Whale Falls and Becomes a God

Chapter 147 A strange combination of circumstances
The sun was rising, and the first light of dawn was shining on Hailing City, but it was still difficult to dispel... the lingering blood mist.

The Shangliang Army, which had been defending tightly and using static tactics, suddenly launched a large-scale attack and surged towards the southern city area like a tide.

"Report..."

The unusual movement of the Shangliang army immediately attracted the attention of the Sui army, who reported it in a timely manner.

Madam Ronghua quickly summoned all the generals, military advisors, and servants, including Xiao Ying, Dugu Feng, and others who had just returned to Hailing Camp and had no time to rest.

In the vast military tent, Madam Ronghua Cai Shuilan and Prince Jingwu Xiao Ying sat in the main seats, with the others arranged on the left and right.

As everyone took their seats, Concubine Xu Qiubai, clad in graceful, exquisite armor, was the first to offer her analysis. "The news of the Marquis of Nanyang's crushing defeat has undoubtedly reached Hailing, and Prince Shangliang couldn't have been kept in the dark! His sudden, uncharacteristically large-scale military deployment at this time—is it a desperate attempt, or a diversionary tactic to break out?"

Dugu Ba quickly responded, "I believe the Shangliang Army is trying to break out. They've already lost the southern city area and are clearly at a disadvantage. Wouldn't a counterattack be courting their own destruction?"

"That's true! In the initial battle, the Shangliang Army fell into a disadvantage, and they have been defending themselves tightly for the past two days, with no signs of counterattack! Now they must have realized that their reinforcements have been lost and resistance is hopeless, so they want to make a feint to the east and retreat to the west to evacuate and break out..." General Zheng Zitong nodded in agreement.

Empress Chen Hanyu frowned in thought and hesitantly reminded, "Everyone, don't forget that the Shangliang Army still has 400,000 to 500,000 troops and hundreds of thousands of auxiliary troops. They are far more numerous than ours! Even if they don't have reinforcements, why do they think our army will win?"

"Huh?" Everyone looked at him in confusion, finding it difficult to refute.

You know your own business, and most of the Sui army are new recruits.

Even the so-called elite soldiers from the five directions are actually only equipped with complete and good weapons and armor. They have not been in the army for long and have only been forcibly improved by secret methods. Their average cultivation and combat power are strong. They are just bluffing on the surface. Their number is only about 100,000 of the elite soldiers from the north and south.

The biggest advantage of the Sui army is that it has more peak and top-level combat forces, including generals with strong combat forces, which gives it the illusion of having the advantage.

However, it is difficult for individual bravery to make up for the gap in the army!
If the Shangliang army really came out in full force and launched a head-on and desperate counterattack, the Sui army would most likely not be their match!

Chen Hanyu, the delicate and graceful woman known as the Jade Beauty, blushed slightly as she gritted her teeth and analyzed, "Perhaps... the Shangliang Army simply mistakenly believed that Prince Jingwu and our elite main force were absent, and they wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to counterattack and retake the southern city wall!"

"It seems so..." Liu Qianqing mustered up the courage to express his thoughts.

Everyone was silent for a while, and Xiaoban nodded in agreement.

In the Battle of Nancheng, the Shangliang army was caught off guard by the conspiracy and the sudden attack, and the upper-level combat power was indeed inferior to that of the Sui army, so they were repelled and occupied the Nancheng District.

The possibility that Chen Hanyu mentioned is indeed quite high!

Prince Jingwu's original intention was to create confusion and obscure the location of the elite main force, but he didn't expect it to lead to a crushing defeat in Nanyang. Now the Shangliang army seems to have taken it seriously...

"According to the Empress's latest decree, we must capture Hailing City as quickly as possible! Regardless, whether we use the enemy's tactics or simply follow the tide of the situation, our army must go all out to defeat or expel the Shangliang army as quickly as possible..."

Madam Ronghua looked around at everyone and said solemnly. After a pause, she quickly asked, "When will the southern army arrive?"

"Based on the vanguard army, it will take one or two hours at the fastest and three or four hours at the slowest!" someone responded quickly.

"That's not a big deal. If you want to fight, then let's fight! It'll only take three or four hours at most. Can't our army hold on?"

Madam Ronghua decisively made the decision and then ordered, "All the generals, take your positions. Prince Jingwu and the others will stay for now!"

After saying that, Madam Ronghua directly handed a jade talisman to Xiao Ying...

"Wang Shi has shown signs of disloyalty. We have temporarily dismissed and detained members of the Wang family in the military, besieging the Wang residence pending investigation. Those who stubbornly resist... will be killed without mercy!"

Before the crowd had dispersed, Xiao Ying took it with suspicion, his brow furrowing as he took one look. Madam Ronghua's move was clearly targeting the Wang clan members of the Southern Sui Army, especially Wang Caixuan, the Southern Army's First Military Advisor!
Xiao Ying flipped his palm, immediately put away the jade talisman, and solemnly replied: "When a general is on the battlefield, he is not subject to the king's orders! King... others... I can't guarantee it, but... the loyalty of the military advisor, I can guarantee it."

"..."

Everyone was puzzled, not knowing what the two commanders were talking about, but they knew better than to ask any more questions. From what King Jingwu said, it didn't seem like good news.

The two coaches chose not to make it public, and asking or inquiring about it is just asking for trouble!

"The Saintess of the Demon Sect leads the crowd to seek an audience with King Jingwu... Madam Ronghua!"

Just as the crowd was about to disperse, a pleasant and ethereal voice suddenly sounded, as if coming from nowhere.

Outside the tent, a dense atmosphere stirred and became chaotic. Countless divine consciousness spread out like water, thoroughly investigating and searching the surroundings...

"We're one for now! Spread the word!"

Everyone in the tent had different expressions. Xiao Ying raised his hand to calm the chaotic crowd and responded in a calm tone.

"The Saintess of the Demon Sect, Yin Wan'er, leads the others to meet with Prince Jingwu and Madam Ronghua!"

Soon, Yin Wan'er brought twelve powerful demon sect masters into the tent and politely greeted them first. There were four fewer people than before.

"Going to an appointment?"

Most of the people present knew that the first agreement with the Demon Sect was only to delay the Fengming Army and the Jianghuai Army, but they didn't know what other agreements needed to be fulfilled?

"They came to help break the city and defeat the enemy!" Xiao Ying explained concisely.

Yin Wan'er said quite straightforwardly and seriously: "Generals and lords, our Holy Sect is willing to help the Sui army. We can assist in the battle and the rebellion in the city. If you are willing to trust us, you can open the north gate for the Sui army at any time!"

Yin Wan'er, now still stunningly beautiful, dressed in revealing clothes, with a voluptuous figure, exudes a certain allure in her every move. However, she is not the flirtatious, frivolous, and casual person Xiao Ying had seen her in before. Instead, she is quite serious and solemn, even somewhat dignified and noble.

Obviously, Yin Wan'er was born in the Demonic Sect and is a saint, so charm is her fundamental nature. It may be casual, but not casual. Not everyone is worthy of her charm or casual treatment.

Madam Ronghua was quite surprised, but she looked at Xiao Ying and asked, "What does the prince mean?"

Xiao Ying frowned, pondering for a moment before resolutely issuing his orders, "Then immediately start a rebellion within the city, and open the North Gate! Empress Chen and Minister Liu (Liu Qianqing), each lead 50,000 troops and ambush outside the North Gate, waiting for an opportunity or orders to move! Also, be on guard against the sudden reappearance of the Fengming Army or the disappeared Marquis of Nanyang!"

"what?!"

"My lord, think twice!"

"Your Highness! Capturing the city is the most important thing right now, destroying the enemy is secondary!"

Many people were stunned and surprised, and some were shocked and tried to dissuade him.

You must know that the entire Sui army in the east had only 330,000 troops, of which only 100,000 were elite soldiers, and the rest were all new recruits.

With 100,000 soldiers each taken from the two city gates, that leaves only 130,000 soldiers in the crucial southern section of the city. How can they possibly withstand the frenzied counterattack of the Shangliang Army, whose "main army plus auxiliary troops" could be a million strong?! Even if they combined two armies of 100,000 elite soldiers, it would still be difficult. How could they possibly defeat ten with one?
"Moral support from many, scant support!"

Xiao Ying glanced around at everyone with a sharp gaze, then slowly responded and solemnly reminded them, "The Shangliang Army is now isolated, and we have the support of the Demon Sect and many allies. With the enemy facing internal and external troubles, can't we hold out for a few more hours?"

(End of this chapter)