Chapter 1614: Chapter 1614: Request to Enter the City

"Yes, I will go right away and gather all the troops that can be mobilized."

"Quickly go."

Ye Shikai couldn’t concern himself with the governor’s mansion in front of him. He left over a hundred people to guard it and took the rest to the east gate. This place had just experienced a great battle, and the damage to the city walls was severe. Craftsmen were hastily repairing it. Upon suddenly seeing such a large army assembled, everyone couldn’t help but feel panicked, thinking that a war might break out again.

"Report to the General, I have brought the entire Iron Armor Army, along with some other units." Man Cang reported. Small groups of troops kept arriving at the city gate, gradually forming a force, but at a glance, the number was not large.

"How many have assembled?"

"Over seven thousand."

"Good, that’s enough, set off immediately." Ye Shikai nodded and said, although seven thousand men were not many, he was quite satisfied with being able to assemble them on short notice. After all, there were over six thousand Qin Army prisoners in the city that required guarding, along with troops for city defense. Taking these men out for support essentially turned Wan City into an empty city.

"All soldiers, follow me." Ye Shikai shouted, leading the entire army to charge directly toward the camp of King Zhang Lan. Everyone was on a forced march, advancing quickly.

An hour later.

"What... What has happened here?" When Ye Shikai saw the scene before him, he couldn’t help but feel heartbroken. It was simply too tragic to bear; thousands of bodies lay on the ground, blocking the entire passage, blood flowed like rivers, of both the Chu Army and the Qin Cavalry.

"What’s the situation now?" Ye Shikai led his troops into the camp. Luckily, he was greeted not by the Qin Army.

"The Qin Cavalry has been repelled by us, but... we suffered heavy casualties, lost over half of our troops." Zhang Lan said with a salute.

"I saw." Ye Shikai glanced at the corpses all over the ground and muttered. Such significant casualties were difficult for him to accept at once. The withdrawal of the Qin Cavalry wasn’t because King Zhang Lan and Wang Lian resisted desperately, but because they already knew Wan City had been breached, so they chose to retreat. Otherwise... their casualties would have been greater, and the outcome uncertain.

At this time, Wan Qi Yuan also arrived with his subordinates. His body was covered in blood, armor somewhat torn, one could imagine the ferocity of the battle.

"Wan Qi Yuan, how are you, are you injured?" Ye Shikai asked.

"Thank you, General, for your concern. I’m fine, this is all the blood of the Qin Army." Wan Qi Yuan replied.

"By the way, many thanks to the brothers of the Cavalry for their timely support, otherwise, here in the plains, we might have really been unable to stop the Qin Cavalry."

"General Zhang, General Wang, you’ve all worked hard. Wan City has been conquered, you should all go back and rest." Ye Shikai felt a wave of guilt. After all, King Zhang Lan was merely allocated by Mi Wen for him to command. These twenty thousand men were not Ye Shikai’s "direct lineage", but he hadn’t expected their casualty rate to be higher than the forces storming Wan City. Yet this is war, if they hadn’t gone, someone else would have.

All the troops returned to Wan City, the camps in the city couldn’t accommodate them, so some had to set up camps outside the city. Taking down Wan City meant they had practically conquered all of Nanyang, but this battle cost him greatly, with overall casualties near half. Most crucially, those battle-hardened elites that followed him, those squad leaders and centurions, lost three-fifths.

..............................

"Shangguan, how is the situation with the civilians in the city now?"

"After the army entered the city, they strictly adhered to military discipline and did not clash with local civilians. However, they seem to be quite afraid of our army, so they keep their distance from us." Shangguan Jian reported.

"I expected that." Ye Shikai sat in the "Governor’s" position, looking at the generals below. The army paid such a heavy price to take the city, naturally the civilians worry that the Chu army might take their anger out on them. In this era, such incidents were not unheard of.

"Notify everyone that everything in the city must remain normal, do not let the civilians feel panicked. Over time, they will naturally let go of their wariness toward us, and as long as we treat them well, I believe they will certainly support us."

"Old Ye, I agree with maintaining normalcy, but opening the four gates, allowing civilians to come and go freely, I consider very inappropriate." Shangguan Jian argued.

"Explain."

"Firstly, twelve thousand Qin troops from Central Plains are already close, we’ve conquered most of Nanyang, which they won’t swallow easily. This time, they will certainly retaliate, at the very least, they will try to reclaim Wan City, they won’t rest otherwise. So our peaceful days here won’t last long, soon there will be another great battle. Opening the city gates now is unfavorable to city defense."

"Additionally, numerous Qin spies have infiltrated the city, attempting assassination, sabotage, spreading rumors. If we open the gates, doesn’t that mean letting them in directly?"

"Indeed, General, the city is now a mixed environment, and it’s wartime..."

"Enough, no need to say anymore, I have already decided." Ye Shikai waved his hand, signaling the crowd to quiet down.

"If we close the city gates, civilians will surely be thrown into chaos. A fortress is often dismantled from within. My mind is set, go and execute the orders."

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Old Ye, since it’s your decision, regardless of anyone’s objection, I will carry it out. However... if the Qin Army suddenly attacks, how should we defend?"

"Report." At this moment, a messenger suddenly rushed in.

"Reporting to the General, our reinforcements have arrived outside, around sixty thousand strong."

"Shangguan, these troops are our shield." Ye Shikai smiled faintly. With the battle at Wan City concluded, naturally those generals had also come.

"General, they request to enter the city, how should we respond?" The messenger asked.

"These bastards, while we fought desperately, they watched from behind. Now we’re in the city drinking and feasting, they want to come for a share of the spoils." Zhang Lan couldn’t help but curse.

"Indeed, how can we let them in so easily?" Everyone expressed dissatisfaction, complaining that if they had been willing to send troops to assist, the loss wouldn’t have been so great.

"You’re right." Ye Shikai suddenly threw his wine cup to the ground, the generals didn’t know what was going on, thinking he was angry, immediately quieted down.

"Want to come in for drinks and food, I won’t even give them a sip." Ye Shikai said coldly, "Send word, let them wait outside the city. If they ask for the reason, tell them the military camp is too small to accommodate so many people."