Chapter 100: Operation to Reclaim Chang'an (2)
The bombardment of the catapults continued until the sun went down.
“General, please rest for a bit.”
Lieutenant Yang Yeon-jeong urged Jang-yang with a worried face. The General had been standing in front of the command tent all day, keeping his eyes glued to the walls.
“I am fine, so you should rest instead.”
“It will still take a long time for the Wolf Fang Squad to complete their mission. You should conserve your strength…”
Just then, Jang-yang shouted urgently to the catapult officer, “Lower the trajectory of the Whirlwind Catapults! Quickly!”
Yang Yeon-jeong’s gaze turned toward the walls. Seeing what was happening, her brow furrowed deeply. The enemy was beginning to line up young children along the top of the walls.
Using innocent civilians as human shields—rage boiled in his voice at the enemy’s cruelty.
“Those bastards have finally crossed the line.”
“How could they commit such an atrocious act…”
The catapults, which had been targeting the archers, lowered their trajectory and began to strike the lower sections of the walls.
Boom! Boom!
The walls of Chang’an were not something that could be breached by Whirlwind Catapults alone. However, to lower the enemy’s morale and keep their attention, they had to maintain the assault without pause.
A moment later, an even more shocking scene unfolded. The children lined up along the walls began to cry out in unison.
“Do not attack!”
“Please retreat!”
How could children of about six or seven know what retreating meant? The soldiers of the Hui Dynasty were undoubtedly forcing them to say it.
Amidst the cries, one child shouted desperately, “Help us, General! Please rescue us!”
The soldiers of the Hui Dynasty were not about to let that slide. A soldier standing behind the child quickly drew his sword and silenced him. Watching this from the beginning, Jang-yang’s hands trembled with fury.
‘Commander So-mu… Please hurry…’
Until the Wolf Fang Squad completed their mission, the main army could not move. They had to scale the West Gate, navigate through the civilian areas, and open the South Gate from the inside. Only then could the main army launch a total offensive.
The command staff waited anxiously.
Just then, a rider galloped toward them from a distance. It was a scout from the army.
“General! An urgent report!”
“What is it?”
Dismounting in haste, the scout said breathlessly, “The cavalry of the Hui Dynasty has emerged from the East Gate!”
It was impossible to surround a city with fewer troops than the defenders in the first place. Instead, they had been conducting tight patrols around the perimeter.
“Cavalry? How many are they? What is their direction?”
“I galloped back immediately, so I could not confirm. A follow-up report will arrive shortly.”
If their rear was ambushed by cavalry in the plains, they could sustain catastrophic losses. Jang-yang immediately issued commands.
“Deploy the spearmen to the rear and flanks, and set up barricades immediately!”
“Yes, General!”
The officers rushed out to move the soldiers. The formation began to shift.
Four thousand spearmen formed a defensive line from the rear to the east. They set up barricades to prepare for a defensive battle against the cavalry.
Officer Kwak Cheol approached with a puzzled expression.
“General, with this setup, we can easily block any ordinary cavalry. But you do not look well.”
“I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Regarding what?”
“The enemy knows our army is adept at fighting cavalry. They also know our scouting capabilities. Why would they make a reckless attempt to ambush us on the very first day of the battle?”
“Are you saying they left the fortress for a different purpose?”
“It is merely an intuition.”
Just then, another scout galloped toward them. His report would confirm the truth.
“General, we have a crisis! The enemy cavalry…”
From his tone, it was clear that their destination was not here.
“Where are they heading?!”
“They bypassed our army and headed south!”
“Their numbers?!”
“Two thousand!”
Jang-yang rushed into the command tent and examined the map on the table. Officer Kwak Cheol followed him and asked, “Why is the cavalry heading south?”
“They intend to strike the villages to put psychological pressure on us and force us to retreat.”
“Why would they…”
“Are not most of our soldiers from Shaanxi? If they push south with high mobility and ravage the villages, how can the soldiers focus on the battle while worrying about their families?”
Above all, the relief squad operating in the rear was in danger of being slaughtered.
“The relief workers will be in danger. Although the Guard Battalion escorting them are skilled in martial arts, they have not yet been trained in anti-cavalry tactics.”
No matter how skilled individual martial artists were, group battles were entirely different. Jang-yang knew this well.
“Where is the militia currently stationed?”
“They are at the government office of Hu County, at the entrance to the Guanzhong Plains. They are not far from the current position of the relief squad.”
“The cavalry must pass through Hu County. We must stop them there. Is the militia our only hope…?”
“But… with the current strength of the militia, they cannot match them.”
The militia consisted mostly of second and third-rate martial artists. Lacking first-rate experts, they could not be considered stronger than the Guard Battalion. But there was no other choice.
“They only need to hold out until our reinforcements arrive. Who is the fastest runner among us?”
“With the Wolf Fang Squad deployed, Lieutenant Yang Yeon-jeong is the fastest.”
He had to run faster than a horse, bypass the enemy cavalry, and reach the militia.
“Bring Lieutenant Yang Yeon-jeong and Centurion Han Baek immediately.”
The orderlies rushed out and brought them. Yang Yeon-jeong and Han Baek appeared simultaneously.
“Your command, General.”
“Lieutenant, go to the Hu County government office immediately and tell the militia to buy us time. Then, head to the relief squad and order them to halt their activities and evacuate.”
“Understood, General.”
Turning to Han Baek, Jang-yang commanded, “Centurion Han Baek.”
“Yes, General!”
“Take two thousand cavalry and ride with all your might.”
“Leave it to me.”
As Yang Yeon-jeong and Han Baek departed in haste, Jang-yang turned his gaze back to the fortress and said, “Officer Kwak Cheol, prepare the remaining forces to continue the siege.”
“Yes, General!”
***
About ten miles south of Hu County.
The relief squad had arrived at Yanghua Village and was scattered, conducting relief activities. Since it was late, this was the last village for the day.
The workers went from house to house, distributing grain and essential supplies, and providing medicine to the sick. To the starving villagers, it was like a beacon of hope in the darkness.
Hwang Gae-chil, the commander of the Guard Battalion, was also distributing supplies with a few constables.
“You came from Hanzhong… Thank you.”
A middle-aged woman bowed deeply in gratitude. Hwang Gae-chil held her hands and said, “It is only natural for people to help one another. How difficult it must have been for you all this time…”
“Sob…”
The woman burst into tears. It was the first time she had felt such warmth since the war began.
Hwang Gae-chil hugged her gently to comfort her.
“Do not lose hope and endure just a little longer. Once our General reclaims Chang’an, your lives will change soon.”
“Thank you, thank you…”
Bowing politely, Hwang Gae-chil moved to the next location.
He glanced at the constable beside him. This man had been his right-hand man back when they were street thugs.
“Hey, why are you crying?”
“I didn’t know you were such a good person, Commander.”
“I was a bad guy. Just a street thug who extorted money from merchants.”
“But now, all the citizens like you, don’t they?”
“I told you to call me Commander, not boss. Anyway, it’s all thanks to the General. He accepted us and gave us a new life, so we must repay him with our lives. That is our way.”
“Yes, Commander!”
Since joining the Guard Battalion, they were welcomed and cheered by the people wherever they went, which filled them with pride. Day by day, the faces of the constables were becoming filled with a sense of justice.
Although they worked tirelessly, some issues could not be solved by supplies alone. Those with wounded hearts, rather than physical illnesses, were the problem. The ones who could comfort them were limited.
“Where did our little general go? Ah, she is over there.”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the entrance of the village hall about a hundred feet away.
A middle-aged man sat on the ground, his eyes vacant. In front of him, So-so was playing her tung flute.
“Let’s head over there. It’s our gathering spot anyway.”
“Are you sure you just don’t want to listen to her play?”
The constables also sat on the ground around So-so. Since their duties for the day were finished, they planned to rest before setting up camp.
Song of Lament for the Smoky Moon. It was a melody that evoked memories of a peaceful home, which So-so was currently playing.
Although the tune was clear and beautiful, it carried a touch of sorrow. Within minutes, the constables’s eyes grew red. One of them asked tearfully, “Commander… What were you thinking about just now?”
“I just remembered… playing in the stream with my father and catching fish when I was a child… He is no longer with us. What about you?”
“I remembered catching grasshoppers in the fields with my brother… and when we came home, my mother would make warm red bean porridge… But now, both my brother and mother are gone. I will never see them again.”
“I miss those days… Our home… It is a memory we can never return to…”
Everyone fell into silence, lost in their memories. After a few minutes, the flute performance came to an end.
So-so stared at the middle-aged man sitting before her. A moment later, a surprising thing happened. The vacancy in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by focus. A tear rolled down his cheek.
“Mister, why are you crying?”
“They are dead… My wife… and my children… all of them…”
“Why…?”
“I went to the mountains to gather herbs, and when I returned, they were all dead… Sob… I should have died with them…”
Tears also welled in So-so’s eyes.
“Oh… That’s so sad…”
“Child… Can I hug you just once?”
Looking at So-so, he seemed to remember his own daughter.
So-so gently wrapped her small arms around his neck and patted his back with her tiny hands.
“Thank you… my daughter…”
Hwang Gae-chil approached them quietly and said, “I am sorry for your loss… This may not offer much comfort… but there are many orphans here who have lost their parents. They need the touch of a parent like you. If you are willing, please come with us.”
The man hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“I will…”
“The constables will gather here, so let us move together.”
Just then, So-so pointed and shouted, “Uncle Yang?!”
Everyone turned to look. A warrior clutching a spear was sprinting toward them with incredible speed. It was Lieutenant Yang Yeon-jeong, renowned as the best spear master in Hanzhong. She was in such a haste that she shouted before even reaching them.
“Commander Hwang Gae-chil! Where are you?!”
“H-Here!”
They were already acquainted.
“Evacuate the relief squad immediately.”
“What happened?”
“The Hui Dynasty’s cavalry is coming south. The militia led by Hero Song Gyeom is setting up a defensive line at Hu County, but they might not hold.”
Everyone present was shocked. Hwang Gae-chil gripped his sword and said, “Then the Guard Battalion will help as well.”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but the safety and evacuation of the relief workers must come first. Evacuate them to a safe place, and I will send word.”
“…Understood. Are you heading back there?”
“With the current strength of the militia, they cannot stop them, so I must help…”
Having said that, Yang Yeon-jeong dashed back toward Hu County. The battle would begin shortly. She could not afford to delay even for a second. She had to buy time until their cavalry arrived.
“Sigh…”
A sigh escaped his lips as he ran. Having pushed his lightfoot technique to the limit, he was exhausted. Just then, a voice called out to him.
“Uncle Yang, where are you going?”
Startled, Yang Yeon-jeong turned her head. A young girl was running alongside her at her waist.
“So-so! Why are you here…?”
“Are the militia uncles in danger?”
“Yes, that’s why I am going to help. So return to the Guard Battalion immediately.”
“But is this the right way?”
“It’s the only road. Why do you ask?”
“I’ll go first!”
Suddenly, So-so’s speed increased dramatically. Watching her move like a gust of wind, faster than before, Yang Yeon-jeong was astounded. The distance between them grew rapidly, and in her exhausted state, she had no hope of catching her.
“Come back immediately!”
“No! I have to help them!”
Yang Yeon-jeong was dumbfounded. So-so’s speed was now three times faster than a horse. It was likely a temporary burst of speed, but she worried she might collapse from exhaustion if she maintained it.
“Come back…”
No one could match So-so’s stubbornness. Yang Yeon-jeong knew this well—after all, they often played chess together.
“Sigh…”
As she let out a sigh, a swift shadow passed her and began to follow So-so secretly.