xymnovel Chapter 71 Rescue
Chapter 71 Rescue
Whether in this alien world or the original Blue Star world, the ballista can be called the king of crossbows, with considerable power.
In this world, any normal ballista can have a range of 500 paces, and a special ballista can even reach 1,000 paces. In the history of Tianyuan Continent, there are also records of ballistas killing enemy generals.
It can be said that in the face of this powerful weapon...
Even a master general could suffer a loss if caught off guard, and it could even indirectly lead to his own demise!
The crossbows of the Cangming Dynasty are equipped with arrows called "Hundred Battles Iron Feather Arrows". The shaft is made of tough hardwood, the arrowhead is a real gun-shaped iron head, and the tail is also decorated with iron fins. It looks like an arrow, but it is actually a winged short spear.
This weapon is incredibly powerful. When attacking a city, even the strongest fortifications cannot withstand its destructive power. If it encounters an earthen city or a wooden fortress, it is like a sharp blade cutting through rotten wood, shattering at the slightest touch.
In addition, this crossbow can also fire "city-breaking wolf-tooth arrows", which have barbs on the shaft that can firmly nail to the bricks and stones of the city wall, allowing the attacking soldiers to use them to climb, making it as effective as a mobile siege ladder.
If an arrow sheath is attached to the bowstring, dozens of arrows can be unleashed at once, raining down like a whirlwind. This is why this deadly move is called "Rain of Arrows," and it is considered the best weapon for defeating the enemy on the battlefield.
The Cangming Dynasty has a history of nearly a thousand years, so its military technology is naturally very advanced. Powerful weapons like the ballista are countless.
"Bang bang bang!"
The ballista bolts pierced the air with a whistling wind, shattering the shields in front. The incredibly thick catalpa wood shields were pierced through, sending wood chips flying. The soldiers behind the shields were also thrown away by the tremendous force, their blood splattering everywhere.
In this way, the shield wall defense that Chang Zhengkuo had painstakingly organized was instantly torn to pieces by Chao Gai's ballista attack. Soldiers at the breach screamed and fell down, and the formation was thrown into chaos.
Faced with these ballistae that were comparable to cannons, the unyielding shield wall was nothing more than a sitting duck.
"Scatter! Scatter quickly! Don't gather in groups!"
Chang Zhengkuo's eyes suddenly turned bloodshot and he roared hoarsely. He rode his horse back and forth in the formation, constantly brandishing his sword. He managed to barely stabilize the panicked morale of the troops, and the soldiers began to scatter and move towards the mountain walls on both sides.
"Damn it! How did these bandits get a ballista like that?!"
Chang Zhengkuo cursed loudly, his voice filled with disbelief and horror.
Crossbows were military weapons controlled by the imperial court. Even the crossbows used by ordinary hunters had to be registered with the government before they could be used, let alone ballistae, which were deadly weapons in the military.
Its production process is a closely guarded secret, exclusively crafted by skilled artisans from the Ministry of Works and firmly controlled by the Imperial Guards. Ordinary people simply cannot access these items.
As for battlefield weapons like the Hundred Battles Divine Crossbow, their manufacturing methods were treasured by all the major dynasties, who had always wanted to obtain them. However, these weapons were firmly controlled by the craftsmen, and even the dynasties dared not easily seize them.
It can be said that such a weapon is rarely seen even in ordinary armies, let alone in bandits who gather in the mountains and forests!
Liangshan originally had no ability to make crossbows. The fact that they had these powerful weapons was entirely due to Xiao Xuanbin, or more precisely, to Jiangshan Leopard.
Back then, Jiang Shanbao appointed Xiao Xuanbin as his general, ordering him to lead three thousand government troops to attack Liangshan. He also prepared military equipment for Xiao Xuanbin's three thousand government troops, relying on his power and influence to select only the best equipment from the border army's armory, even equipping them with a considerable number of crossbows.
Unexpectedly, with Xiao Xuanbin's defeat, all of these weapons fell into the hands of Liangshan, and now they have benefited Chao Gai and his band of outlaws.
On the other side, outside the Heavenly Serpent Valley.
"Quickly! Clear away the rubble, quickly!"
Han Feng pointed at the blocked valley entrance, his face so gloomy it could drip water. He kicked a boulder beside him, sending stone chips flying, but it didn't budge. He could only channel his anger into urgent urging.
When the huge rock landed with a deafening roar, the soldiers in the central army felt a chill in their hearts and immediately spurred their horses to rush over, only to be met with this predicament of being caught between a rock and a hard place.
The towering pile of boulders was like a natural chasm, and a torn military flag was stuck in the dark cracks between the rocks, completely separating the vanguard from the central army.
Now that things have come to this, who doesn't understand that the vanguard has already fallen into Liangshan's ambush and is probably already fighting with the Liangshan bandits?
The crisp sound of weapons clashing.
The roars of the soldiers.
It seemed as if the sound could penetrate the barrier of the valley and clearly reach everyone's ears.
The enemy must have the confidence to win this battle quickly if they dare to set such a trap. Thinking of the three thousand soldiers in the vanguard who were currently trapped in the encirclement and fighting a bloody battle, Han Feng's heart sank. His fingertips clenched until they turned white, and even his breathing became heavier.
The army suffered such a setback in its first battle, which would inevitably damage its morale. For the bandit-suppression army, which was already known for its sharp and aggressive tactics, this was undoubtedly a heavy blow.
The battles to come will likely be even more difficult!
"General Wei, as a local, you must be familiar with the roads in Fengxiang County. Are there any other routes nearby that would allow the army to bypass this area?" Cao Kewei asked urgently, his voice filled with barely concealed anxiety.
He grew up in a military camp and had a very sharp eye. He immediately noticed the mountain of rubble, which would be impossible to clear with ordinary shovels and crowbars and would take at least half a day to clear.
If we want to rescue the vanguard, we must find another way; otherwise, things will change if we delay, and the three thousand elite troops will likely be wiped out.
"Yes, to the east of Heavenly Serpent Valley, there is Ink Pan Mountain. There is a narrow, winding path in the mountain. Although it is rugged and difficult to travel, it leads directly into the valley. If you ride lightly around it, you can reach the valley in an hour and a half!"
After a moment's thought, Wei Jiaxing immediately answered loudly, his fair face revealing an undeniable certainty, his fists clenching unconsciously.
As a native of Fengxiang County, he knew the terrain of this area like the back of his hand. He knew by heart which mountain streams were passable by carriage, which paths were passable by people, and which forests contained mountain springs. He could recite them backwards.
"Great! That's wonderful!"
Han Feng's spirits lifted, his tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed a bit, and the gloom of the past few days seemed to dissipate considerably.
He immediately raised his hand and sternly ordered, "General Gao, General Cao, I trouble you two to quickly lead my light cavalry, with General Wei as the guide, to detour through Mopan Mountain to rescue the vanguard. You must arrive as soon as possible to avoid any unforeseen complications!"
The vanguard consisted of three thousand well-equipped elite soldiers, all veterans of countless battles, each capable of taking on ten men. They might not be able to hold out for more than an hour and a half.
They split their forces into two groups: one group rushed to the aid with light cavalry, while the other cleared the roads. Perhaps they still have a chance to turn the tide and win.