The southern prairie army launched two or three large-scale attacks daily. Ma Yue and Shuichong estimated that at least four to five thousand grassland people had fallen. Regardless of whether they were all young and strong, they were still laborers, able to bend the bow and shoot arrows. At least, the grassland people didn't use the elderly, the weak, women, and children to make up the numbers.
So many grassland people fell, and there was still a huge crowd of them.
Ma Yue also knew that defending the city to death was the most foolish thing. However, there were too many grassland people. Although the number of people attacking the city was not small, they were only a part of it. Many grassland cavalrymen... would not give the Hai tribe a chance to launch a surprise attack.
If it really comes down to a cavalry fight, the Sea Tribe would basically be courting death.
What to do? Just fight it out.
"Spirit, that's not right. Even the coalition forces from that grassland wouldn't send out so many troops. Look, there are at least tens of thousands of troops in the distance. Is that possible?" Shuichong's question made sense. A large tribe of grassland people with only a few thousand main forces would be super awesome.
Even if we unite and rely on many surrounding small tribes, tens of thousands of people would be a lot. Isn't this too many?
"Shaman, did the grassland people migrate here with their families?" asked the second priest.
The grassland people, with the exception of very young children, were all skilled in horseback riding, archery, and donkey riding, so their migration seemed normal. The main tribe, plus the many dependent tribes, plus even more elderly, weak women, and children, made up a reasonable number of people.
The grassland people have not yet learned the cannon fodder tactics. If they really use the old and weak to attack the city first to consume the manpower and material resources of Haifan City, I am afraid that Haifan City will not be able to withstand it.
Because the people of the grassland are good at archery, the current casualty ratio between the two sides is roughly one to three.
The 4,000-strong cavalry brigade that was originally formed never returned. Half of them had followed Luo Bai to Sun City, and the other half were watching from a distance outside the city, and they did not dare to rashly attack the large group of grassland people.
Most of the militiamen from the North and South branches supporting Haifan City had been taken away by Yushan and Tianxiong to attack Leishen City, and had not returned to Haifan City. Therefore, Haifan City's combat effectiveness had been greatly weakened. Including the elderly and weak, Haifan City only had a little over 10,000 men who could be mobilized to resist on the city walls.
If this continues, Haifan City will suffer even greater losses.
Night was about to fall, and the grassland people's attack for the day was over.
"Swindler, including the militia, we have only about two to three thousand regular and deputy soldiers. We can't withstand a few attacks." Shuichong said, "You should make preparations." Shuichong knew the enemy's and our own strengths best. With such consumption, it wouldn't take two times, and I'm afraid that all the regular and deputy soldiers, as well as the militia on the city would be gone.
"Oh!" The third priest also sighed. Perhaps, tomorrow, Haifan City will really fall. Even if there are less than a thousand seamen and sailors as reserves, they can't withstand the consumption of so many grassland people.
Do you think the old and weak people of the grasslands are just for show? Speaking of swords and guns, they will also deplete your defense strength.
"Charlatan, at sea..." The investigators on the seashore came to report.
At sea? Could it be that the grassland people had joined forces with the navies of other large tribes to launch a two-pronged attack?
"A lot of boats?" Ma Yue asked.
"Not too many, maybe twenty or so."
Only twenty ships? How many troops can they transport? It's meaningless.
Soon, the second group of scouts arrived: "God, the sea ship is approaching, and it has the flag of our sea tribe."
Could it be Flint? Didn't they not allow him to come back?
"God damn it, it's... Hai Rui's fleet!" The third scout arrived. The ships were gradually approaching, and the scout finally got a clear view.
"Hai Rui?" Everyone was stunned. Hai Rui often led their fleet on expeditions, and disappearing for months at a time was common. However, during this life-and-death battle, Hai Rui's return of only twenty ships seemed insignificant.
If that little bit of naval power was needed, the Sea Tribe wouldn't have let Flint's last fleet escape and become pirates.
"Hai Rui is the lucky star of our Hai tribe. Perhaps, he will bring back the treasure we need most, haha!" Ma Yue smiled.
"Treasure? What other treasure could it be? Would it be meaningful in such a war?" Even Shuichong didn't quite believe it.
"I'll go check it out." I hope so, to see if there's any accident.
"I'll go take a look too." The third priest also followed Ma Yue to the beach.
"Swindler!" The ship docked and Hai Rui was finally seen.
"I'm glad you're back." Ma Yue was relieved. He didn't have many old brothers left, and with Hai Rui, at least they had left behind a naval seed. Ma Yue was forced to move inland, a decision he had no choice but to make. The real wealth lay in the sea.
"God damn it, I found it! I found the black oil you mentioned, haha..."
"What? You actually found it?" Ma Yue was extremely surprised. Yes, Hai Rui might not be good at fighting, but he has always been lucky.
"I brought back a lot. I've tested it and it's just as you said. It's very fire-resistant and can't be extinguished even with water." While Hai Rui was speaking, the sailors on the ship had already started unloading the cargo.
"Such a big wooden barrel? Where did you get it?" Ma Yue asked curiously.
"There's an island north of Donghai Island. The first tribe there found a very sticky glue. Look, this big wooden barrel is filled with a lot of black oil. It's quite strong."
Ma Yue also came over. The bottom and the sides of the wooden barrel were all made of wood. Although they were very rough, the key was the strength of the bonding. Even Ma Yue was amazed.
Oil, it’s really oil.
"How did you get this black oil?"
"The water flows out from the ground near the tribe's stream. We don't need to mine it, we can just pick it up. It's very convenient."
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