Tiger Owl

Chapter 235 Helping in times of need
The medium-sized catapult was started, and twenty zhang-long launching rods were swung out, hurling one hundred stones weighing more than thirty jin each towards the Western Chu camp. The boulders made a sharp whistling sound, tumbling in the air and appearing above the heads of the Western Chu army with incredible speed. The Western Chu soldiers shouted and dodged to both sides or crawled into leather buckets.

With a muffled 'boom!', the boulder crashed down, raising dust in the air. Several Western Chu soldiers were unable to dodge in time and were crushed, their bones broken and their bodies snapped, killing them instantly. The powerful impact caused many soldiers to crouch down and raise their shields to meet the challenge.

Another loud crash, and a large rock struck Pengdun with a resounding thud. The vines of Pengdun prevented the rock, whose edges had been worn down, from striking firmly, and it bounced high into the air, flying more than twenty paces away. This rock had achieved no effect whatsoever.

Another muffled thud, accompanied by the sound of the support breaking, and a canopy collapsed. A dozen or so Western Chu soldiers who were hiding under the canopy stumbled out, many of them with arm injuries from the powerful impact, groaning in pain as they retreated.

The second volley of catapults was launched, and a hundred large stones tumbled through the air, hurtling down. This time, hundreds of Western Chu soldiers were hit by the stones, their flesh and blood flying everywhere, their shields shattered, and their rafts broken. Then came the third and fourth volleys... Each volley of catapults resulted in dozens of casualties. Although the catapults were incredibly powerful, the Western Chu army had sufficient defenses, preventing them from inflicting too much damage.

Ten thousand soldiers of the Western Chu army had already rushed to the city walls on rafts. The Jiaozhi army on the walls unleashed a hail of arrows, which rained down like hail, covering the sky and bombarding the attacking Western Chu army.

The Western Chu army raised their shields to meet the attack, and soldiers were constantly struck by arrows and died tragically. Amidst the rain of arrows, thousands of Western Chu soldiers slammed together rafts several meters long across the moat, forming five temporary tree bridges.

One after another, towering, heavy, and wide ladders were erected on the city wall. Groups of fierce and brave Western Chu soldiers rushed up the ladders and began to climb. Arrows from the Jiaozhi army rained down from the sides, and rolling logs and stones crashed down on them. Western Chu soldiers screamed as they fell down the stairs, their bodies struck by arrows and their heads smashed. Corpses began to pile up at the foot of the city wall. Then, more Western Chu soldiers frantically climbed the ladders and charged upwards without regard for their own safety.

At this moment, hundreds of armored soldiers braved the crossbows and charged up the city wall, engaging in fierce combat with the enemy troops on the wall.

Zhao Yun shouted, "Sound the horn! Charge into battle!"

"Woo——"

The Western Chu army sounded the bugle, and Zhao Yun led several thousand men to charge towards the city wall.

At this moment, horns sounded from the east, "Woo—" The horn sound echoed below the city, and Taishi Ci had also gone into battle.

Bu Zhi calmly looked at the city wall, then turned and shouted, "Beat the drums! All attacking troops, advance!"

The drums sounded again in the Western Chu camp, “Boom! Boom! Boom!” The main force of the Western Chu army surged towards the city wall like a tidal wave.

Seeing the situation was dire, the commander-in-chief Shi Wu, who was standing in front of the city tower, turned to flee down the city. Tai Shi Ci had been watching him closely. He drew his bow and shot an arrow. "Whoosh!" The arrow pierced through the back of Shi Wu's neck, pinning him to a wooden pillar on the city tower.

The Western Chu army stormed the city walls, and the defending soldiers knelt down and surrendered. Thousands of soldiers attempted to escape through the south gate, but they could not escape. Bu Zhi personally led 10,000 troops to block the city gate.

Thousands of soldiers had no choice but to lay down their weapons and surrender.

Shi Wu died, and his son Shi Kuang also died in the chaos of battle. More than 3,000 of the 10,000 soldiers were killed, and the rest of the soldiers surrendered without a single one escaping.

…………

Bu Zhi looked with great interest at the hundred catapults on the city wall. These catapults had only been used three times and were basically well preserved. Moreover, he found that the catapults were exquisitely crafted.

Bu Zhi turned to the surrendered warehouse clerk and asked, "Who manufactured these catapults?"

Cang Cao quickly smiled and said, "Many craftsmen from the Central Plains fled to Jiaozhi, numbering in the thousands. Shi Xie established a craftsmen's bureau to manufacture weapons and siege equipment. These hundred catapults were made by them."

Zhao Yun laughed from the side, "We were just worrying about how to get the catapults here, and now they've delivered a perfect solution to our predicament. Isn't this the will of Heaven?"

"Indeed, we've come at the perfect time!"

Bu Zhi turned back and asked the granary official, "How much grain and fodder is in the city?" "Reporting to Commander Bu, there are 50,000 shi of grain, 20,000 dan of black beans, and some hay, probably tens of thousands of dan."

Bu Zhi nodded and said to the military commander Lin Kuan, "Fifty thousand shi of grain is enough for us to take Jiaozhi County. For now, we don't need to transport grain from Linchen County."

Bu Zhi knew very well that the enemy would not dare to attack their main force halfway, but they would definitely target the logistics and food convoy. Since they already had catapults and enough food, they decided not to transport food for the time being.

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Taishi Ci hesitated for a moment and said, "Commander Bu, as long as we send more troops to protect them, we should be able to keep the logistics team safe!"

Bu Zhi pondered for a moment and said, “My weakness is that I am not familiar with the terrain. Along the way, we have seen so many canyons and dense forests. What is hidden behind these dense forests? Where do these valleys lead? We have no idea. But the enemy knows everything. If the Jiaozhi army wants to attack the logistics convoy, we will really be unable to defend against it. General Taishi, we have already suffered more than a thousand casualties in the attack on Wangmei City. I do not want any more soldiers to suffer unnecessary casualties.”

Taishi Ci blushed and bowed, saying, "This humble servant knows his mistake!"

Zhao Yun suddenly asked, "What if the convoy delivering oil to us is ambushed?"

Bu Zhi's expression changed, and he immediately became serious. He had only considered the logistics and supplies, but forgot about the oil transport team that was behind them. This transport team was already halfway there.

"Oops!"

Without a second thought, Bu Zhi hurriedly ordered, "Quickly order Zhou Guang to lead scout cavalry to provide support!"
Zhou Guang led three hundred cavalrymen at full speed, and that very night, he met the convoy transporting kerosene at Yexiang Pass.

Yexiang Pass is about 70 li away from Wangmei County. It is an abandoned pass located on a narrow pass and was originally a dangerous pass.

However, it was abandoned a few years ago due to changes in the official road route.

The fortress was on the verge of collapse, but the area inside was quite large, overgrown with weeds that could support a person, and snakes and insects roamed freely.

A convoy of eighty wagons and two hundred guards was parked inside the pass. The wagons were filled with four thousand incendiary bombs, each in a tightly protected small wooden box. The bomb casings were like eggshells and would break at the slightest touch.

The guard commander was named Zheng Rong, a garrison leader. Zheng Rong was very nervous. He had already discovered enemy scouts during the day, and by nightfall, he dared not move any further. Fortunately, he happened to see Yexiang Pass.

His men were positioned around the walls of Wild Elephant Pass, nervously watching the dark forests and valleys outside.

Suddenly a soldier shouted, "Squad leader, Commandant Zhou is here!"

Zheng Rong was immediately alerted and rushed to the gate. Sure enough, it was Zhou Guang, the scout captain, followed by hundreds of men leading horses.

Zheng Rong was so moved that tears streamed down his face. "Captain, you've truly come to our aid in our time of need!"

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[There's an urgent matter at home, so I'll be taking a break at noon. Updates will resume as normal this afternoon.]

(End of this chapter)