589. The Battle At Lingling

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As the three armies converged on Lingling, tensions reached a boiling point. Shi Xie's forces, weakened by sabotage and low morale, arrived first, setting up camp outside the city. His officers urged caution, but Zhang Jian was determined to attack before the Sun Clan reinforcements could arrive.

On the second night of their arrival, chaos erupted in Shi Xie's camp. Fires broke out in the supply depot, and a shadowy figure assassinated one of his key commanders. Panic spread, and Shi Xie's grip on his army began to falter.

When Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's forces arrived days later, they found a tense standoff. Zhou Yu had fortified Lingling, Shi Xie's army was in disarray, and the townsfolk were fiercely loyal to Zhou Yu. Yet Liu Bei's commanders knew they couldn't act rashly. Any misstep could expose their true intentions.

In the midst of this chaos, Jia Xu's agents continued their clandestine operations, ensuring that neither Shi Xie nor Liu Bei could gain the upper hand. As Zhou Yu prepared for the inevitable clash, he knew the fate of Lingling and the Sun Clan's honor hung by a thread.

Under Zhang Jian's orders, Shi Xie's forces began constructing siege engines with urgency, knowing that their best chance to take Lingling was a swift and overwhelming assault.

Battering rams and catapults were hastily assembled, and soldiers were put into siege formation to ensure they could launch their attack as soon as the engines were ready. Exhausted and demoralized, the soldiers grumbled quietly among themselves, but Zhang Jian's iron will kept them in line. Every delay increased the likelihood of the Sun Clan's reinforcements arriving to bolster Lingling's defenses.

Within Lingling, Zhou Yu worked tirelessly to prepare for the assault. He had managed to rally nearly 50,000 able-bodied men, a combination of the Sun Clan's stationed forces and neutral locals who had decided to join the defense after witnessing Zhou Yu's dedication to protecting the city. Many of the townsfolk were untrained, but their growing loyalty to Zhou Yu motivated them to fight fiercely for their home.

Chen Qian, Zhou Yu's trusted aide, had been instrumental in coordinating these efforts. By day, he supervised the training of new recruits and the repair of the city's defenses; by night, he conferred with Zhou Yu on strategies to withstand the siege. Both men knew they were fighting against time, with Shi Xie's army at their gates and Liu Bei's massive force approaching from the north.

Amid the chaos, the Oriole agents, operating under Jia Xu's orders, played a vital role in tipping the scales. Posing as ordinary townsfolk, merchants, or even deserters from other armies, they blended seamlessly into the environment. Their mission went far beyond gathering intelligence, they actively disrupted the enemy's plans.

Within Shi Xie's camp, Oriole agents infiltrated the construction teams, sabotaging siege engines by loosening bolts and weakening structural supports.

One night, a battering ram that had been nearly completed collapsed in a heap of splintered wood, delaying the assault and infuriating Zhang Jian. The agents also poisoned water supplies and spread rumors of desertion and betrayal among the rank and file, further eroding morale.

In Liu Bei's approaching army, the Oriole agents focused on disrupting logistics. Bridges were destroyed ahead of the army's march, forcing delays as engineers scrambled to build makeshift replacements. Supply wagons mysteriously caught fire, and low- to mid-level officers were assassinated in their tents, throwing the chain of command into disarray.

Jia Xu's orders were precise: create chaos but remain undetected. The agents operated with surgical precision, ensuring their actions would not lead back to Zhou Yu or the Sun Clan. To the outside world, the disruptions appeared to be the result of poor planning, bad luck, and the growing unrest within the armies themselves.

By the fourth day of preparations, Shi Xie's siege engines were finally ready. Zhang Jian, determined to make up for lost time, ordered the assault to begin at first light. The battering rams were brought to the gates under heavy guard, while catapults launched flaming projectiles at Lingling's walls.

Inside the city, Zhou Yu and Chen Qian directed the defenders with precision. Archers stationed along the walls rained arrows down on the advancing troops, while ballistae targeted the siege engines. The defenders fought with desperation, knowing they had to hold out until reinforcements arrived.

Zhou Yu moved tirelessly along the walls, rallying the defenders and issuing commands. "Hold the gates!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the cacophony of battle. "Do not let them breach the walls!"

The Oriole agents within the city proved invaluable during the defense. Disguised as ordinary soldiers, they coordinated sabotage efforts, using hidden stores of oil to set fire to battering rams and planting gunpowders near critical siege equipment.

They also provided critical intelligence to Zhou Yu, alerting him to weak points in the enemy's formations and the timing of their attacks.

Despite these efforts, the situation grew increasingly dire. Shi Xie's soldiers, though weary, were relentless, and the walls of Lingling began to show signs of strain. The defenders were pushed to their limits, and Zhou Yu knew they could not hold out indefinitely.

As the battle raged, scouts brought word that Liu Bei's army was nearing Lingling. The news sent a wave of unease through both the defenders and Shi Xie's forces.

For Zhou Yu, the arrival of a third army presented both a threat and an opportunity. While Liu Bei claimed to be marching to "protect" Lingling, Zhou Yu knew better than to trust him. Nevertheless, the presence of a second enemy could divide Shi Xie's attention and potentially buy the defenders more time.

Zhang Jian, for his part, was incensed. "Liu Bei seeks to steal our lord's victory!" he raged to his commanders. "We must take Lingling before his army arrives. Double the assault!"

The renewed attack was brutal. Shi Xie's forces focused all their efforts on breaching the gates, but Zhou Yu's defenders fought back with equal ferocity. Flaming arrows rained down on the advancing soldiers, and boiling oil was poured over those who reached the gates. The walls trembled under the relentless pounding of the battering rams, but they managed to hold for now.

As the situation grew increasingly desperate, the Oriole agents launched a series of bold operations to tip the balance. Under the cover of darkness, they infiltrated Shi Xie's command tent and set fire to critical maps and supply ledgers. Meanwhile, other agents spread rumors among the soldiers that Liu Bei's army was preparing to flank them, sowing panic and confusion.

In Liu Bei's camp, the agents escalated their sabotage efforts. They targeted supply caravans and ambushed scouting parties, making it difficult for Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to coordinate their advance. The agents also spread rumors that Shi Xie and the Sun Clan had secretly allied against Liu Bei, further straining the tenuous morale of both armies.

Meanwhile, to the southwest of Lingling, the Sun Clan's army, numbering an impressive 200,000 men, marched steadily toward the embattled city. Under the command of Cheng Pu, Han Dang, and Zhou Tai, this formidable force was a stark contrast to the weary and beleaguered armies of Shi Xie and Liu Bei. Rested, well-supplied, and marching at a disciplined pace, the Sun Clan troops exuded confidence, their banners flying high as they pressed onward.

Cheng Pu, a grizzled veteran of countless battles, rode at the head of the column. Flanking him were Han Dang, with his sharp tactical mind, and the ever-loyal Zhou Tai, whose calm demeanor masked a ferocious combat ability.

The three commanders shared a camaraderie forged in the fires of war and tempered by their unwavering loyalty to the Sun Clan. As they rode, their conversation shifted to the precarious balance of power in the south.

"It's a relief that our army still stands at this strength," Han Dang remarked, his tone a mix of relief and caution. "If we had dismantled our forces as soon as possible per the pledge of allegiance agreement to Lie Fan, we'd be in no position to wage a campaign of this scale."

Cheng Pu nodded grimly. "The agreement was never about protecting the Sun Clan, but to benefit Lie Fan and ensure that our lord wouldn't rebel against him. It was a ploy to ensure that Lie Fan received maximum benefit."

Zhou Tai, ever the pragmatist, added, "What matters now is that we hold Lingling. If the city falls, it will embolden our enemies and give them a foothold in our lands. Our forces must reach the battlefield in time to turn the tide."

The commanders shared a look of understanding. Each knew that the stakes extended beyond Lingling, the survival of the Sun Clan itself hung in the balance. The army pressed on, their disciplined march a stark reminder of the power that remained under the Sun banner.

As the Sun Clan army advanced, the situation in Lingling grew increasingly dire. Zhou Yu, leading the defense with his usual brilliance, was now faced with the full brunt of Shi Xie's assault.

The enemy siege engines battered the city walls, their relentless strikes creating cracks in the once-impenetrable defenses. Flames erupted in several parts of the city as flaming projectiles from the catapults rained down, sowing chaos and destruction.

Despite the odds, Zhou Yu refused to waver. He moved tirelessly among the defenders, issuing commands, rallying morale, and personally aiding in critical areas. His leadership inspired the townsfolk and soldiers alike, many of whom fought with a desperation born of love for their home and respect for their commander.

Chen Qian, his trusted aide, was equally indispensable. Coordinating efforts to extinguish fires and repair breaches in the walls, he ensured the defenders held their ground. The townsfolk, untrained but determined, worked alongside the soldiers, carrying water, reinforcing barricades, and tending to the wounded. Zhou Yu and Chen Qian knew that time was their most precious resource; every hour they held out brought the Sun Clan reinforcements closer.

As dawn broke over Lingling, Shi Xie's forces launched a renewed assault. Battering rams smashed against the gates, catapults hurled stones and flames, and wave after wave of soldiers charged the walls. The defenders, though exhausted, fought with unyielding determination. Arrows rained down from the ramparts, and pots of boiling oil were poured onto the attackers. The air was thick with the screams of the wounded and the clash of steel.

Zhou Yu, standing atop the walls, directed the defense with the precision of a master tactician. "Hold the line!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We fight not just for Lingling but for our honor and our people!" In the midst of the battle, a desperate plan was put into motion. Zhou You's elite soldiers, disguised as defenders, slipped through the chaos and set fire to one of Shi Xie's battering rams. The inferno spread quickly, forcing the attackers to pull back momentarily. It was a small victory, but one that bought the defenders precious time.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains

Age: 32 (199 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 1325

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 951 (+20)

VIT: 613 (+20)

AGI: 598 (+10)

INT: 617

CHR: 96

WIS: 519

WILL: 407

ATR Points: 0