Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 110 Black Mountain Returns

The news that the Black Mountain Army's left-wing stronghold had been swiftly captured by the Xinghuobao assault team, with nearly all three hundred defenders wiped out, caused a huge uproar in the Black Mountain Army camp, like boiling oil poured with ice water. This was not only a military loss, but also a heavy blow to morale and confidence. In particular, rumors about Xinghuobao's "divine weapons" and "elite soldiers" spread like a plague through the camp, making many soldiers who were already fearful even more terrified.

Inside Zhang Kuang's command tent, the atmosphere was so oppressive it felt like it was about to bleed. Broken cups and overturned tables were scattered all over the floor, and his personal guards knelt in the corners of the tent, not daring to breathe. Zhang Kuang paced back and forth in the tent like a wounded tiger trapped in a cage, the scars on his face twisting and throbbing with rage, making him appear even more ferocious.

"Useless! All of you are utterly useless!" He abruptly stopped, his bloodshot eyes sweeping over the few generals who stood frozen in fear in the tent. "A small outpost, only three or four miles from the main camp, gone just like that! Not even a messenger came out! Were your patrols and scouts all blind and deaf?!"

"General, please calm down..." The strategist with the goatee stepped forward with a forced smile. "This battle at Starfire Fortress was clearly premeditated. Those who were dispatched must be the elite of the elite, and their movements were as swift as the wind, striking and disappearing in an instant, which ordinary patrols could not detect. Judging from their methods, they are fierce and well-equipped, especially skilled in night raids, and are indeed a formidable enemy of our army."

"A formidable foe? That's the kind of foe I'll fight!" Zhang roared. "Send the order! All troops on high alert! Anyone who dares to slack off will be executed on the spot! Rebuild that destroyed camp on the spot, and send double the troops! No, triple them! I want to see what tricks Chen Xing can pull this time!"

However, the orders to rebuild the camps and strengthen defenses failed to restore morale. On the contrary, the redeployment of troops and the increase in sentries made the soldiers, already exhausted from the siege, even more tired and resentful. More importantly, the two flanking forces, on which Zhang Kuang had placed high hopes, had yet to report any breakthroughs.

On the eastern route, although Han Chong, nicknamed "Grasshopper," successfully made contact with Sun Han of Tieyan Fortress, the old fox Sun Han, after witnessing firsthand the Black Mountain Army's main force besieging a fortified city and suffering heavy losses, became even more ambiguous. He dared not openly refuse the Black Mountain Army, nor did he dare to easily send troops to help, lest he get burned. He only verbally promised to "strictly maintain neutrality" and "never aid the enemy," while in reality continuing to observe and even secretly strengthening border control with Xinghuo Fortress, fearing that the war would spread to him. Although Han Chong had many cavalrymen, he lacked siege capabilities. Faced with the joint defense system established by Xinghuo Fortress's eastern garrison after its retreat, relying on the fortress walls and watchtowers, and the watchful eyes of Murong Mingyue's roaming cavalry, he dared not make any rash moves. He could only wander back and forth in the eastern hilly area, bluffing, but in reality, he was in a dilemma.

On the western route, Wang Mazi, nicknamed "Over the Mountain Wind," fared even worse. His orders were to harass the rear of Xinghuo Fortress, burn and plunder its grain fields, and cut off its supplies. However, Xinghuo Fortress's scorched-earth policy was executed extremely thoroughly. Once deep inside, all he found were burned-down abandoned houses, filled-in wells, and bare fields. Forget about food; he could hardly find a single living person. On the contrary, because he was isolated and unfamiliar with the terrain, he was frequently harassed by elite cavalry squads dispatched by Murong Mingyue, or stumbled into traps set by Xinghuo Fortress, suffering heavy losses and enduring immense hardship. The so-called "cutting off supplies" became a joke—the connection between Xinghuo Fortress and its various outposts had already been secured through tightened defenses and rigorous patrols.

Although Zhang Kuang had ordered a strict cover-up of the setbacks on both the eastern and western fronts, nothing stays hidden forever, and rumors continued to circulate within the camp. Coupled with the unsuccessful siege, the failed night raid, and the loss of outposts, a sense of anxiety, frustration, and even panic began to permeate the Black Mountain Army. Soldiers privately discussed how Starfire Fortress, with its high walls, deep moats, well-trained troops, ample supplies, and the assistance of "divine soldiers," would likely be a difficult battle. Some leaders also began to weigh their own gains and losses, no longer exerting the same level of effort as before.

On the eleventh day of the siege, Zhang Kuang summoned his trusted generals and strategists to discuss countermeasures once again. Inside the command tent, a somber mood hung heavy.

"General, we can't let this drag on any longer," a seasoned and prudent general said worriedly. "The morale of our men has plummeted, and our supplies are being consumed at an alarming rate. Starfire Fortress is clearly determined to wear us down. If this goes on for too long, things might change."

"Then what do you suggest? Withdraw the troops?" Zhang Kuang glanced at him sideways, his tone unfriendly.

The strategist, stroking his beard, slowly said, "If we retreat, morale will collapse, and we risk being pursued by Starfire Fortress; the consequences would be unimaginable. Our only option now is to go all in, launch an unprecedented and fierce attack, and achieve victory in one decisive battle!"

He walked to the simple sand table and pointed to the north wall of Xinghuo Fortress: "After days of observation, although Xinghuo Fortress's defenses are strong, its rolling logs, stones, arrows, and oil are by no means inexhaustible. With continuous consumption, its reserves must be running low. Furthermore, its garrison has been fighting fiercely for days, and both men and horses are exhausted. Although our army has suffered a minor setback, our main force has not been lost, and our forces still outnumber the enemy tenfold!"

"What the strategist means is..."

"Concentrate all artillery pieces and continue bombarding the middle section of their north wall to create a breach! At the same time, cease small-scale probing attacks, gather all elite infantry, divide them into several waves, and launch relentless attacks regardless of casualties! Attack relentlessly during the day, and at night, use a portion of our forces to launch a feint attack, preventing them from resting! Also, select elite soldiers, carrying fire oil and gunpowder, specifically to burn down their city walls and block their reinforcements!" A ruthless glint flashed in the strategist's eyes. "This is a strategy to exhaust the enemy, a war of attrition! Even if it means losing another three to five thousand men, we must wear down Starfire Fortress's defensive supplies and the morale of its defenders to the limit! Once they reveal a weakness, our main force can swarm in!"

Zhang Kuang stared at the sand table, his eyes gleaming. He knew this was a gamble with everything on the line. Victory meant Starfire Fortress could be captured, and all losses could be recovered; defeat would severely weaken the Black Mountain Army, potentially crippling them completely.

But with no way out, he was caught in a dilemma. Thinking of the revenge for his beloved son Han Meng, the abundant food and supplies of Xinghuo Fortress, and the loss of his prestige as the "Overlord of the North," a surge of violent anger rose to his head once again.

"Good!" Zhang Kuang slammed his fist on the table. "Let's go with this plan! Order: all artillery pieces, move forward and concentrate your fire on the north wall! Each battalion shall select its most courageous and elite troops to form 'Vanguard Death Squads,' with double the reward! At dawn tomorrow, launch the general offensive! I will personally oversee the battle! Anyone who dares to retreat a single step will be executed on the spot! If we breach Starfire Fortress, our swords will not be sheathed for three days!"

"No sheathing of swords for three days!" This promise, rife with bloodshed and plunder, acted like a shot of adrenaline, reigniting the flames of greed in the eyes of many generals in the tent. They could almost see themselves plundering gold, silver, grain, and women after breaching the city walls.

The brutal orders were swiftly relayed. The Black Mountain Army camp erupted in chaos once more, but this time it wasn't the restlessness before an attack; it was the madness of a desperate last stand. The artillery pieces were pushed closer, and the craftsmen worked through the night to reinforce and test them. Squads of selected "vanguard suicide squads" received extra food and drink and promised rewards, howling like wild beasts under the encouragement of their officers. More soldiers were driven to sharpen their weapons and pack their gear, and a strange atmosphere of despair and greed permeated the air.

The Starfire Fortress naturally noticed the unusual activity in the enemy camp. Observation posts reported that enemy artillery vehicles were moving forward and assembling on a large scale, the camp was brightly lit, and there were shouts and neighing of horses, clearly indicating that a large-scale operation was being prepared.

On the enemy's platform on the north wall, Chen Xing, Murong Mingyue, Chen Wei, and others wore solemn expressions. The night wind carried the faint clamor of the enemy camp in the distance, as well as the grim atmosphere of an impending battle.

"Zhang Kuang is going all out," Chen Wei said in a deep voice. "Judging from his posture, he's going to concentrate his forces and launch a fierce attack on one point, regardless of the cost."

"As expected." Chen Xing looked at the enemy camp to the north, where the lights were even denser, and spoke calmly. "After a prolonged siege, with both the eastern and western routes blocked and the internal pressure increasing dramatically, he only has this one path left. Trying to achieve his goal in one fell swoop is in line with his character."

"Our arrows and logs are indeed being used up in great numbers," Murong Mingyue reported. "Especially on the north wall, our reserves are less than 40%. Oil is almost gone too. The trial production of the Divine Arm Crossbow is progressing smoothly, but it will still take some time before it is ready for deployment."

"Tell the garrison troops in each section that the most difficult moment has arrived." Chen Xing's gaze swept over the core generals beside him. "But we have no way out. Use arrows sparingly, and make sure every log and boulder hits a vital spot. The laborers must speed up the production of substitutes; even bricks, tiles, and boiling sewage can kill the enemy! The progress of the crossbows must be accelerated; even if only ten are usable, they must be put into combat readiness as soon as possible!"

He paused, then looked at Chen Wei: "The personal guard and the elite troops equipped with new swords will serve as the final reserve, stationed inside the North Gate. If any danger arises anywhere on the city wall, or if the enemy's offensive shows signs of weakening, I want you to be like a red-hot knife, thrusting out fiercely!"

"Your subordinate obeys!" Chen Wei clasped his hands in a fist salute, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.

Chen Xing then looked at Murong Mingyue: "Your cavalry need not launch any further raids tonight. Retreat to within five miles of the fortress, focusing on monitoring the enemy's possible flanks, and be prepared to leave the city at any time to coordinate with the reserves for a counter-attack, or to pursue and kill the fleeing enemy!"

"Understood!" Murong Mingyue nodded emphatically, her red dress standing out like a solidified flame in the night.

Finally, Chen Xing gazed at the myriad lights stubbornly flickering in the night within the fortress, his voice low but clear enough to reach everyone's ears: "Tell all the soldiers, tell every citizen within the fortress. Tomorrow will be a bloody battle! But victory will surely belong to us! Because what we are protecting is not just brick walls, but the homes we built with our own hands, and all our hopes for the future! The flame will never be extinguished, we will fight to the death!"

"The flame will never die, we will fight to the death!" The deep and firm vow carried on the night wind.

That night, no one slept in Starfire Fortress. Craftsmen worked tirelessly, laborers carried supplies, the medical station prepared more medicine and bandages, and soldiers repeatedly checked their weapons, silently reciting defensive points. A tragic and resolute atmosphere replaced the tension and exhaustion of the previous days.

As the eastern sky once again turned a pale white, and the more intense and muffled drumbeats, symbolizing death, rumbled from the direction of the Black Mountain Army camp, everyone knew that the moment that would decide the fate of Starfire Fortress had arrived.

The Black Mountain Army came in full force.