Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 107 Ji Yuan is too serious.
Ji Yuan wasn't particularly angry about Song Shi'an's matter.

It was nothing more than launching an offensive of the first day's level, employing the ant-swarm tactic, having all the Dayu laborers lead the way, and setting a goal of massacring the city within three days.

Why would an adult get angry with a child?

The fierce attacks of the past few days have left the city teetering on the brink of collapse.

The drum towers on all four city gates were destroyed into ruins by the cumulative and precise bombardment of catapults.

The trenches filled in at least twenty sandy roads.

The thin and brittle city wall was also smashed into three gaps by the constant bombardment of the catapults.

However, the wall wasn't completely traversed; instead, a slope was created. If it weren't for the deer antlers (defensive measures made of sharpened branches or tree trunks), the Qi cavalry could have charged directly onto the city wall.

All three gaps are located on the north side of the city.

Therefore, Ji Yuan's attack focus was also on this side.

Because hundreds of people could storm the city walls almost every day, the main force of Yu's army was also on the north side of the city wall.

Nearly 70% of the soldiers who were capable of fighting went up to the front lines and engaged in battle.

The tactical advantage lies entirely in the north, leaving the south somewhat vulnerable.

Siege engines, traversing bridges made of sandbags covered with iron shields, carrying stones from the city walls, broth, oil, and fire, aimed at the city gates like meat, eggs, scallions, and chicken...

The south gate has been smashed up three times in the last three times.

Learning from the previous lesson, Qi Jun did not blindly fill the space with people.

Instead, they used countless soldiers to push siege engines towards the city gate opposite the barbican...

If the two gates are breached, the Qi army can advance unimpeded.

Therefore, all the soldiers on the barbican shot arrows and threw torches at the siege vehicles that were being protected.

With every step taken, several people died in the advance.

The Qi army acted like a relay race, carrying the siege engine to the final barrier...

However, when they were only about twenty steps away, the door suddenly opened slowly with a heavy, muffled creak.

Driven by inertia, the cone-shaped battering ram continued its charge.

And so, she slipped smoothly through the gap in the wide-open door...

The soldiers pushing the siege engine were completely dumbfounded.

Opposite them were a hundred heavily armored cavalrymen.

Each person was holding a large machete.

This is a heavy cavalry force assembled from one hundred sets of horse armor brought by Langya.

In a large county, all the people in the county would have to go without food and water for a whole year to support these 100 people.

And they, on the battlefield where close combat is inevitable, are death itself.

With a roar, a hundred heavily armored cavalrymen charged toward the barbican.

At the same time, Ji Yuan's army charged in from outside the city.

The two forces clashed fiercely within the city walls.

In less than half an hour, Ji Yuan, at the cost of losing 3,600 infantrymen, tragically exchanged 100 of the Great Yu heavy cavalry for his own.

Inside the barbican, the heavy cavalry's armor was completely shredded, their blades were chipped, and broken horse legs were everywhere...

Because of the bloody battle in the barbican and the continuous reinforcement of troops to the south gate, the Yu army regained the initiative.

The heavy, wide-open door slowly closed as a dozen or so people pushed it shut...

Just then, a dozen or so light cavalrymen from the State of Qi galloped toward the entrance.

Eight of them seized the opportunity and slipped into the city.

Two more riders crashed into the closing city gate with a thunderous roar, their heads split open and their mounts dying instantly.

"Don't let them set fires!"

Each of the eight riders carried a torch, and there were several spare, unlit torches on the way.

After entering the city, he did nothing but light a torch with a fire source and throw it high onto the roof of a house, then continued to ride his horse and set fires.

The light cavalry of Dayu could only follow closely behind and shoot arrows.

After a while, they finally managed to eliminate all the invaders one by one.

There are more than a dozen houses that can be set on fire.

Although they immediately used sand to extinguish the fires on a few of the slower-burning houses, the fires gradually engulfed the six houses because the cavalrymen had set them off in different locations.

Once a fire starts, it will inevitably burn a whole area.

Fortunately, the ancients had already considered that once a fire broke out in a wooden building, the fire would spread uncontrollably.

The neighborhood system involved building walls around certain residential areas, with alleyways separating them from the outside, similar to a residential community.

Even if the fire is huge and there is wind, it will only burn this one area at most.

As a result, more than 450 houses in Shuofeng City were burned down.

With the demolition of houses previously used for firewood, a third of the entire Shuofengli area is now gone.

The city walls also became dilapidated and riddled with holes.

On the second night of the fierce attack, after the Qi army withdrew, the Shuofeng leadership sat on the ground behind the city wall, their faces showing utter exhaustion.

Xin Yue, too, was protecting Wei Wusheng in the city when she killed four people, leaving her with a neck covered in blood.

Song Shi'an walked over and reached out to take Qin Kuo's cake.

Qin Kuo immediately turned away: "Get out of the way."

At this moment, Wei Wusheng smiled slightly and handed the piece in his hand to Song Shi'an.

Without any hesitation, he took it, sat down on the ground, started eating the pancake, and complained, "I've discovered that Ji Yuan is really serious about things."

"What's this on your face?" Following the firelight, Zhu Qingmi saw patches of charred black marks on Song Shi'an's face.

"It must have been from putting out the fire," Song Shi'an said nonchalantly, wiping his face with his sleeve.

The sleeves got stained instantly.

The grime on her face was also smoothed out.

Xin Yue couldn't help but laugh, but at the same time, she quickly followed up with a cough to cover it up and maintain her aloofness.

"In just two days, we've lost 3,000 of our fighting soldiers, bringing the total to nearly 5,000. We can't count the civilians and laborers, but the number is probably not small either. If we include children, there are probably only about 22,000 people still breathing in the north wind right now," Zheng Tong said. "Half of our people, a full half of them. We've never seen anything like this before."

“This is much fiercer than at the beginning,” Wang Dalong said. “If this kind of offensive continues for another three days, there won’t be many survivors left in Shuofeng.”

"Three days?" Song Shi'an laughed. "Even if we fight for another day tomorrow, Ji Yuan won't be able to take it."

“Their losses are definitely greater,” Zheng Tong said. “Although the vast majority of them were people from Shuojun, they were still people they could use.”

At this point, it's pointless to dwell on which side is going to die.

The population resources of Beishuo County were also obtained by Ji Yuan at a cost.

Do you think he's that good to his own people?
War is not child's play.

"Should we send General Xiao Qun to provide reinforcements? At this time, the news should be released," Qin Kuo asked.

Everyone felt that this was at least a chance to catch their breath.

But it's just like playing a team battle.

Your top laner is back, so the enemy top laner has to come back too. If you lose this team fight, it's a team wipe.

"Shi An." While everyone was pondering, Wei Wusheng looked at him and said quite calmly, "You decide."

This is the battle he wants to fight.

These achievements are mainly due to him.

Now that we've come this far, we should trust him completely.

"General Xiao Qun is very good, but I am not used to entrusting my life to others."

With a solemn expression, Song Shi'an said firmly, "I think we should continue to wear down Ji Yuan."

.........

"Your Majesty, the casualties are too great, the casualties are too great..."

Holding the casualty log compiled by each battalion, Chen Xing's hands trembled; he was truly terrified.

"I know."

Sitting on the grass, Ji Yuan slowly clenched his fists and then slowly opened them.

No one was under more pressure than him.

But he also knew that it was relative.

If you're under a lot of pressure, isn't the north wind under a lot of pressure too?

What are the characteristics of Song Shi'an?

Ji Yuan looked at Chen Xing and asked.

Although Chen Xing was puzzled, he still said, "It is said that he is eight feet tall and quite handsome."

"Ah."

Ji Yuan nodded, and after thinking it over, decided, "Let's try to see if we can kill him."

……

The third day was also the last day that Ji Yuan announced his intention to conquer the city.

They continued their strong attack through the breach in the north.

Countless people surged onto the city wall.

But unlike others, once they got up there, many people rushed towards the steps with a clear purpose: to go down into the city.

Of every hundred people who climbed the city walls, about ten entered the city.

They originally thought he was going to target the Sixth Prince in the city, so they surrounded him with elite heavy infantry to prevent the decapitation operation.

But as soon as these people entered the city, they spread out and ventured into the deep alleys within the city.

"What does this mean!"

Wei Wusheng, fully armored and holding a long spear, asked warily.

Those around them didn't know and shook their heads.

The main force of Yu's army was on the city walls, but there were also capable fighters inside the city. These few who slipped through the net and were completely separated from the main army could not cause any trouble inside.

Is it arson again?
But they didn't have torches, and they weren't cavalry, so setting a fire successfully was no easy task.

“This feeling…” Xin Yue suddenly felt a tightness in her chest, “It’s like, we’re about to go into the city and kill someone!”

"Could it be that they're after Shi An?"

Wei Wusheng quickly realized what was happening.

However, the disparity in troop strength between the two sides was too great, making it impossible to send men to chase after these people who had slipped in.

So he quickly decided, "Hold the city walls and don't let any more people in!"

The fewer enemies allowed in, the safer the people in the city and Song Shi'an will be.

For this reason, Wei Wusheng even personally used a long spear to kill two Qi soldiers.

.........

The city now resembles Konoha Village during the Fourth Shinobi World War.

Mid-to-high-end combat forces are basically absent.

It was just a group of women, children, and some elderly laborers.

The only ones with combat capability were the few dozen officials that Song Shi'an could use.

But he can't possibly dedicate all his resources to protecting himself.

There was only one dog by his side.

As usual, he personally oversaw logistics and helped transfer the wounded.

Suddenly, in the distance, he saw three Qi soldiers holding long spears.

Holy crap, how did we all end up here?!

Surprised, Song Shi'an drew his sword.

The three men in the distance, upon seeing a tall, handsome man, all gripped their spears tightly and charged towards Song Shi'an: "That's Song Shi'an!"

"Master, you're behind me!"

Immediately, San Gou stood in front of Song Shi'an, took the bow and arrow from his back, drew the string, and released an arrow when the man was only thirty paces away.

In an instant, it pierced through a person's skull.

But the two men didn't stop for a moment and continued their charge.

Without the slightest hesitation, he picked up the second arrow, nocked it, aimed, and fired.

Whoosh!
A powerful arrow pierced his skull, and another one fell.

He was just about to grab the third arrow when the last man was less than ten steps away.

Without hesitation, he threw away the bow and drew the sword from his waist.

The top of the long spear is a spearhead.

Qi Bing thrust forward with all his might, but San Gou dodged at the last second, the spear passing right by him.

Seeing that he had missed, the opponent turned his body and pulled the sharp sickle back towards San Gou's back.

San Gou forcefully blocked Ge's attack from the side with his knife, charged forward, and upon getting close, severed the man's neck with a single stroke.

Before he died, the sickle he pulled back failed to touch San Gou's back.

Using short weapons to defeat long ones, a triple kill without taking any damage.

After killing them, he quickly picked up the bow from the ground, looked around, and then grabbed Song Shi'an, saying, "There might still be people! Master, let's hide!"

"Okay."

Song Shi'an withdrew without any hesitation, but on the way, he couldn't help but look at San Gou: "You're so fierce, how come you're still just an ordinary soldier?"

Is it because of military suppression?

“Master, although San Gou has no official position, he is not an ordinary soldier.”

San Gou took a moment to explain to him, "The one below is Captain Zhu's stable boy."

(End of this chapter)