SURO BLEDEK
473. He Bei City Fortress
General Tian Bai, General Xiao Long and Xian Hua did understand the enemy force was very strong. Therefore they face the enemy only until they can make sure General Yuwen Huaji is safe.
They along with the rest of the Black Tiger army were finally able to move back safely to join the rest of the army. After that the entire imperial army finally decided to retreat leaving their defenses on the huge cliff of Yangu. Because the top of the cliff has been controlled by the army of General Deuteran.
The forces of the Sky Khan immediately moved forward, after General Ulagan managed to seize the guard on the cliff by the imperial troops. But their movement was restrained, because the large stones that had been dropped to hoard the forces of the Sky Khan before, had now covered their way.
With the obstacles that finally the imperial troops who moved backwards to leave the Great Cliff of Yangu get more time. They moved steadily south towards He Bei.
But the forces of the Sky Khan did not let them off just like that. They continued to chase, so along the way that was the battle.
While continuing to retreat the imperial army continued to make defenses that were able to reduce the risk of being slaughtered by enemy forces easily.
The temporary leadership was held by General Xiao Long. The general led the entire army to retreat. The entire army finally reached the border of He Bei.
In the end General Xiao Long decided to use the city fortress of He Bei as the last defense to resist the pace of the enemy forces.
To the east the Sui imperial army led by General Yuwen Shiji was also defeated. The attack from the Goguryeo Kingdom forces had made the imperial army must choose to withdraw.
They eventually retreated to Tianjin. Tianjin City is located in the east of He Bei. But because the attack carried out by the Kingdom of Goguryeo was so powerful, they then retreated again.
Luckily the troops were told to general Yuwen Shinji, if Yuwen Huaji's troops were not far from them. Hearing the explanation of his men, General Yuwen Shinji finally decided to combine all his troops with the troops led by his brother, Yuwen Huaji.
He did not know about the news if now the imperial troops in He Bei were led by his brother's deputy, General Xiao Long. General Yuwen Shiji did not know the fate of his brother who was injured quite badly.
**
"We can finally join you." There was a sense of tiredness on General Yuwen Shiji's face.
He and his entire army had just arrived at He Bei joining the imperial army that was facing the Sky Khan.
"Where's my brother? Why is he invisible?"
"General Yuwen Huaji is being questioned." General Xiao Long answered General Yuwen Shiji's question briefly.
"So it turns out my sister is resting."
General Xiao Long merely nodded his head in response to the question of his interlocutor. She was actually about to explain the condition of her brother who was injured.
But he decided it was better for his sister to see for herself what her brother's condition was like. He will be surprised to see his condition.
And it is true that just seeing the condition of his brother who was lying in a state of unconsciousness made the man unable to master the situation. Because he realized his brother's condition is in critical condition.
Moreover, he realized that the injuries that hit his brother besides being severe also contained strong poison. It could be seen from the marks on her brother's body that were starting to turn blue.
His confidence grew by looking at the bandage that wrapped the right chest. But he tried to master the situation and tried to be as calm as possible.
"What happened to my brother?"
General Xiao Long then explained the battle about two days ago at the Great Cliff of Yangu. Hearing General Xiao Long's explanation he could only shake his head.
"The injuries he suffered were severe. But how can he survive the poison that hit him?" General Yuwen Shiji looked at General Xiao Long curiously.
"That's because of the antidote to the poison and also some pills that Suro's swordsman had given before leaving for war."
"So the pill he gave was really a potent antidote to poison."
"No, really powerful. General Yuwen Huaji still needs a proper antidote pill. Otherwise I'm sure the poison will cost him his life." General Xiao Long ended his explanation with a long sigh.
"The forces I lead in the east are also facing an enemy that is too strong we are unable to defend."
General Yuwen Shoji stared fixedly at General Yuwen Huaji's body lying unconscious. He then continued his words.
"Because it was for the sake of hearing the news about the elder brother's army in the city of He Bei that was adjacent to Tianjin, then I decided to merge the entire army."
General Yuwen Shiji then began to explain why he chose to combine his powers.
General Xiao Long only nodded his head hearing the explanation from the courtier who was also the younger brother of General Yuwen Huaji. The reason described was acceptable to General Xiao Long.
Their combined forces did indeed make their forces stronger. Even with the same risk, the combined strength of the enemy will also be stronger.
"Then how many troops are left?" ask General Xiao Long.
"There are seventy thousand men. Thirty thousand of them were archers...."
General Xiao Long nodded his head at General Yuwen Shiji's long explanation.
"We'd better continue this conversation with the other retainers in the other room. I'm afraid the commander will be interrupted by his rest." General Xiao Long took General Yuwen Shiji out of the room.
**
After that they continued to discuss with the other retainers in the other room.
While they were discussing a messenger entered the room where they were discussing their next plan.
"Of General Xiao Long, we've been surrounded from two different directions. The Goguryeo army has come from the east. While from the north the forces of the Sky Khan have also come."
Hearing the news they all immediately exited the room and headed towards the highest place of the He Bei city fortress.
From the top of the watchtower they soon found a terrifying sight. Two armies of the Sky Khan and Goguryeo Kingdom were about to attack from two different directions. Luckily by then they had taken refuge inside the fortress of He Bei city.
With that condition their current task was not to let the enemy break into the fortress where they were defending.
"Prepare all your archers to stand guard over the north and east walls" General Xiao Long told General Yuwen Shiji.
As long as General Yuwen Huaji was unable to lead, the leadership position continued in the hands of General Xiao Long. Indirectly General Yuwen Shiji was also under his command.
"But my army has just traveled a long way?"
"True I understand, but if my archers were to stand guard over the wall, then we would all likely travel to the grave."
"Well I will command my troops to support the defense of this fortress."
General Xiao Long nodded his head and continued, "my archer squad has slaughtered the enemy forces by almost half. They're the rest of the archers we can save."
General Yuwen Shiji was actually curious about the cause of the archer troops that were slaughtered to such an extent. But the situation was not possible, he finally chose to nod his head hearing the explanation of his interlocutor.
**
General Yuwen Shiji then left the watchtower to meet his troops. He was about to continue the order given to him to order his archers to stand guard over the fortress.
But the general first explained why those who had just come were not given a chance to rest.
"Enemy did not rest after making this long journey towards He Bei city" said the man, staring at his entire army.
"If we do not hold back the forces of the Sky Khan and Goguryeo forces here, then we will most likely not be able to hold back their pace for control of the entire empire. This is the last defense we can do.
The current commander is also in a state of severe injuries, so he is no longer able to continue his duties. For the time being, the reins of leadership are held by General Xiao Long. Now get ready to guard the city's fortress."
The entire army of archers in front of him nodded their heads indicating that they understood the decision of the leader.
"Remember what happened to enemy-held territory. They were all made into an army like the undead. Do you want your family, your relatives, to fate like the people whose territory is controlled by the enemy? If you don't want that, get up and pick up your weapons to use against the enemy!"
Intentionally General Yuwen Shoji spoke like that to burn the spirit of his men. For he himself felt very tired after a long journey.
Before the General finished his speech, his entire army had risen up with a burning spirit about to face the enemy again.
All the archers had been standing on the wall to guard the fortress of He Bei. This time they had no choice but to retreat. Their dead lives will be determined in the city of He Bei.