Chapter 649 - 649: Violence
After the autumn harvest ended, the commoners entered a rare free time. Seeing that the weather was getting colder day by day, Yu Niaoniao got someone to put up the sign in front of the General’s Mansion again and began to buy winter clothes for the soldiers of the Eastern Expedition Army.
The commoners happened to be bored. Making winter clothes could kill time and they could take the opportunity to earn some money to supplement the family. It was killing two birds with one stone. Many people participated enthusiastically.
After more than half a year of recuperation, the city gradually regained its vitality. The shops on both sides of the street reopened one after another. There would be a market on the 15th of every month.
Compared to the prosperity and revival in Heng City, the other places in Liaodong County were much worse.
A large number of young men were injured. Countless commoners left their hometowns and no one farmed them, causing all the fields to be abandoned.
In the beginning, the Chen Army could still rely on robbery to obtain food. However, as time passed, the things they could snatch became fewer and fewer.
It was almost winter, and the environment they would face would become even harsher.
Marshal Chen looked at the terrain map of the army in front of him with an extremely solemn expression.
They originally thought that they could trap the Eastern Expedition Army in Heng City, but after waiting for more than half a year, they did not see any signs of surrender.
On the other hand, the Chen Nation Army had spent a lot of time and food here, but they achieved nothing.
The emperor of the Chen Nation had already sent several secret letters over to ask him why he had yet to take down Heng City. There was faint dissatisfaction in the secret letter.
He couldn’t waste any more time.
Marshal Chen slapped the map. “Pass down the order. All troops, get into formation! We must take Heng City at all costs!”
The day before winter, the Chen Nation Army suddenly launched a large-scale attack on Heng City!
Xiao Juan and Tang Guixi had already expected this day.
They methodically stopped the troops from fighting back.
Unlike tne previous attack, tne cnen Nation Army was clearly going all out tn1S time. They used all their troops to come aggressively, and the battle was especially intense.
The commoners in the city continued to live as usual.
They gathered in groups and chatted as they made winter clothes and arrows.
It was obvious that they were very confident in the strength of the Eastern Expedition Army. They believed that as long as the Eastern Expedition Army and General Tang were around, the Chen Army would not be able to attack.
Yu Niaoniao’s belly was already very big.
Because her delivery date was coming up, her body was getting heavier and heavier. She had not gotten out of bed much for the past few days.
Granny Xiu Yan guarded her day and night with two maidservants and served her daily life.
Yu Niaoniao looked at the blue sky outside the window. If she listened carefully, she could vaguely hear the sound of a battle outside the city.
She trusted the strength of the Eastern Expedition Army very much, but swords had no eyes on the battlefield. She could not help but worry for Xiao Juan and Tang Guixi and hope that they would not be injured.
Granny Xiu Yan walked in with a stack of clothes and said with a smile. “Madam, look. These are children’s clothes sent by the commoners in the city.” She unfolded the small clothes one by one for Yu Niaoniao to see.
The colors and styles of the clothes were different. They looked a little old. Fortunately, the texture was very soft and felt very comfortable.
Granny Xiu Yan said, “Although these clothes are old clothes that other children have worn, it’s precisely because they’ve been worn that they’re even softer. They’re very suitable for newborn babies. They carry everyone’s blessings for the baby. The baby will definitely grow up healthy in them.”
Yu Niaoniao gently stroked the small clothes. “Thank you, everyone. Please thank them for me.”
Granny Xiu Yan said, “I’ve already gotten someone to send them gifts. I’ll boil these clothes in boiling water and wash them carefully before putting them on for the baby.”
At this point, she could not help but look at Yu Niaoniao’s bulging abdomen. Her eyes were filled with anticipation and love.
“We have to let the mother and child be safe.”
Yu Niaoniao gently stroked her stomach. She did not know if Xiao Juan could come back to accompany her when she gave birth.
She really hoped the the war would end quickly!
In the blink of an eye, more than ten days passed.
The Chen army tried everything but still could not take down Heng City.
The earth walls looked rough, but they were made of triad soil and were abnormally strong.
Winter came, and the temperature dropped with each passing day.
Even though he was wearing a thick jacket under his armor, Marshal Chen still felt a little cold.
If he was already like this, the soldiers charging at the front line would feel even worse. Their limbs were trembling from the cold, and it was even harder for them to fight.
Marshal Chen Jun gritted his teeth. In this situation, he could only use some special methods.
The next day, the Chen Army suddenly stopped attacking Heng City.
The Eastern Expedition soldiers hiding behind the earth wall did not let down their guard because of this.
Xiao Juan and Tang Guixi stood on the tall sentry tower and looked at the Chen Army below from afar. They were both thinking what bad ideas they were up to.
Right on the heels of that, they saw the Chen Army appear in front of the earthen wall with a group of people.
Taking a closer look, they were all ordinary people who were weak.
They were trussed up, looking terrified.
The Chen Nation soldiers stood behind them with scimitars in hand.
Seeing this scene, Xiao Juan and Tang Guixi’s hearts sank to the bottom.
A Chen Nation soldier who could speak Dayan official language shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Bastards of the Eastern Expedition Army, listen up. I’ll give you a day. If you don’t open the door and surrender before the sun sets, we’ll kill all these commoners!”
Behind the earth wall, the soldiers of the Eastern Expedition Army were livid with anger.
These bastards from the Chen Nation were too despicable!
On the sentry tower, Tang Guixi looked at the commoners who were kneeling down. She wanted to rush down and save them, but logic told her she couldn’t. She was the commander of the Eastern Expedition Army. Not only did she have to be responsible for the Eastern Expedition Army, but she also had to be responsible for the commoners living in Heng City.
There was no way she would open the city gate and let the Chen Nation Army in.
Time passed bit by bit.
The sun gradually set in the west.
At first, the commoners who were taken hostage could still cry for help. Later, their throats were hoarse from shouting and their strength was exhausted. The moment the sun set, the last hope in their hearts was destroyed.
The Chen Nation soldiers had ruthless sneers on their faces.
They raised their scimitars high and slashed at the kneeling commoners in front of them.
Their arms rose and the knife fell. The heads fell to the ground.
Instantly, blood flowed like a river.
When the Eastern Expedition Army behind the earth wall saw this scene, they trembled with anger.
Tang Guixi gripped the wall tightly with both hands, her eyes filled with hatred.
Sooner or later, she would cut these beasts into pieces!
Xiao Juan closed his eyes silently, unable to bear to watch anymore.
It was getting dark. The Chen Nation soldiers dragged the corpses away, leaving only blood on the ground.
This was the end of the matter.
However, Xiao Juan knew that this was only the beginning.
As it turned out, he was right.
The next day, the Chen Army used the same trick again. They captured another group of commoners.
This time, they were all old, weak, women, and children. The oldest was already gray-haired, and the youngest was only four or five years old..