Chapter 567 Fire Attack
Now, not only are they at a disadvantage in terms of military strength, but their morale is also low due to the devastating defeat, so they have no chance of winning if they fight again.
Therefore, the two decided to turn around and return to Fushun Prison, and join forces with Hou Xiaokang's 20,000 troops. Although Hou Xiaokang only had 20,000 troops, most of them were elite soldiers from the Beijing Camp. In this way, although the enemy was outnumbered, they were still able to fight.
However, when they wanted to retreat, they found that a large enemy formation had appeared on the other side of Shuangxi River, cutting off their retreat.
With pursuers in front and blockades behind, more than 20,000 soldiers under their command were trapped and died between Gongjing Town and Longtai Town, with no way to escape.
In a hurry, Xie Jing personally led his troops to charge, trying to fight his way out. However, the enemy's troops did not fight Xie Jing and others head-on, but used the terrain to block his troops.
Xie Jing and his men's rear had been ambushed, and a small portion of their food and fodder had been lost. The remaining fodder could only sustain them for ten days at most. Once the fodder ran out, the entire army would be easy prey for the enemy. Clearly, the enemy was well aware of this, and therefore gave Xie Jing and his men no chance to break out.
With no other choice, the two could only continue to lead their troops to charge. However, their purpose was no longer to break out, but to create an opportunity for the scouts to send out the message. Only when reinforcements arrived to rescue them would they have a chance of survival.
Fortunately, there is always a way out! When the two sides fought again, a thick fog fell, shrouding the entire battlefield in mist. Xie Jing took advantage of this opportunity and sent out dozens of scouts from different directions. As long as one of them succeeded, the news would be delivered.
…
In the camp ten miles northeast of Longtai Town, Xie Jing and Guo Wei sat opposite each other.
After a long silence, Xie Jing asked in a hoarse voice, "General Guo, how much food and grass do we have left?"
"After checking, the remaining food and grass can only last for four to five days at most."
"Bang!" Xie Jing slammed the table. "We were careless. If we hadn't discovered the enemy's ambush, it wouldn't have been easy for them to trap us here."
"I don't know if the Marshal has received our news."
"Brother, I've let you down this time. In two days, when my injuries are better, I'll lead the troops into battle!"
"After these few battles, I've also observed the enemy's troop deployment. Currently, their troops are primarily stationed in the barren mountains to the northwest, with 20,000 troops on each side of the mountain range. The entire passage has been completely blocked by these bastards. However, about a mile to the left of their main camp, there's a valley with dense forest."
"We now have over 20,000 troops. Since we're planning a breakout, we don't need to leave any troops behind to defend the rear. We'll retreat at night. I'll lead 5,000 troops into battle. They won't engage easily, so I can take this opportunity to penetrate their main camp."
"When that time comes, I will lead five thousand brothers to defend this line at all costs. You will take the opportunity to lead the rest of the troops directly into the dense forests of the valley. As long as I delay long enough, you can lead all the troops into the barren mountains. Even if they want to stop us, it will be too late. However, now that food and fodder are scarce, you can only leave it to fate."
Guo Wei smiled and patted Xie Jing on the shoulder, "Even if we have to leave, you should lead the brothers."
"You are the master of Dingcheng Marquis Mansion, and you are still injured. It is not your turn anyway."
"Bullshit!" Xie Jing cursed with a smile, "My son is also in the army, with the Marshal taking care of him. When he returns, won't he be granted a viscount or something? Even if I die here, my family roots won't be severed. You bastard, you're still an old bachelor. You still have your parents at home waiting for you to take care of you. It would be a relief if you died here, but what about your family?"
Xie Jing's words silenced Guo Wei. Who would want to die if they could live? He had parents at home, but which of the tens of thousands of soldiers under his command didn't have a wife, children, or elders?
After a long moment, Guo Wei said, "The situation may not be the worst. The enemy clearly wants to wear us out, so they won't initiate an attack. We should conserve some food. We should be able to hold out for at least seven or eight days. Who knows, by then the Marshal might arrive with reinforcements."
"Even if we really have to fight our way out, you and I came together, so we must go together. These men under my command can fight and die with me, but I cannot exchange your life or theirs for mine. I have parents at home, but I have the Marshal here. Can the Marshal really let my parents starve to death?"
"No need to say more, you and I will rest for two or three days. If that doesn't work, then we'll give it a try!"
Seeing Guo Wei's expression, Xie Jing patted his shoulder vigorously, "Good brother, if we can get out and return to Shenjing, I will at least capture the courtesan from Wanhua Tower and have her drink with me!"
…
Jia Cong led his troops into Shaoxi Prefecture. After two or three days of marching and passing the capital Rongde, the scouts he sent out finally brought back news.
"General, seventy miles ahead, about ten miles from Longtai Town, in the barren mountains on the west bank of Shuangxi River, there are about 40,000 to 50,000 enemy troops stationed in two large camps. Our scouts didn't go any further to avoid alerting the enemy, so the situation of Xie Jing and the others is unknown."
Jia Cong nodded slightly. The enemy's military strength was in the plan. However, now that the enemy was using the terrain to set up camp, it was obviously not easy for his troops to attack.
"Tomorrow, advance forty miles and set up camp!"
The next day, the army continued to advance until it was more than thirty miles away from the tribal military camp, and then stopped.
In Jia Cong's central tent, all the generals gathered, but looking at the survey map before them, they were all at a loss! The enemy camp was located halfway up the mountain, high above, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Moreover, it would be impossible for the troops to approach without being discovered by the enemy's scouts.
In this way, a surprise attack is impossible and a forced attack is extremely difficult.
Everyone discussed it for a long time , but no one could come up with a feasible solution.
Jia Cong waved his hand to stop the noisy chatter, and then said, "Set fire to the mountain!"
Fire and water are merciless, and even a large army cannot withstand them. However, both water and fire attacks are detrimental to the harmony of nature. Fortunately, there are no civilians in this desolate mountain area. Therefore, although fire attack is inhumane, compared to letting his own soldiers die, Jia Cong still made this choice.
"Tomorrow night, send three hundred-man teams with kerosene around to the rear and above the enemy camp. It's winter, and the weather is dry and hot. Once a fire starts, it will be impossible for the enemy to put it out. Although the enemy camp has deliberately cleared the surrounding trees to prevent fire, if a fire breaks out, they will be in chaos. Their only way to escape is to go down the mountain and hide."
"Send the remaining 2,000 cavalrymen to rendezvous with Lu Feng. Once the fire breaks out, have them charge into the mountain pass immediately. Don't give the enemy a chance to gather their forces! As long as Lu Feng can entangle them and break their formation, once the main force arrives, the enemy will be defeated!"
