Chapter 26: The City Gate Sniper
Taishi Ci intended to lead a force out of the city to reinforce the troops defending the Sheep's Head Wall, but when he reached the city gate, he was stopped by someone who said that according to national regulations, at the critical moment of the fierce battle, in order to prevent accidents, the city gate could not be opened. Taishi Ci was so anxious that he stomped his feet: "This is equivalent to abandoning the troops defending outside the city! How can the Sheep's Head Wall be defended without support from inside the city?!"
Kong Rong was not good at fighting, but he was good at winning people's hearts. The military law was strict, and the soldiers under his command were absolutely obedient to him, without daring to disobey. Taishi Ci was forced to run to the county government again to beg Kong Rong, and once again proposed that he temporarily lend him the right to command the army. Kong Rong chatted about the weather and discussed Confucian classics, using his eloquence to easily fool him. Taishi Ci was forced to return, pulling on his clothes, to beg the officials who were actually in charge of defending the city, but these officials, although not as eloquent as Kong Rong, could still handle an outsider like him.
In the end, the state officials would not relent, what right did they have to lend troops to Taishi Ci?
As expected, the battle was intermittent and lasted until evening. The government troops outside the city suffered heavy casualties. Kong Rong then controlled the county office from a distance, ordering the city gate to be quietly opened, abandoning the sheep and horse wall, and bringing in all the surviving soldiers. For a whole day, Taishi Ci didn't get a chance to fight, even if you gave him the opportunity, he wouldn't go to fight.
After nightfall, Kong Rong gathered the officials to discuss and said with a bitter face: "The enemy's momentum is very strong. If reinforcements do not arrive, the city will be broken sooner or later. What can we do?" Taishi Ci also mixed into the meeting, but he looked around and saw that all the people present, including Yi Zixi, Liu Xiang, Liu Kongci, Liu Yixuan, Zuo Jing, Zuo Chengzu, etc., were all civil officials and clerks, not a single one of them had commanded battles on the front line.
Xun stood beside him, both standing behind Ziyi. He quietly poked him and asked in a low voice, "Given today's situation, how many days do you think the city can hold out?" Taishi Ci furrowed his brow and said with hatred, "If I were in command, we wouldn't need to abandon the city even after twenty days... The soldiers are quite brave in battle, but unfortunately, there is no good general to lead them. At this rate, the city will definitely fall within a month!"
He was startled to hear this, and almost fell to the ground. Yesterday, he heard that Taishi Ci said that they could hold out until the Yellow Turbans retreated, and he was quite pleased with himself, thinking that his risk had not been in vain. Today, when he heard Taishi Ci change his tune, he couldn't help but think: "Alas, alas! Is it really going to be the case that I have to die for Kong Rong, this incompetent fool who won't even delegate power?!" He hastily asked Taishi Ci: "What can we do?"
They were discussing with Kong Rong that they must send someone to break through the siege and go elsewhere to seek reinforcements. Some mentioned Yuan Shao, the governor of Ji Province, some mentioned Tao Qian, the governor of Xu Province, and others mentioned Gongsun Zan, the General Who Displays Martial Prowess, but all were too far away to rescue them in time. At this point, Taishi Ci stepped forward and suggested: "The Yellow Turbans are being pursued by Pingyuan and Dong Commandery, so they have retreated back to Beihai; they must be afraid of the armies of these two places, we can send someone there to seek help."
He nodded repeatedly and said, "Dongjun is too far away. We can go to Pingyuan to ask Liu Xuande to send troops to respond." Kong Rong frowned and asked him, "I have no previous acquaintance with Liu Bei, and he is just a military general. Will he come to rescue us?"
Xun remembered that Kong Rong's rescue was due to Liu Bei's efforts, so he strongly persuaded him, saying: "Liu Xuande is in Pingyuan, and his hatred for the Yellow Turbans is as deep as the sea. If the Yellow Turban bandits break through Beihai, their power will be even more formidable, and when they turn back to take revenge, Liu Xuande will also fall into danger. This is what is meant by 'when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold'. I think that Liu Xuande is not a timid person like Fuchu Jun, and since your lordship's reputation for virtue is spread throughout Guandong, how could he possibly not come to rescue?"
Believing that "the virtuous name of the Prefect is spread throughout Guandong", Kong Rong heard this very pleasing to his ears, and nodded repeatedly, saying: "Hong Fu's great talent, what he said is indeed true." Then he looked around at the crowd: "Who can go to Pingyuan to seek help?"
Everyone stared with wide eyes, and no one dared to speak again. To make a joke, the first batch of people who asked for help, Wang Xiu and Wang Xiao, had already run out before the city was besieged, and they were still safe. Now that Changcheng has been surrounded, which official still has the guts to leave the city? Moreover, even if someone eats bear heart and leopard gall, or is suddenly inspired by some "loyalty" and rushes up, it's not like they can just walk out, I reckon as soon as they cross the moat, they'll be shot full of arrows by the enemy and become a hedgehog.
At this time, only Taishi Ci can take the initiative to come forward. Kong Rong is still hesitant and says: "There are millions of Yellow Turbans outside the city, I know you are brave, but it's not easy to break through this heavy siege?" Taishi Ci pats his chest and says: "In the past, when I was wandering outside, my old mother at home had no one to rely on, thanks to your care. That's why I came hundreds of miles to support you... Unfortunately, although I got into the city, I didn't have a chance to repay your kindness..." I wanted to come and repay your kindness, but you don't even give me soldiers, and the city gate won't open for me, what can I do here alone?
He then said, "Du Chang is in danger every day, and the plan to lift the siege can only be sought by going to Pingyuan for help. If Ci cannot make it happen again, people will consider Ci an unrighteous person, which would also harm your lordship's reputation for knowing people. I hope your lordship does not have any doubts, and quickly writes a letter to allow Ci to leave the city to seek help."
Kong Rong was still not quite at ease: "Can Ziyuan really get out?" Taishi Ci smiled slightly: "Although the Yellow Turbans are numerous, there are few who can fight, and they have no discipline or organization. I have a clever plan to confuse the enemy, and in three days at most, we will definitely be able to break out of the city."
In the end, at the critical moment of life and death, Kong Rong was so pretentious that he couldn't help but be persuaded by others, including Yi and Xun. Finally, he had no choice but to agree, writing a letter asking for help, and asked Ta Shi Ci: "How many soldiers and horses should follow?" Ta Shi Ci said: "Too many people will make it difficult to leave the city, just ask for two good riders to follow." Xun hurriedly stood up and raised his hand: "Count me in!" He thought that if history were changed, Ta Shi Ci hadn't brought back the rescue troops, and the city was breached, he would truly be "losing both wife and soldiers". Anyway, he made up his mind, until the siege of the city was lifted, he would not leave Ta Shi Ci's side again!
In the end, Kong Rong had no choice but to let Shi Xun and a strong soldier named Di Yu follow Taishi Ci into action.
Tai Shi Ci first let Shi Xun take down the stirrups from his horse, had the blacksmith in the city make two more pairs overnight, and equipped them on his own and Di Yu's horses. After resting for a night, he had Shi Xun and Di Yu each hold up a target, while he himself held a bow and arrow, gave the order to open the city gate, and galloped out.
At this time, the defenders outside the city had all withdrawn into the city, while the Yellow Turbans were still unaware of the situation and were camping more than two arrows away from the moat. In other words, there was a buffer zone of over 100 paces between the moat and the Yellow Turban camp. However, the enemy had people on guard and observing the city gate at all times. As soon as the city gate opened, drums beat and flags waved, and many men with yellow turbans on their heads and sharp blades in their hands suddenly sprang up from the ground (originally they were just wrapped in blankets and lying on the ground).
He was a bit nervous, but thinking of Taishi Ci by his side, he barely restrained himself from turning around and running away. Following Taishi Ci's orders, he and Di Yu rode out of the city, one on the left and one on the right, about 70 to 80 steps away from the city gate, and inserted the target flags into the moat before turning back. Before the Yellow Turbans could form their ranks, Taishi Ci suddenly rode out of the city gate, with a quiver of arrows hanging from his waist on both sides. He first drew his bow to the left and shot an arrow, hitting the left target, then twisted his waist and drew his bow to the right, shooting another arrow and hitting the right target. After finishing, he calmly returned to the city.
Originally, the Yellow Turbans estimated that due to limited food supplies, even soldiers could only eat half full, so in order to conserve energy and add to their poor organizational strength, they would not start attacking the city until nearly noon. This time, thanks to Taishi Ci's performance, everyone was still waking up from sleep when they got up, so since they were already up, they might as well attack the city ahead of schedule - and since the attack was ahead of schedule, it should naturally end early too. From Chen time to Wei time, they filled in several trenches, approached the city walls twice, shot dead dozens of defending soldiers, while their own side threw down hundreds of corpses.
Taishi Ci returned to the city and then looked for a place to rest at the foot of the city, although he would occasionally ask people about the war situation, but he refused to step onto the city wall again. When asked by Xun Yu, he said: "If I go up to the city, see the intense battle, can't help but lend a hand, but at most kill a few more enemy soldiers, after all, it won't make much difference. If I don't exert myself, people will look down on me, if I do exert myself, the enemy will be alerted, and it will be difficult to sneak out of the city again. With the enemy's military strength, at least ten days can't break the city, so let General Huang put his mind at ease."
It's all said and done, I couldn't possibly be at ease anyway. Never mind, let's just trust Tai Shi Ci's judgment, after all he is a great general, while I'm just a minor official, it's better not to interfere with the plans of professionals.
The next morning, Taishi Ci took Shi Xiong and Di Yu out to perform again. This time, he had them insert the targets ten steps further away, nearly a hundred steps. Taishi Ci's arrows did not miss their mark, and he hit each one again. When they returned to the city, he smiled at Shi Xiong and said: "Hong Fu has taken notice, today the enemy army that rose up is less than half of yesterday's." Shi Xiong thought to himself: I'm just trembling with fear, how can I still have the leisure to observe the enemy's movements? Wait a minute... Taishi Ci's plan was...
The third day, just after dawn broke, Taishi Ci was ready to go out and perform. He was flanked by Shi Huan and Zhou Yu, waiting for the city gate to open. Taishi Ci said to Shi Huan: "I reckon today, the enemy will surely be off guard, I can rely on my horse's speed to break through the encirclement. But I'm afraid there may still be vigilant people blocking me, it's not possible to have no danger at all. It's better for Xiaoyu to stay inside the city."
Xun's eyes widened as he shook his head: "Wherever Zi Yi goes, I'll go too. We still need to trouble Zi Yi to take care of us." Taishi Ci nodded in relief: "Hong Fu is indeed a bold one, unfortunately his martial arts skills are not good. Let's wait for the siege to be lifted, and then I'll teach you properly."
As expected, the city gate creaked open to the left and right. Looking far away, only some of the Yellow Turbans were still lying on the ground, with a few guards standing guard with their spears. Taishi Ci turned his head to look at Xun Yu and Zhou Yu beside him, and shouted: "The time is now!" The two men also put down their shields, each took up their bows, followed Taishi Ci, whipped their horses, and rushed out of the city like the wind.
Three men stepped over a newly filled trench, looking for a place where the bandits were scarce and the guards were relatively lax. They rushed straight through. Sure enough, the Yellow Turbans initially thought they would continue to show off their archery skills, and most of them continued to lie in wait. Then, seeing the three riders approaching, and before they could even grab their weapons, they all rolled over and fled, with almost no one daring to block their way.
Until they had run more than half of the thick city wall, several horse-riding bandits finally reacted and, relying on their numerical superiority, charged from the side to slow down the three men. Taishi Ci was not polite at all, with both feet on the stirrups, standing up straight, shooting arrows left and right, knocking down several people in a row. Zishan followed behind him, secretly praising in his heart: "He is indeed a great general! On the galloping war horse, I can only maintain my balance for twenty or thirty seconds, but he stood upright for nearly five minutes! Not afraid of bumps, not losing accuracy, this leg strength and waist strength are against the sky!"
As he was lost in thought, the sound of horseshoes echoed again from afar. Turning his head to look, he saw a familiar figure charging out of the chaotic army, drawing his bow and shooting an arrow straight at Taishi Ci's face. What a great Taishi Ci, who merely tilted his head slightly to dodge the incoming arrow, then turned around and shot an arrow back in return.
Xun Zhi was shocked by what he saw and instinctively raised his whip to lash the rump of Taishi Ci's horse!
I am the dividing line of Yao's seductiveness
Along with Taishi Ci and Shi Yun, the passing NPC Zhai Yu rushed out of Douchang City. He was originally a fan from the previous work, I said I wanted to find a common face, so he came up. Okay, this guy was going to use it once and throw it away, since then, after tens of thousands of words later, find an opportunity to let him appear again. The first one who rushed in, should give some benefits, right?
