Chapter 372: Chapter 12: No Retreat
Throughout the night, Hong Sheng led the Hami Guard and finally annihilated the two thousand Tartars attacking Heiyuan Castle.
"Report to the Commander, our army has beheaded over nineteen hundred of their troops, with more than seventy tragically dead under horses, and about ten fleeing."
"Report to the Commander, our army has captured three hundred battle horses and countless knives, shields, and spears!"
Upon hearing the battle report, the Hami Guard who fought hard all night were too exhausted to stand, yet still managed to grin.
"Report to the Commander, our army lost one hundred and thirty-seven soldiers, with over eight hundred lightly wounded and one hundred and sixty-four severely wounded."
Upon hearing this, the previously joyful atmosphere vanished in an instant, leaving only a deathly silence.
The young soldiers who had joined only in the last two years and were experiencing war for the first time could no longer hold back their cries.
Hong Sheng solemnly said, "What are you crying for! Gather the bodies of your comrades, treat the wounded, open the city gates to dig pits and burn Tartar corpses, repair the fortifications—where do you have time left for crying?
Remember, behind us are our families and friends. Now, either the Tartars die, or we’re gone! I still want to live and go home to see my wife and kids!"
The people of Heiyuan Town who stayed in the rear also rushed here upon seeing the rising Soaring Dragon Flag, engaging in various activities.
Every member of the Hami Guard who could still stand supported each other to do so; those who couldn’t were carried by the townsfolk on stretchers.
Hong Sheng looked at the Soaring Dragon Flag personally painted by the Founding Saint Martial Emperor and shouted "Live!"
"Live! Live! Live!"
A voice, ten voices, a hundred voices, a thousand voices...
We only want to survive! Even if the challenges are many, even if there are swords and cooking pots ahead, we want to survive.
By noon, the Hami Guard received battle reports from other locations as well.
All nine border guards, nine towns, and nine military fortresses—Border Guard Fortresses—were attacked simultaneously at night, except for Hami Guard’s great victory; Liu Dusi personally led troops from Xishui reporting a victory of five thousand enemy slain.
Additionally, Baihe Castle, Heifeng Castle, Iron Guard Castle, and other six Border Guard Fortresses sustained losses over half but held their forts, not letting a single enemy enter the rear military towns.
But the Liangzhou Guard Commander defending the Red Willow Castle defected during the battle, opening the city gates to welcome ten thousand Tartar troops inside. The twelve-year-old legitimate son of the Liangzhou Guard Deputy Commander Guo Shouren was sent to seek aid at Ningxia Guard, fiercely protected by his father and several generals.
By the time Liu Dusi finished assembling the troops overnight to dispatch them to Liangzhou Guard, it had already fallen into Tartar hands.
Moreover, the walls were filled with weeping civilians, who would become human shields thrown down the walls if the army attacked the city.
Of course, this wasn’t the worst; the worst was the alliance between the Tartars and Wala. The fifty thousand Northwest Army and fifty thousand Qin Family Army faced not just a hundred thousand Tartar troops but one hundred and fifty thousand elite Tartar and Wala soldiers.
Hong Sheng frowned deeply, as Liangzhou Guard was too close to Ningxia Guard; the only solace was that Susu and their son were currently at the Governor Mansion.
But soon, he had no time to think about these as the Tartars attacked the city again, this time with three thousand troops.
After repelling them, more came—four thousand, five thousand—even though Border Guard Fortresses are easy to defend but hard to attack, the soldiers were few, not to mention those injured, in pain, or dead; even the healthy ones aren’t made of iron and can’t sustain for days and nights.
Moreover, which soldier now doesn’t have injuries?
Hami Guard undoubtedly endured a more intense assault than other Border Guard Fortresses.
The keen-eyed could see that Batraj was determined to capture Hami and seize Hong Sheng to wash away his previous humiliation.
Unfortunately, the Northwest troops were spread out, with Tartars and Wala soldiers attacking each fortress irregularly, leaving them unable to aid each other.
And the nearest support from Shanxi Governor and Qinghai Governor would take at least five days to arrive.
By the time Susu received the news, Hong Sheng and the others had already resisted independently for two days and nights, repelling the Tartar attacks three times.
Hong Sheng personally led the troops, bearing no spot of unharmed skin on his body.
Ling, seeing they couldn’t hold much longer, requested to abandon Heiyuan Castle and retreat to Puli County on the north slope of Tianshan, where there were at least militia and laborers for replacement, and the supply line was shortened.
But Hong Sheng insisted on not giving up an inch, and they didn’t have time to orderly evacuate the civilians, only dragging it out day by day.
Ling feared he couldn’t convince Hong Sheng, so he had the Hidden Guard send a message to Susu early.
Susu hadn’t thought that after parting from Hong Sheng, they would meet again amidst the beacon fires and war smoke.
...
At the Ningxia Guard, in the Governor Mansion, Qin held Mantou and tearfully eyed Susu in her outfit draped with a large fur cloak, saying, "How can you be so heartless? For Hong Sheng, are you willing to leave your son?"
Susu maintained her smile, as if coaxing a child, "Aunt Qin, you’re making trouble for me before Mantou! I’d even give him my life; how could I not care about him?"
After speaking, she looked at her son, "Mantou, stay with Granny Qin for a few days. Mom will return to get you after a few days."
The little figurine, as delicate as a porcelain doll, showed a sad face, "Mom, can’t you take me home? I really, really miss Dad too!"
Susu’s heart twitched, as if stabbed by a knife, but she feigned anger, "Mantou, what did we say just now? Didn’t you promise Mom! A true man should never go back on his word?
Moreover, since Grandpa Liu isn’t home, you need to assist Mom and Uncle Xuan in protecting Granny Qin and Aunt Zhen!"
Mantou sniffled and held back his tears, "Mom, you and Dad should pick me up together!"
Susu said helplessly, "I can’t guarantee that, I don’t know how long this battle will last, your Dad probably won’t have time for a long while!"
Seeing her son trying hard not to let tears fall, Susu felt very sorry and couldn’t bear to see him anymore.
Glancing at Linlang, Shu Xin, and a few maids and women, she finally kowtowed to Aunt Qin before getting up and running outside.
"Hong Sheng, you’re so irresponsible. If anything happens to you, I won’t spare you even as a ghost."
Behind her, Pig Pig and Long Jiao appeared suddenly and bowed to Qin, "Please take care of them!"
Qin’s face, slightly haggard from the recent anxiety, showed firmness, "Please make sure to protect her properly!"
Pig Pig and Long Jiao nodded, glanced at Mantou and Shu Xin, and flew to catch up with their master.
Susu had already mounted her horse, no longer hiding her extraordinary qualities.
She was followed by more than a dozen people, appearing as guards but actually members of the Youye Twelve Guards.
As the moment approached, Susu became increasingly calm.
"Shu Xing, contact White Tiger Secret Department to requisition doctors and medicine and reach Puli County by tomorrow morning."
"Dragon Turtle, in the name of Hami Guard Commander Hong Sheng, mobilize all county officers and courtyards, the rise and fall of the nation is every man’s responsibility."
"Snake Fight, contact the Snake Guard, execute any remaining Bai Family traitors without mercy!"
"Rabbit Room, ..."
One command after another issued from Susu’s mouth, mobilizing the entire Hami Guard.
Apart from those with ulterior motives, all Hami Guard civilians, including some ethnic groups, mobilized voluntarily.
This was their home; they had nowhere else to retreat and no desire to retreat.
...
At Heiyuan Castle, Hong Sheng, red-eyed, looked at the woman who had dashed to the frontlines at the height of battle, ignoring the discussion with several brothers-in-law and subordinates, and disregarding his blood-covered appearance, carried Susu, this "reckless" woman, into his room.
Then...
"Fwap fwap fwap..."
