Chapter 495: JiaoJiao Takes Action
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"You can go now, and we'll call you if we need anything." Gu Chengfeng told Prefect Cheng.
Prefect Cheng cupped his hands and said, "If the two Lords have any requests, please don't hesitate to call upon me any time."
After Prefect Cheng left, Gu Chengfeng instructed the servants guarding the entrance, "You're not needed here. You can also leave."
"Yes." The servants responded and left the courtyard.
Gu Chengfeng naturally poured a cup of hot tea for Gu Jiao and said, "Take a sip of tea first."
Gu Jiao lifted the teacup and took a gentle sip.
Gu Chengfeng poured himself a cup as well, and after drinking half of it, he set the cup down and sighed, saying, "I don't know when my eldest brother's army will arrive. If the enemy attacks Yuegu City now, these five thousand troops won't be able to hold it."
In Gu Jiao’s dream, Yuegu City had indeed fallen, and the Gu Family Army had arrived only after the city's tragic fate.
The Gu Family Army couldn’t be blamed for the tragedy of Yuegu City. Upon receiving the imperial order, Gu Changqing returned to the capital as quickly as possible, swiftly organized the Gu Family Army, and led a force of one hundred thousand troops northward.
Unfortunately, the one hundred thousand troops weren't entirely composed of cavalry.
Given the current conditions of the roads and the state of military equipment in the State of Zhao, the infantry couldn't march more than a hundred miles in a day without potentially compromising their combat effectiveness.
Additionally, due to the effects of the border region's climate, the closer they got to the north, the slower their marching speed became, and they could even encounter heavy snowfall that could block mountain passes and roads.
Not to mention that the marching speed of an army didn’t actually depend on the fastest cavalry or the second-fastest infantry, but rather on the slowest supply train.
The supply train included provisions, tents, weapons, and siege equipment.
An army without supplies was like a soldier without weapons; it wouldn’t be able to continue fighting for long.
Given these factors, it was actually quite a miraculous feat for Gu Changqing to lead his army to arrive in just a few days.
"In five days." Gu Jiao said.
"What five days?" Gu Chengfeng asked.
"Your eldest brother." Gu Jiao replied.
If she remembered correctly, Gu Changqing would arrive with the Gu Family Army in five days.
However, in two days, the State of Chen's army would arrive and slaughter the city.
Why did the State of Chen's army invade the State of Zhao for several days without slaughtering the first three cities but decided to do so to the small Yuegu City?
Was Yuegu City's resistance the most intense?
Not really.
The fiercest resistance was in Beiyang City, followed by Ye City and Lingguan City. Half of Yuegu City's residents had already fled, so what kind of strong resistance could they still put up?
It all stemmed from Rong Yao's youngest son being shot on the battlefield. Rong Yao sought revenge, and at the same time, he wanted to intimidate the soldiers and people of the borders, so he razed the entire Yuegu City to the ground.
"How did you know my eldest brother will arrive in five days?" Gu Chengfeng didn't suspect that Gu Jiao was making things up because everything she had said so far had come true. "Are you secretly in contact with my eldest brother or the court?"
"And how can I contact them?" Gu Jiao asked in return.
Gu Chengfeng was stumped.
That was true.
He slept and ate with this girl. He knew everything she did. There was no way she could do something behind his back, and there was no need for that either.
She might be keeping things from Tang Yueshan, but that was different!
Thinking of Tang Yueshan, Gu Chengfeng temporarily forgot to ask Gu Jiao why she knew so much. He furrowed his brows and said, "It's been three days already, and I don't know how things are going with Tang Yueshan. Honestly, I do have a dislike for him, but at this moment, I don't wish for him to get into trouble."
In the dream, when the State of Chen's army came to massacre the city, Tang Yueshan wasn't in Yuegu City. So, either Tang Yueshan had an issue in Ye City, or Tang Yueshan had left Ye City and encountered a problem on the way to Yuegu City.
Because whether Tang Yueshan needed to find Gu Jiao for the antidote or not, he must return to Yuegu City to use it as a base and deal with the enemy forces.
Regarding Tang Yueshan's situation, Gu Jiao got her answers the following evening.
Early the next day, Prefect Cheng rushed into the courtyard of Gu Jiao’s group, breathless and panicked, "Not good! Not good! My Lords! General Rong Yao from the State of Chen is bringing a large army toward Yuegu City! You two should leave Yuegu City immediately and seek refuge in another city. This humble one shall immediately send someone to escort the two Lords and Old Marquis out of the city!"
"What about you?" Gu Chengfeng asked.
Prefect Cheng was first startled, then said, "I... I will escort the three of you out of the city."
Gu Chengfeng was furious. He grabbed Prefect Cheng by the collar and said with righteous indignation, "You are the Prefect of Yuegu City, an official appointed by the imperial court! The State of Chen's army is coming, and you are fleeing the battle instead of defending the city! Are you worthy of being an official for the people?! Are you still a man!?"
Prefect Cheng stammered, "I... I was simply going to escort Old Marquis and the two Lords to safety..."
Gu Chengfeng pushed him to the ground, "We don't need your escort! We're not leaving!"
Prefect Cheng's official hat was askew, and he straightened it. Shaking with fear, he stood up and said, "Since the two Lords are not leaving, this humble one won't leave either. I will stay and defend the city with the people."
Gu Chengfeng threatened coldly, "You'd better do just that, or I'll be the first to kill you!"
Prefect Cheng shivered.
The State of Chen's army was planning to capture Yuegu City, a small city without garrison troops. There was no need for any tricks, they could just directly charge into the city gate. It was because of their massive force and momentum that Prefect Cheng's side detected their movements.
But what was the use of detecting their movements?
Could they win?
Just relying on these 5,000 soldiers, half of whom were temporary conscripts?
"How many of them are coming?" Gu Jiao asked.
"Five... Five thousand cavalry in the front." Prefect Cheng reported hesitantly. "And there are another 15,000 infantry behind."
"So, it's a total of 20,000 soldiers?" Gu Jiao said.
"Yes… Huh?!" Prefect Cheng answered, only then realizing that the youth before him, whose face was marred, was speaking and even sounded like a woman.
With 20,000 soldiers from the State of Chen, Yuegu City's current strength would be utterly overwhelmed.
"Report—- Report—-"
During the conversation between several people, a guard's voice rang out urgently from outside.
"Let him in!" Gu Chengfeng ordered sternly.
Prefect Cheng quickly instructed his servants to bring the guard inside. The guard was a scout from Yuegu City. It was him who found out that the State of Chen’s army was marching towards Yuegu City. Prefect Cheng ordered him to keep an eye on the State of Chen's army’s movements.
Evidently, the scout had uncovered new information.
"Reporting to Prefect Cheng, the State of Chen's army is fighting with the army of the court!"
Prefect Cheng exclaimed, "The court’s army? The reinforcements have arrived!"
The scout quickly clarified, "No, it seems like the same court’s army as before."
Gu Jiao and Gu Chengfeng exchanged knowing glances. Tang Yueshan had returned with his army!
Gu Chengfeng opened his mouth in astonishment, not expecting that the person surnamed Tang would actually have the ability to rescue his army from Ye City. He had heard of a single person saving someone, but it was quite rare for one person to save an entire army.
"This guy surnamed Tang is a bit impressive huh." He muttered.
Gu Jiao asked, "Where are they engaged in battle?"
The scout replied, "Twenty miles away at the Yuegu Slope."
Gu Jiao inquired further, "How many forces are on each side?"
"The State of Chen has their 5,000 cavalry, the court’s army has 2,000 infantry and 500 archers." The scout explained, adding, "These are approximate numbers, not counting the casualties."
In battles between two armies, there were casualties every second and every minute.
Gu Jiao gave him a sharp look and asked, "What's your name?"
The scout replied, "This humble one is called Hu Dongqiang, and I'm the sixth son in my family. They call me Little Six."
Gu Jiao said, "From now on, you'll be called Little Hu.”
Hu Dongqiang was perplexed.
Gu Jiao grabbed a long spear from the rack and asked, "Do you have a younger brother named Hu Xiqiang?" [T/N: Dong means east, Xi means west]
Hu Dongqiang was surprised once again, "Ah, how did you know?"
Gu Jiao: “...”
Your parents aren't very creative with names.
She tossed her back basket to Hu Dongqiang, "Put this on. From now on, you'll be following me."
Gu Chengfeng held onto Gu Jiao's arm, "I'll go instead."
They couldn't both leave. Someone had to stay behind.
Gu Jiao tossed him the Renshou Palace's token and said, "You defend the city! Anyone who disobeys orders will be executed!"
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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