Translator: ryangohsff Editor: Nora
Chapter 1029 – Protect the Foundations of My Han
The actions of the Mongol people totally enraged them.
However, as castle after castle was slowly formed up, the defending troops were faced with a hard question, “Do we stop the enemy from building the castles?”
Once all the castles were built up, the Mongol army could use them as a stepping board and Lin’an City would fall really quickly.
For this matter, the Grand Council had to hold an emergency meeting.
Lu Xiufu, who was in charge of the Grand Council daily matters, spoke first, “Give your thoughts, the rule is the majority wins. As the only civil servant here, I will not give my views.”
This crafty person, giving up right away and leaving the problem to others.
“Of course, we should not kill them, they are our brothers.” Wen Tianxiang made his attitude clear.
When Zhang Shijie saw that, his eyes showed unhappiness. Before the main general had made his stand, how could the deputy first speak?
Originally, Zhang Shijie was a little hesitant, but now he totally set his heart to it, “I feel like we have to kill. It isn’t should we or should we not. If we do not deal with the castle, we cannot keep Lin’an City. The captured civilian lives are lives but aren’t the lives of the millions in the city lives as well?”
Zhang Shijie’s words did make sense. In such a chaotic time, there was not much terms for one to talk about mercy and heart. Many times, one had to make sacrifices. It was cruel, but it was the truth.
However, Wen Tianxiang was unhappy.
Zhang Shijie did not care, as he had his own ideologies.
“I also think we need to kill them.”
Xiong Ba followed and expressed his opinion. As a formidable person, he would not show mercy. Furthermore, this was a Battle Map, and the goal of the players were to win. As such, they would not care about the deaths of NPCs.
Those that supported killing had the two to one advantage.
When Lianpo saw that, he followed, “I abstain.”
From an emotional point of view, he was not willing because he was still emotional scarred by Baiqi’s actions during the Battle of Changping. However, as a general, Lianpo felt that he needed to.
With such a conflict, he could only abstain.
When Xiong Ba saw that, he glanced at Lianpo. Logically speaking, as a Yanhuang Alliance general, Lianpo should follow his lead.
Luckily, Lianpo’s action did not affect the big picture. In his eyes, Ouyang Shuo was a formidable person and would not show mercy. Guo Ziyi would also naturally follow Ouyang Shuo’s lead.
Hence, there would still be more people that supported it.
Everyone turned their eyes over to Ouyang Shuo.
Ouyang Shuo was really calm. He slowly placed down the cup in this hand and said, “I oppose.”
Everyone was astonished.
“Why?” Xiong Ba asked.
In his eyes, Ouyang Shuo was definitely not someone who would let his emotions get the better of him. If not, he would not have made it to this day.
“Let’s speak later.”
Ouyang Shuo naturally had his reasons, and it was not convenient to say them during this meeting.
Lu Xiufu looked deeply at Ouyang Shuo and concluded, “Three against, two agree, and two abstain. Since that’s the case, let’s think of other ideas.”
The decision of the Grand Council was naturally the final decision.
…
After the meeting ended, Xiong Ba chased up to Ouyang Shuo.
Before Xiong Ba could ask, Ouyang Shuo said right away, “I think not only you, but the others also have such doubts. Let’s all gather together, and I’ll explain.”
Xiong Ba was surprised, “You’re so confident about convincing Di Chen and the others?”
Ouyang Shuo smiled but did not say a word.
When Xiong Ba saw that, he shook his head and left.
…
Lin’an, north city wall.
Ouyang Shuo, Xiong Ba, and the four other Lords gathered together.
Xiong Ba looked toward Ouyang Shuo. At this moment, his eyes were filled with questions and doubts. Before coming, the Yanhuang Alliance had held a short meeting, but the atmosphere was not any good.
Especially Chun Shenjun, who did not show any mercy, “What is the old fox doing, trying to buy our heart or is he using our victory to exchange for his mercy? Great Xia has destroyed four countries in the main map and killed so many, yet now he’s acting like he’s merciful…”
The faces of Di Chen and the others were really ugly.
On the city wall, Ouyang Shuo could feel sharp piercing eyes staring at his back. Looking out at the Mongol tents, Ouyang Shuo said casually, “Why do you think Gaia planned such a Battle Map?”
“What reason can there be? It’s a Battle Map, so it is just a war to collect merit points.”
Ouyang Shuo shook his head, “I do not think of it in that way. Maybe the wars before did not have a reason but definitely not this one. To put it bluntly, Great Xia from one Battle of Annan earned more than all the Battle Maps. One Battle Map is not worth Great Xia using 100 thousand troops.”
“….”
Di Chen and the others were speechless. They knew that Great Xia was amazing, but he did not need to flaunt, right? They thought, ‘Why did he have to be so honest? It hurts one’s heart.’
“So, what do you think Gaia’s goal is?” Xiong Ba asked.
“No matter what, I think that this battle is actually to make up for a regret, that our Chinese history cannot fall into the hands of the other races. Although it’s a little like an escape from reality, it’s a rare experience.”
“Cough, you’re filled with emotions,” Chun Shenjun said.
The others did not say anything. Instead, they looked outside the city at the hell like scenes.
The Mongols had never stopped their actions of getting oil from corpses. From early in the day till night, screams filled the ear. The oil was rubbed onto the city walls by the Chinese civilians.
Like other city walls, the Linan city wall had wood as its core structure and glutinous rice as ‘glue’. After the oil was rubbed on, it would be easily burnt.
Basically, after numerous days, the city walls and city gate would all be burnt or destroyed.
This was the secret weapon of the Mongol army. Although they consisted of cavalry, they could siege cities while their main force pretty much did not suffer any casualties.
The secret was in such shameless and sinful siege methods.
“Ouyang, I support you.”
Looking at the chaotic situation outside, Feng Qiuhuang’s face was ashen white, but she managed to stop vomiting. Maybe she had vomited out all she could, and all she was left with was anger and hatred.
“If we shoot them, what difference will we have compared to those animals?”
Feng Qiuhuang said righteously.
Xiong Ba and the others kept their silence. Zhan Lang, who was born from the military, could not help but say, “Well said. Maybe this Battle Map is Gaia’s test for me. To see if we would go against our conscience to win or be able to win without hurting our brothers.”
“Well said!” Chun Shenjun agreed, but he did not want to give up.
Chun Shenjun, who was born in a merchant family, only cared about victory and did not care about mercy or values.
Ouyang Shuo suddenly turned around and looked at Di Chen, “What do you think?” He wanted to know what choice Di Chen would make at this moment.
Di Chen was stunned for a while before opening his mouth with difficulty, “Since you put it like that, let’s follow what you said. But do not forget, you owe us one.”
“Great!”
Ouyang Shuo looked right at Di Chen before turning around.
Many years later, Di Chen would suddenly remember this seemingly simple conversation and break out into cold sweat. At that time, he would realize that this conversation had decided his fate.
************
Lin’an city had come to a consensus and would not yield to the Mongol army. The question in front of them was how to break the siege tactic of the Mongols.
First, they needed to get rid of the pots outside.
If one said that using civilians to build the castles could be tolerated, then using them to get oil definitely could not.
The Grand Council’s method was really simple, “Forcefully take them down!”
First, they would use the trebuchets and three bow arcuballistas to destroy the pots. If not, they would send out their cavalry out to forcefully destroy it.
These cavalry forces would form something like a death squad.
If they could return, that would be good; if not, they would die outside of the city.
The castles were not fully built, and Ouyang Shuo did not believe that the Mongol army would attack at this moment. If they sieged, the army hidden near the city walls would show the Mongols what was strong.
Everything proceeded smoothly.
In just a day, the hundreds of pots were cleaned out. For this, the four sides paid the price of a total of three thousand elite cavalry.
The Mongol cavalry consisted of all elites too, and each of them were good at bows. Since the South Song cavalry dared to come out, they would not let them return.
The entire day was a battle between small groups of cavalry forces outside of the city.
Although it was a small-scale battle, the outcome of each side was really obvious. The weakest side was the South Song guards that were totally at a disadvantage.
Even in a two-on-one scenario in a small area, they might still lose.
The strongest side was naturally the Great Xia cavalry. Facing the strong Mongol iron cavalry, the Great Xia cavalry were not at a disadvantage at all. If fact, they were even stronger.
The north side was also the only side where the cavalry smoothly retreated to the city.
The Great Xia cavalry only paid the price of 300 men to clear out all the pots on the north, and they even killed 200 elite Mongol cavalry.
Looking at the Great Xia cavalry fleeing, the Mongol iron cavalry actually did not dare to chase.
Such a scene was a definite first for the Mongol army.
Ouyang Shuo and Lu Xiufu spread this matter within the city to glorify the soldiers from heaven story. If they were not soldiers from heaven, how could they defeat the invincible Mongol cavalry?
Hence, the people slowly calmed down and felt settled.
…
Night, north Mongol camp.
Mongol general Bayan stopped his horse on top of the hill and looked out at the north defending troops, his expression solemn, “Who would have known the enemy players would be so amazing. Where did they come from?”
No one could reply to his question.
Zhang Hongfan rode his rose and followed behind Bayan. A complicated expression flashed in his eyes as he thought to himself, ‘If the South Song army possessed such strength, they would not fall to such a state!’
As night fell, a cold breeze blew across. Bayan shook the leopard skin coat on him and looked out at the Lin’an city that was drowned in the darkness, “Let’s go back! Order the frontline troops that from tomorrow onward, quicken the construction of the earth castles. Officially start the siege soon.”
Bayan could feel that this siege would not be as simple as usual. Hence, they could not give the enemy troops the room to breathe all the more. They needed to siege as soon as possible.
The emperor behind them was already impatient, and if they did not act now, they might disrupt his plans.
“Yes!”
Zhang Hongfan nodded; there was nothing unusual about his voice.
