diskusbooks Chapter 352: Bloody Battle in Dingxi City (2)
Chapter 352: Bloody Battle in Dingxi City (2)
After this battle, the Dingxi defenders suffered more than 2,000 casualties. Qian Dazhuang had foreseen this outcome.
War has always been an extremely cruel meat grinder.
After every great war, there are corpses and bones everywhere.
Even though Qian Dazhuang was a tough guy who had survived mountains of corpses and seas of blood, he couldn't help but feel an indescribable sense of depression when faced with such heavy casualties.
"Hurry up and clean up the mess on the battlefield, quickly transport the injured soldiers to the wounded camp, and do our utmost to provide medical treatment."
After carefully inspecting the battle situation at Ximen, Qian Dazhuang decisively gave orders to his men, his voice filled with unquestionable firmness.
Also coming with them was the county magistrate Mao Yiheng, a middle-aged man with a bad career and bad luck in office. He had been working side by side with Qian Dazhuang for more than five years, but had never been promoted.
"General Qian, the enemy has a force of three hundred thousand men. This is merely their initial probing. If this stalemate continues, it's hard to predict whether Dingxi can hold out."
After all, Mao Yiheng was just a civil servant and rarely witnessed such a bloody, cruel and thrilling scene. His voice trembled when he spoke, as if his throat was blocked by a heavy stone.
"As soldiers, we have long disregarded life and death. Our only belief is to die on the battlefield wrapped in our horse's hide. Sir Mao, if you have any thoughts, please feel free to speak frankly."
Qian Dazhuang knew very well that in this battle for the city, he could not let innocent people die with him in the city, where their lives were in danger.
If Mao Yiheng wanted to evacuate the people in the city, he would not object at all.
"General, please don't misunderstand me. I just want to gain a deeper understanding of the current war situation. After all, it is the people's affairs, and I have to consider them carefully." Seeing Qian Dazhuang's bad complexion, Mao Yiheng hurriedly explained.
After hearing his words, Qian Dazhuang fell into deep thought for a moment, and then said, "I have already sent people to Chang'an for urgent assistance. If nothing unexpected happens, reinforcements should arrive within three days."
Qian Dazhuang paused for a moment, then spoke in a heavy voice, "But if no reinforcements arrive after three days, we will inevitably face the enemy's subsequent reinforcements. At that time, Your Excellency should consider evacuating the people."
Although these were extremely helpless words, they were indeed Qian Dazhuang's sincere words.
Mao Yiheng said with a look of shame on his face, "General, do you think I am a coward?"
"No, sir, please don't misunderstand me. The lives of the people must be prioritized. Perhaps evacuation is the most appropriate option. However, I would like to ask you to truthfully report the true situation of the battle here to the court."
Qian Dazhuang spoke righteously and with a firm gaze, without a trace of falsehood. When Mao Yiheng heard this, he felt a mixture of emotions.
"I hope the King of Qin will send reinforcements as soon as possible to save the people from suffering the pain of having their cities destroyed and their homes destroyed, leaving them homeless and displaced."
"I sincerely hope so. However, the enemy may soon launch a second wave of fierce attacks, so I must make thorough preparations."
……
Attacking a city twice in one day was not uncommon in this turbulent era of war and smoke.
The losses suffered by the Qiang soldiers this time were not serious, so Daraxinbu resolutely decided to divide his troops and attack the city.
Just after noon, the Qiang soldiers surrounded the South Gate and the North Gate tightly, making them as airtight as an iron barrel.
There are still a large number of troops at the west gate ready for battle, and judging by the tense situation, they are ready to launch a siege at any time.
The sound of trumpets still shook the sky, and this time the Qiang soldiers all sent out infantry to attack the city.
They held sturdy shields and carried heavy ladders on their shoulders, and the three city gates were attacked fiercely at the same time.
There were 20,000 fierce Qiang soldiers at each city gate, rushing towards the city like a surging tide.
In Dingxi City.
A detective came hurriedly to report.
"Reporting to the General, we have discovered two more armies, numbering approximately 20,000, heading straight for the east gate from two different directions."
"East Gate?" When Qian Dazhuang heard this, his brows instantly frowned, like two deep ravines, and he was full of worry.
The military forces at his disposal were already very limited. Ten thousand men were deployed at each of the three city gates, and there were originally five thousand men guarding the east gate. Now he had only ten thousand reserve soldiers.
If we were to withdraw 5,000 men to guard the east gate at this moment, once a city gate urgently needed reinforcements, the soldiers at hand would certainly be caught in a dilemma.
"First, dispatch 5,000 men to the tower and prepare for battle."
Qian Dazhuang acted decisively and made the decision without hesitation, his eyes revealing courage and determination.
The deputy general beside him wanted to speak out and try to dissuade him, but Qian Dazhuang raised his hand to stop him decisively.
"Don't say anything. Go and get the county magistrate. I have something to discuss with him."
The deputy general was interrupted and swallowed back the words that were about to come out.
Upon hearing that they wanted to invite the county magistrate, he had no choice but to agree and turned around and hurried away.
Mao Yiheng quickly arrived upon hearing the news. Qian Dazhuang anxiously said, "Immediately recruit more than 5,000 young and strong men in the city. Tell them to be city warriors and not to participate in frontline combat. We will have emergency use for them."
"When and where will the recruitment begin?" Mao Yiheng asked nervously.
"Recruitment will begin immediately. All military equipment and captured weapons are ready. No need to wear armor, just report directly to East City."
Qian Dazhuang did not give any further explanation. At this time, the people in the city were in panic and unrest.
If people with lofty ideals can respond to the call, they can help maintain public order in the city.
Most of the Qiang soldiers coming from the east gate were cavalry. Seeing that there were so many people on the city wall and they were heavily guarded, they did not dare to launch an attack rashly. Instead, they slowly retreated to a farther place, seemingly showing signs of withdrawal.
Mao Yiheng led the yamen runners, vigorously beating the gongs and shouting loudly on the streets, calling on aspiring young people to sign up actively. The county government set up city militias and distributed weapons to maintain public order in the city.
No extra words were said.
It was legal to take up arms, and many brave young people responded to the call and rushed to Dongcheng to sign up and take up arms.
Those who just arrived could also receive a shirt, some from yamen runners, some from the army, of all kinds and styles.
However, behind each person there was a piece of white cloth with a big word "Courage" written in thick ink, and then someone had it hastily sewn on the spot.
The last person to arrive was only able to write on the white cloth, and basically had no clothes left.
When they arrived at the east gate, they were quickly sent to the city wall to replace the soldiers who had just been fighting hard on the wall.
……
The three city gates were already caught in a chaotic melee, and the attack at the west gate was still the most fierce and intense.
Soon, all the rolling logs and kerosene on the west gate wall were used up.
The two sides engaged in a thrilling close combat on the city wall.
Daraxinbu continued to dispatch reinforcements, and the west gate wall was densely covered with ladders, and people climbed up bravely like a tide.
In less than half an hour, a section of the city wall was successfully occupied by the Qiang soldiers. In the narrow aisle, one soldier after another fell bravely, and then new soldiers quickly replaced them without hesitation.
Seeing that the battle situation was gradually being firmly controlled by the Qiang people, more and more Qiang soldiers surged onto the city walls like a tide.
The West Gate is in great danger of being completely lost at any time.
"Reserve soldiers, move forward!"
Qian Dazhuang shouted the order at the top of his lungs, and immediately 5,000 well-prepared people rushed towards the west gate like arrows.