Such a massive vulnerability at the rear of the battlefield naturally did not escape the notice of many. The number of our troops was plain for all to see. With 40,000 troops already engaged out of a total of 50,000, they decisively detached 40,000 troops to flank around to the back.
The First Prince, proving even more ruthless, gathered the more than 20,000 troops temporarily assembled from the prominent noble clans within the city. He ordered them to charge out entirely through the West City Gate, preparing to provide support and wipe out our forces outside in one fell swoop.
The idea was good, but unfortunately, the strength was lacking. The moment those city troops began to move outward, our forces received word. Guarding the west side was none other than Qin Xinling. Although his martial prowess was nothing to write home about, his mind was quite agile. Realizing that the enemy forces were all charging toward his sector, he deduced that practically all the troops inside the city would emerge from this very gate. His single detachment of 10,000 men simply could not hold it. He would neither stubbornly block the gates like Dian Wei nor stand at the front like the other generals. He knew precisely how much weight he carried. Back at the academy, he was frequently pinned down and given a sound thrashing by the senior female students, giving him a wealth of experience when it came to taking beatings.
Chapter 261