As the sun rose, the clone army of Cancer arrived at the capital of Southern Chu and arrayed themselves.
Just as Su Wan had calculated, the enemy numbered more than 50,000, and they also brought hundreds of metal ladders for the siege. The 50,000 troops were divided into five square formations, with rows of soldiers as neat as honor guards, each one of them exactly the same height.
Instead of engaging in direct combat, a man who appeared to be a commander went down to the city walls and requested to speak with the Jin army's commander.
To make his voice loud enough, the commander took a megaphone and shouted to the people on the city wall: "I am the combat commander, and I wish to speak with the Emperor of Great Jin and the Emperor of Southern Chu. Please show yourself."
Wei Jingzhuo and Chu Yi stood side by side under the banner. Wei Jingzhuo said, "The Emperor of Southern Chu and I are right here. Do you have anything to say?"
Behind the two, Su Wan and Princess Chu Yun were whispering to each other.
Chu Yun said, "Sister Su Wan, they didn't attack the city directly, but instead asked for dialogue. Could it be that they want to persuade us to surrender?"
"I think so?"
Su Wan also felt it was somewhat similar. Usually, before a battle begins, there's a step to persuade the enemy to surrender, to avoid casualties on both sides. It seems the clone army on the other side is quite particular about ancient customs.
Then the commander of the clone army below the city said, "Our army is ordered to attack this city. Anyone who obstructs us will be killed without mercy. Listen to my good advice..."
Chu Yi interrupted him, saying, "I know what you mean. You want us to surrender immediately, right?"
The commander said, "No, to ensure that this goal is achieved, I suggest that all living beings in the city immediately commit suicide."
Chu Yun turned pale with fright and grabbed Su Wan's sleeve, saying, "Sister Su Wan, they're going to massacre the city."
Su Wan was shocked, but patted Chu Yun's hand and said, "It's alright, the Western Rong Crown Prince's army is almost here, we should be able to win this battle."
While she was quietly comforting Chu Yun, Meng Ruliu on the city wall was furious. She grabbed a strong bow, nocked an arrow, and aimed it at the commander.
The commander was still speaking when an arrow suddenly flew by, striking him squarely in the throat, and he fell to the ground dead.
The clone army remained calm. Another member stepped forward and said, "The commander has been killed in action. I will take his place. The enemy has rejected the proposal and is attacking."
The first 10,000-strong formation moved at the sound, marching in orderly steps toward the city wall.
Meng Ruliu shouted, "Archers, fire!"
The archers on the city wall had already nocked their arrows. Upon hearing Meng Ruliu's order, the two thousand archers stood up almost simultaneously, drew their bows, and fired a volley of arrows. Then they retreated to nock their arrows, and new archers stepped forward to fire.
Arrows flew like locusts, and three or four out of ten soldiers in the front rows of the clone army were shot down like arrow stacks, lying on the ground struggling and groaning. The soldiers in the back rows stepped over the fallen soldiers and continued to advance.
Wei Jingzhuo shouted, "Everyone, be careful not to let them shoot at the city wall with their defensive guns."
No matter how thick or sturdy the city wall is, if it gets riddled with holes by defensive guns, it will eventually collapse.
To prevent this from happening, the Jin army prepared a large number of stones last night. When the clone army rushed to the vicinity of the city wall, the soldiers on the city wall raised stones and threw them down.
Rocks rained down on the clone army's heads, and even helmets couldn't withstand the heavy impact, sending the clone soldiers sprawling.
A few clone soldiers managed to dodge the stones, but they only had time to fire a few shots before being fatally shot by sharpshooters positioned on the city walls.
Su Wan took Chu Yun's hand and said, "Let's not stay on the city wall. It will distract them. Let's hide down below."
The two came down from the city wall and found Chu Mingyao in a room at the foot of the wall.
Although the clone army possessed advanced defensive firearms, they lacked the rockets and catapults commonly used by ancient armies. Su Wan wasn't worried about what they would throw into the city.
Hearing the sounds of battle outside, Chu Mingyao asked Su Wan, "They've started their attack?"
Su Wan said, "Ah Jin and Brother Chu are directing the battle. With the two of them here, the clone army definitely won't be able to take it down."
Wei Jingzhuo and Chu Yi are the most outstanding commanders of this era, their abilities proven in previous battles. If even the two of them can't stop them, then no one in this world can stop the clone army.
Chu Mingyao nervously clutched the hem of her clothes: "I don't know if Your Highness will be able to make it in time."
The three sat inside, listening to the shouts of battle outside. After an unknown amount of time, a sound like muffled thunder suddenly came from outside, and it lasted for dozens of times. A fierce cheer erupted from the city wall, soaring into the sky.
Chu Yun jumped up and ran outside, saying, "Let me see what's wrong."
Su Wan and Chu Mingyao were worried about her, so they both went out with her.
The three arrived at the city wall and immediately saw huge plumes of smoke and flames constantly erupting from the clone army's formation.
With each cloud of smoke that rose, a dozen or so clone soldiers would fall from within, and the ground would be blasted up, creating many deep craters.
“It’s the Divine Machine Cannon,” Chu Yun said, pointing into the distance. “Look!”
Su Wan looked in the direction Chu Yun pointed and saw a row of Divine Machine Cannons arrayed in the distance, their muzzles flashing and emitting deafening roars as they bombarded the clone army's formation. Behind the cannons was an army of several thousand men, their flags fluttering—the garrison of Yanxun Pass.
It turned out that the garrison of Yanxun Pass was escorting the Shenji Cannon to the battlefield.
She excitedly approached Wei Jingzhuo and said, "Ah Jin, so you brought in the Divine Machine Cannon!"
It turns out that during the Battle of Xiping Pass, Bai Zhiyi brought in the Divine Machine Cannons, which devastated Xiping Pass. Now these cannons can finally be used for their own purposes.
“The Divine Machine Cannon is relatively slow to move, but luckily we made it in time,” Wei Jingzhuo said. “These cannons pose a great threat to the clone army. If I’m not mistaken, they will have to divide their forces to deal with the Divine Machine Cannon. The key to victory lies in this moment.”
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