"Looks like the stone catapults are useless. Let's shoot arrows today instead."
Zi Shou watched the dispirited officers and soldiers, secretly delighted.
Nothing was more disheartening than having hope offered, only to see it shattered.
With morale this low, the whole army was ready for his purposes!
Zhang Youren, who had a little education, had already been sent to meet the reinforcements following behind. The only senior commanders left were the three roughnecks, Chao Lei, Fang Xiang, and Fang Bi.
The three did everything they could to reassure the soldiers, but their tongues simply weren't nimble enough. Unable to raise morale, they could only follow orders and have the men loose a few volleys of arrows.
"Pass down my command! Starting today, dig a tunnel here, pass beneath E City's walls, and strike straight at the inner city!"
Zi Shou produced another scheme: digging a tunnel in plain sight.
Chao Lei joined Fang Xiang and Fang Bi in remonstrating. Tunneling past the walls was a good plan, but who dug a tunnel right under the enemy's nose?
Besides, to avoid the enemy's rain of arrows, they would have to start digging beyond bowshot. By the time they reached the inner city, how much time would have passed?
The proper approach was to draw the enemy's attention with the main army out front, then send a small force around the back to dig.
That said, the three were really just going through the motions. King Zhou was stubborn and wouldn't listen.
But when Chao Lei happened to glance at the E Army atop the walls, he suddenly woke as though from a dream and hurriedly interrupted Fang Xiang and Fang Bi's remonstrations.
"His Majesty is trying to lure out the enemy!"
L-lure out the enemy?
Fang Xiang and Fang Bi suddenly