Chapter 1126: Going for a Gilded Reputation
Perhaps it was Consort Rong’s extraordinary effort today that moved the Emperor’s heart, "Alright, if he wants to go, let him go. But after all, it is the battlefield, where swords and blades show no mercy. Winning merits is not that easy."
Consort Rong was overjoyed, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"
With her brother going there, merit was assured; it was just a matter of how much. If luck favored him, perhaps he’d even be granted a title, which would be marvelous.
The next day, Rong Ding packed his belongings, took the Ministry of Personnel’s document, and departed with his guard.
After half a month of travel, he reached the front line to meet the Duke.
The Duke glanced at the document from the Ministry of Personnel, aware that Rong Ding squeezing in at this time could only be the Emperor’s will.
The Emperor was willing to give him some merit as a stepping stone for promotion.
The Duke left him aside for two days, observing that Rong Ding wasn’t terribly unlikable. Without a mission, he simply stayed honestly in the camp.
At this time, the Duke received news from Jiang Che.
Originally, the Duke had ordered You Er to lead five thousand men to capture a small town called He City, but Jiang Che sent word that He City’s moat was exceptionally wide, and the walls entirely built of granite. More manpower would likely be needed, and the planned twenty days might not be sufficient.
Such a defense for a small town was not something the Duke had anticipated.
When You Er initially set out with troops, he only brought provisions for roughly twenty days, including travel time, so supplies would surely be insufficient.
The Duke, after deliberating, entrusted the task of delivering supplies to Rong Ding. He couldn’t overlook the Emperor’s wishes, but Rong Ding couldn’t fight, so he was given a lighter duty.
However, You Er needed reinforcements, and the Duke really couldn’t spare any troops, as the siege of a nearby large city was at a crucial moment.
Thus, aside from the civilian convoy escorting the supplies, the Duke also assigned Rong Ding a five-hundred infantry unit to guard against potential small groups of Jin Army.
Rong Ding set off with his guard and the supply convoy.
Jiang Che had been leading his soldiers in attacking this city for over ten days.
The troops defending this city were not many, roughly around two thousand, but the city was built exceptionally sturdy.
Local granite was in abundance, hence the city walls were entirely constructed from granite.
Not to mention, the moat was extremely wide and deep, making bridge construction difficult. Over these days, at the cost of some casualties, soldiers braved the arrow rain to use trenching vehicles to fill the moat, paving a road about ten feet wide.
Meanwhile, they were also digging tunnels forward from the moat.
The tunnels weren’t intended for entering the city, but to weaken the foundation of the walls. Even the most solid walls would collapse without foundation support.
Jiang Che had no intention of mounting an assault just yet.
There were no good strategies for storming a city; generally, it involved piling human heads.
This wasn’t because Jiang Che was soft-hearted. For a general, being soft-hearted is a major taboo. When ruthlessness is needed, he naturally will be ruthless.
The task of storming the city wasn’t urgent now, and he didn’t want unnecessary sacrifices.
Jiang Che sat on the ground, looking around.
It was already late at night, and except for patrolling soldiers, everyone else was asleep. The camp was very quiet.
He glanced at a very large tent nearby, which stored all the military provisions.
However, provisions were already running low, enough for only two or three days. His scout who went to deliver a message to the Duke had long returned, bringing back the Duke’s words.