Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 115 Full-Scale Counterattack

The dawn pierced the gray sky, casting its light upon the scorched and chaotic battlefield. Outside the north wall of Starfire Fortress, the traces of last night's battle had not yet cooled, and the air was thick with the complex smell of blood, burnt remains, and ashes. But in stark contrast to this horrific scene were the faces of the Starfire soldiers on the city wall, weary yet radiating with high fighting spirit.

After a hearty meal and a thorough inspection of their weapons and equipment, each battalion had assembled at their designated positions as ordered. A forest of swords and spears, gleaming armor, and a suppressed yet vibrant atmosphere of impending doom permeated the city walls. All eyes were fixed on a tall, imposing figure standing before the main watchtower on the north wall.

Chen Xing had changed into his signature black steel lamellar armor, over which was a dark blue battle robe, and a newly forged steel sword hung at his waist. He did not give a passionate speech, but instead used his calm and powerful gaze to slowly sweep over the soldiers arrayed below the city walls, and over Chen Wei, Murong Mingyue, Zhao Tiezhu and others standing solemnly beside him.

"Overnight, the Black Mountain army's supplies were burned, its generals were beheaded, and morale was shattered." Chen Xing's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every officer, who then relayed it down: "They are afraid, they are in chaos, but they are like cornered beasts fighting back. We cannot give them the chance to lick their wounds and gather their fangs again."

He paused, then pointed to the Black Mountain Army camp in the distance, still shrouded in wisps of smoke and filled with panicked figures: "Last night, they attacked, we defended. Today, the roles are reversed! We must leave the city, pursue them, and utterly crush this bandit army that has plagued the north and violated our borders! Let everyone know that those who offend Xinghuo will be punished!"

"Roar—!" The response was a low roar like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down, with suppressed anger and the desire for victory burning in every chest.

"Chen Wei!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"I hereby order you to lead 800 men of the Vanguard Battalion out of the north gate and strike directly at the enemy's front! Do not attempt to penetrate too deeply; your aim is to establish a foothold, blunt their advance, and open a path for the main force to follow!"

"Understood!" Chen Wei clasped his hands in a fist salute, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

"Murong Mingyue!"

"Your subordinate is here!" The woman in red stepped forward.

"You are ordered to lead all cavalry and, when Chen Wei opens a breach and the enemy's formation falters, flank from the left and attack the enemy's central command! Your mission is not to kill a general, but to completely disrupt their command center, preventing them from coordinating their efforts!"

"Yes, sir!" Murong Mingyue drew her longsword half an inch from its sheath with a clang.

"Zhao Tiezhu!"

"I am here!" Although Zhao Tiezhu did not directly command the troops, he was responsible for coordinating the militia and auxiliary troops as well as the defense of the city walls.

"You will lead the remaining garrison and all the militia to hold the city walls, waving flags, shouting slogans, and beating drums to create the illusion that our main force is still in the city, and be ready at any time to receive the attacking troops back to the city or provide support!"

"Rest assured, my lord! As long as the city walls stand, we are safe!"

"Divine Arm Battalion!" Chen Xing looked at the thirty terrifying weapons on one side of the wall, their curtains once again pulled back and crossbows nocked. "Targets: Any enemy troops attempting to assemble, conspicuous flags, and potential ambush points during a rout! Free fire, clear the way for the main force!"

"Yes, sir!" the captain of the Divine Arm Battalion roared in response.

With the deployment complete, Chen Xing took a deep breath, slowly drew his steel sword from his waist, the gleaming blade pointing directly at the Black Mountain Army camp: "Open the city gates! Trapped Camp—Attack!"

"Rumble..."

The heavy north gate slowly opened inwards with the help of the winch, and the drawbridge lowered accordingly. Chen Wei took the lead, raising his long sword high and shouting fiercely, "We are determined to fight to the death! Follow me—kill!"

Eight hundred elite soldiers of the Trapped Camp, clad in the finest steel armor and wielding new-style ring-pommel swords and iron-clad shields, surged out of the city gates like a burst dam, crossed the drawbridge, and, led by Chen Wei, quickly deployed into a wedge formation outside the city. Stepping on the still-soft ground, they launched a resolute charge towards the chaotic Black Mountain Army camp several miles away! The sounds of footsteps, clashing armor, heavy breathing, and battle cries merged into a chilling wave of sound.

Almost simultaneously with the city gates opening, the crossbows atop the walls unleashed another muffled roar! A barrage of deadly bolts, spanning hundreds of paces, struck precisely at several small groups of soldiers in the Black Mountain army camp, who were barely managing to assemble under the officers' shouts and curses. Screams erupted once more; the newly gathered forces were instantly scattered, officers were killed, and flags fell askew.

The sudden counterattack outside the city and the terrifying long-range strikes completely stunned the already frightened Black Mountain Army!

They had anticipated that the defenders might continue to hold out against the city walls, and even considered that the enemy might launch another night attack. But they never expected that, despite being subjected to days of fierce attacks and being at a significant disadvantage in terms of troop strength, the Xinghuo Army would dare to open the city gates during the day and launch a mass assault!

"Enemy attack! The people from Starfire Fortress have broken out!"

"Form ranks! Form ranks quickly!"

"General Liu is dead! Commander Zhao is dead too! The strategist is missing! Who will take command?!"

Chaos spread rapidly through the Black Mountain army like a plague. Lacking effective command from core generals, soldiers in each battalion could only hastily attempt to organize defensive lines under the shouts of their junior officers or leaders. But morale was low, fear was ingrained, and the constant use of crossbows to snipe any officers trying to hold their ground from a distance meant that the Black Mountain army's resistance was fragmented from the very beginning.

Chen Wei's elite Trapped Camp, like a red-hot dagger, pierced the hastily erected first line of defense of the Black Mountain Army. The new steel swords, wielded by the strong arms forged using the crucible steel method, easily cleaved through the crude iron knives, leather armor, and wooden shields held by the Black Mountain soldiers. Shields clashed, blades flashed, and blood splattered! The Trapped Camp soldiers remembered Chen Xing's order to "fight steadily and surely," not rushing forward, but advancing step by step in a tight formation, cutting down the Black Mountain soldiers who dared to meet them, steadily advancing forward.

The fighting spirit of the Black Mountain Army crumbled at a visible speed in this head-on clash of iron and blood. Many saw their comrades fall like weeds, and with the enemy's armor strong, blades sharp, and formation tight, there was no hope of victory. They began to retreat involuntarily.

Just then—

"Cavalry! Cavalry on the left!"

Terrified cries rang out from the Black Mountain Army's left flank. Murong Mingyue, leading the charge, her red battle flag fluttering behind her, led five hundred cavalrymen like a wildfire, suddenly bursting forth from behind the low slope on the flank! They didn't directly attack the frontal assault that the Vanguard Camp was currently attacking; instead, they traced a beautiful arc, crashing at incredible speed into the relatively weaker rear of the Black Mountain Army's left flank—the direction from which the central commander's flag was faintly visible!

"Stop them! Imperial Guard!" Zhang Kuang roared furiously from the central watchtower, his eyes bloodshot. The few hundred remaining imperial guards around him hurriedly mounted their horses to meet the attack.

But Murong Mingyue's cavalry did not engage the arrogant guards head-on. Like nimble fish, they suddenly scattered as they approached the enemy cavalry, and in small squads, they used their mounted archery skills to unleash wave after wave of arrows at the hastily engaged guards and the infantry trying to reinforce them. At the same time, they continuously threw out their last oil canisters and rockets, reigniting the chaotic flames on the left flank.

"Turn! Target, those artillery pieces that haven't been completely destroyed yet!" Murong Mingyue shouted, leading her core hundred or so cavalrymen in a sudden turn, avoiding entanglement with the personal guard cavalry, and rushing towards the catapults at the edge of the camp that hadn't been completely burned down last night and were currently unattended!

Wherever the cavalry went, men and horses fell, and fires raged once more. The chaos on the Black Mountain army's left flank and rear of the central force was amplified dramatically, and the position of their command flag was directly threatened. Zhang Kuang was forced to focus more on dealing with this elusive cavalry, leaving him even less able to command the main battlefield.

On the front lines, Chen Wei's pressure lessened considerably. He astutely seized upon the momentary lapse in the enemy's morale caused by the cavalry harassment, pointed his long sword forward, and roared like thunder: "The enemy is in disarray! Trapped Camp—forward! Crush them!"

"kill--!"

Eight hundred elite soldiers roared in unison, their formation suddenly pressing forward, and their offensive intensified dramatically! The already crumbling first line of defense of the Black Mountain Army collapsed completely, and the soldiers cried out as they fled backward, crushing their comrades who were trying to establish a second line of defense.

The army collapsed like a house of cards!

Once the rout began, it was unstoppable. Fear swept over the entire Black Mountain Army like a tidal wave. Someone shouted "Run for your lives!" and thousands of soldiers threw down their weapons, took off their cumbersome armor, and wished they had more legs. They ran for their lives toward the rear of the camp and toward the road they had come from.

"Don't retreat! Hold the line! Anyone who retreats will be executed!" Zhang Kuang swung his sword, cutting down two fleeing soldiers who ran past him. His face was contorted like a demon, but this bloody intimidation seemed insignificant in the face of the overall rout. His personal guard cavalry was also unable to form an effective formation amidst the chaotic throng and the harassment of the Starfire cavalry.

It's over! Zhang Kuang felt a chill run through him. He knew that all was lost.

"General! As long as we live, let's go!" Several loyal old guards held back Zhang Kuang, who still wanted to fight to the death, and forcibly put him on a warhorse.

Zhang Kuang glanced back one last time at the Starfire Army, which was fiercely pursuing his routed soldiers, and at the still majestic Starfire Fortress walls. His eyes were filled with endless resentment and unwillingness. Finally, he let out a beast-like howl and, with dozens of personal guards fighting desperately for him, broke through the chaotic flow of routed soldiers and fled for his life to the north.

With their commander fleeing, the Black Mountain Army's last will to resist completely dissipated, turning into a total rout.

On the north wall of Xinghuo Fortress, war drums thundered. Zhao Tiezhu commanded the defending troops and militia to shout with all their might, their voices echoing across the fields.

Chen Xing stood on the enemy tower, overlooking the fierce counterattack outside the city, watching the Black Mountain Army collapse like a landslide, and watching his own soldiers pursue like tigers among sheep. He slowly sheathed his sword.

The outcome is decided.

"Order: The Trapped Camp and Cavalry Battalion, pursue and kill the fleeing soldiers, just enough to disperse them, no need to go too deep. The priority is to seize weapons, capture fleeing soldiers, and seize abandoned supplies." Chen Xing said to the messenger beside him. "Also, send messengers with my order to inform the fortified villages and towns under our control in the surrounding area to thoroughly search for fleeing soldiers and take in prisoners."

"yes!"

As the sun fully rose above the horizon, its golden rays illuminated the land that had just been baptized by blood and fire. The banners of Starfire Fortress fluttered in the wind atop the city walls, beneath which stood the Starfire soldiers, who had begun clearing the battlefield and reaping the spoils of victory.