Chapter 1414 - 338: Breaching the City (Part 2)

Chapter 1414: Chapter 338: Breaching the City (Part 2)

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Lord Zheng continued to stand on the high platform,

with his hands placed behind his back.

In reality,

his palms were already sweating.

Fortunately, he had seen many such scenarios, experienced a lot, and was truly a student of renowned masters. Although he hadn’t had many opportunities to practice personally before, this tension arose more from excitement than from fear or lack of confidence.

Beside Lord Zheng stood a messenger, and on either side of the high platform were flag bearers and drummers.

With the orders from Prince Jingnan ahead,

entrusted by Li Fusheng behind,

personal prestige and battle achievements leading the way,

he miraculously stood here as the besieged city, which had been attacked futilely for many days, showed signs of loosening!

All these circumstances endowed Lord Zheng with the ability and absolute authority to command this Town North Army, which was not under his direct jurisdiction.

Moreover,

none of the generals below would pay lip service while ignoring his orders.

Lord Zheng looked down at the trebuchets below; they seemed almost ready, with only some finishing touches left, so the flag signals had not been sent up yet.

"Send the order: trebuchets to hurl Firestone Bombs into the city walls!"

"Yes!"

"Send the order: trebuchets..."

The order was swiftly transmitted down, the drumbeats resounded, and the flag bearers sent out signals.

Below, although not completely ready, those trebuchets already in position had been loaded with specially made stone bombs, and the fires had been ignited.

"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!!!!!!"

The flaming stone bombs were hurled towards West Mountain Fortress, purposefully aimed to fall within the city walls.

Under such circumstances, precision was not a priority, even though the city walls were full of Chu army, and behind the walls, there were also densely packed Chu troops.

But the accuracy of the trebuchets was only rough; aiming further away, even if it didn’t achieve specific outcomes, was far better than hitting one’s own troops at the base of the wall.

Movie scenes often depict scenarios where victory is pursued at the cost of hitting both enemies and allies. Well, this often is mere rhetoric.

Unless there are particular situations or pre-arranged suicide squads or vanguard troops who are fully prepared, otherwise if you dare to launch an indiscriminate attack, the enraged soldiers forward would turn around with knives to seek revenge.

Moreover, it would be a severe blow to the morale of one’s own side.

However, as fiery meteors streaked over the heads of the Chu army, they would likely break out in cold sweat, knowing how dire their current situation was, thus reducing their morale and adding pressure, which was favorable for the Yan Army’s battle situation.

"Send the order: assault ladders, arrow towers, advance at full speed, attach to the city walls!"

"Send the order: archers and crossbowmen, suppress the gate towers for me!"

"Send the order: bring down the battering ram, clear the way!"

"Send the order: rear army Assault Battalion cavalry enter the battlefield range and form ranks!"

"Send the order..."

As Lord Zheng’s orders were issued, troops from various divisions began to move swiftly.

Most crucial now was quickly increasing the contact area of direct combat between the Yan and Chu troops, relieving pressure on the Yan troops at the gates and creating opportunities.

As for cavalry entering the battlefield, this was Lord Zheng’s own early career tactic.

With the overall battlefield command now underway, Lord Zheng truly felt it wasn’t difficult.

Because what needed to be deployed forward was already deployed, and what he had to do was not keen observation but to fan the flames, which naturally made it simpler.

But no one knew how long this fierce battle needed to continue.

Under normal circumstances, with such a major problem occurring at the gates, the defenders’ morale would likely have already collapsed.

And generally speaking, when the attackers break open the gates, the defenders usually feel the situation is hopeless, leaving them with options to either scatter or surrender.

But today’s situation here,

everything started because of Fanli’s yangko dance.

The Yan army under Li Fusheng’s command had been besieging for days without shaking West Mountain Fortress. Instead, the Chu army grew more confident in their defense, this was not the final strike when the attackers had besieged the defenders to the point of yearning for death, rather, the battle inexplicably turned into a decisive engagement where neither side was prepared.

No warm-up, no buildup,

originally the Yan army assumed it was another routine day of siege, but because the renowned Lord Pingye had arrived, there was some expectation within, along with a curiosity to see what true skills Lord Pingye had.

The Chu side, upon hearing the bugle sounds from the Yan camp, began cooking.

Hence, under such circumstances, the persistence and endurance of Chu troops far exceeded the usual state of defenders when the walls are breached.

...

"Advance!"

"Advance!"

"Advance!"

Finally,

with a united shout, the gates were completely pushed open.

Yan soldiers began to rush in madly, but inside, the Chu troops had pre-arranged barriers and obstacles, and bowmen and spearmen were already positioned and ready.

"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!!!!!!"

The Yan soldiers charging in suffered over half casualties immediately, but the soldiers behind continued stepping on their fallen fellow soldiers, rushing forward, defying the arrows to push past obstacles.

When the Chu spear troops closed ranks and pressed forward, they kept charging without hesitation, each being pierced and killed, with more replacements from behind.