bookcurios Chapter 211 The war begins
Chapter 211 The war begins
Having just emerged from seclusion and barely settled in, Duan Zhengchun narrowed his eyes, downed the wine he had just poured, and said coldly, "Go pack your things. Everyone, come with me to the border town immediately!"
The women immediately agreed and quickly got up to leave.
This time, Duan Zhengchun had no intention of abandoning anyone.
Half an incense stick later, the two carriages quickly descended Qixia Mountain and headed straight for the border.
...
Three days later.
Huai'an Prefecture.
Inside the council hall of Willow Garden, Guo Jing and his wife sat next to a group of heroes from the martial arts world, all of them looking dejected and listless, many of them bearing injuries.
"The Mongol army's offensive momentum is too strong this time. If they continue like this, and the enemy in Fancheng comes to reinforce, then Huai'an will be attacked from both sides and become a completely isolated city!"
"By then, it will be too late for us to retreat!"
"Yes, Master Guo, you'd better make a decision quickly!"
Everyone looked at Guo Jing with helpless expressions; their fighting spirit was clearly not what it had been at the beginning.
Wars that leave countless corpses are hundreds or thousands of times more brutal than feuds and blood feuds in the martial arts world!
When you witness hundreds or thousands of your comrades dying in front of you, the helplessness and despair are unbearable for most people!
"But if we retreat, Huai'an will be completely finished!"
Guo Jing frowned and said helplessly.
Giving up Huai'an was the last thing he wanted to do!
"But what can we change even if we hold Huai'an to the death? Once Fancheng falls, Huai'an will surely fall! Staying here will only increase casualties and will not help at all!"
"If you ask me, why don't we take a step back, defend Xiangyang to the death, and as long as we live, we can always rebuild!"
The heroes continued their discussion, seemingly determined to leave.
They were not officials of the imperial court and had no duty to guard the border. If it weren't for Guo Jing, they might have left long ago.
Just as the argument reached an impasse, footsteps suddenly sounded at the door, and then Duan Zhengchun and Xiaolongnu slowly walked in.
"Hero Yin!"
"You finally came!"
Upon seeing Duan Zhengchun's appearance, the heroes of the martial arts world present were first stunned, then immediately showed joy, as if they had found hope again.
"Brother Yin!"
Guo Jing and Huang Rong immediately stood up and greeted Duan Zhengchun with clasped hands.
"What exactly happened? Why was Fancheng captured in less than two days?!"
Duan Zhengchun looked at Guo Jing expressionlessly and went straight to the point.
Guo Jing paused for a moment, then shook his head helplessly and sighed. He slowly sat down in the chair and said solemnly, "It's a long story..."
Huang Rong glanced at Guo Jing, who looked troubled, and Duan Zhengchun, whose face was obviously gloomy. She immediately stood up, clasped her hands in a fist salute to the assembled heroes of the martial arts world, and said, "Everyone has worked hard today. Let's go back and rest first. Whether to leave or stay, we'll discuss it later."
Upon hearing this, the heroes of the martial arts world had no choice but to get up and leave the council hall one after another, leaving only Duan Zhengchun and the other three.
"After receiving Yelü Chucai's secret letter, I immediately informed the commanders of the three border cities of the news of the Mongol army's mobilization, so that they could prepare in advance!"
"However, because the garrison commander of Fancheng did not take it seriously, the Mongol army caught them off guard! The secret letter originally mentioned that the Mongol army would launch an attack on the three border cities at the same time!"
"But who would have thought that the enemy would send a large force to attack Fancheng? They came with overwhelming force, and the defending army of Fancheng was breached in less than two days. Our army suffered heavy casualties, and by the time Rong'er and I arrived, it was too late..."
Guo Jing sighed and finally told Duan Zhengchun everything that had happened.
"A miscalculation on the battlefield deserves the death penalty!"
Duan Zhengchun's face was gloomy, and he said coldly.
"This matter cannot be entirely blamed on the garrison commander of Fancheng. After all, the secret report we received was also wrong. Of the three border cities, Fancheng was originally the most heavily defended. I initially thought they would attack Huaian and Xiangyang first, but who would have thought that they would make Fancheng their first target!"
Guo Jing sighed and said with some helplessness.
"Could it be that Yelü Chucai deliberately sent false information to confuse the public?"
Huang Rong, standing to the side, frowned slightly and murmured.
"impossible!"
Duan Zhengchun dismissed Huang Rong's guess without hesitation because he trusted Yelü Qi. Even if Yelü Chucai changed his mind, Yelü Qi would never betray him!
"Brother Yin, in your opinion, what should we do next?"
Guo Jing hesitated for a moment, then asked seriously.
Duan Zhengchun narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then said calmly, "Withdraw."
Upon hearing this, Guo Jing looked surprised and asked, "Even you think this is the only way?"
Duan Zhengchun continued, "Huai'an was already short of troops, and after today's battle, it has lost more than half of them, right? It is obvious that the Mongol Tartars have come with great force this time, and they will definitely take Fancheng and Huai'an, and attack Xiangyang from two sides!"
"If we don't retreat now, Huai'an will truly become an isolated city. It would be safer to retreat to Xiangyang tonight. As long as Xiangyang doesn't fall, the last line of defense for the Song Dynasty will still be there!"
When he arrived in Huai'an today, he discovered that the people in the city had already been evacuated by Duan Zhengchun's men.
Therefore, even if they abandoned the city at this point, it would only be an empty city.
"At this point, it seems there's no other way."
After much deliberation, Guo Jing finally relinquished his convictions and decided to retreat to Xiangyang.
Immediately, Guo Jing found the garrison commander of Huai'an and began to evacuate Huai'an overnight.
To ensure a smooth retreat, Duan Zhengchun, along with Xiaolongnu and the Qingyi Guards, remained behind the inner palace of Huai'an City.
...
Noon the next day.
The Mongol army launched another frenzied attack, but they soon discovered that they were completely unimpeded and encountered no resistance whatsoever!
Moreover, the entire city of Huai'an has become a ghost town, with not a single person to be seen in the streets and alleys!
After the Mongol generals occupied Huai'an, they immediately sent men to wipe out the Huai'an garrison, ordering them to dig three feet into the ground in Huai'an and not let a single soldier escape.
But a long time passed, and still nothing was found. Even the common people had disappeared, let alone the soldiers guarding the city.
However, on the top floor of a restaurant in the city, Duan Zhengchun stood expressionlessly by the window, holding a wine cup in his hand, watching several groups of Mongol soldiers running rampant in the alleys in the distance.
Xiaolongnu stood silently to the side, her hand tightly gripping the Phoenix Cry Sword. Since Granny Sun's death, Xiaolongnu's hatred for the Mongol Tartars had risen to unprecedented heights.
"Do it!"
As the groups of soldiers drew closer to the restaurant, Duan Zhengchun tilted his head back, downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, and then gave the order in an extremely cold voice.
"Yes!"
The two guards in blue robes standing at the door immediately bowed and agreed, then quickly turned and left.
Not long after, dozens of women in green robes wielding swords suddenly emerged from the city and charged out of the Mongol soldiers!
In an instant, the once silent city of Huai'an was filled with shouts of battle!
Upon receiving the news, the Mongol Tartars immediately sent reinforcements, which poured into the area where the restaurant was located from all directions!
Little Dragon Girl narrowed her eyes, no longer hesitated, and immediately stepped out, leaping out of the window and rushing towards the swarming enemies like lightning!
With the arrival of Xiaolongnü, the Mongol soldiers immediately suffered heavy losses, and many died under Xiaolongnü's Phoenix Cry Sword!
On the battlefield, martial arts practitioners might not be able to withstand the onslaught of the Mongol army, which was like a raging flood, but in the alleyways, that was the world of martial arts practitioners!
Under Xiaolongnu's leadership, the Qingyi Guards slaughtered the Mongol soldiers, and the sounds of fighting could be heard throughout Huai'an City, making it extremely tragic!
As the commotion grew, the Mongol general who had led his troops into Huai'an City arrived with his men and immediately joined the chaotic battle.
At the same time, the dozen or so martial arts masters who were with him also made their move and launched a fierce counterattack against the Green-Clad Guards!
Duan Zhengchun squinted, casually tossed aside his wine cup, and reached out to press the switch on the sword case.
This is the moment he's been waiting for!
Just as the situation was about to change again, a dragon's roar suddenly rang out, and the Lingxiao Sword was drawn!
Holding a sharp sword, Duan Zhengchun ignored the other Mongol soldiers rushing towards him and went straight for the Mongol general on horseback in the distance!
Capture the thief first and capture the king!
In the blink of an eye, Duan Zhengchun, who transformed into nine afterimages, charged through the enemy ranks and flashed past the Mongol general!
As a spray of blood gushed out, the Mongol general on horseback had no time to react before his head rolled to the ground!
...