Tiger Owl

Chapter 145 The Battle of Xiling (Part 2)

Inside the command tent of the Yuzhang Army, Gan Ning was discussing the details of the siege with Xu Shu and several generals. Of course, Gan Ning could not place all his hopes of capturing the city on Su Fei; he also needed to take action himself.

Huang Zhong said, “When I was defending Linxiang City, I specially built a firewall and covered the city wall with sand. The biggest advantage of covering it with sand is that it absorbs the oil and prevents it from flowing. The firewall not only prevents fire but also smoke. I also prepared a pot of water and two pieces of cloth for each soldier. They could wet the cloth with water and cover their mouths and noses to prevent smoke. But today, I observed the city wall and all the signs indicate that Xiling County does not have such measures. So they can attack the city with oil. The thick smoke alone will make it impossible for the soldiers on the city wall to stay.”

Huang Zhong's words greatly encouraged everyone. Zhao Yun said, "Although we can't use boats to enter the moat, we can use catapults to throw burning oil. Even if it hits the city wall, it will burn a lot of smoke, which will be very beneficial for our attack on the city."

Seeing that Taishi Ci was also eager to try, Gan Ning smiled and asked, "General Taishi, what are your thoughts?"

Taishi Ci bowed and said, "During training, I have repeatedly tested scaling the city walls amidst flames. If the siege ladders are wrapped in cowhide, they can be fireproof. In addition, we have tested soldiers scaling the city walls with wet blankets on their heads, which not only protects them from arrows but also effectively resists the burning of oil."

Zhao Yun promptly reminded them, "But we have already swept the ground with oil, so there can't be any enemy troops on the city wall anymore."

Taishi Ci laughed and said, "I know, I mean we have to cross the fire we set ourselves."

Gan Ning nodded. "This plan is good, but we don't need wet bedding. We'll use military blankets, which every soldier has. We'll soak them completely and then drape them over our bodies when attacking the city. We'll also wrap our heads with wet cloths to prevent burns and smoke from our faces."

With everyone contributing their ideas, a complete siege plan was quickly finalized.

After the generals withdrew, only Xu Shu remained in the tent. Gan Ning stood in front of the map and pointed to the north of Jiangxia County, saying, "This is the Yiyang Three Passes, the second passage from Jingzhou to the Central Plains, but also the second passage for the Central Plains army to invade Jingzhou. We must rebuild a strong pass here to prevent Cao Cao's army from entering Jingzhou from here."

Xu Shu pondered for a moment and said, "Does my lord believe that Cao Cao will enter from Jiangxia Commandery instead of Nanyang Commandery in the future?"

Gan Ning shook his head. "Cao Cao won't choose one of the two; he will definitely choose both."

"What my lord says makes sense!"

At this moment, a soldier reported at the tent entrance, "Su Fei has sent someone to request an audience!"

Gan Ning and Xu Shu exchanged a glance, and Gan Ning nodded, "Bring him in!"

Soon, several soldiers brought in a messenger who was soaking wet. He took out half of an iron plaque from his pocket and presented it to him.

This was a token for Su Fei. Xu Shu took it and checked it; it was completely consistent.

"What news is there about General Su?"

The messenger took out a white wax pill and presented it, saying, "I am only responsible for delivering the message; everything General Su wants to say is inside."

Gan Ning crushed the wax ball, inside which was a slip of paper. He opened the paper and read it carefully. Su Fei had arranged to open the east gate at noon the next day.

Gan Ning nodded and asked the messenger, "Are you going back to report?"

"Reporting to the general, I am unable to return. You may light three bonfires outside the east gate to indicate that you have received his message."

"I see!"

Gan Ning ordered that the messenger be rewarded with ten taels of silver and that his personal guards take him to rest.

Gan Ning then asked Xu Shu, "Does the strategist find this credible?"

Xu Shu pondered for a moment and said, "It's hard to say, but it's more credible. However, we can't bet everything on Su Fei. I suggest we attack the South City an hour earlier tomorrow, according to the plan we discussed today, and bet on both sides!"

Three large fires were lit outside the east gate, their flames blazing and standing out starkly in the darkness.

Su Fei, seeing three blazing fires from the east gate, immediately turned and left the city. Unbeknownst to him, strategist Chen Jiu stood several dozen paces away, coldly watching him. The watchman had reported Su Fei's departure from the camp that night to Chen Jiu.

However, Chen has no evidence at the moment. He doesn't know if the three fires lit on the other side of the moat are related to Su Fei.

"Continue to monitor him, the key is to see who he contacts?"

However, Su Fei was also very cautious. That night, he didn't contact anyone and went straight back to the barracks to sleep. Although Chen was very suspicious of him, he couldn't find any evidence.

The following morning, the war drums sounded in the Yuzhang Army camp, “Dong! Dong! Dong!” Squads of soldiers marched out and quickly formed a large formation two miles south of the city.

Huang Zu also led his army to the top of the city wall, nervously watching the Yuzhang army in the distance. Huang She had also rushed back last night.

Huang She said worriedly, "Our water gate is not very sturdy. I suggest that Father strengthen the water gate defenses."

Huang Zu said calmly, "I've filled the water gate with huge stones, so there's no need to worry about it. It looks like they're going to launch a forced attack on the city!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Suddenly, the drums sounded loudly from the opposite side, and the Yuzhang Army began to move. Groups of Yuzhang soldiers ran forward, each group consisting of twenty soldiers, including a catapult, five operators, and fifteen soldiers holding large shields, totaling one hundred and fifty groups, or one hundred and fifty catapults.

Seeing the enemy running forward, Huang Zu shouted, "Archers, prepare!"

Five thousand archers on the city wall raised their bows and crossbows. The Yuzhang army soldiers drew closer and closer. The three thousand soldiers were scattered over three miles, making it difficult to achieve a concentrated annihilation.

The Yuzhang army charged to within a hundred paces, and Huang Zu roared, "Fire the arrows!"

Arrows rained down from the city walls, with five thousand arrows and crossbow bolts aimed at the charging enemy. Unfortunately, the enemy was too scattered, so the effect was not good, and there were also fifteen shield bearers guarding them.

After three rounds of arrows, only about thirty people were injured, mainly those shot in the legs.

The soldiers of the Yuzhang Army rushed to a distance of 100 paces and set up camp. One hundred and fifty medium-sized catapults were erected, capable of hurling 30-pound oil canisters to a distance of 105 paces.

Arrows continued to rain down from the city walls, hitting the catapults but not the soldiers operating them, each one protected by shields.

The catapult was given the instruction to launch autonomously before it was set off, meaning it could be launched immediately after installation without needing to follow instructions.

Soon, dozens of burning oil canisters soared into the air and crashed down on the city wall. More oil canisters followed, and flames erupted and thick smoke billowed from the city wall. Even those that hit the wall caught fire, and the smoke rose up and enveloped the city wall.

The soldiers on the city wall scattered and fled, desperately trying to avoid the burning flames. Huang Zu suffered a great loss in the naval battle, but he did not really learn his lesson. He only made tens of thousands of oil bottles, but he did not pay attention to how to defend against the enemy's fire.

Huang Zu panicked.

"Woo——"

A deep horn sounded, and Taishi Ci and Zhao Yun each led five thousand soldiers to attack. The soldiers shouted and surged towards the city wall.

Soldiers drove large carts loaded with huge wooden crates, each with iron rings. When they reached the moat, the crates were placed into the moat, their iron rings interlocking. Soldiers swam across the moat and nailed the other end into the mud.

The soldiers, wrapped in wet blankets and carrying spears, rushed across the wooden crate pontoon bridge and carried siege ladders toward the burning city walls.

On the two-mile-long city wall, raging fires burned and thick smoke filled the air. The south city wall, which was originally full of soldiers, was now deserted, and even Huang Zu was nowhere to be seen.

(End of this chapter)