The grass in the factory should be plucked

Chapter 524: Battle Fortress (Part )

The city of Kucha is known as the throat of the Silk Road and has always been a battleground for military strategists.

The caravans crossed the Tianshan Mountains via the Hexi Corridor and could only reach the countries in the Western Regions by passing through the city gates of Qiuci.

It can be said that whoever gets Kucha will be able to take the initiative on this Silk Road.

The Dzungar Khanate has always been eyeing the city of Kucha, and has had occasional friction with the Turpan Khanate. Now that the Turpan Khanate has fallen into the hands of the Chu State, the Dzungar Khan is overjoyed. This is the best time to capture the city of Kucha!

At this moment, this city surrounded by poplar forests has become the key to determining the ownership of the Silk Road.

The western route of the Western Expedition Army was led by Wei Chen, son of Wei Zhuang. He pursued the remnants of the Turpan troops all the way to the city of Qiuci.

Unexpectedly, the remnants of Turpan, who were like a stray dog, received support from the Dzungar Khanate. The city of Kucha could not be captured for a long time and was about to fall into the hands of the Dzungars!

The setting sun was like blood, splashing on the broken battlements on the city wall.

Wei Chen gripped the ring-handled knife at his waist tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. Looking at the layers of corpses left behind after the seventh failed charge at the foot of the city wall, a fishy-sweet taste surged in his throat.

"General, it's time to retreat."

Deputy General Zhao Wu, three feathered arrows embedded in his armor, spoke with an undisguised tremor in his voice, "Brothers, we haven't had a proper meal in three days."

Wei Chen's brows were tightly furrowed, his gaze passed over the corpses floating on the moat and fell on the figures waving wolf flags on the city walls.

"Pass on my order, retreat!" he said dejectedly.

The Western Expedition Army retreated like a tide. Wei Chen heard the cheers of the remnants of Turpan from the top of the city wall of Qiuci. His face was as gloomy as water. He rode away without saying a word.

Chinese military camp.

Wei Chen's brow furrowed in worry. He remembered what his father had said before they set out: "Kucha is the throat of the Silk Road. We must not lose it!"

My father entrusted me with the command of the Western Army, which shows his respect and trust in me!

Unexpectedly, he couldn't even take down the city of Kucha!

"How is the southern army doing?"

Deputy General Zhao Wu stammered, "I heard that General Zhou advanced triumphantly and encountered little resistance."

Wei Chen punched the table, veins popping out on his forehead.

Zhao Wu complained, "It's not our fault. Who knew the Dzungars would get involved? Those bronze cannons on the city walls are unique to the Dzungar Khanate!"

Those gun barrels with spiral patterns flashed a cold light in the twilight, and they were exactly the weapons that the Western Expedition Army feared the most.

The Dzungars knew very well that as long as they occupied Kucha, they could strangle the throat of the Silk Road, cut off the connection between the Central Plains and the Western Regions, and make the entire area south of the Tianshan Mountains their territory!

"When will the brothers from Longmen Military Industry arrive?" Wei Chen asked again.

In order to facilitate marching, the Western Expedition Army only carried muskets and was no match for the Dzungar bronze cannons!

Only the powerful firearms of Longmen Military Industry can severely damage the Dzungar people!

Therefore, he asked General Ying to send an urgent request for help back to Gaochang City, and his father also replied that the Longmen military and reinforcements would arrive soon.

Zhao Wu shook his head: "I haven't received the message yet."

He was also a little surprised. It was about nine hundred miles from Gaochang to Qiuci, and the reinforcements arrived in three days at full speed.

Even if Longmen Military Industry brought cannons and other supplies, it should have arrived in five days. Why is there no news yet?

Were they ambushed along the way?

"Where is General Ying?" Wei Chen asked again.

The spies didn't come back so quickly, but the eagles were very fast, so they must know where the reinforcements were.

Zhao Wu said in embarrassment: "I don't know where the eagles have gone these past two days. Without General Xie, we can't summon them."

The group of eagles led by Xiaoying was responsible for the communication between the various armies and the central army. They flew around everywhere, carrying out the general's orders from top to bottom.

How could Zhao Wu know where the eagles were currently and what mission they were carrying out?

"Wait a little longer." Wei Chen's voice was dry as if it had been worn by wind and sand. "Maybe it will arrive tomorrow."

At this time, the cry of an eagle was heard overhead.

Wei Chen was overjoyed: "It's General Ying!"

He rushed out of the tent quickly, and Zhao Wu followed closely.

The little eagle descended from the sky in a proud manner and landed on Wei Chen's shoulder.

Wei Chen staggered due to the force of the attack and was a little embarrassed. "Haha, General Eagle is really skilled!"

The little eagle chirped triumphantly, signaling Wei Chen to take the secret letter from its foot.

Wei Chen took the bamboo tube off the little eagle's feet, took out the letter and looked at it with a strange expression on his face.

Zhao Wu was puzzled: "General, what does the letter say?"

Wei Chen handed him the secret letter. Zhao Wu unfolded it and saw that it was written by Xie Changan.

Order them to stay where they are, be patient and wait for reinforcements.

If the enemy takes the initiative to attack, retreat temporarily and do not engage in head-on confrontation with them to avoid unnecessary casualties.

Zhao Wu also had a strange look on his face. Was this... going to make them flee as soon as they heard the news?

If General Ying had not delivered the letter personally, he would have suspected that this was a trick set by the enemy.

Wei Chen turned his head and saw Xiaoying staring at him with sharp eyes.

Wei Chen had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "I obey your orders!"

The little eagle then chirped in satisfaction, spread its wings, and flew high into the sky.

Zhao Wu asked, "General, what does Commander Xie mean?"

Wei Chen pondered, "General Xie told us to wait for reinforcements and to avoid unnecessary casualties..."

Zhao Wu scratched his head: "What do you mean by unnecessary casualties?"

How can there be no casualties in a war?

Wei Chen's eyes lit up. "Have you forgotten the battle between the Zhengxi Army and Yesen? Longmen Military Industry gave him a great gift. The Turpan people were defeated before they even saw our shadow!"

"Perhaps Longmen Military Industry has some new weapons and wants to test them on the Dzungars!"

Zhao Wu smiled brightly upon hearing this: "I missed that battle, but this time it's finally our turn!"

He also wanted to experience the feeling of "picking up" military merits from the ground!

The next day, the spies reported: "There seems to be unusual movement in Kucha City!"

Wei Chen climbed to a high place and used his military-use clairvoyance to see that on the top of the Kucha city wall, several figures wearing sable vests were being escorted up the city wall. The scimitar raised by the leader was inlaid with seven turquoise stones - the symbol of the Junggar nobility.

He snorted coldly, "You've come just in time! I'll make sure you never come back!"

"All troops, alert! If the enemy leaves the city, retreat immediately! Do not engage the enemy head-on!"

Wei Chen's order made the soldiers look at each other in confusion.

What does this mean? Backing off without a fight?

Everyone was full of doubts, and Wei Chen didn't explain. He didn't know how to explain!

At night, the sound of a horn suddenly rang out, piercing the slightly chilly night sky.

"General!" the vanguard hurriedly reported, "They are about to leave the city for a night attack!"

Wei Chen looked through his clairvoyance and saw that the suspension bridge of Kucha City was slowly lowering. Countless figures emerged from the darkness, and their scimitars reflected the bleak moonlight.

More than a dozen bronze cannons flashing with a cold light were also slowly pushed out from the city gate.

Wei Chen sneered: "The entire army retreats——"

"Charge! Kill all the people of Da Chu!"

The charge horn sounded, and the joint army composed of the remnants of Turpan and the Junggar army realized that the Chu army was retreating. They were overjoyed and decided to pursue the victory.

Amidst the deafening shouts and cries of killing, only a clear voice was heard in the void.

"Commendations from the Western Expedition Army, listen up! Disperse to the left and right wings immediately!"

The sound was not loud, but everyone on the battlefield heard it clearly.

"It's Xie Shuai! Xie Shuai is here!" Wei Chen was very excited.

The Western Expedition Army immediately dispersed to both wings.

Then, a huge city slowly emerged from the air.

On top of the city wall, a row of black cannon barrels flashed a cold light under the moonlight.