dognovel Chapter 228 The Counterattack from Li Family Army
Chapter 228 The Counterattack from Li Family Army
Night quietly descends, gently embracing every inch of the land, while the bright moonlight pours down, making this dark world seem as if draped in a thin veil, as bright as day. Such a scene may only exist in the poems and memories of the ancients. Nowadays, for various reasons, the night rarely reveals such a pure and flawless face, making one yearn for the beauty of the night in the past, undisturbed by the hustle and bustle of the world.
Deep within the Jin army's camp, the mournful cries of women could be heard from time to time. These were innocent women, forcibly abducted from nearby villages by the Jin soldiers, who, at night, became victims of their bestial desires, their wails filled with endless despair and sorrow.
Not only were ordinary Jin soldiers often accompanied by beautiful women, but even a nobleman like Wanyan Xu was surrounded by beauties, each with a stunningly beautiful woman nestled in his arms. According to rumors among his generals, this woman came from an extraordinary background; she was the beloved daughter of a wealthy merchant from a neighboring region.
Wanyan Xu held a crystal wine cup, gently swirling it. The wine seemed to contain endless radiance, reflecting on his resolute face. His gaze swept over the group of Jin generals in the tent, and his voice was steady and full of power: "Generals, although we have encountered setbacks before this city today and failed to take it in one fell swoop, I hope you will not be discouraged."
He paused slightly, his tone becoming more resolute: "Tomorrow, our siege equipment and firearms battalion will descend like divine soldiers. At that time, we will crush these Han people with overwhelming force and let them witness the formidable reputation of our Jin army!"
Having said this, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. The wine cup then gently fell onto the table with a crisp sound, as if echoing a resolute promise of future victory. Upon hearing this, the generals in the tent all perked up, their eyes gleaming with anticipation and determination.
As night fell and the third watch bell tolled softly, deafening snores echoed through the Jin army camp, like low rumbles of thunder, announcing that the utterly exhausted Jin soldiers had fallen into slumber. Their bodies, weary from days of battle, had finally found a moment of peace. Around the camp, only the night patrol soldiers trudged heavily through the shadows, their silhouettes elongated in the dim firelight, adding an air of vigilance to the still night.
In this moonlit camp, the only sounds besides the occasional footsteps of patrolling soldiers breaking the silence were the solitary braziers burning. They crackled and sparked, like guardians of the night, their faint yet resolute light dispelling the surrounding chill and desolation. The flickering flames illuminated the tranquil scene, adding a rare touch of gentleness and warmth to the edge of this brutal battlefield.
With a series of soft, light sounds, a small squad of Li's army outside the city quietly arrived at the edge of the military camp, about half a mile away.
A battalion commander from Li's army lowered his voice and gave quick but steady instructions: "Everyone, be quick and efficient. Each cannon only needs to fire five rounds. After that, retreat immediately. Do not delay."
The Jin army's deployment this time was exceptionally large, and Wanyan Xu, being shrewd and experienced, had long ago set up defenses against a night attack by the Li family army. However, all of this did not escape Li Zhen's keen eyes, which had foreseen the situation. During the day, he used the eyes of drones soaring in the sky to gather a complete picture of the enemy's movements.
Faced with such a dire situation, Li Zhen had already made up his mind. He decided to use the incredibly powerful mortars to deliver a sudden storm to the Jin army as night fell. This was not only to reduce the enemy's manpower, but also to plant the seeds of fear in their hearts and destroy their fighting spirit and morale.
This strategic arrangement not only demonstrates Li Zhenzhi's wisdom and courage but also foreshadows a fierce clash between intellect and firepower.
Once everyone was fully equipped and ready to go, the battalion commander suddenly shouted, his voice booming like thunder: "Fire!"
"Boom—boom—boom—"
The air was filled with the whistling of mortar shells cutting through the air, followed by the dull echo of them leaving the muzzle and hurtling away. Soon after, deafening explosions erupted continuously from deep within the Jin army's camp, like an angry thunder god unleashing his power in the clouds.
Although the season had not yet entered the harsh winter, many tents in the Jin army camp were woven from thick animal hides. These hides, which were originally meant to provide warmth and protection from the wind and frost, had now become catalysts for disaster. Once a spark accidentally touched them, the hides seemed to come alive, instantly turning into raging flames that devoured everything around them. The flames soared into the sky, illuminating the most tragic scene in the night.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion ripped through the night sky, as if thunder had struck prematurely, instantly throwing the entire Jin army camp into chaos. The camp trembled, resembling an apocalyptic scene. Wanyan Xu had planned this all along. His meticulously deployed cavalry, in this sudden chaos, surged forward like wild horses, the sound of hooves echoing the heartbeat of war drums, demonstrating their speed and determination.
Although these warriors moved swiftly through the camp, their eyes sharp as torches, searching every suspicious inch, after patrolling round and round, apart from the increasingly tense atmosphere under the night, they caught no trace of the enemy. The sudden sound seemed like a prank, mocking the Jin army's keen senses and leaving them bewildered and confused.
In the Jin army camp, after a flurry of activity, the raging flames were finally tamed by the combined efforts of the soldiers and fell silent. The exhausted Jin soldiers, though filled with anxiety and unease, had no choice but to muster their strength and return to their beds, for an even more arduous battle awaited them before dawn.
Just as these hardened warriors were drifting off to sleep, trying to find a moment of peace in the cracks of their dreams, an even more violent explosion suddenly erupted like a thunderclap. Its power seemed to far exceed that of the previous fire, shaking people to their core.
It turned out that the elusive Li family army hadn't gone far; instead, they had cunningly changed positions and launched another fierce attack on the Jin army camp. They still used their effective tactics—rapid firing, swift withdrawal, leaving the pursuers with empty battlefields and burning rage. Even with their utmost effort, the Jin soldiers only managed to catch a glimpse of their retreating figures before their attack came to naught once more. Under the cover of night, this silent contest was slowly unfolding at a subtle yet tense pace.
The night passed quietly in this tense standoff, with almost no one in the Jin army camp able to close their eyes. Only when the first light of dawn appeared in the east and the sky turned a pale white did they manage to breathe a sigh of relief, secretly praying that with the sunrise, the heart-pounding bombardment might finally come to an end.
However, as the first rays of sunlight truly bathed the earth and illuminated the battlefield, the situation outside the Jin army camp was not as peaceful as they had hoped. Although the artillery bombardment had ceased, Li's 30,000 elite troops were poised outside the city, like a sleeping lion suddenly awakened. Using their formations as a base, and following the tactical layout meticulously planned the previous night, they launched a proactive and resolute offensive against the Jin army camp. The battle had officially begun.