MTLNOVEL Chapter 389: 389. Can't bear
The sight before them made soldiers from various countries reveal despair, what had they fought so hard for?
But now, the situation in Ancient Yan Country left them astounded, completely different from what they had imagined, with the plague more severe than in their own countries.
The invasion of Ancient Yan was meant to seize food so that their own country and families could survive.
Not to mention food, they hadn't even seen a single stalk of millet; everywhere was filled with corpses. They dared not linger too long, covering their mouths and noses tightly. There was no way back now; to find food, they could only follow the traces of the living forward, their remaining food insufficient to sustain a return journey.
In a short time since the war began, the four border cities of Ancient Yan Country resisting foreign enemies had all fallen, with the frenzied enemy pouring in.
The citizens, who had received the news in advance, instinctively fled toward the nearest cities or the central authorities, following the remnants of retreating soldiers in their panic,
At this moment, large numbers of refugees, even when tormented by sickness and hunger, still used all their strength to escape the border city, scattering like headless flies.
As long as there was a road, they would take it, anyway they couldn't stay in one place, otherwise only death awaited them.
The city of Yi, conquered by the Beicang Country's barbarians, was only one state away from Lingyun State where Hua Jin was located, less than two thousand li even in a straight line.
The survivors in Lingyun State at this moment were completely unaware that a large number of refugees would soon swarm in.
Those alive at this moment were relieved, having not only survived the plague, evaded one danger, but also harvested grain, envisioning a promising future with hope.
A month later, in New Moon City.
Originally thought to take over a month to mature, the grain, perhaps due to favorable weather, had all ripened, making Da Liu Gouzi and the children so delighted they wanted to grow in the fields.
Although exhausted during the harvest, they cheerfully worked from dawn till dusk, using the tools left by their kind elder brother to harvest nearly three acres of grain inside and outside the yard in five days, then spent two more days drying them.
Looking at the golden millet, yellow wheat grains, sweet red sweet potatoes, and soft potatoes, the upcoming days would be one of the rare times in years they'd be able to eat to satisfaction, smiling even in their dreams at night due to their contentment.
As the grain was dried and stored, on the day the children planned to plant the next crop, they awoke feeling unbearably hot, sweating even without moving inside the house. Outside, if staying in the shade, one could hold on a bit longer.
Under the sun, it didn't even take an hour to feel dizzy from the heat, and before they could plant, they couldn't endure and returned indoors. Such scorching temperatures temporarily quelled Da Liu Gouzi and others' thoughts of sowing during the day.
Having once hovered on the brink of death, they feared, above all, falling ill and dared not take risks.
Meanwhile, Yun City, suffering from the Northern barbarians' fierce assault, was further tormented by sudden high temperatures. The normally short-tempered Northern barbarian army became even more brutal, their attacks intensified, and the scalding heat, like a raging fire, made them desperate to conquer Yun City quickly.
Battering rams continuously pounded the city gates. Under the cover of arrows, soldiers fiercely attacked, climbing ladders filled with troops.
With Yun City's defending force already stretched to its limits over the past half month, the defending general looked wryly at the soldiers fighting to the end to protect the city.
In any case, they had managed to buy half a month for the people who fled together from Yi City, enough to fulfill their duty to the people of Yunzhou and Yi City.
Seeing the soldiers fall constantly, with others immediately filling their places, their faces sunburnt and clothes soaked in sweat, some barely standing but gritting their teeth to hold the line, the general found it heart-wrenching.
The city… they couldn't hold it any longer, and there wasn't enough grain to last three more days.
Seeing the soldiers who had fought alongside him for half a month, some of whom had protected the people all the way to Yun City and knew it was a deadly situation, yet remained to defend Yun City with them, they were all commendable.
But… could he really bear to let his brothers die with him?
Sun Tan couldn't bear it, cutting down several barbarians trying to climb the walls. Blood-stained, a determined light flashed in his eyes, then he shouted, "Soldiers, hold the line, you must hold the line. Think of our families behind us; they only have us. With our flesh and blood, we build their hope for survival. We cannot let them break through today, no matter what."
While fighting, Sun Tan shouted hoarsely, this was their reverse scale. Thinking that their persistence was for their families to survive, soldiers who had nearly reached their limit suddenly seemed to be infused with Divine Power, hurling stones and logs at the ladders, slaying Northern barbarians with their weapons, protecting the walls with their lives time and again. When one fell, others immediately filled their place, determined to hold on, even if it meant dying.
Thus, fighting from dawn until noon, after several hours of continuous combat, though the Northern barbarians desperately wanted to conquer Yun City, it was unbearably hot. The sky hung like a giant fireball, relentlessly scorching the men, their sweat nearly exhausted. They feared being scorched dry before breaking through Yun City, so reluctantly, they opted to retreat and avoid the heat.
Retreating was a necessity; many soldiers didn't die from the Yun City defenders but were knocked out by the scorching sun.
When the retreat trumpet sounded, Yun City's soldiers, barely holding on, sighed with relief, leaving a few to stay on guard as ordered by Sun Tan and others, who withdrew from the walls.
Upon descending the city walls, nearly everyone rushed to the dozens of large jars placed in the corner, drinking a bowl of cool water to feel alive again, followed by bowls of wild vegetable porridge, allowing the exhausted men to rest in the shade.
Watching the weary, scarred soldiers, Sun Tan silently drank his bowl of wild vegetable porridge.
In two days, even the wild vegetable porridge might run out. Without food, they would lack strength, so how could they resist the brutal Northern barbarians?
As he finished the bowl of wild vegetable porridge, Sun Tan's eyes became increasingly resolute.
Even though joining the army meant being prepared to die on the battlefield, protecting the nation and its people had always been his lifelong belief. But Yun City was now an empty city, and the disparity in forces was too great. Holding on until now had been the limit, the outcome was already foreseen.
Reflecting on the appeal letters sent, ignored like rocks sinking in the sea, and considering Ancient Yan's current state, Sun Tan understood everything clearly. Even the Saint of Ancient Yan was struggling to survive, unable to care for warriors who protected the nation with their lives.
Where there's life, there's hope; he couldn't justify sacrificing thousands of soldiers for an empty city.
Better to preserve lives and continue guarding the living, perhaps offering some protection for the fleeing people of Yi City and Yunzhou.
Suddenly, Sun Tan stood up, "Zhao Gao," he called out.
"Pass the order, rest for two hours, and after that, the army will withdraw entirely through the south gate."
With the previous battle exhausting both sides significantly, they had a night's respite.
"General... what do you mean by this?"
"Yes, exactly what you think, the fall of the city is inevitable. I can't watch all our soldiers lose their lives like this; carry out my orders," he instructed.