Angry Banana
Chapter 881: The Deadly Blade (Part Two)
On a battlefield of millions, the chaotic and disordered nature of the war makes it difficult to feel any fondness.
Arrows flew, blades clashed, and countless individuals with brilliant minds or impressive physiques, those who had the potential to become heroes, were easily felled by unexpected events. The distance between people was small, and the randomness of the battlefield created an odd sense of equality, often leaving one feeling insignificant.
Of course, there were exceptions.
The Jurchen Meng'an (千夫长) (Commander of a Thousand Households) Wulitan had been fighting with the army for nearly thirty years.
Over those three decades, he had followed the rise of the Jurchens, battling his way through countless victories.
Victories at Chuhe Store, Hubudagang, the capture of Shangjing, the assault on Yunzhong, the destruction of the Liao Dynasty, the invasion of the Wu Dynasty… Wulitan had witnessed Aguda's majestic and insightful grasp of the world, observed Wanyan Loushi's stunning bravery in wrestling tigers and bears, felt the fierce and unrestrained nature of Loushi's battles, and witnessed Zong Han's strategic brilliance in leading troops…
Through a hundred battles, large and small, Wulitan often served as a vanguard, charging the city walls or the enemy's front lines. Theoretically, this was one of the most dangerous positions, but as if fortune favored him, Wulitan's troops usually achieved success in these battles.
Even in the few unsuccessful or costly battles, this brave Jurchen general never lost his life or jeopardized the military situation. And even when the attack failed, the fierce and brutal nature of Wulitan's unit often left a deep impression on the enemy, even causing significant psychological trauma.
In the Jurchen army, he was actually as experienced as generals like Zong Han and Xiyin. His official rank in the army was only Meng'an because Wulitan's leadership abilities were limited to that level, but purely in terms of attacking ability, he was considered a formidable general comparable to the God of War Loushi.
After fighting in hundreds of battles, war became the entirety of Wulitan's life. He would engage in other forms of entertainment to relax his mind and body during the lulls in fighting, but what this Jurchen general craved most was leading troops to break through enemy defenses and set foot on enemy city walls in the most ferocious manner.
Just like when Loushi attacked Puzhou, when the vanguard failed to advance, Loushi personally led three heavily armored warriors to scale the city walls. These four men terrified the Wu Dynasty soldiers on the walls, and the troops behind them swarmed in. Such achievements were not unique in the Jurchen army.
At Chuhe Store, they defeated a Liao army of 100,000 with just over 3,000 men. At Hubudagang, they routed 700,000 men with 20,000 soldiers. Wulitan had repeatedly crushed supposedly determined enemies and stormed seemingly impregnable city walls. In front of him, the enemy was struck with fear. These moments allowed him to truly feel his existence.
These moments allowed him to feel as if he were standing at the top of the world. The Jurchen's invincibility and excellence were clearly demonstrated in such moments.
This allowed him to rightfully plunder and enjoy everything the world provided. For someone as outstanding as himself, wasn't it only natural to possess and enjoy everything?
The Black Banner Army was a rare enemy for the Jurchens in recent years. Loushi died in an accident on the battlefield, and Cibu Shi fell into their trap and had his rear stolen. They were indeed different from the weak Liao and Wu Dynasties, but they were also different from the Jurchen's bravery - they still retained the Wu Dynasty's treachery and calculation.
Perhaps this was the extreme that the weak Wu Dynasty could achieve under the threat of annihilation. Faced with such an army, Wulitan, like many Jurchen generals, did not feel fear. After a lifetime of fighting, now, to defeat this decent enemy and once again prove the Jurchen's invincibility to the world, the forty-four-year-old Wulitan only felt a long-lost excitement.
If the Central Plains, the Wu Dynasty, or even those soft bones in the East who had already begun to corrupt were to fight, they might drive a large number of cannon fodder to exhaust the enemy first. But Zong Han didn't do this, and Bālísù didn't do this either. The ones responsible for attacking were always the true elites. This satisfied Wulitan, and he requested the honor and privilege of leading the attack from Bālísù. Bālísù's nod filled him with glory and pride.
These people, with their minds filled with conspiracies and calculations, were ultimately no match for his true bravery. This time, the moment to defeat them head-on and declare the Jurchen's invincibility to the world had finally arrived.
On October 22nd, past midday, Wulitan ascended the city walls of Huangming County, becoming the first Jurchen general to climb the walls of the Huaxia Army in the Huangming battlefield and even the entire Southwest campaign.
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The early winter sun hung high in the sky as if to show off its presence, but the light and warmth it brought could not suppress the killing intent that had accumulated on this mountain battlefield.
Amidst the chaotic scene of tens of thousands of civilians being slaughtered and running, the Jurchen army carrying ladders and wooden poles approached Huangming County under the cover of the crowd. Seemingly wary of civilian casualties, the cannon fire from the city walls was still restrained, attempting to disperse the civilians one shot at a time.
The first ladder team to approach the city walls was met with a barrage of arrows and crossbow bolts from the walls, but the two teams around them quickly pressed forward. The most elite warriors in the army climbed the ladders held up by their comrades, some of them directly hugging the end of the wooden poles.
"First to Ascend—"
A thunderous shout erupted from the crowd. Soldiers were already raising the heads of the first four ladders and eight wooden poles during the charge.
A three-zhang (丈) (approximately 10 feet) high city wall was impossible to climb directly, but with the help of the ladders, wooden poles, or bamboo poles raised during the charge, they could reach the top in the blink of an eye.
Arrows and crossbow bolts flew through the air, cannonballs whizzed across the battlefield, and the stench of blood permeated the air. Huge catapults hurled stones through the sky, creating a chilling roar, and some people fell from the wooden poles. The defenders on the city walls did not seem to notice this disguised charge and did not launch a full-scale defense, which made Wulitan slightly puzzled.
But at this moment, none of that mattered.
"Charge—"
"Marry a wife and bequeath nobility, it lies ahead—"
At this moment, his heart was filled with boiling blood. The plot was revealed, and the charging army finally separated completely from the screaming civilians. Bālísù in the eastern camp watched all of this, and Pang Liu quietly observed from the western city walls. The soldiers on the city walls smelled the scent of blood.
Inside the city walls, a soldier gripped the throwing spear in his hand, charging it slightly. The moment the figure climbing the ladder appeared in his sight, he suddenly threw the spear in his hand!
The spear flew over the parapet, over the heads of the figures below the city, and suddenly pierced into the face of the soldier on the ladder. The roar of the Jurchens below the city suddenly sounded like thunder, and people on the city walls also shouted out.
"Come—"
Several Jurchen soldiers leaped onto the parapet like tigers and wolves, awaiting them were the exposed fangs of swords and spears. The Huaxia Army soldiers raised their shields and pushed forward. A thunderous sound erupted from the collision, and some people, as if hit by a running chariot, spat blood and fell backward.
The soldiers who ascended the city at this moment were not afraid of death. They were tall and sturdy, the most ferocious soldiers in the most ferocious army. They pounced on the city walls, their eyes flashing with bloodthirsty light, wanting to break through forward. Every potential language of their bodies was demonstrating fearlessness and ferocity.
But awaiting them were veteran soldiers with the same momentum, who had been waiting for a long time and were well-rested!
"See—Blood!"
The same cry exploded on the city walls. The first soldiers to climb the city were instantly met with a head-on blow. Some had their heads and faces shattered in the oncoming sword light, others were pierced through their bodies by spears, impaled on the city walls, and even when they fell off the city, they were still shouting and waving their swords. Some were knocked down in the crevices of the parapet by huge shields, and when they resisted, their hand bones were shattered by sword light. When the shield was moved away, a huge iron hammer swung down, and in the dull thud, his internal organs were heavily crushed.
The first few people were instantly swallowed by the city walls, and the second batch of people quickly and fiercely climbed the walls. Wulitan ran and climbed to the front of the nearby ladder. He wore a full suit of iron armor, held an octagonal iron hammer with jagged teeth, and roared like thunder!
During the melee on the city walls, Staff Officer Guo Chen walked to the artillery position on the side of the city walls: "Mark their retreat route! Don't let any of them go back!"
On the catapult positions slightly behind the city walls, soldiers lifted stones that had already been precisely weighed and polished onto the slings. On the Jurchen side, soldiers carried bombs called "Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers."
In front of Bālísù, prepared generals were already waiting for the order to charge. Bālísù stared at the city walls.
Wulitan squatted halfway up the advancing ladder and was raised high. In the blink of an eye, the front end of the ladder crossed the parapet!
"I am Wulitan, the vanguard of the Great Jin! Who will come to die!"
This thunderous roar was as fierce as Zhang Fei shouting across the Dangyang Bridge. It resounded on the city walls, attracting everyone's attention, and the Jurchen soldiers charging nearby had a backbone and leaned towards him.
The moment he set foot on the city walls, Wulitan waved his iron hammer. With a loud bang, he smashed a Huaxia Army soldier in front of him, shattering his shield and staggering him back. Someone nearby shot at him with a crossbow, but the bolts bounced off his armor. Wulitan laughed loudly and charged forward again with another hammer blow. The front was also a burly Huaxia Army soldier, who raised his shield with both hands and forcefully blocked the iron hammer. The shield was made of iron and wood, and the outer layer of wood chips flew everywhere, but the soldier carried the shield and squeezed forward, kicking Wulitan in the lower abdomen armor.
"Ya—"
Wulitan stepped back, not feeling any pain. He reversed the iron hammer and swung it again, before it reached its maximum force, he heard another loud bang and was blocked by a Huaxia Army soldier holding an iron shield. A cold light suddenly struck, slashing on Wulitan's armor. Wulitan was not injured, but his leg was kicked again.
Wulitan kicked away the soldier wielding the knife, and was about to swing the iron hammer in his hand. Nearby, two Huaxia Army soldiers holding shields, one leaned on the shield to hit his arm, and the other raised his shield and smashed it towards his throat. Wulitan punched to block it, let go of the iron hammer in his other hand, and slashed back with a knife, this strike again landed on the shield.
At this time, Wulitan was facing three Huaxia Army soldiers, two holding large iron shields, and one wielding a knife who had been kicked away. A Jurchen soldier who had climbed the city leaped towards here from the side, and the soldier holding an iron shield on the side swung his shield and drew his knife to meet him.
In a short moment, Wulitan exchanged several blows with the Huaxia Army soldier holding the shield in front of him. He was strong and heavy, and when he swung his knife or punched, the other party could only block it with all their strength using the iron shield. But every time he blocked Wulitan's attack, the other party would also crash into Wulitan with all their might. Wulitan wore a full set of iron armor, and the other party could not do anything to him. He could not do anything to the other party in a short time. Just in this moment of fighting, Wulitan's left shoulder made a loud sound, and the soldier wielding the knife who had been kicked away earlier dragged an iron hammer and smashed it over.
"Die—"
Wulitan swung his knife and charged, ignoring the iron shield in front of him. The soldier wielding the iron hammer took a step back, and then approached and swung the hammer, and there was another loud noise that hit his ribs, followed by the upturned edge of the iron shield hitting his knee. Wulitan took another step back to the side, and the iron hammer whizzed and hit the iron helmet on his head.
"All Soldiers—"
His brain buzzed, the knife flashed, and then he was hit again, and then again. The iron helmet provided great defensive support to him, but for some reason, the soldiers rushing up around him never reached his side. He was beaten to the parapet, and after his knees were continuously hit by the iron shield, his legs seemed to be broken. He swung his knife to resist, and the iron hammer smashed his head again. In the blood-stained vision, the Jurchen soldiers who wanted to rush to his side on the left and right were cut down on the ground.
"Take this—"
"Iron turtle—"
The soldier who had been holding the shield knocked down the Jurchen vanguard who was trying to rescue him, picked up the iron hammer that Wulitan had dropped on the ground, and struck the Jurchen general huddled on the inner side of the city walls with the two iron hammers and an iron shield one after another. It sounded like the sound of blacksmithing.
These were actually the most ferocious veterans in the Huaxia Army. They may not have been wearing full iron armor, but their fighting methods were fierce and skilled. Every time Wulitan swung his knife to resist, they dodged or smashed it away. Before even a minute had passed since he had ascended the city, Wulitan's roar seemed to still echo in everyone's ears. He huddled on the inner side of the city walls, and the iron helmet on his head was flattened bit by bit, and his head naturally shattered inside the iron helmet.
The Jurchen's leading troops to ascend the city relied on the most determined elite soldiers to use strength to overwhelm weakness, and to stabilize their position on the city walls for a moment, so as to open a gap for the subsequent troops. But if the place where they ascended the city faced the same elite troops, and a few people or a dozen people ascended the city one after another, unable to form a combat formation and without any cooperation, they would not even be able to stand.
Bālísù watched for a moment, and then huge stones flew over. Two catapults had already fallen one after another in this moment, followed by the disintegration of the third catapult. He had already understood in his heart.
Earlier, the two sides had fought back and forth for two or three hours, and only five of his catapults had fallen. At this moment, when the attack finally broke out, the catapults fell one after another - the other party was also waiting for him to be in a dilemma.
"Yu Xian." Bālísù pointed to a Han general, "Attack immediately!"
The order to charge sounded. At this time, nearly a hundred people had been swallowed up on the section of the city walls that Wulitan was attacking. The killing intent soared into the sky. At this time, someone poured out fire oil and feces from the city walls and threw down logs and rolling stones. They had seen enough blood and did not plan to wait for people to come up. More arrows began to be shot down from the city, and the ladders were smashed to pieces, wanting to trap the attacking army below in a dilemma where they could not advance or retreat.
On the Jurchen positions, the momentum of the charge had already unfolded. At both ends of the Huangming County city walls, the artillery positions were also ready. Li Dong, the regimental commander in charge of the artillery, had a fiery gaze: "Everyone, get ready for me. The division commander has ordered that if they want to come over there, and those here want to escape, then give me a pot to cook them all in—"
When the charging soldiers came like a tide, the sound of cannons on the city walls sounded. Countless flowers bloomed in the charging crowd, and in the blink of an eye, hundreds and thousands of people fell into hell.
Bālísù was silent for a moment in the huge uproar.
The Jurchen's iron cannons could not hit the city walls, and he then ordered to fire at the civilians on the battlefield with all their strength.