stonecrandall Chapter 1059 Gao Zhe's On-the-spot Performance!
Chapter 1059 Gao Zhe's On-the-spot Performance!
At dusk, the Qiang army launched another attack. This time, they changed their tactics, no longer launching a full-scale assault, but concentrating their forces to attack a section of the city wall about fifty feet long at the east gate.
Gao Zhe saw through their plan and mobilized mobile troops to strengthen the defenses of the east gate. At the same time, he ordered the garrison at the south and west gates to send some archers to fire at the attacking Qiang army from the flanks.
Night fell, but the battle continued. The Qiang army lit torches, their light illuminating their frenzied faces. The Southern Army, meanwhile, used the city walls' lighting to fire with precision.
At midnight, Gao Lin ordered the harassment plan to be carried out.
Five hundred elite soldiers quietly left the city, led by local soldiers familiar with the terrain, and circled around to the flank of the Qiang army camp. They did not launch a direct attack, but instead beat drums and shouted to create the illusion of a large-scale attack on the camp.
Umuhan awoke with a start and immediately ordered all his troops to be on high alert. By the time he discovered it was just a small raiding force, the Southern Army had already retreated safely back into the city.
That night, the Qiang army was harassed three times and could not sleep. The Han army, on the other hand, took turns resting to conserve their strength.
After the first day of battle, the Qiang army suffered more than 5,000 casualties, while the Southern Border army suffered less than 500 casualties.
The next day, the sky was overcast with low-hanging dark clouds, as if a storm was about to break.
The Qiang army had clearly learned from yesterday's lesson and changed their tactics. Instead of charging blindly, they deployed siege equipment hastily made overnight—ten simple arrow towers and five battering rams.
Gao Zhe, witnessing this scene from the city tower, wore a grave expression. The arrow tower was about two zhang high, only one zhang shorter than the city wall, allowing Qiang archers to climb up and exchange fire with the defenders on the city wall. The battering ram used a huge log as a hammer, covered with raw cowhide, to ram the city gate.
"Concentrate your crossbows on the arrow tower!" Gao Lin decisively ordered.
The crossbow bolts whistled through the air, and three arrow towers collapsed in response. But the remaining seven, pushed by the Qiang army, were slowly approaching the city wall.
"Rockets, prepare!" Gao Lin ordered again.
The archers replaced their arrows with those soaked in oil, lit them, and fired them at the arrow tower. However, the tower was covered with wet mud, making it difficult to ignite the fire arrows.
Gao Niu, who was watching the battle from the sidelines, suddenly said, "Second Young Master, we can use a kerosene can."
Gao Zhe suddenly realized: "Quick! Get the kerosene can!"
The soldiers carried in dozens of earthenware jars filled with kerosene, sealing the openings with strips of oil-soaked cloth. After lighting the cloth strips, they threw them forcefully towards the arrow tower.
The earthenware pot shattered upon impact with the arrow tower, splattering oil that ignited upon contact with fire. In an instant, the three arrow towers were engulfed in flames, and the Qiang soldiers screamed as they jumped from their heights.
The remaining four arrow towers hurriedly retreated upon seeing this, but two of them had already been destroyed by ballistae.
By this time, the battering rams had approached the east gate. The Qiang soldiers inside shouted commands, pushing the massive logs against the city gate. Although the gate was thick, cracks had appeared under the repeated impacts.
Gao Zhe's eyes turned cold: "Pour the kerosene!"
The defenders on the city wall poured barrels of oil down onto the battering rams and the surrounding Qiang soldiers. Then, rockets were launched in unison.
With a deafening roar, the battering ram was engulfed in flames, and all the Qiang soldiers inside perished within. Seeing this, the remaining battering rams dared not advance further.
Umuhan watched the battle from afar, his hair and beard bristling with rage. He hadn't expected the Han army to have such diverse defensive methods and such superior equipment.
At noon, raindrops finally began to fall from the sky, gradually turning into a torrential downpour.
The Qiang army seized the opportunity to launch an attack, believing that the heavy rain would weaken the power of the Han army's bows and crossbows. However, they underestimated the superior equipment of the southern border army—the Han army's bows and crossbows were coated with moisture-proof varnish, and the arrows were wrapped in oiled paper, so they could still be used in the heavy rain.
On the contrary, the Qiang army's bows and arrows became damp, the bowstrings loosened, and their power was greatly reduced.
Gao Lin seized the opportunity and ordered the archers to fire with all their might. In the heavy rain, the Qiang army's visibility was obstructed, making them easy targets and resulting in heavy casualties.
Left with no other option, Wumuhan had to sound the retreat.
That night, Gao Zhe summoned his generals for a meeting.
"After two days of fighting, the Qiang army has suffered nearly 10,000 casualties and its morale is low," Wang Chuan reported. "But our army has used up more than half of its arrows, and there are not many logs and stones left."
Gao Niu said, "The main force of the Fourth Army Group can arrive as early as tomorrow afternoon. We only need to hold out for one more day before we can launch a counterattack. Mr. Zhang said that the third day of defense is the most crucial. The Qiang army has attacked for two days without success, so they will definitely go all out on the third day. Our army should use a clever plan to defeat them."
"What plan?" Gao Zhe asked.
Gao Niu unfolded the city defense map: "The Qiang army is mainly attacking the east and north gates, while the south gate is weakly defended. Tonight, I can secretly send two thousand elite troops to the south gate, and tomorrow, when the Qiang army is attacking the city with all its might, we can suddenly come out of the city to attack their flank."
Gao Zhe pondered, "This plan is risky, but it could be surprisingly effective. Who is capable of undertaking this task?"
Gao Niu stood up: "This humble general is willing to go!"
Gao Zhe shook his head: "Uncle needs to be stationed at the East Gate. This task..." He glanced at the generals, "...I will go personally."
The generals were all shocked. Wang Ben hurriedly said, "Second Young Master is the commander of an army, how can he personally risk his life?"
Gao Zhe said solemnly, "Precisely because I am the commander-in-chief, I should lead from the front. Moreover, I am young and strong, and it is the right time for me to charge into battle."
Gao Niu nodded approvingly: "With your courage and wisdom, Second Young Master, you will surely win this battle. But you will need an experienced general to assist you."
It was finally agreed that Gao Zhe would lead two thousand elite soldiers out of the south gate to attack the enemy, with Gao Niu's nephew Gao Wu accompanying him to assist him.
The plan was finalized, and everyone made their preparations. Gao Zhe returned to his residence but found it difficult to fall asleep. He took out the sword given to him by his father, Gao Yao, and gently wiped it. The blade reflected his young yet resolute face.
“Father, I will not fail you.” He murmured to himself.
On the third day, before dawn, smoke was already rising from the Qiang army camp.
Umuhan hadn't slept all night, his eyes bloodshot. Two days of siege had resulted in nearly ten thousand casualties, yet no progress had been made; the tribal leaders were already complaining. If they couldn't capture the city today, morale would surely collapse.
"In today's battle, there is no turning back!" Umuhan shouted sternly to his generals. "I will personally oversee the battle; anyone who retreats will be executed!"
At 3:45 AM, the Qiang army launched a full-scale attack. This time, Wumuhan committed all his forces, including the 5,000 elite troops guarding the central army.
The war drums thundered and the battle cries shook the earth. Fifty thousand Qiang troops surged toward Didao City like a tidal wave, their momentum even stronger than the previous two days.
Gao Zhe stood calmly on the east gate tower. He had temporarily handed over command to Wang Chuan, and he himself was fully armed and ready to lead his troops out of the city to launch an attack.