Chapter 375: The Fire Ox Formation, Flooding the Seven Armies [Part Two]
Although a fire broke out at the makeshift camp, the soldiers were unharmed due to prior precautions. The ambush not only failed but was also outmaneuvered, resulting in the loss of hundreds of men. The air was thick with the stench of burning flesh and agonizing screams.
Shao Chong, who claimed he was unwell and needed to rest, was so angry that his fists clenched. Although he wasn't very smart and his comprehension wasn't as good as his twelve older brothers, he knew that he was a reinforcement who had come to help, and now he was being attacked in the territory of the people he was trying to rescue!
He has never suffered such injustice in his entire life!
The subordinate officer barely managed to restrain the red-eyed Shao Chong, who was about to go on a killing spree: "Don't be impulsive. The enemy's ambush is still unknown. You can't rush out! Let's see what the other three do first."
Shao Chong was so angry that even his cheeks turned a light pink from the smoke.
He asked, "Have Shen Jun and the others returned?"
The subordinate official replied, "We haven't received any news yet."
But nothing should happen.
Those who went to the banquet were all the best among the crowd. With the combined strength of a few people, breaking through should not be too difficult.
The troops at the temporary camp assembled and formed ranks within a few periods of time, with walls of civil energy rising up in various places to intercept enemy arrows.
If the civil energy city wall is breached, soldiers will unite in their respective military formations to rally their morale and fight back against the enemy. Various martial energies will collide and bombard, creating countless powerful and turbulent air waves that will lift the eaves of the nearest buildings into the sky.
Kang Shi and the other three military scribes were already on high alert, their spiritual power, "Scattered Like Stars," poised to be unleashed. All four maintained a formation that allowed them to advance or retreat as needed. Though seemingly incompatible, they were in reality mutually supportive.
Both sides fired flaming arrows at each other.
Seeing that there was little progress, they had no choice but to change their strategy.
What wicked scheme is brewing in your belly?
Gong Shuwu dared not stray too far from the main army, fearing the enemy might launch a feint attack and he wouldn't be able to return in time. He exchanged a few blows with several weaker martial artists, taking three heads, while the remaining two seized the opportunity to flee on horseback.
He led several hundred martial arts soldiers in a fierce battle with the enemy ambush, and the enemy, in turn, abandoned their corpses and ran back.
This wasn't just the case on his side; it was the same on all other battlefields. But to say that the enemy was simply driven back by them wasn't entirely true.
They simply retreated to a distance of about a hundred feet.
Not long after—
Xianyu Jian and the others felt the tremors beneath their feet becoming increasingly clear, and it seemed as if ten thousand horses were galloping towards them from not far away.
Upon closer inspection, good heavens, it wasn't a horse at all, but clearly a cow with its rump glowing orange-red and its tail flaming!
It's not a cow!
That's a huge herd of cows!
A single bull's mournful bellow is piercing, but countless bulls are chilling. The herd of bulls is in a frenzy, with warriors wielding spears perched atop their backs. And what is being dragged behind them?
Without hesitation, Kang Shi waved his long sleeves.
As the literary energy poured forth, several walls of literary energy, each tens of feet long, over ten feet high, and a dozen feet wide, blocked their path. The other three families of scholars followed suit. Xianyu Jian and the other military generals recalled their martial energy soldiers: "Collapse!"
When martial artists use this incantation, the effects are largely the same: their martial energy becomes a blade to cleave through trenches and ravines.
Chu Yao's unconventional approach—
It won't work right now either.
Kang Shi looked grave as he watched the rapidly closing herd of cattle and muttered, "There must be more than a thousand of these cattle, right?"
Cattle, especially draft cattle, are incredibly precious.
Slaughtering cattle without reporting to the authorities is a crime punishable by imprisonment. If these bandits had so many live cattle to slaughter, they wouldn't have resorted to banditry. Kang Shi immediately recognized that this thing was actually a "fire ox formation," which required the integration of both civil and military energy.
A formation is composed of "a thousand oxen".
The warriors could ride fire oxen as mounts and charge into the enemy ranks together. These "oxen" were violent and had incredible impact; their horns were bound with weapons, and their tails were bound with reeds and filled with oil.
With just a command, the fire ox formation can be ignited and activated.
On the back of the ox, there were also soldiers with martial spirits holding long spears.
Its lethality has reached a new level.
The army only needs to charge from behind the fire ox formation to be basically invincible. The reason I say "basically" is because even the strongest tactical formation can be broken by force, or it may encounter a tactical formation that it hard-counters.
In an instant.
A small portion of the thousand-plus "fire oxen" fell into the trenches, but the rest didn't even look back, stepping over the "corpses" of their comrades and continuing their charge. The overall speed did not decrease.
It wasn't until they encountered several walls of spiritual energy that the first to arrive were stopped. However, the walls of spiritual energy had a limit to the impact they could withstand. In addition, these "fire oxen" were being manipulated to precisely strike specific locations, breaking through the surface with a single point, and exploding at the moment of impact.
This is how it was done.
The first section of the city wall fell in no time.
The situation is even more critical—
A streak of light shot out from the enemy camp.
Its target is precisely the cultural city wall.
A deafening explosion ripped through the sky. A faint cracking sound followed, and the cracks spread outwards from the arrowhead tip in all directions. The second layer of the aura wall had fallen. There were only four layers of aura walls; the casters of the third and fourth layers were not as skilled as Kang Shi, and they would soon follow suit.
"Ha, that's it?"
Kang Shi gave a cold laugh.
They didn't care that they were in the capital of Luxia County.
If they hesitate and act timidly because of this, their ten thousand troops will eventually be dragged down and killed here, which would be a huge disgrace! Kang Shi didn't even dare to think about how his unworthy "cousin" would laugh at him when the news got back—
Cause of death: Too weak!
In the blink of an eye.
Kang Shi used a secret telepathic technique to invite the three scholars to launch a joint attack—not because he couldn't complete the subsequent military formation tactics independently, but because he had been exhausted from two consecutive battles that night and was worried about something going wrong.
To ensure success and to teach the enemy a profound and unforgettable lesson, this time we can only succeed and cannot afford to fail.
The three scholars had no objections.
Why did only one of the four families send Shen Tang? Shen, the Prefect, was also the initiator of this operation—when their respective leaders were absent, they naturally prioritized using the River Governor's strategy. Even if problems arose, they wouldn't be held accountable.
"good!"
"OK!"
"At your command!"
It's actually not complicated; they just need to lend their literary energy to Kang Shi's "scattered like stars."
What formation to deploy was Kang Shi's business.
The chessboard of literary energy stretched out in nineteen lines, covering two hundred and eighty-seven directions. The illusion of rivers and seas turned real, and amidst the surging waves, two hundred and eighty-seven chilling water columns, each a hundred feet high and ten feet thick, rose from the ground with tremendous force!
Kang Shi's voice reached the ears of every soldier.
"Please, gentlemen, lend me a hand!"
More than 10,000 soldiers shouted in unison!
The spirit of literature, the spirit of martial arts, and even the morale of soldiers all converge on the water, creating raging waves, with wind and thunder faintly visible beneath the sky.
Xianyu Jian didn't recognize it at first, but soon a familiar phrase popped into his head—[flooding the seven armies]!
Xianyu Jian: "..."
He suddenly felt uncertain.
Our own makeshift team is full of talented people.
First there was Mr. Chu Yao, a ruthless killer who was even more ferocious than a martial artist on the battlefield; then there was someone whose fighting style seemed conventional and whose temperament was kind and easy to talk to... no, someone who was flooded right from the start, how could he be kind?
Is this the kind of lineup a makeshift team could produce?
Xianyu Jian once again questioned the teaching methods of his master's school.
As it turns out, Kang Shi was indeed "gentle and easy-going".
The power of this formation is already the result of being restrained.
If they were to exert their full strength, gathering the power of ten thousand troops and the combined literary and martial prowess of numerous scholars and warriors, the "Flood of the Seven Armies" could even submerge the entire capital city, causing the deaths of countless civilians. But at this moment, they are merely charging at a thousand or so fire oxen, extinguishing their flames, breaking their formation, hindering their advance… and, moreover, the oxen themselves and the enemy forces behind them.
The fall of the fourth wall of literary energy also marked the formation of the "Flooding of the Seven Armies" formation. Water columns transformed into dragons, and two hundred and eighty-seven water dragons, brimming with fighting spirit, poured down from mid-air with towering waves, their target the crazed and insane Fire Ox Formation!
The waves surged and roared!
The fire oxen, along with the martial soldiers on their backs, were swept away by the rushing water, their screams easily drowned out by the thunderous roar of the water.
Only a few dozen fire oxen charged forward quickly, brandishing their swords, but were stopped by the well-prepared elite soldiers and generals, and a fierce battle ensued.
Now, the pressure is on the enemy side.
As the saying goes, when soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it.
But faced with the overwhelming force of the "Flooding of the Seven Armies," simply "covering with earth" wouldn't be enough. Martial arts masters can use their martial energy to protect themselves, and scholars have similar methods, but those who possess both martial and literary energy are ultimately a minority.
The vast majority of refugees and bandits were ordinary people; all they had was a faint sense of "morale" in their hearts.
If they can be gathered together, they will be a formidable force.
But faced with the towering waves so close at hand, they were already terrified and only knew to turn and run away. Where was the composure they had shown when they were waving flags and shouting behind the commander and others? Many people were tripped and trampled to death before they could even let out a scream.
Some of the displaced people and bandits were swept away by the waves.
But many more people were lifted up by hundreds of boats that appeared out of thin air. They clung to the boats in fear, terrified that a single wave would send them tumbling overboard. The whole process lasted only six or seven breaths, and the water level had already dropped rapidly to their calves.
Jiang Sheng then rushed over.
Seeing this, he transformed the ship into a stream of energy and retrieved it. If it weren't for his deathly pale face, one would have thought he had handled the matter with ease.
"How is the situation?" Jiang Sheng arrived first, followed closely by Shen Tang and the others. From afar, she saw the raging "sea of fire," and her heart was just beginning to leap into her throat when she saw towering waves of water, indicating a fierce battle between the two sides.
Even if the occasion wasn't right, she still wanted to complain.
As expected, only magic can defeat magic!
"Nothing serious, few casualties."
Specifically, only about a hundred people have been injured so far.
They were hit by stray arrows when the temporary camp was attacked and they didn't have time to evacuate, but fortunately none of them were fatal.
I should be able to save my life.
Seeing the "reinforcements" descending from the sky, Kang Shi breathed a sigh of relief—if his lord hadn't come, he might have had to come again to ensure his safety and lead his troops to break through the encirclement—that Wenxin scholar in the enemy army was clearly not a good person.
He was most likely a scholar with literary talent and a refined taste.
Add to that guy who just unleashed hundreds of ships; if the two of them join forces, they'll be a real headache!
"That's good." Shen Tang watched the water gradually dissipate into the energy of heaven and earth, and said, "What a pity—"
Chu Yao asked, "What's a pity?"
"If we could summon lightning now—" Shen Tang pointed in the direction of the enemy, "we could definitely electrocute them all!"
Water can conduct electricity.
She simply didn't know whether this "water," which was essentially formed from "air," possessed the ability to conduct electricity.
Chu Yao did not answer, but seemed to be deep in thought.
The battlefield was in complete disarray, the enemy's morale was low, and they were already in chaos. If we didn't take this opportunity to strike while they were down, when would we? The battlefield, which had just calmed down, became lively again, with shouts of battle deafening.
Although the leader of the displaced bandits wanted to fight again, seeing the situation, he could only swallow his anger and retreat under the persuasion and protection of his men. He left behind more than 10,000 commoners and more than 500 brave and fearless puppets to cover their retreat.
He took the lead and fled at breakneck speed.
As dawn broke, the sound gradually faded.
Shen Tang ordered her men to guard the prisoners and led them back to find Prefect Lu. Although she cursed the unreliable Prefect Lu a hundred and eighty times in her heart, she still held back because she thought of how he had made amends and resolutely covered the retreat.
The intensity of the battle here is no less than that on the other side.
Severed limbs and remains, broken tiles and crumbling walls are everywhere.
More than a hundred soldiers searched everywhere for any possible signs of life—to find Prefect Lu, and also to finish off any remaining enemies who weren't quite dead yet—just as Shen Tang was beginning to suspect that Prefect Lu was nothing more than fragments, a soldier shouted excitedly, "Found him!"
Is the person still alive?
This is truly an unexpected delight!
Shen Tang hurried over, stepping over the blood-stained puddle.
The Prefect of Lu County sat dejectedly beneath a broken wall.
Before seeing the person, Shen Tang thought that the other party was only seriously injured and still had hope of being saved, but in the end—his heart sank.
The opponent had his left arm and right leg cut off.
His right hand, gripping the broken weapon, had only three fingers remaining. His face was covered in blood and grime, and a shattered, murky eyeball hung outside its socket. He sat there, silent and still, like a corpse. All around him were bodies in far worse condition than his.
These are all his spoils of war!
With a heavy heart, Shen Tang approached slowly.
When he was only three steps away from Prefect Lu, he tilted his head, as if trying to listen carefully to something with his left ear.
After a long pause, he said uncertainly, "Shen... Lord Shen..."
His voice was weak and hoarse.
With the turbidity of someone on their deathbed.
Shen Tang said, "It's me."
"Bandits..."
He vaguely remembered that the battlefield was extremely large.
It's unknown how the final battle will turn out.
Shen Tang replied, "They escaped..."
She deliberately raised her voice, worried that Prefect Lu wouldn't hear her, but in fact, he did, and even managed a weak smile. But after the smile came even greater pain. But he was dying, and didn't care about that.
He's not dead yet; only wisps of martial energy remain, protecting his heart. When they completely dissipate, his soul will depart. Sensing Shen Tang's attempt to channel literary energy into him, he said, "Shen Jun... don't waste... the... seeds you planted before..."
Shen Tang said, "I know."
She disagreed with Prefect Lu's actions of harming his allies.
But I also understand his predicament.
It seems that the strange atmosphere at the city wall was his way of hinting that he hoped Shen Tang would lead his troops away as soon as possible.
"...the common people in the city..."
Shen Tang knew what he wanted to ask.
"Aside from belongings being flooded and burned, and part of the house collapsing due to the earthquake, there were no major casualties..."
Most were frightened.
Upon hearing this, Prefect Lu was largely relieved.
But he still had one obsession.
A hoarse, gurgling sound came from his throat, as if he were using the last of his strength: "That little girl..."
Just then, a familiar girl's voice came from beside me.
"Father..." As this call reached his ears, the last wisp of martial energy he had been desperately trying to maintain finally dissipated.
His head slowly drooped down.
The sun finally rose.
|ω`)
I've been wanting to add Bai Su and Yu Zi to the character list, but every time I see people making suggestive comments about the author pandering to men just by looking at the character list, I just want to laugh. They've learned a few words and then use them indiscriminately, claiming to be independent, but are they financially independent?
(End of this chapter)
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