Chapter 33: Mustering the remaining courage
Chapter 33: Mustering the remaining courage (for the leader lixiaopang)
The brazier crackled, lighting up the inky black night sky.
The night was silent, for everyone held their breath. Even when they lay on the floor to sleep, they would toss and turn, restless, fearing that something unspeakable would suddenly happen.
This night was noisy again, as shouts, screams, and the clashing of weapons could often be heard from inside and outside the wall, disturbing the sweet dreams of everyone in the yard.
Shao Xun got up several times and put out the fire.
The fighting power of the servants of the wealthy family was a bit poor, and they were almost defeated by the enemy who sneaked in from next door. If Shao Xun had not arrived with the patrol team, the compound might have been breached.
After defeating the enemy, he walked around the wall and then went back to rest.
Yu Liang saw this and couldn't help but admire Shao Dubo's tenacity.
He had heard people say before that during the Later Han Dynasty, when they went out to conquer the Xianbei, they usually used sword and shield infantry from the Luoyang Central Army to cooperate with armored cavalry.
The sword and shield infantry drove the carts and set up camp around the carts when they rested at night.
The Xianbei cavalry harassed day and night. Some of the sword and shield infantry fought, some sat on the ground waiting for orders, and some were fast asleep.
Just think about it, they can actually sleep on a battlefield with arrows flying and shouts of killing. They must be experienced warriors who kill without blinking an eye. It's a pity that such elite troops are a minority in the Luoyang central army, and most of the infantry are actually not well trained.
Shao Xun is a bit similar to them.
There was a rumor in Biyong that he had met a divine being who had taught him all kinds of civil and martial arts. Yu Liang had not believed it before, but now he was half-believing and half-doubting.
As soon as this thought came to his mind, his opinion of Shao Xun changed again.
Now, the importance of martial arts and military strategy has been greatly elevated. Although elegant conversation, demeanor, and family background are important, Shao Xun is indeed far behind in these aspects, but it is enough for Yu Liang to treat him with a friendlier and warmer attitude.
People are so realistic.
Shao Xun didn't think too much about it. When he woke up, it was already late at night.
He got up from the couch and listened to Chen Yougen's whispered report. Knowing that there would be no major problems tonight, he let him go to rest.
"Target." After Chen Yougen left, Shao Xun took out a dagger, scratched the mud a few times, and wrote the word.
Regular self-reflection has begun again.
Through his contact with the children of wealthy families in recent days, he has had some new ideas.
All of his current capital was accumulated within the system.
If he leaves this system, how many people are willing to follow him?
This question is difficult to answer, and Shao Xun doesn't want to make an overly optimistic estimate.
He is only at the stage of emerging, and has gained the goodwill and admiration of some people through his performance on the battlefield, but can this goodwill give them the courage to break through all obstacles and follow him? Maybe there are such people, but definitely not many.
It still takes time to continue operating, wait for the overall environment to change, and then seek opportunities to obtain an official position - changes in the overall environment are often an important reason that prompts many people to change their minds.
After understanding this, here is what we are going to do:
Shao Xun wrote the word "measures" again.
Actually, there is nothing special about it. To climb up in the system, you need two elements: "merit" and "connections". Since he is not from an aristocratic family, these two elements are even more indispensable.
Judging from the current situation, there is a great possibility that he will become the chief. After all, Mi Huang himself does not want to be one at all. He would rather climb up within the shogunate system, which is what he is good at.
But what about the higher position of the leader? For example, becoming a general, in charge of a thousand or even thousands of soldiers, and becoming a middle-level military officer in the Jin Dynasty, is it easy to do this? What hard indicators are required?
After much thought, Shao Xun felt that he still had to focus on merit and relationships.
The attitude towards the Yu family can be more intimate.
The Xu family can also try to break the ice.
A word from a noble family at a critical moment is worth all your efforts.
The last word came up: “difficulty”. Shao Xun wrote it stroke by stroke and pondered for a while.
The oppression of the unreasonable social system has always existed and has always been the biggest difficulty he faces.
Next came the obvious enemies: the armies of Sima Ying and Sima Yong.
It is easier to deal with enemies in the open - relatively speaking - but it is much more difficult to deal with deep-rooted enemies such as family politics in the dark.
We can only take it step by step.
Shao Xun stretched out his foot to wipe off all the words, drew out the ring-handled sword from his waist, took a rag, and started wiping it bit by bit.
The light of the fire flickered, shining on Shao Xun's almost frozen face, inexplicably reminding people of the angry Vajra in the temple.
Yes, in the eyes of many people, he is now such an image. He is brave and fearless, dares to fight and fight, has outstanding martial arts, can win battles, and is very cruel when killing people. The degree of bloodiness makes many noble families who are used to taking Wushisan feel uncomfortable. But he did protect many people, preventing them from being robbed, massacred, and even becoming food for others.
The children of noble families still need to understand this world more deeply.
Times are changing.
******
Such a night was also tormenting for the offensive coach Meng Chao.
His elder brother Meng Jiu had served the King of Chengdu very early and was deeply trusted. He also introduced many talents to the king, such as Gong Shifan.
It can be said that it was because of his brother's painstaking efforts that the Meng family's foundation in Hebei became more solid, and Meng Chao became more and more comfortable in the army.
The apparent reason for the attack on Lu Ji was that Lu Ji had captured his people, but what was the deeper reason? Perhaps the northern generals were dissatisfied with the Wu gentry.
In short, because the King of Chengdu has been vigorously employing scholars from Wu in recent years, such as the children of the Sun, Lu, and Gu families, the Hebei gentry are very dissatisfied. Over a long period of time, the contradictions have become very deep.
Territorial divisions and regional prejudices have always existed, not to mention the remnants of the conquered Eastern Wu, who were even more despised.
Why do they hold high positions?
This is not only what Meng Chao wanted to ask, but also what the scholars in Hebei wanted to ask.
Can Lu Ji be a governor? He doesn't have the ability, right?
But then again, Lu Ji was the governor after all. You could look down on him and challenge his authority, but before you were removed from office, you still had to obey the transfer order.
He was excluded by Lu Ji from Jianchun Gate, the main battlefield where "it was easy to make merit", and transferred to the south of the city to lead a feint attack. He was not even the chief commander. Although Meng Chao was dissatisfied, he still accepted it.
He thought it would be an easy battle, and planned to slaughter the surrendered soldiers after conquering Biyong to vent his anger. But he didn't expect that after fighting for a whole day and night, six or seven hundred people were killed or injured, and he gained nothing.
You know, he deployed his troops based on the principle of using all his strength even when a lion fights a rabbit. The first few batches of troops he sent were those he thought were more capable of fighting, but without exception they ran into obstacles and suffered heavy casualties.
It was almost dawn, and Meng Chao, who had not slept all night, was extremely anxious. He stared at the shadowy figures on the wall, wishing he could rush over and kill them all.
But he knew it was useless.
The enemies were not weaklings who could be easily bullied. In fact, they were quite capable in fighting, and their overall quality was even slightly higher than theirs.
The troops that Meng Chao brought from Hebei included hereditary soldiers, private soldiers, and young men who were temporarily conscripted. They were not without combat experience, but had suppressed several civil uprisings in Hebei, felt the atmosphere of the battlefield, and had undergone intensive training before going out.
Who are the defenders?
I heard that there were soldiers from the East China Sea, soldiers from the Xuzhou Military Governorate, defeated soldiers recruited from the vicinity of Luoyang, and servants and followers of wealthy families. Their sources were very diverse, but they were surprisingly well integrated into a whole. Under the encouragement of capable officers, they fought tenaciously and defended to this day.
Honestly speaking, Meng Chao was quite impressed by the defending general named Shao Xun. He was an expert in archery, brave in close combat, and could also lead troops. How could such a man be relegated to the position of Du Bo?
"There is a talent among the common people." Meng Chao flicked his whip angrily and said, "Continue the attack today and don't make any mistakes."
"Yes." The general looked embarrassed, but still responded.
"Don't act like you've lost your parents." Meng Chao whipped him and hit him on the head, cursing, "I've fought for many years and know my limits. There were many casualties yesterday, but if I can't take down Biyong, I won't be able to show my dignity in front of Henu. Attack me, or you'll bring me your head."
"Yes." The general left in disgrace, and the others looked at him with sympathy.
"Boom, boom, boom..." Not long after, the sound of war drums rang out in the Mingtang on the west side of Kaiyangmen Street. Team after team of soldiers came out and lined up on the open street.
The officers used whips and scabbards to chop and smash the soldiers into formation.
"Swoosh! Whoosh!" Arrows followed like shadows, breaking through the air and landing in the dense crowd.
Screams rang out one after another, and the formation that had just been arranged was suddenly in chaos.
The officers hardened their hearts and drew their swords to kill people.
The crossbowmen advanced in an orderly manner, trying to suppress the defending archers on the courtyard wall.
The first wave of offensive was launched in the early morning of October 9th in this chaotic situation.
Meng Chao originally planned to go back and rest, but he couldn't let go of the war and remained at the front, observing the battle.
He could see that because so many elite soldiers were killed or injured yesterday, the efficiency of today's siege would not be very high - the soldiers' morale was low, and under the strong pressure of the officers and the supervisory team, they could only barely muster the remaining courage. It was conceivable how their combat effectiveness was.
But he also knew that the casualties of the Biyong defenders would not be small: at least two hundred, perhaps three hundred.
In such a situation, the question is who can grit their teeth and persevere.
Sima Yue, you bastard, I will definitely arrest you and punish you after I capture Luoyang, and then I will have some fun with your wife and daughter to vent my hatred.
As he cursed and stared at the wall where blood and flesh were flying everywhere, Meng Chao's eyes gradually turned red.
The casualties are really high. If this continues, we will lose all our capital...
(End of this chapter)