Back in Ye City, looking at the towering city walls before him, Shi Le squinted his eyes. It was here, years ago, that he led the charge and stormed the city. An army of tens of thousands composed of refugees alone could scatter the Jin forces. Even the once invincible Sima Teng, who treated his own people as cattle for sale, had to flee with his head in his hands. It was the first time in his life that Shi Le realized the strength of leading an army.
At the same time, it was also the first time he encountered the military forces of Bing County. A mere four thousand light cavalry routed a massive army, forcing him to abandon his benefactor Jisang and flee alone.
These glories and feelings of shame were etched in his heart.
Now, returning here, what he wanted to wash away was the shame of that day!
Turning his head, Shi Le looked at the army beside him. He was not leading a force of refugees anymore. There were ten thousand iron riders obediently following his commands, eighteen thousand elite troops composed of various nomadic and miscellaneous tribes, and nearly thirty thousand troops from Wang Mi’s surrendered faction and a band of bandits. With the addition of civilian laborers, the total force was no less than a hundred thousand!
Moreover, on this journey from Ji County into Si County, there was no enemy force blocking their way. All the cities were closed and heavily guarded, indicating the absence of a large army nearby. While the forces of Bing County were formidable, attacking their camps would require at least forty to fifty thousand well-trained soldiers. Just mobilizing the troops and preparing supplies would take more than ten days. In this time frame, he could easily deceive and break through Ye City!
“Liu Zheng, Zhi Qu, lead the troops in the first attack!” Shi Le coldly smiled, giving orders to his trusted aides.
Following orders, one led the cavalry, and the other led the civilian laborers to initiate the siege. Siege ladders and siege engines were pushed forward with shouts. Everyone could see that there was still unharvested straw stubble in the nearby fields, indicating that Ye City had a harvest even during the severe drought. The city must be well-stocked with provisions!
Having long been starved, these rebelling soldiers cared about nothing but survival. Breaking into the city and pillaging was their only hope for survival! What did arrows matter? What did battering rams matter? What did boiling water matter? Even the foul-smelling pitch dropped from above couldn’t deter them. Like an endless swarm of ants, the dark mass of people rushed towards the city!
In an instant, the battlefield roared with the sounds of slaughter, and arrows descended like rain. Shi Le furrowed his brow; the defense of Ye City was indeed formidable. The array of siege equipment alone made it challenging to deal with. A direct assault was out of the question.
However, he didn’t show any signs of hesitation. He turned to his trusted aides and said, “Keep an eye on the other gates. If there’s a signal, report immediately!”
Ye City had more than one gate, and even though the soldiers within the city were on high alert at the main gate, there could be vulnerabilities at the other gates when under intense attack. His hidden troops would take advantage of any lapse in the enemy’s vigilance, use fire as a signal, and open the gates. At that point, a swift cavalry charge could breach the city. With his superior numbers, and the city defenders being outnumbered, breaking the stronghold was only a matter of time.
Several scouting teams received their orders and quietly moved into position.
Inside the city, Wu Yu was drenched in sweat. Countless laborers below the city walls were shouting and working tirelessly. One team after another rushed to move defensive equipment, and the sight of the piled-up trebuchets and arrows was daunting.
On this day, Wu Yu had no time to rest, keeping a constant watch on the movements of the defending forces within the city. However, the more he observed, the more alarmed he became. Ye City seemed to have undergone significant changes since the past. Every potential vulnerability had been repaired, making it nearly impregnable.
Fortunately, he managed to infiltrate the city; otherwise, the Grand General’s expedition might have ended in vain. However, how could he evade the watchful eyes and opportunistically act near the other city gates? Despite the chaos, the command below the city remained organized, and there was no chance to slip away amidst the disorder. It seemed he would have to wait until dusk or night to move discreetly.
Anticipating that the news could not be delivered out of the city, Shi Le had instructed Wu Yu early on to signal with a fire on the city wall. If they could approach the city gate, disrupt the defenders, and open the gate, a swift cavalry would come to assist in breaking the city. Wu Yu wouldn’t let go of such an opportunity for merit. Thirty people might be a bit few, but there should still be a chance for success during the night.
It was just a matter of finding the right moment.
Unexpectedly, the opportunity came sooner than he had anticipated. In the evening, a staff officer arrived at the laborers’ team, selecting men to transport trebuchets to the west gate. Perhaps seeing Wu Yu’s group as sturdy, he directly assigned a team of fifty people, including all of Wu Yu’s brothers and a few thin and weak refugees. Wu Yu’s heart raced as he and his confidants pushed the cart towards the west gate.
The west gate was not far from the main gate and was the best breakthrough point. Wu Yu discreetly observed that as they neared the west gate, the number of people decreased, with only a few defensive tools placed under the city wall, and the soldiers seemed relatively sparse. If they seized the opportunity during the transport of the trebuchets, there was a great chance of success!
Wu Yu had fought his way out of piles of corpses, and such an opportunity made him eager for action. As the city gate drew closer, Wu Yu became even more cautious. He was only waiting for them to reach the city wall…
“Attack!”
A loud shout exploded in his ears. Wu Yu was startled; who would act so recklessly? They had just arrived at the city gate, and the sky had not completely darkened yet. How could someone be so hasty?
Before he could comprehend what was happening, arrows were already flying towards them. One of his companions screamed in pain, clutching his thigh and falling to the ground. Wu Yu then realized that the one shouting to attack was not one of his brothers but rather the “refugees” who had been timid all along. Several carts had enclosed them in the center, and soldiers armed with bows, crossbows, and long sticks had rushed out on the narrow side paths!
Caught in a trap! When did they discover us?!
These thoughts flashed simultaneously, but there was no time left. Wu Yu shouted, attempting to lead his group in a breakout, but the enemies around them didn’t give them a chance.
In almost an instant, everyone was hit by arrows and struck with sticks. There was no chance for resistance. All thirty-two people were brought down, with Wu Yu infuriated and cursing vehemently. Unexpectedly, a long stick swept across, knocking his mouth askew.
“What method do you plan to use to send messages?” A nondescript man in refugee attire walked up to Wu Yu, looking down on him coldly.
“Damn scum! I’d never betray the general!” Mouth full of blood, Wu Yu shouted defiantly, showing no sign of backing down. Whether alive or dead, he couldn’t betray his great general.
“Oh?” The man smiled faintly. “No matter. Take your time to think it through, then let me know.”
Watching the somewhat cold smile on the other’s face, Wu Yu’s hairs stood on end. He wanted to say something, but a bundle of torn cloth was already stuffed into his mouth. The group of people, hands bound, was dragged away like dead pigs or sandbags.
As the night grew darker, a heavy mood settled on Shi Le’s face.
The strength of Ye City had exceeded his expectations. Tens of thousands of people fought desperately to breach the city, yet not a single one managed to ascend the city walls. After a day of fighting, the casualties were substantial, exceeding three thousand soldiers, not to mention the civilian laborers. If they couldn’t seize the opportunity in the chaos to breach the city, there was no need for the soldiers from Bing County to act. After ten days of fighting, his large army would likely collapse on its own.
Shi Le, however, did not command a halt to the siege. With many troops under his command, he could afford to rotate them in continuous day and night assaults, wearing down the defenders. Simultaneously, this would divert the enemy’s attention and create opportunities for Wu Yu. As long as Wu Yu succeeded, the sacrifices made in the siege would not be in vain.
Would the city open its gates tonight?
The crescent moon was obscured by dark clouds, and the night grew thicker. The scent of blood and the acrid odor of burning bodies wafted from a distance. Standing in place, Shi Le stared fixedly at the darkening night. Would the scouts return tonight?
Suddenly, a rider galloped towards the commander’s tent, shouting, “Great General, the west gate is open!”
Good! Shi Le clenched his fists, loudly commanding, “Zhang Yue, lead three thousand light cavalry to seize the city for me!”
Zhang Yue, a close kin and confidant of Shi Le, did not hesitate. Three thousand light cavalry charged out of the camp towards the west gate. Shi Le mounted his horse, shouting, “Organize the troops, form up and advance quickly!”
With the city gate breached, the entire army rushed in. How could several thousand people withstand his vast cavalry? The outcome of this battle was already decided!
Riding on horseback, Zhang Yue was tense, eyes wide open. Ahead, the pitch-black city gate lay open, resembling a woman stripped of her clothes. On top of the city walls, a pile of flames rose over ten feet high, the blaze fierce, like a flag fluttering in the wind.
They could win! They could capture Ye City!
The thunderous sound of hooves echoed in his ears, surrounded by the swirling night. Zhang Yue felt as if he and his steed had become one, riding with the wind! Closer! Closer still! They couldn’t close the city gate in time!
The hot blood in his chest burned like fire. Yet, before Zhang Yue could shout triumphantly, strange and muffled echoes emanated from the pitch-black city gate.
What was that?! Zhang Yue’s pupils suddenly contracted. In the city gate ahead, a colossal object revealed itself. It resembled a battering ram, but instead of a single massive log at the front, there were seven or eight long wooden stakes lined up side by side. Each stake had a sharp iron tip, resembling enlarged spears. Mounted on large carts, these structures rapidly advanced with creaking wheels.
They were trying to block them! Was there a deception?!
“Release the arrows! Release the arrows!” Zhang Yue shouted.
The soldiers around him were all elite warriors under Shi Le’s command, needing no orders to draw their bows and shoot. However, in front of the peculiar battering ram, more than a dozen giant shields covered the attackers, shielding them securely. How could they shoot accurately?
Unable to hit and unable to circumvent, it was like splashing water against a dam. The frontmost cavalry couldn’t control their horses, slamming heavily into the wooden stakes. Despite the tremendous force of the horses, they couldn’t break through the sturdy defense, and the night echoed with the chilling sound of agonizing neighs.
Seeing that the city gate was surrounded tightly by four or five charging carts, Zhang Yue couldn’t be unaware that he had fallen into a trap. Retreat was imperative! He must quickly return to report to the Great General! He couldn’t be trapped here!
Zhang Yue’s equestrian skills were superb, and his command was ingenious. In an instant, he managed to regroup the disordered cavalry, creating distance. It seemed like the entire army could withdraw. However, at this moment, the large carts in front slowly spread apart, the atmosphere becoming more oppressive, and a bone-chilling sound echoed in the night…
Standing on the city tower, Ge Hong watched the enemy, now moving towards the west gate in the night, and couldn’t help but relax his brows. “The enemy fell for it. Help General Yi find the way.”
His voice wasn’t particularly loud, but behind him, more than a hundred soldiers moved in unison. Several small thunderbolt carts, previously unused, were pushed onto the city wall. Black ceramic jars, enclosed in cowhide bags, were loaded onto them.
Today, they had been using bed crossbows capable of shooting up to three hundred paces to defend the city. They were powerful enough to withstand the enemy. However, three hundred paces were still too close!
With a buzzing sound, the thunderbolt carts emitted a thunderous whistle as dozens of projectiles soared into the night sky. One hundred paces, two hundred paces, three hundred paces… the black ceramic jars didn’t stop, flying directly towards the enemy formation six hundred paces away!
With a loud rumble, oil and flames erupted in a brilliant display, igniting the enemy camp. It was like a blazing bonfire in the night.
Under the command flag, Shi Le was torn between shock and anger, pulling his mount to a stop. How could Ye City possess such a weapon? Why were they using it only now?! This was bad; they might have fallen into a trap!
“Quick, form up and prepare to defend against the enemy!”
His orders were swift, and the soldiers around him were also elite, not frightened by the fireballs falling from the sky. The formation quickly changed from an offensive to a defensive stance. However, just as they formed up, cries of surprise came from the front.
“Great General! It’s heavy cavalry!”
