A guard rushed into the main hall with a look of anxiety on his face.
Xu Rong frowned slightly. "What's the matter that you're in such a panic?"
The personal guard knelt on one knee, cupped his hands, and reported, "General, Commander Xiong's men have encountered trouble!"
Xu Rong stood up abruptly.
A moment later, he met the soldiers who had escaped that night and learned from them about Lu Yulin's cavalry raid on the camp.
"Lu Yulin!!"
Enraged, Xu Rong slammed his hand down and smashed the table beside him.
He turned back and caught the Yi Province Militia off guard. Unexpectedly, the Mount Liang group also turned back and caught him off guard!
Is this karma or retribution?
Lu Yulin and his men could not possibly have anticipated that they would leave with their cavalry first. In other words, the enemy dared to turn around and fight back even though they were assuming that Lu Yulin and his cavalry were still alive.
Where did they get the guts?!
Most importantly, what is the other party's motive?
Xu Rong forced himself to calm down.
Throughout the rest of the day, soldiers from the Shannan Army who had escaped from the camp that night gradually arrived.
In the end, only a little over seven hundred soldiers escaped back to Rong Province City.
Compared to Xu Rong's estimate of over four thousand people, there were only a little over seven hundred more, making the pressure of defending the city too great.
Moreover, given the severity of the losses, Xu Rong is undoubtedly to blame, and he needs to carefully consider how to explain this to Wang Yan!
"General, enemy troops have been spotted to the north; they should be from Mount Liang!"
Another guard came to report.
Xu Rong immediately got up and rushed towards the north city wall.
He climbed the city wall and saw a large army heading towards Rong Province City on the official road, but they were not carrying the banner of Mount Liang's " Acting on Behalf of Heaven".
"Lu Yulin's men?"
Xu Rong's face darkened.
The enemy first seized the grain transport convoy, then launched a night attack on his more than four thousand infantrymen, and now they want to attack Rong Province City?
This fierce fighting style made Xu Rong feel like he had a completely different opponent!
Xu Rong calmly estimated the number of troops the enemy had available. It seemed to number six or seven thousand, but the true elite force was definitely less than three thousand.
The rest were probably Mount Liang prisoners in the grain transport team who had only begun to fight after seizing the weapons and armor of the Shannan Army.
With such strength, Xu Rong didn't believe the enemy could take Rong Province City. Besides, Wu Shuangren's Yi Province Militia should arrive by tomorrow at the latest...
"Could it be that they're also after the Yi Province Militia?"
Xu Rong's heart stirred, and a possibility came to mind.
With the limited troops Lu Yulin currently has, attacking Rong Province City would be extremely difficult. If the siege drags on and fails, and Wu Shuangren returns with the Yi Province Militia, they will be attacked from both sides.
But what if the enemy doesn't attack the city and waits for Wu Shuangren to do so?
At that time, the Yi Province Militia will be attacked from both sides!
Xu Rong thought about it more and more and it seemed very possible.
Mount Liang suffered repeated defeats in Yi Province, Rong Province City was captured, mainly due to the Yi Province Militia.
If we're talking about hatred, Lu Yulin and his ilk must hate Wu Shuangren and the Yi Province Militia the most!
"Order all battalions to strengthen vigilance and take turns resting tonight."
Xu Rong calmed down, had a plan in mind, and gave the order with composure.
Lu Yulin and his men eventually chose to camp in the northeast of Rong Province City.
Nothing happened that night, and Lu Yulin did not send anyone to launch a night raid on Rong Province City.
The forty-fifth day after defeating Lu Yulin.
The several thousand troops outside the city made no move whatsoever, showing no intention of attacking the city.
This made Xu Rong even more certain of his guess, and he felt increasingly at ease.
Time passed slowly, and after noon, the scouts brought new news—
Wu Shuangren has arrived with the Yi Province Militia!
The banner bearing the character 'Wu' fluttered in the wind, and the Yi Province Militia, in neat formation, approached Rong Province City step by step amidst the majestic drumbeats.
Xu Rong stood on the city wall, watching this scene from afar, and felt a sudden pressure for no reason!
He snorted coldly and ordered, "Go and bring them here."
A moment later, Guo Jiwang was brought up to the city wall and placed beside Xu Rong.
"Wu Shuangren has arrived. What's your decision?"
Xu Rong asked.
Guo Jiwang didn't speak, but just looked up into the distance.
His first sight was of the Yi Province Militia bearing the banner with the character "Wu," and then he turned to see the group of people located to the northeast.
"General Xu, whose troops are those?"
Guo Jiwang pointed northeast and asked.
Seeing that the other party did not answer his question, Xu Rong was not annoyed, but smiled and said, "Sir, you are exceptionally intelligent. Why don't you try to guess?"
"I bet it's men from Mount Liang!"
Guo Jiwang's eyes flickered, and he gave a very confident answer.
Xu Rong gave him a deep look.
Such a person, if not useful to you, must be killed!
"Looks like I guessed right."
Guo Jiwang got the answer from Xu Rong's expression.
Why don't you guess again, who is this Mount Liang force guarding outside the city to deal with?
Xu Rong sneered.
"..."
Guo Jiwang's smile faded, and he clenched his fists.
Xu Rong glanced at him, then stood with his hands behind his back. "If it weren't for this Mount Liang force, Wu Shuangren might have tried to attack Rong Province City for your sake and the city's Militia Private. Given the current situation, do you think he would still attack?"
Guo Jiwang pursed his lips and remained silent.
Xu Rong continued, "If he attacks the city, the Mount Liang forces outside will definitely seize the opportunity to strike, putting him in a pincer movement. Conversely, if he attacks the Mount Liang forces outside first, I will also seize the opportunity to send cavalry out of the city, putting him in a pincer movement!"
He shook his head as he spoke:
"You're in a dilemma. I'm afraid your Militia Commander Wu will have no choice but to lead his men back to Yi Province."
"..."
Guo Jiwang remained silent.
He knew Xu Rong was right; from any perspective, Wu Shuangren's best option was to immediately lead his troops to retreat.
The true elite of the Yi Province Militia are still in our hands and have not been harmed. There are also several thousand new recruits in Yi Prefecture City, so the foundation of the Yi Province Militia remains intact.
As long as the green hills remain, there's always hope for a fire!
Given the current situation, even if Wu Shuangren didn't rescue the prisoners in the city, others would completely understand.
On the contrary, acting impulsively could truly lead to the complete annihilation of the Yi Province Militia!
If Guo Jiwang with Wu Shuangren at this time, he would certainly have advised the other side to withdraw their troops and return to Yi Province to make further plans.
Those who achieve great things must be decisive and dare to make choices!
This time, however, it was Guo Jiwang who needed to be chosen...
"Well, sir, have you made up your mind?"
Xu Rong asked again, "Or do you insist on seeing Wu Shuangren abandon you before you'll give up?"
Guo Jiwang sneered, "General Xu's strategy of attacking people's hearts is really not clever."
Xu Rong didn't take it seriously.
Seeing Lu Yulin arrive with his men, he knew he could defend Rong Province City.
In a three-way power struggle, whoever strikes first will inevitably suffer a loss!
Although the outcome differed from the pre-planned plan, it failed to truly cripple Wu Shuangren's Yi Province Militia, nor did it kill Wu Shuangren himself.
But taking Rong Province City, capturing thousands of Yi Province Militia, and seizing Guo Jiwang was like cutting off Wu Shuangren's arm!
At least it would give Wang Yan some explanation.
The reason Guo Jiwang was summoned was to have him witness firsthand how Wu Shuangren abandoned the people in the city!
Northeast of Rong Province City.
Lu Yulin learned of Wu Shuangren's arrival with the Yi Province Militia even faster than Xu Rong.
He sat on horseback, his eyes fixed on the official road to the north.
After learning of Xu Rong and the others' movements from Xiong Lang, he had two choices:
First, they ambushed Wu Shuangren and the Yi Province Militia on their way back to Rong Province City.
Secondly, they led their men to the outskirts of Rong Province City to await a better opportunity.
The reason they turned back with over two thousand men at the beginning was because their supplies were running out and they had no other choice but to fight to the death!
But given the current situation, Lu Yulin had a better option, so he chose the latter.
Although the number of soldiers under his command is about the same as in the battle Yi Prefecture City, he has lost several thousand of his elite troops.
If they couldn't win back then, how could they possibly win now?
He didn't want a repeat of the situation Yi Prefecture City that occurred when he fought Wu Shuangren one-on-one, which would cause him to lose his composure!
As for hiding behind and waiting for Wu Shuangren to lead the Yi Province Militia to attack the city first, then launching a surprise attack halfway through.
The plan is perfect, but it's too difficult to execute.
They've gone too far; the Yi Province Militia might have already captured the city before they even arrived.
If you hide too close, you'll be easily discovered.
Therefore, Lu Yulin chose to lead his men to the outskirts of Rong Province City ahead of time.
"In this situation, whoever strikes first will suffer a loss. I think Wu Shuangren will choose to retreat to Yi Province."
Yan Xiaobing said from the side.
Liang An nodded. "I also think Wu Shuangren won't make a move."
Lu Yulin continued to stare in the direction of the Yi Province Militia: "Their side was stabbed in the back by the Shannan Army and suffered such a huge loss. Wu Shuangren is young and hot-blooded; he might not be able to swallow this insult."
He hoped that Wu Shuangren would attack Rong Province City.
But if Wu Shuangren ultimately chooses to retreat, he will chase after her and challenge her to a fight!
At that time, with the Shannan Army eyeing Rong Province City covetously, Wu Shuangren would certainly not dare to mobilize all the Yi Province Militia to participate in the battle. Even if his own troops could not win, they could hold out for a while longer.
Although this would be riskier, Lu Yulin would still have a chance to fight Wu Shuangren.
No matter what Wu Shuangren chooses today, he will fight this battle between the two of them!
"Brother Lin, what do you think Wu Shuangren will choose?"
Zhigang questioned Lin Qian.