I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 305 - 227: Luring the Enemy

Under Gu Lan’s arrangement, soon, these civilians each had their duties and were settled.

A military force, aside from archers, infantry, cavalry, and navy, also includes auxiliary soldier camps.

Auxiliary soldiers are mostly civilians recruited into the army, responsible for transporting provisions and baggage, or constructing city defense weaponry, and they do not go to the battlefield to kill the enemy.

Yinzhou originally had nearly ten thousand auxiliary soldiers, but with the battle reaching this critical point, there was no distinction between auxiliary and regular troops; all able auxiliary soldiers were on guard patrol, and city defense weaponry was being rushed day and night.

Now, however, the civilians of Yinzhou voluntarily wished to defend the city.

Thus, some able-bodied men, or civilians who brought their own provisions and baggage, were assigned the pile of axes and knives from the government warehouse, mixed into the regular army or auxiliary soldier camps for joint training and battle.

Meanwhile, the elderly and women and children were handed over to military doctors and Shiqi, helping treat the wounded and also transporting stones to reinforce city walls, preparing arrows and fire oil, and other weaponry.

During this time, the opportunity was taken to capture a number of spies disguised as refugees who had infiltrated the city.

Until late at night, this city was still bustling with activity, busy without rest.

Gu Lan recalled the situation in the original book, where after Li Yuanju took command as chief, he forcefully conscripted civilians to defend the city, causing resentment within and losing the people’s heart. But she neither forcibly requisitioned provisions nor actively made civilians into household soldiers, yet won the people’s support, uniting the citizens of Yinzhou City to protect this city together.

"It turns out the people of Yan Country can really tie their lives with their country."

Gu Lan gazed at the distant group of civilians transporting dirt and stones, constructing the city gate overnight, and murmured softly.

She had never seen such a group of people, and she had become one of them.

Rong Heng stood to the side and said, "Yans are very proud, deep down they hold contempt for the Yuan Family’s Wei Country, unable to swallow their pride, and so they would rather live and die with this city."

This is not about being unable to lose, but rather they never believe they will lose.

Gu Lan said, "You are the same." Gu Lan knew, deep inside, Rong Heng always considered himself as the Fifth Prince of Yan, wanting to protect his people well. At a young age, he bore such heavy burdens, traveling thousands of miles to Yinzhou to rescue Rong Shuo, yet never speaking a word about it.

Rong Heng lowered his gaze, his voice was calm: "I am also a Yan, of course, I will accompany them and protect them."

Gu Lan looked up, gazing at the dark and boundless night sky:

"Look, Yinzhou’s night, there are so many stars in the sky."

Rong Heng’s eyes were gentle, looking at the youth beside him with bright sparkling eyes, the corners of his lips lifted: "Indeed, it’s very beautiful."

She was watching the stars, but he was watching his star.

Gu Lan smiled slightly and softly said:

"So, I cannot let go of this place called Yan Country either."

Just then, a gray shadow streaked through the night sky, with dark clouds gathering on the distant horizon, covering the starlight.

"That’s... the falcon kept by Li Yuanju?" Gu Lan, with good night vision, saw the flash of a gray shadow.

"It is," Rong Heng nodded, "The Li Family likes to keep and train falcons for communication, the old General Li Qing is an expert at falconry, this is known by many people."

"Using falcons to send messages is indeed unique." Gu Lan recalled Marquis Gu and the Dark Hall’s pigeon correspondence, and thoughtfully nodded.

She turned back and instructed Shiqi, "Call all centurions above rank to the main tent."

Shiqi was taken aback but without any doubt nodded, "I will call them right away."

"Wait." Gu Lan suddenly, on impulse, stopped Shiqi.

"Is there anything else, Young Master?" Shiqi asked in puzzlement.

Gu Lan originally wanted to ask Shiqi if she would like to study when Xie Yun arrives, but then thought, Shiqi has good skills, is adept at Qinggong, and skilled in killing, surely...doesn’t like studying.

"Never mind, you go call them."

Forget it, when Xie Yun arrives, just standing there, no girl won’t like it.

"Yes."

Shiqi flashed a smile and earnestly went to carry out Gu Lan’s command.

After a while, military leaders gathered in the tent.

Gu Lan donned armor and entered the tent, followed by Shiqi and Rong Heng, also wearing light armor and armed with swords at their waists.

"Young Master called us here in the dead of night, for what?" Tang Zhan asked.

Li Yuanju yawned, appearing just awakened: "Right, didn’t you say, tomorrow night Young Master you would secretly leave the city to ambush the Wei Army’s supply route, and we would provide support on your return path, today you should be conserving energy."

Gu Lan squinted, thinking of the busy civilians on the city walls, their sounds of stone clashing still audible in her ears.

"No longer leaving the city tomorrow night." She stated calmly.

"What?" Li Yuanju exclaimed in surprise.

Su Yi also asked in confusion, "Has Young Master devised a new strategy? But previously scouts reported, the day after tomorrow was the Wei Army’s day of transporting provisions."

Gu Lan glanced around at everyone and said solemnly:

"I have promised the civilians to assist us in defending the city, the matter of provisions cannot be delayed for a single day.

Moreover, although the day after tomorrow is the day for the Wei Army to transport provisions, we know this, and Wei Junzhuo is also aware, he will definitely guard against our ambush, hence we might as well raid their provisions camp tonight."

"But..." Li Yuanju wanted to object further.

Rong Heng’s eyes focused, seemingly understanding Gu Lan’s thoughts, and said calmly:

"The matter of these civilians asking to defend the city tonight has surely spread, it takes time to mobilize civilians, Wei Junzhuo would never expect us to raid the camp now."

"Fifth Prince makes sense."

"Young Master, brilliant strategy."

Seeing the officers no longer dissenting, Gu Lan said: "Request General Su to lead a thousand Pingnan Army infantry, General Li to lead five hundred archers and five hundred infantry, Tang Zhan, you stay in the city, Brother Hang, we shall mobilize two thousand cavalry and leave the city immediately."

"This humble servant will comply." "I understand."

That night, dark clouds obscured the stars across the sky, the side gate of Yinzhou City silently opened.

Inside the city, auxiliary soldier camp personnel were still constructing rolling logs and other weaponry; with occasional civilian shouts used as a disguise, a team of cavalry and a group of infantry had already exited the city.

All the war horses of the Yan Army had their hooves wrapped in thick burlap, their mouths tightened with bits, and the sounds of infantry movement were deliberately muffled, moving further and further from the towering city walls behind.

Under the cover of darkness, all the four thousand soldiers marched like ghosts, making no sound at all.

After a while of marching, Gu Lan suddenly reined in and stopped.

"Here, we will split into two."

"What do you mean? We’re still more than ten miles from the Wei Army’s camp..."

"Indeed, marching at night makes men and horses indistinguishable, Young Master’s first time commanding a night raid, and a sneak attack on the Wei Army camp, it’s really not advisable to divide forces, caution is needed."

Gu Lan squinted and looked towards the juxtaposed layers of forest on one side, and said:

"Who said my target is the Wei Army camp?"

In the distance, was the dense forest where Jiang Qu led four to five thousand Qiangrong cavalry to garrison!

Twenty miles away, lies the Wei Army camp, with over ten thousand Wei soldiers waiting, going there would be walking into a trap.

Gu Lan’s target was always these close-by Qiangrong people.