bayedsolid Chapter 839 Iron-Blooded Lone City (Page 12)
Chapter 839 Iron-Blooded Lone City (Page 12)
Beneath the city walls, mountains of corpses lay strewn about, their blood staining the earth in a horrifying river. The barbarian soldiers, seemingly tireless and undaunted by death, climbed relentlessly, stepping over the bodies of their fallen comrades. They gripped their sharp, curved swords, the blades gleaming chillingly in the darkness, radiating an aura of endless killing intent and bloodshed.
The air above the city walls was thick with the smell of gunpowder, and shouts of battle echoed through the sky. The defenders and the barbarians engaged in fierce combat, the clashing of weapons producing a crisp sound, the painful groans of the wounded mingling with the deafening roar of catapults, all composing a battle symphony filled with despair yet incredibly tragic.
Just then, a messenger, covered in blood and staggering, rushed in. His voice was hoarse and low, his face marked with black marks from gunpowder burns, but his eyes were firm and resolute. "General Lin! The situation in the northwest corner is critical! The barbarians have erected seven siege ladders in one go, and some thieves have already climbed onto the city walls!"
Upon hearing this news, Lin Ping's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. Her gaze, sharp as a hawk's, was fixed on the northwest direction without the slightest hesitation. In a voice as steady as a mountain, she commanded: "Immediately issue the order for the Divine Arm Archer Battalion to rush to the northwest corner as reinforcements! Destroy those siege ladders at all costs! Also, tell Captain Zhang that if anyone falls from the ladders again, bring him his head!"
"Yes, sir!" The messenger clasped his hands in acceptance and immediately turned back into the chaotic battlefield without hesitation.
Lin Ping, this valiant and awe-inspiring woman, is the supreme commander of Zhenshuo Pass, a crucial stronghold guarding the northern border of the Great Jing Dynasty! She is not only a female general whose prowess rivals that of any man, but also a peerless master, a rare find in the entire dynasty. At this moment, she is clad in jet-black armor, its incredibly tough plates already stained with countless drops of dried and still-wet blood, as if telling the story of a recent, breathtaking battle. The spear "Liebing" she grips gleams with a cold light, warm liquid slowly trickling down its sharp blade.
Lin Ping stood firmly atop the south gate tower of Zhenshuo Pass, like an unyielding mountain. Her sharp, hawk-like eyes coldly gazed down at the surging barbarian army. These invaders from the northern wilderness, like a pack of maddened beasts, launched a fierce attack on the impregnable city. At the same time, the air around the city walls thickened with the smell of gunpowder, and shouts of battle and the clanging of metal echoed through the sky. The battle was exceptionally fierce, having reached a fever pitch.
Tonight marks fifteen days and nights since the large-scale barbarian invasion. Just fifteen days ago, the powerful barbarian coalition, known as the "Three Hundred Thousand Archers," under the personal command of their fierce and tyrannical Khan, the "Azure Wolf King" Hegu, surged forth from the vast, boundless grasslands like an unstoppable torrent. Their advance was relentless, with only one objective: to breach the northern gate of the Great Jing Dynasty—Zhenshuo Pass!
Zhenshuo Pass, built against the mountainside, is a strategically important and formidable stronghold, serving as the first and most crucial barrier against the southward incursions of nomadic tribes from the grasslands. The pass is tall and sturdy, easy to defend and difficult to attack, making it a historically coveted location. However, this time, the ferocity of the barbarian offensive exceeded everyone's expectations. They not only outnumbered the tribes but also brought many unprecedented siege weapons, including a small number of firearms acquired through trespassing from the Western Regions.
Under Lin Ping's command, the defending army numbered less than 30,000, a severely stretched force. In the fifteen days of fierce fighting, relying on their formidable city defenses, superior weaponry, and Lin Ping's exceptional command and unwavering resolve, they tenaciously repelled dozens of frenzied barbarian attacks. However, the cost was immense; casualties had exceeded 30%, leaving fewer than 20,000 soldiers capable of continuing the fight, all wounded and utterly exhausted. Consumables such as arrows, rolling stones, logs, and gunpowder were also nearing depletion.
The barbarian attacks, however, were relentless and tireless, seemingly oblivious to death. Beneath the walls, the barbarian corpses piled up like mountains, almost level with the walls themselves. Later soldiers could even step over the bodies of their comrades to continue their charge. The pungent stench of blood mingled with gunpowder smoke, sweat, and decay, permeating the entire fortress and utterly repulsive.
"General! The Divine Arm Bow Battalion is in position!" a guard announced loudly.
Lin Ping's lips curled slightly, and she nodded gently, a barely perceptible glint of joy flashing in her eyes. The Divine Arm Bow Battalion—that was one of her most powerful trump cards! The power of the Divine Arm Bow was known to all. It could be considered the pinnacle of military technology in the Great Jing Kingdom; its range and penetrating power were simply beyond imagination. Against the dense charges of barbarians and enemies climbing siege ladders, the Divine Arm Bow was undoubtedly a deadly weapon.
Lin Ping took a deep breath, her gaze fixed firmly on the distant barbarian army. She knew this would be a battle of life and death, and the appearance of the Divine Arm Bow Battalion might offer them a glimmer of hope. She quickly issued orders for the Divine Arm Bow Battalion to prepare to deliver a fatal blow to the barbarians at any moment.
However, that wasn't all the most troublesome aspect. The Divine Archer Battalion also possessed a small but extremely deadly number of Thunderclap Bombs! This weapon was truly formidable. It used a hard outer shell cast from pig iron for protection, and its interior was filled with large amounts of gunpowder, gravel, and incredibly sharp iron filings—a truly explosive substance. Once detonated, the destructive force was earth-shattering, easily destroying enemy ladders and quickly routing tightly packed enemy troops. Such a powerful weapon undoubtedly became a key to turning the tide of battle.
Just then, Lin Ping shouted, and before her words even finished, a series of ear-piercing mechanical whirring sounds suddenly came from the northwest, as if the entire earth had been torn apart. Immediately afterward, countless arrows rained down like locusts, creating a deafening whistling sound. At the same time, several dazzling lights suddenly erupted, accompanied by deafening roars, their force as powerful as thunder. In an instant, raging flames soared into the sky, illuminating the once pitch-black northwest sky as bright as day, even reducing the surrounding buildings to ashes.
With a roar, panic erupted below the city walls. Barbarian soldiers screamed in terror and fled in all directions, creating utter chaos. Meanwhile, shouts echoed from the city walls, but these sounds were mostly filled with tension and unease.
Just then, a messenger came running up, panting, and reported to Lin Ping: "General, Captain Zhang just sent someone back to report that the two siege ladders the enemy used to attack the city have been blown up! We successfully repelled the enemy's first wave of attack!" This news brought cheers from the surrounding soldiers, but Lin Ping remained solemn and showed no joy. She knew very well that this victory was merely a brief respite. She had a deep understanding of the barbarian army's tenacious fighting ability.
"Immediately relay my order to Captain Zhang, instructing him to hold the position at all costs and not to retreat an inch!" Lin Ping issued the order without hesitation.
"Yes, sir!" The messenger received the order and quickly left.
Before Lin Ping could even breathe a sigh of relief, she suddenly heard a series of sharp, piercing gong sounds coming from the east, followed by the shouts of countless people yelling for battle.
"Oh no! General, something terrible has happened! The situation at the East Gate is critical! The barbarian army is attacking the East Gate with all their might! And they've even brought out their battering rams!" Another messenger, covered in dust and looking disheveled, stumbled forward. He had even lost his helmet in his haste, and blood was gushing from his forehead.
Lin Ping's heart sank. A battering ram! This was one of the most terrifying weapons in siege warfare. A huge wooden hammerhead covered with iron plates, propelled by dozens or even hundreds of strong soldiers, violently rammed into the city gate. Once the city gate was breached, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Imperial Guard Battalion, follow me!" Lin Ping no longer hesitated and mounted her horse. She knew that the general guarding the East Gate was the old general Zhou Ting, who was brave and fierce, but he probably couldn't hold out for long against such a high-intensity attack.
With a flick of her Icebreaker spear, Lin Ping shouted sharply, "Kill!"
Dozens of elite guards followed closely behind, like a black lightning bolt, galloping along the horse path inside the city wall towards the east gate.
Along the way, the scene was one of utter carnage. Behind the battlements, soldiers clashed fiercely with the barbarian soldiers who had scaled the walls, swords flashing and blood and flesh flying everywhere. Some soldiers were struck by the barbarian scimitars, screaming as they fell to the ground; others were impaled by spears, smashing into a bloody pulp. Oil was poured down from the walls, igniting the climbing barbarian soldiers, turning them into human torches, emitting agonizing howls as they rolled back and forth on the walls, finally plunging into the sea of corpses and blood, their bodies ablaze.
A young soldier, his left arm severed and blood gushing forth, gritted his teeth, picked up a dagger from the ground with his right hand, and clung tightly to a barbarian soldier, tumbling down the city wall together. That resolute look in his eyes clenched Lin Ping's heart.
These are her soldiers! The sons of Dajing!
"Faster! Faster!" Lin Ping urged her warhorse, her heart filled with anxiety.
The East Gate tower was already engulfed in flames.
The massive battering ram, propelled by dozens of bare-chested, muscular barbarian men, slammed against the heavy city gate again and again like a roaring beast. Each impact produced a deafening roar, shaking the entire city tower, denting and warping the iron plating on the gate, and sending splinters of wood flying.
The defending general, Zhou Ting, was an old general nearing sixty years old. At this moment, his hair and beard stood on end, and his eyes were bloodshot. He personally directed his soldiers to use thick logs to hold the city gate up tightly. The soldiers used all their strength, their faces were flushed, and sweat and blood had seeped from the logs.
"Hold on! Hold on for me! Damn it! If anyone dares to let go, I'll chop them down!" Zhou Ting roared hoarsely, swinging his broadsword continuously, cutting down the spears and scimitars that tried to reach through the crack in the door.
On the city walls, the battle was equally fierce. Barbarian soldiers climbed the siege ladders like ants, clashing with the defenders. A barbarian centurion, exceptionally brave, wielded a massive spiked club, charging left and right, already killing seven or eight defenders with his club. Caught up in the frenzy, he threw his head back and let out a wolf-like howl.
The centurion reacted quickly, sensing the gust of wind behind him. He turned around abruptly, his spiked club sweeping across with immense force, attempting to knock away Lin Ping's spear.
"clang!"
The sound of metal clashing was deafening, and sparks flew everywhere.
Lin Ping felt a tremendous force coming from the gun barrel, and her arm felt a little sore and numb.
"Stop your madness, you thieving chief!" Lin Ping shouted angrily as she arrived.
She dismounted, and her spear "Cracking Ice" transformed into a silver rainbow, piercing the air with a sharp whooshing sound, and went straight for the barbarian centurion's back.
The centurion reacted quickly, sensing the gust of wind behind him. He turned around abruptly, his spiked club sweeping across with immense force, attempting to knock away Lin Ping's spear.
"clang!"
The sound of metal clashing was deafening, and sparks flew everywhere.
Lin Ping felt a tremendous force come from the shaft of the spear, and her arm felt a little numb. Using the momentum, she spun around like a willow in the wind, deftly avoiding the residual force of the spiked club. The tip of her spear, however, shot out again like a viper's tongue, aiming for the gap in the centurion's chest armor. This shot was fast, accurate, and ruthless; it was clearly one of Lin Ping's most powerful and secret techniques.
The barbarian centurion chuckled, seemingly surprised by Lin Ping's strength and marksmanship, but he was, after all, a battle-hardened and valiant man, and remained calm in the face of danger. The spiked club seemed to come alive in his hands, slashing back at an incredible angle, the club striking the side of the "Icebreaker" spear tip with pinpoint accuracy.