Eastern Jin Dynasty: My powerful father

Chapter 415: Fighting in Hedong (Part )

Hedong County, Wenxi County.

Shi Yue looked solemnly at the Yan and Yu coalition forces outside the city.

In this contest of patience between Fu Jian and Murong Jun, it was the young Fu Jian who lost his patience and took the lead in attacking Wenxi and laying siege to the city.

After all, Fu Jian really couldn't afford to waste time.

Huan Xi won two battles in Hetao and Hedong last year, but life was still tight, not to mention the State of Yu which had suffered two defeats.

Fu Jian was able to launch this war only after he sold all his possessions.

Outside Wenxi City, flags covered the sky.

The 130,000-strong Yu and Yan coalition forces seemed to have no end in sight.

The 5,000 elite soldiers left by Huan Xi were fine, as they had seen all kinds of scenes. However, the soldiers from the prefectures and counties who were summoned by Shi Yue to help defend the city were not so calm.

Many people looked pale and some even shivered uncontrollably, obviously frightened by the size of the enemy forces outside the city.

Shi Yue frowned when seeing this scene.

In Wenxi County, anyone who was brave enough to take risks had either been drafted into the army by the State of Yu or recruited as a private soldier by the Pei family of Wenxi.

The 3,000 soldiers from the prefectures and counties under Shi Yue’s command were more like a group of farmers who had put down their hoes than soldiers.

Even though he had been training these soldiers from the prefectures and counties before Fu Jian went south, letting them practice defending the city and even giving up spring ploughing, but no matter how much they trained, these soldiers from the prefectures and counties still showed cowardice when they actually went to the battlefield.

Fortunately, Wenxi County is not big, and the defensive force needed is not large. Five thousand elite soldiers are enough to hold out for a period of time. As for those state and county soldiers, Shi Yue feels that they can only be asked to do some logistical work of transporting gold juice, stones, and arrows to the city wall.

Shi Yue didn't trust them anyway. Now that the women and children had been moved away, there was no need for the county soldiers to climb up the city walls and fight to the death. I believe they would not cause any trouble.

What really worries Shi Yue is the Pei's Fortress, which forms a pincer attack with Wenxi County.

Although Huan Xi imposed strict restrictions on the Guanlong gentry, he gave great conveniences to the local gentry in Hedong, such as allowing them to recruit soldiers, which could be considered as adapting to local conditions.

The Pei family of Wenxi had a private army of 3,000 people. Although they could not deal with big countries like Liang, Yan, and Yu, they were more than enough to deal with bandits and rebel soldiers.

After all, the reason why the nobles had their own troops was not to target the national power, but to protect themselves.

Shi Yue did not think that Pei's fort would be captured by Fu Jian. Although the guarding force in the fort was not as strong as that of Wenxi County, it was much stronger than Wenxi County.

After all, this is the result of Wenxi Pei’s many years of operation.

The regime that rules Hedong County may not attach importance to the city defense of Wenxi County, but every generation of the Wenxi Pei family's head has been doing his best to strengthen this fortress.

However, no matter how strong a fortress is, when it comes to actual combat, it all depends on the will and determination of the defenders.

Shi Yue moved all the women and children in Wenxi County away, but the old and young of the Pei family were unwilling to leave. They believed that there was no place safer than their own fortress.

Otherwise, what was the point of spending several generations' efforts to build this fort?

Once the old, young, women and children in the tribe were relocated, it would be tantamount to handing over hostages to the State of Liang.

The nobles are always like this. They will help whoever wins and will not be tied to the same boat.

Shi Yue knew very well that once Liang failed and was forced to withdraw from Hedong, Wenxi Pei would choose to throw themselves into the arms of Fu Jian and Murong Jun without hesitation, and would never leave their women and children to Shen Jin for protection. But Shi Yue had no choice. He could not tear his face with Pei because of this matter. Before Fu Jian and Murong Chui went south, he took the lead in quarreling with Wenxi Pei.

Shi Yue only hoped that the Wenxi Pei family could wait until the moment when the outcome was decided, instead of rushing to open the gate and surrender after feeling the pressure from the Yu and Yan coalition forces.

Just like when Huan Xi marched north and approached Peijiawu Fort.

Of course, the current situation is different from that of last year. Last year, Murong Ke had already retreated and Li Wei was defeated and captured. Although Fu Jian marched south with great fanfare, that was a defeated army that had recently been defeated in Hetao. Facing the high-spirited Liang army, the chances of winning were slim.

Facts have proved that Fu Jian was just bluffing at the beginning. After Huan Xi went north and Lu Polou took the opportunity to break out, he hurriedly returned to the capital without daring to look back to the south.

Therefore, under such circumstances, how could the Wenxi Pei family resist stubbornly? They should have opened the door and surrendered to Huan Xi.

Now, even though Fu Jian and Murong Chui arrived at Wenxi County first, Huan Xi had also arrived in Hedong. The outcome of the two sides was still undecided, so how could the Wenxi Pei family easily reverse their course?

The allied forces of Yu and Yan retreated quickly. They had just arrived in Wenxi County and only came to the city to show off their strength and intimidate the defenders. Wenxi County was well guarded, and Fu Jian and Murong Chui would not order a quick attack on the city when the soldiers were tired, as this would only increase casualties.

After evacuating Wenxi County, Fu Jian and Murong Chui led their troops to the outside of Pei's fortress.

This was the first time that Fu Jian and Murong Chui saw the Pei family's fortress. Last year, only Murong Ke led the troops and Murong Chui did not participate. Fu Jian has been living in Jinyang since the Fu family took control of Hedong. When he followed his uncle and father to the north, he had never been here.

Fu Jian sighed:
"This is the accumulation of hundreds of years of Wenxi Pei family!"

Murong Chui was also surprised at the solidity of Pei’s fortress, which made people lose the desire to attack it by force at first glance.

Fu Jian was also determined not to attack the enemy. He turned around and asked the generals in the rear:
"Who dares to serve as an envoy and go in to meet the head of the Pei family?"

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. A young Di tribe general stepped out first from the crowd:
"Your Majesty, I am willing to go!"

Fu Jian looked in the direction of the voice and found that it was Liang Cheng, the son of Liang Pinglao.

Liang Cheng was deeply loved by Fu Jian because of his father, and he was also well versed in military tactics, so he followed the emperor on the southern expedition.

Fu Jian was delighted to see that it was him who recommended himself:

"How brave!"

He then called Liang Cheng to his side and gave him instructions in person.

In fact, Fu Jian was not worried that Liang Cheng would be in danger. Unless he was forced into a situation of his own accord, the gentry would always leave themselves a way out.

Today, Fu Jian sent an envoy to pay a visit. How dare the head of the Pei family harm the envoy?

After listening to Fu Jian's instructions, Liang Cheng nodded repeatedly, then threw away his armor and staff and headed straight for the fort alone.

"Master! Look! Someone is coming!"

Of course, the head of the Pei family saw Liang Cheng riding towards them. The other party was unarmed and was naturally an envoy.

"When two countries are at war, envoys are not killed. Tell my men not to shoot without my order!"

The head of Pei family shouted.

Liang Cheng approached the fort, and was a little cautious at first, but after seeing that the defenders did not shoot arrows, he no longer had any concerns and rushed straight to the tower. He reined in his horse and shouted:
"I am here on the orders of the Great Yu Heavenly King to go to the Pei Clan of Wenxi. Please open your gate!"

(End of this chapter)