webnovelfull Chapter 1071 Murong kills the general to deter the troops
Chapter 1071 Murong kills the general to deter the troops
Kebi Neng stood up, looked at Wulanda deeply, turned and walked into the depths of the military tent, took out an exquisite wooden box, and handed it to Wulanda: "This is a token passed down from our Xianbei ancestors. Take it with you, perhaps it will be useful in the future."
Wulanda took the wooden box with both hands and carefully tucked it into his arms. The rain outside gradually subsided, but the atmosphere inside the tent grew heavier. Wulanda knew this farewell might be forever. Fighting back tears, he turned and left the tent, gathering the 1000 Golden Tent guards and preparing to embark on this uncertain and arduous journey of survival. Kebineng stood at the tent door, watching Wulanda's retreating figure, silently praying that he would escape safely and preserve a trace of the Xianbei bloodline.
East of Ordo City, in Murong Xuepo's camp, the atmosphere was subdued. Sitting at the head of the tent, Murong Xuepo's face gloomy, he lamented, "Today's heavy rain is truly abominable. If it hadn't arrived so suddenly, we might have already captured Ordo City."
Wulihan also kept complaining on the side: "Yeah, this rain came at the wrong time. It completely disrupted our offensive rhythm."
Sukh echoed, "If it weren't for this heavy rain, the king would have already entered Ordo City today and achieved his hegemony."
Murong Xuepo took a deep breath, stood up, and swept his gaze over the people in the tent. He shouted, "Everyone, don't be discouraged! Although we failed today due to the heavy rain, you all saw that Kebi Neng's Ordo City has now been completely depleted of its forces, including the elderly, the weak, women, and children. His strength is extremely limited. I predict that his Ordo City will not be able to hold out."
He raised his voice and continued to boost morale: "Tomorrow, as long as we work together and make a concerted effort, we will surely capture Ordo! Then, the city's treasures, cattle, sheep, and supreme power will all belong to us!"
Inside the camp were not only Murong Xuepo's own troops, but also the tribal leaders who had recently joined Murong Xuepo. These leaders had varying expressions, some with renewed fighting spirit, others with worry. After all, today's casualties were truly immense. In just one day, Murong Xuepo's army had suffered over ten thousand casualties, nearly twenty thousand.
Murong Xuepo naturally noticed the change in everyone's mood. He walked over to the tribal leaders, patted one on the shoulder, and said, "Everyone, I know you all feel sorry for our brothers who have been killed or injured, but this is the price we must pay to achieve great things. Once we capture Ordo City, the rewards we will gain will far outweigh these losses. We have come this far, and we must not sink."
A tribal leader hesitated for a moment and said, "Great Khan, we naturally trust you. However, after these days of continuous sieges, our brothers are exhausted, and the casualties are so heavy. I am afraid..."
Murong Xuepo interrupted him and said firmly, "I understand everyone's concerns. I will arrange good food and wine tonight so that you brothers can have a good rest. When we attack the city tomorrow, I will also adjust our tactics to minimize casualties. As long as we unite, victory will surely belong to us."
After hearing Murong Xuepo's words, everyone, though still worried, nodded in agreement, encouraged by his command. Murong Xuepo looked at the crowd and breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that at this moment, he couldn't let the army lose its morale. He had to lead everyone in a concerted effort to capture Ordo City, otherwise all their previous efforts would be wasted.
Murong Xuepo ordered a banquet to be arranged, celebrating the impending victory in advance, as if he had already foreseen Kebi Neng's defeat and Ordo City's fall to his own hands. Taking Murong Xuepo's cue, Agula, acting as a tribal elder, worked tirelessly to liven up the atmosphere in the tent. He told humorous stories from the grasslands, drawing laughter from the crowd and easing the dull atmosphere.
At that moment, in the rainy night, the sound of galloping horses approached from afar, like a heavy hammer, shattering the slightly relaxed atmosphere. Suddenly, a loud noise came from outside the tent, including the shouts of soldiers and the neighing of horses.
Murong Xuepo's expression instantly darkened, his eyes revealing a clear displeasure. The atmosphere had finally been restored, so what was going on outside? He stood up impatiently and strode towards the tent door, ready to see what was going on.
The tent curtain was flung open, and a cold wind, drizzling with rain, rushed in, making everyone shiver. A drenched man appeared. It was none other than Lang Daya, a trusted confidant of Murong Xuepo's tribe. He rushed in in a state of disarray, trembling uncontrollably and gasping for breath.
Murong Xuepo frowned, his eyes filled with displeasure and confusion. He asked, "Lang Daya, why didn't you stay at the camp and rush here in such a hurry? What's the matter?"
Lang Daya's face was filled with anxiety, and his voice trembled as he spoke, "Your Majesty, this is terrible! Two days ago, a group of Han soldiers rushed into our tribal territory like vicious wolves, burning, killing, looting, and committing all kinds of atrocities wherever they went. Furthermore, I heard that most other tribes have also encountered enemies. Now our tribe is struggling to hold on. The situation is extremely critical!"
With a bang, these words resonated through the tent like a thunderclap, instantly shrinking. Everyone was stunned for a moment, then instantly fell into chaos. The generals whispered to each other, their faces panicked; the tribal leaders were terrified, at a loss as to what to do.
Murong Xuepo's eyes widened in disbelief as she retorted loudly, "Impossible! Ma Chao's Han army is currently attacking the southwest of Ordo City. How could there be Han troops in our tribal territory? Did you see it wrong?"
Lang Daya was so anxious that tears were about to come out. He fell to his knees and said, "My king, it is absolutely true! I rode all the way here at full speed to report the news. How dare I lie? The Han army is so powerful that many tribes have been thrown into disarray. If we don't go back to rescue them, I'm afraid..."
Murong Xuepo was shocked and angry, and subconsciously turned his gaze to Tuya, whom he regarded as his think tank, eager to get an answer from her.
Tuya hurried forward and reported respectfully, "Your Majesty, we have always had spies stationed around Ma Chao's camp. They've been sending us reports constantly, but we haven't seen any unusual activity from the Han camp, nor have we seen any soldiers leave."
Murong Xuepo took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He frowned and said, "But Lang Daya wouldn't talk nonsense for no reason. It seems that there is still a Han army on this grassland, and they have already reached our tribal territory."
At this time, the leader of the Bayan tribe, Erdun, reported to Murong Xuepo with great concern: "Your Majesty, our Bayan tribe has lived on that grassland for generations. Now that our tribe is in danger, I am truly worried. I beg Your Majesty to allow me to return and provide assistance, otherwise our tribe will suffer a devastating disaster."
At the side, Bater, the leader of the Sunite tribe, also said, "Yes, Your Majesty! The Sunite tribe is also facing a crisis. I have to go back to protect my people. I hope Your Majesty will help me."
As soon as these two people finished speaking, it was like a bombshell dropped into the already tense camp. The tribes that had previously relied on Murong Xuepo were instantly thrown into chaos. Everyone was talking at once, panic was rising, and many people clamored to withdraw and return to protect their own tribes.
"We can't just give up the siege at this point!" Ulihan shouted loudly, trying to stabilize the situation.
"But if the tribe is gone, what's the point of us fighting here?" Erdun retorted with red eyes.
The tent was a scene of clamor and chaos. Murong Xuepo watched the chaotic scene, feeling both angry and anxious. He knew that if he withdrew his troops now, the huge cost of attacking Ordo City would be wasted. However, if he did not return to reinforce, the tribal territory would suffer heavy losses, and his prestige as a king would be completely destroyed. He would no longer be able to unite these tribes.
Erdun and Bater rushed around the camp, constantly urging the other tribal leaders. Since the siege began, the 140,000-man army had suffered heavy losses, with nearly 60,000 soldiers killed. The majority of these casualties were members of the tribesmen affiliated with Murong Xuepo. In contrast, Murong Xuepo's elite main force had suffered relatively little damage, a fact Erdun and Bater also mentioned.
A ruthless thought flashed through Murong Xuepo's mind. Ordo City was so close, it looked like it was about to be captured. If he returned to support now, Ordo City would surely fall to Ma Chao's Han army. Wouldn't that give Ma Chao a chance to rest and recuperate? By then, he would likely be caught in a dilemma, surrounded by enemies on both sides. It was uncertain whether he could win, let alone dominate the grasslands. For a moment, Murong Xuepo was filled with rage, his heart pounding with anger.
Murong Xuepo glanced at Wulihan, his eyes clearly filled with murderous intent. He then calmly glanced at the two tribal leaders, Erdun and Bater, who were chatting animatedly. Wulihan and Suhe understood his intention and approached them unnoticed. Just as Erdun and Bater were caught off guard, Wulihan and Suhe suddenly drew their long swords from their waists and, with a single movement, slashed the sharp blades directly at the two men's heads.
With two loud "puffs," blood splattered, and two heads tumbled to the ground, their eyes wide open, still filled with fear and resentment. The tent fell silent, everyone stunned by the sudden turn of events. The previously noisy tent became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Everyone looked at the bodies on the ground, then at Murong Xuepo, whose face was filled with murderous intent, with fear and anger swirling in their hearts.
Murong Xuepo glanced at the crowd and shouted, "With a formidable enemy at our doorstep, instead of thinking about how to defeat them, you're disrupting the morale of the army! Anyone who dares to mention retreat will suffer the fate of these two! We've already paid such a huge price, and Ordo City is within our grasp. If we retreat now, all our efforts will be wasted! As long as we capture Ordo City, we'll have ample food, treasure, and manpower. When the time comes to return to support the tribe, we'll be able to annihilate the Han army without a single piece left!"
Despite Murong Xuepo's fiery words, the eyes of the small tribal leaders within the tent, all of whom were dependent on him, flickered with fear and worry. They were all displeased with his sudden execution of Erdun and Bater, but fearing his power, they could only bury their discontent deep within their hearts, not daring to express it. Looking at Murong Xuepo, everyone's faces were filled with horror and numbness.