However, in addition to deploying a large number of crossbow carts and artillery carts along the levee, the Song army also built fences on the inner slope of the levee, steepened the slope directly in front of the crossbow carts, and deployed sufficient front-line troops.

The reinforcements in the Jin army camp rushed forward, but encountered stubborn resistance at the top line of the dike, and had to endure heavy casualties from the Song army's powerful crossbows while attacking from above.

Soon, the Song army's eight-ox crossbow carts quickly ended the assault using the simplest and most direct method - using wood to prop up their hind legs to lower the shooting range.

The Song army did it on purpose. In the previous three days, they would rather watch the two precious Eight-Ox Crossbows being burned than use this tactic which was incredibly simple and had incredibly effective results.

If the arrowheads of the Jurchens' heavy arrows were like daggers, then the crossbow arrows of the Eight Ox Crossbow were like large-sized javelins. Three arrows were fired in succession, easily stringing together several people along the slope of the levee at the closest distance like blood gourds, and then nailing their bodies to the frozen soil or even the thick ice below the levee.

Armor, shield, superb martial arts and fearless courage are all like paper.

Frankly speaking, the actual damage caused by the reduced shooting range of just a few dozen Eight-Ox Crossbows is undoubtedly a drop in the bucket for the huge battle group of the Jin army, but its morale-damaging effect is too great, even more excessive than the damage caused by shooting from the river before it thawed, because it is too close!

After only two or three rounds of shooting, the offensive of the Jin army reinforcements was broken, and the defeated soldiers fled back to the river like a tide. They would rather hold their shields and take the crossbow arrows below than see their comrades strung together at the closest distance, and then live in fear, imagining themselves becoming like that.

Even though the experienced soldiers and commanders knew very well that the casualties would be even greater in this passive state of being attacked, because the crossbow arrows were dense and continuous, and there would most likely be covering attacks from artillery carts.

But anyway, I just don’t dare to rush.

However, the Jin army commanders were not stupid or stubborn. Before the artillery started bombarding, they quickly adjusted their strategy. They recalled the troops and organized them into squads and groups to avoid the direct sweeping range of the Eight-Ox Crossbows. They attacked and fought in smaller areas in waves.

The adjustment was effective immediately. It would have been impossible for the Song army to deploy the Eight Ox Crossbows to block a battle line of more than ten miles in a month. Although the Jin army's reinforcements who avoided the direct attack range of these dozens of Eight Ox Crossbows still needed to attack from above, at least there would be no major collapse such as an instant collapse of morale.

Moreover, the Jin army did not let these reinforcements die in vain. Almost immediately, after confirming that this method was feasible, some Jurchen heavy armored soldiers officially joined the assault team.

This immediately raised the combat capability of the Jin army to a higher level. Like yesterday, the Song army began to suffer casualties, and the front line began to loosen in some places.

After about two more major offensives, before noon, large groups of Jurchen heavy armored troops began to appear, and without any surprise, they all appeared in the southern part of the front line.

Almost in an instant, the Song army defending the south side of the Yongji Canal felt tremendous pressure.

"Marshal, Commander Bei has passed on military intelligence, saying that the second zone of Zone A in the southern section of the western front was once lost, but was quickly recovered." On the earthen hill to the north of Yuancheng, Bi Jin, a personal instructor of Yue Fei, who had hurriedly returned from Hedong a few days before the freezing weather, came to Yue Fei's side and knelt down to report, sweating profusely.

"Got it." Yue Fei sat upright in a chair on the hill, his words were extremely simple.

Upon hearing this, Bi Jin hurried back and went to the rope under the balloon to continue waiting for news... He had gone back and forth thirty or forty times this morning, so it was no wonder that he was sweating profusely.

"Marshal, do you want to provide support in advance?" Although Senator Huang Zong did not send any messages, he was also sweating.

"Didn't you, Huang, decide the military strategy yourself?" Yue Fei finally showed some expression, but he narrowed his eyes and asked. "You said before that the Jin army would not attack from both north and south, and the right army of the imperial camp must not be dispatched. The east side behind us would not attack from both sides, and the two Beiwei armies must not be mobilized. Why did you change it in the middle of the battle?"

At this time, Zhang Rong went to the southernmost line to take charge, Hu Yin went to the northern line to supervise the battle, and Huang Zong looked around and saw that only Tian Shizhong, a senior official from the outer town, was sitting there, holding a copy of Emperor Zhao's "absurd edict" and reading it non-stop. He took a few deep breaths and smiled bitterly:

"How can you know it will be so difficult until you are in battle?"

Yue Fei nodded, thinking: "So, Councillor Huang didn't change his mind, but he was so nervous that he couldn't hold back even though he knew he should wait?"

"Yes." Huang Zong admitted bluntly. "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Marshal."

Yue Fei shook his head, as if he didn't agree, but also as if he didn't care. But at this moment, the entire western front of more than ten miles was filled with shouts and screams, like waves, and with the continuous transmission of military intelligence, no one cared.

After waiting for a while, Bi Jin returned from the hot air balloon and reported hastily: "Marshal, there is a big problem in the southern section. The fourth area of ​​the word "Y" has been broken by the Jin army. The flags in the area have all been cut down by the Jin army!"

Everyone was panicked and looked at Yue Fei at the same time. However, Yue Fei was not in a hurry. He glanced behind him, then glanced at Tian Shizhong who was silent beside him, and then slowly answered: "Don't panic. Behind the fourth district of Yi is Li Kui's army. Although he is meticulous and cautious, he is always decisive in major matters. He should be able to take over soon... If he fails, Tang Huai will also coordinate."

Everyone was barely able to calm down, and a moment later, there were reports from the hot air balloon and the front line that the front line had sent out troops to drive the Jin army back, and the one who led the counterattack was none other than Li Kui, the commander in chief who was famous for his meticulousness in the army.

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