Chapter 1497: Opening Success

Naturally, agile enemies would always manage to evade the scythe-spears, closing in to draw their swords and attack. The scythe-spears became useless against them, even proving inconvenient for their wielders. At such times, soldiers from Yuheng City in the rear lines had to rush forward to fill the gaps, drawing their swords.

Menban was splattered with blood from the killing when he suddenly heard desperate cries from his left. He turned to look—

Several giant bears had lunged ashore, attacking the soldiers. Their bodies were too wide and their hides too thick; the scythe-spears couldn't pin them down or pierce their defenses. The giant bears began pouncing on the scythe-spear soldiers, devouring people alive.

"Kill those bears!" Menban roared, "Otherwise, the defensive line will break open!" He was about to charge and kill the bears when he saw a figure leap ten meters, landing like a stone on the back of a giant bear, immediately plunging a long spear into its neck! The giant bear collapsed instantly, dying before it could even struggle.

It was Sha Wei. The cultivator sent by Mount Ling even gave Menban a challenging chin-raise.

"What a show-off!" Menban spat on the ground and went off to deal with another giant bear.

In this riverbank battle, both sides focused on seizing control of the embankment. If the Beijia vanguard could secure the embankment, their main army below the earthwork could then climb up. Only then could they proceed to capture the watchtowers and the auxiliary city. If the Yuheng army lost the embankment, the auxiliary city would be in danger. This was only the first battle, yet both sides had reasons to fight to the death.

The Yuheng army held the embankment firmly until after midnight, preventing the enemy from breaking through their line. In the early hours of the morning, seeing that repeated assaults failed to seize the embankment and his own soldiers were no longer as courageous as before, Bai Mo Ji finally sounded the retreat, ordering his troops to board boats and withdraw to the east bank of the great river.

Needless to say, the Yuheng army pursued them, raining arrows down like locusts as they retreated.

At daybreak, the riverbank was a scene of devastation. Dead bodies, craters, arrows, and shattered magical artifacts were scattered everywhere. The soldiers guarding the embankment were exhausted, but they held up their weapons and cheered loudly towards the opposite bank. The enemy had retreated. They had won this battle!

He Lingchuan, standing on the watchtower overlooking the riverbank, also let out a long breath. The significance of the first victory was immense, even surpassing the battle itself. Before the war, although his Ximo army and the Yuheng City army had been fully mobilized, they still felt some trepidation facing the renowned Beijia army. They were not the Great Wind Army or the Coiled Dragon Army, not yet having been tempered by countless trials of blood and fire. They lacked the resolve and boldness that comes from facing a thousand adversaries without hesitation. They had not been established for long, and no amount of strenuous training could replace the crucible of life-or-death battles.

Therefore, before the battle, He Lingchuan was actually more nervous than anyone else. If this battle were lost, the Beijia army wouldn't be able to take Yuheng City immediately. However, they would cast an unconquerable shadow in the hearts of Yuheng City's soldiers and civilians. How many consecutive victories would He Lingchuan need afterwards to dispel that influence?

Fortunately, they had won. While it wasn't a great victory, merely repelling an enemy attack, this victory laid the foundation for the confidence of Yuheng City's military and civilians, bolstering their courage to face Beijia. This was a process of "disenchantment." From "being able to win" to "daring to win." His warriors had realized that the Beijia army was not invincible, and that myths could be shattered. Many would not survive, falling on this bloody grindstone. But those who remained would soon become like him, like General Hong, and like the Great Wind Army: confident, composed, and resolute. By then, they would be the sharp blade in his hand, the sturdy tree at his back, and his unwavering resolve to challenge any foe.

On the opposite bank, at the Beijia main camp. Of the one or two thousand people swept away by the water, most eventually returned on their own. Bai Mo Ji's roars echoed through the central command tent for over half an hour. He furiously rebuked them for the water-repelling barrier being in disrepair before the battle, and for their various battalions' disorganized advances and retreats, which left too many weaknesses. "Each of you claims to be an elite soldier and mighty general," he fumed, "yet you were repelled by a mere slap from tiny Yuheng City! What a disgrace!"

The course and outcome of this battle were quite different from what he had expected. They possessed the best soldiers, the best formations, and the best equipment. Their inability to secure a victory was, in itself, a great humiliation for the Beijia army!

The generals kept their heads low and remained silent, occasionally exchanging glances in secret. Lu Wushuang rested her chin on her hand, quietly listening to the commander rage. As expected, Bai Mo Ji's barrage quickly turned to her: "During the second charge, why did the Xiluo army on the east flank fail to fill their positions promptly and ascend the embankment slowly!"

The Xiluo army was indeed poorly performing, but their numbers were still useful. Lu Wushuang replied gravely, "Next time, they will be ready." Where had the Xiluo army ever encountered such intense, large-scale frontal engagements before? In the first charge, a large number of them fell, like wheat being harvested. The quality and morale of this army were truly... Besides, she had only taken command a few days ago. But she was the supervisor, and urging the Xiluo army to the battlefield was her duty, for which there was no excuse.

Bai Mo Ji continued to reprimand them for a few more moments, then concluded: "For us, this was merely a minor, probing setback. No need to fight over a momentary gain; there's plenty of time ahead!"

Over the next ten days, Bai Mo Ji launched four more attacks. The Beijia army was determined to land, but Yuheng City simply wouldn't let them establish a foothold, frequently tripping them up. Bai Mo Ji led his troops up the earth embankment twice, but both times, when they were only halfway up, He Lingchuan drove them back. Neither side had a retreat route; both were exerting all their strength. As the attacking force, Beijia grew increasingly frustrated with each engagement, while Yuheng City, as the defender, found its army growing more confident with each battle.

"What Beijia army? What invincible? They're nothing special! Weren't they pushed back every single time?"

He Lingchuan issued repeated orders, warning the entire army not to let down their guard.

After the fifth battle, Wen Daolun came to He Lingchuan to discuss military affairs, a smile on his face: "Beijia has fought five battles in total and still hasn't managed to get onto the embankment. Commander Zhong is extremely pleased; he even broke his rule and had several drinks last night." Although He Lingchuan had single-handedly forced the Beijia army into battle, Coiled Dragon City had also prepared to support the eastern front. However, Yuheng City not only withstood Beijia's attacks but seemed to grow smoother and more effective with each engagement. This was something Zhong Shengguang hadn't expected; he had thought that even if the Yuheng army could resist, they would have to fight desperately, risking their lives and expending all their might.

Just then, Xin Yi strode in from outside, clad in military attire, his helmet tucked under one arm. He Lingchuan saw that he walked with powerful strides, completely different from the humble and gentle demeanor he had shown months ago. Only by personally experiencing the rough-and-tumble of the battlefield, fighting back-to-back with comrades, and exchanging lives with enemies, could such a transformation occur.

"Colonel Xin, what's the situation with your regiment?"

Since the war with the Beijia army began, at Xin Yi's strong insistence, He Lingchuan had allocated over two hundred men for him to take to the battlefield. This fellow was itching for action and unwilling to remain on the sidelines. As the old saying goes, you can't learn to swim by just splashing around on the shore. When it comes to fighting, you have to get in there and practice it yourself.