The crisscrossing trenches and scattered fortifications formed a formidable barrier.
"Deep trenches and high walls, huddled up and out of the way... Hmph, trying to wage a war of attrition against me?"
Wuzhu snorted coldly, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes. "Issue the order! At dawn tomorrow, with the 'Iron Falcons' as the vanguard, the auxiliary troops will fill the trenches and tear open his first line of defense on the eastern front!"
"I want to see just how hard Yang Yan's tortoise shell really is!"
On the city wall of Xiangzhou, Yang Yan also spent a sleepless night.
He stood behind the cold battlements, gazing expressionlessly at the enemy camp to the north, which was brightly lit like a sea of stars.
The scouts' reports confirmed Wuzhu's main force's arrival and his intention to attack tomorrow.
"It's finally here."
He muttered to himself, then turned to the messenger standing behind him and said, "Order each battalion to prepare according to Plan A. Archers and crossbowmen to the fortified walls, infantry to hold their positions, and cavalry to stand by."
"Tell Wang Bing that without my signal fire, if his horse dares to step out of Lijiapo, he'll come running back with his head!"
"yes!"
At dawn the next day, as the sky began to lighten, a deep and desolate sound of a bull horn rang out from the Northern Barbarian camp, breaking the deathly silence before dawn.
The dark, dense army of the Northern Barbarians began to surge forward like a tide.
At the forefront was a column driving countless captured Han Chinese auxiliary soldiers and rudimentary shield carts, followed by heavily armored "Iron Falcons" heavy infantry wielding giant axes and clubs.
On both flanks were light cavalrymen, their bows half-drawn, ready to launch barrages at any moment.
Woohoo!
A long, resounding bugle call rang out.
The battle suddenly ignited amidst the piercing sound of arrows whistling through the air.
The Northern Barbarians' arrows rained down on the Fengtian Army's eastern camp like locusts, clanging and clattering against the shields and ramparts.
Under the threat of whips and swords, the auxiliary soldiers cried out as they filled sandbags and bundles of firewood into the deep trenches. Every now and then, someone would be killed by a stray arrow that was accurately shot down from the stockade wall, falling into the trench with a scream.
"Hold your ground! Fire only when ordered!"
The junior officers of the Fengtian Army shouted at the top of their lungs, suppressing the fear and impulse to fight back of their soldiers.
After some of the trenches were barely filled to create several narrow passages, the Northern Di's "Iron Hawks" let out beast-like howls and began their charge.
These heavily armored infantrymen, like moving iron towers, ignored most of the arrows, brandishing their heavy weapons, and frantically attacked the wooden palisades and gates of the camp.
"Release the arrows!"
"Roll the log! Smash it!"
"Golden gravy! Pour it over!"
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