freenovelworld Chapter 837 Night Attack
Chapter 837 Night Attack
Lin Ping shook her head. "Ma San and General Liu have been operating for many years, and their henchmen are deeply entrenched. It's unrealistic to completely wipe them out overnight. The daytime crackdown mainly dealt a blow to their arrogance and gave us control of the city. The real battle will likely be at night."
Lin Xue chimed in, "Sister is right. Although the main force of the rebels has collapsed, those die-hards, especially Ma San and General Liu's core confidants, will definitely not surrender easily. They are likely to take advantage of the darkness to launch a frenzied counterattack and sabotage, such as arson, assassination, creating chaos, or even trying to organize a small-scale breakout."
The last rays of the setting sun were gradually swallowed by the heavy twilight. Qingyang City, having endured a day of fierce fighting, was not entirely immersed in the tranquility of victory; instead, a sense of impending doom hung in the air. The air was thick with the stench of blood, the smell of gunpowder, and an indescribable tension. On the streets, hastily conscripted militia and surviving regular soldiers were frantically reinforcing fortifications, repairing breaches in the city walls breached by artillery fire, moving stones and logs, and setting up roadblocks. The rebel prisoners scattered during the day were held in several relatively fortified courtyards, heavily guarded.
Lin Ping stood in the courtyard of the temporarily requisitioned city lord's mansion—now the headquarters for suppressing the rebellion—gazing at the last rays of sunset, her brow furrowed. Dressed in a close-fitting outfit, she appeared slightly weary, but her eyes were sharp as an eagle's, daring not to slacken her guard. The daytime victory was certainly encouraging, but she knew it was only the prelude. Those two old foxes, Ma San and General Liu, would not sit idly by. They had cultivated Qingyang for years, their influence penetrating every corner of the city; their hidden henchmen were the most dangerous enemies.
"Sister, all the city gates have been reinforced with guards. Vice General Zhang is personally overseeing the North Gate, which is the main route to the mountains outside the city and is most likely the direction from which the rebels break out or foreign reinforcements infiltrate." Lin Xue strode in from outside, bringing the latest defense information. Her face was slightly dusty, but it couldn't hide her shrewdness and competence. "The main streets inside the city, as well as key locations such as granaries, armories, and water sources, have all been double-guarded. The patrol density has also been increased, with a team of soldiers patrolling every fifteen minutes."
Lin Ping nodded, took the hot tea Lin Xue offered, but didn't drink it, instead rubbing the warm cup with her fingers. "Well done. But we can't just be passively defensive. How many of Ma San and General Liu's core confidants are there? Where are they most likely hiding?"
Lin Xue's face turned serious: "Based on the confessions of the prisoners we captured and the intelligence we had previously gathered, Ma San has about three hundred confidants, mostly desperate criminals, who form his 'Black Wind Hall'; General Liu's personal guard also numbers nearly two hundred, well-equipped and with considerable fighting strength. These people are the backbone of the rebel army and also the most stubborn elements. As for their hiding places... Qingyang City is large, and they are familiar with the terrain. The City God Temple, abandoned workshops, sewers, and even some seemingly law-abiding wealthy families' residences are all possibilities. We are intensifying our search, but it is very difficult."
“Hmm.” Lin Ping pondered, “They are like venomous snakes lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce and bite at any moment. We must find a way to lure them out, or actively seek them out, and not give them the opportunity to calmly plan and launch an attack.”
Just then, a messenger rushed in and knelt on one knee: "Reporting to Lord Lin, a fire has been spotted in the direction of the west city!"
"What?!" Lin Ping and Lin Xue were both shocked.
"Exact location? How bad is the fire?" Lin Ping asked immediately, her voice suddenly rising.
"Reporting to Your Excellency, it's the slums of the western city, near the City God Temple. Flames are shooting into the sky, and it seems like multiple fires have started simultaneously! The patrol team has already rushed over, but the houses there are densely packed, mostly wooden structures, and the fire is spreading very quickly!"
"They've come as expected!" A cold glint flashed in Lin Ping's eyes. "Lin Xue, you immediately take people to the west city to direct the firefighting efforts. Make sure to control the fire, reassure the public, and at the same time keep a close eye on the area around the fire. The arsonist is likely still observing nearby and may even take advantage of the chaos to create confusion or launch an attack! Remember, putting out the fire is important, but catching people is even more important. Try to capture them alive!"
"Yes!" Lin Xue replied without hesitation, turned around and walked away, while loudly ordering, "Personnel guards, follow me!"
Watching Lin Xue's figure disappear into the night, Lin Ping took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. This was no simple arson; it was a diversionary tactic, a feint!
"Someone come here!" Lin Ping called out.
"Here!" Several guards immediately stepped forward.
"Pass down the order: all units must hold their posts. No soldier may be moved without my command! Be especially vigilant at the North Gate and other key locations! Tell Deputy General Zhang that the fire in the West City is likely a feint by the rebels to lure us into splitting our forces. We cannot afford any mistakes on their end!"
"Yes!" The guard obeyed and left.
Lin Ping strode to the banner of the Qingyang City Lord's soldiers hanging on the wall; absolutely no mistakes could be made on his end!
"Yes!" The guard obeyed and left.
Lin Ping walked quickly to the map of Qingyang City hanging on the wall, pointed heavily to the location of the West City God Temple, then slid her finger towards the granary and armory in the city center, and finally stopped at the North Gate.
"Arson is just the first step, the purpose is to create panic and distract us. What...could their real goal be?" Lin Ping murmured to herself. Her mind raced, analyzing various possibilities.
Sabotage the granary? Cut off our army's food supply? It's highly likely. But the granary is heavily guarded and is some distance from the western part of the city.
Attacking the armory? Seizing weapons? It's possible, but it's also heavily guarded.
Or perhaps... they want to take advantage of the chaos to rescue the prisoners, or even attack the command post directly?
Lin Ping's heart sank. The command post was located in the city lord's mansion, and although it had guards, its strength was relatively small compared to other key departments. If the enemy concentrated its elite forces for a surprise attack, it would indeed be a considerable threat.
"Pass on my order to strengthen the defenses around the command post. Send two patrol teams over to establish a tight defense. No one is allowed to approach!" Lin Ping made a decisive decision.
As night deepened, the flames in the western part of the city flickered like a giant warning light in the darkness. Shouts of battle, cries for help, and the rumble of collapsing buildings drifted faintly through the air, tugging at the heartstrings of everyone in the city.
Lin Ping stood in the courtyard of the command post, gazing up at the night sky, which was glowing red from the firelight, surrounded by a cacophony of sounds. She knew that Lin Xue must be under immense pressure right now. The slums were densely populated, and if the fire got out of control, the consequences would be unimaginable. Moreover, in the chaos, the enemy could easily take advantage of the situation.
Time passed slowly, and each moment seemed exceptionally long.
Suddenly, another messenger came running up: "Sir! Something terrible has happened! The southern camp where prisoners are being held has been attacked! The number of the enemy is unknown, but they are extremely fierce. The defending troops are putting up a fierce resistance, but they have suffered heavy casualties!"
"The Southern Camp!" Lin Ping's pupils contracted. The Southern Camp was located in the south of the city, some distance from the fire site in the west. It held hundreds of rebel soldiers captured during the day. If it were breached and the prisoners released, it would be tantamount to releasing a tiger back into the mountains, and could even trigger a larger-scale rebellion!
"How cunning!" Lin Ping gritted her teeth. First, they set fire to the western city to draw the main force's attention, then they launched a surprise attack on the southern camp, intending to create even greater chaos! This was a series of interconnected schemes!
"Order!" Lin Ping's voice was firm and resolute. "Order Li, who is stationed at the East Gate, to immediately abandon the defense of the East Gate and personally lead his elite troops to reinforce the South Camp at all costs! Tell him that if the South Camp falls, the prisoners in the city will mutini, and we will all die without a burial place!"
"Yes!" The messenger accepted the order and turned to run away.
"Wait!" Lin Ping called out to him, her gaze sharp as a knife as she swept over the deputy general beside her. "Deputy General Zhang, you will immediately lead my personal guard battalion, along with all available non-firefighting forces near the fire site in the west of the city, to the flank of the South Camp to assist Lieutenant Li in the battle. Remember, your mission is not only to relieve the siege, but also to prevent any prisoner from escaping! If necessary, kill them without mercy!"
"Your subordinate obeys!" Deputy General Zhang clasped his hands in a fist salute, his face grave. He knew the weight of Lin Ping's order. "Kill without mercy" meant that if the defensive line collapsed, they had to be ruthless to prevent the rebels from regrouping and replenishing their forces.
"And another thing," Lin Ping took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, "how is the fire in the West City? Is there a risk of it spreading?"
A junior officer in charge of fire dispatching rushed forward: "Reporting to the general, the fire has been initially brought under control, but it seems that there are still small groups of rebels harassing the area near the fire, hindering firefighting efforts, and... it seems they intend to spread the fire towards the armory!"
"The armory!" Lin Ping's heart tightened again. It contained half of the city's arrows, gunpowder, and siege equipment. If it were ignited, the consequences would be unimaginable! "Damn it!" she cursed under her breath, feeling as if she had been dragged into several battlefronts at once, with traps everywhere.
"Pass on my orders," Lin Ping's voice was slightly hoarse, but exceptionally firm. "Order the fire commander of the West City to hold the armory defense line at all costs. Use all available water and manpower, even if it means demolishing nearby houses, to keep the fire at bay! Also, draw two teams from the patrol battalion to clear out the scattered rebel soldiers near the fire and ensure that the firefighting channels remain clear!"
Orders were issued in an orderly manner, and the command center, which had been somewhat chaotic due to the unexpected situation, quickly regrouped and began operating efficiently under Lin Ping's calm and decisive leadership.
Standing atop the command tower, Lin Ping gazed at the flames that illuminated half the sky over the western city, and the faint sounds of battle drifting from the south, her brow furrowed. The rebels' elaborate scheme was intricately linked, each move ruthless. First, they used the fire to draw their main force away; then they attacked the southern camp, intending to release the enemy back into the mountains; simultaneously, they harassed the firefighters, attempting to burn down the armory—a truly treacherous scheme.
Their goal is probably not just the prisoners of the South Camp, but also to completely disrupt the city's defenses, create panic, and then attack from both inside and outside to break through the city in one fell swoop!
“General,” a bodyguard asked cautiously, “we…we don’t have many troops left to deploy. If the rebels launch another attack from another direction, we…”
Lin Ping's eyes sharpened: "Don't worry, the main force of the rebels is definitely tied down by the Southern Camp and the fire. Their forces are also limited, and they can't possibly fight everywhere. The East Gate has a small force left by Lieutenant Li and strong city defenses, which is enough to hold out for a while. The North Gate and the North Gate are key areas of our army's defense, and they are difficult to shake without a large army. They are gambling now, gambling that we will be unable to attend to one thing at a time!"
She paused, a ruthless glint in her eyes: "Pass down the order, tell all the soldiers that today's battle concerns the survival of the city, the safety of tens of thousands of people behind us, there is no turning back! Commander Li and Deputy Commander Zhang must hold the line in the southern camp. I want to see good news before dawn! The fire in the western city must be brought under control, and the armory must not be lost!"
"Yes!" the soldiers responded in unison, their voices filled with the fighting spirit inspired by Lin Ping.
Lin Ping gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force. She knew that the next few hours were not only a matter of life and death for the city, but also a tremendous challenge to the will, courage, and strength of all the soldiers she commanded; it was even a critical moment concerning her personal honor and success. At this moment, what lay before them was not merely a simple battle, but a race against time, a desperate struggle, and a battle of wits filled with treacherous schemes.
A fierce wind howled through the night sky, as if trying to tear the world apart. The air was thick with the pungent smell of gunpowder, mingled with the distant cries of battle. Lin Ping took a deep breath, filling her nostrils with the acrid odor, then slowly exhaled. Her sharp eyes, like burning torches, were fixed on the flickering firelight of the southern battlefield, and she silently prayed, "Lieutenant Li, Deputy General Zhang, please grit your teeth and hold on! Our southern camp absolutely cannot fall!"
She firmly believed that if they could weather this most difficult and arduous critical juncture; if they could firmly hold onto the vital Southern Camp and the armory storing vast quantities of weapons and equipment, then the insidious and treacherous schemes meticulously planned by those treacherous rebels would be utterly thwarted. When that time came, it would be time for their army to launch a counterattack and settle scores!
At this very moment, the howling wind atop the city walls seemed to carry with it a nauseating stench of blood. Beneath the pitch-black, impenetrable darkness, a breathtaking, bloody battle—a battle that could determine the very future and destiny of the entire city—was raging fiercely and intensely. At the heart of this tumultuous vortex, the woman—Lin Ping—beared an immense burden and immense pressure. She knew that any misstep in her decisions could cost tens of thousands of innocent lives. Therefore, she absolutely could not afford to panic or lose her composure, nor could she afford the slightest negligence or carelessness. Only by fighting with everything she had, with her back to the wall, could she possibly achieve final victory!