Chapter 66: Rescue Outside the City

  Ye Jiajun's three sentinels, now have less than 300 crossbowmen, in the past few days, the left and right sentinels who participated in the battle to defend the city suffered 74 casualties, among whom more than 30 were crossbowmen.

  Ye Xuan had just replenished dozens of young auxiliary soldiers, but these people hadn't undergone the complicated training of the repeating crossbow, so Ye Xuan could only let them hold long spears and temporarily serve as the long spearman for each team.

  This battle is not trivial, to prevent these untrained new recruits from hindering the main force during the war, Ye Xuan still let these dozens of people continue to stay in the fortress and not follow the main force into battle.

  The crossbowmen of the Ye family army, apart from practicing their crossbows every day, also had to practice swordsmanship. However, after yesterday's battle, Wang Dou found that the swordsmanship of these crossbowmen did not play a significant role in actual combat, so he decided to equip them with unified swords instead.

  Ye's army had a hundred guards, company officers and platoon leaders. There were also the bodyguards of various officers, flag bearers, drummers and others. Originally, each guard had two hundred and forty-nine men.

  There were a total of 747 soldiers in the three battalions, not counting the 74 casualties. Even if Ye Xuan's personal guards were added to the remaining troops, there were only over 660 people left.

  Have these less than seven hundred men of the three battalions go out of the city to rescue. In the wild, against more than a thousand Jin soldiers, everyone in the Dog House knew that the chances of winning were slim, but Ye Xuan had no choice.

  The urgent drumbeats and cymbal clashes of Lu Yunbao never stopped, as troops in neat attire gathered under the leadership of their respective officers and ran to assemble at the training grounds outside the city.

  Ye Xuan issued a stern order, commanding the army to leave the city and provide reinforcements. Although many soldiers were intimidated by the prospect of fighting against the barbarians in the wilderness, they all chose to obey.

  At the city gate. On the streets, densely packed with auxiliary soldiers and military households of the Ye family army, team after team of war soldiers passed by with stern faces, passing by the side of the provincial capital. The various military households squeezed at the intersection, silently seeing them off into the distance.

  Inside and outside the city walls, all is silent. This time, when they went out, how many of those soldier brothers will be able to return? The children and younger brothers of their own families, will they have a chance to come back?

  In the sound of footsteps brushing by, a woman's loud cry was suddenly heard: "Fifth brother, don't worry and go, I'll wait for your return!"

  A child beside her also jumped up and down shouting: "Daddy."

  In the midst of the shouting, a soldier who was running with the army turned his head at the city gate and showed a smiling face to the mother and son.

  In an instant, cheers echoed through the sky.

  "Go ahead and don't worry."

  We're waiting for you to come back.

  At this moment, whether inside or outside the fortress, whether military or civilian, they all had tears in their eyes. However, they still smiled and waved, as if they were not going out to fight to the death, but rather going out on a tour.

  The crowd was moved to tears as he swung his fist with great force. What a good man! He dared to fight to the death with the barbarians. Having such a man in their household made it worthwhile.

  In the Qianhu government office, a pregnant woman also devoutly prayed to the Buddha statue: "Guanyin Bodhisattva who saves suffering and difficulties, I beg you to bless my brother to return home safely."

  In the Lu Yunbao training ground, Ye Xuan silently listened to the cheers coming from within Lu Yunbao. He quietly waited as soldier after soldier lined up on the training ground, watching them form neat rows, each person gripping their long spears tightly in hand.

  "After a long time, he spoke up: 'This time we sent troops to rescue Dongjiazhuang, I know many people are secretly afraid. The barbarians' reputation is loud and clear, and it's hard to find an enemy in the wilderness. To be honest, my heart is also afraid!'"

  He raised his voice and shouted: "Just because we are afraid, can we hide in the fort and see death without saving? We are the Lu Yunbao, Xin Zhuangbao, Dongjiazhuang forts, all of which are closely related brothers. If our brother is in trouble, we will not save him until he dies. What kind of thing is that?"

  "Coward!"

  "When you leave the fort, didn't you all hear your parents and wives cheering for you? Are you willing to let them think of you as cowards?"

  "Today we dare not assist our brothers, tomorrow they will also dare not to assist us. We shrink within our walls, even if we can defeat the enemy once, but isolated and unaided, one day there will be stronger enemies who will break through our fortresses, occupy our cities and lands, kill our wives and daughters, and slay our fathers and brothers!"

  Ye Xuan's voice was stern: "Those barbarian soldiers will definitely do this, are you willing to see this day?"

  The training ground was silent, but everyone's eyes were blazing with anger, and many people's chests were heaving up and down.

  Ye Xuan's eyes were as sharp as an eagle, he scanned the crowd and shouted: "To avoid greater disaster, let our descendants have no regrets, we can only bravely fight! Kill all those barbarians, let them know the ferocity of the heroes of Luoyun Fortress. From today on, let those barbarians hear the name of Ye's army and be afraid, from now on, they dare not set foot in our territory again. Soldiers, take up your arms!

  He suddenly drew out his ancestral heavy sword, pointing it straight at the sky, and roared: "Kill the slave!"

  "Victory! Victory! Victory!"

  The shouting on the drill ground came in waves, all the Ye family soldiers were waving their weapons and shouting loudly.

  They all shouted with hoarse voices, from this moment on, they were no longer afraid, without fear!

  "Brothers, kill the foreigners."

  The city gate of Dongjiabao was shrouded in smoke, the sound of miserable cries and killing shouts filled the air, one by one, Jin soldiers jumped onto the city gate, engaging in a bloody battle with Chen Tong and others on the city wall.

  Guarding Dongjiazhuang, the army has already lost more than 30 people. The casualties have reached as high as 30%, and the remaining soldiers are also covered in wounds. The Qing troops on both sides of the city wall at Ying'en Gate continue to pour in endlessly. Chen Tong and Dong Xiang et al. fight crazily. They only have one thought, Dongjiazhuang can't hold on much longer, will the adults come?

  Two miles southwest of Dongjiazhuang Fortress, the great army of Jirgalang led by Jirgalang set up a large camp. At this time, 200 steps away from the city wall of Dongjiazhuang Fortress, the main force of the Jin army was arrayed in an orderly manner. In the midst of the great formation, Jirgalang's great banner stood high and solemn, under his command, the soldiers and horses under him kept advancing, taking turns to attack the Ming army in Dongjiazhuang Fortress.

  Looking at the situation on the city wall, General Zhang was full of confidence and determination. He stroked his big flat face and said: "This castle will be breached soon. After breaching the castle, we must kill everyone inside, leaving no chicken or dog alive. Let those Xining people know the ferocity of our Zhongjin Kingdom soldiers."

  Next to him, Niu Lu Zhang Jing stood. Looking at the city head, he was secretly surprised that attacking such a small castle had already resulted in over 50 casualties on their side. The Ye family army inside was indeed tenacious. He wondered if it was worth paying such a price. On his face, however, he smiled and said: "This is all thanks to General Yan Liu's command, I, Zhong Jin, have achieved this victory!"

  He burst out laughing with great relish.