Free Web NovelChapter 1653: Chapter 1653: Reunion on the Battlefield
Ye Shikai didn’t expect Shangguan Jian to come at this time. He had also come with the first batch led by Huo Ziqing to Ba Shu, but... wasn’t he supposed to have already withdrawn? How come he’s back with troops.
"General Huo was worried that the Qin Army might seize the opportunity to pursue. He was concerned that your forces here are insufficient, so he sent me with three thousand cavalry to support you," Shangguan Jian explained. Ye Shikai stood up and gave him a hug. Huo Ziqing was quite "considerate," understanding the difficulty Ye Shikai faced, and knowing well that Shangguan Jian was his old subordinate, which made coordination seamless and command easy.
"That’s truly wonderful. I’m in need of soldiers here," Ye Shikai said excitedly.
"It seems there was a fierce battle here last night," Shangguan Jian looked at the "devastated" encampment and muttered.
"Indeed, it lasted three to four hours. I estimate the Qin Army may have already figured out our plan; otherwise, why would they dispatch so many troops to attack the camp and bring so many large siege weapons? If they didn’t know our plan, they would surely choose to encircle but not attack, cut off our supply lines, and once we’re exhausted, they would swallow us in one fell swoop," Ye Shikai analyzed.
"Then what should we do? Since they know, they will certainly attack us repeatedly; otherwise, they can only watch helplessly as we escape," Shangguan Jian inquired.
"The Qin Army has strong bows and hard crossbows, their siege weapons are very powerful, the camp walls won’t hold for long, and besides, we have fewer troops on hand. To hold out until the entire army retreats won’t be easy," Ye Shikai, as the commander of this troop, naturally had to be responsible for all his soldiers, including their lives.
"Why don’t we withdraw the troops into the city? The walls there are sturdy, and we could mobilize militias to replenish manpower. We could also stockpile supplies in the city, even if surrounded..."
"No, we absolutely can’t enter the city," Ye Shikai interrupted and refused before Shangguan Jian finished speaking.
"Why?"
"Entering the city would facilitate defense, but once besieged, we’re done for. The main army has already withdrawn, and I estimate that for at least six months, the lord won’t be able to dispatch troops to invade Shu; we have no reinforcements, certain death. So we can’t abandon this camp; at least... if we truly can’t hold it, we can still retreat."
"Order all generals to personally stay at the frontline. Also, quickly send the injured brothers to the rear. Aside from patrol and guard soldiers, everyone else should come to repair the camp, dig deep trenches, build high bulwarks. The Qin Army wants a decisive battle with us? Fine, we can confront them head-on. My troops are elite Chu soldiers; even if I’ve lost a third, I still have the strength to fight. As long as we hurt the Qin Army, they won’t dare to chase us further," Ye Shikai showed his determination and decisiveness as a general. At this moment, they couldn’t rely on anyone else; the only thing they could do was to give their all, to block the Qin Army here.
"Alright, Old Ye, since you’ve decided to fight to the death, I’m willing to live and die with you. I’ve killed no less than eighty Qin soldiers; a few more won’t matter,"
"Shangguan, you just came with the troops like this, aren’t you... afraid of death?" Ye Shikai looked at Shangguan Jian’s eyes and suddenly burst into laughter. Blocking over a hundred thousand Qin soldiers, this was destined to be a one-in-a-million chance of survival; who dared to volunteer? Shangguan Jian brought only three thousand cavalry and dared to come directly. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
"Haha, Old Ye, saying that seems too distant, doesn’t it?" Shangguan Jian stabbed his sword into the ground beside him and leaned against the camp wall, laughing. ƒreewebɳovel.com
"How many times have we gone through life and death together, and you still say such things?" Shangguan Jian laughed loudly, "Back in East County, we had only a little over ten thousand, yet dared to block ninety thousand Qin soldiers. When you were surrounded by tens of thousands of Qin soldiers, I led less than a thousand guards to rescue you. Our situation now must be much better than then, so why wouldn’t I dare to come."
"You’ve followed me for so long, it seems every time it’s a tough fight or fierce battle," Ye Shikai self-mocked.
"So before I was with the Qin Army for four or five years, and only became a village chief, but following you for one or two years, I became a general."
"Report, latest intelligence." Suddenly, a sentinel entered the camp.
"What intelligence? Read it."
"The opposing General of Qin has been identified as Wang Li, and all thirty thousand of his troops are Xianyang’s imperial guards, incredibly elite. Their armor is the latest and best, and they are carrying the newest siege equipment."
"It’s really that guy." Shangguan Jian cursed, "Old Ye, what do we do next?"
"Since it’s an old enemy, there’s no need to say more; it’s a fight to the death."
....................................
Linxiang City.
Ye Mansion.
"Madam, you haven’t slept well for several nights now. Let me have the servants make some calming soup," Hehua said, looking at the supreme beauty in front of the bronze mirror, showing concern. He Linghan appeared somewhat haggard, her spirits indeed not well, having been plagued by insomnia, only barely sleeping by dawn.
He Linghan held Ye Shikai’s letter written before he left. Now she deeply regretted that day when Ye Shikai spoke to her about the war front; she feigned anger intending to persuade him to stay, but it only led to him leaving without a word, leaving behind just a letter.
"Hehua, is there any news from the frontline?" He Linghan asked anxiously, her expression visibly worried.
"Madam, those military reports are reviewed by ministers and generals. We... have no chance to inquire. If you really want to know about the Family Head’s situation, I’m afraid you’ll have to personally go to the lord," Hehua said, feeling troubled. She understood He Linghan’s anxiety, but military reports are not ordinary rumors; they are strictly confidential. Ye Shikai is indeed a general, and He Linghan is the General’s wife, that’s true, but even the General’s wife can’t spy on military secrets.
"Is it wrong for me to inquire about my husband’s whereabouts?"
"Madam, please don’t worry. The Family Head is not an ordinary person; he wouldn’t get into trouble easily. Moreover, I’ve heard some news—the army stationed in Ba Shu has started to withdraw, gradually returning to Chu Territory. The Family Head went to Ba Shu precisely to oversee the army’s retreat, now everything is going smoothly, I think the Family Head is definitely on his way back with the troops," Hehua comforted.
"Hopefully," He Linghan could only pray, consumed with concern daily.
"Madam, you haven’t been eating well these days, you’ve lost quite a bit of weight. Let me have the servants make some food."
"Go ahead."
