53 Breaching the City
The next morning, Li Yong gave an order, and the supply camp set off immediately. They worked together with the other divisions of the Green Mountain Army and approached Great Cloud City like a storm.
The siege had reached its climax, and the supply camp had to follow closely behind the army, providing them with what was needed.
The place where the supplies and supply camp were set up was still far away from the city wall, but Jiang Ming could hear the battle cries and drum beats in front of him. The black smoke caused by the burning oil rolled up, and the scene was terrifying.
“Xiao Wu, stop looking.” A wrinkly old soldier patted his shoulder and pointed in the direction of the city. “If you’re brave enough, follow Master Li to the front, cut off their heads, and take credit.”
“I don’t have the guts to do that. I just need to earn some taels of silver.” Jiang Ming quickly shook his head and ran back to make porridge.
The supply camp had never participated in the assault, so their casualty rate was the lowest. Many people who could not survive would run to the supply camp to make a living. However, they did not get any benefits after each victory. They only got an equal share of wealth, but it was better than nothing.
Li Yong, as the commander of the supply camp, should not have left his post, but the Green Mountain Army advanced too quickly. They did not have time to make key preparations. Every time the city was about to be breached, Li Yong would make use of his connections and bring a group of young and strong logistics soldiers to rush into the battle to take the credit.
Jiang Ming looked at the dozen hot-blooded young men in front of the supply camp, who were excitedly carrying long spears and rushing forward with Li Yong. He could not help but shake his head.
“A few bowls of porridge was all that was needed to buy your lives.”
However, this was none of his business. If someone wanted to take a gamble, it was on them. Jiang Ming carried a wooden spoon and began to serve food to the logistics soldiers who stayed behind.
It was not until evening that Li Yong brought his men back to the supply camp, covered in blood. Only half the soldiers he had set out with had returned.
“Damn it, those guys are pretty tough.” Li Yong no longer had the kind image he had in Peace Town. His face was full of fierceness as he cursed, “Tomorrow, I’ll fight my way to the top of the city wall and chop them all into pieces!”
Jiang Ming and the others quickly served the food and sent it to Li Yong’s tent.
At this moment, a young man with a wound on his face timidly walked in with a spear in his hand.
“Who allowed you to come inside!” Li Yong, who was in a bad mood, suddenly raised his brows and shouted.
Jiang Ming looked over. It was the man who had joined the Green Mountain Army with Li Yong yesterday.
The young man knelt on the ground and cried, “Your Excellency, you said you would lead us to kill the enemy and make a contribution, but several of my friends died in one day. I don’t want to work here anymore. I want to go back to my hometown to farm.”
Jiang Ming sighed internally. He collected the dishes and left with his head lowered.
Li Yong’s cold voice came from the tent behind him, “So, you’re deserting in the face of battle and disrupting the morale of the army, huh? You ought to be beheaded! Men!”
“Ah! Spare me! I was wrong!”
His screams and cries gradually faded away. Jiang Ming had already returned to the kitchen. He was kneading dough and steaming bread with a calm expression, preparing for tomorrow’s breakfast.
“There’s always a price to pay for everything you do, whether you’ve anticipated this price in advance or not.”
* * *
Five days later, Jiang Ming calmly ate breakfast. He watched Li Yong lead a new group of people to the battlefield.
Although they had not been able to take down Great Cloud City for a long time, everyone in the Green Mountain Army, including Li Yong, did not seem to be discouraged at all. Instead, they were full of fire, and their attacks became stronger.
Everyone realized that the more difficult the battle was, the more likely it was to be the last. As long as they broke through the city, the remaining territory of the country of Yan would be like lambs waiting to be slaughtered.
The change of dynasty was close at hand!
* * *
“I’m guessing it’ll take another ten days before the city gate can be broken through!”
I’ll bet ten copper coins for half a month.
“I’ll follow.”
A group of unmotivated soldiers and logistics soldiers squatted together and gambled in the supplies camp. Jiang Ming licked his bowl and also joined in, using his knowledge to judge the situation.
However, before noon, a figure ran back with a red face and shouted, “The city has been breached, the city has been breached!”
Jiang Ming stood up and looked at the smoke in the distance.
“The army has already entered the city. Master Li has ordered the supply camp to break into the city!” the person who came shouted.
The supply camp immediately got into action. They packed up and drove the carriages slowly towards the city.
At the city gate, the city wall was still burning. The city gate had been smashed into pieces by martial artists, and the flag on the city wall had been replaced with the flag of the Green Mountain Army. Within the city, one could still hear the faint sounds of fighting.
Jiang Ming stepped on the bricks and broken stones on the ground, stepped on the corpses of soldiers from each side, and followed the supply camp into the city slowly.
“Eh? Where’s Xiao Wu?” An old soldier suddenly looked around and asked in surprise. “Don’t tell me he’s trying to fish for some credit. He’s not even cooking.” The old soldier shook his head, stuffed a few pieces of firewood into the stove, and quickly started kneading the dough.
* * *
The city was in chaos. The battle between the Green Mountain Army and the Imperial Army continued. The people in the city were in a state of panic and hid in their homes in terror.
As Jiang Ming walked by, he even saw many people in ragged clothes, hiding under the eaves and trembling at the foot of the wall.
Although many people had escaped from Great Cloud City, there were also many refugees who had escaped from the north. The tall city walls always gave people confidence and a sense of security.
However, when the city gate was broken, their confidence also collapsed. Along the way, local ruffians could be seen everywhere, taking advantage of the chaos to break into the homes of the people and rob them.
The soldiers were fighting, the people were crying, and the wicked were stealing. In short, it was chaos. Even if the Green Mountain Army claimed that they did not harm common people, it would not be easy to calm things down.
Moreover, even some Green Mountain Army soldiers were doing the plundering. After all, they were a group of rebels. They were hypocrites
There was nothing to worry about in Peace Town because there was no profit to be made.
“Let’s wait and see for two days!”
Jiang Ming did not immediately rush to the Old Snake Gang’s base camp. After all, the Old Snake Gang had colluded with the rebel army. Who knew what the current situation was there? Were there any first-class martial artists in charge? If he encountered a first-class martial artist, wouldn’t he be looking for trouble?
He went across the street from the Old Snake Gang’s base camp and found a small house in a courtyard. He then hid in the woodshed.
An ordinary couple who owned a rice shop lived in this house. With Jiang Ming’s skills, they could not detect him. He could observe and understand the situation in the city.