bayedsolid Chapter 543 The general is here
Chapter 543 The general is here
Xiao Tiansheng's horse is very fast, and even with two people at the same time, it can still travel two hundred miles a day.
In the evening of the second day, horses were galloping on the grassland. Under the moonlight, the outline of a city appeared in their field of vision.
"drive!"
As they were about to arrive, Xiao Tiansheng's speed became a little faster, and the outline of Guangling City gradually became clear.
On top of the city wall, countless soldiers were waiting, and in the center stood an old man with white hair and a childlike face in cotton-padded clothes. He was pacing back and forth like an ant on a hot pot.
He is Xun Qi, the lord of Guangling City. He usually eats, drinks and has fun, but doesn't even care about people's livelihood, let alone the training of the army.
In his opinion, there was such a large forest between the Sirius Kingdom and the Tang Dynasty, filled with all kinds of poisonous insects. How could he take such a big risk to attack? No need to worry at all.
But who knew, the call would actually come.
He is still self-aware of himself and knew immediately that he could not be his opponent.
The Sirius Kingdom has been fighting everywhere and has been almost invincible over the years. That day when the Wolf Kingdom's army came, how could he resist with just the few people he had?
Moreover, the people of Tianlang country are famous for being unreasonable. If the city is taken away, his life will definitely not be saved. Therefore, I can only pray that the soldiers and horses from the surrounding cities can come quickly to support me.
At that time, he even wanted to run away.
But where can he escape to? As a city lord who fled without a fight, Datang would definitely want him to seek refuge in another country? But with his little ability, which country would be willing to take the risk of offending the Tang Dynasty and take him in.
This was also the reason why he was waiting anxiously on the tower. Now, he can only pray for reinforcements to arrive soon.
"City Lord Xun, there is a horse coming this way."
On the side, a man wearing armor, with a Chinese character face, a beard, and a fat figure pointed into the distance.
He is the leader of the Guangling City Guards, named Zhang Dalong. Like Xun Qie, he also spent his days eating, drinking and having fun, and his soldiers trained almost every half a month.
Of course, the two are still slightly different. Xun Qi was able to sit in the position of city lord, and he still had some real talents, but he was just a bit lazy on weekdays. Zhang Dalong's leadership position was entirely bought with money.
"Why is it just one horse and two people?"
A young man next to Xunqe asked.
The young man has a mustache, is thin, has a sallow complexion, and is wearing a green shirt that does not match his temperament at all. It seems that he has been overindulging in sex for a long time. He is Xun Kang, the son of Xun Qie.
"It's hundreds of miles to go from the nearby city to us. It's definitely not reinforcements. Could it be that the enemy is coming?"
Xun Kang continued to ask in a panic. Hearing these words, the faces of the people around him suddenly became nervous. After Xun Qi heard the news, he was filled with panic. He took a step back and his heart almost stopped beating.
"Why are they coming so fast? It will take several days for the nearby reinforcements to come. Quick, quick, quick, draw your swords and prepare to fight. No, prepare your bows and arrows, and use your bows and arrows to respond to the enemy first."
"Dad, I don't want to die yet. Let's surrender. The opponent is an elite who has experienced hundreds of battles. Look at how big the bellies of our subordinates are. We probably don't train on weekdays. How can we hold on? live?"
Xun Kang seemed to be thinking about the scene of his own death, and there was a hint of pleading in his tone.
It's not that he isn't confident, it's mainly that the city guards are unreliable no matter how they look at them.
"Zhang Dalong, please say something. You are the commander of the City Guards, and you know best the combat effectiveness of the City Guards. You can tell me whether this battle can be fought?"
Hearing this, a soldier on the side was unhappy and looked angry:
"The battle hasn't even started yet. The walls of Guangling City are so high. The opponent only has thousands of troops. We also have 3,000 troops. What should we be afraid of? How can I, a hot-blooded man of the Tang Dynasty, surrender without a fight?"
He was the personal guard sent by Xiao Tiansheng to deliver the message. Before coming to Guangling City, he had already been mentally prepared. He knew that the Guangling City defenders were lax in their training and had a weak sense of prevention. But after actually seeing it, he was still surprised.
People in the military camp were either eating, drinking, having fun, or sleeping, and there were even countless female relatives. The training ground was covered with a layer of dust, and the weapons and armor were almost rusty.
"Who do you think you are? You have no business talking about this. Get out of here!"
Xun Kang looked at the soldier and spoke forcefully. Then he turned to look at Xun Qi again, with a bit of pleading in his eyes:
"Dad, it's not that I don't want to fight, I really can't! The gap in strength between our two sides is too big. At least we can save our lives by surrendering. If the people of Sirius country are happy, maybe they will give us an official position... "
"City Lord, don't be timid. General Xiao will definitely find a way to help us. Besides, I have followed General Xiao in these years of expeditions in the north and south, and have fought dozens of battles. With the level of defense of our city, we can defend it for ten and a half days. Not a problem.”
The guard said anxiously.
"Kang'er, stop talking. We are Tang Dynasty people after all. We still have three thousand soldiers in our hands. How can we surrender directly? Prepare our defenses and guard for a few days. We will wait for the people from the surrounding cities to come. When the time comes, say Maybe he can still make some achievements."
Xun Qie sighed. He still knows how much he weighs. It was because his family had some connections in the Tang Dynasty that he was allowed to take the position of city lord. If he surrenders to the Sirius Kingdom, he will either be killed directly or reduced to a civilian or a slave. It is better to die.
Because of this, he still had some resistance in his heart.
"Wait a minute, Lord Xun, the person coming seems to be a general!"
The guard's eyes were fixed on the oncoming horses, and there was suddenly a bit more excitement in his eyes.
Although the night was shrouded and it was difficult to see clearly, the appearance and figure of the horse looked more and more like General Xiao.
"Which general?"
Xun Qie's eyes suddenly became hot, as if he saw hope of life, and he hurriedly spoke to confirm.
"General Xiao, Xiao Tiansheng."
The personal guard slapped the city wall with his hand, the excitement on his face could hardly be concealed.
The man on horseback pulled hard on the reins, and the horse's two front legs left the ground, making a neighing sound.
"I am Xiao Tiansheng, the tiger minister of the Tang Dynasty. Open the city gate quickly!"
The hearty and firm voice sounded, like a war drum, making everyone feel energetic and straighten their waists.
Xiao Tiansheng has become famous in recent years, and was even praised by Sun Wufeng, the first general of the Tang Dynasty, as the most promising person to succeed the general.
With such a general around, everyone's hearts, which had been filled with despair, were once again filled with hope.
"It's the general, the general is here!"
When the personal guard heard this familiar voice, the last doubts in his mind were dispelled.
"Open the city gate quickly!"