Chapter 1615: Chapter 1615: Awe
"Yes, sir."
"Also, if this group dares to forcibly enter, then shoot arrows at them. Let’s see if they still dare." Ye Shikai had a few drinks and lost his usual composure. With so many of his subordinates fallen in two days, and those bastards just watching from behind, he was a man of emotions, and for those who are insincere, he wouldn’t be polite.
"Old Ye, this may not be appropriate." At this moment, Shangguan Jian stepped forward to persuade, "After all, we and they are our own people now. We don’t let them enter the city and use force to drive them away. If internal strife really breaks out, the responsibility will be ours."
"You do have a point." Although Ye Shikai was impulsive at the moment, he wasn’t stubborn. After venting his anger, he had to think about the consequences. Shangguan Jian’s words poured over his head like a bucket of cold water, sobering him up.
"Old Ye, after all, these people have come to help us. The enemy is at the door; in a few days, over a hundred thousand Qin Army soldiers will arrive under the city. Even if they won’t be of one mind with us, they still number sixty thousand. It’s better than us facing them alone with just over thirty thousand." Shangguan Jian continued, and upon hearing this, all the generals present fell silent. They were not without grievances, even hatred toward those standing idly by, and truly did not want their subordinates to suffer greater losses. Of the fifty thousand, less than thirty thousand remained, and they couldn’t hold Wan City alone.
"Quick, go stop the messenger from earlier." Ye Shikai immediately commanded, and the guards behind him quickly set out to chase the soldier from earlier.
"Yes, sir."
"General Ye, even if we don’t confront them with force, during the battle, they hide in the rear and avoid fighting. Speaking of it, this is cowardice. We should report to the lord and punish them."
"Yes, why should we fight, while they enjoy the benefits?"
"The generals have made reasonable points." Shangguan Jian nodded, "We are not pushovers that they can just squeeze."
"Shangguan, do you have a good plan?" Ye Shikai asked in return.
"I have thought of a strategy."
"Let’s hear it."
"Indeed, we should not let them into the city for now. First, our barracks are insufficient; besides holding prisoners, we can hardly supply ourselves, let alone them. Second, if they enter the city and disrupt military order, harm civilians, all our previous efforts will be in vain. Finally, we must make them join the fight, placing them across from the Qin Army. Face to face, let’s see if they dare retreat." Shangguan Jian listed three very reasonable reasons. It boiled down to one principle: these sixty thousand must join the battle.
"All right, then tell them the barracks are full, let them station their army outside the city, but the leaders can enter the city. Moreover, if they try to force their way in, don’t retaliate with arrows, just close the gates and ignore them. I don’t think they’ll use a siege hammer to attack."
"This arrangement is good, and I’ll personally attend to it." Shangguan Jian nodded in agreement.
"Generals, we have been through a bloody battle, suffered huge losses, but at least we can now be considered to share life and death. The urgent task is to strengthen city defense, treat the wounded. The Qin Army won’t give us much time; soon the bloody battle awaiting us will come. Are you afraid?" Ye Shikai stood on the platform and shouted.
"General, no need for more words. In the next battle, the position of vanguard is definitely mine," Man Cang immediately stood up and shouted.
"General Ye, we are also willing to follow; as long as you order, we will certainly comply." King Zhang Lan and Wang Lian both stood up, expressing their loyalty.
"Very well, with all the generals working together, we can surely defeat the Qin Army."
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"How are things? Did these people cause any trouble?" Ye Shikai personally climbed the city gate to check the progress of the wall repairs and to see the "allied forces" outside the city. They were already settled outside, camp after camp, stretching endlessly.
"There are surely more than sixty thousand troops here; they have so many people yet are unwilling to come in. How can such an army win battles?" Ye Shikai murmured.
"Old Ye, what are you talking about?" Shangguan Jian asked curiously.
"Nothing."
"Ever since you issued the order, they’ve obediently camped outside, and some generals have entered the city but only to stroll around taverns without causing trouble at the governor’s mansion. Old Ye, although we lost much in this battle, it wasn’t without benefits."
"What benefits? Tell me." Ye Shikai asked curiously.
"Firstly, your fame has spread across every county. Not only do Qin Army’s generals see you as their greatest enemy, but the commanders of the troops below the city also both respect and fear you. They know you’re a fierce general, a trump card, so they may undermine you covertly but dare not openly oppose you." Shangguan Jian walked to the edge of the wall, pointing at the camps below.
"Now, if you go down and ask them, even if you lend them ten guts, do they dare to forcefully enter the city gates? Which general hears your name and isn’t both startled and afraid?" Shangguan Jian spoke rightly. Ye Shikai, treading deep into Wan City alone, blocking the Qin iron cavalry, had already achieved quite the brilliant feat.
"Direct them using their respect and fear toward me." Ye Shikai said calmly.
"Exactly, that’s the idea."
"Report, there is movement from the Qin Army in the north." A soldier hurriedly reported upon ascending the wall.
"Have they moved south?"
"Yes, General." The soldier handed the received intelligence to Ye Shikai.
"Old Ye, what’s going on?"
"The Qin Army has begun to move. Before they came to aid, we conquered Wan City and some nearby counties; they lost the initiative. Now the situation is unfavorable for them, so I deduce that the Qin Army will advance gradually, nibbling away at the cities we seized." Ye Shikai wasn’t panicked. The southward movement of the Qin Army had long been anticipated. This twelve thousand army, from gathering to departure, expended so much manpower, financial resources, and materials of various central plains counties; how could they turn back halfway? Now, Wan City hasn’t been saved, so they’ll certainly choose to take it back.
"Then what should we do?"
"Of course, meet the enemy."
"All right, I’ll summon the leaders right away..."
"No, there’s no rush for this." Ye Shikai changed his tone, "Shangguan, this time we shouldn’t be the ones to fight first."
"Then who should fight?"
"They should, of course." Ye Shikai extended his hand, pointing to the camps below the city.
