The Demon Lords-Chapter 710 - 149 Great Wind! _3

After breakfast, everyone began to attend to their physiological needs on the periphery. It was a military custom that before a major battle, eating, drinking, and relieving oneself had to be done collectively and all at once.

Once the real fighting and killing began, who would have the time to urinate or defecate?

Ran Min had heard from his squad leader that he had once seen a unit of the Northern Conquest Army. When these men drank water by a creek, they would always position themselves with their backs to the water, facing outwards. During breaks on the march, they took care of eating, drinking, and relieving themselves all together.

It might sound somewhat indelicate, but such details were key to revealing whether a military unit was truly elite.

They weren't men, but a cluster of sharp blades.

Siege engines were continuously being transported to the opposite bank. Simultaneously, more troops continued to cross the river from the rear. Ran Min estimated that the number of Yan Army soldiers who had reached the eastern side of the river must be no less than 80,000.

The vanguard had already started clearing the obstacles around Jade Plate City and leveling the ground in preparation for the upcoming siege.

A military horn sounded.

His captain, after receiving the order, commanded those around him, "Armor up, polish your blades, mount your horses, and relieve the forces at the front!"

Ran Min mounted his horse again, hoisted the banner, and after his unit had rested, they began to relieve the friendly forces on the front line.

Beside Ran Min, the squad leader spat and said, "Direct Thief! The Chu people are shrinking their balls. Why haven't the wild people attacked us yet?"

Ran Min hesitated for a moment and said softly, "They probably won't attack us."

「...」

On the tower of Jade Plate City, Qu TianNan's general's banner and his family's flag stood side by side. Qu TianNan himself stood on the watchtower, gazing at the Wang River before him and the vast number of Yan Army troops in the area between Jade Plate City at his feet and the river.

The Yan cavalry had already circled around to their rear. It could be said that Jade Plate City, where he was stationed, had been "swallowed" by the Yan people.

But whether they could digest it depended on whether the Yan people had teeth sharp enough.

Inside the city, food shortages were a problem, but not an insurmountable one. If they were frugal, they could hold out until spring when the ice and snow melted and supplies could be transported from the rear.

By then, the navy could once again control the river, and they would have the leisure to decide whether to advance or retreat.

Qu TianNan wasn't overly concerned about the Yan Army surrounding his city. The Chu army and wild people's plan was for the Chu people to garrison Jade Plate City, securing this point, while the wild people pressured the Yan Army from the outside, forming a pincer.

The main force of the wild people was waiting in the surrounding area. If the Yan Army truly dared to attack the city recklessly, he, Qu TianNan, wouldn't mind coordinating with the wild people from within and without to launch a pincer attack on a wave of Yan soldiers.

Of course, this was predicated on the wild people attacking first. Anyway, his Chu army was defending the city, making them virtually unassailable for the time being. If the wild people were sensible enough to attack from the outside, Qu TianNan wouldn't mind opening the city gates to help with a sortie. But if the wild people didn't move, the Chu army, naturally, wouldn't move either.

However, looking at the Southern Conquest Army and Northern Conquest Army outside the city, Qu TianNan had another idea.

Is Tian Wujing planning to make a huge gamble to settle things once and for all? He's put the trump card elites of his Eastern Conquest Army here beneath my Jade Plate City, betting that the wild people will come to relieve Jade Plate City, trying to force a decisive battle? Ha! That wild people's King Gou Moli isn't a fool. Why would he let himself be forced into a decisive battle with Tian Wujing?

Thinking of this, Qu TianNan's brows furrowed slightly. He suddenly recalled the wild people's actions in the east to cut off news.

Could it be that there's really a problem in the east?

"Heh, that Southern Marquis of Yan truly has impressive audacity. The Yan Army outside the city numbers well over 80,000 by now. What's more, they are all the Yan's finest: the Northern Conquest Army and the Southern Conquest Army. Is that Southern Marquis trying to throw everything away? After all this maneuvering, this is the only move he came up with?"

The young man had lost considerable weight. After eating that "mutton," he hadn't eaten for two days. On the third day, he could only manage a little rice porridge, and his face was noticeably thinner.

The swordsmith stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the vast ocean of black armor before him. After hearing the young man's words, he chuckled and said, "No matter how much strategy and planning, in the end, don't you have to fight with real blades? Although that Southern Marquis of Yan is indeed aggressive, it's still hard to say who will win or lose."

"Why is it hard to say? As long as we remain here—and you're well aware of how sturdy this Jade Plate City is. The Blue Luan Army, moreover, is the elite of our Great Chu. Fourth Brother once said that Qu TianNan is a most principled man. In other words, this kind of defensive siege is perfectly suited for this Zhuguai. Besides, with the wild people's army lurking outside like a tiger watching its prey, the Yan Army can't commit fully to attacking the city."

If you're in the heat of attacking the city and the wild people's army suddenly strikes, all your previous efforts will be wasted.

The swordsmith shook his head and said, "If you can see the problem, how could that Southern Marquis of Yan not see it? In any siege, the usual approach is to use conscripted laborers to fill ditches and level depressions. Then, auxiliary troops lead the assault to wear down the city walls' defenses and deplete their siege equipment. Only after that do the true elites advance, attempting to breach the defenses. What the Yan people rely on is nothing more than the advantage of their cavalry, but cavalry is utterly useless in a siege. Now, look outside. There are nearly 100,000 troops, primarily the Southern Conquest Army and the Northern Conquest Army. Do you really think that Southern Marquis is here to attack the city?"

"Encircle a stronghold to annihilate reinforcements?"

The swordsmith nodded.

"But Gou Moli is no fool. He won't jump into such an obvious trap. As long as Jade Plate City doesn't fall, we can hold out until spring. By then, the Wang River will thaw, and our Great Chu's navy can advance again."