Chapter - 528 Sword Duels On Mount Hua (11) (2/2)
Guo Jing swept his gaze across the field; he saw flags fluttering like clouds, the blades gleaming white like snow; he did not know for sure how many soldiers were there. ”Once this cavalry attacks, I, Guo Jing, will give up my life,” he thought. With a clear voice he said, ”Very well! Then go ahead and take my life!”
Tuolei was taken aback, he mused, ”This man commands an army like a deity, truly I am not his match; much less he and I are as close as flesh and blood brothers. How could I injure this sworn brother's relationship?” He hesitated and did not know what to do.
Huang Rong turned her head and signaled with her right hand. Immediately the soldiers in the city shot a canon. As soon as they heard the canon, the soldiers on the eastern hillside raised their voices and waved their flags. Tuolei's face changed. The canon was shot again, and the soldiers on the western hillside were also shouting loudly. Tuolei thought, ”Not good! I fell into his ambush.”
Tulei had served under Genghis Khan fighting to the east and attacking to the west; he had been in countless battles. What major battle he had not seen? How could this little ambush by several thousands soldiers scare him? It was because during the expedition to the west Guo Jing had demonstrated wonderful and strange warfare. Tuolei was already scared of Guo Jing. Now he saw the situation was unusual, he was afraid he might fall into Guo Jing's trap. He gave an order for his troops to withdraw about thirty 'li's and pitched a camp there.
Seeing the Mongolian army retreat, Guo Jing and Huang Rong looked at each other and smiled. ”Jing Gege, congratulations on your empty city tactic.”
Guo Jing smiled, but his face still showed anxiety, he said, ”Tuolei is smart and brave. He retreated today, but he will be back tomorrow. How would we fight him?”
Huang Rong hesitated for half a day before opened her mouth, ”I have an idea, but I am afraid you love your sworn brother too much and will not be willing to do it.”
Guo Jing's heart turned cold, ”You want me to assassinate him?” he asked.
”He is the youngest and most beloved son of the Great Khan,” Huang Rong replied, ”Unlike other senior generals, he holds incomparable honors. If the Fourth Prince dies, the troops will retreat immediately.”
Guo Jing lowered his head without saying anything; they turned back and entered the city. Seeing the enemy retreat, the troops marched back to the city, still in disorderly manner. Lu Wende heard how Guo Jing made the enemy retreat simply by talking; he was overjoyed and immediately paid two people a visit at their lodgings, inviting them back to his mansion for a drink.
Guo Jing wanted to discuss city defense with him, but as soon as Lu Wende heard that the Mongolian army would be back the next day his knees weakened and he was speechless for half a day. When he finally opened his mouth what he said was, ”Prepare a sedan chair, I am going home. Prepare a sedan chair, I am going home.” He determined to abandon the city and head south that very same night.
Guo Jing was very depressed, he could not eat. The sky gradually darkened. He heard people crying all over the city. He was afraid that by this time the next day there wouldn't be a single living Great Song people in Xiangyang. He had seen not a few times where the Mongolian troops were on a killing spree, washing the city wall they subdued with the blood of the people. He could never take the massacre of the people of Samarkhand out of his mind. ”Crack!” he slapped the table with his palm and shouted, ”Rong'er, the people of old sacrificed their own family for the country; today how can I concern myself with sworn brotherhood?”