Because Jiang Weijiao had sufficient preparations and the defense of Lingbi County was strong, Xu Yao couldn’t attack the city for half a day. When it got dark, he had to give up.
Jiang Weijiao gave the county government office to King Yan and others to live in.
As for his wife, Yin Rong, and their children, they were secretly sent to Yandi by the confidant guards arranged by him, using his fake identity to lead the way a month earlier.
After a hasty dinner, King Yan summoned all the soldiers to discuss the battle strategy. Because Jiang Weijiao was the most familiar with that area, King Yan called him over.
Jiang Weijiao knew that the King of Yan had many talented people, and as a new magistrate, he had not showcased much strategy beyond introducing the mountains and rivers in that area. However, when Cui Yu suggested the possibility of attacking Xu Yao’s army at night, Jiang Weijiao stepped forward, “My lord, there are five thousand troops in the city, and I would like to lead the vanguard!”
King Yan’s army was already exhausted after several days of fighting and running.
King Yan ordered Yang Pengju, Feng Teng, and Wei Luo to lead five thousand soldiers each. At midnight, the four armies launched a night attack from the four city gates simultaneously, while the others took the opportunity to rest.
By the next day, the four generals had ordered their soldiers and horses to gather in front of the four city gates in the southeast and northwest of Lingbi County. Due to their midnight departure, the soldiers either lay on the ground or leaned against the city wall, seizing the precious time to rest.
Wei Luo was also leaning against a city wall, surrounded by soldiers, some even shouting that it was too quiet.
He looked up.
It was the beginning of April, and there was no bright moon in the night, only stars. In the northern sky, the Big Dipper was very eye-catching.
Wei Luo thought of Pingcheng, Mrs. Yin, his two sons, and the half-year-old daughter he hadn’t seen yet. Xiao Heng was like him, Xiao Xun was like Mrs. Yin, so he kept wondering who Xiao Ning would be like. She should be like Madam Yin…
The scene of Madam Yin concentrating on trimming his beard came to mind.
Wei Luo rubbed his chin; his beard was longer than it was then. When she sees him later, she would definitely have to trim it off accordingly.
The smile was fleeting. Wei Luo closed his eyes, preparing for the sneak attack in the middle of the night.
From the perspective of Xu Yao’s army, King Yan was forced to hide in the city after running around for several days. It was believed that he would take advantage of the night to recharge his batteries and not launch another attack. Therefore, Xu Yao only arranged a small team to watch the night and did not take additional precautions.
At midnight, when the soldiers and civilians were in their deepest sleep, everything was silent, and suddenly the sound of fighting erupted, accompanied by rockets.
The battle persisted for half an hour. When three drums rang in the city, the Fourth General Wei Luo decided to cease fighting and immediately withdrew to the city gate.
Xu Yao’s side was still in chaos, with casualties, wounded soldiers, and even the loss of food, which was now being rushed to salvage.
The fire was eventually extinguished, and the number of casualties was reported. In just one night attack, more than twenty thousand soldiers and horses were lost.
Xu Yao immediately ordered the army to retreat.
As they set up their camp again and prepared to rest, at dawn, King Yan led twenty thousand elite soldiers to launch another attack.
That time, if Sheng Shiting hadn’t brought reinforcements in time, Xu Yao might have been captured by King Yan.
After the two night raids were victorious, King Yan withdrew his troops and entered the city, and began to stand firm.
As for the Imperial Court, they also received the battle reports, including what King Yan said to Xu Yao on the city wall.
The court was immediately divided into two factions. One faction believed that Xu Yao was on the side of King Yan. He appeared to lead an army to besiege the city, but in reality, he was just acting for the court. They argued that he did not put forth his best effort and suggested calling him back to the capital.
The other faction believed that suspicion should not be cast on Xu Yao. They argued that King Yan’s words were aimed at sowing discord, and the Imperial Court should trust Xu Yao.
After the new Emperor, Wei Ang, had a secret conversation with his chief assistant Huang Ren and Minister of War Qi Tao, he summoned Xu Yao back, citing the lack of generals to defend the capital.
Xu Yao left with resentment. King Yan laughed three times upon hearing about it, speculating that Xu Yao might not have returned to the capital, so he led people to start a counterattack.
More than seventy thousand soldiers arrived in time, joining forces with King Yan’s army. Together, they crushed Sheng Shiting’s two armies, totaling two hundred thousand soldiers and horses. Only a few died, and the rest were all incorporated into the Yan Army after the main general died in battle and the deputy general surrendered.
In this way, the Imperial Court’s soldiers and horses decreased sharply, while the Yan army increased significantly. Sheng Shiting couldn’t resist even if he employed soldiers like Gods.
In June, Sheng Shiting returned to the south of the Yangtze River with the remaining more than two hundred thousand soldiers. At the same time, four hundred thousand Yan troops marched to the north of the river in a mighty manner, mobilizing fishing boats in full swing to prepare for crossing the river.
The situation changed too fast, which Emperor Wei Ang did not expect. Except for a few civil and military officials in the court, they still had confidence in Wei Ang and actively made suggestions. Most officials had already secretly made two-handed preparations. It was just that they hid it carefully, so as not to be exposed or else if they get sued by the new Emperor, their heads would be cut off as sacrifice.
At a critical juncture, Chief Assistant Huang Ren suggested that Wei Ang send someone to see King Yan, and agree to cede Jiangbei to him. The two, uncle and nephew could divide the world equally.
Wei Ang agreed, and to show his sincerity, he invited Wei Jin, the eldest daughter of King Yan, from her husband’s house, which was guarded by the officers and soldiers, and then Huang Ren showed affection and reason to Wei Jin. Of course, love and reason were just empty words, and the ministers choose Wei Jin’s two sons and daughter for blackmail. In short, if Wei Jin could persuade King Yan to stop the army, his children will be safe and sound. Otherwise…
Wei Jin thought of the children at home, burst into tears, and agreed.
Wei Ang then sent someone to escort Wei Jin across the river by boat to meet King Yan.
Wei Jin was the legitimate daughter of King Yan and Princess Xu, his first daughter, whom he loved like a pearl. Ever since Wei Jin married to the capital at the age of sixteen, King Yan hadn’t seen his daughter in twelve years. So when the father and daughter reunited, not only Wei Jin but even King Yan found himself crying frequently. Observing his daughter’s thin shoulders, he hatefully remarked, “You’ve gotten so thin, did the Emperor make things difficult for you?”