Chapter 560 - The Strong And The Wild
Chapter 560
(Unedited)
…
Hundreds of anxious soldiers waited with bated breath behind the walls of the stronghold. The war preparations are done and everyone expected to face a great foe. The 4,000 plus enemy soldier's footsteps shook the ground like a great gigantic monster approaching the walls. Every stump of the enemy footsteps along with the beating of the drum made everyone waiting feel emotional distress and anxiousness.
Although each of them was inspired and strengthened by the general's speech, now that they are about to face the enemy and the truth before their eyes, their feelings have already subsided.
No one would dare face a large army and a hopeless battle. But they have no choice as the future of their homeland relies on their defense. The army has already sent reinforcement and it is said that the northern battalion of the empire numbering up to 10,000 soldiers is going to back them up in this battle.
All they have to do now is to hold on for a couple of days.
While everyone is in a tense mode, Shin Jiao is at the top of the wall along with some of the soldiers and field doctors.
The captain of their infantry company has assigned him to be a field medic. Through their discussion, the captain knew that the young doctor is not that simple. Although he looks and behaves like a scholar, his piercing gaze told him that the young man is a strong warrior.
Plus the young man is also the only survivor in that battle that wiped out both the enemy and their own forces.
So this is the reason why the captain assigned Shin Jiao as a field medic to help the wounded soldiers on the battlefield.
"These soldiers are afraid…" Shin Jiao thought as he watches the shivering group around him.
He knew that the company he belongs to is the rejects of the whole battalion. Even their captain is a rookie. Plus they are all in the rear end of the wall and just in charge of guard duties.
And so the time ticks by little, by little, making the anxious soldiers waste out their mental energy due to useless thinking and nervousness.
Shin Jiao just shook his head and sat on one corner as he meditated.
Seeing his action some of the soldiers have already copied him and also closes their eyes. They didn't know why but through these two days spending with the young doctor, they learned to be friends with him and trust him.
And so the tension in the group began to lessen as more and more soldiers in their company began to meditate.
Ba-dump!
Suddenly, Shin Jiao's eyes opened as he heard the marching outside and the sound of the beating drum stopped.
The enemy would not dare to continue and bypass their stronghold as there is a risk of arrow volley which can greatly decrease their numbers. Plus the other paths are far too hard to traverse with the number of soldiers they have. The enemy would easily pick them slowly and wither their numbers. The only way for them to enter this path is through the stronghold of the enemy which their empire supposed to own.
Suddenly a fully armored man walked to the front wearing silver armor. The man looks like an ancient Chinese warrior with an imposing aura.
Since the stronghold is at an elevated area, the soldiers are able to see their enemies which look like gleaming golden scales of a flood dragon.
"Soldiers of the Shadow Moon empire… it seems that you have trespassed our territory. We would like you to retreat to your own place and we will not attack. If not, then we will destroy your whole army…" the soldier said with a sneer on his face.
"Shameless… your soldiers dare to intrude in our territory first and eliminate our border guards. However, they were also destroyed even with their large numbers… and now you are saying we are intruding your territory? Haha… too shameless…" a soldier at the top of the wall suddenly shouted with jeer on his face.
When the whole army of the Golden Dragon Empire heard this they immediately erupted with killing intent. However, those at the top of the wall at the front lines were no pushover. They too exude their killing intent and meet their enemy.
"We are not afraid of your numbers. All you have is number, but… no skill. Even if 1,000 of us die, we will take all of you to our grave! " another soldier shouted from the top of the wall.
Meanwhile, at the frontlines a strong looking man surrounded by five strong-looking soldiers donned in heavy bronze armors is watching the large stronghold. Beside him are three others with the same golden armor as the strong looking man and their guards.
"That general Hu is really one of the top strategists of the Silver Moon Empire. He immediately saw this location and in the short span of two days has built this stronghold… This is very amusing. Very well, let's see if your strategy would work on my forces." The strong-looking man said.
"General Kong, let me and my battalion attack that place. I will assure you that before tomorrow we have already destroyed that place." One of the men in golden armor said with a proud tone.
"Haha… alright… I will give this honor to your Fire Panther battalion. Don't disappoint me, General Yang."
The man called general Yang cupped his hands and immediately marched forward followed by his guards. His heart is filled with confidence and his mind is already thinking of a plan on how to take down the stronghold.
He wanted this honor to be his so that he can grab this opportunity for the rankings and its reward from their emperor.
And so with him walking up to the front, his own battalion followed behind and also marches forward.
Shin Jiao is just watching this proceeding.
If he only has bullets for his sniper rifle, he could take down that general with ease. From the distance and the power of his sniper rifle, he could also take down all of the generals of this army. If that happened then this war would already end in a flash.
But alas, each time a bullet would be exposed in this place the Qi and mana inside would immediately disperse and would become useless. Even the beast core would not be able to produce energy.
However, Shin Jiao has already found some component he needed to make a simple and easy to make propellant like the guncotton or gunpowder from the raw materials in the stronghold or in the surroundings.
With the help of the contact lens, he is able to find those materials without the use of this absolute or spiritual sense.
All he needed to do now is to compound those materials and turn them into bullet propellant and primer.
So while waiting, for the battle to start he is also thinking of some other ways to be able to survive this war and might as well help the soldiers who helped him these past two days.
As he was sitting, he suddenly heard a commotion in the stronghold base.
"What is happening out there?" Shin Jiao muttered.
He wanted to move towards the front wall to see the battle, but he also didn't want to expose himself, hence he unable to obtain any information.
Suddenly from below, he saw a soldier running towards the tents.
Looking from left to right and seeing that no one is paying attention at him, Shin Jiao suddenly jumped down and landed near a tent.
Then he slowly crept to the side to listen to what is happening.
"The… the enemy is going to attack. They are going to use long-range catapults." The soldier who ran inside the tent said.
"What? Then what does the general wanted to do? We must move and destroy those catapults before they can launch an attack." said a man's voice inside the tent.
"No… it might be a trap. We are on higher ground. All we have to do is to release volleys of arrows and no matter how strong their catapult is, we would be able to destroy it." said another man.
"This can't be right… if those catapults are completed, we won't stand a chance even though we are in the higher ground."
"What do you want to do then?"
"We should talk to the general and tell him to assign a number of soldiers to constantly disrupt the creation of the catapults. That way we will be able to withstand the enemy assault until our backup arrives."
"Yes… I agree…"
"Yes, me too…"
Shin Jiao heard around 5 men talking inside the tent. From their voices, he knew most of them. They are some of the captains and their commanders in this battalion.
But then a sudden bad premonition enters Shin Jiao's mind. The plan to constantly disrupt the creation of the enemy catapults would not land on their company, right?
If this is true then, he knew that their ending would not be pleasant. Going out of the stronghold right at this moment is suicide and fruitless. But of course, if they become successful then the battle would be prolonged and would be beneficial for the whole battalion.
And so, he came back to his post and waited for the final decision.
And soon the bad news came.
Their whole company is assigned to this so-called 'special assignment' to stop the enemy from creating those catapults.
When that news came forth, many of the soldiers in their company suddenly felt weak on their legs. But they have no choice but to obey.
Hence everyone immediately began to prepare. While preparing, the captain suddenly walked towards Shin Jiao's direction and Shin Jiao somewhat knew what the captain is going to say.
"Doctor Ji… can I talk to you for a second?" The captain said with a smile.
"Damn…" Shin Jiao can only cursed in his mind.
He didn't know why, but this captain of his seems to have some plan for him. But he didn't care.
In fact, Shin Jiao is not afraid to go out. He can even grab this chance to run away from this battle. But of course, he would not do that.. He wouldn't want the whole empire chasing after him and branding him as a traitor.