Chapter 1252 - 309: Drill

Chapter 1252: Chapter 309: Drill

"Forward!"

"Forward!"

The shield bearers began to advance, providing cover for their archers and crossbowmen behind them, supporting the advance of the battering ram.

To call it a battering ram isn’t entirely accurate, as this contraption is unlike the scenes in films where a tight-budgeted group charges forward with a log.

It resembles more an imposing war chariot; the battering ram is inside, with a tower above, and beneath, a span covered with leather and wooden planks, in some crucial areas even reinforced with iron sheets for added protection.

During the assault, it could accommodate over a hundred men including archers inside, and unless particularly unlucky, those below, charging at the gate, needn’t worry about arrows from the city walls.

They even need not fear hot oil too much.

The only concern is fire attacks, but the people from Tianji Tower have implemented some fireproof measures, making it difficult to ignite.

This is just the battering ram,

Behind them,

A formal, towering arrow tower stood there, movable, with a disassembly port below. Upon reaching the right spot, a crucial component could be removed from below, causing the tower to naturally fall forward. Then, with grappling hooks equipped at the top, it would become the sturdiest and most durable scaling ladder, hard to push away even if the defenders wish to, with such weight.

Further back, there’s the siege crossbow. That thick and massive crossbow bolt could instantly kill even someone armored like Fanli if it hits.

There are countless such siege instruments, some more useful, some less, which specifics to use would have to be adapted as per the situation during the actual battle.

The most crucial, however, is the catapult.

The catapult at Snow Sea Pass was originally designed by San’er, and the people from Tianji Tower added some talisman patterns inside it, improving its range and accuracy upon launching.

An inch longer, an inch stronger applies here too, because surely, the Chu army inside the city would have their catapults arranged too.

Currently, the soldiers at Snow Sea Pass, under Liang Cheng’s command, were clearing out one side of the southern wall at Snow Sea Pass for a coordinated siege exercise.

These soldiers are all cavalrymen by origin, but they certainly can’t ride their horses into the city walls during a siege, can they?

Fortunately, recognizing the Yan people’s weak point in siege tactics long ago, at Snow Sea Pass, they had heavily practiced the infantry formation method, thus it’s not entirely a last-minute preparation.

"Can all these be mass-produced?" Zheng Fan inquired to Tianji Tower Lord, Zeng Shulang, standing beside him.

"In response, Lord Zheng, the crucial components can be made here in advance. When we reach Town South Pass, we can mobilize the conscripted laborers to cut the materials. As long as there are enough laborers and craftsmen, mass production won’t be difficult.

Before the battle, we can set up workshops directly within the camp."

This intends to produce equipment while engaging in warfare.

In fact, this is a very common practice; siege battles often last half a year or even over a year.

If it wasn’t for the food shortage inside Jade Plate City, how could Qu TianNan have surrendered? If he had resolved to defend to the very end, with ample food, it would indeed have been a massive problem.

As for Town South Pass...

Unless that Chu people have lost their minds, Lord Zheng wouldn’t naively believe that the Town South Pass garrison would run out of food.

"My Lord, pardon my intrusion, but using elite troops like the ones under your command for the ant-line siege is a bit of a waste. Such fine soldiers."

"It’s always better to be safe. When the real siege comes, who knows when it’ll be our turn? We can’t just run away, nor can we push it onto someone else. When we must plow through despite the odds, we have to ensure our sacrifices have some value.

Moreover, we’ve already burnt our bridges."

Although the Yan Emperor decided to attack Chu, providing Lord Zheng something to do, unlike the campaign against Qian, which left him circling in the northeast corner.

But indeed, this is Yan State’s gamble, and also, Lord Pingye’s gamble.

Piercing through Town South Pass and advancing the strategic positions into Chu territory, Snow Sea Pass would truly be safe then, and he might visit Tian Wujing with his godchild:

Brother,

Look at Town South Pass,

Doesn’t it look like his favorite twisted dough sticks?

Of course, the latter is merely Lord Zheng’s imagination.

But if they fail to break Town South Pass, and Yan State exhausts its national strength for it, there might be a rebellion from the Jin land people raising their stakes, and Yan’s domain may become unlivable, Qian State might exert more force, resulting in Chu people troubling Jin East through Town South Pass.

Then,

Zheng Fan would have no choice but to take up the mantle of the next Wild People King in the snow fields.

"Put more effort into these instruments."

Sieging largely depends on these superior and constantly supplied instruments plus ample provisions and a stable army morale; otherwise, it falls just like when the wild people attacked Snow Sea Pass previously, which seemed intense but actually posed little threat, merely wasting lives unnecessarily.

"Yes, my Lord, I assure you I won’t let you down. To be truthful, Tianji Tower previously crafted for the Helian Family and the Wenren family, but very little was actually used. It’s been a regret in my heart for some time."

Tianji Tower is a martial arts sect on the street, but it also has official ties.

Initially founded by an earlier Emperor Jin, but once the Yu family declined, it was stripped away and gradually became a martial arts sect.