Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The archers of the Tsing Yi Army crept forward, making their way through the dense bushes and closing the distance. General Pingtian’s heart was slowly climbing toward his mouth. The distance was gradually shortened from more than 300 meters to… 250… 200… 150…

Ordinary bows and arrows were not improved crossbows after all. But not everyone could pull the heavy bows which had a longer range.

It could be said that the archer troop of more than 100 people was General Pingtian’s treasure. His heart would ache if even one of them was gone.

As the distance became shorter, General Pingtian felt that the atmosphere was increasing in tension.

He commanded the Tsing Yi Army to move forward slowly. The darkness was their best camouflage, making it seem that Xiangyang District was at their fingertips.

Finally, the archers entered the shooting range. They took out their bows and arrows from the quivers at their waists one after another. The tip of the arrows had already been wrapped with a layer of oiled coarse cloth. They would instantly ignite just by creating a spark with flints or coarse paper rolls. It would be lethal when it pierced one’s flesh.

The friction of the flints was heard. Some sparks flew and a hail of fire burst out.

General Pingtian fixed his eyes on the troops on the city walls. He was still yawning sleepily.

At that time, the archers were already bending their bows and aiming at their targets.

He shouted in a deep voice, “Shoot!”

However, just before the archers loosed their bowstrings, the troops who were initially yawning lazily squatted down all of a sudden and hid under the pilaster. Black shields rose from under the pilaster. The arrows stuck into the shields.

General Pingtian widened his eyes in bewilderment. What was going on?

The troops had already discovered them. They had just been putting up a show.

The shields had blocked the first wave of arrows. The troops hiding under the pilaster hurriedly pushed the mounted crossbows to the edge of the city walls. The bows and arrows had already been nocked.

The mounted crossbows could either be used in a siege or in defense.

According to Jiang Pengji and Zhang Ping’s research, they further improved the already known mounted crossbows so that six heavy bows could be placed on them. One could winch the pivot shafts behind, load the arrows and shoot the special, long arrows by using the combined force of the heavy bows. The shooting range was 600 feet and it was extremely lethal!

The poles of the arrows on the mounted crossbows were made of wood. Their metal arrowheads were made of iron and their tails were made of iron sheets.

According to Jiang Pengji’s previous experiments, the ordinary ladders, giant shields and wooden screens could be easily penetrated. They could be easily smashed. Moreover, the Tsing Yi Army was in their shooting range. Were they not seeking death?

The arrows left the bowstrings and buzzed constantly, as if they were carrying a crowd’s roar. A rain of arrows were fired intensively towards the Tsing Yi Army.

General Pingtian was startled when the shields which were raised on the city walls had blocked the fire arrows.

The vanguard of the Tsing Yi Army was already carrying the ladder and leaning it against the city walls. However, they were greeted by brutal arrows. The arrows pierced through two to three bodies easily, causing blood to splatter. Due to the inertia, they fell heavily and died.

The enemy was prepared!

General Pingtian was horrified upon realizing it. He did not know how the information had been leaked.

The troops on the city walls were clearly extremely sleepy. It did not look fake at all, but the reality slapped him hard in the face.

After the first storm of arrows, the members of the Tsing Yi Army who were shot were either dead or had lost the strength to fight. The strong smell of blood permeated the air.

General Pingtian gritted his teeth and bet that Xiangyang District’s defense was weak. They would have full assurance of success as long as they climbed up the city walls. They must not be frightened off.

Having determined this, he yelled, “Besiege the city!”

The ladder was leaning against the city walls. The arrows on the mounted crossbows would not be able to pierce through.

The members of the Tsing Yi Army would die quickly instead upon fleeing. No matter how fast they were escaping, could they run 600 feet in an instant?

In contrast, the city walls were closer to them.

All of these were within Feng Jin’s expectations. He raised his hand to cover his smile with his sleeve, as well as blocking the bloodthirsty, ferocious look in his eyes.

“Get the rolling logs and stones ready…”

The city walls of Xiangyang District were not too tall. Abandoning the 700 to 800 dead bodies, the rest of the members of the Tsing Yi Army were already nearing the city walls.

The archers stood at the blind spot of the mounted crossbows and shot. On the other side, some members of the Tsing Yi Army were already climbing up the ladder.

The person who first climbed up the city walls was attacked by the rolling logs and boulders. He shrieked horribly and fell to the ground with a depressing whump.

Although the members of the Tsing Yi Army fell to the ground like dumplings, there were still people who were about to reach the top of the city walls.

At the bottom of the city walls, the members of the Tsing Yi Army pounded the gate with a battering ram, which made it seem as if their hearts were pounded.

Feng Jin continued to command calmly. There were experienced veterans among the troops, and of course, there were also new recruits who had yet to see blood.

They were initially so nervous that their hands were shaking. However, under Feng Jin’s loud and collected command, their trembling hands and rapidly-beating hearts had gradually calmed down. Their brains could not even think of anything else. They moved the weapons or nocked their arrows in accordance to Feng Jin’s command…

The wooden shield was extremely heavy. It took three people to carry it together in order to stabilize it. It had blocked the multiple fire arrows fired by the Tsing Yi Army.

“Nock the fire arrows,” Feng Jin continued to command.

The troops picked up the improved crossbows and lit the arrows on fire.

The mounted crossbows were not easy to be moved, but it did not mean that they could not fight back.

They would let them have a taste of their own medicine.

The fire arrows stroked the dark sky with their flames, piercing the bodies of the members of the Tsing Yi Army who were climbing up the ladder and successfully making a group of people fall to the ground.

“Sir, the pressure at the city gates is getting worse…”

Luo Yue, who was clad in armor, ran up with a livid face.

Feng Jin responded, “Don’t worry. Keep going!”

This was not the only troop of the Tsing Yi Army who was besieging Xiangyang District. There was another troop.

As long as their defense weapons were not used up, the Tsing Yi Army could dream on if they wanted to climb up the city walls!

The penetrating power of the improved crossbows was unquestionable. Together with the lethality of the fire arrows, almost all of the members of the Tsing Yi Army who fell from the ladder would die. It was not just because the fire arrows had pierced through their bodies, but there was another important reason. Their comrades stepped on their bodies to climb up the ladder. Even if they had not completely died, they would be crushed by those feet.

Feng Jin continued to command the troops defending the city. Everything was in order. Compared with the casualties at the bottom, the troops defending the city were only slightly injured. The members of the Tsing Yi Army were still trying hard to pound the city gate with the battering ram. General Pingtian’s face turned ghastly, livid and grave.

They were unable to climb up the city gate nor break the city walls. Could it be that the number of troops in Xiangyang District was more than what they expected?

His persistence had already begun to waver, but he could not turn back now. If he retreated at that moment, he would be gobbled up by the members of the Tsing Yi Army nearby. He would die in an even more severe scenario. Now, it was impossible for him to retreat, so he could only brace himself to continue the attack.

At that moment, he hoped that the members of the Tsing Yi Army in Maolin District could attack Xiangyang, so that the chances of winning would be greatly improved.

They were still pounding on the city gates. Not only were there troops blocking behind the city gates, but there were also heavy baked bricks…

Yes, Feng Jin had already moved tens of thousands of baked bricks produced in the kiln to the city gates as a blockade.

Even if the members of the Tsing Yi Army used up all their strength, could they break the gates open in a short time?

It was impossible!