Please call me Your Majesty!

Chapter 300 This time, it's really a fight to the death.

The ballistae operators now hesitated for a long time before each shot, like stingy merchants calculating every penny. This restraint made each whistling sound of a bolt piercing the air all the more awe-inspiring.

With fewer and fewer arrows available, their use naturally requires careful planning; they can no longer be used as carelessly as before.

Aiming and firing can be more effective at killing enemy troops. However, in order to aim at the enemy, archers will be exposed for longer periods, giving the enemy more opportunities to strike.

An archer from Xueyuan Pass aimed at the enemy for a long time before finally releasing the bowstring.

The Northern Di arrow pierced the air and reached him. Unable to dodge, the archer was struck in the chest and screamed as he fell off the city wall.

The thick arrow pierced his chest, and blood drew a glaring arc in the air. His fingers were still in the position of drawing the bowstring, which was still trembling slightly.

Even with the protection of the breastplate, the massive arrows from the Northern Di cavalry easily pierced the bodies of the soldiers at Xueyuan Pass.

Before the person even hit the ground, they had already completely stopped breathing.

The corpses crashed heavily onto the bodies of the Northern Di people below the city, producing a chilling thud.

Zhao Wenguang immediately ordered the archers to protect themselves as much as possible while attacking.

His voice was terribly hoarse, and the command flag in his hand fluttered in the night wind. Messengers raced along the city walls, passing the order down one after another.

They are outnumbered and cannot afford this kind of war of attrition.

Just like before, the fierce Northern Di cavalry quickly climbed the city wall using the siege ladders.

The siege ladders creaked under their weight. Before they could even get a foothold, they were met with a fierce counterattack from the soldiers of Xueyuan Pass.

Li Batian swung his broadsword, the blade flashing like a crescent moon. The Northern Di soldiers who had just climbed the city wall hadn't even had a chance to stand properly before their heads flew off, blood splattering onto the bricks.

Many of the Northern Di cavalry who climbed the city walls were badly defeated.

Zheng Yan nimbly followed behind Li Batian, his spear aimed at those who had taken a hit from Li Batian but hadn't died.

A Northern Di centurion barely managed to block Li Batian's attack, but his entire body slammed uncontrollably against the city wall, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

Before he could even recover, Zheng Yan's spear had already pierced through his breastplate, and he was pushed off the city wall by the spear tip.

The battle on the city wall instantly intensified, with blood and flesh flying amidst the flashing swords and clashing blades.

Zhao Wenguang personally drew his sword and joined the battle. His swordsmanship was very simple and unadorned, clearly showing that he was familiar with the battlefield. His swordsmanship was carefully crafted, simple yet sharp, and all of them were killing moves.

The Northern Barbarians clearly did not expect the counterattack at Xueyuan Pass to be so fierce, and were quickly routed.

The air at Xueyuan Pass was thick with the stench of blood and rust. Northern Di cavalrymen fell from the city walls like raindrops, the heavy armor striking the ground with a series of dull thuds.

The air at Xueyuan Pass was thick with the stench of blood and rust. Northern Di cavalrymen fell from the city walls like raindrops, the heavy armor striking the ground with a series of dull thuds.

On the battlements, the long spears of the defending soldiers gleamed with a blinding cold light under the blazing sun, each strike sending up a cloud of blood mist.

"This is fucking bizarre!" The burly commander spat fiercely, his brown eyes blazing with rage. "Didn't that bastard Bautu say that the garrison at Xueyuan Pass had already suffered more than half its losses and its fighting strength was greatly diminished?"

Another commander narrowed his sinister eyes, staring at Li Batian, who was holding a halberd on the city wall: "Look at that madman, he's already cut down seventeen of our warriors. Is that what you call a significant reduction in our fighting strength?"

All the commanders' gazes shot like arrows at Bautu, who was huddled at the back of the column. Bautu's back was already soaked with cold sweat, and he could clearly feel those icy gazes piercing his back.

"Bawutu, you had better have an explanation that satisfies me." Tuoba Lie's deep voice made the surrounding air freeze.

Bautu's throat tightened, feeling as dry as if he had swallowed a handful of sand.

He clearly remembered that during the last siege, the defending troops were already exhausted, so how could they suddenly become so fierce? Were those southern barbarians putting on an act all along? This terrifying thought sent chills down his spine.

"I...I..." Bautu's voice trembled uncontrollably. He had no doubt that if he were to say "I don't know" at this moment, these furious commanders would tear him to pieces immediately.

At this critical moment, Bawutu's cloudy eyes suddenly lit up.

"I understand!" Bautu slapped his thigh, his voice becoming shrill with excitement.

The commanders all turned around upon hearing this, wanting to see what this fellow could possibly say.

Batu didn't bother wiping the sweat from his forehead. He took a step forward hastily, his armor rustling. His voice trembled slightly, yet it was filled with undisguised excitement: "General, don't forget, that Southern Barbarian prince in Xueyuan Pass is an extremely treacherous and cunning fellow."

Tuoba Lie sat upright on his warhorse, his eyes slightly narrowed, his sharp gaze falling on Ba Wutu like a knife: "So what?"

Bawutu trembled at the piercing gaze, but quickly resumed his excited gestures, his rough fingers gesturing in the air: "General, think about it! What kind of person is Marshal Murong Dayu? Even he was tricked by that scoundrel without even realizing it!"

At the height of his excitement, Bawutu slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Now I understand! Chu Shizhao was clearly bluffing!"

From the distant city walls, the shouts of the defending soldiers could be faintly heard. Bawutu pointed in that direction, spittle flying everywhere: "Look at their posture now! They're clearly trying to make us think that Xueyuan Pass still has fighting power! So that we'll be hesitant to launch a full-scale attack!"

Halfway through his sentence, Ba Wutu suddenly sensed that something was amiss. Tuoba Lie's expression grew increasingly grim, and he realized that he had perhaps been too flamboyant.

"Ahem..." Batu quickly bowed, his voice immediately lowering: "Of course, these are just some of my humble opinions, and I don't know if they are right or wrong. If there is anything inappropriate, I hope the commander-in-chief will enlighten me."

A strange light flashed in Tuoba Lie's deep eyes. He stared at his subordinate, who was sometimes shrewd and sometimes foolish, a hint of doubt rising in his heart. Was this Ba'tu truly stupid, or was he pretending?

If it's an act, then this scheming is truly terrifying.

If it's not an act, how come you can always see through the enemy's intentions at crucial moments?
Just like now, even he himself couldn't see through Chu Shizhao's bluff, but this seemingly crude subordinate saw right through it.

Amidst the clamor of the battlefield, Tuoba Lie gazed at the towering walls of Xueyuan Pass in the distance, his brow furrowing involuntarily. Were those seemingly tenacious defenders truly just putting on a brave face?

Tuoba Lie gazed at the towering Xueyuan Pass in the distance. The afterglow of the setting sun gilded the pass with a blood-red hue, and the mottled sword marks and arrow holes on the city wall were clearly visible.

He was not incompetent; he simply knew very little about Chu Shizhao, whom he had never met.

The intelligence sent by the Dark Night Cult was piled up on a thick stack of parchment scrolls, but every time he turned a page, his brows furrowed even more; the text read like a myth or legend.

They were all exaggerated descriptions like "a master strategist" and "a plan without error."

"Heh." Tuoba Lie sneered, slamming the parchment scroll heavily onto the table. How much of this intelligence could be believed? Thirty percent? Fifty percent? More importantly, even if it were all true, he couldn't piece together Chu Shizhao's true nature from these flowery words.

The man was like the wispy mist behind the pass, visible yet untouchable. The war drums thundered, and the Northern Di cavalry charged forward wave after wave. Sweeping ladders were erected and fell, but after paying several lives, they were erected again by the Northern Di cavalry.

He stared intently at the figure that was faintly visible on the city wall, his eyes burning with fierce battle intent.

Tuoba Lie suddenly roared, "Continue the attack! We must take Xueyuan Pass today!"

The last five words seemed to carry a bloody undertone: "At any cost!"

Time waits for no one. Tuoba Lie looked up at the southern sky and seemed to see the iron cavalry of the Northern Barbarians setting fire to beacon fires across enemy lands.

Xueyuan Pass is like a fishbone stuck in the throat; every day of delay strengthens the Great Zhou's defenses. Even if the Northern Di cavalry is incredibly brave, they will pay a heavy price against this impenetrable fortress.

He did hesitate before the battle. This damned pass had already claimed too many warriors' lives; was it worth continuing the assault?

But after the first wave of attacks began, Tuoba Lie suddenly realized that every warrior sacrificed now would save a hundred lives in the future. Xueyuan Pass must be taken as soon as possible!

"The commander-in-chief has ordered that we break through Xueyuan Pass at all costs!" The messenger's voice echoed across the battlefield.

All the commanders understood that Tuoba Lie was about to get serious.

At that moment, they put aside their ulterior motives and began to go all out.

The Imperial Guard, which had been kept under wraps, was also dispatched.

Even among the current Northern Di cavalry, these guards are the elite, selected from among the best.

They silently drew their weapons, the sharp edges of their swords gleaming coldly in the setting sun.

With heavy footsteps, these terrifying men mingled among the ordinary soldiers and followed them as they charged toward the city walls.

On the city wall, Li Batian's sword had just cleaved open an enemy's head.

The heavy sword, without even needing to be unsealed, could easily pierce through the armor with its own weight.

As the saber swung down again, a strangely shaped curved sword suddenly blocked it.

"Clang!" Amidst the ear-piercing clang of metal clashing, Li Batian felt a chill run down his spine and looked at the other side in surprise.

It was a burly man wearing a wolf-head helmet. Although he was knocked back three steps, he quickly regained his footing, his eyes flashing with a bloodthirsty light.

"Interesting." The Northern Di warrior licked his lips, twirling his scimitar in his palm with a flourish. "Indeed, a formidable expert. I've been watching you for a long time. Prepare to die!"

Li Batian's contemptuous expression vanished. He took a deep breath and drew a semi-circle with his saber in front of him: "Go back, you damned Northern Barbarians!" Their weapons clashed again, sparks flying.

On the other side, Huo Qinghuang also encountered someone who could block one of her shots.

Although the Northern Di warrior was short, he was exceptionally strong and muscular, like a cheetah poised to pounce.

This man turned his height disadvantage into an advantage. The huge iron shield in his hand was not only incredibly defensive, but it also perfectly protected his entire body.

In every engagement, he remained hidden behind his shield, like a turtle retreating into its shell, impervious to any slashing or thrusting attacks from his opponents. But just as the enemy grew impatient from their prolonged assault, his scimitar would suddenly lash out from the edge of his shield like a venomous snake, its angle treacherous and utterly ruthless.

Huo Qinghuang thrust out her spear like a dragon, but it was repeatedly blocked by the heavy shield, making her hands go numb.

She was agile and quick, but her opponent's defense was watertight, making it difficult for her to break through for a while.

The Northern Di warrior, his eyes filled with mockery, grinned and shouted, "Hahaha, does your Great Zhou have no one left? You actually send a woman to fight the enemy?"

He licked his chapped lips, his gaze sweeping over her without restraint. "Little lady, you have a pretty face, why bother dying here? Why not lay down your weapons and surrender? This general can make you his servant."

Huo Qinghuang's eyes flashed with a cold light, knowing that this was a provocation.

She remained silent, but the attacks with her spear suddenly accelerated. The spear tip sliced ​​through the air with a sharp whistling sound, each strike faster than the last, until finally, she became a blurry afterimage.

None of the people around could clearly see her moves.

"Hmph! You're asking for it!" The Northern Di warrior's expression changed slightly, and he quickly raised his shield to block.

But Huo Qinghuang's spear thrusts were like a raging storm, the spear tip like a torrential downpour of pear blossoms, densely piercing the gaps at the edge of the shield, forcing him to retreat repeatedly. He had no strength left to even speak, let alone retaliate.

The sound of the spear clashing against the iron shield rang out as a long, drawn-out note.

The Northern Di warrior holding the iron shield sneered inwardly: "This woman is truly terrifying, but unfortunately for you, you've met your match today. No matter how skilled you are, you won't be able to break through my shield."

Just as he was feeling smug, the Northern Di warrior suddenly felt a dizzying sensation before his eyes and couldn't help but gag.

Under such circumstances, it's natural that the shield would be difficult to control.

Huo Qinghuang seized an opportunity and thrust her spear at the Northern Di warrior.

Realizing something was wrong, the Northern Di warriors hurriedly raised their shields to block Huo Qinghuang's spear.

With a crisp clang, Huo Qinghuang's attack failed this time.

However, immediately afterward, a series of metallic clanging sounds rang out.

Soon, the Northern Di warriors experienced the same symptoms of dizziness, blurred vision, and nausea again.

"Oh no, what kind of sorcery is this?" The Northern Di warrior's expression changed drastically. He didn't understand why this was happening, nor did he know how to resolve it.

"You bitch, don't be so arrogant, I'll fight you to the death." This man was also fierce. He actually threw away his shield and rolled to Huo Qinghuang's side, wielding his curved sword and creating a flash of light.

His attack seemed incredibly fierce, but Huo Qinghuang merely snorted and her spear flashed out like lightning, passing directly through the blade light and piercing the man's neck, pinning him to the city wall.

Even as he died, the Northern Di warrior still couldn't quite believe it.

Without that shield, he couldn't even withstand a single move from this woman.

(End of this chapter)