Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 108: They've Already Won
Shuofeng and Wuwei were the two most important cities in Beiliang.

However, the differences between the two are enormous.

It's like a city of energy and a city of time.

The reason for choosing Energy City is its immense strategic significance.

The reason we want to take Time City is simply because it's the only city left for the motorcycle tribe.

The low and fragile city walls meant that once the pillars, moats, towers, gates, and barbicans had all failed, all that was left was a bloody battle.

The south and north gates of the city were smashed, so the Yu army simply sealed them with stones, eliminating this weakness and the space for tactical resistance.

The siege has now evolved into a battle of arrow suppression and cover, as well as a fight to the death on the city walls.

As a logistics support officer and city administrator, Song Shi'an certainly wouldn't personally fight the enemy, but he also wouldn't hide in the city. He would definitely personally command the overall situation on the streets. Therefore, Ji Yuan thought he would try his luck and see if he could kill him directly.

The fact that he wasn't killed on sight made him wary, making it impossible to kill him again later.

Those soldiers who took the opportunity to enter the city were all killed within a day by Song Shi'an and the people of the city.

Of course, some turtles might be hiding in the shadows, but that doesn't matter.

No one has such a strong sense of conviction that the meaning of life is simply to fulfill the emperor's orders.

In ancient times, if no one supervised the battle, 98% of the soldiers would run away in every battle.

Those who didn't run away weren't loyalists, but officers.

Upon learning that Song Shi'an was alright, Xin Yue and Wei Wusheng were completely relieved.

Zhu Qing wasn't actually too worried.

Having taken his father's pure gold crouching tiger, he's bound to do something about it.

Giving his own stable boy to Song Shi'an was all he could do.

Although San Gou looks young and a bit lean, he has fought in more than a dozen battles, and among the thousand imperial guards under his command, his individual combat ability can be said to be second to none.

His archery skills, in particular, were quite superb.

That kid's hand was incredibly steady; as long as the enemy didn't get close enough to him, he could decisively fire an arrow.

When Song Shi'an met Zhu Qing by the campfire at the foot of the city that night, he nodded slightly to express his gratitude.

I don't know how much money he received from Lao Song, but the fact that he gave up his trusted lieutenant to me shows that he really took this matter seriously.

"If we haven't taken the city in three days, will Ji Yuan retreat?" Qin Kuo asked.

“But such an offensive is impossible to continue,” Zhu Qing said. “We even brought out our precious heavy cavalry to defend the city. If he still doesn’t respond, it would be really going too far.”

"We still need to be prepared for street fighting," Wang Dalong said. "The north wind is already blowing fiercely."

“Nei An, you must take good care of yourself,” Wei Wusheng said to him. “Without you, people’s hearts will fall apart.”

Once a unit suffers 20% casualties, it may collapse as a whole.

The common people were even less disciplined, relying almost entirely on government orders and force, and Ji Yuan's massacre of the city cut off their escape route.

It's nothing short of a miracle that half the population died and yet not a single uprising broke out.

The reason is obvious to everyone.

Xinyue is more real than anyone else knows.

On that day, his figure amidst the raging wind and rain had already won the hearts of the people.

In ancient times, it was actually quite simple to make the common people grateful—officials only needed to treat them as human beings.

“With San Gou around, I’m very safe.” Song Shi’an nodded, without a trace of fear. “Even if I really die, it doesn’t matter.”

These words drew everyone's attention to him.

Song Shi'an smiled slightly, a hint of relaxation in his expression: "Actually, we've already won."

.........

In the main tent of the Qi army commander, Ji Yuan sat alone.

After Chen Xing entered, he spoke softly, "Your Majesty."

"Ah."

Ji Yuan remained completely calm, his expression showing no emotion whatsoever.

The north wind can no longer bring it down.

It's not that there isn't enough time left.

On the contrary, there may still be more than a month before winter arrives.

However, morale among the troops has reached its lowest point.

The advantage of making a bold statement about massacring the city within three days is that it gives the soldiers something to look forward to.

The emperor himself said that if we fight with all our might within these three days, we can take down Shuofeng.

Once we take it, there's no need to send anyone else to their deaths.

The downside is that if they fail to capture it, the soldier's future is uncertain, with only endless death looming ahead.

Everyone's blood will drain out.

The north wind rests upon the red soil.

General MacArthur once said: "Children, you'll be home before Christmas."

He really did say that.

Christmas thus became a turning point in the morale of the US military.

At this moment, the already low morale of the Qi army plummeted to a new low.

"Your Majesty, even if we capture Shuofeng now, it will only be ruins."

Chen Xing noticed Ji Yuan's hesitation and spoke up accordingly.

"I know." Ji Yuan also looked at him and said, "Even if we take Shuofeng, there is no point in stationing troops there."

"Then what does Your Majesty intend to do?" Chen Xing asked, puzzled.

"Wei Wusheng and Song Shi'an must die in the north wind."

Ji Yuan has only this one goal now.

Although he was ambitious, he was not arrogant. If there was a simple path to unification, he would definitely take it.

Even though he didn't think these two were really his opponents.

Wei Wusheng and Song Shi'an died in the north wind.

The people of Yu were in turmoil.

Wei Ye is already old and must make a decision to support a crown prince as soon as possible.

The two kings of Jin and Wu were locked in a power struggle. All they needed to do was wait for Wei Ye to die before launching a southward offensive.

Even if we don't achieve our goal in one battle, we can at least conquer a large area of ​​territory.

As long as the national power of the two countries is balanced.

Whether it's the King of Jin or the King of Wu, who can be his opponent?
"As long as these two pro-war faction members are killed, the people of Yu will live in fear of me for the rest of their lives!"

Ji Yuan was enraged.

What he wanted to break in this battle was the backbone of the Yu Kingdom.

Chen Xing understood.

The emperor still wants to fight.

"Have Huang Lin from the east withdraw from Wulei in an orderly manner," Ji Yuan said.

"Yes, sir," Chen Xing replied, but a look of doubt appeared on his face.

"Then, select one thousand light cavalry."

With a resolute look in his eyes, Ji Yuan decided, "I will personally make a detour and attack the false Yu reinforcements."

.........

"Oh dear! How foolish!"

In the military intelligence room, Zhao Lie, having received the intelligence, was seething with hatred.

The emperor and the Duke of Li were also somewhat heavy-hearted.

Another defeat ahead.

However, this defeat was not caused by the north wind.

After boasting of a three-day massacre of the city but failing to overcome the north wind, the Qi army ceased its siege.

The entire army is preparing.

Furthermore, they quietly withdrew in batches.

Meanwhile, Huang Lin's troops in the east also withdrew from Wulei, retreating in an orderly manner, and using their main force to cover the rear to prevent Yu's army from harassing them.

Based on the information they saw, the commander of the reinforcements that entered Beiliang from Qiya Valley came to the conclusion that the Qi army was about to retreat.

Therefore, he gathered livestock, and with grain and clothing, set off from the main camp in a marching formation to join forces with Shuofeng and Wei Wusheng.

Just as they had completely left the camp, suddenly, a thousand light cavalrymen appeared out of nowhere, outflanked the central army, and, carrying Ji Yuan's banner, instantly routed the entire force.

Three thousand were beheaded, and the remaining seven thousand or so soldiers could only flee back to their camp in a sorry state.

Ji Yuan also built a Jingguan (a mound of skulls).

"Even if we retreat, why not wait until Ji Yuan has completely left and crossed the river before joining forces with the Sixth Prince? Why rush things?"

Zhao Lie was so angry that he was starting to hate him.

"I understand this idea."

At this moment, the emperor spoke up and explained: "Wusheng has defended the north wind and has achieved such a great feat. The commander of the reinforcements has not fired a single arrow and feels that he has not made any contribution. So he wanted to be the first to join forces and went to curry favor with Wusheng with food and supplies."

Upon hearing this, both nobles sighed.

There are far too many good-for-nothings in the Great Yu Kingdom.

"After a battle is over and you've won, you rush over to help sweep the floor and cook, and you think you can get credit for it? When did the merits of the Great Yu become so easy to obtain?"

After saying these words, Zhao Lie suddenly paused for a moment.

It's really so easy to gain credit for the Great Yu Dynasty.

Moreover, it started with the sons of noble families.

They don't need to fight; they just need to be present after the battle. If they have some connection, they can get a share of the credit and then rise through the ranks.

"This victory has somewhat restored morale among the troops." Duke Li guessed Ji Yuan's thoughts, "He is determined to take down Shuofeng."

"A city like this has managed to hold out for more than three months." The incompetence of the reinforcements made Zhao Lie feel a touch of respect for Shuofeng's resilience. "Sixth Prince, what a pity."

"You're flattering me too," the emperor chuckled. "Was it him who guarded against the north wind?"

"Your Majesty, I am not flattering you," Zhao Lie said somewhat embarrassedly. "Your Highness the Sixth Prince is indeed very important in this battle."

"Yes, without him, there would be no Song Shi'an." The emperor had to admit this.

And that's exactly how it should be.

How can a subject's merits surpass those of a prince?
This is a universal truth.

But if you're the emperor, you can't really think that way.

If Song Shi'an is deliberately ignored, there will only be one outcome—the Wei family can play by themselves.

"I originally thought that the death toll in this battle would be capped at 100,000," Duke Li predicted. "If Ji Yuan doesn't retreat, the casualties may approach 120,000."

“His army of 100,000 may suffer losses of 35,000, or even close to 40,000.” Zhao Lie couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. “The pit that Zhao Xiang dug has been filled by the north wind.”

"The city hasn't been defended yet."

The emperor subtly reminded him not to open the champagne, then raised his head as if he could see the sky over Northern Liang: "I hope this snow falls soon."

.........

"This Ji Yuan is truly useless!" Sun Heng slammed his fist on the table in anger. "The Sixth Prince, who has never led an army before, and a scholar named Song Shi'an, can't even handle this?"

“Weren’t Zhao Xiang and Han Yuan defeated by Ji Yuan?” Sun Yan glanced at him and warned, “You should realize that Song Shi’an is no ordinary person.”

“He is no ordinary person, so how can we let such a person return to Sheng’an…” Sun Heng said uneasily, “We will never have peace.”

Sun Yan shook his head, then prayed, "May this frost fall later."

(End of this chapter)