Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 382: Chapter 367: Great winds arise, clouds soar, war drums beat, and horses neigh!

As a group of people stopped a hundred zhang away from the city wall, Yang Zhenshan contemplated as he gazed upon the majestic Chongshan Pass.

”Still, do we not know how many crossbows are mounted on the city walls?” asked Yang Zhenshan.

Niu Zhuang shook his head, ”I’ve inquired many, yet nobody knows how many crossbows are on the city walls!”

Crossbows are the most powerful weapons for city defense, and Chongshan Pass, being the most crucial fort of Chongshan Town, is not lacking in them.

If this were five years ago at Chongshan Pass, whether it be Yang Zhenshan, Niu Zhuang, or Tang Feihu, all would be clear about the number of crossbows on the city walls.

But now, their understanding of Chongshan Pass is limited.

Ji Feiyu’s actions have always been secretive, and he has been intentionally concealing them; these years, both Niu Zhuang and Tang Feihu knew very little about the military arrangements within Chongshan Pass.

”There are two walls in Chongshan Pass; although both walls are the same height, they are different.”

”The southern wall was built later, only one zhang wide, but the inner city wall, being the first constructed, is one zhang and eight chi wide!”

Tang Feihu said.

The layout of Chongshan Pass resembles a ’日’ character.

Initially, Chongshan Pass was just a pass, but as more merchants relocated here, the court built a new city behind the pass.

The eastern and western sides of Chongshan Pass connect to forests and are unsuitable for siege; only the northern and southern sides are feasible for large-scale siege warfare.

The north wall was originally built to fend off the Hu Clan, not only thick but also equipped with many traps, the most crossbows, including catapults and archery slits.

The southern wall is relatively simpler, but attacking from the south means one must also overcome the central wall after breaching the South City Wall.

The defense of the central wall is certainly not as strong as the northern wall, but breaching both walls may not be easier than breaching the northern one alone.

”The art of war prioritizes conquering the enemy’s heart, secondary is besieging cities.”

Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard and softly spoke.

A direct assault is the least favored strategy; though they had spent twenty days preparing for the siege, Yang Zhenshan still wished to conquer the heart.

”But currently, we cannot contact anyone inside the city!” said Niu Zhuang.

There are many heart-conquering strategies among the thirty-six stratagems, such as the Beauty Trap, Reverse Spy Plot, Empty Fort Strategy, all partaking in psychological gambits.

Niu Zhuang and Tang Feihu had contemplated many strategies but had not thought of a good one.

Yang Zhenshan shook his head, ”No, we can contact someone inside the city, or rather, we can send a message to someone inside!”

”How do we send a message?” Niu Zhuang and Tang Feihu looked at him puzzled.

Yang Zhenshan did not respond; instead, he looked toward Chongshan Pass and observed the clear sky, uttering a seemingly enigmatic statement:

”In two days, there will be a southeast wind, and it won’t be small!”

”What does the general mean by this?” Niu Zhuang was even more perplexed.

Yang Zhenshan smiled and said, ”Let’s go, the old man has an idea now!”

Conquering the heart does not necessarily target the enemy’s main leader; it can also target the ordinary soldiers.

To strike at the enemy’s morale is also a form of conquering the heart.

As for how to do it, there are still numerous methods.

Yang Zhenshan already had plans in mind.

...

July 3rd.

The weather turned from cloudy to overcast, and the southeast wind in July roared ferociously.

Strong winds arose, and clouds drifted rapidly, the battle drums thumped, and horses neighed!

The beating of war drums, the wailing of horns.

Tens of thousands of troops marched out of camp, aligning below the city.

Storm clouds brewed, military might fluttered fiercely, a terrifying force and murderous intent spread, carried by the blustering wind towards Chongshan Pass, looming over it.

In the middle of the army, a tooth flag embroidered with ’Yang’ was erected, followed by the raising of a royal command flag.

Yang Zhenshan rode his horse under the flag, his face somber as he looked towards Chongshan Pass.

Times had changed; now he was the General of Chongshan Town, possessing not only the court’s royal command flag but also his own tooth flag.