The snake people have retreated into their camp, and I don't know when they will attack again. Although our casualties in this battle are roughly equal to those of the snake people, the death of General Shen Xiping has shaken the morale of our troops. There's probably no one left who dares to face the snake people in open battle. General Wu Hou must have realized this, as while we were fighting outside, he ordered the craftsmen from the supply camp to fortify our defenses.
The Dragon Scale Army has suffered greatly in this battle, with only 221 out of 500 soldiers remaining. The Vanguard Battalion also suffered casualties, with just over 1,200 soldiers remaining. Three of the twenty Centurions were killed, including two newly appointed ones, and one of them was the son of a senior official in the Ministry of Personnel. I don't know how General Wu Hou will explain this to the court. In my Fifth Battalion, two section leaders were killed, and Captain Shentu Yi, a man without an heir, lost his entire unit. Now, the Fifth Battalion only has 57 soldiers left, barely half of the original number. But this isn't the worst of it. Several of Captain Pu Anli's units lost more than half of their men. Captain Pu Anli's Third Battalion now has only 31 soldiers left.
If it weren't for the caution of Captain Lu Gongxing, we might have ended up like the Dragon Scale Army.
I look at the Vanguard Battalion, lined up in formation. Despite retaining their fighting spirit, they appear like a blade that has seen too much use, with many nicks along the edge. How many of them are destined to be buried far from home? This war has only just begun, and I can't help but wonder how many more will have to lay their bones in foreign soil.
I was in the middle of checking on the soldiers from the Fifth Battalion who had retreated into the city when someone suddenly shouted, "General Shen!"
I was startled, thinking it might be the ghost of General Shen Xiping. I turned around to see a group of soldiers from one of the battalions pointing toward the snake people's camp in the distance.
Looking in that direction, it was now late in the afternoon. Dust still hung in the air around the snake people's camp, obscuring our view. However, in front of the camp, a flagpole had been raised, and beneath it hung a severed head. We couldn't make out the features from this distance, but everyone knew whose head it was – General Shen Xiping's.
Perhaps he might not have died if he hadn't tried to save me. The thought weighed heavily on my heart, and then I felt a sharp pain in my side. I clenched my teeth and tried to bear it, but the pain was intense and kept coming in waves, causing me to break out in a cold sweat.
Seeing my discomfort, Qu Lie asked, "General, what's wrong?"
I reached down to touch my side and replied, "It's nothing serious."
As soon as I said this, the pain became unbearable, and I swayed as if I were about to fall. Qu Lie caught me and exclaimed in panic, "General! General!"
The section leaders from the Fifth Battalion ignored military orders and crowded around me. At that moment, Lu Gongxing, who had been taking attendance in the rear battalions, walked over and asked, "What's happening here?"
Qu Lie replied with a hint of panic, "Commander Lu, General Chu suddenly collapsed."
I struggled to get up, but the pain in my side was excruciating, making it impossible for me to stand. I was curled up like a prawn, almost collapsing to the ground. Lu Gongxing approached, lifted my armor, and examined my side. He exclaimed, "You're injured! Don't move. Take General Chu back to the supply camp and call for a physician."
I tried to utter a few words of reassurance, but the pain in my side silenced me. Qu Lie and Tan Qing removed my armor and assisted me as we made our way to the supply camp. I felt somewhat embarrassed, but I had no choice but to rely on them.
The medical tent was set up within the supply camp. These days, it was packed with wounded soldiers, and these were just the severely injured ones. Those with minor wounds were quickly patched up and sent back to the front lines. As I entered the medical tent, the two dozen or so physicians were busily tending to the wounded.
Qu Lie helped me lie down on a cot and urged the physicians, "Hurry, physicians! General Chu needs treatment."
One of the physicians, working on a young officer with a shoulder wound, didn't even look up and replied, "Wait a moment."
Qu Lie, clearly frustrated, exclaimed, "You need to be quick. Our general..."
I gritted my teeth to endure the pain and interjected, "Xiao Lie, don't disturb them."
Qu Lie persisted, "General, you're in so much pain; we can't afford to delay."
The officer with the shoulder wound, despite his injury, remained calm and composed. He finally commented coldly, "It's not a serious injury; there's no need for all the fuss."
Qu Lie snapped back, "Shut up! You think you're a hero just because you only have a minor sword wound? Do you even know who our general is?"
I felt a little irritated and said, "Xiao Lie, don't say such things. Let them get on with their work; I can endure."
Although I said I could endure, the pain in my side continued to intensify, causing cold sweat to pour down. Eventually, after the officer with the shoulder wound was treated, the physician in charge approached and asked, "Where are you injured?"
I was struggling to speak, but I managed to point to my side. The physician removed my outer garment, revealing clothing soaked in blood. Even I was taken aback; I hadn't realized that I had been injured during the battle, and the extent of the injury was more severe than I had thought.
The physician cut open my clothing and examined the wound, saying, "It's a blunt force injury. It's only a superficial wound, not serious, but it's quite painful. You've got quite the tolerance."
Qu Lie, feeling a sense of pride, chimed in, "Our general is none other than Chu Xiuhong, the first to charge into the city!"
The serpent people had retreated to their camp, and I had no idea when they might attack again. Although the casualties on our side were roughly equal to those of the serpent people in this battle, the death of Shen Xiping had shaken the morale of our troops. I feared that no one would dare to face the serpent people in battle anytime soon. It seemed that General Wu Hou had the same concerns, as he had ordered the craftsmen in the supply camp to reinforce our defenses while we were engaged in combat.
The Dragon Scale Army had suffered significant losses this time, with only 221 soldiers remaining out of the initial 500. The Vanguard Battalion had also suffered casualties, with just over 1,200 soldiers left, and three of the twenty company commanders had been killed, including two newly promoted officers. One of them was even the son of the Minister of Personnel in the imperial court, and I wondered how General Wu Hou would explain this to him. In my Fifth Battalion, two company commanders had been killed, and my adjutant Shen Tu Yi had perished with his entire company. Now, the Fifth Battalion had only 57 soldiers left, barely half its initial strength. The situation was even worse for Pu Anli's forward companies, with each suffering over 50% casualties, and Pu Anli's Third Battalion had only 31 soldiers left.
If it weren't for the caution exercised by Lu Gongxing, we might have faced a fate similar to the Dragon Scale Army.
I looked at the Vanguard Battalion, standing in formation. Despite their determination, they resembled a blade dulled from overuse, with numerous nicks and imperfections. How many had been laid to rest in foreign lands, never to return home? This war had only just begun, and I couldn't help but wonder how many more would meet their end in distant places.
As I watched the soldiers of the Fifth Battalion, someone suddenly cried out, "General Shen!"
I was startled, thinking it might be the ghost of Shen Xiping. I turned around to see several soldiers from one of the battalions pointing towards the serpent people's camp in the distance.
I squinted my eyes as I gazed into the distance. It was now afternoon, and dust still shrouded the serpent people's camp, obscuring our view. However, in front of their camp, they had erected a flagpole, from which their banner, featuring a serpent with two human heads, fluttered in the wind. Hanging beneath it was a severed head. From this distance, it was impossible to discern the face, but I could easily guess whose head it was – likely that of Shen Xiping.
Perhaps Shen Xiping would have survived if he hadn't been trying to save me. The thought brought a pang of guilt to my heart. Almost immediately, a sharp pain struck my side, feeling as if I had been struck by a knife. I clenched my teeth, trying to stand firm, but the pain continued to assault me, causing cold sweat to bead on my forehead.
Seeing my condition, Qi Lie asked, "General, what's happening?"
I placed a hand on my side and replied, "It's nothing serious."
But the words had barely left my mouth when the pain became unbearable. I began to sway and would have fallen had it not been for Qi Lie's support. He exclaimed in alarm, "General! General!"
Several company commanders from the Fifth Battalion, ignoring military orders, gathered around me. At that moment, Lu Gongxing, who had been taking roll in the rear battalions, walked over and asked, "What's going on here?"
Qi Lie, sounding somewhat panicked, said, "Commander Lu, General Chu suddenly collapsed."
I struggled to stand, but the pain in my side made it impossible. I was doubled over, almost bending to the ground. Lu Gongxing approached, lifted my armor, and examined my side. He exclaimed, "You're injured! Don't move. Take General Chu back to the supply camp and get a physician."
I tried to say a few words to maintain appearances, but the pain in my side made it impossible. Qi Lie and Tan Qing removed my armor and supported me as we made our way to the supply camp. I felt somewhat embarrassed, but there was no other option.
The medical tent was located within the supply camp. In recent days, it had been filled with wounded soldiers. These were only the severely injured; those with minor wounds were patched up and sent back to the front lines. As I entered the medical tent, the two dozen or so physicians were busy tending to the wounded.
Qi Lie helped me lie down on a cot and urged the physicians, "Hurry, physicians! General Chu needs treatment."
One of the physicians, currently tending to a young officer with a shoulder wound, didn't even look up and replied, "Wait a moment."
Qi Lie, clearly frustrated, exclaimed, "You need to be quick. Our general..."
I gritted my teeth to endure the pain and interjected, "Xiao Lie, don't disturb them."
Qi Lie insisted, "General, you're in so much pain; we can't afford to delay."
The officer with the shoulder wound, despite his injury, remained calm and composed. He finally commented coldly, "It's not a serious injury; there's no need for all the fuss."
Qi Lie snapped back, "Shut up! Just because you have a minor sword wound, don't act like a hero. Do you even know who our general is?"
I felt somewhat irritated and said, "Xiao Lie, don't say such things. Let them get on with their work; I can endure."
Although I
I forced a bitter smile. Rest? If the serpent people didn't attack, then I could rest for a few days. I touched my side, where the bandages felt like they had bound me in iron. It wasn't very comfortable, but the wound was only throbbing faintly, not too severe. I shifted slightly and said, "Physician, your skills are truly remarkable. I'm hardly in pain anymore."
The physician responded, "Don't take your life lightly. I applied Forget-Worry powder, so you don't feel much pain now. Once the medicine's effects wear off tomorrow, you'll feel the pain."
I asked, "So, I won't feel much pain today, then?"
At this moment, both Tan Qing and Qi Lie exclaimed, "General, what are you thinking of?"
I replied, "We'll see when the time comes." I looked at their puzzled expressions and added, "What's wrong? Do you think I would go steal General Shen's head tonight?"
They didn't say anything, but I could tell that they had considered that possibility. I chuckled and said, "I don't hold my own life so cheap."
They both breathed a sigh of relief.
What they didn't know was that I had indeed considered that plan just a moment ago. However, I also understood that in my current condition, I wouldn't stand a chance in the serpent people's camp. Shen General, I will make sure you come back.
I silently made that resolve.
At that moment, we heard a cavalryman riding outside, shouting, "General Wu Hou has issued an order: all weapons should be sealed. The remaining civilians within the city are to assemble in the National Square within three days. The Marquis guarantees your safety. If anyone is found hiding beyond the deadline, they will be executed."
He repeated the message as he rode through the streets.
Hearing this, I let out a long breath. The city's massacre had ended prematurely. Perhaps Marquis Wu Hou didn't want to make new enemies at this point. Though it was likely just a temporary measure, it still brought me some relief.
I wondered how many people were left within the city. Excluding the kidnapped craftsmen and women, there were probably less than 100,000 residents left. Regardless, those 100,000 people had a chance to escape the slaughter and live on.
Back on the city walls, the entire army was intensifying the repair of fortifications. The serpent people hadn't launched an attack yet, but we all knew it was like the calm before a storm – they could strike at any moment. Marquis Wu Hou ordered the various units stationed at the four gates to fortify the city defenses. After today's battle, even Marquis Wu Hou seemed to have lost confidence.
The various military units were intensifying their efforts to repair the defenses, and the Vanguard Camp was no exception. Two thousand soldiers were reassigned to the North and West Gates. Since there was no enemy activity at the East Gate, and Lü Jingyu was absent, it was now under the command of the Deputy Chief of the Left Army, Bu Wu. Bu Wu was a cautious individual, not skilled in direct combat, but an excellent tactician and organizer of troops. Marquis Wu Hou had temporarily transferred ten thousand soldiers from the Left Army to reinforce the South Gate. Presently, the Central Army had more than fifty thousand troops, which was nearly half of the entire army, stationed at the South Gate. During the siege of the city, the main attack had been at the South Gate, resulting in severe damage to its defenses. Currently, the artisans from the Quartermaster Camp were working diligently to repair the main gate.
Qi Lie had brought me a large chair and adamantly refused to let me join in the city's repairs. I sat on the city wall, watching them working diligently. The physician's skills were indeed exceptional. At this point, I felt no pain; there was only some numbness at the wound. Marquis Wu Hou's temporary command tent was set up at the Tenth Camp's location. He was now sitting on a tall-backed chair, overseeing the formation, with his two personal guards standing behind him.
Suddenly, there was a commotion among the soldiers who were repairing the city walls outside. Marquis Wu Hou quickly stood up and shouted, "What's happening?"
Someone nearby yelled, "It's not good, they are attacking!"
The whole area became chaotic. I looked towards the distance and saw dust rising from the serpent people's main camp, indicating that many enemy soldiers were marching towards us.
Marquis Wu Hou called out loudly, "Give the orders to prepare for battle!"
He sat back down in his chair, unmoved. At this moment, Lei Gu had mounted his horse and was riding towards the city walls, calling out, "Soldiers and officers, don't panic! The enemy is attacking the city; prepare to fight."
The serpent people's attack had been anticipated by Marquis Wu Hou, so he remained composed. I glanced at the city gate; wooden planks had been nailed to both sides, effectively doubling its thickness. This measure only provided some peace of mind. If the serpent people reached the city gate, even an iron door would be of no use.
Soon after, the soldiers outside the city walls had just retreated when the first wave of serpent people's troops approached the moat. These creatures had originally been sitting in their vehicles but disembarked when they got within several dozen paces of the moat. They moved on the ground like snakes, though their speed was not particularly fast.
At this point, Qi Lie said, "General, you should descend from the city first. We can handle things here."
I stood up and replied, "I won't retreat when a major battle is imminent."
Qi Lie added, "But your injury..."
I moved my arm and said, "It's no problem."
There were only seven company commanders left in the Fifth Camp, but there were only fifty or so soldiers in total, and the traditional company structure no longer applied. I took a long spear from a nearby weapon rack. This spear had a smaller blade than the one I was accustomed to, but it still felt comfortable in my hands.
Chapter Five: Fierce Winds and Raging Fire
The snake people have retreated to their camp, and I don't know when they will attack again. Though the casualties in this battle were roughly equal between our forces and the snake people's army, the death of General Shen Xiping has left everyone disheartened. I fear that there might be no one left with the courage to engage in open battle with the snake people for some time. It seems that even Lord Wuhou has realized this, as while we were fighting outside, he ordered the craftsmen in the supply camp to strengthen the fortifications.
The Dragon Scale Army has suffered significant casualties this time, with only 221 survivors out of 500 soldiers. The Vanguard Battalion also sustained losses, now with just over 1,200 men remaining, and three of the twenty Centurions have perished. Two of them were newly promoted, and one of them was the son of a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Personnel. I wonder how Lord Wuhou will explain this when he returns to the capital. In my Fifth Battalion, two Sergeants were killed, and Shentu Yi, one of those Sergeants, had no survivors in his squad; his entire unit was wiped out. Currently, the Fifth Battalion has only 57 men left, almost just half of its original strength. But it's not the worst. Pu Anli's battalions, which led the initial charge, have lost more than half their soldiers, and Pu Anli's Third Battalion now has only 31 men remaining.
If it weren't for the cautiousness of Lu Gongxing, we might have ended up like the Dragon Scale Army.
I was inspecting the soldiers of the Vanguard Battalion retreating into the city when someone suddenly shouted, "General Shen!"
I jumped, thinking it was the ghost of General Shen Xiping. I turned around and saw several soldiers from one of the battalions pointing at the snake people's camp in the distance.
I gazed into the distance; it was afternoon, and the snake people's camp was shrouded in dust. It was difficult to see what was happening inside. However, in front of their formation, a flagpole had been erected, and a large banner with the image of a two-headed serpent was fluttering above it. Below the banner, there hung a head. It was too far to make out the face, but everyone could guess that it was the head of General Shen Xiping.
I thought that if General Shen Xiping had not tried to save me, he might not have died. The thought pained me, and in the next moment, I felt a sharp pain in my side. I clenched my teeth and tried to stand tall, but the pain was searing through me, causing me to break into a cold sweat.
Lieutenant Qieliang saw my condition and asked, "General, what's wrong?"
I touched my side and replied, "It's nothing serious."
As soon as I spoke those words, the pain grew unbearable. I tried to keep standing, but the excruciating pain overwhelmed me in waves, making me break into a cold sweat.
A few Centurions from the Fifth Battalion rushed over, disregarding orders. At that moment, the Adjutant responsible for taking attendance in the rear battalions, Lu Gongxing, walked over and asked, "What's happening here?"
Lieutenant Qieliang looked alarmed as he said, "Adjutant Lu, General Chu suddenly collapsed."
I struggled to stand upright but the pain in my side made it impossible. Lieutenant Qieliang caught me and called out in alarm, "General! General!"
Several Sergeants from the Fifth Battalion surrounded me. During this commotion, Lu Gongxing assessed the situation and asked, "What happened?"
Lieutenant Qieliang, who looked worried, said, "Adjutant Lu, General Chu suddenly fell."
I tried to stand but the pain in my side made it impossible. I tried to say a few words, but the pain was too intense. Lieutenant Qieliang, who noticed my condition, asked, "General, what's wrong?"
I touched my side and replied, "It's nothing serious."
However, the pain in my waist was becoming unbearable. I could barely stay upright, and the pain was like waves crashing over me, making me break into a cold sweat.
At this point, the physician who was attending to the wounded soldiers in the camp came over and inquired, "What's going on?"
Lieutenant Qieliang was a bit flustered and said, "Doctor, General Chu has suddenly collapsed."
I attempted to stand again, but the pain in my side made it impossible. Lieutenant Qieliang and Tan Qing removed my armor and began to support me as we headed towards the medical camp. I felt a bit embarrassed but had no other option.
The medical camp was situated within the supply camp. During these days, it had been filled with wounded soldiers, though only those with serious injuries remained. Soldiers with minor injuries were patched up and sent back to their units. As we entered the medical camp, the more than twenty doctors were working tirelessly.
Lieutenant Qieliang helped me lie down on a cot and shouted, "Hurry, doctors! General Chu needs immediate attention."
One of the doctors was busy bandaging a young officer's shoulder wound. Without raising his head, he said, "Please wait for a moment."
Lieutenant Qieliang was growing impatient and said, "Hurry up, General Chu..."
I interjected, "Qieliang, don't disturb him."
Lieutenant Qieliang retorted, "General, you're in so much pain; we can't afford any delays."
The officer who was having his shoulder treated had set aside his armor. He seemed to have taken a serious hit, but he remained composed. At this moment, he calmly stated, "It's not a significant wound. Is there a need to make such a fuss?"
Lieutenant Qieliang became furious and said, "Shut up! You're acting all heroic for a minor wound. Do you even know who our general is?"
I felt a little annoyed and said, "Qieliang, don't say such things. Let the doctor work; I can endure it."
Although I said I could endure the pain, the doctor's skills were indeed remarkable. My wound felt numb, and I no longer felt any pain. I looked at my side and saw that the wound was securely bandaged. It was uncomfortable, as if I were wearing a tight iron belt. However, the wound was only slightly throbbing and not extremely painful. I moved and said, "Doctor, your skills are truly outstanding. I hardly feel any pain."
The doctor responded, "Don't take your life lightly. I've applied a pain-reduction powder, so you won't feel much pain. When the medicine wears off tomorrow, you'll feel the pain."
I asked, "So, I won't be in pain today, right?"
At that moment, Tan Qing and Lieutenant Qieliang simultaneously asked, "General, what do you want to do?"
I replied, "We'll see when the time comes." I noticed the surprised expressions on their faces and said, "What's wrong? Do you think I'll sneak into the enemy camp tonight to retrieve General Shen's head?"
They didn't say anything, but I knew that's what they were thinking. I smiled and said, "I don't
But the snake people didn't attack again; instead, their large flag waved, and the group of snake people slowly retreated.
Although the snake people's army lacked any organization, the sight of this wriggling mass of creatures would send shivers down anyone's spine. We were all somewhat perplexed, and I initially thought the snake people were just some savages who attacked recklessly without strategy. However, they appeared to understand the concept of advance and retreat, seemingly versed in the art of warfare. Nevertheless, this recent assault was probably a probing one; there weren't too many attacking snake people, roughly about five thousand.
I wondered who was training this snake people army. Were they among the snake people themselves?
As I contemplated this, the city walls erupted with cheering.
After all, we had won this skirmish.
At night, none of us dared to sleep. The vanguard stayed on guard until the moon reached its zenith, and then a unit from the central army relieved them. The others retreated to rest in the city.
My belongings were moved by Qilie from the small cottage to the camp. I couldn't risk staying alone outside anymore. The woman captured by Qilie was being held in the supply camp, and he took her some food.
As I removed my heavy armor, there was a sudden loud bang from the center of the camp.
Had the snake people already infiltrated the city?
I was startled, and my wound throbbed as I jumped off the bed. I rushed out of the tent, only to find many people from the vanguard camp already outside, discussing, "What's going on?"
At that moment, I heard Deyang shouting, "Generals, it's nothing serious. Someone from our supply camp was cooking and accidentally caused an explosion."
The soldiers from the vanguard camp grumbled and returned to sleep. I walked towards Deyang, who was scolding someone, saying, "Zhang, you do nothing useful and keep causing trouble? It's about time; you are adding chaos. Dammit, I can't protect you this time. You people, deal with him!"
I approached and asked, "Deyang, what happened?"
Deyang turned around, noticed it was me, and said, "Chu, you were awakened by the noise, too? It's nothing serious."
I saw two soldiers holding down a man, covered in black soot, with ripped clothes. His face was dirty, but there was still fear in his eyes. I inquired, "Who is he?"
Deyang replied, "He is a soldier from the supply camp, Zhang Longyou, but he's also known as 'The Fool.' He usually tinkers with strange contraptions, and despite his mischievous nature, I didn't dismiss him earlier. Today, he caused this commotion, and I can't protect him any longer. You guys, take care of him!"
I asked, "What did he do to create this noise?"
Deyang said, "Who knows? He's been burning things all day, and it resulted in such a loud noise just now. It disrupted the troops, and according to the military law, he should be executed."
Deyang wasn't a frontline soldier, but as a logistics officer, he had the authority over matters in the supply camp. I approached Zhang Longyou, who was quite young and short, not someone who looked like a future general. It was a mystery why he had joined the army. However, his eyes were sharp, suggesting he wasn't as foolish as his nickname implied.
I said, "Lord Deyang, this is the time to make the best use of people. Let him join the vanguard camp instead of executing him."
Deyang responded, "General Chu, if that's your wish, it's fine. Zhang, thank General Chu."
Zhang Longyou, after being released, showed no sign of submission and calmly bowed to me, saying, "General Chu, thank you."
Deyang scolded, "Fool, you're acting all high and mighty even after being spared. You really must have a death wish."
I said, "Lord Deyang, there's no need to argue with him. Zhang Longyou, get your things in order, and come to my camp tomorrow."
With that, I yawned and returned to sleep.
I woke up with the sun shining brightly. I was surprised as this was the first time after numerous battles that I had experienced such a peaceful night. Stepping out of my tent, I found Qilie practicing martial arts outside. He greeted me, "General, awake already? Is your wound feeling better?"
I gently pressed the bandage; it was still a bit painful, but not excruciating. It seemed the physician's prognosis wasn't entirely accurate. I replied, "Xiaolie, did anything happen last night?"
Qilie said, "There wasn't a call to assemble, so I assume nothing major occurred."
Considering that the snake people hadn't harassed us during the night, it was indeed strange. I stretched my body and said, "Xiaolie, bring my padded armor."
Wearing the armor felt somewhat exhausting, but if we had to engage in battle again, it would be for city defense, so the padded armor would suffice. Qilie retrieved the armor and helped me put it on. I instructed, "Gather the troops; it's time for a shift change."
As we reached the city walls, a young man, wearing only a battle robe, suddenly ran up to me and said, "General Chu, I'm here."
I took a moment to recognize him as I didn't know him personally. I asked, "Who are you?"
He replied, "I'm Zhang Longyou. You told me to follow you last night."
I inquired, "What are you doing here? Go back for now, and we'll talk when I return tonight."
Zhang Longyou insisted, "General Chu, I can use weapons as well. Let me go up there."
Just then, a cry of alarm came from above, and someone shouted, "The monsters are attacking again!"
Attacking again? I was taken aback. It was broad daylight now, and the snake people were assaulting the city during the day instead of under the cover of darkness. Were they coming to meet their doom? Even though we had the advantage of the terrain, repelling the snake people was no easy task.
Without time for further thoughts, the sounds from outside the city grew louder. I hurried to the city walls and told Zhang Longyou, "Fear not, join us. Helping to move some stones would be of use." Running a few steps ahead, I added, "Xiaolie, fetch him an extra suit of armor if available."
Upon reaching the city walls, I saw the mass of snake people had already reached the moat. This time, they were a black, seething swarm, and roughly half of their forces seemed to be approaching the city.
Were they going to repeat the same tactics as yesterday?
Just as I was contemplating this, I noticed a commotion within the snake people's ranks. Suddenly, the front-line snake people parted, and many wooden round shields were advanced from the back.
These were shields!
Though crudely made, they were undoubtedly shields.
The snake people held these round shields over their heads and began to ford the river.
As the snake people crossed the river, arrows were unleashed from the city walls. However, this time, all the arrows landed on the shields, and not a single one struck a snake person.
Had the snake people come up with a countermeasure so quickly?
I waved my spear and said, "Switch to long spears, and keep your battle axes at the ready. Everyone, be cautious."
At this point, I noticed Zhang Longyou seemed a bit nervous and asked, "General Chu, where should I be?"
The first few hundred snake people had already crossed the moat. I turned to look at him; he was clad in ill-fitting padded armor and held a long spear. He didn't look much like a soldier. I sighed and said, "Stay at the back and help me move stones."
In this close combat situation, the most frequently used weapon on the city walls was stones. Each battalion had to send soldiers to move these heavy stones. Assigning Zhang Longyou to this task was a way for him to contribute.
The snake people had reached the city, thrown their wooden shields across the moat, and begun scaling the walls. As they climbed up, bricks and stones rained down from the city wall. These snake people displayed remarkable resilience and refused to retreat. Although the stones were raining down, they kept climbing. However, due to the heavy barrage, one of them who had climbed halfway was finally knocked down. But these snake people, one after another, remained undeterred. Even if they fell from the wall, they simply rolled over and climbed up again.
At this point, one of the snake people had scaled the segment of the city wall guarded by the fifth battalion. They seemed completely undeterred by the stones being thrown at them. It was approaching the city wall, so I raised my long spear, aimed it at the snake person, and shouted, "Get down, you monsters!"
With one thrust of my long spear, the snake person, who had been struggling to climb up the city wall, couldn't dodge the attack. It had nowhere to go. It just stared at me with its bright yellow eyes.
It looked just like a human.
I couldn't help but shudder, but I didn't loosen my grip. I thrust the spear down, and as the spearhead was about to reach the snake person, it suddenly reached out a hand and grabbed the spear, trying to pull it away from me.
The strength was astonishingly powerful. It was pulling me so hard I almost lost my balance and almost lost my grip on the spear. At that moment, two other spears thrust at the snake person from the side.
All three spears attacked the snake person, who was unable to withstand the combined force. With a large knife held in its right hand, the snake person swung it at me. I let go of the spear as it was still clutching it. The snake person began to fall from the wall, and as it fell, it made a crashing sound as it hit the ground, taking several other snake people with it.
However, when these snake people hit the ground, they seemed unharmed and quickly made their way back to the city wall.
The sounds of swords and spears clashing could be heard all over the city walls. Luckily, the snake people were not skilled at assaulting the city. They only had two front limbs and no feet. Although the city walls were pocked with craters, for the snake people, climbing to the top was still a difficult endeavor.
I grabbed another long spear and forcefully repelled the snake people climbing towards the city walls. However, the situation was becoming increasingly alarming. The snake people had noticeably intensified their assault. I managed to fend off a few, but then five or six snake people began to climb simultaneously. They had learned from experience; the first one held a wooden shield, while the others formed a line behind it. The leader carried no weapon, only using the wooden shield as an umbrella to protect its head. Despite the barrage of arrows and stones from the city wall, they steadily advanced. If a single snake person reached the top of the wall, it would require dozens of soldiers to engage them. This would inevitably create a breach in the city's defenses, and the consequences were unimaginable. I laid the spear aside and started throwing the bricks and stones prepared earlier down at them. The snake person leading the group persisted despite the relentless barrage, using its wooden shield as a makeshift drum. It inched its way up. Other snake people followed suit, and many of them began attacking the city wall in this manner. On the other side, a snake person had already reached the top of the wall, engaging in a fierce battle with soldiers from the ninth battalion. Reinforcements from the central army were rapidly ascending to the city walls.
As the stones fell, the snake people's assault became increasingly urgent. A pile of rocks had accumulated at the base of the city wall, making it easier for the snake people to climb. I felt a growing sense of unease. Currently, the pile of rocks was only knee-high, but if it continued to accumulate, the snake people would soon be able to reach the top of the wall. Yet, if we didn't throw rocks, we might not hold out for much longer.
My heart was pounding furiously, as if it were about to burst from my chest. Even though I was a seasoned warrior, at this moment, I couldn't help but feel a sense of panic.
Just then, another group of soldiers from the central army rushed up from below to assist in the defense. The section of the city wall guarded by the vanguard battalion was the most critical, with the fiercest snake people attacks, and General Wu Hou must have noticed it. In the midst of the chaos, I glanced up and saw General Wu Hou standing at the balcony of Qiao Tower on the city wall. He leaned on a long spear, gripping the railing with his other hand, watching the battle unfold, while messengers scurried around him like ants.
General Wu Hou was directing the battle. I was reassured by this, but then I reached out to grab a nearby rock and found nothing there. Originally, Zhang Longyou had been helping me move the stones, but he seemed to have disappeared. With just a moment's lapse, the snake people had climbed several feet closer to the top of the wall. Other soldiers who had been transporting rocks saw the dire situation and joined in to hurl the stones down. However, there were only a few rocks left on the city wall, and if the snake people continued to advance like this, we would be hard-pressed to hold them back. Feeling anxious, I shouted, "Zhang Longyou! 'The Dullard'! Where are you?"
At that moment, I heard Zhang Longyou say, "General, I'm here."
A quick glance revealed Zhang Longyou carrying two buckets of water. Even from a distance, I could smell the strong aroma of alcohol emanating from the filled containers. It seemed he had brought two barrels of wine.
I couldn't contain my anger. It was clear that De Yang hadn't been mistaken when he called him "The Dullard." What was he doing with alcohol? It wasn't clear which side would be celebrating after the battle. I was about to scold him harshly, but then I heard a startled cry from Qi Lie, "General!"
His voice was filled with terror, and I felt a sharp gust of wind rush toward my head. Without looking back, I instinctively moved sideways, taking a few steps to avoid the danger. I heard a "thud," and it was the snake person carrying a shield that had climbed to the top of the city wall.
Though snake people were not adept climbers, they did have one advantage. Their bodies were much longer than humans, and they could coil themselves. We might perceive them as still being a good distance from the city wall, but if we let our guard down for a moment, a snake person could stretch its body and reach the city wall in no time. When I had briefly lost focus, the snake person had immediately reached the top of the city wall.
The lower half of the snake person's body was still outside the city, but this time, it used both hands to shatter the wooden shield. At that moment, two more snake people extended from behind it, giving the appearance of a three-headed monster climbing up from outside the city. I felt a chill in my heart and glanced around. The only weapon at hand was the battle-axe, so I picked it up and shouted, "Attack!"
I lunged forward, but to my surprise, I felt a sharp pain in my waist. The injury that had remained dormant for so long was now throbbing painfully.
This pain was like a rope that had suddenly ensnared my feet, causing me to stagger. The second snake person, holding a long spear, had coiled its entire body around the battlement.
The soldiers of the Fifth Battalion closed in.
The vanguard battalion primarily used long spears, and more than ten soldiers now surrounded the snake person in a semicircle, shouting furiously. Ten spears struck at once with a resounding "clang," piercing through the snake person's chestplate.
Despite its chestplate, the snake person couldn't withstand the onslaught. I could clearly see that two or three of the spears had penetrated through, but not very deeply. The snake person shifted slightly, and its long spear thrust forth like lightning. The soldier on the left attempted to raise his long spear for defense but was too slow. He was stabbed straight through and let out a horrifying scream as he was lifted off the ground by the snake person. With a toss, the snake person discarded the body, and it fell from the city like a small bug strung on a blade of grass.
The man was the battalion commander, Wang Dong.
The other soldiers involuntarily took a step back. In the vanguard battalion, there was no room for weakness. In previous battles, if someone had fallen in combat, it was due to being outnumbered, but now, we were the ones outnumbering the enemy, and yet Wang Dong had been killed so easily. Just how powerful were the snake people?
Since joining the vanguard battalion, we knew that our lives could end at any moment. But Wang Dong had been killed by the snake person without a second thought, which was truly terrifying.
I realized the situation was dire. At that moment, several other battalions had observed our critical situation and come to support us. I was about to rush forward, but Zhang Longyou had already charged up. He had placed one of the buckets of wine on the ground and was holding the other. With a sudden "whoosh," he drenched all three snake people from head to toe.
The air was now filled with the aroma of alcohol.
Had he gone mad?
I was baffled, but I watched as Zhang Longyou reached into his pocket and pulled out a flint, striking it hard. Just then, the snake person in front wiped its face and used its long spear, which resembled a cudgel, to strike at Zhang Longyou.
Zhang Longyou appeared stunned, his hands mechanically striking the flint, but he didn't move. Seeing the perilous situation, I rushed forward, wielding my battle-axe, both hands raised. With a resounding "thud," I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my lower abdomen. The pain radiated deeply, causing a numbness, and I involuntarily fell to my knees on the ground.
But I managed to catch that spear.
At that moment, Zhang Longyou struck the flint, creating a spark. He tossed the spark at the snake person.
I couldn't help but laugh inwardly. Did he intend to burn the snake person with that small spark? Such a tiny flame could easily be extinguished with two fingers.
Nevertheless, the snake person took a step back when it saw the fire, showing a hint of fear on its face. As the fire landed on the ground, we heard a hissing sound, and the snake person's body suddenly ignited, burning with blue flames, like a candle.
I was greatly surprised, not knowing what trick Zhang Longyou had performed. Then someone beside me said, "General Chu, step back quickly!"
I looked down and saw a living, writhing entity of flames creeping along the ground. I jumped away from it, feeling more perplexed.
The three snake people had ignited together. Initially, the fire was not very large, but the snake people behaved as if they were bewitched and didn't move. Suddenly, they emitted an eerie shriek, tumbled down, and collided with the heap of snake people beneath. Those who were knocked down didn't catch fire but still screamed in panic as they crawled away.
I was left bewildered, but Zhang Longyou rushed over and poured the other bucket of wine onto the heap below the city. The moment the wine touched the fire, it flared up twice as high. This time, even the snake people close to the flames caught fire. They let out piercing cries, struggling to retreat. One of them was the fastest and had already jumped into the moat, extinguishing the flames on its body.
I grabbed the long spear leaning against the city wall and shouted, "Where do you think you're going?"
My javelin skills were not as good as Shen Xiping's, but from this vantage point, my throw had extraordinary force. The spear impaled the lower half of a snake person, pinning it to the ground. The snake person let out a wail, its entire body straightening, winding around the spear, and burning intensely like a candle.
The wail was deafening, attracting the attention of both sides. In the blaze, the snake person's mouth gaped wide open, swaying unsteadily. Flames were everywhere, resembling a legendary fire dragon.
Just then, a series of rapid "thuds" echoed as the snake people clinging to the city wall abruptly let go and retreated, flying as though escaping. Several snake people who had already reached the wall also seemed to want to flee, but the soldiers nearby didn't allow it. The snake people on the city wall were thrown into chaos, and they were quickly dealt with.
In the blink of an eye, the tables had turned.
I wiped my face, still somewhat in disbelief. Looking around, I saw that everyone else appeared equally astonished. If it weren't for the fleeing snake people and the burning one entwined with the spear, I would have thought that what happened just now was a mere nightmare.
After a while, the city walls erupted with deafening cheers. Looking into the distance, I could see the snake people fleeing in disarray, leaving behind a cloud of dust.
In theory, we should have sallied forth to pursue them and expand our victory, but General Wuhou didn't issue the order. I observed Lu Gongxing, who was gazing at the retreating snake people with a faint sense of concern on his face.
At this moment, I heard Pu Anli rushing over, loudly asking, "General Lu, why aren't we pursuing them?"
Lu Gongxing turned around and said, "Do you have absolute confidence in our success?"
Pu Anli replied, "Those monsters are afraid of fire; we can use fire tactics!"
Suddenly, it clicked in my mind.
The snake people fear fire!
That's why they don't launch their attacks at night. During the night, we light torches all around. It seems that even though the snake people closely resemble humans, they have not shed their animal instincts and are still afraid of fire. Just now, we only managed to burn one snake person, and the actual achievements were minimal. We suffered more casualties than the snake people, but they vanished as if by magic.
I said, "General Lu, General Pu is right. Let every warrior in the Vanguard Battalion carry a torch and pursue them immediately."
The snake people had lost their chariots, and they couldn't move quickly on the ground, but they had already retreated a considerable distance. If we didn't chase now, we'd lose this opportunity. Lu Gongxing's brows furrowed deeply, and he seemed unable to make this decision.
The defeat of Shen Xiping had truly shattered the confidence of everyone.
At that moment, someone behind me said, "That's right! Light your torches, and let's chase!"
I turned around and saw it was General Wuhou! Standing behind him were his two loyal guards, Big Eagle and Little Eagle. We all knelt on the ground and chorused, "Sir Marquis!"
Wuhou said, "Go quickly!"
Lu Gongxing appeared to have undergone a transformation and shouted, "Warriors of the Vanguard Battalion, each of you carries a torch and chase them!"
We already had many torches on the city walls. I led the soldiers from the Fifth Battalion down the city walls and onto our horses. Several other groups were also charging forth beneath the city. The thunderous voice of Marquis Wuhou made us feel as if our blood was ignited.
I mounted my horse and noticed that Zhang Longyou seemed a bit flustered. He probably didn't have a horse. I said, "Zhang Longyou, stay here on the side."
With that, I rode out of the city.
The first group to charge out of the city was the Vanguard Battalion's Sharpshooter Regiment. These were infantrymen, so although they left the city ahead of us, every member of the Vanguard Battalion had a horse. When I charged out, Pu Anli was already at the front, shouting, "Make way! Make way!" The Sharpshooter Regiment had already opened a path for us.
The Vanguard Battalion now had just over a thousand men left, but this remaining force was still a formidable and invincible unit. Especially after the battle we fought yesterday, where the Vanguard Battalion had been restrained by Lu Gongxing and hardly had any combat experience, everyone was eager to prove themselves.
We had caught up to the snake people. The snake people at the rear of their formation halted and seemed prepared to engage in combat. Lu Gongxing held his horse back and shouted, "Throw the torches into the snake people's ranks!"
The vanguard consisted of several battalions, with two or three hundred men each. These troops threw their torches into the snake people's ranks, creating a fire barrier that separated the last few dozen snake people from the main formation. These torches were soaked in oil, and when they landed, they wouldn't easily go out. Instead, they ignited some dry grass from the previous year, creating a low wall of fire.
The snake people were indeed afraid of fire. Those snake people separated by the fire barrier were terrified and quickly moved away from the flames. Initially, the fire wasn't too intense, more like child's play. Still, the seemingly playful fire barrier imprisoned several dozen snake people, while the main body of snake people practically ignored their stranded comrades and intensified their retreat. Subsequent pursuers also followed our example, throwing torches to extend the wall of flames even higher.
Seeing that there was no way back for these dozen snake people, they turned around, raising their swords and spears. Even though many of us still held torches, they no longer feared them as much. Lu Gongxing shouted, "They're making a desperate last stand, be careful!"
Before his words could fully register, a rider darted out like lightning, thrusting his spear at one of the snake people. The snake person tried to block the attack, but the spear had already struck its chest. The rider's strength was astonishing, and he managed to lift the snake person, throwing it into the fire with a whoosh.
The rider yelled, "You damned monster!"
That rider was Pu Anli.
While his strike benefited from the force of his horse, the strength needed to lift the snake person into the fire was already astonishing. It seemed that the excitement caused by Pu Anli's successful move inspired the entire army. With a collective cheer, we charged forward. I led from the front, and I saw one of the snake people aiming its spear at me. Holding my torch, I shouted, "Die!"
I hurled the torch at the snake person and transferred the long spear from my left hand to my right. The torch flew towards the snake person, sparking as it went. Even though it was still daytime, you could still see the fiery tongues that resembled blood. The snake person appeared to be stunned, frozen in place. I thrust my spear towards it, and before the spearhead reached the snake person, several other long spears had simultaneously pierced the creature's body.
By now, the Vanguard Battalion alone had outnumbered the snake people, and the infantry from the Sharpshooter Regiment had also joined the fray. It had become a brutal slaughter.
"Today, the snake people won't launch another attack. Everyone, go back, rest, and be ready at all times. You've all worked hard."
After regrouping, Lu Gongxing loudly announced our dismissal. In truth, our casualties, when compared to the snake people, were not significant, but everyone had regained some confidence. Some even began discussing what they would do after defeating the snake people. As we were about to leave, Lu Gongxing approached and said, "General Chu, who was the one that burned the snake person just now?"
I pointed to Zhang Longyou and said, "It was him."
Lu Gongxing glanced at Zhang Longyou and asked, "I can hardly believe it. What's your name?"
Zhang Longyou had a somewhat smug expression on his face as he replied, "Reporting to General, my name is Zhang Longyou, a member of the Vanguard Fifth Battalion."
Lu Gongxing smiled and said, "You should thank General Chu. He has brought you good luck. Lord Marquis has heard about your actions, and he wants to recruit you into his command."
"What?" We were all surprised, almost at the same time as Zhang Longyou. Lord Marquis's command was an assembly of the brightest talents, who provided counsel and strategy for Lord Marquis. They held high positions in the military. Although they had military ranks, they didn't need to salute those of higher rank in the command. Zhang Longyou's rapid ascent, from a logistics soldier to Lord Marquis's command, was unprecedented.
Zhang Longyou stuttered, "I... I didn't hear wrong, did I?"
Lu Gongxing said, "You're absolutely correct. Lord Marquis wants to see you immediately. You wouldn't want to keep Lord Marquis waiting and make him angry, would you?"
Excited, Zhang Longyou nodded and said, "Thank you, Commander Lu."
He didn't even have time to greet me and dashed towards Lord Marquis's command. I couldn't help but feel both jealous and annoyed, muttering, "This guy has too much luck."
Lu Gongxing looked at him and asked, "General Chu, is he from your battalion? I don't recall seeing him before."
I explained, "He used to be in the logistics battalion, but he caused some trouble last night. Did you hear that loud noise?"
Lu Gongxing said, "That was caused by him?"
I nodded and said, "Lord Deyang wanted to kill him. I pleaded with Lord Deyang to spare his life and had him sent to the Vanguard Battalion. Little did I know he had a few tricks up his sleeve. Honestly, without the two barrels of liquor he brought, we might have been in a dire situation."
Lu Gongxing furrowed his brows and said, "But you can't set alcohol on fire. I've read ancient texts that mention a type of liquor that can be ignited, but the recipe for that kind of alcohol has been lost. Could he have rediscovered that method?"
It suddenly clicked for me, and I said, "Is Lord Marquis recruiting him into his command to make that kind of flammable alcohol?"
Everyone knows Lord Marquis's appreciation for fine wine, excellent steeds, and prized blades. After capturing the city, he brought back artisans, and a significant portion of them were skilled in brewing.
Lu Gongxing said, "Lord Marquis wouldn't bring him into his command just for this. Perhaps," he paused and gazed towards the city wall. The evening sun painted the sky with hues of red, resembling drops of blood. In the southern region, nights fell late, and it was still twilight.
He turned back to me and continued, "Perhaps, the outcome of this war may hinge on him alone."