20demayo Chapter 838 Fierce fighting, the attack begins again!
Chapter 838 Fierce fighting, the attack begins again!
For these ordinary guards, even Gao Yao's personal guards, this scene was an extremely rare sight. The king they followed commanded an army of over 300,000 elite soldiers and governed a population exceeding ten million. He was a figure whose mere stomping of his foot could shake the world. On a normal day, the king issued strict decrees and implemented benevolent policies that benefited the people. His image was majestic, lofty, and unfathomable.
They could feel the tangible improvement in their lives: there were almost no refugees, and as long as they were willing to work, they could have food to eat; although the orphans, the elderly and the young were not rich, they at least had relief food and simple shelter to survive; the handicraft workshops set up in various places gave many people the opportunity to earn their own food with their own hands... These were all the blessings of the king, but they had very few opportunities to see the king's true face.
Today, they not only witnessed the king's bloody battle with the world-renowned King of Chu, Xiang Yu, in the rain, demonstrating unparalleled bravery; they also witnessed the king's approachable demeanor, even joking with the beleaguered prime minister with a touch of chivalrous arrogance. This contrast, far from diminishing the king's majesty, instead gave them a strange sense of intimacy and authenticity.
It turns out that the king can get tired, laugh, pat his subjects on the shoulder and spout nonsense. This human presence, beyond the cold machinery of war and the vast system of rule, is especially precious. Like a spark, it quietly ignites a deeper sense of belonging and a determination to fight to the death within the soldiers' hearts.
Gao Yao's laughter gradually died down. He surveyed the soldiers around him, their eyes smiling yet respectful. Then he glanced at Xiao He, who was still sulking, but the worry in his eyes had faded. A sense of clarity settled within him. The crisis at Yangping Pass was far from over; Xiang Yu's storm could strike again at any moment. But at this moment, amidst the cold and rainy weather, hearts seemed to have become more united. Perhaps this was a pleasant surprise.
Yesterday's torrential rain, while temporarily dousing the flames of war, offered no substantial advantage to either side. The soaked ground, saturated with moisture, became soft and muddy, making it difficult to sink into the mud. This severely slowed the Chu army's siege equipment and the soldiers' charge. For the defenders of Gaoyao, the mud was a double-edged sword.
While hindering the enemy, it also greatly increased the difficulty and danger of transporting supplies for the city's defense. The slippery walls increased the risks of movement and maneuvering for the defenders, while the humid air weakened bowstrings, reducing the power and range of arrows. Even more worryingly, the rain also posed a significant obstacle to the southern border troops, who might be on their way to support. The muddy roads would undoubtedly hamper their march. While the rain seemed to offer Gao Yao a respite, it actually dragged both sides into a quagmire of slow movement and inefficiency, leaving neither side truly advantageous, a mere stalemate.
Time slipped away in the oppressive wait. The next afternoon, the sky finally cleared, and the blazing sun once again scorched the earth, stirring up a humid vapor. But the muddy ground hadn't completely dried out; it still stank of earth and was still slippery to the touch. Xiang Yu had clearly lost all patience. The ground barely reached the critical point where it could withstand the onslaught of his army, and he immediately gave the order to attack!
This time, Xiang Yu didn't ride his horse to the battlefront to show off his might, nor did he attempt to provoke Gao Yao with words. Like a silent volcano, he stood on the high slope behind the attacking army, his double pupils as sharp as an eagle's, his gaze fixed on the top of Yangping Pass. He swung the banner in his hand down fiercely!
“Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom—!”
The dull yet penetrating sound of war drums suddenly erupted, like the heartbeat of a giant beast, shaking the entire battlefield! This drumbeat was the most direct command! The Chu army infantry phalanx, long poised for action, erupted like a flood, roaring and deafening. Trampling through the still-wet mud, carrying ladders and pushing battering rams, they launched a full-scale, ferocious charge towards the walls of Yangping Pass! No tentative steps, no gimmicks, just a fierce, all-out assault!
Gao Yao's figure also appeared immediately from the top of the city wall. He was clad in black armor, reflecting a cold luster in the sunlight. Beneath his helmet, his gaze was as calm as water as he scanned the surging enemy forces. He took a deep breath of air scented with earth and gunpowder, and his voice, steady and clear, pierced the clamor of the city walls: "Archers—ready! Fire!"
"Om-!"
The bowstrings vibrated in unison, emitting a shuddering buzzing sound! In an instant, arrows, covering the sky and the sun, soared into the air, drawing countless arcs of death in the air. With a piercing shriek, they rained down on the charging Chu army like a torrential rain!
The Chu army had been prepared for this! The swordsmen at the forefront immediately raised their massive shields above their heads, linking them tightly together to form a moving "iron wall" above the charging torrent. The soldiers following behind used smaller round shields to protect their vital points, continuing their charge under the cover of their shields.
The arrows "crackled" against the shields, like a torrential downpour hitting banana leaves. Although the sound was terrifying, the casualties were minimized. The Chu army's formation was slightly shaken by the arrows, but the momentum of the charge was not curbed!
Seeing that the vanguard of the Chu army had swarmed to the foot of the city wall like an ant colony, heavy ladders were placed on the battlements with dull thuds!
"Wood! Kerosene! Hurry!" Gao Yao's shout rang out again.
The defenders on the city wall sprang into action. Huge, muddy logs were lifted and hurled down in the direction of the ladders. At the same time, buckets of sticky, pungent kerosene were poured down, dousing the ladders, the base of the city wall, and the Chu soldiers huddled below.
"Ignite!" Gao Yao's voice was cold.
Several rockets were fired accurately into the kerosene!
"boom--!"
The flames erupted instantly! Orange-red tongues of fire shot up several feet high, greedily devouring grease and wood with crackling sounds! Thick smoke billowed, and the stench of burning filled the air! The Chu soldiers, doused in kerosene, let out shrill howls, instantly transforming into tumbling fireballs! The burning logs even blocked several sections of the wall's climbing path, greatly slowing the Chu army's offensive!
The Chu army's response was equally swift and professional! They had their own countermeasures to this common fire attack during sieges. Immediately, several sturdy draft horses rushed out from the rear, harnessed to thick ropes, and braving arrows and falling rocks, they forcibly dragged several huge, blazing logs away! Elsewhere, specialized soldiers braved the flames, frantically shoveling up wet mud and sand with shovels, recklessly throwing themselves at the source of the fire and the flowing kerosene! They sacrificed their lives and the earth, forging a path through the sea of fire to continue their attack!
"Climb the city! Kill!" The roar of the Chu army officer rang out amid the fireworks.