Julu Commandery, Yingtao County Grand Camp.
Qu Yi rushed into the large tent in a hurry.
"Lord! The Prefect of Julu Commandery reports that bandits have risen in various counties and are attacking the County Governments. They are about to be overwhelmed. Please quickly dispatch reinforcements from Yingtao County to assist the counties!"
"The troops in Yingtao County cannot be moved lightly. Order Qian Zhao to lead the Nanpi garrison to suppress the rebellion."
"Yes!"
A moment later, Gao Shun walked in and said, "Lord! Scouts report that a large army is approaching from the south, less than thirty li from Yingtao County!"
"How many troops, and who is the commanding General?"
"Observing their formation, there are about one hundred thousand troops, flying the 'Zhang' banner."
The Zhang banner? Over one hundred thousand troops?
Zhang Chen couldn't help but ponder.
This must be Zhang Yan's main force!
Zhang Chen frowned and asked, "Where did such a large army come from? Why didn't any county report it?"
"It is likely that the bandits in various places are causing trouble, and the commanderies and counties are busy suppressing the rebellion, so they failed to notice."
Zhang Chen immediately felt relieved. It seemed this was precisely Zhang Yan's 'crossing the sea under false pretenses' scheme. If the Yingtao County army moved, he would surely seize the opportunity to take it. But now that the army hadn't moved, he had brought his troops here, indicating he couldn't wait any longer.
Relying on his numerical superiority, he thought he could easily take Yingtao County, but little did he know that the most elite troops in Ji Province were all here!
Zhang Chen mused to himself, the bandit army came from the south, which is the direction of Nanhua Mountain. Could Zhang Yan's large army be hidden in Nanhua Mountain?
Yang Feng also said that the Yellow Heaven Holy Sect had moved to a hidden village in Nanhua Mountain. It seems that is the bandits' lair!
Very well, after this matter is resolved, I must send people to search the mountain and uproot this group of rebels!
"Send out more scouts to investigate again!"
"Yes!"
"Additionally, order the Generals at each gate to strengthen their defenses, close the City Gates, and from now on, no one is allowed to enter or exit!"
"Yes!"
Gao Shun immediately accepted the order and withdrew. After a while, Guo Jia walked in.
Upon seeing Guo Jia enter, Zhang Chen quickly asked, "Fengxiao, how have the arrangements been made?"
Guo Jia replied, "Lord, rest assured. Your subordinate has already sent people to inform Zhao Commandery and Ganling, requesting them to send troops to assist. In addition, the fifty thousand troops in Wei Commandery are also ready. They only await your signal, and Gongyu will immediately lead his army into Great Deer, launching a surprise attack on the bandit army from the rear. With these three armies cooperating with us from inside and outside, we will surely annihilate the bandits in one fell swoop!"
Zhang Chen pondered for a moment and asked, "When will Zilong arrive in Ye City?"
"Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he should arrive tomorrow at noon."
"After Zilong returns to Ye City, order him to lead ten thousand troops and station them at the Battle of Guandu!"
"Battle of Guandu?" Guo Jia asked in surprise, "What does Lord mean by this?"
Zhang Chen said, "The Black Mountain Army originated in the Taihang and Eastern Commandery areas. I anticipate Zhang Yan will not leave any loose ends. In the event he has arranged another surprise force to attack our rear while our army is engaged in battle in Yingtao County, it would be extremely unfavorable. Only with General Zilong guarding the Battle of Guandu can we be completely safe."
Upon hearing this, Guo Jia couldn't help but praise repeatedly, "Lord's foresight is something your subordinate cannot match."
A sharp glint flashed in Zhang Chen's eyes: "This time, I must completely wipe out the Yellow Turban and Black Mountain forces and eliminate future troubles forever!"
Another half an hour passed, and a Soldier reported that the one hundred thousand bandit troops had formed a line outside the South Gate.
After the previous defeat, Zhang Yan did not choose to besiege Yingtao County, but instead concentrated all his forces to attack the South Gate, aiming to break through the City Gate with overwhelming numerical superiority and capture Yingtao County.
And all of this was within Zhang Chen's expectations.
On the South Gate tower, thousands of Soldiers stood in formation, entirely from the First to Ascend Camp and the Crossbowman Camp. Everyone held the newly crafted Yuan Crossbow, capable of firing ten bolts at once!
Not only that, but the city tower had also been prepared with rolling logs, boulders, fire oil, and other items specifically for defending the city.
Everything was ready, only awaiting Zhang Yan to fall into the trap.
Zhang Chen listened to the Soldier's report, slightly opened his eyes, and revealed a smile: "To the South Gate."
Outside the South Gate, one hundred thousand troops were neatly arrayed. Zhang Yan, clad in iron armor, held a long saber and had a pair of double sabers on his back. He sat upright on his horse, gazing up at the Yingtao County city tower before him.
Several months ago, it was here that fifty thousand Black Mountain Army troops were utterly defeated, and even his sworn Boss, Zhang Niujiao, was shot dead by Zhang Chen's arrow.
Thinking of this, fire couldn't help but burn in Zhang Yan's eyes.
Zhang Chen, times have changed. Once I take Yingtao County, I will slowly settle this score with you!
Zhang Yan urged his horse forward, pointed at the city tower, and shouted loudly.
"Listen, people on the city! I am Zhang Yan, the commander of the Black Mountain Army! I have arrived here with one hundred thousand troops. If you know what's good for you, quickly open the City Gates. Otherwise, once I break through the city, not even chickens or dogs will be spared!"
"Hahahahaha! Zhang Yan, you are a defeated General, how dare you claim supremacy? Open your dog eyes and see, do you still recognize General!"
Zhang Yan looked closely and his pupils couldn't help but constrict, anger rising in his heart.
This person was none other than Qu Yi!
On that day, it was he who personally led eight hundred First to Ascend Soldiers to attack the West Gate, which he was responsible for. As a result of the fierce battle, his more than ten thousand Soldiers were actually routed by the eight hundred First to Ascend!
Qu Yi's appearance had since been deeply etched into Zhang Yan's mind, like a shadow that could never be erased.
He would never forget the fear brought by those eight hundred First to Ascend, who seemed possessed by killing gods.
Zhang Yan's heart couldn't help but turn cold, but he quickly calmed down.
Hmph! So what if they are First to Ascend Soldiers? There are only eight hundred of them, while I have one hundred thousand troops!
This time, I will make you die!
Zhang Yan simply stopped talking nonsense, turned his horse back to the main formation, and shouted: "Attack the city!"
With a single command, the troops surged forward like a tide.
Nearly a hundred Soldiers pushed a huge battering ram, moving slowly forward. The ladder team carried ladders, approaching under the cover of shields. The archers in the rear launched volleys, and rows of arrows suddenly rained down, landing on the city wall and the top of the city.
Qu Yi remained calm, staring intently at the movements below the city.
One hundred paces, eighty paces, fifty paces...
The range of crossbow bolts was ultimately not as great as that of arrows. It was necessary to be within a certain range to ensure a hit rate of one hundred percent.
Seeing that the enemy troops were already within fifty paces of the City Gate, completely within the range of the crossbows, Qu Yi revealed a satisfied smile, then raised his hand, clenched his fist fiercely, and lightly uttered two words.
"Fire!"
With a command, a line of Soldiers on the city tower stepped forward, raised their Yuan Crossbows, aimed at the bandit troops below, and pressed the trigger mechanism.
"Swish swish swish!" Countless crossbow bolts flew out, and instantly dozens of Soldiers screamed and fell to the ground.
Zhang Yan watched the defending Soldiers on the city tower and couldn't help but secretly rejoice.
As expected, the First to Ascend Camp is not good at defending cities. The range of crossbow bolts is limited, and reloading arrows takes time. Firing at such a close distance, even if they hit one hundred percent, what does it matter? They cannot stop the advance of my large army.
However, the next second he was stunned by the scene before him.
He saw the Soldiers on the city raise the trigger mechanism of the crossbows in their hands, and then pressed down hard again.
Instantly, another volley of arrows flew out, and screams echoed from below the city again.
The entire process took less than a breath!
What's going on?!
Zhang Yan couldn't help but be greatly alarmed. These... why could these people shoot a second round of arrows without reloading?
Before he could recover, he saw the Soldiers on the city repeat the process, and the third round of arrows shot out again.
Accompanied by screams, this time, a large number of Soldiers around the battering ram had fallen, and the battering ram stopped about twenty paces from the City Gate.
The Soldiers carrying ladders also fell to the ground at this time, having been hit by arrows and killed.
Zhang Yan couldn't help but be greatly alarmed. The Soldiers on the city had only fired three or four rounds of arrows, yet they had already shot and killed his vanguard force!
What kind of weapons were those crossbows?
Why could they fire continuously without reloading?
Zhang Yan's heart couldn't help but feel a chill.
At this moment, when Qu Yi saw the situation below the city, he was also both surprised and delighted.
The power of this Yuan Crossbow is indeed extraordinary!
