Chapter 2813 - 2812: Secret Weapon

Chapter 2813: Chapter 2812: Secret Weapon

After night fell, Yang Zhi’s army withdrew from the mountain.

After a whole day’s exhaustion, both men and horses were weary, even the Dragon Blood Steeds couldn’t withstand such depletion.

Among the army, there were complaints up and down, all saying Yang Zhi was wasting everyone’s advantages by misusing his abilities.

Some commanders even personally approached Yang Zhi, kneeling before him, begging him not to keep tormenting them.

Everyone hadn’t even faced the enemy, yet suffered casualties in vain, with over a thousand dead or injured.

For infantry, it’s nothing, but for one hundred thousand Dragon Knights, these were carefully selected soldiers.

Experts in blade handling and archery, all skilled to perfection.

Now, ironically, they turned into mere targets.

What’s crucial is, these one hundred thousand cavalry weren’t all Yang Zhi’s trusted aides.

They all belong to Yan Yun Iron Cavalry, only temporarily under Yang Zhi’s command.

Yang Zhi has led them to two consecutive defeats, leaving everyone deeply disappointed.

Before they had time to recover, suddenly there was a clamor and glaring fire behind the camp at High Marshal Gao Qiu’s Camp.

"What happened?"

Yang Zhi immediately had everyone on alert.

The army had just relaxed a little, the war horses hadn’t even had two bites of fodder, and now they were all nervously girded up for battle again.

Someone from behind immediately passed along the news, saying the rebel army’s cavalry launched a sudden attack, tearing apart the eastern defense line like wolves into a flock of sheep.

Gao Qiu ordered Yang Zhi to hastily lead the troops in pursuit.

Yang Zhi was speechless, thinking to himself if they had listened to him sooner, the rebel cavalry wouldn’t be an issue now.

He mounted his horse with his sword, shouting to the generals, "Military law is merciless, anyone who dares to talk in the army again, I, Yang Zhi, will not spare. Right now, the rebel cavalry has launched a raid, let us mount our horses and fight the enemy. Anyone who dares to slack off will be executed without mercy!"

"Yes, sir!"

The generals, though tired, mounted their horses, luckily these Dragon Blood Steeds could survive without food or drink for three days.

However, they were a bit dispirited after the recent shock.

Yang Zhi took the lead, riding towards the eastern line with the army, normally fast as a swift wind, the war horses’ speed was now three times slower, no different from ordinary horses.

Upon reaching the eastern line, the bandit soldiers had already caused mayhem, slicing through the camp like a gust of wind.

They came here just for harassment, not engaging in battle.

At night when everyone was tired and scattered, and the eastern line was mostly militia, they had mostly fallen asleep earlier.

In the chaos that ensued, somehow over ten thousand died under blade and hoof.

Yang Zhi caught the battle opportunity with great difficulty, unwilling to let go easily, lest Gao Qiu torment him further.

After the rebel cavalry departed, he continued leading the troops in pursuit.

The leader of the opposing cavalry was none other than the Marquis Wu Lin Chong.

He led one hundred thousand Imperial cavalry, although the horses beneath him were not as good as Dragon Blood Steeds, they were excellent Demon Blood Warhorses.

As for speed, the horses of both sides were already evenly matched.

He led the one hundred thousand cavalry in a mad dash ahead, guiding Yang Zhi in a one-night chase over a thousand miles.

At dawn, Yang Zhi could already see the city of Feng City.

Lin Chong’s army had all crossed the drawbridge into the city.

The drawbridge was raised, and the moat was fifty meters wide.

The city wall was a hundred meters high, the standard height for the capital city in this world.

If it were ten meters high, ordinary soldiers with some cultivation level could probably jump up in one step.

Yang Zhi raised his sword, shouting at the city wall below, "Cowards, dare to attack but afraid to battle me?"

He traveled light, bringing not much provisions.

If he returned without success, this pursuit would be in vain.

Lin Chong climbed the city wall and shouted to Yang Zhi, "General Yang, do you recognize me?"

"Marquis Wu?"

Upon seeing him, both Yang Zhi and Suo Chao were taken aback.

He scolded coldly, "Marquis Wu, you are also a pillar of the Great Song, deeply favored by the emperor, why are you mingling with the rebel army?"

Just as he suspected, those cavalry from last night were well-disciplined, not like ordinary bandits.

It turns out, they were the Imperial Army.

Lin Chong lamented bitterly, "His Majesty is deceived, ensnared by treacherous ministers, targeting my Lin Family at every turn. My wife was first humiliated by the son of Gao Qiu, my sister, the current Empress, was forced to death by the muddle-headed emperor. My nephew, the current Crown Prince, and niece were both coerced to leap off a cliff by the muddle-headed emperor. With such an emperor, how is Lin Chong supposed to serve him faithfully?"

Yang Zhi had heard of this matter as well, momentarily speechless, "When the lord orders a subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die. Even if His Majesty is misled by treacherous ministers, one should demonstrate loyalty through death and correct the hearing. Why walk this path of rebellion, bringing shame to your Lin Family’s ancestors?"

Lin Chong retorted, "The current emperor can no longer hear any admonition. Only by storming the court can he be awakened. We are acquainted, so heed my advice. The muddle-headed emperor has already lost the people’s hearts, only by assisting a wise monarch to rebuild the country can you follow the righteous path. General Yang, with your talents, why endure grievances under the hands of treacherous ministers? Join us now, Lord Chao and Elder Brother Gongming will surely make good use of you all!"

"Silence!"

Yang Zhi brandished his sword while cursing, "You want me to surrender to the rebels, first ask whether the sword in my hand agrees!"

Behind Lin Chong, someone reported, "General, the fifty Fire God Cannons sent from Liangshan Island are already installed. Another fifty will be delivered to Green Stone Pass by night."

Lin Chong nodded, showing a mutual respect towards Yang Zhi.

Back then, he too was full of loyalty and patriotism.

But now cornered, utterly disappointed in the Imperial Court.

He voluntarily warned Yang Zhi, "General Yang Zhi, retreat now, and I guarantee you safety. If you linger any longer, be careful of losing the soldiers under your command!"

Suo Chao brandished his axe and shouted, "Nonsense, who are you trying to scare? The distance from here to the city wall is over a thousand paces, are your archers blessed with divine power? We, grandpas, are right here, if you dare, come out for a battle!"

The generals also shouted in unison, "If you dare, come out for a battle!"

"Battle!"

"Battle!"

"Battle!"

"..."

After fighting a frustrating battle all night, the one hundred thousand Iron Cavalry felt pent-up anger, and all shouted out together.

Lin Chong sighed and said, "Let the cannon fire commence!"

Liangshan Island not only sold weaponry but also helped train operators.

This type of Fire God Cannon has a simple structure, a cost-effective, basic version of the cannon.

The barrel uses a Spirit Stone Formation to power energy, like a battery, a set of Spirit Stone Formation can fire hundreds of shells.

Depending on the target, the barrel direction can be adjusted at will.

It can be used like a howitzer and mortar for long, short-range bombardment, or as a cannon for city siege bombardment.

One thousand meters distance is merely gun range for these Fire God Cannons.

The shorter the range, the less Spirit Stone consumed.

After Lin Chong’s order, the excited artillery crew eagerly loaded shells inside; once the firing order was given, they merely turned something akin to an Array Plate on the barrel.

The Spirit Stone Formation emitted a Mysterious Light, illuminating the Mystic Pattern on the barrel instantly.

With a loud bang, shell after shell was fired.

The city wall shook with a trembling roar, red beams streaked from above, like meteors, falling onto the battlefield a thousand meters away.

Yang Zhi and the others thought it was an explosion on the city wall, and all the war horses were startled.

Before they could react, these arcs carrying whistling sounds had already exploded amidst their battle formation.

Boom,

Boom,

Boom!

A series of deafening roars, like heaven and earth collapsing.

The fragments from the exploding bombs seemed like blades, swiftly sweeping in every direction.

Accompanied by flashes of lightning and blazing firelight, engulfing the war horses in both directions.

Even the Dragon Blood Steeds let out wails under the powerful shredding of the cannon shrapnel.

The scales on their bodies were directly stripped off, simultaneously grilled by the fiery light and lightning.

After only fifty shells, the battlefield was already overturned, littered with bodies, echoing cries.