strictlysupreme Chapter 2245 Everyone is fighting desperately
Chapter 2245 Everyone is fighting desperately
The Chu army on the city wall launched an attack!
Enemy infantry and cavalry who were gathering in this area or trying to bypass the range of the ballistae were immediately smashed and their formations were thrown into chaos.
There were also two medium-sized artillery pieces that launched burning oil-soaked hemp balls or pottery jars.
These burning materials, trailing black smoke, traced arcs and landed near enemy follow-up troops or equipment a little further away.
Although the direct damage was limited, the flames and smoke generated effectively disrupted the enemy's vision and command, slowing down their reinforcements.
Behind the crenellations of the city wall, thousands of Chu archers unleashed a continuous barrage of fire.
They were no longer targeting distant, blurry targets, but rather the enemy forces that were relatively close to the circular formation and posed the greatest threat.
Sharp arrows rained down like locusts, even though the Scorpion Clan cavalry and Youzhou infantry below mostly raised their shields for protection.
Despite the dense rain of arrows, people continued to fall to the ground, struck by arrows.
Those enemy troops who attempted to dismount and charge the shield wall on foot, or dismount and operate simple siege equipment, became the main targets of their attacks.
The sudden and well-organized long-range attacks from the city walls had an immediate and significant effect!
Gongsun Yi, who was directing his army to launch a full-scale attack on Feng Mulan's circular formation, was the first to feel the pressure.
Several elite cavalry units that intended to launch a decisive charge suffered heavy losses under the terrifying bombardment of ballistae and giant arrows, and their momentum was thwarted before it could even gain traction.
The infantry phalanx's advance was hampered by the constant rain of stones and arrows falling from above, forcing the soldiers to raise their shields high and advance cautiously, greatly diminishing their offensive momentum.
The reserve troops and auxiliary soldiers that were trying to be mobilized from the rear were kept in turmoil by burning materials and continuous arrow attacks.
"Flies on the city wall!"
Gongsun Yi was both shocked and furious. He had not expected that the defending troops on the city wall, even without Feng Mulan's personal command, would still have such fierce and well-coordinated long-range firepower.
Although the attacks from these ballistae, cannons, and crossbows could not directly defeat his army, they acted like countless invisible ropes, firmly hindering his all-out offensive.
This prevented him from fully converting his numerical advantage into an overwhelming breakthrough against Feng Mulan's circular formation in a short period of time.
For Feng Mulan's troops, who were fighting a bitter battle outside the city, this sudden support was like sending charcoal in snowy weather or rain after a long drought!
The circular formation, which had been bearing the centripetal pressure from all directions, suddenly felt the impact pressure from the front and flanks ease significantly.
The enemy's charges were no longer so continuous and fearless. Many charging teams became hesitant, chaotic, or even scattered after entering a certain distance due to the heavy attacks from the city walls.
The constant whistling of crossbow bolts overhead and the rain of stones and fireballs falling behind the enemy lines greatly intimidated the besieging enemy and disrupted their offensive rhythm.
"It's our brothers on the city walls who are supporting us!"
Within the circular formation, a sharp-eyed soldier spotted the trajectory of the incoming giant arrow and the fluttering banners atop the city wall, and shouted excitedly.
"Hold your ground! Advance! Move towards the city gate!"
Feng Mulan astutely seized this precious opportunity.
The moment when the enemy's offensive faltered and their rhythm became disordered was the perfect opportunity for them to adjust their formation and move slowly but steadily toward the city gate!
She immediately gave the order, and the circular formation began to move slowly and laboriously towards the west gate, like a wounded but still sturdy giant tortoise.
Every step forward was accompanied by more intense close combat with the enemy forces on the outside, but with the firepower from the city walls holding them back, this movement finally became possible.
Liu Shijie stood atop the city wall, intently watching the subtle changes in the battle below.
Seeing that the enemy's offensive was clearly thwarted, Consort Feng's circular formation began to move. He felt slightly relieved, but dared not relax in the slightest.
"Replace ballistae with javelins! Increase the rate of fire and maintain pressure on the enemy archers and commanders!"
"Artillery vehicles, concentrate fire and bombard the new assault point where the enemy is gathering!"
"Archers, don't stop! Clear away any approaching fodder for our brothers below the city!"
He constantly adjusted his orders based on the battlefield situation, striving to maximize the use of limited long-range firepower.
They formed an invisible protective umbrella for their comrades outside the city, holding back the enemy's main force and buying precious time for this extremely difficult breakout and retreat.
At this moment, a coordinated defense, though passive, was formed on both sides of the city wall.
Amidst the deafening battle cries and flying arrows and stones beneath the walls of Jianghuai City, on a rugged wilderness about ten miles from the main battlefield...
Another decisive battle was also fiercely fought in the glimmer of dawn.
Xue Huaide led eight thousand elite troops, bearing the pain of parting from his son Xue Dingshan and the heavy responsibility of rescuing His Majesty.
After shaking off the initial entanglement of the Canglang cavalry, they dared not stop for a moment and charged towards Changtingpo at full speed.
He knew that every moment of delay could plunge His Majesty into utter ruin.
However, the scouts soon brought an urgent report: a large number of enemy troops had been spotted ahead.
It was that 10,000-strong Youzhou army, a mixed force of infantry and cavalry, that was ordered by Chu Xuan to be drawn from the city of Jianghuai and intended to rush to the aid of Changtingpo!
"We must stop them!"
Xue Huaide's eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was hoarse from anxiety and exhaustion.
He quickly surveyed the terrain. It was a wasteland with gentle slopes and gullies, and the road was not wide. There were low hills and dry riverbeds on both sides that could be used.
"Halt! All troops, take up positions on the spot!"
Xue Huaide reined in his horse and shouted sternly, "Spearmen in front, form ranks using the low hills on the left! Archers, seize the high ground on the right side of the riverbed! Cavalry, divide into two flanks, and move according to my command!"
"Quickly! We don't have time to build fortifications, so let's use our flesh and blood to build a wall here. We must not let a single enemy pass through here and disturb His Majesty's presence!"
Eight thousand soldiers moved at the order, despite being exhausted from the long march.
But military orders are paramount, and with everyone eager to save the Lord, they displayed astonishing efficiency, quickly deploying on the road and the advantageous terrain on both sides.
They formed a simple yet sturdy defensive position centered on infantry and guarding key routes.
They discarded unnecessary supplies, keeping only weapons and personal rations, determined to fight to the death.
Almost immediately after the Chu army had set up their battle formation, a muffled rumble echoed across the earth.
In the distance, billowing smoke and dust indicated that the 10,000-strong Youzhou army reinforcements had appeared on the horizon and were rapidly advancing along the road.
The leading general of the Youzhou army had obviously also noticed the Chu army blocking the way. After a slight surprise, he revealed a disdainful grin.
Do you really think a mere eight thousand people can stop his ten thousand fresh troops?
"Charge! Crush them! Prince Xuan and Emperor Tang are waiting for us!" The Youzhou general drew his sword and roared.
However, what awaited them was not a chaotic and hasty response, but a head-on attack under Xue Huaide's calm command!
"Fire arrows!"