In this realistic war game, only I understand the course of the battle.

"The three pointed wooden donkeys are assigned to your Team C. The mission remains the same: to accompany the assault vehicles in an attack, clear obstacles, and breach the gate."

Shen Du heard the familiar equipment name again.

Battering rams, also known as "ramming rams" or "ramming rams," were heavy-duty rams, each equipped with 24 to 36 men and typically driven by a professional siege team.

It is an ancient battering ram specifically used to break open city gates or walls.

The "pointed wooden donkey" was an important siege and defense vehicle, more similar to a modern human armored personnel carrier.

Their core mission was not to directly destroy the city walls, but to safely transport soldiers and equipment to the city walls to carry out sabotage operations, braving defensive arrows and stones.

After finishing his sentence, the deputy commander turned and left.

Gu Zhang's men stood on the left, about thirty of them, all veterans, their swords and shields neatly arranged, their ranks impeccable.

Shen Du's men stood on the right, twenty in number, hanging short-handled axes on their waists and inserting throwing axes behind their backs.

Sacks, gunpowder packets, hook-and-sickle guns, and several long-handled axes lay haphazardly on the ground at his feet.

There were also a few scattered small flags from various guards, standing haphazardly and chaotically together.

These people, when put together, don't seem to be on the same wavelength at all.

Gu Zhang stood in front of the three pointed wooden donkeys, looking at the more than one hundred people in front of him. Among them were his own old soldiers, some unfamiliar faces, and that strange group of soldiers.

In the past few years, he has led the cavalry of Yanshan Central Guard to charge with the commanders. When has he ever been in charge of infantry? When has he ever been in charge of siege warfare?

Gu Zhang's gaze swept over the flying axes, then back over the sacks, and finally landed on Shen Du. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he held back.

Shen Du spoke first: "Commander Gu, since we are fortunate enough to be assigned to the same unit, let's train together. After all, this is not something that can be done by one person alone."

"Joint training?" A junior officer behind Gu Zhang couldn't help but scoff. "You bunch of rubbish, training with us?"

"What's that hooked spear for? To trip horses? There aren't any horses under this city wall, are there?"

Shen Du's men immediately changed their expressions.

Zhao Laoliu glared and was about to retort when Shen Du raised his hand to stop him.

"What is your surname, young man?" Shen Du asked, looking at the young man.

"No need for formalities, my surname is Liu."

"Master Liu," Shen Du said sarcastically, "how many times have you been up the city wall?"

Liu Xiaoqi was taken aback: "What?"

"Let me ask you, how many times have you fought a battle where you followed a battering ram down to the base of the city wall, with barricades in front of you and boiling boulders overhead?"

Liu Xiaoqi did not respond.

"I see that you are either elites from your respective guards or generals from the Imperial Guard. You are first-rate fighters, charging through blades and arrows."

Shen Du spoke slowly and deliberately.

"But attacking a city is different. Deer antlers, chevaux-de-frise, trenches, camp gates—these things block the battering rams; someone has to clear them. Can you handle it?"

Liu Xiaoqi's face flushed red, and his hand was already on the hilt of the knife.

Gu Zhang reached out and blocked him back.

Gu Zhang looked at Shen Du, his voice low and deep:

"Commander Li, although I am a centurion and you are a commander, we originally belonged to different guards."

Those less capable than you can lead you, and those less capable than me can lead me. Once we reach the city walls, we'll see who has the best defense.

Shen Du looked at Gu Zhang, and Gu Zhang also looked at Shen Du.

The two stared at each other for several breaths, and the hundred or so people around them all fell silent; even the wind stopped.

Shen Du spoke up, "Commander Gu, your men are agile and skilled at scaling walls and stacks."

My men are trained in clearing obstacles and filling trenches; they know how to deal with antlers and moats.

But we each did our own thing. When we got to the city walls, your men were blocked by the deer antlers and couldn't get up, while my men climbed over the walls but couldn't fight off the defenders. In the end, they all died at the base of the walls.

Are you willing to accept this result?

Gu Zhang's face darkened.

Shen Du didn't wait for his answer and continued:

"How about this? I'll lead my men and the brothers from the other guards to practice what we've learned about the city walls—breaking through barriers, filling moats, and pushing the wooden donkeys."

Now that this road has been cleared, the former Liancheng of Dezhou is no higher than the city wall of Dezhou. Your people will have the opportunity to climb up on the pointed wooden donkey.

"Your men will handle things on the city walls—climbing over, engaging the enemy, and pushing to the flanks. My men will follow behind, spearmen will hold the crenellations, and throwing axes will clear the flanks for you."

Shen Du paused, then added, "This way, we can save lives the most."

Gu Zhang stood there, his expression complex.

He was already furious about being forced into the Pocheng camp, and now a newly promoted captain was standing in front of him giving orders and assigning him all his tasks clearly.

Gu Zhang couldn't refute it; his men had indeed never practiced breaking through barriers and didn't even know the procedures for siege warfare.

Shen Du's strategy utilized the strengths of both sides, ensuring that neither side suffered a loss.

Gu Zhang glanced back at his team; over thirty veterans were waiting for him to speak.

"If your men are at the forefront and many die, don't blame me," Gu Zhang said.

"Don't blame me if your men don't clear the road ahead," Shen Du replied.

Gu Zhang paused for a moment, then decided there was no need to continue the stalemate; business was more important: "Alright, let's train together then."

But there's one condition: you have to teach my people the siege process.

My men have been in the Yanshan Zhongwei military camp for three years, and none of them are cowards when it comes to riding into battle, but they've never even touched these things before.

Shen Du glanced at Gu Zhang and said sincerely, "No problem."

Gu Zhang nodded, then suddenly changed the subject: "And what about once they're on the city wall? What will your men do after that? Will they follow us up the crenellations and start hacking people to death?"

Shen Du shook his head frankly.

"No, climbing over walls and attacking people is your business."

Gu Zhang was stunned for a moment, not expecting Shen Du to admit it so readily.

"These people mainly practice clearing obstacles with me."

Clearing the road is a quick job, requiring a sharp axe, fast feet, and quick retreat.

Climbing over walls and slashing people is another matter entirely. Knife skills, movement techniques, and adaptability in combat—these are things that can't be learned in a short time. Facing enemies head-on is where you'll have to rely on.

What he said was indeed true, but Gu Zhang suddenly felt that something was not quite right.

Shen Du continued to add key points, "However, your people need to learn how to cooperate with my people; these are areas that require focused joint training."

"Did you all hear that? Then let's begin now," Gu Zhang said to his men.

The first thing to do was to familiarize himself with the pointed wooden donkey.

The afternoon sun made the drill ground scorching hot.

Shen Du led everyone to the pointed wooden donkey and patted the iron hoops covering the axle.

"This is the pointed wooden donkey."

Four-wheeled, made of raw cowhide from Mongolia, with enough space to hide six people inside.

The roof was made of wet cowhide, making it slippery when arrows were shot up, and torches thrown up wouldn't catch fire for a while.

You'll be safe only when the pointed wooden donkey arrives; if it doesn't, anyone who shows their face will die.

Shen Du pushed open the side panel. "Six people, come in."

The group of about a hundred people was divided into several groups. One group climbed into the pointed wooden donkey, while the rest stayed outside.

It was the first time Zhao Laoliu had climbed into the pointed wooden donkey. It was dark and stuffy inside, and the cowhide on top was burning hot from the sun. Sweat was dripping down his neck.