Chapter 240: Hello Chang’an
Chapter 240: Recognition Before the Battle
This time, the strategy Chang Kuo, Chang Suining, Yun Hui, and the others devised for facing the enemy emphasized “defense” first.
Historically, the advantage of defending a city lies in having city gates as a barrier. Properly leveraged in the early stages, the defenders can use the fortifications to exhaust the attacking force.
Ge Zong quickly realized that in just five days, the Hezhou city gates and walls—which had seemed on the verge of collapse—had been repaired to a solid state by some method.
Not only that, numerous mechanisms had been added throughout the city walls. Some triggered arrow showers on touch, while others were embedded with sharp hidden spikes, greatly increasing the difficulty of climbing the walls.
They also reinforced the defenses with stones, spiked boards, and dozens of barrels of pine oil poured simultaneously, followed by flaming arrows. With a “boom,” a fire erupted.
Ge Zong hurriedly drove his horse back to avoid the flames, but both his horse’s face and his own were blackened by the smoke and fire. Half of his beard and eyebrows were singed away!
“Who’s roasting pork fat? Smells so good!”
“This is diseased pig, dead pig! Sister-in-law, don’t get greedy. This stuff is only fit for feeding dogs—even dogs won’t eat it!”
“Your reminder is noted!”
A group of women on the city walls laughed heartily, yet their work didn’t falter—they passed arrows, carried stones, and continued their tasks while chatting. It was as natural as breathing.
Being mocked and scolded by women they looked down on angered Ge Zong so much that smoke seemed to rise from his head—no, it actually did.
The horses, frightened by the fire, neighed and lost control. The enemy’s attack faltered; soldiers attempting to scale the walls were repeatedly defeated, either falling to traps or crushed by rolling stones.
Ge Zong cursed Chang Kuo in his heart.
These mechanisms and tactics had never existed before Chang Kuo arrived!
Moreover, the citizens of Hezhou faced death with such courage, showing no hint of fear… This Chang Kuo simply could not be allowed to survive!
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help recalling Luo Guanlin’s unfinished words upon arrival—what had the General said to him? What had he done to displease the General?
Over the next few days, this thought repeatedly gnawed at him, making him anxious and restless.
Of course, Ge Zong’s agitation stemmed primarily from his failure to capture the city.
“…It’s been a full five days, damn it’s unbelievable!”
That night, Ge Zong sat by the fire warming himself, grinding his teeth in frustration.
He had planned to take Hezhou and Chang Kuo’s head within three days at most, but now after five, nearly 10,000 of his men had fallen, and he hadn’t even brushed a hair of Chang Kuo’s!
“Why hurry?” Ji Xi sipped his wine and said calmly, “Are you afraid already?”
“Afraid my ass!” Ge Zong frowned. “I just think it’s uncanny… how did they manage to throw together all these defenses?”
The city had seemed defenseless before, yet suddenly so many new measures appeared. He feared even the city’s dogs had been working day and night!
“Indeed, it’s unexpected,” Ji Xi said. “No matter how skilled they are at making defenses, there comes a day when resources run out.”
He glanced at the city walls: “Today’s defenses are clearly not as complete as yesterday’s. They’ve likely exhausted most of their resources.”
So Ji Xi remained calm, simply instructing to maintain a tight siege without pause.
The deaths of 10,000 soldiers were not in vain; their value lay in exhausting the city’s defenses. These were not elite troops—once Hezhou fell, replacements could be recruited easily.
In such times, human life was the least valuable thing; when soldiers had to die, they should be allowed to die.
Hearing this, Ge Zong calmed his impatience, drank a strong swig of wine, grinned murkily, and said: “Let’s see how long they can hide!”
He glanced at Ji Xi: “But let it be clear—Chang Kuo’s head is mine. Don’t even think of taking it!”
He drank more, the alcohol surging, and sneered: “And that Yun widow—she’s mine too!”
“Couldn’t kill her last time. Now, seeing her again, she’s still quite alluring…”
Of course, beauty was secondary. No woman, regardless of charm, could match the young women in Hezhou who he could claim after the battle.
What truly excited him was her identity as the Prefect’s wife, and he thought: “…A woman like this needs discipline. I’ll teach her properly, and she’ll learn what a woman should be like!”
He laughed, and a few of his subordinates joined in, cursing as they did.
Ji Xi did not partake.
But he also had a target: the Yun family’s second son.
On the first day of the siege, five days ago, when Ji Xi saw the murderous eyes from the top of the city wall, he resolved to kill that youth.
The Prefect had been killed by him, the eldest son too, and he felt no guilt. The Yun family had insisted on defending an indefensible city, foolishly risking everyone’s lives.
The Prefect was stubborn, his wife and son likewise. Now, even the citizens had adopted that same attitude.
So dragging the entire city’s people to die—was that the Yun family’s so-called honor?
Ji Xi snorted in his heart, swirling his wine flask.
Firelight flickered, sparks flew, then fell.
Inside the city, before the Prefect’s mansion, Chang Kuo stood on the stone steps, watching those temporarily assigned to military posts. Many were Hezhou citizens, but at this moment, they were his subordinates.
They all looked at him.
“General Chang…”
Chang Kuo spoke: “There are few defensive resources left, but if we wait until they are completely exhausted before counterattacking, we will inevitably be forced into chaos—”
He continued: “So I have decided—we will open the city gates tomorrow and meet the enemy in battle!”
His demeanor was grave; the crowd fell silent.
“This does not mean Hezhou cannot be defended. On the contrary, these five days, you’ve held the gates and repelled tens of thousands, without a single defeat!”
“In warfare, one must adapt to time and place. Since defense is no longer advantageous, we will change tactics!”
Seeing their determined faces, Chang Kuo was moved: “In my lifetime of commanding armies, I’ve never seen courage and discipline like yours. You are heroes deserving of history’s record!”
He took the wine bowl handed to him by a soldier, holding it with both hands toward everyone: “A toast to all the heroes!”
They raised their bowls, shouting: “We know nothing, but General Chang commanded us well!”
“And the lady and second master!”
A woman in front shouted: “And Lady Chang! Thanks to Lady Chang’s planning and personally supervising the city defenses!”
At this moment, the cups in their hands seemed not to hold wine but water—a symbol of purity and unity.
Yet even the “water” was not entirely plain, for the woman continued: “If 10,000 heads are taken thanks to city defenses, then at least 8,000 should be credited to Lady Chang!”
She had trained these soldiers herself; bias was inevitable.
Chang Suining could not help but smile.
Yun Hui felt a bit shocked imagining 8,000 heads piled before her.
Chang Kuo laughed heartily: “This accounting is fair!”
Some things need not be argued too strictly, and jokes naturally stick in one’s mind—he felt his daughter’s contribution should be remembered.
All laughed with him, many gazing at the girl leading 8,000 soldiers.
Though Chang Suining’s identity was known, many could not believe she was a girl; her every move appeared heroic, almost indistinguishable from a young man.
How many young men must she have studied to resemble them so well?
By torchlight, her handsome, resolute face became serious as she looked at them.
They unconsciously mirrored her demeanor.
Her voice was clear: “From now on, we defend Hezhou with our own flesh and blood. Are you afraid?”
“We’re born of fathers and mothers—they are too! A stone falls, and their heads split—why fear?” the woman shouted first.
Chang Suining nodded: “Sister Juicai speaks rightly.”
“On the battlefield, morale and courage can determine victory more than numbers,” she said. “To defeat the enemy, first kill your fear, then kill their courage.”
She paused: “I know these words are like urging you to die. It’s cruel, but on the battlefield, life or death is absolute. To live, you cannot fear death.”
“And I promise you, Hezhou will be protected.”
Her last words were soft but struck like a hammer, shattering stone walls and letting daylight in.
Chang Kuo silently watched his daughter.
“That’s enough, I trust Lady Chang!” someone laughed with tears: “Our lives don’t matter—only that Hezhou survives!”
They all had families; if Hezhou lived, so would their homes. Death was honorable if the city survived.
The woman Sister Juicai raised her cup: “A toast to Lady Chang!”
Chang Suining accepted a large bowl of water from Yun Hui, drinking with everyone.
“Clang!”
Someone slammed his cup to the ground.
“What are you doing?” the woman asked.
Everyone looked at him.
Embarrassed, he explained: “Storytellers always say—before battle, soldiers drink together, breaking the cup as a signal…”
How heroic, how resolute!
The woman scowled: “Break all the cups? Are we living like this? We’re short on silver for war, and you waste it! Besides, shattered porcelain is everywhere—someone has to clean it! Wouldn’t that waste time?”
He hurried to pick up the shards.
Others steadied their cups.
Chang Kuo handed his cup steadily to a soldier.
He quietly asked his daughter: “…You really drank it?”
Chang Suining whispered: “Don’t worry. It’s water.”
To avoid standing out while everyone drank, she had Yun Hui prepare cups of water in advance.
Yun Hui didn’t initially understand, but after seeing her drink confidently and accept the praise for her “alcohol tolerance,” he silently comprehended.
Tonight the stars were bright; the atmosphere was light, but all knew that tomorrow’s battle was crucial—a matter of life or death.
As the stars faded, dawn broke.
The city gates opened, and 50,000 soldiers lined up.
At the same moment, Ge Zong and Ji Xi led their army from ten miles away.
This battle was inevitable, and casualties were certain.
With unequal forces, an unexpected formation could maintain order, stabilize morale, reduce casualties, and psychologically pressure the enemy.
From the first day, Chang Suining had the city soldiers repeatedly practice the formation, preparing for this moment.
Now, she stood atop the city wall, holding a five-colored formation flag, waiting until the troops were fully assembled before handing it to Chang Kuo, who was about to descend the wall.
“Father, you lead the formation,” Chang Suining said.
Chang Kuo immediately refused: “How can that be? This is your formation. You must lead it from here.”
“Father, remember what you said the other day? Once Hezhou is safe, we must make long-term plans for our family,” she looked at him. “You must remain safe.”
Chang Kuo couldn’t describe his feelings and shook his head: “Silly child, I am the army’s leader. How could I not fight?”
“I will fight in your stead,” she insisted. “You lead the formation in my place.”
He tried to object, but she continued: “Because you are the army’s leader, only your command here can maintain morale. The leader cannot falter. You must be safe here until we win.”
Her insistence was not without reason.
Old Chang’s health was worse than it seemed; a recurring illness had flared, fever and winter leg pains left him sometimes unable to walk.
Chang Kuo still refused: “No father should hide behind the army while his daughter fights!”
“Why should the commander risk life unnecessarily? Why should we youngsters be here while you fight injured?” she countered.
The distance between the armies narrowed; atop the wall, she said: “If even you can’t be protected, then all my effort is wasted.”
Below, tens of thousands of horses thundered. Chang Kuo froze, every part of him rigid, only his heart pounding like thunder.
He stared at his daughter.
That mountain she had toppled herself—collapsed, shattered.
He seemed deaf to all else until she spoke again, clear and commanding:
“Chang Kuo, obey my orders!”
Ah! Today’s chapter ends here, just as the moment for recognition arrives (as Suining told me).
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