With a command from the Fengtian Army general, the defensive weapons were unleashed.
Logs and stones rolled down the ramparts of the wall with a deafening roar, crushing and breaking the bones of the Di soldiers who were trying to climb it.
The foul-smelling, scalding hot liquid was poured over their heads, and the leather-armored Di soldier let out an inhuman scream as his flesh instantly rotted away.
Some sharpshooters even targeted the gaps and joints of the Iron Falcon Mask, and every now and then a massive body would crash to the ground.
The battle lasted from dawn until afternoon. The Northern Di army launched three fierce offensives, leaving behind nearly a thousand corpses, but they still failed to truly break through the first line of defense on the eastern front.
The Fengtian Army also suffered heavy casualties, but its defensive line remained unshaken.
As the sun set, it dyed the battlefield a grim, blood-red hue.
Wuzhu stood on a high chariot in the distance, looking at the camp that had been attacked for a long time and the army that was retreating like a tide. His face was so gloomy that it could drip water.
"Yang Yan... truly lives up to his reputation."
He murmured, feeling a sense of unease for the first time.
This resilient and orderly defense is a stark contrast to the chaos that occurred when Ma Zongliang was the head coach.
"Your Majesty, the enemy's defenses are strong and their equipment is plentiful. A direct assault would result in too many losses," a cavalry commander advised in a low voice.
Wuzhu's eyes flashed with a cold light: "A tough nut to crack? I love gnawing on tough nuts! Issue the order: tomorrow we will divide our forces, feign an attack on the eastern front, and send the main force to outflank and attack the southern front!"
"At the same time, scouts have sprung out in all directions, cutting off their supply lines! Let's see how long they can hold out!"
Inside Xiangzhou City, Yang Yan listened to the reports of casualties and battle results from various battalions, but his face showed no joy.
He knew that this was just the beginning; Wuzhu's probing was over, and the real storm was about to begin.
He spread out the map, his gaze sweeping towards the southern front and the supply lines further back...
"Send reinforcements to the southern front, increasing their density by 30%."
"Order the rear supply train to strengthen its protection. If they encounter small groups of enemy cavalry, they should form ranks to protect themselves. If they encounter large groups, they should burn the supplies and not give them to the enemy!"
The first day of attack and defense ended with a hard-fought victory for the Fengtian Army.
But the stench of blood and gunpowder in the air foreshadowed an even more brutal battle to come.
......
Daizhou, the residence of the military governor.
Zhao Muyun received the first day's battle report almost simultaneously with the Xiangzhou battlefield.
When he saw that Yang Yan had withstood Wuzhu's first fierce attack and defended effectively, with casualties far lower than expected, a glint of approval flashed in his eyes.
"Well done, Yang Yan! This Xiangzhou is probably going to turn into a meat grinder."
He put down the intelligence report and spoke to Wu Shangzhi, Tang Yanhai, and the others beside him.
"My lord, it's a good thing that Yang Yan can hold out," Tang Yanhai analyzed. "At least Wuzhu can't rush south quickly, giving us more time."
"A good thing?" Zhao Muyun shook his head slightly. "It may not be entirely a good thing. If Yang Yan is defeated, Wuzhu's army will advance directly towards the Yellow River, and the court will definitely rely on us even more."
"If Yang Yan wins, or even if it's just a stalemate, his prestige in the court will surely rise greatly. At that time, he can use the momentum of his great victory to turn around and deal with us. Wouldn't that be even more troublesome?"
He walked to the map and pointed to Xiangzhou: "What we want is not for one side to win or lose, but for both sides to suffer losses, or rather, for a perfect balance."
"General Wu, your performance could be a little more realistic, but remember, it should still be all bark and no bite."
"We need to make Wuzhu feel that we are ready to move at any time, but we can't catch our main force."
"Understood, sir!"
"Shen Qian, is there any news from Yinzhou?" Zhao Muyun was more concerned about this.
"Han Jiedu sent a letter saying that Tian Qing, the governor, has assembled 5,000 elite troops from Yunzhou and is preparing to engage them in the battle of Yinzhou."
"Tell Han Zhong to proceed at his own pace; I won't rush him!" Zhao Muyun knew that things couldn't be rushed in Yinzhou.
After all, there were 30,000 cavalrymen from Tufa Wuhu there, while the combined forces of Han Zhong, Tong Gu, Zhong Meng, Murong Chunhua, Tian Qing, and others numbered only 20,000.
Without Han Zhong's main force in Hebei, he has always lacked an important piece in the game in Hebei.
However, this is contingent on ensuring peace and stability in the northeastern part of the river.
Just then, a guard delivered a letter from the capital.
Zhao Muyun unfolded it and saw that it belonged to Li Jingang.
The letter first praised Zhao Muyun for his understanding of the greater good and his role in containing the enemy forces.
Then, the tone shifted, subtly mentioning that many people in the capital had reservations about Zhao Muyun's hesitation in advancing despite possessing a strong army, and hoped that Zhao Muyun would make a move.
Even a small-scale attack is enough to silence any dissent.
After reading the letter, Zhao Muyun handed it to Shen Qian and sneered, "See? Yang Yan only held out for a day, and the court is already impatient to send him away. That old fox Li Jingang is trying to use Wuzhu's knife to weaken me."
"Sir, then we..."
"Reply to Li Jingang that our army has finished its rest and is now preparing for battle, gathering supplies, and will soon march east out of the Dahang Mountains to support the Xiangzhou battlefield. Make it sound impressive."
Zhao Muyun said calmly, "Also, Xiao Wu, have your cavalry show their faces more often in the prefectures occupied by Wuzhu, and set fires whenever possible!"
......
The capital city, the Ziwei Palace.
The news of the initial victory in Xiangzhou dispelled some of the gloom that had hung over the capital, but Li Jingang's face remained grim.
He leaned back on the couch, listening to Feng Liang report on the situation from all sides.
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Yang's first battle was a resounding victory, decisively defeating the enemy's advance. This is truly a blessing for the nation!" Feng Liang began by praising Yang.
"Hmm," Li Jingang responded weakly, "Yang Yan... at least he didn't disappoint me."
He paused, his tone turning somber, "Where are Ma Zongliang and Niu Desheng? Where are they?"
"Your Majesty, General Ma and General Niu have been ordered to return to the capital and are on their way. They will arrive soon."
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
