Chapter 70: Emergency Military Situation!

  Rumble...

  The Tiger Trap Pass day and night alternately issued the sound of fierce fighting and siege, its voice echoing in the nine heavens at all times.

  Within a month, the eighteen-road vassal alliance launched a fierce attack on Tiger Pass day and night. Both sides were engaged in bloody battles at all times, both sides suffered heavy losses, and wounded soldiers were arranged to cook food in the rear and transport equipment.

  Led by Qiu Shui, the Western Liang army had 1.7 million infantrymen and 600,000 cavalrymen. More than 500,000 of its infantrymen were killed, and almost all the remaining soldiers were wounded.

  The eighteen vassals under Guan Yu attacked the pass day and night, losing around 150,000 men. The number of wounded was too high to count. At this time, the bell at Tiger Trap Pass tolled, and both sides temporarily halted their attacks, withdrawing their troops to tend to their wounds.

  "Hurry up! Everyone, get ready to collect the spoils of war on the battlefield. Zhang Liao, quickly lead your men to prepare arrows, rolling logs, and fire oil!" General Gao Shun's tired eyes gazed out at his officers who had just relaxed after a life-and-death battle, and he shouted loudly.

  The arrows consumed daily at the pass are countless, and now they are almost exhausted. The soldiers on the pass are all wounded, and for a time, the entire atmosphere of the pass is filled with sorrow.

  Qiu Shui and Lü Bu, both covered in blood, swung their halberds wildly in the air, scattering droplets of blood everywhere. The two leaned against the city wall, taking advantage of a brief moment to catch their breath.

  At this time, Gao Shun and Xu Rong, with armor covered in bloodstains and exhaustion, walked to the front of Qiu Shui and Lü Bu, saying: "General, our army is not doing well now! For a month, the Eastern warlords have been attacking day and night like they've been injected with chicken blood. The soldiers are all exhausted, while the allied forces below still have tens of thousands of armored warriors waiting to fight!" After saying this, Xu Rong stopped and didn't dare continue speaking.

  Gao Shun replied in a cold voice, "The various lords of Guandong still have tens of thousands of spirited and robust elite troops. If we wait for another two or three days, until our army is exhausted, the enemy will suddenly deploy tens of thousands of spirited and robust elite troops onto the battlefield, and several fierce generals will mix in among them. How can we hold on?"

  After hearing Gao Shun's words, Xu Rong was disheartened. Even if Sun Wu were to be reborn, it would be impossible. The enemy army had dispatched over 400,000 troops in multiple batches, disregarding casualties, and left behind 200,000 elite soldiers who were constantly on guard against the cavalry led by Qiu Shui, making it even more impossible for the 60,000 cavalry inside the pass to be of any use. Was he really supposed to let the cavalry defend the city? It's not easy to cultivate a cavalryman, especially considering the time and resources spent. Without three to five years, how could one possibly cultivate elite cavalrymen?!

  Going out to fight, they will definitely be overwhelmed by the vassals' human sea tactics under the pass. Now, all the soldiers on the pass are exhausted and can only exert 60% of their strength at most. The number of casualties increases every day, all because the soldiers are exhausted, and the arrows used for defending the pass are running out, which will lead to even more casualties later.

  "Report! Urgent report! Urgent report!"

  Just as Qiu Shui was unable to make a decision, a soldier hastily ran up the city wall and rushed towards Qiu Shui while shouting.

  "Hum! Autumn water cold hum a sound, whose soldier is this, doing things in such a way, isn't it shaking the military heart?! At this time, one of Autumn Water's hands had already touched the hilt of the knife hanging from his waist, and he had obviously moved to kill!"

  "General, this man seems to be a soldier who came from Luoyang City!" Gao Shun hastily reported after seeing the murderous intent in Qiushui's eyes, especially when he touched the precious sword at his waist.

  Qiu Shui's eyes, filled with cold intent, glanced at Gao Shun before slowly releasing the grip on his treasured sword. His cold, intent-filled gaze turned to the approaching soldier and he said, "What business do you have, daring to shout loudly in the midst of our army and disturbing our morale? If you can't come up with something, I will make sure your head and body are separated!"

  After seeing the gaze of Autumn Water, the little soldier who came to deliver the message seemed as if he was in a cold cave and would die instantly. Suddenly, his back was covered with cold sweat. He quickly knelt down on one knee and reported: "General, I have come under the orders of the Grand Master to deliver urgent military news!" After finishing speaking, he hastily handed over the wooden box sealed with red wax from behind him to Autumn Water.

  Qiu Shui hastily opened the wooden box in his hand, took out the book inside and started reading. Meanwhile, Lü Bu and others beside him saw Qiu Shui's expression change after reading the letter, their faces turned gloomy, filled with suspicion, wanting to know what was written on it.

  Qiu Shui finished reading and his eyes were filled with anger, looking at Lü Bu Xu Rong and others beside him who were also tearful, he hastily threw the letter in his hand onto Xu Rong's body.

  Xu Rong was shocked to see Qiu Shui get angry, in this one month of fighting together with Qiu Shui, Xu Rong deeply understood that Qiu Shui generally didn't interfere with military matters, and the important task of guarding the pass had been entrusted to Gao Shun and Wu. A renowned general who could recognize his own shortcomings and was skilled at using them, Xu Rong admired him greatly.

  When I saw the general I admired in my heart burning with anger and throwing the letter in his hand at me, I was filled with doubts for a while. Even if he let his subordinates see the letter, he should have let Lü Bu read it first before it came to us...?

  Just as Xu Rong was filled with doubts, he hastily lowered his head to read the letter in his hand, wanting to know what was written on it that made his own general furious.

  He gasped! Xu Rong took a deep breath after reading the first half, his heart was shocked, but as he continued to read on, his face changed like a Sichuan opera mask, filled with despair and bitter smile.

  Lü Bu saw that Xu Rong had seen the contents of the letter, and he suddenly became like this. For a moment, his heart was even more suspicious, and he reached out to grab the letter from the other's hand and read it himself.

  Lü Bu's face turned gloomy after reading it, and he then threw the letter to other generals with disgust.

  At this time, all the generals gathered around Qiu Shui's side, took turns to look at the letter, and then they all had gloomy faces, not saying a word.

  The soldiers kneeling on the ground saw that each general was speechless after seeing the letter, and the air was filled with solemnity. They were also afraid to ask weakly: "General?"

  When he saw Qiū Shuǐ's impatient wave of the hand, the soldier who had been sent to deliver the message hastily stood up and retreated.

  A gloomy face, eyes filled with anger, Autumn Water coldly said to the generals: "Everyone has seen the letter from the Grand Master, is there anything to say?"

  At this time, Lü Bu had already ignited a fire of anger in his chest. Upon hearing Qiū Shuǐ's inquiry, he loudly exclaimed: "Qiū Shuǐ Xiōng Dì, can you bear to abandon General Xú? After we and the other generals have fought bloody battles for a month, could it be that...". As he spoke, Lü Bu seemed as if there was something difficult to express, and his words trailed off, unable to be spoken.

  At this time, Hua Xiong and Xu Rong looked at each other with a hint of sadness, and with gratitude, they bowed their hands and choked back tears, saying: "Everyone, we two have been able to unite our hearts and work together with you all to fight against the enemy army for many days. Our hearts are deeply comforted by this. Now, it's not necessary for everyone to accompany us in death; it's better to follow the orders of the Grand Tutor!"

  After finishing speaking, both of their eyes were filled with dead ash.

  Whoa! Ah!

  After listening to the two, all the soldiers in the crowd were filled with doubts. In an instant, Autumn Water suddenly picked up the giant bow behind her back and aimed at the herald who was about to descend from the city tower. She drew her bow and shot an arrow... ... PS: Thank you for the reward from [Thirteen Frost]. There will be another update this afternoon. Today's luck is not bad, hehe, no overtime after work 0-0, please collect and click.