Tang Zan’s dark eyes were as profound as the sea. He saluted General Zhao.
"Yes, I will not betray the trust of the General."
He then closed his eyes again, quickly falling into a deep sleep, no longer feeling the pain, and slept peacefully.
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Tang Zan.
Seeing his calm demeanor and the powerful aura he exuded, with the natural authority of a leader, everyone hurriedly knelt down.
"Greetings to Deputy General Tang."
Even though he was only the acting Deputy General, nobody doubted Tang Zan’s abilities.
This was the son of the Great Yan War God, War King. Having grown up by the War King’s side, naturally, his abilities were superior.
Tang Zan nodded and then began asking several commanders about the current situation.
Everyone hadn’t eaten all day, and there was no food here.
If food couldn’t be procured, then survival would be short-lived.
Moreover, if the food were taken by the Dazi, it would undoubtedly increase their combat power.
Everyone present was deeply worried about such a situation.
Commander Zhang said, "Fortunately, we listened to Madam Pei... Mrs. Tang’s advice earlier and hid the food in the cellar, and the Dazi haven’t found it yet."
Moreover, Dazi don’t practice digging cellars, so naturally, they don’t know about this.
Upon hearing this news, the previously dejected soldiers felt a bit happier, as long as the food wasn’t found, they still had a chance of survival.
Tang Zan pondered for a few seconds, then said, "Besides the soldiers on the city walls, are there any hiding elsewhere in the camp?"
Tang Zan had just counted the numbers and found only twelve thousand people, implying there were others somewhere else.
Commander Zhang said, "There are people in the cellar too. At that time, when the Dazi rushed in, the General issued a retreat order."
"Everyone was queuing for their meal then; some near the kitchen did not escape successfully and hid in the cellar. As for others, they probably got captured."
Commander Zhang was once again grateful for Pei Shu’er for having the cellar built, without which many lives would have been lost.
Tang Zan looked around the Gulan military camp and noticed about seven thousand Dazi were active in the camp, anticipating some still in the General’s Tent.
Commander Zhang sighed, "We fought with the Dazi earlier but couldn’t win; with General Zhao injured, we chose to retreat."
Tang Zan looked at the city gate, where over a hundred Dazi were guarding, with some Dazi transporting goods in and out.
The catapult designed by Pei Shu’er was also taken out.
Tang Zan selected a few commanders from the camp, along with subordinates from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion.
"Once I signal, those with combat power will descend from the city walls, and we’ll surround and eliminate the Dazi together." Official source ıs 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁
Tang Zan originally didn’t want Pei Shu’er to join, but Pei Shu’er mixed into the ranks herself.
They first eliminated the Dazi guarding the city walls. Since Tang Zan and others launched a surprise night attack and had high martial power, the Dazi were annihilated without making a sound.
The drawbridge at the city gate was pulled up again, and the vermillion gate was closed.
The other Dazi noticed something amiss and rushed towards them.
They found themselves trapped.
Of course, in the eyes of Dazi, the Dayan people were the real trapped ones.
After all, in terms of individual soldier physique, how could the Dayan soldiers be their match?
Thinking this, the Dazi became more reckless, unable to hide the disdain in their eyes.
After all, the Dayan people had always been the losers.
Soon, however, they realized these Dayan soldiers were different from those they had previously fought.
These people approached them methodically, smarter than before.
Moreover, they adopted the strategy of dispersing them and then encircling and consuming them.
Under such circumstances, the Dayan soldiers, initially lacking confidence, realized that if united, the Dazi were not that hard to kill.
Even if their single combat physique was only a third of the enemy’s, their numbers and strategy made defeating the Dazi feasible.
This was their first direct encounter with Dazi forces.
The Dayan soldiers slowly rekindled their fighting spirit within.
Once at the border of the Gulan military camp, they had the same high morale.
Their passion and courage revived in this group of Dayan soldiers, insulted as weaklings for years.
"Charge! Dazi are nothing but oversized pigs," Tang Zan roared.
The soldiers on the city walls were already inspired and charged down with them.
The Dayan people stood up, unafraid of the Dazi, rushing towards them.
Even if injured, even if bleeding, they feared nothing.
Even if they must die, they were fighting for Dayan.
This battle was indeed fierce, given the number of wounded.
But if one were to say it wasn’t fierce, that’d be correct too, as only a dozen Dayan soldiers died so far.
While nearly a thousand Dazi had fallen.
Those severely injured and unable to fight were called to the rear by Tang Zan.
Meanwhile, Tang Zan noticed Pei Shu’er was in the ranks.
Initially annoyed, he approached Pei Shu’er, but upon seeing her turn and smile sweetly at him, his annoyance faded.
However, his face remained stern, and his tone wasn’t kind.
"Didn’t I tell you not to come down?"
Pei Shu’er smiled sweetly, her almond-shaped eyes slightly curved.
"I want to fight alongside you; I can do it, Tang Zan."
Tang Zan had no choice but to fight alongside Pei Shu’er, constantly watching her to ensure she wasn’t harmed.
Then Tang Zan realized that besides fighting with his father, he had no one he trusted with his back.
But with Pei Shu’er, he began attempting to coordinate with her.
And found the girl very clever, always thinking unconventionally, and launching surprise attacks.
More importantly, she always matched his rhythm, making their cooperation seamless and unexpected.
Soon, they created a vacuum circle around themselves, preventing Dazi from entering.
Just like that, they slowly progressed towards the General’s Tent.
All this transpired in just a dozen minutes.
Nearly two thousand Dazi had already been killed or wounded.
They released the people from the cellar and seized control of the kitchen.
The area from the kitchen to the city gate was now occupied by Dayan soldiers, while the General’s Tent was held by the Dazi.
By now, the Dayan soldiers were exhausted and starving.