Chapter 282 – Fight to the Death (1/2)
Fight to the Death
Three days. Liu Bei’s Army of twenty thousand was blocked outside of Guangzhou for a full three days. Even Zhang Xiu felt awkward to keep watching and left together with his Xiliang Cavalry. Now, Liu Bei even felt like killing someone. If it was not because of many years of living a moral life and also Pang Tong’s discouragement, Liu Pi would have already been beheaded.
Twenty thousand soldiers had attacked the hard to defend and small Guangzhou. The walls of Guangzhou were not tall like Wancheng and Shouchun. It does not have a river like Xiapi. It was just a small city surrounded by a wall of soil. However, Liu Pi was still unable to take it down. On top of that over five thousand of the Yellow Turban soldiers have died. It made Liu Bei want to impulsively change the general.
Liu Pi also felt very bitter. He looked at Liu Bei who did not speak and had an indifferent gaze. Liu Pi felt very depressed. In front of them were three cities, Gus.h.i.+, Anfeng, and Guangzhou. Guangzhou was the closest to Yuzhou and Jingzhou. It was a connecting point. However, because it was hard to defend, it would not be garrisoned with much. Liu Biao pretty much ignored it and when Yuzhou was still in Liu Pi’s control, he would not stretch out here even if his defenders were not enough.
Liu Mang also felt that Guangzhou was dispensable so he felt that it was more difficult to attack Gus.h.i.+ and Anfeng. This was why Liu Pi was initially very happy as he had more soldiers than Zhang Fei and Chen Dao. Guangzhou was also a simple place. Liu Bei would be watching from the sidelines so the merits earned would also be higher. It would allow Liu Bei to brag. But now it was not so.
(TN: Had trouble translating this. Basically Liu Bei was supposed to ‘get face’ from this.)
Gus.h.i.+ and Anfeng was taken in a day by Zhang Fei and Chen Dao. However, with Hao Shao at Guangzhou, not only was Liu Pi unable to capture Guangzhou in three days. He had also lost five thousand soldiers. The casualties caused from the moat and the destruction of the rams. Liu Pi’s way up was burned down by Hao Shao from his first attempt at sieging. At first, he wanted to be rewarded by Liu Bei. Now he is just hoping that Liu Bei does not punish him.
“Milord please be relieved. When it is bright again tomorrow, this general will attack Guangzhou. If Guangzhou is not taken, this general will give you his head.” Liu Pi gritted his teeth determinedly. Right now, Guangzhou’s moat was already filled up. The attacks in the past few days were not pointless. At the very least, the defenders would be tired. Although there were not many casualties. Although it was not a lot, there were at least a hundred injured. If it was not because of the sky turning dark after filling up the moat, Guangzhou would have been captured already. Liu Pi believes that the city would definitely be captured tomorrow.
“I hope so!” Liu Bei snorted, leaving behind an embarra.s.sed Liu Pi.
As night arrived, the moon and stars appeared. It was deathly silent at Guangzhou. This was not because it was empty but because the soldiers were so tired that they did not want to speak or move.
Finally, someone broke the silence. “General! Do you think we can defend Guangzhou?”
The defender stared at Hao Shao. One of his arms were cut off by an enemy. The battle that day was the most intense one. As the moat was filled up, it could be said that Guangzhou was now exposed to the enemy. Liu Pi had tried to siege again. Five thousand troops had almost climbed onto the walls. Fortunately, Hao Shao set fire to the ladders and burned the enemy down. Otherwise, Guangzhou would really be in a perilous situation.
“Guangzhou?” It was not just the defenders. Even Hao Shao was asking himself this question. Could Guangzhou still be defended? He had used two thousand troops to defend the small Guangzhou and wounded five thousand of the enemy. This was a very good record. After all, the soldiers with Hao Shao were of low quality unlike Liu Pi. Normally, Hao Shao would gain a lot of merits for lasting three days against twenty thousand soldiers.”
But right now, Hao Shao needs to know if Guangzhou could still be defended. The next day, he must definitely fight against the enemy’s full a.s.sault. Hao Shao could see the commanding general’s anger and was certain that the final battle would be on the next day.
“We can definitely defend it!” Hao Shao finally replied against his will. He did not want to lie to the soldiers but he knew that if he did not deceive them, they would collapse now and would not even need to be defeated by the enemy. So, Hao Shao had no choice but to reply like this.
“Really?” That soldier seemed to have something else to say but Hao Shao denied him that opportunity. This was because the topic was too heavy. It would make people think too much. Hao Shao turned to Xuan Jian who was beside him and asked. “Xuan Jian. Have you dispatched the people asking for help?”
“They have already been dispatched. A group of four had already left since the first day!” Xuan Jian paused for a moment before he added. “All four soldiers were given horses. According to the time, they should return by today!”
“That’s good! Everyone! Be glad! Tomorrow evening, our reinforcements may arrive!” Hao Shao shouted to the soldiers from the walls.
“Reinforcements? Really? We have reinforcements?”
“Our reinforcements are coming! Is it the Wolf Cavalry? The Urban Army? Black Flag?” The people asking were those that wanted to be enlisted in the Black Flag Army and the Urban Army.
“It is not possible for it to be the Urban Army or the Black Flag Army. It should probably be the Wolf Cavalry. Heavily armored troops cannot march so quickly. The only one that could reach in time are the Wolf Cavalry!” Another person retorted. This one knows some general knowledge.
“The Wolf Cavalry! Led by the G.o.d of War Lu Bu!”
“How could you simply say the Lord’s name!”
One by one, they began to discuss and the silence was gradually swept away.
“Reinforcements?” Hao Shao smiled bitterly. They dispatched four. Three died on the road. One reached Shucheng and had returned the day before. Shucheng was guarded by Zhang Liao so Zhang Liao did not lie to Hao Shao. Hao Shao was informed that no reinforcements would be appearing for the moment. Even though Lujiang was currently prepared for war, they lack provisions and they needed to be cautious of Sun Ce.
The state of the Jiangdong fleet is currently unknown. Without sufficient information, Lu Bu did not dare to move the Wolf Cavalry and the Formation Breaker to help Shouchun.
“Brothers. Just consider it as me owing you one!” Hao Shao sighed as he lied down. He used cloth and quilt as his blanket and bed as he rested on the walls.