RPAGF Chapter 81 Siege of Yuncheng
Chapter 81 Siege of Yuncheng
From the beginning of June when the government troops began their encirclement until now, in mid-July, it has been more than forty days.
Lu Yan stood on a small earthen slope on the east side of the government army camp, gazing at the city wall of Yuncheng, three miles away.
The July sun was scorching, almost melting people, and the air was thick with a putrid stench. It was the smell of rotting corpses soaking in the moat, a mixture of blood and gunpowder, making one want to vomit.
Yuncheng was small, with a circumference of only seven or eight li and city walls just over two zhang high. In peaceful times, such a small town would be insignificant, not even qualifying as a proper county seat. But at this moment, this small town was like a fishbone stuck in the throat of the government troops, impossible to swallow or spit out.
The siege has lasted for more than a month.
The government troops launched more than a dozen attacks, large and small, each time retreating in disgrace, leaving behind hundreds of corpses. The water in the moat was stained red with blood, and bloated corpses floated on the surface, rotting and stinking under the scorching sun.
"They're attacking again?"
Beside Lu Yan, Zhao Changying pointed in the direction of the city wall.
Sure enough, shouts of battle came from the west of the city. A troop of government troops, carrying ladders, struggled to approach the city wall under a hail of arrows. Leading them was a centurion, brandishing his saber and shouting something at the top of his lungs, trying to boost morale.
But the soldiers' steps were noticeably hesitant, and their formation was scattered.
"This is the third time today," Fan Fu said in a low voice. "Since we arrived here, the government troops have attacked seven or eight times, and each time it's the same result."
Lu Yan didn't speak, he just watched quietly.
On the city wall, the banners of the White Lotus Sect fluttered in the wind. Embroidered with a white lotus flower, the bright red banners were dazzling in the sunlight. The sect members guarding the city were well-trained and worked in perfect coordination, showing no signs of being a disorganized rabble.
Rolling logs and boulders, molten gold and boiling oil—everything was there.
The government troops' ladders had barely reached the city wall when they were toppled by long poles. A few brave soldiers managed to climb up, only to be hacked to pieces by the swarming defenders. Screams, curses, and the clash of weapons mingled together, creating a tragic battle hymn.
In less than half an hour, the attacking government troops were routed.
Dozens more corpses were found beneath the city wall.
The leading centurion also fell at the foot of the city wall, his body riddled with seven or eight arrows, making him look like a hedgehog. His eyes were still open, staring at the sky with unseeing disbelief.
"Damn it, this war is unwinnable."
Zhao Changying couldn't help but curse.
Although he had never been on the battlefield, he could tell that the morale of the government troops had plummeted. The soldiers carrying ladders and charging forward had unsteady steps and unfocused eyes; they were clearly being forced to their deaths. They weren't fighting; they were throwing their lives away.
"It's not that we can't fight, it's that our fighting style is wrong."
Lu Yan finally spoke, his voice as calm as if he were discussing the weather.
"A direct assault on a fortified city is a poor strategy. Although Yuncheng is small, its walls are intact, its garrison is well-equipped, and its supplies are plentiful..."
He paused, his gaze falling on the spirited guards on the city wall.
"Our supplies should still be enough. A direct assault under these circumstances would be futile; no amount of bloodshed would be enough."
"Then, in your opinion, how should we fight?" Zhao Changying asked.
Lu Yan did not answer directly, but turned around and walked down the slope.
"Let's go for a walk around the camp."
……
The government army camp stretched for several miles, with nearly 20,000 troops stationed there.
From a distance, the banners fluttered and the camps stretched as far as the eye could see, creating an impressive sight. But as Lu Yan walked along, he did not sense any military might whatsoever.
The tents were dilapidated, patched up everywhere. Flags were stuck crookedly in the ground, some even lying in the mud, and no one bothered to pick them up. Soldiers huddled together in twos and threes; some were gambling, some were sleeping, and others were muttering curses under their breath.
A sense of decadence permeated the air.
"This doesn't look like an army in battle; it's clearly a bunch of beggars."
Zhao Changying said in a low voice, his face full of disdain.
Lu Yan nodded, but in his mind he was quickly analyzing the current situation.
The low morale of the government troops was to be expected. The garrison soldiers in Shandong were already rotten to the core. They were paid for doing nothing and exploited the soldiers; very few of them were actually capable of fighting. On paper, a thousand-household garrison should have 1,120 men, but in reality, they were lucky to muster three or four hundred. The rest were just empty quotas, with the pay ending up in the pockets of officers at all levels.
In this campaign to suppress the White Lotus Rebellion, the imperial court mobilized a considerable number of troops from various regions, but most of them were a motley crew. Some were conscripted laborers who couldn't even hold a knife; some were garrison soldiers from various regions who had long been corrupted by wine and women; and others were the personal guards and private soldiers of various generals who only obeyed their own masters' orders and were completely uncooperative.
To expect such an army to conquer cities and seize strongholds is nothing short of a pipe dream.
……
Continuing forward, Lu Yan arrived near the central command tent.
Security here was noticeably tighter. Armored soldiers stood in rows, banners fluttered, and those coming and going were all civil and military officials in their robes. Their expressions were not good; some looked worried, others were furious, clearly having just been reprimanded.
"That's the main tent of Zhao Yan, the governor of Shandong," Fan Fu said in a low voice. "I heard that Governor Zhao has been in a terrible temper these past few days, yelling at people every day. Yesterday he berated a military officer so badly he almost stripped him of his official hat on the spot."
"What's the use of cursing?" Zhao Changying curled her lip. "If you're so capable, why don't you go and attack the city yourself?"
"Watch your words." Lu Yan glared at him.
Zhao Changying stuck out her tongue and dared not say anything more.
Lu Yan didn't linger near the central command tent, but turned and walked in another direction. His current status was merely that of a minor militia leader; he wasn't qualified to see the governor. To rashly request an audience would only invite embarrassment.
But he knew that sooner or later, he would walk into that big tent.
Not as a militia leader, but as a contributor who offered valuable advice.
……
Back at his camp, Lu Yan summoned several key figures under his command.
Zhao Changying, Fan Fu, Zhao Tie, and several other key members of the militia, a total of seven or eight people, squeezed into a small tent.
"Tell me the information you've gathered over the past few days."
Lu Yan sat on a simple wooden stool and got straight to the point.
Fan Fu was the first to speak: "Master, I've heard some things about the situation in the city. Xu Hongru has set up some kind of 'Great Vehicle Prosperous Kingdom' in the city, proclaimed himself 'Emperor of the Restoration of Fortune and Virtue,' and appointed a whole bunch of kings, marquises, and generals. Many of the city's residents have been coerced, and the able-bodied men have all been conscripted to guard the city."
"What about the provisions?"
"The food supplies should still be enough," Fan Fu said. "Xu Hongru stockpiled a considerable amount of grain before the uprising, plus the government granaries seized after the capture of Yuncheng. However, with the siege lasting over a month, the tens of thousands of people in the city are consuming it rapidly. Our informants in the city say the food supplies will last at most another half month. But this information came out five days ago, so we need to investigate the actual situation further."
Lu Yan nodded, then asked, "What about the city defenses?"
"The city is heavily fortified," Zhao Changying replied this time. "I asked several civilians who escaped, and they said there are patrols on the city walls day and night, and all four city gates are heavily guarded. Xu Hongru has also set up some kind of 'Divine Soldiers Battalion' in the city, which is said to be made up of desperate criminals who are fearless and ruthless."
Are there any weak points?
The group looked at each other and shook their heads.
"Master, although Yuncheng is small, its defenses are indeed quite solid," Fan Fu said with a wry smile. "Otherwise, the government troops wouldn't have been fighting for so long without success."
Lu Yan remained silent.
He stood up and walked to a table in the corner of the tent. On the table lay a map of Yuncheng, which he had bought from an old official for a considerable sum of money. Although the map was rudimentary, the city walls, gates, and main streets were clearly marked.
His gaze swept across the map, searching for a possible breakthrough.
The east, west, south, and north gates were all heavily guarded; a direct assault would be tantamount to suicide.
The city wall... was more than two zhang high. Although it wasn't very high, with enough troops defending it, ladders simply couldn't be erected up there.
The moat... was about three zhang wide and one zhang deep. Filling it in would require a lot of time and lives.
Are there any other options?
Lu Yan's gaze suddenly stopped on a corner of the map.
In the northeast corner of the city, there is a thin blue line that extends from inside the city to the moat.
"What is this?"
He pointed to the blue line and asked.
Fan Fu leaned closer to take a look, then shook his head: "I don't know, maybe it's a small ditch?"
"No, that's not right." Lu Yan stared at the blue line, his eyes gradually brightening. "This should be an underground drain."
"Underdrain?"
"Yes, underground drainage channels," Lu Yan said. "Yuncheng is located in a low-lying area, and it's prone to flooding during the rainy season. When the city was built in the previous dynasty, underground drainage channels must have been dug for this purpose."
He turned around and looked at Fan Fu.
"Go check if this culvert still exists and if it's still passable."
"yes!"
Fan Fu accepted the order and left.
Inside the tent, Lu Yan sat back down on the wooden stool, his gaze deep.
If this underground channel really exists, and people can pass through it...
Then the defenses of Yuncheng were no longer a solid block.
……
Over the next few days, Lu Yan did not rush into action, but continued to gather intelligence.
He instructed Fan Fu to contact his spies within the city, Zhao Changying to cultivate relationships with low-ranking officers in the army, and Zhao Tie to continue improving the firearms. He himself would take a daily walk outside the city to observe the terrain and defenses of Yuncheng.
He was like a patient hunter, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Four more days passed. On the evening of July 12th, Lu Yan came to the moat alone.
As the sun set, it dyed the sky a blood red. The water in the moat shimmered with a dark red light, making it impossible to tell whether it was a reflection of the setting sun or the color of blood.
Lu Yan walked slowly along the riverbank, his gaze occasionally sweeping towards the city wall.
In the northeast corner of the city, the terrain is slightly lower than other areas. A patch of reeds lies at the foot of the city wall, obscuring the view. If the culvert truly exists, its entrance should be near that reed patch.
He silently memorized the location.
"Boss!"
Fan Fu's voice came from behind.
Lu Yan turned around and saw Fan Fu running over, panting, his face full of excitement.
"Found it!"
Fan Fu lowered his voice, his eyes shining.
"That culvert does exist; the entrance is under the moat in the northeast corner of the city. Our informant in the city says it was built in the previous dynasty and is usually sealed with iron railings, but the railings are rusted and people can crawl inside!"
Lu Yan's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Where are the guards?"
"We haven't figured out the guard situation yet. The informant only said there aren't many, but we'll have to investigate further to find out the exact number."
"What about inside the culvert? Are there any traps or ambushes?"
"No. The informant went to check it out himself. It's just a stinking ditch, black and smelly, but passable. However, the informant was vague about its exact width and length; we'll have to investigate further."
Lu Yan took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart.
The opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived.
"This underground channel is the key to breaching the city."
He turned to look in the direction of Yuncheng, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Pass down the order: have Zhao Tie expedite the production of waterproof torches and hand grenades. Also, select fifty elite men from the local militia—men who are bold, meticulous, and good swimmers—to form a commando team."
"yes!"
Fan Fu accepted the order and left.
As dusk deepened, Lu Yan stood alone by the moat, gazing at the distant city walls of Yuncheng.
The torches on the city wall have been lit, twinkling like a fire dragon coiled in the darkness.
Yuncheng, your death is near.