In Liyang City, a low-intensity offensive and defensive battle had come to an end. More than two hundred corpses were added to the trenches under the city wall. With the clear sound of gold ringing, the soldiers who were deployed in front of the city quickly retreated back. Each one seemed to have received a general amnesty, and their faces looked like they were surviving after a disaster.
Flags and arrows were scattered under the city. Another siege ladder was damaged, poured with kerosene, and burning with thick black smoke. Dongcheng is the main attack direction of the Chu army. After a long period of attack, many cracks have appeared everywhere, but the essence is not damaged and can still be relied on, just like a girl whose clothes have been torn, but she is still fully armed inside, and her vital parts have been damaged. The packaging is tight.
Behind the thick female wall, the Han army guards had already let out a loud shout, watching to send off the rebel army who fled in embarrassment. The two officers even held their bows and arrows in a competition to shoot the enemy soldiers hanging behind them. Their accuracy was pretty good. With a few whooshes through the air, three more corpses were added to the Liyang City. The winning officer suddenly laughed wildly and said to the officer beside him: "Ma Lian, next time you go to a brothel, you have to stand guard outside the door and wait for me!"
The officer, as his name suggests, has a long, horse-like face, which is very distinctive. He missed the last arrow and was already angry. Hearing his words, he became even more irritable. He spat outside and cursed: "These thieves can run very fast!"
Turning to look at the winner, he refused to admit defeat and said: "When this battle is over, if you are still alive, a certain family will be happy to serve you!"
"Don't worry, a certain family has a hard life. But you have to live well, but it doesn't matter if you die. If you die, I will find a woman to come to your grave..."
When the surrounding soldiers heard this, they immediately started to boo.
"Shut up, general!" At this time, Dongcheng's battalion commander came up and interrupted the two of them fiercely: "Take your people and go down to the city to rest!"
"Yes!" He immediately became serious.
After a period of attack and defense, the defenders on the city became more and more comfortable. Soon, under the command of the officers, there was another intensive change of defense and preparations. The city gate was opened, and hundreds of people even had time to go out of the city to clean up the corpses.
Upstairs, Pan Mei personally patrolled, not missing any detail. Along the way, officers and soldiers all saluted respectfully. Ambassador Pan, who was ordered at the critical moment, had won the hearts of the soldiers through this period of city battle attack and defense. Majesty was also established.
"Envoy!" The battalion commander approached and reported: "The casualty statistics are out. 8 people were killed, 13 were seriously injured, and 25 were lightly injured. The rebel army lost at least 200 corpses, and the injured are even more difficult to count!"
"This bandit army seems to be getting weaker and weaker. It is unable to attack and has low morale!" The battalion commander looked very optimistic and smiled at Pan Mei, his words showing contempt for the Chu army attacking the city.
Over these days, every attack by the Chu army was more embarrassing than the last, and the troops retreated quickly. Like today, in less than an hour, they left some corpses and retreated as usual.
"It's not that the enemy army is weak, it's the weak brigade they used!" Pan Mei maintained a calm attitude and did not show any arrogance. She just shook her head gently: "The thieves who have rushed into the city in recent times have been fighting very haphazardly. , all relying on blood and bravery, and most of them are old and weak. If we invest in elite soldiers like the previous three times, it will not be so easy to repel them!"
In fact, this time the Chu army took the initiative to attack Liyang, relying only on the certain pressure it put on the city defense when the troops were in full swing a few days ago. It was only in those days that the attack and defense were the most fierce and bloody. In just three days, more than 400 defenders were killed. At the most tense moment, Pan Mei even personally participated in the battle with a knife to boost morale.
However, since then, the Chu army's offensive has become worse day by day. Now, it is more like just pretending to complete daily tasks. As news continued to come from the north, the morale of the Chu army outside the city dropped even more, and they seemed half-dead.
As an opponent, Pan Mei discovered some unusual information.
"What do you mean, the envoy, is that the enemy is deceitful?" After hearing what he said, the battalion commander couldn't help but ask.
"According to my observation, in the recent attacks, Yang Shifan seems to have consciously reduced the input of elite soldiers. Therefore, the rebel army's offensive is getting weaker and weaker, and it becomes easier for you to defend the city!" Pan Mei analyzed calmly with sharp eyes: "Although the city is littered with corpses and the ditches and ponds are stained with blood, the dead ones are all weak soldiers, and the elites have not been damaged any more! Tell me, what is the enemy's purpose for doing this?"
"Is it because I heard the news from the north that I was afraid? I didn't dare to devote all my efforts?" the battalion commander guessed.
"Maybe there is a reason!" Pan Mei said quietly, but her eyes became colder and colder: "But in my opinion, consuming our ordnance and paralyzing our army is the main purpose of Yang Shifan. I have heard about it before, Among Zhou Ni's subordinates, Yang Shifan is the most talented, otherwise he would not be allowed to lead the army independently to attack Liyang. Now it seems that this man does have some talent, and he is trying to plot against me, Pan Mei!"
"You think that the rebel army is deliberately conserving its strength and concentrating its strength to attack us?" The battalion commander was a little unconvinced: "This is unlikely! That day, they came with the whole division and their troops were at full strength. We blocked it. They have been fighting for ten days now. They have suffered a lot of losses and their morale is low. How can they break the city?"
"Of course not!" Pan Mei's tone was also very sure, and a cold smile appeared at the corner of her mouth: "However, in the past few days, the soldiers guarding the city, from officers to soldiers, have become increasingly arrogant, arrogant and lax, and treat the enemy with contempt. Nothing. Arrogant soldiers are easily defeated! If tomorrow, Yang Shifan suddenly throws his elite soldiers who have been resting for many days into a city battle and attacks with all their strength, can you stop them?"
"This..." The battalion general finally realized what he was doing and couldn't help but take a deep breath: "The rebel army is actually so scheming!"
He was a little shocked, but after thinking about it, he smiled and said: "Since the envoy has discovered the conspiracy of the traitor army in advance, what is there to fear?"
"Do you know what to do?" Pan Mei, who had been standing for a long time, finally moved her body and looked back at him.
"I immediately strengthened the defense and asked the brothers below to be more alert to prevent the bandit army. I think some soldiers are indeed a little careless!" The battalion commander responded very quickly.
"Okay!" Pan Mei showed a satisfied look and patted his shoulder: "After this battle is over, you will be promoted and rewarded, but remember to treat me to a drink!"
"Yes!" After hearing what he said, the camp general's voice was much higher, a bright smile bloomed on Huang's face, and everyone became more energetic.
"However, there is no need to be too nervous!" Pan Mei always looked reassuringly calm, as if everything was under control, and said calmly: "Even if Yang Shifan has a plan, there is not much time left for him! Li Yang is not a good place, the longer you delay, the more dangerous it will be!"
As she said that, Pan Mei couldn't help but turn her head, look towards the north, and let out a soft sigh. He was already in his thirties, and it was the time for him to make progress in his career. However, he could not fully display his talents while guarding such a city. Just like the emperor's expectations for him, Pan Mei also longed for a bigger performance stage.
"Arrange sentries to prevent sneak attacks by the bandits! I'll go check out the other three gates!" After giving another order, Pan Mei hurried away.
There were originally 3,000 officers and soldiers in the city. Excluding some who were left to guard key places in the city, only 2,700 could be dedicated to the defense of the city. After ten days of fighting, only about 700 people had been damaged in the battle. With this force, Pan Mei still spent a lot of effort to defend the city in the face of several times the number of enemies.
The main force was stationed in Dongcheng, but they did not dare to relax at all in other directions. Pan Mei was even more worried about Yang Shifan being in other places and launched a surprise attack for him. After all, the rest of the city guards were mixed with many young men who had newly picked up weapons as assistants.
Compared with Pan Mei, who was calm and composed in Liyang City, the situation of the Chu army camped on the bank of Lishui River was worse than outsiders imagined.
It was another failed attack. Compared to the frustration of other generals, Yang Shifan was still stable. He even laughed a few times: "Don't panic, everyone, the defenders are getting more and more arrogant. I have succeeded!"
