Chapter 42

  In Liang Qi's own words, all of this was part of his plan. He deliberately delayed the rescue time, not wanting to give the 20,000-strong garrison any hope, making them feel desperate, only then could they burst out with their strongest fighting force at the critical moment, and also consume the enemy to the greatest extent possible.

  The Ning army is not good at close combat in narrow roads, and the west city wall of Tongguan is also very weak, which is equivalent to nothing. Even if the Ning army enters Tongguan, it is impossible to defend with the west city wall as a screen. Moreover, the enemy is exhausted, and our attack is unexpected and unprepared. Fighting in Tongguan City will definitely cause great harm to the enemy.

  As a result, the Ning army lost more than 500,000 men in the siege, and another 500,000 were killed or wounded in the battle with Liang Qi and others inside Tongmen. The 400,000-strong army had shrunk to less than 300,000, and the two fierce battles of attack and defense had indeed caused great losses to the Ning army.

  In Zong Zhenghao's eyes, Liang Qi was a typical spoiled son of a wealthy family, relying on his noble birth, looking down on others, only knowing how to boast and brag, but lacking substance. As for being able to achieve such an effect, he couldn't tell whether it was due to Liang Qi's clever plan or just good luck.

  Liang Qikou rushed back to Tongmen, and immediately wanted to counterattack the Ning army. Although Zong Zhenguo didn't care about his life or death, he also didn't want the 100,000 sons of Fengguo to die in vain, so he gritted his teeth and stepped forward to stop him.

  He had a bad impression of Liang Qi, and Liang Qi looked at him even more unpleasantly. Seeing Zong Zhengguo's filial piety come forward to dissuade him, he sneered and said: "The defeated general still has the face to speak loudly in front of me!"

  Zong Zheng Guang's old face turned red and white in succession.

  "You're just a stubborn fool! With 20,000 men trying to defend against an attack of 400,000, even if the city walls were more solid, it would be impossible. General Zongzheng knew he was no match for them, but didn't think of changing tactics - really stupid. If I were in his place, I wouldn't have blocked the city gate and cut off our own escape route. Although Ning's army is large, they're not good at close combat. With 400,000 people gathered outside the city, it was chaotic from the start. Moreover, Ning's army knew that the defenders of Tongmen were insufficient, and would never have guessed that we would launch a surprise attack. If General Zongzheng had led the 20,000 defenders to counterattack at night, he would have definitely defeated Ning's army. Do you believe me?"

  "Oh......" With 200,000 people launching a voluntary attack on 4 million people, only a madman would do such a thing. Zong Zheng Guang was speechless with his mouth agape.

  "I'm just asking if you believe it or not?"

  "This..."

  "If you don't believe me, tonight I'll lead 20,000 soldiers out of the city to launch a surprise attack on Ning's army camp, and let you see whether we can win or not!"

  "Huh?"

  "Four hundred thousand Ning troops are nothing but a handful of straw in my eyes!"

  "Oh..."

  "It's settled then!"

  "But... " Zong Zhenghao was stunned by what Liang Qi had just said, and he didn't know what on earth this young master of the Liang family was getting at.

  However, Liang Qikui was not just talking about it, but really started to select 20,000 elite soldiers from the ten legions, preparing to sneak out of the city that night and launch a surprise attack on the Ning army's camp.

  Li Qiang is not joking, Zong Zhengguo's filial piety can be urgent, Li Qiang himself goes crazy, but he wants to take 20,000 brothers with him to die together, he cannot sit and do nothing.

  But Liang Qi didn't listen to him at all, his dissuasion was just a passing sound in Liang Qi's ears.

  Just as Zong Zheng was in a flurry like an ant on a hot wok and didn't know what to do, someone arrived from Yancheng.

  This time it was a young general who came. He was a trusted member of the Liang family and had been sent by Liang Xing to deliver a letter to Liang Qi.

  Liang Qi, after reading his father's letter, without anyone else's advice, took the initiative to cancel the plan to sneak attack Ning Jun's camp, and then began to command his troops to strengthen the defense of Tongmen City. The giant stone earthwork that had been blocking the city gate was moved away, and he ordered it to be moved back.

  The next day, Ning's army launched a large-scale attack on the city again, but was met with a fierce counterattack led by Liang Qi, and ultimately failed to achieve any results, hastily retreating.

  After several days, the Ning army launched a total of three attacks on the city. After fierce fighting, the defenses of Tongmen City remained solid, while the casualties of the Ning army were heavy. In the end, the Ning army did not dare to attack again and the main force was stationed outside the city, preparing for a prolonged standoff with Tongmen.

  Liang Qichao took the opportunity to submit a memorial to Wang Ting, requesting that the Wind King send five more battalions to reinforce the defense of Tongmen.

  Liáng Qǐkě is now a prominent figure in the Wind Country, and his name is on everyone's lips. Not only did he defeat the Ning army's attack and retake Tongmen, but also the Tongmen under his guard is as stable as a mountain, and hundreds of thousands of Ning soldiers can only sigh outside the city walls.

  The Wind King saw the memorial after almost no thought and discussion, and directly gave his approval.

  After the five legions were transferred to Tongmen, Liang Qi submitted a memorial again soon after, requesting Wang Ting to continue to dispatch more troops from the five legions. He would launch a counterattack against the Ning army outside the city.

  This time, after consulting with the ministers of the court, Feng Wang approved again and dispatched five battalions from various counties to Tongmen.

  Now, Liang Qi directly governs twenty legions, and the Liang family's power has thoroughly risen, suppressing the other three noble families.

  Yancheng, the capital of Fengguo, is also the core of Fengguo. Here, one can't feel the war at the border. The city is prosperous, with a bustling atmosphere, merchants and traders everywhere, and an extraordinary liveliness. This is also the first truly big city that Tang Yin has seen since he came to this world.

  Not long after returning to Yancheng, Tang Yin's title was continuously upgraded.

  The first was because he beheaded the enemy's commander in the Hedong area and was granted a viscountcy. The second grant was due to his capture of the third prince of Ningguo in the midst of chaos, making great contributions to the rescue of his own personnel, and was granted a barony. Immediately afterwards, the third grant arrived because he performed outstandingly in the Tongmen defense battle, killing countless enemies and beheading the Ningguo garrison general, and was granted an earldom.

  Within one day, he was promoted three ranks in a row, which is extremely rare.

  Qiu Zhen, Gu Yue and Le Tian were also granted the title of Viscount.

  On the second day after Tang Yinjia's promotion, the appointment letter officially appointing him as commander of the Second Infantry Regiment also arrived.

  The letter of appointment and the official seal were brought by Wu Mei herself, and after handing them over to Tang Yan, she smiled and said: "General Tang, let's take a trip to the big camp in the north of the city!"

  During his stay in Yancheng, Tang Yin always lived in the residence arranged by Wu Meiyu for him and had not gone to the military camp.

  He asked: "What's going on at the big camp in the north of the city?"

  "Are you trying to be a commander of an empty title? The Second Infantry Regiment needs to be rebuilt, and it just so happens that the Northern Garrison has just recruited several tens of thousands of new soldiers. I think you should have some interest in going to personally select them?" Wu Mei said.

  Tang Yin suddenly became interested and smiled: "Of course I'm interested, let's go!"

  Qiu Zhen, Gu Yue and Le Tian all lived with Tang Yin. They were also interested in going to see the excitement, so they followed Tang Yin and Wu Mei together.

  Today, Wu Mei wore casual clothes, all in bright red, with a red dress, red skirt, red pants and red boots, like a burning flame. With her stunning looks, she was born with a charming bone, and her charm was endless. Wherever she went, she was the focus of attention.

  Tang Yin, on the other hand, was dressed in plain attire, which contrasted with Wu Mei's elaborate dress. He wore a white robe, white trousers, and white boots, embodying the proverb "To be elegant, one must wear mourning clothes." Tang Yin had an extraordinary air about him, with a handsome face and a natural subtle smile that added to his elegance and refinement in his simple white outfit.

  The two of them rode horses side by side, a handsome man and beautiful woman, always making passersby unable to help but turn their heads for another glance.

  On the road, Wu Mei said: "Qian Fuzhang is the backbone of the army, Tang Yin, do you have an ideal candidate in your heart?"

  After days of getting along, the two had become unusually familiar with each other, and when talking in private, they would address each other by name.

  Tang Yin shook his head and said: "Not for the time being, but I will choose carefully."

  "Want me to recommend a few people for you?"

  In fact, she wanted to make Qian Fu Chang comfortable, and she didn't need Tang Yin's consent at all. However, he held a different position in her heart than others did, so she unusually respected Tang Yin's opinion.

  Knowing that Mei was being kind, and not because he didn't trust him but wanted to arrange an informant by his side, he smiled calmly and said: "Wait a bit, if we can't find the right candidate, I'll ask for your help again."

  "Tonight, there is a banquet at the dance house, you are invited to attend."

  "Do we have to go?" Tang Yin was not very interested in this kind of thing.

  "My father also wants to meet you!" The Second Infantry Regiment was a regiment directly under the Dance House, and Yu Xin, as the eldest of the Dance House, naturally wanted to see what kind of person Tang Yin was, who had been strongly recommended by his daughter.

  "Oh!" Tang Yin nodded, since Yu wanted to see him, he couldn't decline, shrugged and smiled: "Might as well meet."

  "Don't be too nervous when you meet my father, he's very easy-going."

  Tang Yin said with a half-joking tone: "I have never known what tension is."

  She rolled her eyes at him in annoyance, but couldn't help being amused by him and giggled uncontrollably.

  Watching the two of them chatting and laughing in front, Qiu Zhen, Gu Yue, and Le Tian, who were following behind, couldn't help but exchange glances with each other.

  Gu Yue leaned in close on his horse and asked Qiu Zhen in a low voice, "Is there something going on between General Wu and General Tang?"

  Seeing his ambiguous expression, Qiu Zhen understood the implication behind his words and smiled: "There's no relationship like you imagined."

  "Oh! I thought General Tang became the commander of the Second Infantry Regiment because..."

  "It's not a skirt-related matter." Qiu Zhengye said: "However, General Wu appreciating Tang Da Ge is indeed true."

  "But he is a cultivator of the Dark Spirit."

  Qiu Zhen couldn't help but roll her eyes and said irritably, "Do you think everyone has as deep a sense of status as you do? General Wu appreciates Tang Da Ge as a person, don't you understand?"

  Gǔ Yuè nodded as if he understood, but also seemed puzzled and wanted to say something. On the other side, Lè Tiān Old God grumbled, "Gǔ Yuè, when did you become a gossipmonger? It's none of your business, why are you inquiring so much?"

  Lotte and Gu Yue knew each other before joining the army, they were playmates from childhood to adulthood, their relationship was too familiar, when talking, there's no need to worry about anything, whatever comes to mind is said.

  "I'm just curious, that's all. What's the big deal anyway? After all, you and I will be working under General Tang in the future!" He gradually accepted this fact. Although Tang Yin wasn't someone he particularly admired, after a few days of interaction, he felt that working under Tang Yin wouldn't be unbearable either.

  P.S: I just finished writing this chapter and uploaded it, hope you all enjoy reading! No need to spend money on recommendations! Also hope you can come to Liu Dao's work and leave a book review! ^ = ^