Chapter 39

『Clang! Clang! Clang!\'

At the foot of a cliff, over a dozen soldiers, skilled in blacksmithing, were sweating profusely as they swung their hammers. The fire was burning fiercely, and red-hot iron bars were being repeatedly forged under the soldiers' hammers.

There was no wrought iron inside the city, so they melted down some damaged weapons to obtain the iron, which they then forged into the weapons the army needed.

On the side, several weapons had already been forged. The weapons the soldiers were crafting were not spears or battle knives, but V-shaped iron forks used in the countryside to pitch hay. These would become the key weapons to counter the enemy's ladders.

Chen Qing made a slight modification, adding two small horizontal iron spikes at the bottom to prevent the fork from getting stuck on the ladder.

Chen Qing picked up an iron fork and examined it carefully, then asked a few questions to the lead guard.

"Commander!"

Zheng Ping ran over, saluted, and said with a smile, "I have selected ten sharpshooters. Please inspect them, Commander!"

In recent days, Chen Qing had encouraged the soldiers to contribute ideas. Those whose suggestions were adopted would receive substantial rewards, which greatly boosted the soldiers' enthusiasm. The soldiers came up with many useful suggestions.

For example, the soldiers suggested increasing the number of medics on the city walls to ensure that wounded soldiers could receive prompt treatment and stop bleeding. This was a lesson learned from the soldiers' experiences, as most died from excessive blood loss due to untimely treatment. If they could receive immediate care, even just to stop the bleeding, many lives could be saved.

Another suggestion was to add a little wine to the water flasks. Although drinking too much could be problematic, a few sips could help overcome fear and boost the soldiers' courage. This was not a new idea; in fact, Khitan and Jurchen soldiers carried wine, and a few sips of strong liquor could both keep them warm and boost their fighting spirit in critical moments.

A soldier named Lu Gui proposed cutting the top two crossbars of the ladders, which would prevent the enemy from climbing the city walls. While Chen Qing had cut the handrails of the ladders with his axes, this was due to his strength and the poor quality of the ladders. Real ladders had sturdy handrails and multiple hooks, making them difficult to cut. Therefore, Lu Gui's suggestion to cut the crossbars was highly practical.

Chen Qing personally tested this method by cutting two crossbars of a complete ladder. Although the hands could still reach the city wall, the feet had no support to climb up. This method was awarded the best suggestion, and Lu Gui received 30 taels of silver and was promoted to the position of axe guard.

However, this required the modification of a batch of long-handled axes.

Selecting a group of sharpshooters was Chen Qing's idea, based on the lessons learned from the first defense of the city and his experience from a later era, where snipers were established.

Chen Qing found that the enemy soldiers who broke through the city walls were often not ordinary soldiers but at least battalion commanders or centurions. These commanders were particularly fierce and strong, capable of fighting four to five enemies at once, making it easier for them to break through the defenses.

The best way to counter this was to shoot these enemy commanders before the battle on the city walls, which required a group of highly skilled archers to serve as snipers.

Zheng Ping selected ten soldiers for Chen Qing, all of whom were recognized as excellent archers.

"I need ten tiger hunters. Let's see if you qualify!"

Chen Qing pointed to the crossbows on the ground and said to the ten men, "These are your weapons. There are wooden targets 100 paces away. Shoot one by one and show me!"

………

The preparations for the defense of Arrow Pass continued in full swing. Meanwhile, the battle at Heshangyuan had also begun. The main general of Fengxiang, Wanyan Moli, and the main general of the eastern route, Wanyan Huonü, led 30,000 Jurchen troops and several ten thousand Han troops to rendezvous at the Weinan camp.

On the second day of March, the deputy general, Zhehe, led 10,000 troops to launch a probing attack on the western line of Heshangyuan. The commander, Wu Lin, led 3,000 troops to counterattack the enemy, relying on the terrain's advantages.

The two sides fought for two days and nights, with the Jin troops suffering nearly half their losses, forcing them to retreat from the battlefield.

The Jin army's camp was stationed ten miles away at Huangniu Puzi, facing off against the Song army at Heshangyuan. Wanyan Moli sent thousands of Han troops to attack Heshangyuan in waves, implementing a harassment strategy.

Wanyan Moli had realized that a direct assault on Heshangyuan would result in heavy losses and that a north-south pincer attack was necessary to win. All was ready except for the arrival of the western army led by Wanyan Wulu.

Wu Jie stood on the ramparts, looking at the Jin army camp ten miles away. He asked Wang Yan, who was beside him, "What do you think Wanyan Moli is waiting for?"

Wang Yan smiled faintly, "He is waiting for the western army to arrive behind us. The proof is that a single-front battle does not give them an advantage. Only when we are attacked from both sides do they have a chance to win."

Wu Jie agreed with Wang Yan's assessment and asked, "Is there any new news from Arrow Pass?"

"There is no new news yet, but I estimate that the battle there has also begun. Chen Qing will not let us down."

Wu Jie pondered for a moment and said, "I am worried about their insufficient troops. If Wanyan Moli discovers that the western army is blocked, he will certainly send troops to attack Arrow Pass from the south. If Arrow Pass is attacked from both sides, it will be difficult to hold."

Wu Jie's mind was very clear, and every detail was vivid in his mind. Any problem in any link would mean losing the game.

He glanced at Wang Yan, who did not object, and decisively said, "I will immediately send troops to support Arrow Pass!"

………

On the city walls of Arrow Pass, every soldier felt as if a heavy mountain was pressing on their hearts.

Below the city, a vast army lined up in the valley, stretching as far as the eye could see. The raised spears formed a forest, and the air was filled with a sense of impending slaughter.

‘Woo—’

A deep horn sounded in the valley, and tens of thousands of people raised their spears and shouted, "Kill—"

The shouts shook the heavens, and the soldiers on the city walls changed their expressions.

Chen Qing squinted and focused on the distance, where large siege weapons were vaguely visible.

These were likely the weapons used to attack Dasha Pass.

At this moment, a cavalryman galloped out from the ranks, holding a bow and an arrow with a letter attached to the tip, rushing toward the city walls.

Chen Qing took the crossbow from a soldier, aimed at the cavalryman, and before the cavalryman could approach the city, he shot an arrow. From 200 paces away, the arrow hit the cavalryman's throat, and the cavalryman fell off his horse, clutching his throat.

The Song soldiers on the city walls were all solemn, and this shot by the commander represented the will of the Song army: to fight to the death with no room for negotiation.

The Jin army, however, was in an uproar. The main general, Wanyan Wulu, looked extremely displeased and said coldly, "Since they want to die, we will grant them their wish!"

He raised his hand and ordered, "Withdraw!"

The 40,000-strong army, after their show of force, began to withdraw in formation, returning to the camp outside the valley.

This withdrawal was not a retreat but a strategic move, like a beast stepping back to pounce more effectively.

"Commander, the enemy may take action tonight!" Yang Hua stepped forward and pointed to the moat below the city.

Chen Qing nodded, having thought the same. The first thing the enemy would do to attack the city was to fill the moat. With a moat over 100 feet wide, thousands of people could fill it in one night.

Chen Qing looked up at the clear sky. It would be a good night, and he smiled coldly, "If they insist on filling it, we can't stop them, but since this is war, they must pay a price!"

………

"Commander, I dare not disobey the order, but I only have 2,300 men, and I need to allocate some to protect the soldiers filling the moat. It will be impossible to complete the task in one night. I humbly request a few more days, Commander."

Wanyan Wulu looked coldly at Xia Jin, who was kneeling below, and said slowly, "General Xia, I remember you are from Western Xia, originally surnamed Li, and you changed your surname to Xia to remember your homeland. I am not wrong, am I?"

Xia Jin said solemnly, "I have always reported my background truthfully without any concealment, but to complete the task in one night, my men will suffer heavy casualties. Training soldiers is not easy, and I humbly request General Wulu to reconsider!"

"What did the Western Xia emperor say? Those who bargain with the commander can be executed three times! Since you are from Western Xia, you should be familiar with this saying."

Xia Jin, with no other choice, could only bow and say, "I will follow the order, Commander!"

Wanyan Wulu snorted and said, "If the moat is not filled by dawn, the entire army will be executed!"

………

At the first watch, Xia Jin led over 2,000 soldiers to a point one mile from the city.

Xia Jin's face was grim. He had not expected Wanyan Wulu to treat him this way. Just because he had not captured Arrow Pass, his army was now tasked with filling the moat that night.

How could 2,000 men possibly fill such a deep moat before dawn, especially under the threat of enemy forces? But Xia Jin had no choice; Wanyan Wulu was determined to deal with him.