My Cultivation Starting from Archery

Cui Congyi discarded the letter: "General Sha, this task is entrusted to you."

"Disgusting!"

Sha Wenlong had no choice but to follow the orders.

"No matter what Chen Sansi is up to, as long as he can really force Deng Feng to surrender and leave the city, it can be considered a good thing. Let's not mention the demands of the Incense Fire Divine Sect on us, my father..."

Cao Fan pondered, "It would be extremely beneficial for the entire Lai State, for one, Zhao Tong Prefecture's geographical location is critical, related to the subsequent course of events. Secondly, Deng Feng has high prestige, 'Deng Qingtian', 'Mr. Deng of Skies High and Righteous'—these are all his nicknames. If such a man is willing to surrender, it will surely lead to many other cities surrendering as well."

"But the question is, how is he going to accomplish it?"

"Nearly seven days have passed in the blink of an eye, and we haven't seen a trace of him. Is two months' time really enough?"

Since giving up the competition for Chief Disciple, to his surprise, he found that his resentment towards Chen Sansi quickly diminished, replaced more by admiration. It's just that in the current situation, he really couldn't figure out what this guy was up to.

"Let's just do as he said."

Cui Congyi said with repressed emotion, "After all, if it doesn't work and leads to any grave consequences due to missed opportunities in battle, it's not for you or me to be responsible. After all, it's not even two months."

"General Cui."

Yun Xiaozi, dressed in Da Sheng armor and disguised as an officer, stepped forward to remind, "Dragging this out is no solution, we must take down this city!"

"Rest assured, Daoist Priest."

Cui Congyi stated, "Even if we cannot take the city, we will certainly handle the matters entrusted by the Crown Prince properly, without delay."

"I am merely reminding you."

Yun Xiaozi added, "Moreover, the place to decide the outcome should best be outside the Capital City,"

"That's hard to say now."

Cui Congyi frowned and said, "Looking at the current situation, it's not certain we have a strong chance of reclaiming the three states. In any case, if things don't work out, we'll choose another time and place."

"Alright then."

Yun Xiaozi said no more and quietly withdrew.

...

Zhao Tong Prefecture, inside the city.

After enduring more than forty days of brutal siege warfare, the city walls were scarred and bodies piled up like mountains. The soldiers and civilian workers alike were ragged and utterly exhausted.

But on this day, everything ceased abruptly.

The enemy army outside the city unexpectedly became quiet, leaving only two or three horse riders calling for surrender at the foot of the city walls, and the occasional arrow shot over the wall also carried letters of persuasion to surrender.

"People of Qing Country and the Qing Army inside the city, listen up!" Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

"Open the city gates and surrender early to save your lives!"

"Otherwise, once the city falls, not one will be left alive!"

"Why insist on defending to the bitter end!"

"You won't be getting any reinforcements!

"..."

Atop the city wall, the civilian workers and soldiers, pausing their repair work during the lull in battle, were skeptical.

"Great General!"

The leading generals of Qing Country reported, "The Sheng Dynasty's troops have all retreated into their camps and are laying low, indicating they will not continue the siege for the time being. Furthermore, the scouts we dispatched have finally broken through and will soon bring back news of the other cities nearby. Does this imply the enemy has let down their guard? Should we seize the opportunity to try and break out?"

"Not possible."

Deng Qingtian, the Great General of Zhao Tong Prefecture at the Profound Image Realm of perfection, was personally moving boulders, calmly asserting, "This 'encircle three, leave one' strategy is probably to lure us out, with ambushes sure to be waiting outside. Continue to defend the city!"

"Mr. Deng, how much longer can we hold out?"

"Yeah, how long will this go on? They say Yong Yue Prefecture is also completely surrounded. Is Lai State done for?"

"Alas, it's already January. In the blink of an eye, we have been away from home for several months, and to this day, we're still unable to send a single letter back."

"Yeah, yeah."

"..."

The soldiers discussed amongst themselves with various opinions.

The civilians within the city were equally suffering.

Compared to the defending army, they were the ones who suffered the most deaths each day.

"My lord..."

"Please tell us clearly, when will this end?"

"Yes, how long before we can repel the enemy outside?"

"My father's body fell from the city wall, and to this day, there's still no chance to collect his corpse..."

"..."

"Boom!"

Deng Feng suddenly threw the massive stone he held, creating a thunderous sound, and he spoke with a powerful voice, "You ask me how long we must defend? To tell you the truth, at least another sixty days! If you truly don't wish to continue defending, you may go open the gates and surrender. Go on, I won't stop you, as long as—"

He deliberately paused, then emphasized, "you dare to believe the word of the Sheng people!"

"This..."

The soldiers and civilians exchanged glances, speechless.

Indeed.

Can one trust the word of the Sheng people?

It was said that when they attacked the Leishan Prefecture region, similar things were promised, yet everyone had seen for themselves the fate of the local people. An inferno on earth engulfed five prefectures!

"It seems you are not so foolish!"

Deng Feng ascended to a higher position and queried with his resonant and robust voice, "Furthermore, consider this, the Sheng people have been besieging us for a month already, so why have they suddenly stopped now?

"Indeed, because they have realized they cannot take the city and have no choice but to give up!

"The letters of persuasion to surrender should not shake us but serve as evidence of their impending defeat!"

"The General makes sense!"

The crowd had a moment of clarity.

"Their cessation demonstrates that they are scared!"

"No wonder, they attacked like madmen before, and then suddenly they stopped."

"We mustn't fall for their trick; once we open the gates, those Sheng dogs will surely engage in frenzied retribution!"