Chapter 264: Many Choices In War Are Inhumane
I don’t know why, but many things are crystal clear to bystanders, who can even provide the most appropriate solutions. Yet, the people involved just can’t see them, can’t see clearly, and under others’ watchful eyes, they walk straight into a fire pit. Only after being burned and feeling the pain do they realize they took the wrong path.
Cao Zheng and Cao Ying’s armies fiercely attacked Lingzhou City for three days until their troops were exhausted and fatigued, then they stopped the assault, preparing to rest and recuperate before coming back with renewed strength.
Cao Kun heard that Cao Zheng and Cao Ying had stopped attacking the city and couldn’t help saying to Zheng Tianshou, “Since they already launched a strong assault for three days, why didn’t they continue the strong attack?
Now, with this pause, the blood shed in the first three days was spilled in vain, and it also gave He Tian a chance to catch his breath. Didn’t those two consider this?”
Zheng Tianshou shook his head and said, “It’s normal for three axe strikes not to chop down a big tree. Our army has the advantage in numbers, so continuing to chop will eventually fell it. Eldest Son, how would you handle this situation?”
Cao Kun said, “After three days of strong assault without breaching, on the fourth day, elite troops will surely be fully deployed, with Thousand-man Generals as the spearhead and Hundred-man Generals on the flanks. I will personally don armor and attack again!”
Zheng Tianshou nodded in satisfaction and said, “If it still can’t be taken, then what?”
Cao Kun said, “Quickly alternate cover and withdraw from Lingzhou City, then wait for the next opportunity to return.”
Zheng Tianshou laughed loudly, “As long as Eldest Son doesn’t tie the matter of capturing Lingzhou City to your own face, one Lingzhou City is nothing at all.
Third Young Master and Ninth Young Master feel their blades of shame can’t be sheathed, unable to breach or withdraw, defeat is already sealed. Eldest Son, rest early, build up your spirit, there will surely be a fierce battle tonight.”
1 Cao Kun turned to Cao Ling and said, “Go tell old three and old nine to be on guard against enemy raids tonight.”
1 Zheng Tianshou said, “If you don’t say it, it’s fine, but if you do, they will surely fly into a rage.”
1 Cao Kun looked up at Lingzhou City on the horizon where the flames of war had just died down and said to Zheng Tianshou, “They must die, but they can’t die by my hand.”
1 Zheng Tianshou pretended not to hear and just let out a long sigh.
1 Even the full moon of the Deep Winter Month still illuminated the ground in a sheet of white. Cao Kun did not rest in the evening but sat on the back of the Thunder Smoke Beast pretending to doze for a while. Though uncertain if He Tian would raid tonight, he still went all out.
1 The Cao Clan Army had besieged Lingzhou City for over a month, yet He Tian had never sortied from the city to raid. This made many think He Tian’s strength had been weakened to the extreme, capable only of defending the city with no power left to break out.
1 Cao Zheng and Cao Ying did not heed Cao Kun’s words to pull back the barracks and set up camp. When Cao Ling delivered the message, they used catapults to hurl the corpses of Lingzhou City’s fallen garrison soldiers into the city and sent troops to capture scattered Lingzhou Citizens outside the city, preparing from tomorrow to have these citizens carry bags of soil to fill the moats and attack the walls.
1 For these two younger brothers’ actions of losing the hearts of the Lingzhou Citizens and further strengthening the resolve of the garrison inside to defend the city, Cao Kun for the first time began to resent his father who bred children like planting trees.
1 Cao Kun sat on the back of the Thunder Smoke Beast waiting all night. Even when his armor froze, he did not dismount to rest. Seeing the horizon slightly brightening, he exhaled a breath of cold air, finally dismounted, and prepared to return to his tent for a good sleep.
1 At that moment, Cao Ling ran over quickly and said, “The scout heard movement in a pit.”
2 Cao Kun’s eyes sharpened, and he said coldly, “Finally coming?”
2 As he spoke, he took out a handful of beans from a bag and fed them to the Thunder Smoke Beast that had accompanied him all night. Seeing Eldest Son feeding the horse, Cao Ling hurriedly said, “Should we sound the gong to warn?”
2 Cao Kun said indifferently, “Confirm first, then sound the gong.”
2 Cao Ling said, “What should we do?”
2 Cao Kun said, “The younger brothers are too young and will ultimately need me, their big brother, to shield them from wind and rain. Listen, if He Tian’s forces appear, let them attack as they will; we go straight for the city gate.”
2 Cao Ling looked at Cao Kun in horror, only to see he had already donned his face mask and with a light leap was atop his warhorse.
2 At the same time, the six Thousand-man Generals and fifty-seven Hundred-man Generals from Eldest Son’s own faction also stepped out from the ranks, riding Thunder Smoke Beasts and clustering around Eldest Son.
2 Right behind this arrowhead formation of fewer than a hundred was over a thousand horse carriages fully loaded with sand and soil, each pulled by three horses. Under the drivers’ control, they snorted white breath, appearing restless.
2 Cao Ling glanced at the motionless Cao Clan Army camp, likewise lowering his face mask to conceal his complex expression behind it.
2 Lingzhou City’s gate quietly opened, and a black iron torrent poured out from the city.
3 “Lingzhou Tiger Guards.” Cao Ling sighed in his heart.
3 “Sound the gong!” Two icy words came from behind Cao Kun’s black iron mask.
3 “Clang clang clang…” Just as Cao Kun’s army began sounding the gong, the gong in Cao Zheng’s vanguard army was also struck with deafening clamor.
3 “Enemy raid—” The soldier on the watchtower had just struck the gong and shouted the warning when the entire watchtower was smashed at its supports by the charging Tiger Guards with iron hammers and collapsed with a boom.
3 Seeing the black iron torrent of Tiger Guards already slaughtering into Cao Zheng’s army, Cao Kun remained unmoved, offering no explanation or action. Only after the entire Tiger Guards iron flow had left Lingzhou City did Cao Kun silently press his forearm down, his crotch-saddled red date horse the first to rear up and charge toward Lingzhou City.
3 Meanwhile, twenty li outside Lingzhou City in Ling Mountain, a group of people was moving through the forest. Their figures were all very agile, but the person at the center, surrounded by a group of youths, seemed somewhat strained.
3 “Steward Liang, you said they would fight tonight, but nothing happened. Did you miscalculate?”
3 Liang Kun turned to look at Lei Ming behind him and said, “On the battlefield, nothing is ever that certain. When we calculate, we can only account for a margin in advance. He Tian is a deeply scheming man; this sortie must have over sixty percent chance of victory. Even if he doesn’t raid tonight, once an opportunity arises soon, he will surely sortie from the city.”
3 Lei Ming supported Liang Kun with one hand while laughing, “What if He Tian lacks the courage to sortie?”
3 Liang Kun shook his head, “For a sly old fox like He Tian, he won’t pass up any chance to heavily damage the Cao Clan. You must remember, the battlefield is never a place for reasoning. To win, you must use any means necessary.”
4 Lei Ming adjusted the red cloth around his neck and said, “I want to go back and see.”
4 Liang Kun laughed, “It’s not safe to go now. After the battle stops, I’ll take you to the battlefield to have a look and review the two armies’ confrontation.
4 This time, Lord was willing to send you to me precisely to let you experience the battlefield up close. Once you’re familiar with it, it will be time for you to go into battle.”
4 Lei Ming carried Liang Kun over a not-too-wide ditch. Seeing the sparse trees and flat terrain here, he ordered a rest. Immediately, three youths went ahead, while four youths leaped like projectiles to the flanks.
4 After a series of bird calls sounded, Lei Ming finally waved his hand to order the rest.
4 The youths were very familiar with field camping. In moments, smokeless stoves were dug, tents erected. When Liang Kun sat down on a cushion rubbing his numb legs, Lei Ming had already brought him a small cup of warm water.
4 Liang Kun’s mouth and throat were parched; he drank the warm water in one gulp. Seeing Lei Ming take away the cup and bring another with even warmer water, he asked puzzled, “Why go to such trouble?”
4 Lei Ming said, “When conditions allow, you must always treat your body well, letting it gradually adapt to intense changes. This is what Lord taught us. Too cold or too hot is harmful to the body.”
4 By the time Liang Kun finally drank the hot tea, he was actually no longer thirsty.
4 Seeing the children sipping tea in small mouthfuls, he said, “Must it be done this way?”
5 Lei Ming said, “Lord said that before our bodies are fully conditioned, they are like fine porcelain blanks—not allowed any damage.”
5 Liang Kun looked again at his own ragged guards from Xiangcheng and couldn’t help shaking his head. In the Yun Clan, perhaps these children were the ones carefully protected, while the rest grew wild.
5 The youths’ food was different from that of the adults; much of it was powdered. The yellow was egg powder, the pale yellow was fried flour mixed with elephant pig meat powder and salt and sugar, the thin was yogurt, the dry was cheese. A handful of dark brown stuff thrown into the pot became vegetable soup in moments.
5 The youths mixed the vegetable soup with the fried flour, each holding a bowl of porridge to eat.
5 Liang Kun tasted a mouthful and found it not very tasty.
5 He handed Lei Ming a piece of crispy baked flatbread. Lei Ming immediately tore it up and threw it into his younger brother and sister’s rice bowls. He himself continued scooping the unappetizing-looking fried flour with a spoon.
5 A strong man quickly came before Liang Kun, cupped his fists, and said, “City Lord, He Tian sortied from the city at dawn to raid the Cao Clan Army camp. Now they are locked in fierce battle. When the scout returned, Lingzhou’s six thousand Tiger Guards had already pierced through Cao Zheng’s camp; defeat is imminent.”
5 Liang Kun bit into a flatbread and said, “What about Cao Kun?”
5 The scout took a long breath and said with some admiration, “He led his own forces to charge the city. Now, the vanguard has rushed into Lingzhou City, while the rear carriages loaded with mud and sand have clogged the city gate. Currently, the two armies are clashing atop the walls.”
5 Lei Ming’s eyes widened round upon hearing this, “He didn’t go to save his younger brothers?”
6 The scout said, “Not only did he not save his two younger brothers, he demanded they hold the plain and pin down Lingzhou’s six thousand Tiger Guards to the death.
6 Everyone knows the Tiger Guards are an army forged by Lingzhou with the full strength of the prefecture. Each is a armored strong man over nine feet tall, riding fully armored Thunder Smoke Beasts. Such heavy cavalry can only be matched by Hundred-man Generals; ordinary soldiers fear they aren’t even a match in one clash.”
6 Liang Kun chuckled, “See, this is war. Lei Ming, if you were in Cao Kun’s position, would you go save your younger brothers or seize the city while you have the chance?”
6 Lei Ming glanced at his eating younger siblings and laughed, “I’d go seize the city. My younger brother and sister could hold off those six thousand Tiger Guards.”
6 Liang Kun laughed loudly, “How so?”
6 Lei Ming sneered, “Lingzhou Tiger Guards number only three thousand, where did six thousand come from? That number is suspicious. Three thousand Tiger Guards might be invincible, but six thousand… I don’t buy it.”
