The city is not large, whether in attack or defense, the formation cannot be broken. With only twenty thousand troops, they can’t surge forward. The Xianbei knights are all skilled in archery and horsemanship. Dealing with the defending army below the city, they have their ways. Soon, the cavalry split into several columns, two thousand riders per team, heading towards the military camp.
This military camp is built along the city, with no more than five thousand population. In front, there are deer horns, anti-cavalry fences, and horse traps, and the formation is not particularly innovative. It seems they intend to use the bows and crossbows on the city walls for coordinated defense, reducing the pressure of the siege. However, Duan Moji, experienced in military tactics, knows that there’s no need for a direct assault with these few troops. As long as they charge and shoot in waves, one round after another, taking advantage of the opponent’s disorder, they can immediately break through.
Cavalry warfare, attacking infantry camps, what other tactics are there? Just be cautious of the arrows and crossbows from the city walls. However, once the fort is breached, with both sides mingling, friend and foe indistinguishable, the defending soldiers on top will be useless. How can five thousand troops withstand the wheeling battle of twenty thousand? It’s just a matter of time!
Thousands of horse hooves trample on the hard soil, shaking the earth itself. The densely packed cavalry formation, like the spreading wings of geese, comes with an elegant yet deadly arc. Most knights have their bows bent, and dozens are lying on horseback, ready to remove obstacles in front of the camp under the cover of arrows. This tactic is refined by countless generations of Xianbei warriors, mere infantry cannot stop them!
The first layer of deer horns and anti-cavalry fences is right in front, followed by the long spear tips reflecting a sharp light. The knights slow down their pace, preparing to stop and shoot within range. At this moment, the whistling sound of arrow feathers fills the air!
Behind the dense shield and spear formations, a rain of arrows flies out! Numerous and close-packed, carrying the whistle and the breath of death, it rushes towards the cavalry formation!
How is this possible?! The two armies are at least eighty steps apart, clearly not within shooting range! The Xianbei cavalry, holding their bows, changes expression, attempting to dodge. But the speed of the arrows is incredibly swift, how can they evade? Like a wheat field swept by a sudden rain, a row of knights falls from their horses.
Is this a strong bow or a powerful crossbow? Before distinguishing, another wave of arrows comes again. The leading Xianbei cavalry commander hesitates for no moment and leads the retreat. With only a few troops and mounted horses, the withdrawal is swift, leaving only around a hundred corpses in front of the formation.
“It’s a crossbow formation!” From a distance, Duan Moji’s face completely lost its previous smile. Just by looking at the quantity of two waves of arrow rain, there are no less than two thousand crossbowmen in this formation!
A mere five thousand soldiers and half of them are crossbowmen? Even if they were the Emperor’s personal guards, they wouldn’t be able to muster such a force!
How are they supposed to fight this? The Xianbei soldiers are indeed skilled archers, but the range of their horse bows is fifty paces, and they can’t reach the enemy’s edge at all. As long as the crossbow bolts are abundant, the soldiers from Bing County would stand invincible!
“Send the shieldmen up to break through the anti-cavalry barriers!” Duan Moji ordered.
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The only way now is to dismantle the anti-cavalry barriers, allowing the cavalry to approach the enemy camp quickly and engage in mutual shooting. After all, these soldiers from Bing County can only defend under the city, and the mobility of the cavalry ensures that they can avoid enemy attacks to the maximum extent. Moreover, seizing this opportunity can also reveal the number and maximum range of the enemy’s crossbowmen, making it the best course of action.
The command quickly reached the front line, and five hundred knights dismounted, raising shields half a person high, charging forward. Crossbow bolts generally need a level trajectory to unleash their maximum power, and shields are sufficient to counter most of the attacks. As long as the anti-cavalry barriers are moved, the two armies can engage in a direct confrontation, much stronger than simply enduring the onslaught.
However, when this group of people approached the anti-cavalry barriers, preparing to dismantle this defensive line, the sound of bowstrings rang out again from the enemy formation. Someone behind shouted in surprise, “It’s powerful bows!”
Indeed, they were powerful bows, at least two stone in strength. Otherwise, how could they shoot into the formation?! Arrows with trajectories that shields couldn’t defend against descended once again. Even wearing armor, arrows pierced into shoulders and backs, and many cried out in pain. Some instinctively raised their shields, attempting to block the rain of arrows falling from the sky. At this moment, the infantry in front of the formation moved. Long spears, strong enough to withstand the charge of warhorses, thrust out, attacking the unprotected chests and abdomens of the enemy.
In truth, no one paid much attention to these infantry. Since there were anti-cavalry barriers and a crossbow formation, why risk danger by exposing themselves to attack? In case the formation scattered, wouldn’t these elaborate arrangements be in vain?
However, they insisted on moving, moving swiftly, cleanly, and with perfect uniformity. Without the cover of bows and arrows, how could this group of dismounted cavalry stand up to battle-hardened infantry?
“Withdraw! Withdraw quickly!” Duan Moji’s reaction was undeniably swift, but it was already too late. Only a few dozen soldiers truly made it back into the formation after these five hundred troops retreated. In just two short attacks, five to six hundred men were lost. No matter how numerous the troops and horses, they couldn’t withstand such losses!
This formation clearly aimed to gradually erode his forces! Duan Moji finally understood the opponent’s intention. Whether light cavalry or a mobile battle, they couldn’t overcome this barrier. The only way to break through this camp was to press with overwhelming force! With infantry holding shields to block arrows in the front and cavalry following for protection until the two armies clashed in close combat.
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This tactic completely suppressed the advantage of the cavalry, but did they think the Xianbei only knew how to use cavalry?
Duan Moji gritted his teeth, “Order two squads to dismount and raise shields in resistance!”
He had experience in siege warfare and was familiar with the tactics of such battles. Now, he treated this camp as part of the city.
Following the command, four thousand soldiers transformed into infantry, with an equal number of cavalry on both sides, advancing together toward the narrow camp!
On the city wall, a staff officer shouted, “General, the enemy has formed a formation!”
“Order, prepare the cannons.” Sun Jiao raised his voice and gave a loud command.
With this order, creaking and clanking sounds followed from behind. On the edge of the city wall, two earthen platforms had been built, each about two zhang high and four or five zhang wide, resembling two towering earth mounds. On the flat surface of each platform, three huge thunderbolt cannons were arranged side by side. These were the latest standard artillery, capable of hurling objects weighing a thousand catties!
No one would place cannons inside the city. The city wall was narrow and tall, and the distance and height of the cannon’s stone projection might not be accurate. If not careful, it could hit their own people. However, these diverse arrangements didn’t pose a challenge for Sun Jiao’s artillerymen. These two platforms, combined with the higher watchtower behind them, formed an attack line that outsiders couldn’t see. It was an innovative strategy capable of changing the course of the battle!
Sun Jiao narrowed his eyes. It had been four years since he joined the Liang household troops. Back then, he was just a hunter’s son, and now, under his command, the Thunderbolt Battalion had long changed its organization, becoming an independent army. With nine thousand combat soldiers and two thousand support troops, what was that coveted position of a squad leader now?
And today, guarding Shang’ai and achieving the merit of starting the first battle between the two provinces, all of this fell on his shoulders. Each layer of responsibility, each arrangement, was carefully planned by the staff camp, and it was the moment for his army to shine!
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Bows and crossbows were not merely auxiliary arts, contrary to what people like Yong Rui and Hu Lang thought. Haven’t they seen the Lord’s emphasis on bows, crossbows, and cannons? Nowadays, every city is filled with arrows and crossbows. Only the long-range, segmented attack of a crossbow arrow formation is the nemesis of light cavalry! Of course, there’s also the artillery array behind him…
A large flag fluttered overhead, depicting a lone beast standing on one foot. Rising from the water, it faced storms, shining like the sun and moon, robust like a wild ox. Its name was Kui. Using this as their flag, the military insignia was “Thunderbolt”!
The mournful sound of horns echoed, and the military camp below the city began to reposition, contracting and gathering as if startled. The front-row soldiers raised large shields, seemingly attempting to conceal their formation.
“They’re scared! Attack! Quickly move the anti-cavalry barriers!” In the Xianbei formation, the officers shouted loudly, urging the soldiers to advance.
It was almost there! They were about to break into the enemy formation… Suddenly, a long and sharp sound tore through the sky.
That sound, like the roar of thunder, also resembled a collapsing mountain or a falling star. With a dreadful whistle, a massive iron ball descended into the Xianbei formation!
In the world of thunderbolt cannons, most use rocks, regardless of shape, as long as they have sufficient weight. However, this cannonball was made of mixed iron, black as ink, and smooth. It violently smashed onto the ground, bouncing back up and charging in another direction!
A single iron ball weighed more than a thousand catties! Like a fierce beast entering a crowd, it charged recklessly. If it grazed or touched anything, be it a person or a horse, bones would break, and tendons would snap! Carrying a trail of winding blood and scattered corpses, the iron ball shot more than a hundred paces straight ahead before gradually coming to a halt. There was no one left in front, behind, or on either side!
What is this?! Before the bewildered Xianbei cavalry could recover, the second and third iron balls leaped from the towering city walls, heading straight into the crowd. Six cannonballs in a row, each hitting its mark, crashed into the densely packed military formation. In an instant, the sounds of horses neighing and men shouting echoed, creating a horrifying cacophony. There was no need for a trumpet call; the line immediately collapsed!
What… what is this exactly? Duan Moji’s body trembled, and he widened his eyes in disbelief. Cannons? Thunderbolt cannons launched from the city? How could this be possible!!
What kind of cannon can cross the city walls and strike from four to five hundred paces away? Don’t you still have your military camp below the city? Aren’t you afraid of friendly fire?! And why is the explosive power so immense? Aren’t cannons supposed to be used for assaulting cities? How can they be used for defense too?
His mind was in chaos, and the aide by his side had already shouted, “General! General, quickly gather the retreating troops!”
Yes, that’s right. We need to regroup the retreating troops! Retreat, withdraw!
“What did you say?! The Shang’ai garrison used cannons to attack you?” Hearing the report from his beloved general, Duan Jilu almost jumped up in disbelief!
Who fights like this? Is this still a siege? Losing three thousand troops in one battle—this isn’t a turtle shell; it’s a spiked ball that you can’t touch or approach!
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“If we spread out, won’t we be fine even if the cannonballs are powerful, as long as we avoid them?” Wang Chang on the side also anxiously asked.
“If we spread out the formation, the military camp will block us, and we won’t be able to bypass it. Besides, they changed guards once and opened the city gates, replacing all the soldiers from the back to the front in less than a quarter of an hour. Originally using crossbows, which aren’t tiring, and with an equal number of reserve forces, how are we supposed to fight this battle? Wait until they run out of arrows and cannonballs?” Duan Moji’s face turned pale, and he answered in a low voice.
Duan Moji had considered returning to a mobile battle, even if it required some effort, as long as it could wear down the enemy. However, right under his nose, the other side cleanly executed a change of guards. They swung open the city gates, replacing all the soldiers from the back to the front in less than a quarter of an hour. Originally, they used crossbows, which weren’t tiring, and with an equal number of reserve forces, how were they supposed to fight this battle? Wait until the enemy runs out of arrows and cannonballs?
Who knows how much preparation is hidden within Shang’ai City!
There’s no way to fight. Whether it’s Duan Jilu or Wang Chang, they both understand this clearly. Such a strong fortress cannot be taken in ten days or half a month. If the opponent remains determined, besieging the city for a year might not be enough. But bypassing Shang’ai is also not feasible! The city is located at the exit of Jingxing, and if the enemy sends troops, cutting off their food supply route, the vanguard will become rootless driftwood.
What to do?
In the end, Duan Jilu spoke, “Commander, we should leave twenty thousand troops to guard the supply route!”
This is the best solution—leaving enough forces while also besieging the city to trap the Shang’ai garrison. There are at least ten thousand defenders in the city. If they don’t leave twenty thousand troops, there’s no assurance of holding the supply route!
But they only brought a total of eighty thousand troops, and after today’s battle, they lost over three thousand. Now they have to split the forces, leaving twenty thousand to guard the supply route. With the remaining forces, is it enough to capture Leping?
Previous contempt has long vanished. If Shang’ai is this formidable, what about the upcoming Leping County and Zhan County? What about the even farther Shangdang and Jinyang? When did Bing County become so formidable?
Wang Chang’s face turned grim, and he spoke in a low voice, “Split the forces! The remaining troops and horses cannot stop; they must quickly advance into Bing County. I don’t believe there can be such defensive strength everywhere! Outside the cities, aren’t there still villages and farmlands? If we need to fight, we’ll fight; if we need to sweep, we’ll sweep! We must force the Bing County troops out of the city and engage them in a frontal confrontation with our forces!”
Wang Chang knew very well that no one could face the Xianbei cavalry in open-field combat. The enemy’s greatest advantage right now is the city. Leaving the city, their forces might not be sufficient! The commander sent him to attack Bing County; he can’t return in such a sorry state!
Watching the devastated and demoralized vanguard army, Duan Jilu’s heart also ignited with anger. The Battle of Bing County has just begun, and it’s still hard to say who will win or lose!
That night, the You County troops split into two paths—one stayed to guard Shang’ai, and the other, riding swiftly on horses, headed towards the heartland of Leping!
The city is not large, whether in attack or defense, the formation cannot be broken. With only twenty thousand troops, they can’t surge forward. The Xianbei knights are all skilled in archery and horsemanship. Dealing with the defending army below the city, they have their ways. Soon, the cavalry split into several columns, two thousand riders per team, heading towards the military camp.
This military camp is built along the city, with no more than five thousand population. In front, there are deer horns, anti-cavalry fences, and horse traps, and the formation is not particularly innovative. It seems they intend to use the bows and crossbows on the city walls for coordinated defense, reducing the pressure of the siege. However, Duan Moji, experienced in military tactics, knows that there’s no need for a direct assault with these few troops. As long as they charge and shoot in waves, one round after another, taking advantage of the opponent’s disorder, they can immediately break through.
Cavalry warfare, attacking infantry camps, what other tactics are there? Just be cautious of the arrows and crossbows from the city walls. However, once the fort is breached, with both sides mingling, friend and foe indistinguishable, the defending soldiers on top will be useless. How can five thousand troops withstand the wheeling battle of twenty thousand? It’s just a matter of time!
Thousands of horse hooves trample on the hard soil, shaking the earth itself. The densely packed cavalry formation, like the spreading wings of geese, comes with an elegant yet deadly arc. Most knights have their bows bent, and dozens are lying on horseback, ready to remove obstacles in front of the camp under the cover of arrows. This tactic is refined by countless generations of Xianbei warriors, mere infantry cannot stop them!
The first layer of deer horns and anti-cavalry fences is right in front, followed by the long spear tips reflecting a sharp light. The knights slow down their pace, preparing to stop and shoot within range. At this moment, the whistling sound of arrow feathers fills the air!
Behind the dense shield and spear formations, a rain of arrows flies out! Numerous and close-packed, carrying the whistle and the breath of death, it rushes towards the cavalry formation!
How is this possible?! The two armies are at least eighty steps apart, clearly not within shooting range! The Xianbei cavalry, holding their bows, changes expression, attempting to dodge. But the speed of the arrows is incredibly swift, how can they evade? Like a wheat field swept by a sudden rain, a row of knights falls from their horses.
Is this a strong bow or a powerful crossbow? Before distinguishing, another wave of arrows comes again. The leading Xianbei cavalry commander hesitates for no moment and leads the retreat. With only a few troops and mounted horses, the withdrawal is swift, leaving only around a hundred corpses in front of the formation.
“It’s a crossbow formation!” From a distance, Duan Moji’s face completely lost its previous smile. Just by looking at the quantity of two waves of arrow rain, there are no less than two thousand crossbowmen in this formation!
A mere five thousand soldiers and half of them are crossbowmen? Even if they were the Emperor’s personal guards, they wouldn’t be able to muster such a force!
How are they supposed to fight this? The Xianbei soldiers are indeed skilled archers, but the range of their horse bows is fifty paces, and they can’t reach the enemy’s edge at all. As long as the crossbow bolts are abundant, the soldiers from Bing County would stand invincible!
“Send the shieldmen up to break through the anti-cavalry barriers!” Duan Moji ordered.
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The only way now is to dismantle the anti-cavalry barriers, allowing the cavalry to approach the enemy camp quickly and engage in mutual shooting. After all, these soldiers from Bing County can only defend under the city, and the mobility of the cavalry ensures that they can avoid enemy attacks to the maximum extent. Moreover, seizing this opportunity can also reveal the number and maximum range of the enemy’s crossbowmen, making it the best course of action.
The command quickly reached the front line, and five hundred knights dismounted, raising shields half a person high, charging forward. Crossbow bolts generally need a level trajectory to unleash their maximum power, and shields are sufficient to counter most of the attacks. As long as the anti-cavalry barriers are moved, the two armies can engage in a direct confrontation, much stronger than simply enduring the onslaught.
However, when this group of people approached the anti-cavalry barriers, preparing to dismantle this defensive line, the sound of bowstrings rang out again from the enemy formation. Someone behind shouted in surprise, “It’s powerful bows!”
Indeed, they were powerful bows, at least two stone in strength. Otherwise, how could they shoot into the formation?! Arrows with trajectories that shields couldn’t defend against descended once again. Even wearing armor, arrows pierced into shoulders and backs, and many cried out in pain. Some instinctively raised their shields, attempting to block the rain of arrows falling from the sky. At this moment, the infantry in front of the formation moved. Long spears, strong enough to withstand the charge of warhorses, thrust out, attacking the unprotected chests and abdomens of the enemy.
In truth, no one paid much attention to these infantry. Since there were anti-cavalry barriers and a crossbow formation, why risk danger by exposing themselves to attack? In case the formation scattered, wouldn’t these elaborate arrangements be in vain?
However, they insisted on moving, moving swiftly, cleanly, and with perfect uniformity. Without the cover of bows and arrows, how could this group of dismounted cavalry stand up to battle-hardened infantry?
“Withdraw! Withdraw quickly!” Duan Moji’s reaction was undeniably swift, but it was already too late. Only a few dozen soldiers truly made it back into the formation after these five hundred troops retreated. In just two short attacks, five to six hundred men were lost. No matter how numerous the troops and horses, they couldn’t withstand such losses!
This formation clearly aimed to gradually erode his forces! Duan Moji finally understood the opponent’s intention. Whether light cavalry or a mobile battle, they couldn’t overcome this barrier. The only way to break through this camp was to press with overwhelming force! With infantry holding shields to block arrows in the front and cavalry following for protection until the two armies clashed in close combat.
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AD
This tactic completely suppressed the advantage of the cavalry, but did they think the Xianbei only knew how to use cavalry?
Duan Moji gritted his teeth, “Order two squads to dismount and raise shields in resistance!”
He had experience in siege warfare and was familiar with the tactics of such battles. Now, he treated this camp as part of the city.
Following the command, four thousand soldiers transformed into infantry, with an equal number of cavalry on both sides, advancing together toward the narrow camp!
On the city wall, a staff officer shouted, “General, the enemy has formed a formation!”
“Order, prepare the cannons.” Sun Jiao raised his voice and gave a loud command.
With this order, creaking and clanking sounds followed from behind. On the edge of the city wall, two earthen platforms had been built, each about two zhang high and four or five zhang wide, resembling two towering earth mounds. On the flat surface of each platform, three huge thunderbolt cannons were arranged side by side. These were the latest standard artillery, capable of hurling objects weighing a thousand catties!
No one would place cannons inside the city. The city wall was narrow and tall, and the distance and height of the cannon’s stone projection might not be accurate. If not careful, it could hit their own people. However, these diverse arrangements didn’t pose a challenge for Sun Jiao’s artillerymen. These two platforms, combined with the higher watchtower behind them, formed an attack line that outsiders couldn’t see. It was an innovative strategy capable of changing the course of the battle!
Sun Jiao narrowed his eyes. It had been four years since he joined the Liang household troops. Back then, he was just a hunter’s son, and now, under his command, the Thunderbolt Battalion had long changed its organization, becoming an independent army. With nine thousand combat soldiers and two thousand support troops, what was that coveted position of a squad leader now?
And today, guarding Shang’ai and achieving the merit of starting the first battle between the two provinces, all of this fell on his shoulders. Each layer of responsibility, each arrangement, was carefully planned by the staff camp, and it was the moment for his army to shine!
Advertisement
AD
Bows and crossbows were not merely auxiliary arts, contrary to what people like Yong Rui and Hu Lang thought. Haven’t they seen the Lord’s emphasis on bows, crossbows, and cannons? Nowadays, every city is filled with arrows and crossbows. Only the long-range, segmented attack of a crossbow arrow formation is the nemesis of light cavalry! Of course, there’s also the artillery array behind him…
A large flag fluttered overhead, depicting a lone beast standing on one foot. Rising from the water, it faced storms, shining like the sun and moon, robust like a wild ox. Its name was Kui. Using this as their flag, the military insignia was “Thunderbolt”!
The mournful sound of horns echoed, and the military camp below the city began to reposition, contracting and gathering as if startled. The front-row soldiers raised large shields, seemingly attempting to conceal their formation.
“They’re scared! Attack! Quickly move the anti-cavalry barriers!” In the Xianbei formation, the officers shouted loudly, urging the soldiers to advance.
It was almost there! They were about to break into the enemy formation… Suddenly, a long and sharp sound tore through the sky.
That sound, like the roar of thunder, also resembled a collapsing mountain or a falling star. With a dreadful whistle, a massive iron ball descended into the Xianbei formation!
In the world of thunderbolt cannons, most use rocks, regardless of shape, as long as they have sufficient weight. However, this cannonball was made of mixed iron, black as ink, and smooth. It violently smashed onto the ground, bouncing back up and charging in another direction!
A single iron ball weighed more than a thousand catties! Like a fierce beast entering a crowd, it charged recklessly. If it grazed or touched anything, be it a person or a horse, bones would break, and tendons would snap! Carrying a trail of winding blood and scattered corpses, the iron ball shot more than a hundred paces straight ahead before gradually coming to a halt. There was no one left in front, behind, or on either side!
What is this?! Before the bewildered Xianbei cavalry could recover, the second and third iron balls leaped from the towering city walls, heading straight into the crowd. Six cannonballs in a row, each hitting its mark, crashed into the densely packed military formation. In an instant, the sounds of horses neighing and men shouting echoed, creating a horrifying cacophony. There was no need for a trumpet call; the line immediately collapsed!
What… what is this exactly? Duan Moji’s body trembled, and he widened his eyes in disbelief. Cannons? Thunderbolt cannons launched from the city? How could this be possible!!
What kind of cannon can cross the city walls and strike from four to five hundred paces away? Don’t you still have your military camp below the city? Aren’t you afraid of friendly fire?! And why is the explosive power so immense? Aren’t cannons supposed to be used for assaulting cities? How can they be used for defense too?
His mind was in chaos, and the aide by his side had already shouted, “General! General, quickly gather the retreating troops!”
Yes, that’s right. We need to regroup the retreating troops! Retreat, withdraw!
“What did you say?! The Shang’ai garrison used cannons to attack you?” Hearing the report from his beloved general, Duan Jilu almost jumped up in disbelief!
Who fights like this? Is this still a siege? Losing three thousand troops in one battle—this isn’t a turtle shell; it’s a spiked ball that you can’t touch or approach!
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“If we spread out, won’t we be fine even if the cannonballs are powerful, as long as we avoid them?” Wang Chang on the side also anxiously asked.
“If we spread out the formation, the military camp will block us, and we won’t be able to bypass it. Besides, they changed guards once and opened the city gates, replacing all the soldiers from the back to the front in less than a quarter of an hour. Originally using crossbows, which aren’t tiring, and with an equal number of reserve forces, how are we supposed to fight this battle? Wait until they run out of arrows and cannonballs?” Duan Moji’s face turned pale, and he answered in a low voice.
Duan Moji had considered returning to a mobile battle, even if it required some effort, as long as it could wear down the enemy. However, right under his nose, the other side cleanly executed a change of guards. They swung open the city gates, replacing all the soldiers from the back to the front in less than a quarter of an hour. Originally, they used crossbows, which weren’t tiring, and with an equal number of reserve forces, how were they supposed to fight this battle? Wait until the enemy runs out of arrows and cannonballs?
Who knows how much preparation is hidden within Shang’ai City!
There’s no way to fight. Whether it’s Duan Jilu or Wang Chang, they both understand this clearly. Such a strong fortress cannot be taken in ten days or half a month. If the opponent remains determined, besieging the city for a year might not be enough. But bypassing Shang’ai is also not feasible! The city is located at the exit of Jingxing, and if the enemy sends troops, cutting off their food supply route, the vanguard will become rootless driftwood.
What to do?
In the end, Duan Jilu spoke, “Commander, we should leave twenty thousand troops to guard the supply route!”
This is the best solution—leaving enough forces while also besieging the city to trap the Shang’ai garrison. There are at least ten thousand defenders in the city. If they don’t leave twenty thousand troops, there’s no assurance of holding the supply route!
But they only brought a total of eighty thousand troops, and after today’s battle, they lost over three thousand. Now they have to split the forces, leaving twenty thousand to guard the supply route. With the remaining forces, is it enough to capture Leping?
Previous contempt has long vanished. If Shang’ai is this formidable, what about the upcoming Leping County and Zhan County? What about the even farther Shangdang and Jinyang? When did Bing County become so formidable?
Wang Chang’s face turned grim, and he spoke in a low voice, “Split the forces! The remaining troops and horses cannot stop; they must quickly advance into Bing County. I don’t believe there can be such defensive strength everywhere! Outside the cities, aren’t there still villages and farmlands? If we need to fight, we’ll fight; if we need to sweep, we’ll sweep! We must force the Bing County troops out of the city and engage them in a frontal confrontation with our forces!”
Wang Chang knew very well that no one could face the Xianbei cavalry in open-field combat. The enemy’s greatest advantage right now is the city. Leaving the city, their forces might not be sufficient! The commander sent him to attack Bing County; he can’t return in such a sorry state!
Watching the devastated and demoralized vanguard army, Duan Jilu’s heart also ignited with anger. The Battle of Bing County has just begun, and it’s still hard to say who will win or lose!
That night, the You County troops split into two paths—one stayed to guard Shang’ai, and the other, riding swiftly on horses, headed towards the heartland of Leping!
