The Fallen Medicine Woman: The Daily Life of Chun Nuan-Chapter 393 - 221

Chun Nuan did not anticipate that Dongmei’s choice would be so wise.

It has erupted; this time, it’s General Xia of the court leading the troops to quell the rebellion.

The city of Changzhou had just regained a fraction of its former liveliness, now replaced by the brutality of war.

The siege has lasted for three days, with the rebel army arresting civilians to serve as human shields.

Whenever Xia Guangcheng attacks, the rebels drive the bound civilians to the front.

The cries, shouts, and curses are deafening.

"General?" Vice General Hu looked helplessly at Xia Guangcheng.

This city, I’m afraid, cannot be conquered!

Who would dare to give the order to attack? They are civilians!

They are citizens of Great Xia.

If the swords and arrows were to strike them, the court’s impeachment would land on the Emperor’s desk, and by then, the blade outside the noon gate would fall on the General’s head.

Moreover, the General is someone who protects his country, how could he point a blade at his own people? No amount of merit would cover up that cruelty.

"Let’s continue the siege for now."

Xia Guangcheng, too, felt overwhelmed.

Who could have thought they would feel so helpless!

Indeed, when fighting the enemy at the border, he feared nothing and had no scruples.

But here, he ordered repeatedly that rebel soldiers who surrender should not be harmed.

Thinking of the safety of his soldiers, he even contemplated ordering them to refrain from taking lives.

Of course, as the commander of all three armies, speaking this way would be highly irresponsible.

Whose life isn’t a life? War is a life-and-death matter; asking his brothers to consider others’ lives, those people won’t reciprocate that consideration.

Swords and blades show no mercy; protecting oneself is what’s most important, for showing mercy to the enemy is cruelty to oneself.

Of course, he also knows that as long as the enemy harms weaponless civilians, this battle cannot be fought.

The result of the siege is that the lives of the civilians inside the city are worse than death.

"Except for a pharmacy named the Hundred Herbs Hall, which continues to operate normally, all businesses have closed." The spy reported to Xia Guangcheng: "Previously, each household could buy some grain based on their household registration, but now the grain stores are closed, with no grain to buy; many families have run out of food, and there are plenty who haven’t eaten for three days and nights."

"They are cursing you, General."

The spy said this after careful consideration.

"Go ahead, how are they cursing?"

"They say that before you came, at least the streets were peaceful, and they could buy some grain each day."

Even if it was at a high price, at least it could be bought.

"Now that all the businesses have opened, grain cannot be bought, and they are already starving to the point of collapse."

The most critical issue is that now they don’t even dare to step outside.

As soon as they go out, they are caught by the rebels to become human shields.

Some people, absolutely famished, deliberately dash onto the streets to be caught by the rebels because they would be given two steamed buns each day to keep them barely alive.

For two steamed buns, they disregard everything else, even stepping out voluntarily.

In their view, it’s a dead end either way.

Even living one more day counts as a gain.

"So, these people see the rebels who catch them as good men, and I, Xia Guangcheng, the most abominable villain?"

What kind of absurd logic is this?

Sometimes Xia Guangcheng feels that unfortunate people must have their detestable traits.

Yet, he is utterly helpless against them.

"General, regarding the Emperor..."

How to say it, their General is just stubborn, he dared to volunteer, and yet the Emperor gave a deadline, demanding the rebellion in Shu City to be pacified within a year.

As soon as they entered Shu City, it was filled with minor bandits everywhere.

The terrain here is mountainous, with narrow roads; customs and folkways are entirely different. Additionally, many people, under the banner of rebels, wreak havoc to plunder civilians for a living, making it a place where the people truly cannot make a living.

"This General understands."

It’s merely a matter of time?

Let him first sort out a sequence.

As long as a sequence can be sorted out, everything will be simpler.

In reality, true warfare has always been about striking quickly and decisively.

That day, Xia Guangcheng suddenly received a message: someone wanted to meet him.

"General, could this be a trap set by the rebels?"

Vice General Hu was worried and advised against meeting the visitor.

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained," Xia Guangcheng said. "Besides, it may not necessarily be an enemy; what if it benefits me?"

"But General, we are unfamiliar with the people and the land here in Shu City..."

Where would any acquaintances come from?

"Don’t forget, my luck is rather prosperous now; ’The cart will find its way round the hill when it gets there.’" Xia Guangcheng declared.

Indeed, Xia Guangcheng had a strong premonition that the person seeking him was his benefactor, someone able to help him break the current stalemate.