The Black Flag Army maintained strict discipline. Without Han Yue's orders, they would not launch a rash attack under any circumstances. Even when showered with the most vicious insults by the Man people, they still held their ground and refused to sally forth.
The Man people remained full of high-spirited enthusiasm well into the latter half of the night. By the time their throats grew hoarse and they could no longer hurl insults, they finally fell into a deep sleep. When the soldiers on rotational night watch took over in the small hours of the morning, exhaustion caused their curses to be punctuated by numerous yawns.
Up on the city walls, the detachment of night-watch soldiers under Wang Meng also snored heavily amid the abuse, leaving only a fraction of their number to stand guard along the battlements.
Chapter 83