Chapter 260: Battle Begins, Reunion with the Great Xia Crown Prince
Just at this moment, a white figure broke through the layers of people and appeared beside Lin Beifan.
Lin Beifan turned his head and asked, “Night Fragrance, why are you here?”
Night Fragrance fanned himself with a fan and said helplessly, “What else could I be doing? Of course, I’m here to ensure your safety! This trip of yours is going into battle, very dangerous! If that thing in your hand accidentally activates, then I’m done for! So, I must protect you at all costs!”
Lin Beifan smiled, “It’s good that you’re here. There are certain matters that really require your… expertise.”
Night Fragrance exclaimed, “Hey hey hey! I’m here only to protect you. I won’t do anything related to charging into battle!”
“When the time comes, you won’t have a say!” Lin Beifan chuckled, feeling a mischievous thought bubbling up inside him.
Night Fragrance suddenly felt a chill run through his body. Glancing at the sky, he noticed that it was getting late.
Lin Beifan waved his hand, and a strong wind suddenly blew in!
Though he stood on the boat, a force penetrated the river. The river surged and rushed forward!
As a result, the speed of the air-cushion boat increased, rushing forward with a crashing sound.
Lin Beifan loudly exclaimed, “Look, even the heavens are aiding us! In this battle, we will prevail or not return!”
The soldiers’ morale soared, shouting in unison:
“We will prevail or not return!”
“We will prevail or not return!”
…
“Advance at full speed!” Lin Beifan roared.
With this aura of impending victory, everyone advanced at full speed along the river.
As they had been on boats the entire time, there was no need for them to march. They could progress day and night using the river’s current and the wind’s power. Thus, the army’s marching speed was extremely fast, covering over 300 miles in just a day!
This speed was much faster than riding horses, as horses required rest while boats did not.
Finally, astonishingly, they arrived at Hulao Pass in just three days.
General Zhao, who was guarding Hulao Pass, was dumbfounded.
Based on past experience, it would take at least three days for the court to mobilize troops, provisions, and weapons. Then, moving at full speed, it might take about ten days to reach here.
And if they encountered any problems like unusual weather or natural disasters, it could stretch to half a month or even longer.
That’s just for the vanguard of the troops; provisions and weapons might take several more days.
So, it would take around half a month to twenty days for the court’s support to arrive here.
But goodness, it hadn’t even been five days since they sent back their military report, and the court’s reinforcements were here already, bringing ample provisions and weapons. It was almost unbelievable!
“General Zhao, we’ve brought a hundred thousand troops on this journey, along with six million jin of provisions, one million arrows, and thirty thousand sets of armor! This is only the vanguard; there are still a hundred thousand troops and more supplies on their way!” Lin Beifan said with a smile.
General Zhao immediately bowed in gratitude, “Thank you, Sir Lin, for your assistance from afar! But I have a few questions, I hope you can clarify them.”
Lin Beifan had a smile on his face, “General Zhao, please speak.”
General Zhao bowed and curiously asked, “Sir Lin, why did the court’s reinforcements arrive so swiftly?”
Lin Beifan smiled and replied, “Because we have the waterborne tool, the air-cushion boat, which can transport a large number of troops, provisions, and more! A hundred thousand troops can sit on these air-cushion boats and go downstream!”
General Zhao frowned, “But even if they come by boat, the speed is still too fast, isn’t it?”
Lin Beifan pointed to the sky, “Because this is a battle of righteousness, with the heavens’ help! There was a west wind, an underwater current, favorable wind and water conditions, so the speed naturally increased!”
“But…”
Lin Beifan decisively interrupted his questioning, “General Zhao, don’t bother about these small details anymore! Several days have already passed. Let me ask you, how’s the situation on the battlefield now? Have you encountered any difficulties?”
General Zhao’s expression was filled with frustration. Were these small details?
For marching and warfare, weren’t they crucial?
However, the other party clearly didn’t want to elaborate, and General Zhao wisely didn’t ask further.
Glancing at the reinforcements behind Lin Beifan, he said, “Sir Lin, I originally had many questions, but with the court’s reinforcements arriving early, many of these questions are no longer relevant.”
General Zhao’s face lit up with excitement, “I have 200,000 troops here, and with the court’s support, we have a total of 400,000 troops! Coupled with ample provisions and weapons, I’m confident that we can hold Hulao Pass and not allow a single step of the Great Xia forces to advance!”
Although Great Xia had 800,000 soldiers and they had only 400,000, as the defenders, they had the advantage of the terrain.
With this advantage, along with sufficient supplies and weapons, defending Hulao Pass was well within their means. If it still wasn’t enough, he might as well hang himself.
However, Lin Beifan furrowed his brows, “General Zhao, this won’t do.”
“Why not?” General Zhao asked.
Lin Beifan proceeded to explain the current predicament the court was facing, one by one. He concluded, “Currently, our court is surrounded, in a perilous situation. We must not only hold Hulao Pass but also repel the Great Xia forces within a month. Otherwise, the longer we delay, the more unfavorable it will be for us.”
General Zhao listened, his brows tightly knitted, “Sir Lin, this is quite difficult! With 400,000 troops facing 800,000, how can we possibly win? Moreover, we have to repel them within a month. This is nearly an impossible task!”
Lin Beifan nodded with a wry smile.
General Zhao shook his head, “The difference in forces is too great. Even if I were possessed by a martial saint, I wouldn’t have the ability! Can the court send more reinforcements?”
This time, Lin Beifan shook his head, “We can’t send more! These 200,000 troops are already the greatest support our court can provide! We still need enough troops to guard against various nations and fiefdoms. We can’t afford to send more people!”
General Zhao let out a sigh, feeling as if his head was going bald.
Just at that moment, horn signals blew from the distance.
General Zhao’s face changed, and he cursed, “Damn it, they’re attacking the city again! Sir Lin, I’ll go defend the city gate first and then host you later! You little bastards, kill for me!”
Saying so, he exerted force from below, leaping several zhang in the air, and swiftly rushed towards the city gate.
The other troops were also busy preparing for battle, pounding drums and sounding trumpets.
Lin Beifan followed in General Zhao’s footsteps and arrived at the city gate.
“Charge!”
“Push forward!”
“Don’t let them come up!”
…
The shouts of battle were intense. Looking into the distance, there were tens of thousands of Great Xia soldiers advancing in waves. Some had already reached the base of the city walls, setting up ladders and climbing onto the walls. Others carried giant logs, ramming against the city gates.
Led by General Zhao, the soldiers of Great Wu shot arrows, hurled stones, swung swords, thrust spears…
They did everything in their power to halt the enemy from entering the city.
Beneath the city walls, the ground was littered with bloody bodies, forming mountains of corpses and rivers of blood.
This battlefield resembled a massive slaughterhouse.
General Zhao saw Lin Beifan approaching and shouted, “Sir Lin, it’s dangerous here, quickly retreat!”
Lin Beifan replied, “General Zhao, don’t worry. I have protection; nothing will happen to me.”
General Zhao saw a man and a woman, both of considerable strength, guarding Lin Beifan, so he nodded, “In that case, be careful, Sir Lin!”
Lin Beifan continued to observe the battlefield. This was the first time he witnessed large-scale close-quarters combat with traditional weapons. His blood was boiling, and he wished he could join in the fight.
However, given his strength, participating in the battle would be bullying.
So he gestured, summoning a strong gust of wind that swept into the battlefield, carrying dust and sand with it.
The soldiers of Great Xia were unable to open their eyes due to the strong wind, and even maintaining their stance became a challenge.
General Zhao’s spirits lifted, “This wind is a godsend! You little rabbits, shoot arrows immediately and kill them for me!”
“Yes, General!” The soldiers drew their bows.
“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…”
Arrows rained down, sweeping across the battlefield!
Due to the favorable wind, the arrows reached quite a distance.
The soldiers of Great Xia, unable to open their eyes due to the wind, couldn’t evade, and they were hit by the arrows, causing blood to flow on the battlefield.
In just a few rounds of arrow rain, General Zhao harvested the lives of tens of thousands of enemy soldiers!
… …
“Ugh~~” Great Xia retreated.
General Zhao waved his hand triumphantly, “After fighting so many battles these past few days, today’s battle was the most comfortable, the most exhilarating! Sir Lin, you’re my lucky star! Not only did you bring troops and provisions, but also a resounding victory! Come with me to my mansion. I want to treat you to a feast and drink heartily, ha-ha!”
“With all due respect, I will follow your lead!” Lin Beifan smiled.
That night, Lin Beifan, General Zhao, and the other generals present enjoyed a thoroughly merry feast.
On the second day, Great Xia resumed their siege on the city.
Unfortunately, an ill wind struck again.
General Zhao seized the opportunity and released a volley of arrows, mercilessly striking down the enemy once again.
On the third day, the enemy ceased their attack because the Great Xia Crown Prince, Xia Tianqiong, had arrived.
He led 500,000 soldiers to the outskirts of Hulao Pass.
Dressed in silvery-white armor, holding a long spear, mounted on a high-headed silver-white horse, his presence was imposing, like a young war god.
Wherever he went, several generals guarded him on both sides, making him the center of attention.
The morale of the Great Xia soldiers soared with his arrival.
On the city tower, General Zhao’s face turned serious, “True battle is about to begin.”
Lin Beifan smiled, “General Zhao, do you have confidence?”
General Zhao smiled bitterly and shook his head, “I used to, but there are over thirty innate experts among their forces. It’s going to be quite difficult. However, even if our strength isn’t enough, we must fight!”
“That’s the spirit!” Lin Beifan continued to smile.
At that moment, Xia Tianqiong gazed towards Hulao Pass and spotted Lin Beifan on the city wall. He smiled and shouted, “Sir Lin, it’s been a few days. Are you well?”
Although they were far apart, his voice still reached the city wall.
Lin Beifan saluted, “Thanks to Your Highness’s blessings, I have taken up the post of military supervisor at Hulao Pass and am here to meet Your Highness.”
Xia Tianqiong spoke loudly, “You’ve arrived at the right time! What do you think about my previous proposal?”
Lin Beifan responded, “Your Highness, our paths are different, so we cannot collaborate.”
Xia Tianqiong nodded, “Very well! It seems you’ve made your choice. In war, lives are at stake, don’t blame me for being heartless!”
Raising the long spear in his hand, Xia Tianqiong shouted, “For me, charge!”
“Charge!!!”
