"What does the general intend to do?"

"I am under orders from the Prince to lead the army here to seize cities and destroy strongholds, I have already delayed too long in your place."

"General, we Chu people do not lack officials with backbone, nor do we lack people with backbone. If Yan wants to destroy Chu, it is truly..."

"You misunderstood again, what I mean is that I don't have much time, and I don't want all the cities in the future to have to be prepared for so long, so slowly, like now."

Chen Xianba pointed to the wide-open city gate,

Said:

"Go back, continue to guard your city."

"General, this move is against the will of heaven!!!"

Wang Qingmei of course realized what the young Yan general in front of him was planning to do.

"When two armies are at war, since you dared to kill my messenger, you must be prepared not to abide by the rules with each other. You did the first day, I will send you to the fifteenth!"

Chen Xianba gave a loud shout:

"Go back now and continue to defend the city, after the city is broken, women and children can be spared.

If you continue to stand here and don't go back,

The entire city of Xiawei County will be slaughtered!"

"General, aren't you afraid that your Prince will know that you are like this today..."

"What a coincidence."

Chen Xianba waved his horsewhip,

And smiled;

"In my life, I most admire my Prince, and I believe that if my Prince were here, seeing you acting like this, self-admiring, self-pitying, and self-sorrowing, the Prince would also issue the same order as me.

The Prince and I most despise people like you.

The Prince also once said to me,

When you see a holy lotus flower, what do you want to do most?

I really want to pour a scoop of manure on it."

chun jie di xiao long