Upgradable Unit: Steppe Mounted Archers
Ranged Damage: 65-75
Melee Damage: 65-75
Armor: 25-45
Shield: 25-35
Speed: 200-300
Morale: Good
Discipline: Average
Replenishment: 15-25 per day
After days and nights of relentless fighting, Shu Yichao's nomadic riders under his command finally upgraded to Steppe Mounted Archers. And as long as he was willing to spend the money, he could recruit the upgraded units directly without having to painstakingly earn experience by fighting with the nomadic riders.
"Phew—finally, there's a usable unit."
"With 70 attack and defense, it's decent, and 30 armor is acceptable for a cannon fodder unit."
"However, the price... Recruitment fee of 550 denars and a weekly wage of 250 denars?"
Shu Yichao calculated quickly in his mind.
"Let's upgrade next week."
"It could save a few thousand."
"Then recruit Steppe Mounted Archers with all the remaining money at once."
"By then, I'll have nearly two hundred mounted archers."
"Then I can directly attack the city."
Shu Yichao felt he was giving the Esmann people enough face by having two hundred face off against a thousand.
However, there were some who didn't want him to give this face.
"Where did all these people come from?"
As the week passed, Shu Yichao was astonished to find countless beggars in tattered clothes, brandishing various flags, and holding onto broken pieces of metal, appearing around him. Among them were familiar faces he had seen before.
"Chieftain Batulu of the Khitans." Lady Mati approached Shu Yichao with a group of people, bowing respectfully.
"We are here to fulfill our promise."
Over the past few days, she had used the twin daughters of Governor Mohai as bait to contact the displaced Nomadic people, the locals who had been slaughtered or enslaved by the Esmann, the young adults whose homes had been burned down, and persecuted priests.
The final result made her sincerely admire the great generosity and virtue of the Nomadic people. In just a few days, she had managed to gather three to four thousand people to take advantage of the situation.
Although many of them were of dubious quality as able-bodied men, at least they provided a presence.
Many people in the group looked at Shu Yichao with excitement and warmth—just a few days ago, they had witnessed Shu Yichao's boldness under the walls of Sochiya.
Such a fierce general could boost morale like no other in the era of cold weapons.
"You're quite insightful, merchant." Shu Yichao jumped onto their wooden cart and looked down at Lady Mati.
"Bringing so many laborers here."
Indeed, in Shu Yichao's perception, those people were just laborers.
Even those who can't afford clothes can't possibly be soldiers, right?
"After tonight, you'll have plenty of loot to buy—hey, stop it, what's wrong with you!?"
Though unable to understand each other's words, Shu Yichao's steppe cavalry recognized the language of alcohol.
With limited resources and plenty of demand, they wasted no time in abandoning their camaraderie and resorting to physical altercations.
But after some communication, peace was restored, and guests and hosts enjoyed themselves once more.
The steppe cavalry happily handed over their belongings to Lady Mati, while she was delighted to cling to Shu Yichao's thigh.
The camp outside the city was filled with lively atmosphere.
After midnight, Shu Yichao pressed the upgrade button.
"Steppe bow, 40 piercing?"
"Elite curved blade, 50 slashing?"
"And chain armor with 40 defense?"
Seeing his soldiers better dressed than himself, Shu Yichao immediately felt a sense of imbalance, his gaze turning rather unfriendly.
The steppe archers cavalry trembled in fear.
Then, with gritted teeth and stomping feet, they took action.
"Smack!" A poor soul was kicked out of the group and rolled in front of Shu Yichao.
He looked around at his comrades' calm expressions and realized they were all playing along.
Next moment, greedy hands reached out.
"Take it off."
"Let go!"
"You let go of me!"
Just as dawn was breaking, Lady Mati was awakened by a commotion.
"What's happening!?" she asked a passing person, grabbing them with her entourage.
The person stuttered for a while before finally saying, "The Khitans are preparing to attack the city."
"Are you kidding me? Without siege towers or battering rams, what are they attacking!?" Lady Mati exclaimed in frustration.
Then she froze.
A thought quickly filled her mind.
"No way," she muttered.
[Master, what have you done?]
[I woke up and your attention from Governor Mohai increased so much?]
[I noticed there are a lot of people over there, seems like all the big shots of Sochiya City are here.]
[Is there a celebration going on?]
[This kind of celebration is a great opportunity for you to shine, master.]
[Hurry up and show off—oh, my! Governor Mohai's attention increased again!]
[Impressive, master.]
"What's he up to?" Governor Mohai, with his bloodied curved sword, hastily ascended the city walls.
Feeling that the Esmans were losing their grip on Sochiya, various forces within the city seemed to be stirring.
For instance, there was a riot in the city last night that he had just suppressed, and now he heard reports of Khitan movements.
"I don't know," the captain of his personal guard was also puzzled. "I didn't see Khitan's main forces."
"There's only a small group of one or two hundred people, accompanied by some possible Noma insurgents they brought along."
"And those Khitans..."
"It seems like they're setting up a large stone?"
"Wait!! Him!!"
In the midst of everyone's dumbfounded gaze, Shu Yichao lifted a massive, two-meter-square millstone-like boulder.
Then, amidst the billowing smoke, the roars of the steppe archers cavalry, he charged toward the city gates with the stone raised high.
"Fire arrows! Fire arrows!"
"Stop him!"
Governor Mohai snapped out of his daze and ordered his soldiers to intercept.
But his bewildered soldiers couldn't aim properly, and the few crossbows couldn't target such a fast-moving object.
"Hah—thunderous sound, terrifying the enemy!" Shu Yichao, who had caused such a huge stir, approached the city gates in a frenzy, and with all his might, he hurled the boulder toward the gate.
Target: the city gate!
Everyone was stunned.
The heavy wooden gate shattered with a resounding crash.
Even a large chunk of the wall above the gate collapsed, and unfortunate souls nearby were turned into minced meat.
"What are you waiting for!?" Shu Yichao shouted at everyone outside the city.
"Follow me!"
[The morale of the steppe archers cavalry has increased significantly!]
[The steppe archers cavalry enter a frenzy state!]
[In frenzy state, your soldiers' attack power increases by 20%, and attack speed increases by 15%.]
Two hundred steppe archers cavalry swept into the city like a raging wind, ferociously entering its confines.
And behind them, all the Noma people let out crazed howls.
How could there be such a way of attacking a city in this world!?
How could there be such terrifying warriors in this world!?
Seeing these unseen and unheard-of tactics and warriors standing before them, who could stop them?
Without waiting for their leaders to give orders, they eagerly grabbed spears, bows, swords, and anything else they could use as weapons—
And charged into the city without hesitation.
The siege of Sochiya ended.
In just one minute.
As for Governor Mohai, who was on the frontline and quite conspicuous in his attire?
"Come down." Shu Yichao, jumping onto the horse brought by the steppe archers cavalry, threw a lasso, caught him by the neck, and yanked him off the city wall.
Then, tying the other end of the rope to the horse, he whipped it.
"Let's go!"