Chapter 235: Charcoal In The Snow
The medium catapults launched, twenty ten-foot throwing arms swung out, hurling a hundred stones weighing over thirty pounds each into the Western Chu camp. Boulders emitted sharp whistling sounds, tumbling through the air and appearing incredibly swiftly above the Western Chu Army. Western Chu soldiers shouted loudly, scattering to both sides or diving into shields.
With a “Boom!” muffled roar, the boulders crashed down, sending dust flying. Several Western Chu soldiers failed to dodge in time and were smashed with broken bones and torn tendons, dying on the spot. The powerful impact force made many soldiers crouch down, raising shields to meet the challenge.
Another loud bang, a large stone struck a shield. With a “Bang!” ringing sound, the shield’s vines caused the boulder, whose edges had been worn smooth, to not hit solidly and instead bounce high, flying over twenty paces. This stone achieved no effect.
Another muffled sound, accompanied by the cracking of a frame, and a shield was smashed flat. Over a dozen Western Chu soldiers hiding under the shield stumbled out, many with arms injured by the powerful impact force, retreating while groaning in pain.
The second volley of catapults fired again, a hundred large stones tumbling through the air with whistling sounds as they smashed down. This time, over a hundred Western Chu soldiers were struck by the stones, blood and flesh flying everywhere, shields shattering, rafts breaking. Immediately the third volley, fourth volley… Every catapult volley caused dozens of casualties. Though the catapults were enormously powerful, the Western Chu Army had sufficient defenses after all, unable to create too great a killing effect.
Ten thousand Western Chu Army soldiers, rafts held high, surged to under the city wall. On the city wall, Jiaozhi Army arrows fired chaotically, arrows like hail and sudden rain, blanketing the sky as they shot toward the attacking Western Chu Army.
Western Chu Army raised shields to meet them, with people constantly struck by arrows and dying miserably. In the arrow rain, over a thousand Western Chu soldiers “Boom!” placed several-zhang-long rafts over the moat, forming five temporary wooden bridges.
One after another, ladders six zhang high, immensely heavy and wide, were placed against the city wall. Groups of fierce brave Western Chu soldiers rushed onto the ladders and began climbing upward. Jiaozhi Army arrow rain shot down at an angle, rolling logs and rubble smashed down head-on. Constantly Western Chu soldiers screamed as they fell from the stairs, bodies pierced by arrows, skulls smashed. Under the city wall, corpses began to pile up, and immediately more Western Chu soldiers madly climbed the stairs, charging upward heedlessly.
At this time, hundreds of assault soldiers clad in iron armor withstood the crossbows and charged onto the city wall, engaging in fierce battle with the enemy army on the city wall.
Zhao Yun shouted loudly: “Sound the horns, sortie!”
“Woo——”
Western Chu Army sounded the horns. Zhao Yun led several thousand toward the city wall.
At this time, horns also sounded from the east, “Woo——” horn sounds echoed under the city wall. This was General Taishi also sortieing.
Bu Zhi calmly watched the city wall. He turned and ordered: “Beat the drums, send the entire attacking army forward!”
Drums boomed again in the Western Chu barracks, “Dong! Dong! Dong!” Western Chu Army main force surged toward the city wall like tides.
Commander Shi Wu standing in front of the city tower saw the situation was bad and turned to flee down the city. Taishi Ci had long targeted him. He drew his bow and nocked an arrow, shooting one out with a “Whoosh!” This arrow pierced through Shi Wu’s nape, nailing him dead to a wooden pillar on the city tower.
Western Chu Army assaulted the city wall along the entire line. Defending soldiers knelt and surrendered one after another. Several thousand soldiers tried to open the South City Gate to flee but could not escape. Bu Zhi personally led ten thousand army to block the city gate.
Several thousand soldiers had no choice but to lay down their weapons and surrender outside the city.
Shi Wu was dead. His son Shi Kuang also died amid the chaos. Of the ten thousand army, over three thousand were killed, the remaining soldiers all surrendered, none escaping.
………..
Bu Zhi on the city wall looked with great interest at the hundred catapults. These catapults had only fired three times and were basically intact. Moreover, he found the catapults to be finely crafted.
Bu Zhi turned and asked the surrendered Grain Officer, “Who manufactured these catapults?”
The Grain Officer hurriedly smiled obsequiously, “Many artisans from the Central Plains fled to Jiaozhi, over a thousand in number. Shi Xie established an Artisan Bureau to forge weapons and siege equipment. These hundred catapults were made by them.”
Zhao Yun laughed at the side, “We were just worrying how to transport the catapults. Now sleepiness brings a pillow—this is surely Heaven’s Will?”
“Indeed, it came just in time!”
Bu Zhi turned again to ask the Grain Officer: “How much grain and fodder is in the city?”
“Reporting to Sima Bu, there is fifty thousand shi of grain, twenty thousand dan of black beans, and some hay, probably several ten thousand dan.”
Bu Zhi nodded and said to Battalion Commander Lin Kuan of the Marching Sima: “Fifty thousand shi of grain is enough for us to take Jiaozhi Commandery. Do not transport grain from Linchen County for now.”
Bu Zhi was very clear: the enemy dared not strike their main force midway, but would certainly strike the rear logistics grain team. Since there were ready-made catapults and sufficient grain and fodder, that meant no need to transport grain for now.
“Subordinate obeys the order!”
Nearby, Taishi Ci hesitated and said: “Sima Bu, if we just send more army to escort, we should be able to keep the logistics team safe!”
Bu Zhi pondered for a moment and said: “My weak point is unfamiliarity with the terrain. Along the way, how many gorges, how many dense forests—these dense forests hide what behind them, these valleys lead where? We know nothing, but the enemy knows clearly. If Jiaozhi Army wants to raid the logistics grain team, we truly cannot defend against it everywhere. General Taishi, attacking Wangmei City has already caused over a thousand casualties. I do not want more soldiers to suffer pointless deaths.”
Taishi Ci’s face reddened. He bowed and said: “Subordinate knows his mistake!”
Zhao Yun suddenly said, “Might the team delivering fire oil be ambushed?”
Bu Zhi’s expression changed, immediately becoming grave. He had only considered rear logistics grain and forgotten the fire oil team trailing behind. This transport team was already midway.
“Oh no!”
Bu Zhi did not think and urgently said: “Quickly order Zhou Guang to lead scout cavalry to meet them!
Zhou Guang led three hundred cavalry galloping ahead. That evening, he met the fire oil transport team at Wild Elephant Pass.
Wild Elephant Pass was about seventy li from Wangmei County, an abandoned pass located at a narrow defile. Originally it was a dangerous pass.
But several years ago, it was abandoned due to a change in the official road route.
The pass city walls were nearly collapsed. The area inside was not small, overgrown with waist-high weeds, snakes and insects coming and going.
A convoy of eighty large carts and two hundred escort soldiers was stopped inside the pass. The large carts were loaded with four thousand incendiary bombs, each incendiary bomb packed in a small wooden box with strict protection. The incendiary bombs’ leather shells were like eggshells, shattering at the slightest touch.
The escort commander was named Zheng Rong, a Battalion Commander. Zheng Rong was extremely nervous. He had discovered enemy scouts during the day. By evening, he dared not proceed. Fortunately, he spotted Wild Elephant Pass.
Subordinates were all deployed around the walls of Wild Elephant Pass, tensely watching the pitch-black forest and valley outside.
Suddenly a soldier shouted: “Battalion Commander, Commandant Zhou is here!”
Zheng Rong’s spirits lifted. He hurriedly ran to the pass gate. Sure enough, it was Scout Commandant Zhou Guang, with hundreds of horse-holding subordinates behind him.
Zheng Rong was so moved tears fell, “Commandant, you are truly delivering charcoal in the snowy storm!”
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【Family emergency, taking a lunch break for one chapter, normal updates in the afternoon】
