The leader of the ghost army who attacked Liucheng this time was named He Lianbo, and he was also a solid militant within the ghost clan.
Now, with his actions, the messenger's face turned pale with fright. While being grabbed by the collar, he said in a trembling voice:
"General, it is clear that this kind of military situation, how dare a villain talk nonsense..."
During the war, lying about military information was a serious crime, and even if he gave the ordering soldiers ten courages, he would not dare to do so.
The reason why Helianbo was like this was because he didn't want to believe it in his heart. Now that he heard this, he couldn't help but roared angrily, and then pushed the messenger away fiercely.
At this time, his lieutenant also began to say urgently: "General! It's better to return to the main camp quickly to reinforce it!"
"No!" Unexpectedly, Helianbo waved his hand and said coldly: "Continue to attack the city!"
ah? When the deputy general heard this, he immediately became worried: "But general, up to this point in the battle, Liucheng has not been broken. If we cannot attack for a long time, our army will lose follow-up supplies. By then, I am afraid that the entire army will be in danger."
"What's the use of returning to the camp to reinforce it now! After the enemy burned the food and grass, are they still waiting for you there!?"
He Lianbo first glared at the deputy general, then pointed to the city gate ahead and said: "Lu Bolin's main army is not here now. There are not many defenders in the city. Once the city is broken, our army can search and loot at will. Isn’t there anything to eat?”
After saying that, he shouted loudly: "Give me the order and continue the attack! We must break through Liucheng before dark!"
"yes!"
When Helianbo's grain and fodder were destroyed, he did not immediately withdraw his troops in a hurry, but decided to break through Liucheng quickly. His idea was good, but he did not expect that the defenders of Liucheng would be so tenacious.
As for Liucheng, not only were the defensive equipment fully equipped and there was an inexhaustible supply of stones and rolling wood, but Peng Shuang personally guarded the battle, taking the lead in killing the enemy and boosting morale.
These generals are exactly what the saying goes: A general will have a certain death wish, and a soldier will not be greedy for life.
The five thousand soldiers refused to give an inch, which made today's battle an absolutely bitter battle.
When the battle got dark, Helianbo was forced to withdraw his troops, and then the army surrounded the city. After everything was arranged, he also said quietly:
"It seems that in this battle, we have underestimated the general of Liucheng. Unexpectedly, he dared to take the initiative to attack when the army was approaching. Moreover, the defense of Liucheng also exceeded my expectations."
An army's combat power and mobility are directly linked to its general.
Perhaps because he was accustomed to easy battles with the Central Plains army, Liucheng, who was originally a sure winner, did not expect to be frustrated in the first battle. Now Helianbo has become frowning.
After listening to his words, the deputy general couldn't help but remind him: "General, today our army has been fighting bloody battles for a day and failed to break through Liucheng. The food and grass have been destroyed. Although the warriors still have some dry food in their hands, it can only last for two or three days." It’s too late, if we don’t retreat…”
Hearing this, Helianbo couldn't help but take a deep breath and said, "Try again tomorrow."
On the other side, after the ghost army retreated, the soldiers who defended the city seemed to be exhausted. They held their halberds in their hands and sat on the ground.
At this time, Peng Shuang was also covered in blood. He had killed countless enemies. After the first battle, the defenders also began to count the losses after the war.
At the moment, the sky has turned dark and the army has begun to set up pots and cook meals, but Peng Shuang does not dare to relax at all and is still patrolling the city defenses on top of the city.
Not long after, a general also came to report and said: "General Peng, the inventory has been completed."
"How much of our troops have been lost?" Peng Shuang asked immediately.
"This..." the general hesitated and said, "More than two thousand soldiers were killed and a thousand were injured."
"In other words, there are only two thousand soldiers left to fight?" Peng Shuang also frowned.
"Yes, General." As he spoke, the general's face was full of worry, and then he said worriedly:
"In this battle, the ghost army's offensive was fierce. Our troops were insufficient. Therefore, we suffered serious losses. What should we do if the enemy forces attack again tomorrow? In addition, I don't know what the situation is like with General Xiao. "
While the two were talking, a sergeant ran over quickly, knelt down on one knee, clasped his fists and said, "General, the county magistrate Mr. Liu is here."
What is he here for? Peng Shuang raised his eyebrows slightly, but before he could say anything, Liu Yuzhi was already dressed in official uniform and walked quickly to the top of the city.
There was no other way, so Peng Shuang could only go up to him, clasped his fists towards him and said, "Master Liu."
"General Peng." Liu Yuzhi also bowed his hand, then briefly glanced at the situation in the city, and said straight to the point: "In today's battle, I don't know how the general's troops were damaged."
He is the local county magistrate. If the ghost army breaks the city, no one in the city will be spared. It is reasonable for him to care about the war. And his previous efforts to assist and cooperate with the defenders are equivalent to Liucheng's defensive battle. own people.
Therefore, Peng Shuang had nothing to hide and said bluntly: "The troops are insufficient and nearly half of them were lost."
"So, if the ghost army attacks again tomorrow, Liucheng will be in danger." Liu Yuzhi said.
Peng Shuang glanced at him and listened to his words. He thought he was afraid and couldn't help but said: "Master Liu, there is no need to panic. In this battle, even if we fight to the death of every soldier, I will never give in. By then, I will die. It was also our soldiers who fought to death at the city gate first!"
"Huh? The general misunderstood." Unexpectedly, Liu Yuzhi waved his hand and said calmly: "I have a plan that may solve the current crisis."
What! ? Hearing this, Peng Shuang couldn't help but feel shocked, and immediately asked: "Is this true!?"
Liu Yuzhi was not busy explaining, but said: "I have heard about General Xiao's strategy of raiding the enemy's grain and grass camp before, but I don't know whether it was successful."
Peng Shuang said truthfully: "Now that the ghost army is besieging the city, the news cannot get in at all, but one thing is certain, General Xiao must have implemented this strategy."
"Well..." After listening to his explanation, Liu Yuzhi pondered for a moment, and then said: "In this way, tomorrow, I will mobilize the people in the city to defend the city together with the general. By then, the city will be full of soldiers, and all the people will be wearing armor. Holding a long halberd, they are ready to fight, and their military appearance is solemn to frighten the enemy."
"Is this okay?" Peng Shuang couldn't help but frown and asked.
"For today's plan, this is the only way. If General Xiao has successfully burned the enemy's food and grass, the ghost army will not be able to break the city after today's battle. Tomorrow, we will see so many defenders in the city again. I know that It is no longer possible to break the city in a short time, and there is no follow-up food and grass. If you hesitate, you will inevitably retreat." Liu Yuzhi said.
As he spoke, he explained: "The general's troops are no longer strong enough to defend the city. If this is not the case, even if the ghost army's food and grass are destroyed, they will only attack more fiercely when they see the emptiness of Liucheng. They can only use illusions to let The ghost army feels that there are still many defenders in Liucheng, and they have no hope of breaking the city in the short term."
"But this..." Peng Shuang said with some worry: "If the ghost army still launches a strong attack, then..."
After all, common people are different from soldiers. They have never been on the battlefield.
Liu Yuzhi could understand Peng Shuang's worries, and he immediately said seriously: "The general wants to live and die with Liucheng, and I am the same here!"
Unexpectedly, he, a civil servant and a mere county magistrate, could have such integrity. Peng Shuang couldn't help but look at him again.
You must know that the world was in chaos at that time. There were many people who bought and sold officials, and there were countless corrupt officials. In Peng Shuang's heart, most county magistrates should be the kind of rats who are greedy for life and afraid of death.
