The light of dawn barely penetrated the winter morning and shone on the endless military tents in the Langyu Camp.
Yesterday's disastrous defeat lingered like a nightmare, and many soldiers of the Cao-Liu coalition still had fear of the roar of thunder and the tragic death of their comrades in their eyes.
Just after the hour of Chen, the low sound of a horn tore through the tranquility of the early morning, and the sound of war drums struck everyone's heart like a death clamor.
The camp gates were wide open, and the army poured out again like an iron stream.
Unlike the high morale of yesterday, the Cao-Liu coalition forces today seemed a little disorganized.
The soldiers walked with heavy steps, and the weapons in their hands seemed to have lost their former luster.
Cao Jun and Liu Pan rode side by side in front of the main formation, their faces so gloomy that water could drip out of them.
They looked at the defeated soldiers under their command with mixed feelings.
Tuoba Xiong left 3,000 cavalrymen to guard Xi Sheng at Yingzui Cliff, and the remaining 7,000 cavalrymen from his own army followed closely behind the Cao-Liu coalition forces. Their troops were well-organized and their armor was bright, forming a sharp contrast with the sluggish coalition forces in front.
He himself rode on a tall horse and was surrounded by layers of personal guards.
He looked calmly at the towering Jinyang city walls in the distance, as if everything that happened yesterday had nothing to do with him.
"Two generals!"
A messenger from Tuoba Xiong came galloping over, his voice booming with an unquestionable command, "General Tuoba has ordered us to seize Jinyang today! I hope the two generals will fight bravely and make meritorious contributions while serving their sentences!"
"A meritorious service at the cost of a crime?"
Cao Jun looked stunned and almost squeezed out these words from between his teeth.
He stared at the blurry figure of Tuoba Xiong behind him and said bitterly, "It's obvious that he's holding a knife to my neck and forcing us to die!"
Liu Pan sighed, his face filled with helplessness and exhaustion. "Brother Cao, the situation is stronger than the people. Now we are waiting... Alas, we must be patient for now and act according to the circumstances."
The order has been given, and the military order is as heavy as a mountain.
Although they were extremely reluctant, Cao Jun and Liu Pan had no choice but to order the attack.
"Front troops! Attack the city!"
......
The shrill attack horn sounded like the cry of a ghost.
The allied soldiers who were driven to the front row had numbness and fear on their faces. They carried ladders that were roughly made overnight and pushed fragile shield carts. Like lambs being driven to the slaughterhouse, they moved slowly and desperately towards the Jinyang city wall.
Their shouts were sparse and one could even hear the officers' suppressed scolding and the soldiers' teeth chattering due to nervousness.
On the top of Jinyang City, the defenders were already ready for battle.
After yesterday's victory, the soldiers defending the city were in high spirits, their eyes filled with a strong desire to fight.
Li Mao and Xiao Cheyun, wearing helmets and armor, stood on both sides of the city wall, each holding a sword, and their cold eyes swept over the approaching torrent of enemy troops.
"Archers, shoot at an elevated angle! Three volleys!"
"Crossbowmen, take your positions! Aim for the enemy sergeants and centurions, and kill them first!"
"Get ready the hammer, rolling stone, and hot oil!"
The orders were delivered clearly and swiftly.
In an instant, the defenders on the city wall showed their ferocious fangs.
“Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!”
Dense arrows rose into the sky like locusts, cutting through the air and falling into the coalition forces' formation with the breath of death.
Suddenly, screams rang out one after another, people were shot by arrows and fell to the ground, and the formation began to become chaotic.
Particularly terrifying were the compound bows of the Shenji Battalion, which had great power, a very long range, and were extremely accurate and ruthless. They seemed to have eyes and shot at the low-ranking officers who were trying to organize an attack.
Often a dark shadow flashed by, and an officer fell to the ground, covering his throat or heart, causing greater panic among the surrounding soldiers.
The allied soldiers, holding their shields and braving the rain of arrows, paid a heavy price and finally rushed to the bottom of the city wall.
Ladders were erected and firmly placed on the battlements.
"Kill them! Those who retreat will be killed!"
The supervision team in the rear roared at the top of their lungs.
The real bloody fight has begun!
"Get out!"
The defending soldiers roared, lifted the huge battering ram together and smashed it down hard.
The Allied soldiers on the ladders fell down screaming like dumplings, with broken bones and tendons.
Scalding hot oil and golden juice poured down from the top of the city wall.
The besiegers who were drenched let out inhuman howls, their skin and flesh were torn, and they instantly lost their combat effectiveness. The pungent stench and horrific sight were enough to frighten even the bravest soldiers.
What scared the allied soldiers the most was still the "Sky-shaking Bomb" in the hands of the Shenji Camp.
They lit the fuse, waited for the right moment, and threw the black iron lumps down with all their might.
"boom!"
“Boom!”
Deafening explosions rang out one after another, with flashes of fire, thick smoke, and sharp iron pieces flying everywhere.
Each explosion cleared a small area, and broken limbs mixed with mud flew everywhere. The wailing of the injured but not dead was horrifying.
This weapon, which was beyond their knowledge, not only caused physical destruction, but also brought mental crushing.
When many coalition soldiers saw the thunder bombs emitting black smoke falling, they fled in fear and did not dare to get close. Blank areas appeared at the front of the siege team.
Cao Jun and Liu Pan were watching from behind with their hearts broken and their eyes red.
Every explosion was like a knife cutting into their hearts.
Those who were killed or injured in the explosion were the capital they had accumulated through hard work, and it was also the foundation for them to survive in troubled times!
"We can't go on like this!"
Cao Jun looked at Liu Pan fiercely, "Send someone to ask Tuoba Xiong! Our army has suffered heavy casualties. Should we temporarily suspend the attack?"
Soon, the reply brought back by the guards was cold and heartless:
"The general has ordered that a few casualties are nothing to worry about. The Jinyang defenders are already at the end of their strength. Continue the attack!"
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