Chapter 745: This Is an Ambush

Chapter 738: This Is the Ambush

The newly replaced hinges of Yuheng City were neither rusty nor jammed, making them effortless to operate.

Once the city gate was lowered and the large contingent of troops entered, victory would be theirs!

Up to this point, the operation had progressed quite smoothly.

Just as one of the burly men was about to grin, an arrow, seemingly from nowhere, pierced the biting cold wind and, with a "swish," shot directly into his mouth!

Even the strong north wind could not deflect its trajectory.

A mist of blood erupted from the back of his head; he didn't even have time to scream before collapsing to the ground.

Immediately, three or four more arrows followed. Then, a group of soldiers suddenly burst out from a civilian house at the street corner, their hands gripping gleaming swords, spears, and axes, reaching the city gate in just a few strides!

Meanwhile, outside the city, when the bandit army was still more than eighty *zhang* away from the city gate, over two hundred soldiers suddenly appeared on the battlement, each in bright armor with helmets properly donned.

Arrows rained down.

After firing, the first row instinctively retreated, and the second row advanced to take their place.

The bandit army immediately dispersed, everyone raising their shields.

The artillery on the city gate creaked and turned, revealing they were already fully loaded. Muzzles aimed at the enemy, one ignition, and the first round of cannonballs fired.

They were loaded with shrapnel shells, each containing over two hundred pinky-length sharp nails. Upon impact and explosion, these nails scattered in all directions, riddling both men and horses like sieves!

The trebuchets on the city gate had also begun firing. They launched 'hinge hammers,' also known as 'meteor chain hammers,' which, upon striking a person, would shatter bones and tear tendons. Hitting a horse's leg was even more devastating, sending both rider and mount flying several *zhang* amidst their pained cries.

More than half of the archers and loaders on the wall were newly enlisted recruits. Even with prior psychological preparation, the sight of men and horses collapsing and flesh flying beneath the city gate left them stunned, their hands trembling as they drew bows and loaded ammunition.

The impact of war, bloodshed, screams, and death on novices was undeniable.

Experienced soldiers nearby often punched them, roaring, "Don't be a coward! Keep going!"

By this time, the several bandits pushing the hinged gate inside the city had been hacked to pieces. The army outside waited eagerly, but the city gate only creaked a few times and did not lower.

With torches blazing both on and below the city walls, even the dullest leader understood that their inside collaborators had failed.

The plan to take the city gate without a direct assault had also failed.

Of course, they still had a method for a direct assault on the city gate. Two massive bear demons within their ranks each carried a powerful crossbow, firing bolts five feet long. The barbed hooks at the tip of these bolts would expand upon striking the city gate, securing them firmly.

These giant crossbows did not need to be dismounted; they could be operated from behind. Once a bolt was lodged in the gate, several powerful monstrous beasts at the rear of the formation could attempt to forcibly drag the main gate down.

However, there was no longer any need to attempt this, as Yuheng City was clearly prepared and merely waiting for their attack!

From within the bandit ranks, gongs clanged loudly, and orderlies bellowed:

"Retreat! Retreat!"

Yuheng City had strong defenses and powerful artillery. Their only chance of victory lay in a surprise attack.

Since this prerequisite could not be met, what was the point of continuing the battle? It would only lead to a futile loss of lives.

Therefore, the bandit leader decisively ordered a withdrawal.

This unit, surprisingly, displayed some discipline; they did not scatter in a chaotic rout but shifted their formation and headed east.

As they fled, the artillery from the city walls intensified its barrage.

Before they had fled even a hundred *zhang*, rows upon rows of ground spikes suddenly erupted from beneath the bandit army's feet. The smaller ones were like daggers, while the larger ones stood six or seven feet tall, all rising without warning and impaling men and horses as if on skewers.

Angry shouts, pained screams, and curses filled the air.

This was the pre-established battle formation: a large ground spike array.

It was immobile and highly energy-intensive, requiring seven or eight mages to jointly arrange and activate it, and they had to remain still during the incantation.

However, the array's power was considerable, making it the ideal choice for ambushes and insidious maneuvers.

By the time the bandit army had struggled through the ground spike array and escaped the range of the city gate's artillery and crossbows, only a little over 1,300 of the original two thousand bandits remained, all with faces contorted in terror.

"Disperse! Disperse!" Ahead lay a fork in the road; breaking into smaller groups offered a higher chance of survival.

The border wasn't far; everyone needed to push harder.

No sooner had they split their forces and proceeded than a large contingent of troops suddenly appeared on the small hill ahead. Two more waves of arrows preceded their charge, and then they swept down from the woodland, their battle cries shaking the heavens!

This was the true ambush!

An hour later, the battle concluded.

This night battle had dragged on from beneath the city gate all the way to the border, with fallen corpses littering the route, which significantly increased the difficulty of battlefield cleanup later on.

Nevertheless, joy was evident on every face.

The Yuheng City army had won its first battle!

The two thousand bandit troops suffered heavy casualties in the ambush; only a little over six hundred managed to escape, while more than three hundred immediately knelt and became captives.

He Lingchuan led his troops in pursuit to the border. He observed the enemy fleeing across the Yin River, abandoning their armor and weapons along the way. He did not cross the border to continue the chase, instead instructing his subordinates to bring over a large, plump wild boar demon.

The boar was terrified to the point of madness when pushed closer, foaming at the mouth and thrashing its head and tail. Yet, He Lingchuan had personally witnessed it gore a Yuheng soldier until his belly burst and his intestines spilled out.

He Lingchuan ordered his men to tie the smallest 'detonating thunder' charge under its belly, ignite its long fuse, and then drive the boar towards the opposite bank.

This boar ran faster than an ordinary horse.

Along the way, it ignored anyone who called out to it, intent only on escape.

Soon after, shadowy figures appeared in the woodland on the opposite bank, as if many people were scrambling to escape. Immediately, a thunderous boom echoed as the charge exploded.

The soldiers on this side erupted in laughter.

After enjoying the spectacle, He Lingchuan finally ordered his troops to withdraw and return to the city.

On the way back, the two armies led by Meng Shan and Liu Tiao also returned, one after another, both triumphant.

In a gruff voice, Meng Shan asked He Lingchuan, "Chief, how did you know they would launch such a large-scale attack?"

He and He Lingchuan had originally been opponents, clashing in life-and-death struggles over a dozen times. Meng Shan had personally witnessed He Lingchuan transform from weak to strong, his military rank consistently rising. While others might feel envy, jealousy, or hatred, Meng Shan harbored no such emotions; instead, he admired He Lingchuan immensely.

He could fight, he could kill, and he possessed intelligence. It was only fitting that he was promoted to lead.

"Since I took office in Yuheng City, they haven't bothered us at all. They were just holding back, preparing for something big," He Lingchuan said, his long halberd hanging low, the tip dripping its last drop of blood. "They wanted to give me a harsh welcome."

Yuheng City had a new commander. After so many days, it was impossible for the enemy across the border not to know.

He Lingchuan was a new general from Panlong City, and to outsiders, his reputation didn't match that of Commander Xiao. The enemy would inevitably underestimate him.

Meng Shan grumbled, "To think such a small force could capture Yuheng City! They really underestimated us!"

"They never expected to capture Yuheng City. They merely wanted to draw some blood, assert dominance, teach us a lesson, and personally give me a hard time," He Lingchuan said, clearly understanding the situation. "In their plan, they probably aimed to plunder the eastern part of the city and then disappear before we could mount an effective counterattack."