Fang Er was the first to pull the trigger.
With a bang, a mounted scout fell directly from his horse, drawing cheers from Li Jing and the others, who then fired their own bullets.
A series of gunshots, bang bang bang bang, could not be masked even by the roar of the engines.
The small leader of the Turkic scouts panicked. Out of twenty brothers, in just these few exchanges, five of their own had fallen from their warhorses.
Hahahaha! Great!
Li Jing laughed loudly, working the bolt of his rifle with a clack-clack as he chambered a round, and fired again.
Another scout fell in the mounted ranks.
The small leader quickly shouted, "Scatter! Scatter back to the city and relay the message!"
Fifteen, no, fourteen of them were being pursued by these six monsters. If they scattered, surely some would survive to pass on the military intelligence?
But reality proved their thoughts to be wishful thinking. Fang Er smoked his cigarette and fired his gun.
Before he finished one cigarette, all the scouts were eliminated.
Some had their mounts shot out from under them, falling to the ground with their horses, only to be crushed by armored vehicles, turned into bloody pulp.
With this minor incident, Fang Er's pickup truck and armored vehicles no longer rejoined the main force, but instead acted as vanguards, obscuring the battlefield and preventing news of the Tang army's arrival from reaching Dingxiang City.
It wasn't that they feared the defenders would be prepared, but rather that they feared the enemy would be scared off.
In just one day, the silhouette of Dingxiang City came into view.
As the convoy approached, they eliminated several waves of scouts. The city's defenders were completely unaware that the Tang army was already at their gates.
Turkic sentries patrolling outside the city were startled when they spotted the Tang army, and quickly spurred their horses back towards the city.
This time, Fang Er and Li Jing did not pursue, as there was no need.
Report!
The sentry shouted and rushed into the great tent in Dingxiang City. Guarding it was the great general under Khagan Ilteber, Zhishi Sili. Hearing the urgent report, he rushed out of the tent.
What is it!
Report, General! A Tang army, numbering ten thousand, has come from the south!
The sentry knelt on one knee and replied with cupped fists.
Guards! Escort me to the city wall to survey the enemy situation!
Zhishi Sili roared, leading his men to the south city wall.
By the time he reached the wall, the Tang army was less than two li from Dingxiang City. Zhishi Sili took a quick glance and immediately began summoning his subordinates to the wall.
Zhipeiyi Ban, take three thousand men and hold the north of the city for me!
Atubashi, three thousand men, the east of the city!
Yakelu, three thousand men, the west of the city!
Ashina Biesun, take your men and defend the south of the city with me!
Issue my order! For every Tang soldier killed, a reward of three sheng of grain! Any who fear battle shall be executed!
Yes!
Zhishi Sili's subordinate generals quickly began mobilizing their men, assembling in their designated areas to prepare for battle.
While arrangements were being made within the city, the Tang army outside halted about a li from Dingxiang City.
Li Shimin's three-wheeled vehicle finally caught up.
The Xuanwu Army spread out to the flanks.
Tractors pulled the cannons, turning at the front of the formation, their muzzles pointing towards Dingxiang City.
The Tianhuo Army formed a crescent, protecting thirty cannons in the center.
Fang Er sat on the roof of his pickup truck and said to Liu Meng beside him.
Have your hot air balloons ascend!
Yes!
Liu Meng went down to give the order.
Fang Er glanced at Li Shimin and Li Jing and the others.
My goodness, they've set up tables in the open and are playing mahjong!
Li Shimin, Li Jing, Niu Jinda, and Zhang Gongjin were at one table.
Li Xiaogong, Qin Qiong, and Yuchi Jingde were missing one player, so they called another from the Xuanjia Army to make up the numbers.
This is utterly absurd. Wouldn't it be better to play mahjong in Chang'an?
Two hot air balloons belonging to the Third Regiment, fueled by burning diesel, quickly inflated their envelopes and slowly lifted off the ground.
The gondolas beneath the balloons were tethered to the three-wheeled vehicles by ropes.
Shortly after the hot air balloons ascended, the soldiers inside reported the enemy distribution within the city via walkie-talkie.
Fang Er sneered, "Tie Lao Ba!"
Your subordinate is here!
Tie Lao Ba quickly ran to Fang Er and saluted.
Let's bombard Dingxiang City. We'll treat the esteemed dukes to a fireworks display!
Yes!
Tie Lao Ba quickly returned to the artillery battery and began relaying the orders.
Five hundred meters ahead, altitude thirty, charge pack one, prepare!
Ready!
Ready!
Ready!
The artillerymen quickly adjusted their gun barrels according to Tie Lao Ba's instructions, loading the shells with the corresponding charge packs and fuses.
Artillery pieces one through ten, one test round, fire!
Boom boom boom boom boom!
Ten shells instantly left the barrels and flew towards Dingxiang City.
Four landed outside the city, two hit the city walls, and four flew into the city.
Boom boom boom boom boom!
Continuous explosions created two breaches in the rammed-earth city walls, and the four shells that landed inside the city had even more astonishing destructive power.
Soldiers were directly blown away by the shockwaves, and severed limbs even landed ten meters beyond the craters.
Zhishi Sili was stunned. The soldiers sent to raid Chang'an last time had not mentioned that the Tang army possessed such artillery.
Being able to fire from five hundred paces away was terrifying!
And the shells that were fired had such immense power!
Tie Lao Ba outside the city gave him no chance to react.
All troops! Distance five hundred, altitude thirty-five, charge pack one, rapid fire three rounds!
After receiving the confirmation of readiness from all positions.
Tie Lao Ba vigorously dropped the flag in his hand.
Fire!
Boom boom boom boom!
Shells rained down on Dingxiang City, and in an instant, explosions erupted everywhere within the city. The rising smoke even obscured the sky above Dingxiang City!
This time, it wasn't just Zhishi Sili who was stunned.
Even Li Shimin, Li Jing, and the others were equally dumbfounded.
Damn it, what kind of devilry has this brat unleashed?
The Dingxiang City that had been perfectly fine just moments ago had now been reduced to ruins!
The most intact section of the city wall did not exceed ten meters, with debris and the corpses of Turkic soldiers scattered everywhere.
Eagle One to Base, Eagle One to Base, a thousand-strong enemy detachment is fleeing north of the city! Over!
Zhang Tian's voice came through the walkie-talkie.
Fang Er knew without even thinking that this fellow must have swiped the Third Regiment's soldiers! Damn it, he's asking for a beating, abandoning his own men to sneak onto the Third Regiment's hot air balloon. How much does this guy love flying?
Eagle One, this is Base, enemy situation received, continue observation, maintain safety. Over!
Seeing that Fang Er wasn't blaming him, Zhang Tian grinned widely up in the air.
ps: Third update