Chapter 005: The Eve of the Great Battle
And let's take a nap, having been tired all day, but just as my eyes closed, I heard someone sound the horn
No need to say more! Even though my abilities are limited, it is still good to encourage everyone.
However, these are matters for the future; the most important thing at present is to survive
Several soldiers who had dined with Zhang Mai rushed up to the city wall, but they quickly returned. It turned out that Guo Shidao had issued an order for Yang Dingguo and Yang Dingbang to take turns leading two hundred men to stand guard at night, while the others were to return to sleep. Unless the war drums sounded loudly within the city, there was no need to pay any attention.
The Huighur people launched a night raid
The organization of the Tang army is structured with ten men forming a fire unit, each fire unit led by a fire leader. Fifty men constitute a squad, each squad overseen by a squad leader. Three hundred men make up a battalion, which is commanded by a major. Eight hundred to one thousand two hundred men form a cavalry division. Guo Shidao currently holds the title of "Deputy Protector of Anxi," inherited from his ancestor Guo Xin, a rank that is impressively high, yet the actual troop strength he commands is insufficient to even assemble a full cavalry division (1,200 men)
Guo Shidao could no longer delay: "Since this is the case, then let us appoint a special envoy to oversee the military!" He also dispatched a group of soldiers to be at Zhang Mai's disposal, serving as his personal guard
Zhang Mai was momentarily taken aback, but quickly realized that this veteran must have discerned from his performance over the past few days that he possessed little martial skill. However, as an envoy, it was not surprising for even a eunuch to be present, let alone a civil official.
The Huíhé people launched an attack from morning until dusk, and as night fell, they withdrew their troops.
Both sides' generals are seasoned veterans of warfare, and neither is willing to make command decisions that would be meaningless in determining the outcome of the battle
Zhang Mai nodded, which could be considered as an acknowledgment
If that is the case, then I would still request the envoy to rest in the city for the time being. Such rough work of fighting will be handled by us. Once we have repelled the Khitan and the Tu- Shu people, we will then host a welcome reception for the envoy.
This is Central Asia; there shouldn't be any rice here, could it be barley instead
So, do you think it can be stopped or not
Is it ... ... oil
One cannot taste it anyway; in any case, one should not hope for deliciousness. Preserving one's life is already a stroke of luck, and being able to eat one's fill after the battle is an even greater fortune. The Huigu people have only temporarily retreated; who knows what tomorrow will bring
Zhang Mai recalled how eagerly Guo Shidao and the others anticipated him as a special envoy from Chang'an, longing for news from their homeland
Guo Shidao, fearing that he might neglect him, sent for his son to keep him company. However, as one of the most important young generals of the Tang army, Guo Luo was extremely fatigued from the day's battles. As soon as he sat down, he began to snore—there were even more arduous tasks awaiting him the next day
The one thousand cavalrymen of the Huíhé people and the two hundred reserve machete troops of Guō Shīdào did not have the opportunity to mobilize before nightfall
He even doubted that he had arrived in a completely unfamiliar world, one that had no relation to the history he knew
In this chaotic world, to survive, one must possess martial skills, and the best martial skills, without a doubt, are those forged through direct experience of war on the battlefield
Zhang Mai's "identity" has become widely known through word of mouth in the past few days. Everyone is convinced that he is an imperial envoy sent by Chang'an, representing the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. The presence of the envoy has naturally greatly boosted the morale of the entire army.
Ah, I see. Zhang Mai thought that the people of the Western Turks must have sent a detachment to harass and attack. If the entire city mobilized for defense at this moment, they would have no strength left to fight tomorrow
These two characters can only respond with one phrase: "Yes! m.hetushu.com.com" but they remain inactive
What will happen if I cannot hold my ground? Will I be killed? Or will I become a captive of the Huigu people?
If I tell them the truth, they will be greatly disappointed, and it is likely to deal a significant blow to the morale of the Tang army
The two veteran generals harbored unspoken concerns. Zhang Mai was unaware that on this day, he learned a great deal from Tang Renxiao, such as the fundamental techniques for correctly wielding a broadsword, as well as how to better evade flying arrows while on the city walls. The recognition and support he received from the Tang army made him feel an unprecedented joy after having been lost in the desert.
These ten soldiers are to be flexibly deployed by the special envoy
Although a thousand years have passed, kin is still kin
The Tang Dynasty originally had a tradition of scholars taking up arms; otherwise, where would the poets of the frontier come from
That night, after dinner, due to the exhaustion from the day, the person sat down and fell into a deep sleep.
It is likely to be tomorrow
Especially his last statement, which is a decision he made after careful consideration last night
Guo Shidao was somewhat moved, yet still feared that Zhang Mai would be injured amidst the hail of bullets and arrows: "But..."
I am just afraid that it might be a bit precarious
Zhang Mai held an object that resembled neither a steamed bun nor a sesame seed cake. Upon taking a bite, he was unable to distinguish whether it was made from wheat or rice.
On that night, Zhang Mai experienced what it meant to be unable to remove his armor and to lie down with his weapon at hand, waiting for dawn.
After much contemplation and in a daze, he finally fell asleep. The next day, just as dawn was breaking, a sudden drumbeat startled everyone in the city awake. Zhang Mai rushed to the eastern city tower, where he encountered Guo Shidao, who asked, "Special envoy, you are a scholar who has taken up arms, correct?"
"No matter how I put it, I am still a university student, one could say a scholar," he thought
Guo Shidao, Yang Dingguo, and others observed this and nodded in agreement. Yang Dingguo said softly, "Old Guo, your decision is not wrong"
Will this new Shattered Leaf City still be able to hold its ground
Zhang Maizheng was about to say that he would not command the battle, but at that moment, the enemy's horn sounded. Guo Shidao rushed to engage in combat, and Zhang Maizheng soon realized that these ten soldiers were ostensibly under his command, but in reality, they had been arranged by Guo Shidao to protect him. Especially the fire leader Tang Renxiao and the deputy fire leader Wen Yanhai, who always shielded Zhang Maizheng with their bodies, fearing that he might be struck by a stray arrow
However, determining whether the enemy is merely harassing or planning a night assault on the city requires keen insight. Although he is an envoy, Zhang Mai is currently mixed among the foot soldiers and can only obey the orders of Master Guo.
Seeing that the situation at Dongzuo's neck was critical, he disregarded the advice and charged forward. Indeed, Tang Renxiao and others quickly followed, desperately protecting him. Whenever ten swords were raised, the defending soldiers would shout: "The envoy has arrived! The envoy has arrived!" As a result, this group of ten became a mobile task force in this offensive and defensive battle, rushing to wherever a gap appeared. Wherever they went, they could elicit cheers from the defending soldiers. The defending soldiers would shout: "The envoy has arrived! The envoy has arrived!" As a result, this group of ten became a mobile task force in this offensive and defensive battle, rushing to wherever a gap appeared. Wherever they went, they could elicit cheers from the defending soldiers.
That is likely not a good choice. Although Guo Shidao, Yang Dingguo, and others do not seem to be bad people, everything happening here is brutal. In the midst of war, once one loses the identity of a "special envoy," one might be sent to become a foot soldier or cannon fodder, losing all the current extraordinary privileges.
Until now, he still cannot figure out what kind of world he has entered. If it is said to be ancient, he cannot even determine the era, and geographically, it is not the Central Plains he is familiar with, but the Western Regions—a land that once belonged to China
Even if I hold my ground, what should I do in the future? They call me an envoy, but I am not an envoy at all; that envoy has long since died. I am merely an imposter.
Outside the city, there were incessant cries and roars, accompanied by the thunderous galloping of a thousand horses that caused the ground to tremble slightly. However, the battle-hardened soldiers of the Tang army remained asleep, while Zhang Mai lay wide awake, unable to find a way to sleep peacefully under the siege.
After repelling the enemy twice in succession, both the military and civilians in the city felt somewhat relieved. Guo Shidao pointed at the Huigu people, laughing and scolding in front of others, but secretly said to Yang Dingguo: "The Huigu people have been making a lot of noise for two days, but the actual impact has been minimal. Do you think it will be tomorrow or the day after?"
After this situation occurred several times, Zhang Mai suddenly thought: "If I want them to take action, I must be the first to charge forward myself"
Gazing at the starry sky, he pondered:
The battle on this day was even more intense than on the first day. The Uighurs continued to launch frontal assaults, and the ground outside the eastern city gate resembled a hedgehog's skin—covered with arrows. Corpses and dead horses were strewn everywhere. The Tang army was severely strained in terms of manpower, yet Guo Shidao refused to deploy the reserve troops. No matter how dangerous the situation became, he gritted his teeth and held firm. Several times, even Zhang Mai could not help but shout at Tang Renxiao and Wen Yanhai: "Don't worry about me! Quickly go help confront the enemy!" The Tang army was severely strained in terms of manpower, yet Guo Shidao refused to deploy the reserve troops. No matter how dangerous the situation became, he gritted his teeth and held firm. Several times, even Zhang Mai could not help but shout at Tang Renxiao and Wen Yanhai: "Don't worry about me! Quickly go help confront the enemy!"
However, Zhang Mai said: "No, I will not rest. Although I am a scholar, I am willing to share life and death with all the soldiers, advancing and retreating together! If I do not know how to fight, I will learn to fight!"
In fact, Zhang Mai's statement is not entirely motivated by bravery; he believes that he is not a special envoy. Even if the matter can be concealed for a time, it is uncertain when it might be exposed. At this moment, while so many people still value him, he wishes to fight alongside them to foster relationships. If the truth comes to light later, having fought together, they would find it difficult to take action against him.
Currently, the Tang army is at a disadvantage in terms of troop strength, yet when Guo Shidao spoke these words, his white beard fluttering, he appeared imposing and full of vigor
Where is Zhang Mai? At this moment, he still does not understand these matters. After descending from the city wall, he found that some elderly and weak individuals had prepared meals—quite unpalatable. Whether it was bread or noodles, they were all difficult to eat, and sometimes it was merely dry rations with water. However, what surprised Zhang Mai was that the fuel used for cooking was not the firewood and straw often seen on television, but rather a kind of dark liquid fuel.
The surrounding youths, such as Guo Luo, Guo Fen, and Guo Bian, all cheered together upon hearing this. The soldiers, too, felt a surge of morale, exclaiming: "The envoys from Chang'an truly possess a different aura!"
Such thoughts seem somewhat selfish and not very noble, however, in any case, I must preserve my own life... After all, that envoy is dead, and there are no witnesses to his death, so for the time being, I will just assume the role of this envoy...
Although it was merely a temporary retreat, the military and civilians in the city still felt a sense of relief after the calamity, while the commanders continued to exhaust their efforts in preparation for tomorrow's battle
Indeed, it is oil. If only we had such a super shallow oil field that could be tapped in modern society, we would never have to worry for the rest of our lives! ... However ... it seems that discovered oil fields must be nationalized. ... Sigh! Why think so much about it!
An old woman told him: "This thing, when we were digging a well in the north of the city, we didn't strike clear water, but instead this stuff gushed out, so we decided to burn it in the future"
But if you tell them the truth