xymnovel Chapter 877 The Imperial Decree Has Not Arrived, Not an Inch of Land Can Be Lost in the Southern Pal
Chapter 877 The Imperial Decree Has Not Arrived, Not an Inch of Land Can Be Lost in the Southern Pal
At this moment, in Nangong Tianxia's headquarters, the generals of Qianyuan City sat together in a heavy atmosphere, their faces filled with worry. They knew that if things continued like this, the fall of Qianyuan City was only a matter of time.
A slightly aged general, with graying temples, spoke in a hoarse voice: "General, our army is exhausted, and our supplies are running low. No matter how brave the Thunder Dragon Cavalry are, they cannot fight indefinitely. If this continues, I fear..."
His words were unfinished, but the meaning was crystal clear.
"General, the Thunder Dragon Cavalry are exhausted, but they still have some strength left."
"While our army still has the strength to fight, we should seize this opportunity to break out. As long as we're alive, we can always rebuild!"
Another young general, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes, continued.
His proposal was immediately echoed by many generals, who nodded and looked at Nangong Tianxia with anticipation.
Nangong Tianxia listened quietly, his gaze sweeping over each of the generals present, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.
He knew these were brothers who were willing to live and die with him, but he couldn't easily accept their words.
"Gentlemen, I, Nangong Tianxia, have received the Emperor's grace and swore to defend Qianyuan City to the death. Now that the Emperor's command has not yet arrived, we must not lose an inch of land! How can I abandon the city and flee without authorization?"
"Moreover, Qianyuan City is the southern gateway to the Great Qian Dynasty. If this city falls, the entire southern part of Qianzhou will be defenseless. How can I become a sinner against the entire Great Qian Dynasty?"
"In this battle, the city stands, and we stand; the city falls, and we perish. This is my oath, Nangong Tianxia!"
He slowly stood up, each word seeming to be squeezed out from the depths of his heart.
He knew that if things continued like this, it was only a matter of time before Qianyuan City fell, and he and the Thunder Dragon Riders would become the casualties of this isolated city, but he could not retreat!
His words were like a cold wind, dispelling the stuffiness in the room and plunging the hearts of the generals into despair.
Having spent so much time with Nangong Tianxia, they generally knew that Nangong Tianxia was as resolute as iron, and once he made up his mind, he would never change it easily.
But now, this persistence seems a bit too stubborn, even a bit foolish, to them!
"General, your loyalty is commendable, but Qianyuan City is isolated and helpless. Continuing to defend it will only increase casualties."
"Your brothers, the Thunder Dragon Riders, are all pillars of the current dynasty. Don't you care about their lives?"
"If the Lei Ze Dragon Cavalry really does die alongside you in Qian Yuan City, annihilated by the Yellow Turban Army, then what's the point of defending this city?"
Faced with the notoriously stubborn Nangong Tianxia, one of the generals at the head of the table couldn't help but stand up and speak.
Upon hearing this, a trace of pain flashed in Nangong Tianxia's eyes. He knew all too well that behind every soldier of the Thunder Dragon Cavalry was the last remaining strength of the Great Qian Dynasty.
But as a general, he was even more aware of his responsibilities. Qianyuan City must not fall under his command before the Daqian Dynasty issued an order!
Otherwise, if Qianyuan City, the main front, falls, and Qianzhou in the rear is not adequately prepared, then...
If a million Yellow Turbans were to completely flood into Qianzhou, it would be an absolute catastrophe for the already precarious Great Qian Dynasty!
Therefore, even though he was on the verge of collapse, he tried his best to buy some more time for Qiandu in the rear.
Even... it's time for retreat or even relocation of the capital!
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"If I abandon the city and flee today, how will I face the people of the Great Qian Dynasty? How will I face the spirit of the late Emperor in heaven?"
Nangong Tianxia closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and spoke slowly.
The weary words left the generals present speechless. They knew that in Nangong Tianxia's heart lay something more important than life itself: absolute loyalty and responsibility to the entire Daqian Dynasty, or rather, the Daqian royal family.
It was precisely because of this loyalty that he was willing to use his own life to defend this isolated city and do everything in his power to give Qiandu in the rear a little more breathing room!
Upon hearing this, the veterans and others felt a pang of sadness in their eyes, then sighed deeply and turned to leave.
They knew that no one could change Nangong Tianxia's decision; this loyalty and perseverance were both his strengths and his constraints.
The atmosphere in the city grew increasingly heavy. Soldiers began to whisper amongst themselves, some in despair, some in anger, and many more in silence, awaiting their fate.
Nangong Tianxia still patrols every corner of the city every day, using his actions to tell the soldiers that as long as he is there, Qianyuan City will remain.
He would stop at the bedside of every wounded soldier and share his rations with every hungry soldier, even though they were pitifully small.
Nangong Tianxia stood alone on the city wall, gazing at the sky outside the city shrouded in the smoke of war.
He knew he might not be able to leave the city alive, but he was more willing to use his life to give the Great Qian Dynasty a final moment of glory.
"Perhaps, this is my destiny."
"Even so, I will let the Yellow Turban rebels know that if they want to conquer Qianyuan City, they will have to step over my dead body!"
Nangong Tianxia murmured to himself, a resolute glint in his eyes.
"General, latest intelligence: the reinforcements from the Great Qian Dynasty were ambushed by the Yellow Turban Army on their way to Qianyuan City, suffering heavy losses!"
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps interrupted his thoughts. A messenger rushed over and knelt down.
Nangong Tianxia's heart sank. He had long anticipated that the Yellow Turban Army would not let any of the reinforcements go.
But he did not expect that the Yellow Turban Army's actions would be so swift and ruthless.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, but he felt no pain whatsoever.
"Pass down the order: all troops, prepare for the next attack."
Nangong Tianxia's voice was calm, as if nothing could shake his resolve.
The messenger took his orders and left. Nangong Tianxia looked out of the city again, knowing that the Yellow Turban Army's next attack would be even more fierce.
However... a full-scale offensive will not be launched for the time being!
As a veteran who had spent half his life on the battlefield, Nangong Tianxia had long seen through the plans of Meng Zhang, the "Commander-in-Chief of the Dragon Cavalry," or rather, Meng Zhang had no intention of hiding it at all.
The strategy of "encircling a point and attacking reinforcements" has always been an open and obvious scheme, unless one is determined to make a clean break from the start and decisively abandon the bait that has been surrounded.
Otherwise, as time goes on and the stakes become higher and higher, you'll find it increasingly difficult to extricate yourself, and you'll only get trapped deeper and deeper!
But this is what Nangong Tianxia is willing to see. At least for Qianyuan City right now, every day they can hold out is a day!