The Mount Liang soldiers were harassed and tormented to no end, but they never surrendered or showed any intention of launching an attack.
The generals of the Shannan Army were getting impatient.
One of the generals said to Xu Rong, "Ten days to take down a city? I think he's talking nonsense! With these tricks, even if he had ten more days, he wouldn't be able to take it!"
Xu Rong did not respond.
Zhang Liao stood to the side, lost in thought.
He didn't think Wu Shuangren was just all talk. Since the other party dared to make the bold claim of taking down the city in ten days, he must have something to rely on!
"General, I see that the rebels inside the city are demoralized. If we attack the city directly, we'll definitely be able to take it!"
One of the generals suggested this to Xu Rong.
The generals of the Shannan Army were all veterans with rich experience. Xu Jing could see that the morale in the city was low, and these generals could see it as well, and came to the same conclusion.
Xu Rong shook his head. "We've already waited seven days, what's three more? If Wu Shuangren can't take Rong City within ten days, I'll make him give me an explanation!"
Actually, rather than taking Rong Province City within ten days, he now hopes that Wu Shuangren will break his promise.
This way, he could gain leverage over the Shannan Army in the subsequent distribution of spoils.
For the next two days, Wu Shuangren continued to provoke them during the day and harass them at night.
On the morning of the tenth day, just as dawn was breaking, a series of bugle calls suddenly rang out from the official road north of Rong Province City.
The Mount Liang soldiers guarding the city were startled and looked up.
A long dragon was seen approaching from the north on the official road, kicking up clouds of dust!
The soldiers at the front all carried shields and spears, their spears forming a dense forest, their ranks perfectly aligned, and the sound of their footsteps shook the ground.
At first glance, this is a group of at least tens of thousands of people!
The soldiers guarding the city wall immediately panicked, and some ran to report to Lu Yulin, Wu Yan, and others.
Soon, Lu Yulin and the others arrived at the north city wall. When they saw the approaching troops in the distance, their expressions changed!
Where did all these people come from?
"Could it be the Shannan Army that came from Ya Province?!"
"..."
A deathly silence fell over the city walls.
The road to Ya Province leads to the north, and the Shannan Army coming from this direction... the implications of this are chilling!
Judging from the formation of this team, they do indeed resemble well-trained officers and soldiers.
As the army of tens of thousands drew closer, the flags carried by the ranks were finally recognized—
It was indeed the Shannan Army!
"Could it be that the Commander-in-Chief has already reached an agreement with the Shannan Army? And now he's bringing people to incorporate us?"
Such a thought flashed through Wu Yan's mind, and he actually began to look forward to it.
Tens of thousands of the Shannan Army lined up one mile outside Rong Province City.
A man on horseback emerged from the ranks, carrying a severed head in his hand, and galloped toward the city gate.
This man reined in his horse three hundred paces away, raised the severed head in his hand, and channeled his Internal Skill, his voice booming like thunder:
"The Shannan Army has captured Ya Province City, defeated the Mount Liang bandits, and their leader Song Hai is dead; his head is here!"
The crowd on the city wall stared wide-eyed as the man's head was a bloody mess, but its outline did indeed resemble Song Hai.
An uproar immediately erupted on the city wall!
"Ya Province City has fallen? The Grand Commander is dead?!"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Wu Yan was shocked and shouted loudly.
Lu Yulin, Lin Qian, Liang An, and the others were also somewhat shocked!
"It's fake! It must be fake!"
Wu Yan continued shouting.
In his view, Song Hai had already sent people to negotiate with the Shannan Army about surrendering to the government, so the Shannan Army had no reason to exterminate Mount Liang.
The Military Governor Dong of Shannan Circuit, is ambitious. If he could gain tens of thousands more troops, the other side would certainly be happy.
Therefore, in Wu Yan's view, this must be a trick used by the enemy.
The severed head outside the city and the tens of thousands of the Shannan Army who arrived were all fake!
However, since the matter of accepting amnesty had not yet been finalized, Wu Yan dared not make it public in the army.
He was certain that what was outside the city was fake, but the other Mount Liang soldiers couldn't confirm that it was fake.
Even the slightest doubt is enough to completely shake the morale of the troops!
Wu Shuangren was standing on the high platform to the east. Seizing the opportunity, he drew his Fish-Dragon Saber, pointed it towards the city wall, activated his Internal Skill, and shouted loudly:
"Song Hai is dead, Mount Liang is destroyed, surrender and you will not be killed!"
Thousands of Yi Province Militia behind him shouted in unison:
"Song Hai is dead, Mount Liang is destroyed, surrender and you will not be killed!!!"
The sound surged toward the city walls like a tide.
On the city wall, the Mount Liang defenders were deathly pale, their hands gripping their weapons trembling!
In the southern Shannan Army formation, several generals were still in a daze.
If the main force of the Shannan Army in Ya Province has already captured Ya Province City, there's no reason why we wouldn't have received any news.
Xu Rong was the first to react, then chuckled, his expression somewhat complicated.
Zhang Liao also realized that the Shannan Army north of Rong Province City must have been sent by Wu Shuangren in disguise.
The other side must have used all of their remaining 6,000-plus grain transport teams, along with the remaining garrison in Yi Prefecture City, to detour to the north, and then, under the banner of the Shannan Army, pretended to be the Shannan Army.
Wu Shuangren initially said he would use the banner of the Shannan Army to attack Rong Province, and now he has indeed made the most of the Shannan Army's 'momentum'. His grasp of people's hearts and his timing are also just right!
Zhang Liao wondered whether Wu Shuangren had come up with this idea on her own, or if someone else had guided her from behind the scenes.
That's truly admirable.
Xu Rong did not hesitate and immediately ordered, "Have the entire army shout together!"
Although he wanted Wu Shuangren, his instinct as a general prevented him from missing this excellent opportunity.
Moreover, even without the help of the Shannan Army, Wu Shuangren would definitely win this battle!
"Song Hai is dead, Mount Liang is destroyed, surrender and you will not be killed!"
Soon, several thousand soldiers from the Shannan Army also joined in the shouting.
North of Rong Province City, the front row of tens of thousands of "Shannan Army" troops.
Guo Jiwang on his horse, picked up his wine gourd, took a few sips, and smiled.
This plan was naturally his idea.
Conquering cities is inferior to winning hearts and minds!
Rather than risking lives to fight and break through the enemy's defenses, it's better to...
Only by breaking through the enemy's psychological defenses first can one demonstrate their true skill!
Eight days after Wu Shuangren and the Shannan Army left, Guo Jiwang set off with the Fourth Battalion, Seventh Battalion, Eighth Battalion and Ninth Battalion Yi Province Militia.
The Fifth Battalion and Sixth Battalion are now closer to Wu Shuangren, especially since most of the Militia Private in the regiment come from the Sixth Battalion in Linwen County, which can be considered half of Wu Shuangren's direct subordinates.
Therefore, Guo Jiwang ordered the Fifth Battalion and Sixth Battalion, along with the Tenth Battalion, which had more new recruits, to stay behind and defend Yi Prefecture City.
He should have arrived at Rong Province City two days ago, but he led a grain transport team of more than 6,000 people, plus more than 4,000 people he brought from Yi Prefecture City, and took two days to detour before appearing north of Rong Province City.
Guo Jiwang ordered four battalions of Militia Private from Yi Province Militia to lead the procession, with the more than 6,000 laborers transporting grain following behind.
The reason for departing eight days later was to allow the new recruits in the regimental training to learn how to line up properly and to make it look like they were in formation.
During the ten-plus days of travel, the new recruits in the militia also practiced marching in formation.
That's why they look like government troops from a distance today!
"Get everyone to shout it together."
Upon Guo Jiwang immediately gave the order.
"Song Hai is dead, Mount Liang is destroyed, surrender and you will not be killed!!!"
Tens of thousands of people also shouted out loud.
The voices from all directions merged together, one wave higher than the next, relentlessly pressing down on Rong Province City!
The defenders on the city wall were in complete chaos. Some began to run down the wall, some threw down their weapons, and some squatted on the crenellations, covering their heads with their hands...
"Kill!!!"
On the east side of Rong Province City, Wu Shuangren led the Militia Private from Yi Province Militia, carrying scaffolding ladders towards the city wall.
This time it's not a feint!
Meanwhile, the Shannan Army to the south also launched a decisive attack.
"It's over!"
On the city wall, Wu Yan's face was deathly pale.
Even if he were to bring up the matter of surrendering now, it would only disrupt morale and incite dissatisfaction among key figures like Lin Qian and Zhigang, who were unwilling to surrender, without being able to salvage the current situation.
"Rong Province City cannot be defended."
Wu Yan a deep breath and said in a trembling voice, "We must immediately gather our elite forces and take the initiative to break through, otherwise we will all die!"
The several high-ranking officials present looked at him and all agreed with his judgment.
A moment later, the west gate of Rong Province City opened.
Lu Yulin led a group of Mount Liang elites out of Rong Province City.
Thus, within ten days.
Rong Province City has fallen!
PS: Requesting monthly votes
Chapter 179: Heavenly Light Shines on Earth, My Fate Is Not in Heaven's Hands (Large Chapter)
The Yi Province Militia and the Shannan Army carried ladders and approached the city wall. The Mount Liang defenders on the city wall had already turned and fled, leaving the city completely undefended.
The group successfully climbed the ladders up the city wall and entered the city.
Soon, the south and east gates opened, and a large group of people poured in!
Meanwhile, Lu Yulin led nearly five thousand elite Mount Liang soldiers out of the west gate.
"Escape north to Ya Province!"
Wu Yan suddenly shouted loudly.
"Strategist, there are tens of thousands of the Shannan Army to the north, Ya Province City has already fallen. If we flee there now, wouldn't we be walking into a trap?"
Lin Qian couldn't understand and asked.
"Those 10,000 Shannan Army to the north are fake, the Grand Commander is not dead, Ya Province City has definitely not been breached!"
Wu Yan said firmly.
"This..."
Lin Qian and the others didn't understand why he was so certain.
"I swear on my life, everyone flee north! The only way to survive is to the north!"