Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law-Chapter 465: Tuoba Zhu’s Vicious Scheme

As Tuoba Zhu spoke, all eyes instantly turned to him.

Hearing this, Tie Muer was delighted: "Please, Your Highness, speak quickly."

Tuoba Zhu, after pondering for a moment, said, "Actually, the plan set by Your Highness last night is feasible."

"?" Tie Muer looked puzzled and continued to listen intently.

Tuoba Zhu said, "The horses may be startled, but the people will not. Did the General observe this morning that the Strange Thunder attacks the rear of General Yelv’s subordinates, meaning the Chen Army is also afraid of this Strange Thunder harming their own men. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

In this case, if we drive a batch of Great Song civilians as the vanguard, and our infantry closely follows these civilians, the Chen Army will have concerns. By the time our infantry penetrates the center of the Chen Army, we can then deploy cavalry to flank from both sides, and this battle will surely be won."

Once these words were spoken,

Everyone fell silent.

Because this method was too much against heaven’s harmony.

Although they had harmed many Great Song civilians since their invasion, it was different.

Military matters are military matters, and civilians are civilians.

If they drove Song civilians onto the battlefield against the Chen Army, then one day, the enemy might also drive their own civilians against them.

There have been such examples in history.

Tie Muer also fell silent.

If this method were used in Jin Xia, it would be a divine punishment.

Tuoba Zhu also knew this method was somewhat cruel, so he said he wasn’t sure whether to speak or not, seeing everyone silent, he said no more.

He was only responsible for providing the method, whether or not to use it was not his concern.

"Let me think about it again," Tie Muer said.

...

The next day.

At dawn, Chen Mo received reports from scouts at the front that the Jin Xia Army, which had been defeated yesterday, had retreated to Yao’er City.

Chen Mo immediately ordered the entire army to break camp and advance towards Yao’er City.

Before dark, the Chen Army set up camp in a spacious area five li outside Yao’er City.

Chen Mo said to Sun Meng, "Since the enemy has retreated to Yao’er City, there’s no longer a need for the ambush at Chishi Ridge. Send someone to Chishi Ridge and have Cui Shuang bring the troops to rendezvous at Yao’er City."

"Understood."

Meanwhile, Tie Muer in Yao’er City also received reports from scouts, saying the Chen Army had set up camp five li outside the city.

The Jin Xia Army was not adept at city defense, let alone the fact that the city was full of Song civilians, which left the Jin Xia soldiers feeling very insecure. Now with the Chen Army pressing so close, the Jin Xia Army, frightened by the Strange Thunder yesterday, became somewhat panic-stricken.

Seeing this, Tie Muer hardened his heart.

To achieve great things, one must not be bound by minor details.

There are many historical records of people slaughtering cities, I’m merely driving civilians onto the battlefield, and I’m not killing them, so what does it matter?

Besides, as long as we win and annex Great Song, this wouldn’t count as a stain.

Tie Muer immediately ordered Tie Mutie to gather all the civilians in the city.

...

The next day.

Outside Yao’er City, the Chen Army’s camp stretched for more than ten li, with obstacles already set up all around, and squads of soldiers from the three forces stood ready.

"Woo..."

"Woo..."

"Woo..."

The long sound of a horn echoed from the Chen Army camp, spreading in invisible waves in circles all around.

"Tiger!"

"Tiger!"

"Tiger!"

The Xianzhen Guard emerged from the camp, shouting thunderously, the dust raised by the marching infantry rose like smoke and waves, shrouding the sky.

Such commotion quickly reached the ears of the Jin Xia garrison on the city walls.

"General, the Chen Army has deployed," a personal soldier reported to Tie Muer.

Tie Muer saw it, put down the Thousand-Mile Mirror, and said to Tie Mutie beside him, "Prepare."

"Understood."

Tie Mutie quickly descended from the city wall.

...

On the observation tower built in front of the Chen Army camp, Chen Mo dressed in a black short robe, did not wear armor, and placed his large hand on the hilt of the Tang Blade at his waist, said to Chang En, "Just surround Yao’er City, do not attack."

Yao’er City was only a small city, the walls weren’t high, made of rammed yellow earth, and not very defensive. The Red Coat Cannon could easily break the city.

But Chen Mo felt there was no need for that.

Firstly, Chen Mo was not in a hurry.

Secondly, no matter how weak the defense of Yao’er City was, it was still a city, and siege warfare resulted in the highest casualties.

The current situation is that the Jin Xia Army is anxious to advance, Chen Mo just needs to slowly pressure them.

The Xianzhen Guard advanced towards Yao’er City.

The Divine Martial Guard followed closely behind.

Just when Chen Mo was slightly relaxed, someone sent a report from Chang En ahead, saying that Yao’er City’s gates had opened.

Hearing this, Chen Mo was surprised, and with Xia Zhining personally rushed to the Xianzhen Guard, observing up close, he found that indeed the gate of Yao’er City was open.

"What are the enemy planning, are they confronting us in battle?" Xia Zhining said in surprise.

"Could it be some trick, like the Empty City Stratagem?" Chang En interjected, as he had also been reading military books recently.

Xia Zhining shook his head and smiled, "If it were the Empty City Stratagem, it shouldn’t be arranged like this."

"Perhaps they have figured out how to counter our artillery." Chen Mo also found it somewhat surprising.

But that’s good, if you take the initiative to come out and fight, it will save me time.

"Zhi Ning, go bring the Vermilion Bird Guard over, and have Shao Jinneng ready." Chen Mo instructed.

"Understood."

Xia Zhining acknowledged and was about to retreat when Chang En suddenly exclaimed, "Marquis, it’s...civilians."

"What?" Chen Mo looked into the distance.

Xia Zhining also stopped in her tracks, craning her neck.

Soon, they saw a large group of civilians, wearing tattered clothes, looking sallow and emaciated, walking out from the city gate, with expressions of panic and helplessness on their faces.

There were even women holding children, the children crying loudly.

As one by one the civilians walked out of the city, Chen Mo could see, behind this group of civilians, were rows of Jin Xia infantry, wearing vine armor and holding great sabers.

In an instant, a "thud" echoed in Chen Mo’s mind, eyes flaring with fire: "These beasts, they don’t even spare the children."

Chen Mo realized what the Jin Xia Army was planning to do.

"Marquis, what’s wrong?" Chang En still hadn’t caught on.

Xia Zhining explained, "These Jin Xia Barbarians want to use civilians against us."

"What? How despicable they are." Even Chang En couldn’t help but curse.

Even within the Xianzhen Guard, there was agitation.

Originally, they didn’t think much when seeing the civilians exiting the city, but upon seeing the Jin Xia infantry behind the civilians, they also vaguely realized something.

Instantly, they looked at each other, then all turned to look at Chen Mo as if asking what to do.

At this moment, even Chen Mo was momentarily stunned, but soon he closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, only anger and coldness remained, saying: "First shout to the enemy, then to the civilians, tell the civilians about the enemy’s plot. If none of it works, then..."

Chen Mo didn’t finish the last part, but at that moment, even Chang En understood what it was and couldn’t help but feel a heaviness in his heart, cursing: "These beasts."