Chapter 48: Deception Opens the City Gate

  "Traveling far, I actually have a way that is both safe and can achieve military merit!" Ma Yuntao said after pondering for a long time.

  "Oh? What's the plan?" Ma Qidong exclaimed with great joy. He knew that Ma Yuntiao was still very talented, otherwise he wouldn't have become one of Ma Haiyan's most important aides. Of course, Ma Yuntiao had always been suppressed by Zhou He, which was also one of the main reasons for his dissatisfaction with Ma Haiyan. Although they were both aides, many times he was just helping Zhou He out. However, Ma Yuntiao had a high self-esteem, thinking that his talent was not inferior to Zhou He's, but because Zhou He and Ma Haiyan had a good private relationship, he had been suppressed all along. Now, he finally had the opportunity to show off his talent.

  "Now there are only more than two hours before dark, we can dispatch a part of the troops to disguise themselves as defeated soldiers and infiltrate Yushu City. Once inside the city, take the city gate by all means. At the same time, the rest of the troops will immediately attack the city. If we can seize Yushu City in the chaos, it would be the best. If not, we must also ensure that the city gate is in our hands. When the 10th Brigade arrives, they can immediately enter the city. We will have achieved a great feat!" Ma Yunjian suggested.

  "Alright, let's use this method! Old Bai, why don't you take on this task? If it succeeds, I'll go to General Shao and the Chief of Staff to commend you!" Ma Qi said to Bai Meng, planning to hand over the task to him. This task, although it could bring great merit, also had a high level of danger. Once discovered, it would be perilous.

  "Alright, don't worry about me, I'll complete the task even if it costs my life!" Bai Meng patted his chest to guarantee. Although there's danger, being a soldier is all about taking risks for wealth and glory. The 11th Regiment doesn't have a deputy regiment commander yet, does it? If he can gain the attention of General Xiao and the Chief of Staff because of this, then the position of deputy regiment commander will likely be his for the taking!

  "Haha, alright! You go and get ready, we'll start in the evening. All departments also make preparations, once General Bai enters Yushu, we will immediately launch a surprise attack!" Ma Qi gave orders with a smile.

  The various troops of the Eleventh Brigade immediately sprang into action. This would be their first battle after defecting to Xikang, and both high-ranking and mid-level officers attached great importance to it. Only by winning this battle could they truly integrate into Xikang. Many ordinary soldiers still had some feelings for the Qinghai Army. However, under the attraction of Xikang's high military pay and superior welfare system, they immediately threw themselves into Xikang's arms. Being a soldier was originally about putting one's head on the line for money, and they didn't have any qualms about fighting; instead, some were excited. Yushu wasn't a big place, with only 20,000 to 30,000 residents aside from the Qinghai Army soldiers. After winning the battle, there would surely be rewards! This was extremely enticing for ordinary soldiers.

  Yushu is an important military stronghold in the southwestern part of Qinghai. It has been operated by the Green Horse Army for over 20 years and has always been an important defense line against Sichuan. Although most people living in this area are Tibetan pastoralists, with the large-scale settlement of the Green Horse Army, it has also slowly prospered. In addition to the soldiers of the Green Horse Army, there are also 20,000 to 30,000 people settled here. Their livelihoods mainly rely on providing various services to the troops stationed by the Green Horse Army. Yushu City is not large, with an area of only about five square kilometers, and there is a low wall less than two meters high around it. Although it cannot withstand the bombardment of artillery, it is already sufficient to defend against cavalry charges.

  Entering the highland in April, there is already a breath of spring. The Yushu City in the evening, under the sunset, looks very beautiful. The simple city gate of Yushu City has also been tightly closed. People living in Yushu City have all returned home to rest. While those soldiers of the Qinghai Army are preparing for their rich nightlife. In Yushu City, the most lively place is undoubtedly the brothel. These soldiers' military pay is almost all spent on those prostitutes.

  "Rumble, rumble!" Suddenly, a cavalry of several hundred men galloped towards Yushu. Their clothes were tattered and many of them were injured, with gunpowder marks on their faces. They looked like a defeated army after a fierce battle.

  The arrival of this cavalry broke the tranquility of Yushu City. The low city wall, those Qingma soldiers who were originally preparing to change shifts suddenly boiled up. At the same time, the alarm bell on the city wall was struck, and the clear "ding ding ding" sound echoed throughout the small Yushu City.

  "Quick, quick, quick! The enemy is attacking!" The Qingma army stationed in Yushu was suddenly thrown into chaos. It had been several years since the city of Yushu had been attacked, and its defenses had become somewhat lax. In the face of crisis, the Qingma army inside the city was suddenly thrown into confusion.

  "Hurry, everyone get on the city wall immediately!" A tall and powerful military officer commanded. His whole body was majestic and awe-inspiring, a seasoned general who had been through many battles. His name was Gu Hongtao, the younger brother of Gu Hongyun, the commander of the first battalion of the Qingma Army, and currently the commander of the sixth battalion of the Qingma Army, as well as the highest official in Yushu. Under his command, the panicked soldiers of the Qingma Army finally had a backbone, and began to act according to orders. Gu Hongtao also rushed quickly towards the city gate.

  "Brother above, open the door quickly, we are from the 12th battalion! Our camp was attacked by a large force of Western Sichuan Army and we suffered heavy casualties. Only a few of us managed to escape from the three battalions!" Bai Meng shouted outside the city gate of Yushu City.

  "Wow! The Western Army is attacking!" The green-robed soldiers on the city wall exclaimed in surprise.

  "That person is indeed the commander of the 12th battalion! It seems that Cong Qian has been attacked. Looking at their injuries, it must have been a fierce battle!" Many soldiers discussed among themselves. Although they knew the people below were also from the Qing Ma Army, without an order, they didn't dare open the city gate.

  At this time, Gu Hongtao arrived at the city wall and saw that Bai Meng was covered in wounds. He too was shocked and lost his color.

  "Bai Meng, what's going on here?" Gu Hongtao asked loudly.

  "Old brother, save us! Let the brothers in quickly! The Western Sichuan Army is about to catch up. We were attacked by the 10th Brigade of the Western Sichuan Army and after a day of fierce fighting, we were defeated. Only our small group managed to break out at the risk of our lives!" Bai Meng shouted, his face stern and severe. A wound on his face was bleeding profusely, and his clothes were tattered and worn out.

  "What? The Western Sichuan Army is launching a large-scale attack?" Gu Yuntao was also shocked in his heart. Although he knew that Ma Haiyan was currently discussing the matter of attacking the Western Sichuan Army, he did not expect that the Western Sichuan Army would take action first.

  Gu Hongtao hesitated for a moment, it seemed that Nang Qian was indeed breached and there was nothing wrong with it, so he decided to let Bai Meng and the others enter the city after all. After all, everyone is brothers of the Green Horse Army, and they can't just stand by and do nothing!

  "Open the city gate!" Gu Hongtao commanded loudly.

  At this moment, the simple gate of Yushu City was slowly pushed open, making a creaking sound.

  Seeing the city gate open, Bai Meng's heart was delighted, but his face didn't show any expression.

  "Brothers, enter the city!" Bai Meng ordered. Instantly, hundreds of remaining soldiers entered Yushu City.

  "Kill!" After entering the city of Yushu, those weak and feeble remaining soldiers suddenly became vigorous and began to wield their machetes, starting to slaughter their former comrades.

  "Ah!" Those green horse soldiers immediately let out a miserable cry. In the midst of unclear circumstances, they were killed off.

  "First kill these gatekeepers and occupy the entire city gate!" Bai Meng loudly commanded.

  Gu Hongtao was even more shocked by this sudden change.

  "Bai Meng, what are you doing? Do you dare betray Governor Tong, don't you want to live?" Gu Hongtao loudly questioned.

  "Haha! Old brother, sorry about this, but now I'm a man of the Western Sichuan Army!" Bai Meng laughed and said.

  At the same time, other troops of the Eleventh Brigade also launched a charge. They had been ambushing three kilometers outside Yushu City and immediately launched an attack as soon as Bai Meng took over the city gate.

  PS: The second update is here, please collect and vote for recommendations. Today, a friend told Xiaoyu that this book is likely to be abandoned again, with many clicks but few recommendation votes and rewards, it's estimated to be abandoned! After hearing this, Xiaoyu felt very depressed. This new book, Xiaoyu has put in a lot of effort into writing, maybe there are some places that haven't been considered thoroughly, but Xiaoyu will work hard to write well, please support Xiaoyu more! Thank you very much!

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