Please call me Your Majesty!

Chapter 299 People Even the System Can't Control

"The prosperous Central Plains are right before our eyes. As long as we work hard, we can obtain endless wealth. Whether it is gold, silver, silk, cloth, or women, we can take whatever we want."

The flames in the brazier flickered violently, making the greedy expressions on everyone's faces appear even more ferocious. Some people unconsciously clenched their fists, seemingly already thinking of mountains of gold and silver.

“The cowardly southern barbarians have no right to possess those most fertile lands. Those lands should be the pastures of our northern warriors.”

Tuoba Lie's gaze swept over the crowd like a knife: "Go, for the great king, annihilate all enemies who dare to stand in the way of the Northern Di cavalry."

His fist slammed heavily on the table, making a dull thud.

The nine commanders bowed in unison: "Yes, sir!" The crisp sound of their armor clashing echoed one after another, like the war drums signaling an impending battle.

The departing figures of the centurions resembled a pack of hungry wolves about to pounce on their prey.

At Xueyuan Pass, Chu Shizhao kept a close watch on the movements of the Northern Di camp.

The bloodstains on the city wall, still damp, shone with a dark red hue, echoing the menacing enemy camp in the distance.

After the Northern Di retreated, Chu Shizhao used the system to perform several more simulations to verify his guesses.

Unfortunately, even he couldn't predict the enemy's reaction with 100% certainty this time.

In the battle not long ago, Chu Shizhao dug a big pit for Bawutu.

This would lead the enemy to believe that Xueyuan Pass had suffered too many losses and was likely unable to withstand the next attack from the Northern Di cavalry.

Chu Shizhao had originally planned things very well, but a variable that he had never encountered before appeared in his plan.

That was Ba Wutu, the commander of ten thousand men of the Northern Barbarians.

This guy couldn't even understand the simple information that Xueyuan Pass needed to use golden juice right away. He needed Huo Qinghuang to deliberately kick over a large pot of boiling golden juice as a reminder before he could figure out what was going on.

Therefore, even the system couldn't calculate whether Bautu could understand what he wanted him to express after returning to camp.

Therefore, two completely different results emerged in the system's deduction.

Sometimes, when Ba'utu had a flash of inspiration and understood his hints, the Northern Di cavalry would naturally act according to the false intelligence carefully arranged by Chu Shizhao.

But sometimes, Bautu just can't figure it out, no matter what.

At such times, the Northern Di cavalry would continue their attacks methodically.

The number of Northern Di cavalry was thirty times that of Xueyuan Pass.

It can be said that as long as the Northern Di people did not underestimate the enemy and advance rashly, but attacked steadily and surely, the fall of Xueyuan Pass was inevitable.

War is cruel, regardless of ability, technology, or elusive tactics.

In the face of an army with absolute power, they are nothing but fleeting clouds.

As long as you don't try to be greedy or reckless, and do your job well at every step, it doesn't matter if you suffer minor setbacks occasionally. Sooner or later, the scales of victory will tip in favor of the stronger.

Most so-called schemes are essentially just exploiting human greed.

The reason why Chu Shizhao failed when using the system to deduce the problem was because Bawutu did not understand his meaning and told the enemy commander the false information that Chu Shizhao had presented.

As a result, the enemy commander did not take the bait.

Chu Shizhao's meticulously planned scheme naturally failed.

Since arriving in this world, Chu Shizhao has been able to plan and strategize everything through the system. This is the first time he has encountered a situation where he has no way of predicting the outcome.

Of course, Chu Shizhao was not completely helpless because of this.

At worst, we can abandon Xueyuan Pass and rely on the vast territory of the Great Zhou to resist step by step with a scorched earth policy, gradually wearing down the Northern Di cavalry.

However, this was the last thing Chu Shizhao wanted to see.

He knew what fate awaited the people behind him if he abandoned Xueyuan Pass.

All he can do now is analyze whether the Northern Barbarians have been tricked based on their behavior when they launched their attack.

"Your Highness, I believe you will succeed." Zhao Wenguang said this, but his hands, which were white from gripping the sword hilt too tightly, betrayed his emotions.

Zhao Wenguang acted this way primarily because Chu Shizhao had also informed him of his plan. The subsequent steps required the army's cooperation. Others might not know the details, but he couldn't afford to be unaware.

Only in this way can we better coordinate our actions.

Chu Shizhao patted Zhao Wenguang on the shoulder, but before he could answer Zhao Wenguang's question, he saw the Northern Di camp boil over as if a drop of water had been poured into a hot oil pan.

Looking around, troops were gathering everywhere in the Northern Di camp, and countless dark figures moved about in the firelight, the cold light reflected from the iron armor forming a silver sea.

The sounds of drums signaling the army's assembly, the generals' commands to their soldiers, and the clash of weapons mingled together, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

The deafening roar even drowned out the howling north wind, and the defenders gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes gleaming with tension.

Upon seeing this scene, even Chu Shizhao, who usually kept his emotions hidden, showed a rare expression of ecstasy.

His lips curled up uncontrollably, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes: "Great, these guys really fell for it."

Chu Shizhao slammed his fist into the city wall, causing several pieces of stone to fall.

It seems that Bautu performed well this time, accurately conveying the meaning he wanted to express.

The enemy's siege equipment was being assembled rapidly, and the outlines of catapults were faintly visible in the firelight.

Even with the system, Chu Shizhao could not know the specific details of the enemy's battle.

Therefore, Chu Shizhao was unaware that the course of events was completely different from what he had imagined.

The real purpose of the Northern Di people's large-scale attack was simply to seize credit.

However, the Northern Di people clearly intended to launch a full-scale attack.

This was exactly what Chu Shizhao wanted. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

"Zhao Wenguang, it's up to you now." In the face of direct combat, Chu Shizhao still handed over command to Zhao Wenguang: "Hold the enemy back for as long as you can. Until you can't hold them back any longer, then arrange for the soldiers to retreat as I told you before."

Still feeling uneasy, Chu Shizhao solemnly instructed again: "Remember, you must maintain the army's strength. We are retreating, not collapsing."

Zhao Wenguang's eyes were filled with unwavering determination: "This humble general swears to complete the mission to the death!"

"Master, there seem to be quite a few enemies this time." On the city wall of Xueyuan Pass, Zheng Yan finished off a large steamed bun in two bites.

As he spoke with his cheeks puffed out, oil dripped down the corners of his mouth, glistening in the firelight.

Watching the enemy troops rapidly approach like wildfire in the distance.

Then he reached into his waist pocket and took out two more. The movements were so practiced, as if he had rehearsed them a thousand times, that he didn't even need to look.

After hesitating for a moment, he handed one to Li Batian, who was as strong as an ox, next to him: "Master, you eat."

His eyes held a hint of reluctance, yet he still tried his best to push the steamed bun forward. Even someone as oblivious as Li Batian was speechless at his new apprentice's antics.

His thick eyebrows furrowed as he looked at Zheng Yan's oily fingers and chubby cheeks, and his lips twitched involuntarily.

Perhaps because he was terrified of hunger, now that he's been given plenty of food, the boy's mouth hasn't stopped moving for a moment.

Zheng Yan's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, the sound of him swallowing particularly clear in the pre-battle silence. His eyes remained fixed on the enemy troops in the distance, yet he did not slow down his chewing at all.

The cloth bag at his waist was sewn by himself.

The rough stitches were crooked and uneven, and the fabric was stained with oil and flour. It swayed gently with his movements, making a soft rustling sound, and who knew how much food was hidden inside.

It doesn't look very big, but this kid always manages to pull food out of it.

Unless there's a war and there's absolutely no time, this kid is always eating.

Even when facing the Northern Di cavalry, whose army surged towards Xueyuan Pass like a tidal wave, this kid still ate with relish.

He sounded quite worried when he spoke, but the way he ate made it seem like he didn't take the overwhelming enemy army seriously at all.

"You eat it yourself." Before Li Batian could finish refusing, Zheng Yan, as if afraid he would change his mind, took the meat bun that was handed to Li Batian back and stuffed it into his own mouth.

His movements were incredibly fast. Li Batian only saw a blur before the steamed bun disappeared into Zheng Yan's mouth.

In the short time it took to talk, the two steamed buns magically disappeared.

Zheng Yan patted his belly contentedly, and an apple miraculously appeared in his cloth bag. He took a big bite, juice flowing everywhere. "Stay close to me in a bit, don't get lost, or your master won't have much time to take care of you." The enemy was almost at the city wall, and Li Batian casually picked up a rock the size of a human head and swung it in a wide arc towards the Northern Di cavalry.

Li Batian's strength was terrifying; the stones he threw were almost as powerful as those from a catapult.

The veins on his thick arms bulged, and his muscles were knotted like the roots of an old tree. The force of the wind generated when the stone was released almost blew the apple out of Zheng Yan's hand.

The stone flew more than fifty paces and crashed into the Northern Di cavalry.

The sharp, piercing sound of the stones cutting through the air drew a deadly arc across the night sky.

The Northern Di cavalrymen who were hit directly had their heads and helmets explode, splattering blood everywhere.

The stone continued its momentum, smashing into the chest of a second Northern Di cavalryman, passing right through him.

The sound of armor shattering was clearly audible, and the cavalryman's eyes still held an expression of disbelief.

Finally, he smashed the left leg of one of the Northern Di cavalrymen before he fell to the ground.

The cavalryman with the broken leg let out a piercing scream, which shone particularly loudly in the chaotic army formation. The stone sank deep into the soil when it hit the ground, its surface already stained dark red with blood.

"it is good!"

The defenders on the city wall brandished their weapons, their shouts deafening.

Zheng Yan ate the apple clean in just a few bites, leaving not even the core.

He wiped his hands on his clothes, then clapped his hands excitedly and said, "Master is awesome!"

The slaps echoed loudly, and food crumbs still clung to the corners of his mouth. His bright eyes were filled with adoration, as if what he had just witnessed was not slaughter, but a spectacular performance.

Li Batian glanced at his gluttonous apprentice and shook his head helplessly. He grabbed Zheng Yan's helmet with his rough hands and rubbed it lightly a couple of times.

Although he had successfully become Li Batian's apprentice, Li Batian hadn't taught Zheng Yan anything yet because they were constantly fighting. Even so, Zheng Yan was very grateful.

At least with this master, I've always had something to eat.

To ordinary soldiers, the enemy in this attack seemed no different from before, except that their numbers were so overwhelming that it was despairing.

Everyone stared intently at the dark mass of enemy troops, their breathing becoming rapid involuntarily.

But for Zhao Wenguang, this attack by the Northern Di was simply bizarre.

He stood atop the city wall, his brow furrowed.

It was quite obvious that the Northern Di people had a strange formation.

From the moment the enemy troops began to form ranks until they launched their charge against the city wall, they were clearly divided into nine columns, each distinct from the others, and they even seemed to be wary of one another.

Zhao Wenguang even observed that soldiers in adjacent columns deliberately avoided each other's paths during their charge. Anyone pushed in front of another column was immediately subjected to rough shoving.

"What is the commander of the Northern Barbarians doing?" Zhao Wenguang was completely baffled by this situation.

He subconsciously looked in the direction of Chu Shizhao, hoping to get an answer from the prince.

A gust of wind brought the stench of blood, but it couldn't dispel the fog in Zhao Wenguang's mind.

Chu Shizhao shook his head with a wry smile.

He wasn't a god, nor could he read the mind of the Northern Di general, so of course he couldn't understand what the other party was doing.

With the enemy at the gates, Zhao Wenguang had no choice but to deal with the Northern Di attack first.

The familiar barrage of arrows had transformed the soldiers on the city walls from initial shock and fear to now being able to handle it even with their eyes closed.

The soldiers skillfully hid behind cover, and arrows clanged against the city wall like hailstones hitting a roof.

The rain of arrows quickly ended, which meant that the Northern Di people had already reached the city walls.

Zhao Wenguang squinted and saw that the enemy vanguard had already set up ladders. The ear-piercing sound of iron hooks locking onto the city bricks signaled the defenders to launch a counterattack.

The archers were the first to strike, aiming and firing at the enemy.

The twang of bowstrings rose and fell, arrows piercing the air. Each arrow was carefully aimed, targeting gaps in the enemy's armor. Many Northern Di soldiers, struck by arrows, screamed and fell from the siege ladders.

Although it was Chu Shizhao's plan to make the Northern Di people mistakenly believe that Xueyuan Pass had suffered a great loss of strength.

In reality, the situation at Xueyuan Pass is not very optimistic.

At the corner of the city wall, several wounded soldiers were bandaging each other's wounds.

The soldiers defending the city suffered heavy casualties; even if all those who were barely able to move were included, only a little over 2,200 remained.

Without the protection of the city walls, the Northern Di cavalry could easily crush them into mincemeat with a single charge.

The supplies for defending the city are indeed starting to run out.

Catapults are alright; they can use anything as ammunition.

If you run out of polished stone bullets, you can use bricks salvaged from buildings in the city. If you run out of bricks, you can use ordinary stones or even wood.

Compared to catapults, it is much more difficult to replenish the arrows of ballistae or bows and arrows once they run out.

Otherwise, Zhao Wenguang wouldn't have made the ballistae slow down their attack frequency.

(End of this chapter)