A deafening roar erupted outside the city, a sound that seemed to shake the clouds in the night sky.

It seemed to converge into a terrifying tsunami, pressing down from the front like a tidal wave.

The Song army's fortified city suddenly appeared fragile and isolated.

A pressure as heavy as a mountain suddenly pressed down, and everyone in the stronghold felt their hearts sink to the bottom.

Just by listening to the sound, one could tell that the barbarians had mobilized at least tens of thousands of troops.

The officers standing on the city wall saw the endless torches below, their gaze stretching to the infinite distance, like a vast ocean.

"Young master, this place is not safe to stay any longer. Come with me out of the city at once!"

"No rush. Beiyuan Village is in imminent danger. Every additional person adds to our strength." Lu You said calmly. He was wearing a blue officer's uniform with a star on his chest, indicating that he was an officer of the Imperial Academy.

He was only fifteen years old, but he stood tall and straight like a pine tree, with a strong physique and bright, spirited eyes.

He exudes a sense of power.

Lu You's personal bodyguard, Zhang Jing, was somewhat anxious. This time, he accompanied Lu You north to Beiyuan Village. Before leaving, Lu Zai had instructed him to ensure Lu You's safety.

As the youngest non-commissioned officer in his class at the Imperial Military Academy, and a recognized genius throughout the academy, Lu You, skilled in both literature and martial arts, was specifically chosen by the Military Governor's Office to receive special training.

If he were to perish here, Zhang Jing would not only lose his own life, but also fail to protect Lu You, and he believed he would be a sinner against the Song Dynasty.

The barbarian army has suddenly pressed on the border, and the garrison of Beiyuan Village only numbers ten thousand.

The Song soldiers in the fortified village stood in neat rows on the open ground.

Spears, sabers, muskets, and round shields were the standard weapons of the Song army.

The flickering flames of countless torches around them illuminated the young men's faces, making them appear resolute and brave.

Gu Changting, dressed in a blue military uniform underneath a black armor and wearing a tasseled hat, walked to the open space in front of the city gate, surrounded by his guards.

The officers were already there waiting.

"How dare these barbarians invade my city! My men, follow me and fight them to the death!"

He drew his knife, raised it high, and spoke in a powerful, resonant voice.

The crowd below immediately shouted, "Long live the Great Song Dynasty!"

Immediately, the morale of the Song army soared.

The officers, each with their soldiers, held their positions.

Musketeers and archers were lined up on the city wall.

"Artillerymen, prepare!"

A rough voice roared from the city wall.

The artillerymen's assistants rushed over, having stored some shells at each gun emplacement.

The other artillery assistants were carrying shells from below the city wall in an orderly manner.

"Hurry! Be faster!"

The officer's voice was very penetrating.

Bang……

Burning stones outside the city wall slammed into the city walls with a dull thud.

More and more stones appeared in the air, like a dense meteor shower.

boom……

The cannons on the Song army's city walls finally roared angrily, a sound even more inspiring than the sound of war drums.

The fifth-generation cannons of the Song Dynasty had an effective range of up to 800 meters!

The first cannonball struck the front ranks, its powerful impact instantly shattering two barbarian soldiers, leaving them no time to scream.

Blood splattered, the explosion sent people flying and knocked several people over.

Boom boom boom...

There were a total of twenty cannons on the city wall, which fired simultaneously, creating a deafening roar.

The artillery generated terrifying shockwaves, sending the barbarian army flying and blood flying in front of them.

Burning stones rained down on the Song army's city walls, leaving them in ruins.

"Zhang Junhe!" Li Yunlong of the artillery battalion roared at the top of his lungs, "Damn it! Concentrate your firepower and blast all these damn barbarian catapults to smithereens!"

"yes!"

The artillerymen began to adjust their aim, the gears inside the cannons made a deep, rumbling sound, and the artillerymen aimed at the catapults ahead.

Soon, the Song army's artillery fire began to converge.

Bang bang bang...

Wood chips flew everywhere, and the barbarian soldiers who were adding stones and fuel behind the catapult were the first to be hit. In an instant, half of their bodies were blasted into pieces by the cannon fire, and blood splattered onto the broken wooden frame.

Archers, crossbowmen, and musketeers marched in formation onto the city wall.

The musketeers positioned themselves behind the battlements, placing their muskets in the openings beneath the battlements and firing freely downwards.

The crossbowmen placed medium-sized crossbow bolts on the ground and then placed the arrows on them.

The archers were at the very back.

Soon, a rain of arrows filled the sky.

It's as if looking from Lu You's perspective, one could see countless black dots rapidly changing under the bright moonlight, transforming into shooting stars gleaming with cold light as they hurtle downwards.

The war drums of the barbarians below grew louder and louder.

The soldiers at the front began pushing the ladders forward, advancing them towards the city gate.

In the very center, a dozen or so burly men pushed a cart with huge wooden stakes on it, rushing toward the city gate.

Many people had only charged a short distance when they were hit by Song soldiers' musket bullets and fell to the ground groaning in pain.

Some, having just fallen to the ground, were pinned to the ground by a dense barrage of arrows and died instantly.

The barbarian army is gradually increasing its speed, and the number of them advancing is also increasing.

Meanwhile, the number of arrows fired by the Song army was also increasing significantly; what was once a dense volley was now like a torrential downpour.

During the day, it seems to blot out the sky.

"Respected Murk, the Song army's weapons are truly terrifying. If we continue like this, we will surely suffer heavy losses!"

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