20: Confused Wang Danian

Hearing this, Wang Danian slumped to the ground, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.

After calming down for a while, Wang Danian seemed to think of something and quickly ordered his household guard, “We need to run too, quickly!”

The household guard spread his hands, “Sir, the Chen Kingdom’s army has already surrounded Yuanyang City.”

“Ah?”

Wang Danian was utterly despairing….

Seeing this, the household guard advised, “Sir, you are the head of a prefecture. Now that a powerful enemy has invaded, you should pull yourself together and not be so dejected.”

Wang Danian gave a bitter laugh, “Fifty thousand against five hundred thousand, how do you expect me to pull myself together?”

The household guard continued, “The current plan is to gather our forces and break through. As long as we can escape, when our Chu Kingdom’s army arrives, those Chen Kingdom bandits will surely crumble.”

“Oh!” Wang Danian looked at the household guard in surprise, “Qian Wu, you actually know quite a bit.”

Qian Wu smiled, “Sir, I once served as an intern for two and a half years at the Royal City’s Military Academy.”

“Good, so you’re professionally trained. Once we break out, I will definitely recommend you to the Governor as a Garrison General,” Wang Danian said loudly, as if he saw hope.

“Thank you, Sir.”

News of the Chen Kingdom’s army pressing on the city had already spread throughout Yuanyang City.

Panic filled the city, and the common people were on edge, closing their doors and not venturing out.

In a small courtyard in the west of the city, Wei Ling'er, who had been favored by Yang Yun, was looking at her mother on the bed. Compared to the army pressing on the city, she cared more about her mother’s illness.

Because of Yang Yun’s lavish spending, Wei Ling'er’s life had also changed. She bought a small courtyard in the city and lived a life of luxury.

A young man in a light yellow robe with a handsome appearance suddenly appeared in Wei Ling'er’s distracted mind.

“Young Master, will you still come to see Ling'er?”

…………..

The next day, Wang Danian arrived at the military camp with the tiger tally. Since the main General Li Ping had already fled, the Deputy General Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan was currently in charge of the overall situation.

Under the guidance of the soldiers, Wang Danian and Qian Wu entered the tent.

Inside the tent, Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan was discussing strategies to resist the enemy with the mid-to-high-ranking officers of the garrison army.

Seeing Wang Danian arrive, they all saluted, “Greetings, Lord Prefect.”

Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan looked at Wang Danian, showing respect, and offered him the main seat, “Sir, please.”

“Hmm,” Wang Danian sat in the main seat and gestured for the generals to sit down, while Qian Wu stood beside him.

Once seated, Wang Danian cleared his throat and said with a serious expression:

“You’ve all heard, haven’t you? The Chen Kingdom has broken its word and sent a large army to press on our borders. It’s said to be no less than five hundred thousand strong.”

Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan cupped his hands and said, “Lord Wang, we are already aware. Now that General Li Ping, that cowardly fellow, has fled, we ask Lord Wang to come forward and take charge of the overall situation.”

“Hmm…” Wang Danian nodded, “That is exactly my intention.”

Upon hearing this, all the generals showed joyful expressions.

“With Lord Prefect’s help, we will surely hold out to the end. As soon as reinforcements arrive, the Chen Kingdom’s army will surely flee at the sight of them.”

“Cough cough…”

Wang Danian cleared his throat and slowly began to speak:

“Hold out?”

“May I ask General Zhang, with what do you intend to hold out?”

Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan heard the unspoken meaning in Wang Danian’s words and asked, “Then, according to Lord Wang’s intention, are we to open the city gates and surrender?”

“How dare you!”

Qian Wu roared, pointing at Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan, “How dare you speak to Lord Prefect like that!”

The adjutant next to him was about to speak but was stopped by Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan.

Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan looked at Wang Danian, “Then what good plan does Lord Wang have to repel the enemy?”

Wang Danian stroked his beard and said, “The current plan is to lead the army to break through in one direction. As long as we break out of the encirclement, there will be a glimmer of hope for survival.”

“Then may I ask Lord Wang, what about the common people in the city?”

“Hmph,” Qian Wu snorted coldly.

“We can barely take care of ourselves, why bother with those commoners?”

Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan’s eyes widened in anger as he looked at Wang Danian, “Lord Wang, is this also your thought?”

Wang Danian nodded, “There’s no other way. I am also forced to resort to this desperate measure.”

“How could I not want to consider the safety of the common people? It’s just that I am beyond my reach.”

“No!”

The generals said in unison.

Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan looked at Wang Danian with determination, “If Lord Wang does not wish to resist, then please return to the Prefectural Manor.”

“We soldiers take pride in dying on the battlefield. Now, to abandon the common people in the city and flee, we cannot do it!”

“Right, we cannot do it!”

“You…”

Wang Danian looked coldly at Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan and the others, taking out the tiger tally, “Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan, listen to my order. I command you to immediately prepare the troops and break through with this official.”

The tiger tally was the token used to mobilize the army in the Chu Kingdom. Within a prefecture, the army first obeyed the Garrison General, and then the Prefect.

Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan stood up and snatched the tiger tally, “A general on the field is not bound by all orders from the court.”

“You…” Wang Danian pointed at Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan, “Are you trying to rebel?!”

“Wang Danian, you son of a bitch, cut the crap, believe it or not, I’ll chop you down!”

A burly chiliarch behind Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan shouted.

Normally, they might have shown him some deference, but now, during wartime, Wang Danian had lost all authority in the hearts of the generals.

Wang Danian, realizing his plan had failed, was about to leave in a huff, but was blocked by the chiliarch.

“Lord Wang, I’m worried you might go out and spread rumors, inciting unrest among the troops.”

With that, he picked up his great saber and brandished it.

Seeing this, Wang Danian stumbled back a few steps, slumped to the ground, looked at Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan, and shouted:

“General Zhang, aren’t you going to control your subordinate?!”

Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan acted as if he hadn’t heard, walked up to the chiliarch, patted his shoulder, “Good point!”

Then he left the tent without looking back.

“Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan, how dare you!”

“I will definitely report you to the Governor…”

“Pfft!”

The chiliarch’s saber fell, and the heads of Wang Danian and Qian Wu both rolled to the ground.

…………………

Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan came to the city wall, looking at the smoke in the distance. The densely packed camps came into view, inspiring awe.

“Pass down the order, send people to mobilize the common people in the city, especially the young and strong men. Only by relying closely on the masses can we have hope of victory.”

“Yes.”

………….

On the streets of Yuanyang City, soldiers were shouting loudly, telling the common people to gather at the central plaza of the city.

Under the urging of the soldiers, the common people, fearful and bewildered, lined up in long queues and walked towards the training grounds in the city. Wei Ling'er was also in the long line, her beautiful eyes scanning around, seemingly looking for someone.

Soon, all the common people in the city were gathered in the plaza. Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan stood on the platform above, composed himself, and shouted loudly:

“Elders and fellow villagers, I am Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan, the Deputy General of the Yuanyang Garrison Army.”

Some of the common people below, hearing it was Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan, felt their fear lessen a bit and whispered among themselves:

“So it’s General Zhang.”

“General Zhang is a good man.”

“Yes, yes, last time my daughter was kidnapped by bandits, it was General Zhang who rescued her.”

…………..

Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan cleared his throat and continued loudly:

“Fellow villagers, I’m sure you already know that outside the city, there is an entire army from the Chen Kingdom.”

“And what’s more hateful is that the main General Li Ping has already fled overnight.”

“Ah!”

“What?!”

The common people below stirred, many showing expressions of despair, but Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan’s next words made them angry.

“Also, that cowardly Prefect Wang Danian actually wanted me to abandon the city and break through, leaving you all behind uncared for.”

“Wang Danian, I * you *!”

“What the hell!”

……………….

The common people cursed furiously. After the curses gradually died down, Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan continued:

“Fellow villagers, we are born as Chu people, and we will die as Chu souls! We will fight to the death and never be captives!”

“Now, I call upon all our men between sixteen and fifty years old to join our ranks and resist the enemy together.”

“I’ll come!”

“Me!”

“I’ll come too!”

……………….

More and more people walked towards the registration desk. Seeing this, Deputy General Zhang Wanyuan’s face showed a smile.

According to the instructor’s report, about twelve thousand men joined the garrison army this time. The army in the city had grown to sixty-two thousand, although it was still far less than the Chen Kingdom’s five hundred thousand strong army.

But as long as they could hold out for three days, the imperial reinforcements would surely arrive.