PFC Chapter 357 Reinforcements
Chapter 357 Reinforcements
Qian Dazhuang hurried towards the east gate, examining everything in front of him with sharp eyes.
At this moment, the sky has darkened, as if ink has been poured, dyeing the world into chaos.
He quietly approached the general guarding the east gate, moved his lips slightly, and whispered a few words in the other's ear, his words revealing a sense of urgency and mystery.
Taking advantage of the inky night, several riders drove out of the city gate quietly and silently. Their figures quickly merged into the darkness, as if they had never existed.
……
Soon, many figures gathered on the second line of defense.
The total number of defenders at the two lost city gates was only a little over 3,000.
Looking at the deep fatigue on their faces, the bloodstains all over their bodies, and the tattered armor, one can imagine how difficult and tragic this battle was.
A soldier at the city gate came hurriedly and shouted to the exhausted soldiers, "Retreat further and gather at the government office gate."
The entrance to the government office is located in the relatively central area of the city.
Several huge iron pots were temporarily built here, and food was being cooked inside to fill everyone's stomachs in the evening. Steam was rising and smoke was curling up.
Seeing the soldiers coming down to defend the city one after another, an old soldier who had been on the battlefield frowned and said softly, "Erlang, come here and wipe your faces with clean water, and then drink some hot soup to warm your bodies."
Several large vats that originally contained clear water were instantly filled with blood after being cleaned by these soldiers.
Moreover, these people just casually wiped their faces with linen dipped in water, but even so, the originally clean water became turbid.
They were so tired that they didn't even have the strength to reach out and grab the steamed buns. They just quickly drank a sip of hot soup and leaned against the wall, resting weakly like a deflated ball.
The sky is getting darker.
These exhausted soldiers received orders to gather at the east gate.
So everyone dragged their heavy feet and slowly came to the east gate.
The people sent by Qian Dazhuang hurried back to report that there were no ambush outside the city.
He remained silent with a serious expression, and then ordered his men to break out of the city.
It would be more accurate to say that this was a desperate escape rather than a breakout.
When the Qiang soldiers learned that they had left the city through the east gate, they hurriedly chased after them, but they didn't even see a single person.
……
Perhaps Sima Yan still doesn't know that Dingxi City had already fallen before his army set out.
In the secret letter Sima Ling sent him, he was very confident, claiming that all the fertile land of Dingxi would belong to him in the future.
While he was happily dreaming, the piece of fat meat had already fallen into the pocket of others.
Qian Dazhuang led everyone and took advantage of the night to march for thirty miles before they dared to stop and rest.
"This time, we lost 10,000 brothers. Even those who were injured did not want to drag us down when leaving the city, and were willing to stay behind to buy us time."
The deputy general's eyes were red and filled with tears as he cried to Qian Dazhuang.
"Therefore, we must remember this and avenge this. Especially those people from the Sima family. I will definitely write a letter to the King of Qin and the Ministry of War. They actually treat us as a joke."
Qian Dazhuang's back teeth creaked as he gritted his teeth, his anger evident in his words.
Until this moment, he had not received any news of reinforcements.
This means that the reinforcements never set out.
After resting for more than an hour, they walked dozens of miles towards the east in the dark. Only then did they feel a little relieved and found a suitable place to rest.
Before setting off, everyone received a steamed bun as dry food for the journey.
They didn't dare to make a fire to cook, for fear of exposing their whereabouts.
At night, you can only travel along the official road to avoid getting lost and going astray.
The next day, when we passed by a county town, we found it was an empty city, so quiet that it was frightening.
They did not stop and continued to march eastward.
After Dai Gongshan and others successfully occupied Dingxi City, they left Daraxinbu with the remaining troops to garrison, while he personally led people to chase Qian Dazhuang.
They chased all the way to the empty city and then stopped.
At this time, Sima Yan had just sent the team out.
The left general Zhang Heng was the vanguard, and the right general Qin Xiangqian was responsible for escorting the baggage. They led 50,000 people and marched towards Dingxi City in a mighty manner.
They had not received any military report about Qian Dazhuang's withdrawal from Dingxi City, and they naively believed that the city was still under their control.
A day later, Sima Yan received a battle report and was shocked to find that Dingxi City had been lost. He then remembered the army that had left the city, so he hurriedly sent out a thousand cavalry to chase the reinforcements.
Moulihei, the cavalry general of the Qiang army, led an army of 50,000 to Dingxi City.
I originally planned to rest here for one night before taking any further action.
"Report, scouts ahead have spotted reinforcements from Qingzhou, approximately 20,000 strong, over 80 miles away."
In Dingxi City, Moulihei was drinking happily with Daraxinbu when he suddenly heard the urgent report from the visitor.
"More than 20,000 people? We're still eighty miles away. Let's wait here and see what they can do to us."
Darasimbu sneered and said nonchalantly.
Mou Lihei, who was accompanied by elite cavalry, fell into deep thought after hearing the report. After a moment, he said:
"Dingxi City has fallen. They can't be completely unaware of this. I guess this is just the vanguard. They will probably receive the news and stop soon."
"Oh? What should I do then?"
"Since we haven't encountered the Daigongshan team, we must have missed them. However, with such a large number of troops, they certainly can't hide from their reconnaissance."
Mou Lihei's analysis was very clear and logical.
When they were still sixty miles away from Dingxi City, Zhang Heng's team was urgently stopped by the people chasing them.
It was not until this time that Zhang Heng realized that Dingxi City had fallen.
After Daigongshan occupied the empty city, he also sent out many scouts.
"You mean, there are 20,000 people heading towards Dingxi City, and another group is near us?"
"Yes, this team should be responsible for transporting supplies. They are only forty miles away from us and have about 20,000 people."
The scout reported back.
Daigongshan found a map and carefully analyzed the intelligence. Then, with a sly smile on his face, he said, "We will set out tonight to attack this baggage train. You continue to explore."
So, Dai Gongshan summoned his generals to his tent.
"Look, the scouts have discovered these baggage trains, and they're moving quite slowly. But once they learn of the situation ahead, they'll definitely turn back. We'll send someone over there, set up an ambush, and seize this train's baggage."
Everyone turned their eyes to the marked location on the map, which was very close to their camp.
Since they set foot on this land, they have never been able to gain any benefit, as if fate is always playing tricks on them.
Now, the appearance of this batch of supplies is undoubtedly like a spring of sweet water in the desert, bringing hope to their dry hearts.
If you can successfully capture it, it will be like catching a fat lamb, which will bring honor to everyone's face and joy to their hearts.
For a moment, everyone's blood boiled, their hands clenched tightly, as if even the air was filled with an irrepressible fighting spirit.
They waited anxiously and expectantly for Daigongshan's order, hoping that with just one order from him, they could lead their warriors and rush towards the tempting destination like an arrow.