Chapter 6: The War Will Begin
Standing on the steps, she heard Gongsun Zan, who had descended from the city wall ahead of her, discussing with others about the route to exit the city
After being trapped in the city for two to three years, the soldiers of Gongsun Jun, who were nearly in despair, were mostly listless, except for the Bai Ma Yi Cong, who remained spirited and vigorous
Gongsun Xu brought reinforcements from Zhang Yan, and Gongsun Zan had no choice but to abandon his wife and children to lead the troops out of the city to fight.
Looking into the distance, he indeed saw large patches of flames rising into the sky in the wilderness, still far from the Yuan army.
"Issue a command to charge out from the eastern city!" He gave the order to his personal guards, and Gongsun Zan paid no heed to Tian Kai, instead mounting his warhorse.
Under the moonlight, the city walls of Yijing rise in layers, resembling a vast labyrinth
With a smile, Gongsun Zan nodded and instructed those behind him: "Send a message to the entire army, assemble the troops and follow me out of the city!"
Donning armor, Yuan Tan rode a blue steed, with the soldiers of the Yuan army arrayed in neat formation behind him
My lord, there is something suspicious! Behind Gongsun Zan and his daughter, a strategist, who appears to be around forty years old and has a rather honest demeanor, pointed towards outside the city: "General Zhang Yan has not yet come to our aid, and the Yuan army has retreated too early. Could it be a deception?"
After being trapped in the city for two to three years, Gongsun Zan transformed this city into a veritable city within a city, truly living up to its name as *Tushu City*
Though few in number, each member is robust and valiant; this team is the White Horse Yisong, which has followed Gongsun Zan for many years and has achieved countless merits
It was he who provided counsel to Gongsun Zan back then, which ultimately led to the current situation of Yijing being besieged
Stepping aside, Gongsun Ying'er lowered her head and softly said: "Ying'er awaits Father's triumphant return"
Although her father dotes on her, she cannot bear the responsibility of obstructing Gongsun Zan from leaving the city
All she could do was to condense her overflowing hatred into her gaze, looking towards the slowly retreating formation of the Yuan army outside the city
Standing on the steps, watching the silhouette of Gongsun Zan under the nightfall, Gongsun Ying'er always harbored a sense of unease in her heart
Beijing has been besieged for nearly three years
In the night, they could not see the walls of Yijing City clearly, yet they understood that it would be the place where they would engage in battle
Guan Jing, who remained on the city wall, gazed out at the landscape beyond the city.
Gazing outside the city, Guan Jing had only one thought in her heart
The general is clad in a suit of well-crafted bronze scale armor, with broad shoulders and a sturdy waist resembling an iron tower. His voice is robust and resonant, possessing a remarkable penetrating quality
Riding his white horse that had accompanied him in battles for many years, Gongsun Zan gently stroked the mane of the warhorse and the * map * book, gazing at the tightly shut city gates
The soldiers held their weapons and gazed into the distance
At this moment, she was as obedient as a lazy little cat, her bright eyes still glistening with tears.
As she gazed at his silhouette, Gongsun Ying'er's eyes revealed a sense of reluctance
Still silent, Gongsun Ying'er quietly walked towards the stairs
Regarding this matter, I have always been troubled. Gongsun Zan's tone was not very friendly: "The Chief of Staff is overly concerned! My son is leading troops alongside General Zhang Yan to provide assistance. If Yuan Shao does not retreat, does he intend to sit idly by and await his doom?"
The one who debated with Gongsun Zan was his subordinate general Tian Kai
Gongsun Zan no longer trusts him
With a look of shame on his face, Guan Jing lowered his head
If it were not for his advice to Gongsun Zan to hold onto Yijing, Yuan Shao's army would not have been able to besiege this place for two to three years
The cavalryman on horseback holds a lance, with a powerful longbow strapped to his back
Gongsun Zan had no choice, and Gongsun Ying'er did not dare to speak up
It would certainly be good if we could defeat the Yuan army
Finally, with a glance of affection at his daughter, Gongsun Zan turned and walked towards the city wall.
Two miles east of Yijing City
Although in those years Gongsun Zan had stored provisions within the city, after two to three years of consumption, there is now very little left
The eastern part of the city is under the command of Yuan Tan, with a large number of troops that are difficult to defeat. The lord should think thrice! The first voice that reached her ears was that of a military general
However, his legitimate wife only bore him one son, Gongsun Xu, while all other children were born of concubines
She desperately wanted to call out to her father, yet Gongsun Zan's resolute strides rendered her unable to utter a word!
Behind them stood thousands of warhorses of various colors
Having a daughter in old age, the lady unfortunately passed away due to complications during childbirth, as she was beyond the optimal age for giving birth. He dotes on this daughter immensely
"Is General Tian perhaps afraid of being defeated by Yuan Tan?" The voice of Gongsun Zan then reached Gongsun Ying'er’s ears: "Although Yuan Shang in the south of the city and Yuan Xi in the north have fewer troops, the surrounding terrain is complex, and our army consists mostly of cavalry, making it difficult to deploy after exiting the city! On the other hand, in the east of the city, Yuan Tan must hold the same thoughts as the general, and the terrain is flat with numerous small paths! We only need to break out of the city, and our army can head straight east, shaking off the pursuit of Yuan's troops. On the other hand, in the east of the city, Yuan Tan must hold the same thoughts as the general, and the terrain is flat with numerous small paths! We only need to break out of the city, and our army can head straight east, shaking off the pursuit of Yuan's troops. After joining forces with General Zhang Yan, we can turn back and attack Yuan Shao, thus relieving the siege of Jing!"
Still silent, Gong and the librarian Sun Ying'er quietly descended the steps, leading the maid directly towards the inner city
Even in the face of Gongsun Xu, she remains utterly unreasonable, and Gongsun Zan often tends to side with her
Since the Yuan army besieged the city, all correspondence within the inner city has been hoisted up by ropes, and no boys over the age of 7 are allowed to enter
"Miss, let us return to the inner city!" Gongsun Zan led his troops away, and Gongsun Ying'er’s maidservant gently reminded her.
Before the battle commenced, a strong atmosphere of slaughter had already permeated the ranks of Yuan's army
Following closely behind the cavalry are the heavily armored infantry
Gently stroking Gongsun Ying'er’s shoulder, with a loving smile, Gongsun Zan said: "Ying'er, wait patiently for your father to break through the encirclement and force Yuan Shao to let you all leave the city"
The flickering lights emitted by the torches on the city wall danced like will-o'-the-wisps, while the flames stretching across the western sky illuminated the night, casting a bright glow all around.
If the opportunity for this counterattack is abandoned, Yuan Jun will besiege for another two to three months, and Yi Jing will face a situation of food shortage
Once the war effort faltered and Yi Jing was defeated by Yuan's forces, the only choice left for him was to share the fate of the city itself
In the past, Tian Kai was defeated by Yuan Tan in Qingzhou, and Gongsun Zan mocked him, instantly causing his face to turn completely red
"Miss, let us return to the inner city!" After Gongsun Zan departed, Guan Jing said to Gongsun Ying'er, "Once the two armies engage in battle, this place is under the enemy's arrows, and it is quite inappropriate to linger here!"
Yuan Jun was still slowly retreating, yet their speed of withdrawal was exceedingly slow, as if they were completely indifferent to the distant flames that stretched across the horizon.
Over the past two years, every time he offered advice, it was rejected by Gongsun Zan
With many wives and concubines, he naturally has no shortage of children.
The garrison within the city will certainly not face the predicament of running out of supplies
Gongsun Ying'er, nestled in Gongsun Zan's embrace, is the daughter born to his legitimate wife, Liu, before her passing.
Once there is a shortage of grain, Yijing will collapse without a fight
The residents of the inner city of Yijing are all the female relatives of Gongsun Zan's family
There is a feeling of being abandoned, yet Gongsun Ying'er does not dare to express even the slightest complaint
Gong Sun Ying'er, who was pampered since childhood, developed a haughty and overbearing personality
My lord, a fire has broken out in the distance! The Yuan army's formation is moving further away, and the voices of the personal guards can be heard by Gongsun Zan.
Within the tightly closed city gates, seven or eight hundred snow-white warhorses stood at the forefront
It was precisely due to the obstruction of this Chief of Staff, Guan Jing, that Gongsun Zan was unable to break through with his army that year and was forced to remain besieged in Yijing