Catching Monsters

Chapter 640 Beat the drums, attack!
In the small courtyard where Ye Xiuyuan lived, Fang Zhihong and Shan Tiangang were drinking tea in the early morning, while Ye Xiuyuan was taking advantage of the morning to bend over and prune the flowers and plants in the courtyard.

Mr. Ye doesn't have many hobbies, but pruning flowers and plants is one of them. Of course, Shan Tiangang and Fang Zhihong have no interest in it.

dong dong dong.

Soon, there was a knock on the courtyard door. As if he had guessed it, Ye Xiuyuan smiled, patted the dirt off his hands, put down the scissors, and went outside.

The visitor was naturally Jiang Xing.

“Mr. Ye, this is the meteorite that His Majesty promised you.” Jiang Xing respectfully handed over the meteorite he had received from Jiang Yun.

After taking the meteorite, Ye Xiuyuan opened it, touched the small stone to confirm that it was genuine, and then said with a smile, "Thank you for your trouble, Grandfather. Please come in and sit down."

"No, no, I have things to take care of back at the palace." Jiang Xing smiled and then said, "His Majesty said that he benefited greatly from what you said last night, and hopes that you will stay in the capital from now on."

"If you need anything, just let me know."

Ye Xiuyuan nodded without changing his expression, and Jiang Xing then cupped his hands in greeting before turning and leaving.

"Oh, so this is a meteorite?"

Fang Zhihong and Shan Tiangang also quickly walked over, looking at the meteorite with curiosity.

They did know that Ye Xiuyuan possessed a meteorite, but Ye Xiuyuan had never shown it to them.

Dan Tiangang stroked his chin and couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Ye, if I collect all of this, will it really help me break through to the Saint Realm?"

This is why Shan Tiangang followed Ye Xiuyuan so devotedly.

Break through to the Saint Realm with the help of a meteorite.

Ye Xiuyuan nodded slowly and said, "Now we've collected two."

"The whereabouts of the other five are still unclear."

According to Ye Xiuyuan, there are probably still a certain number of meteorites in Liu Boqing's hands.

This is a bit troublesome.

"Speaking of which, Mr. Ye, why did you come back from the front lines so quickly? Why not help out more at the front? You might be able to earn more merits. With merits to back you up, wouldn't Emperor Xiao Jingzhi value you even more?"

"The outcome of the battle at the front is clear," Ye Xiuyuan said calmly. "There's nothing I can do to help if I stay."

The ending is pretty clear, isn't it?

Dan Tiangang recalled that when they left Sanmen Pass, Ye Xiuyuan had used copper coins to cast a divination. He asked, "Mr. Ye, do you also know how to divine good and bad fortune?"

"I only know a little bit."

Dan Tiangang asked curiously, "Then what was the result of your divination at Sanmen Pass?"

Ye Xiuyuan simply smiled and said no more: "Right now, we need to focus our main efforts on how to take control of the Tongyou Guard."

……

Xu Xiaogang is not an indecisive person who likes to agonize and hesitate. After assessing the situation, he quickly made a judgment.

Now is the time to quickly attack Chongshan County. If Wang Longzhi and the other rebels were to train this large army again, it would be even more difficult to deal with.

Soon, Xu Xiaogang ordered that, apart from the new army remaining in Wulingfu to prevent the rebels at the pass from causing trouble,

The elite force of 300,000 Zhenchi Army soldiers and border veterans quickly set off, and the entire army slowly headed towards the direction of Chongshan County.

Of course, Xu Xiaogang was also extremely vigilant. The army's marching speed was not slow, and for each dangerous terrain ahead, a vanguard of several hundred men would be dispatched in advance to check the situation. Only after confirming that there were no abnormalities and that it was safe would they proceed.

The entire unit was not moving very fast.

Two days later, they finally arrived at Luoyan Town...

"Reporting to the general, we have already inspected Luoyan Town. It is quite desolate. Many people have fled long ago, leaving only some elderly people who are reluctant to leave their homeland."

"Have you checked the forests on both sides?" Xu Xiaogang asked in a deep voice.

The person who came to report and investigate was slightly taken aback, and said in a deep voice, "General, Luoyan Town is a basin surrounded by mountains on all sides. The forests are vast. If we want to investigate it thoroughly, it will probably take quite a while."

"All troops shall rest where they are. They shall not enter Luoyan Town until the matter is thoroughly investigated." Upon hearing this, Xu Xiaogang immediately dismounted.

Many of the generals following Xu Xiaogang frowned. They knew that marching in the three southwestern provinces was quite different from marching in the plains.

Even the official road here is much narrower, making it difficult to find conditions for setting up camp. Such a large army, if it were to rest on the spot, would have to use the ground as its bed and the sky as its blanket.

But this matter is clearly not open to discussion.

"In addition, send more people to help investigate and try to find out the situation in the mountains and forests."

There's no way around it; Luoyan Town is a natural ambush site, like a trap. If you rush in without understanding the situation, you might end up in serious trouble.

……

"I wonder what the situation is like at the front."

In the Jiang residence, Xu Suwen has been having trouble sleeping these past few days. She also knows that Xu Xiaogang has led his troops into the three southwestern provinces, and a decisive battle is likely to take place there soon.

After all, it was war, and Xu Suwen was always uneasy. Of course, this also included Madam Tao Yuelan, who prayed to the gods and Buddhas every day.

Xu Suwen also became skeptical, and would often go to the Sanqing Temple to pray to the Three Pure Ones for protection of Xu Xiaogang.

"Xiao Gang is leading troops at the front, so there's nothing we can do to help. Worrying won't help." Jiang Yun had a good attitude. Naturally, news about the three southwestern provinces kept coming in from within the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Jiang Yun knew more about the situation in the three southwestern provinces than many others.

The three southwestern provinces are now in complete chaos, with many people being forcibly conscripted into the rebel army.

"With the great battle imminent, Master Lingxin and Black Serpent, two experts at the first-grade level, have secretly gone to the front lines to protect Xiaogang's safety. To put it bluntly, even if we are defeated, Xiaogang will be fine," Jiang Yun comforted Xu Suwen.

Xu Suwen could only nod helplessly and sigh.

Just then, Yun Pingchuan strode into the living room: "Master, Madam, Lord Qi has arrived and claims to have important matters to discuss."

"Let Zidane in."

Qi Da, dressed in the official robes of the Northern Garrison Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, strode in, holding a secret report in his hand. He quickly approached Jiang Yun and handed it to him: "Sir, this is a secret report sent by our spies in the Northwest."

Jiang Yun took the secret report, glanced at it carefully, and quickly frowned: "These fox demons have all gone to the desert to dig again?"

Jiang Yun understood that the fox clan demons were now completely focused on finding their Fox Clan Demon Saint. They had expended so much effort, only to awaken the Tiger Saint instead…

Jiang Yun's expression darkened. If they were to awaken their own fox clan's ancestor, it would naturally have nothing to do with Jiang Yun.

But what if it's the serpent demon saint that's awakened...?

You must know that there is a deep-seated hatred between him and the snake clan. Even the snake clan chief was killed by Qu Wushang on his wedding day.

"It's really not good news." Jiang Yun took a deep breath and put the secret report into his pocket.

……

In Chongshan County, Xiao Min'er and Wang Longzhi were in the military hall, where many generals were also busy, constantly reporting and requesting instructions on the allocation of provisions and the areas to be defended.

Xiao Min'er handled these matters very well, but her expression was somewhat unpleasant.

However, the plan for Luoyan Town failed.

Xu Xiaogang was overly cautious and sent a large number of people to search the mountain. In the end, they discovered 30,000 troops hidden in the mountain.

These 30,000 troops played a significant role.

According to Xiao Min'er's plan, if Xu Xiaogang's army successfully enters Luoyan Town, these 30,000 people will take the opportunity to block Xu Xiaogang's army's retreat.

Caught between two attacks, Xu Xiaogang's army was caught in a dilemma. They had marched hastily and did not carry much food.

The amount of food consumed by 300,000 people every day is an astronomical figure.

Xiao Min'er had already emptied the grain and other reserves in Luoyan Town.

But the plan failed.

After Xu Xiaogang discovered the situation in advance, the 30,000 troops had to retreat quickly. Xu Xiaogang also sent people to control the front and rear exits of Luoyan Town before the army entered to rest.

After only one day of rest, Xu Xiaogang led an army of 300,000 men on their way to Chongshan County.

It seems that in about half a day, Xu Xiaogang's army will be at the foot of Chongshan County.

"As long as we hold firm, there is hope." Xiao Min'er took a deep breath and glanced at the city's defense map.

There was a reason why they chose Chongshan County as their military headquarters; the city walls were not low, making it quite difficult to attack.

It is said that the Zhenchi Army is good at defending cities, but this siege may not be as formidable as imagined.

Wang Longzhi, however, became calm and composed at this moment. His weakness was indeed his indecisiveness.

But in times of war, he becomes even more calm and composed.

Xie Yifeng, carrying his sword, stood quietly beside Wang Longzhi. However, Xie Yifeng's gaze would occasionally drift towards a square-faced man sitting in the corner of the hall.

This person exuded a dense demonic aura, and his pupils flashed red light from time to time.

Xie Yifeng knew that this person was a demon that Wang Longzhi had invited from the mountains and forests of the southwest, and that he was quite powerful.

Xie Yifeng only knew that this person's name was Cang Jianbai. Not long ago, the Zhou court sent someone to assassinate Wang Longzhi, but he did not take action that time.

Instead, it was Cang Jianbai who defeated the experts from the Zhou Dynasty court.

Outside Chongshan County, not many troops were deployed. Xiao Min'er and Wang Longzhi chose to withdraw all their troops back to the county seat of Chongshan County.

On the walls of the county town, equipment for defending the city, such as rolling stones, hot oil, and bows and arrows, had already been prepared.

However, Xu Xiaogang's army stopped to rest and regroup when they were ten miles away from Chongshan County, and began to prepare for the final battle.

"General, this is a map of the city walls of Chongshan County."

Inside the tent, Xu Xiaogang and several generals sat together, looking at the city wall blueprints laid out in front of them.

"The good news is that most of the elite troops were previously defending the pass."

"The 200,000 troops currently defending the city are all former rebels, and their overall quality is not very high. However, they have been intensively trained recently, and they are certainly sufficient for defending the city."

"Moreover, during this period, Wang Longzhi's rebel army forcibly conscripted soldiers, and at least nearly 100,000 more were recruited."

"Even if these 100,000 don't come to the front lines, they are still a considerable force in the rear, transporting equipment for defending the city."

Xu Xiaogang listened to these words and nodded slightly. After pondering for a while, he said, "Don't rush to attack. Send someone to the front line to shout that anyone who is willing to surrender will be rewarded with 100 taels of silver for ordinary soldiers, and 10,000 taels of silver for those who are willing to open the city gates."

"Furthermore, quickly cut down trees and prepare siege ladders and other siege equipment."

"Yes."

Inside the tent, Master Lingxin and Black Serpent, two first-rank experts from the Tongyou Guard, were also present.

Looking at Xu Xiaogang's arrangement, the two exchanged a glance. Then, Master Lingxin put his hands together and slowly said, "General Xu is a kind-hearted person. If war breaks out, there will surely be rivers of blood. If we can persuade the other side to surrender, it will be a meritorious deed."

The black snake's face was also tattooed with the punishment of tattooing.

In ancient times, tattooing was a form of punishment.

Black Snake was a robust man who was indifferent to military matters. His mission here was simply to protect Xu Xiaogang.

Soon, a decisive battle between Wang Longzhi and Xu Xiaogang will take place, and both sides are making intensive preparations.

Furthermore, news of their battle quickly spread throughout the entire Zhou Kingdom. It should be noted that Wang Longzhi was considered one of the most renowned young generals in the Zhou Kingdom before Xu Xiaogang.

Now that these two have met, teahouses all over Zhou Kingdom always invite storytellers to tell their story.

They even fabricated many stories about the two fighting on the front lines to attract customers.

Finally, after several days, all the siege equipment was ready.

Xu Xiaogang quickly summoned all officers of a hundred or more to his tent to receive orders.

In Xu Xiaogang's army, drinking was not allowed on ordinary days, but on this morning, everyone was holding a bowl of wine.

Xu Xiaogang, dressed in light red armor and holding a bowl of strong liquor, said loudly, "Gentlemen, everyone understands the big picture. If we win this battle, it will be the last major battle in the Southwest. From then on, the Southwest will be at peace, and everyone can be rewarded according to their merits."

"Begin the siege immediately! Whoever breaches the city first will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold!"

"Beat the drums! Attack!"

(End of this chapter)