Chapter 65: The Great War Approaches Anew, Zhu Gaosui's Terror!

The next day!

Dawn broke!

Before the walls of Zhuozhou City.

Armored and solemn.

The enemy forces had completed their regrouping.

Hundreds of artillery pieces were lined up before the formation, and various scaling ladders and heavy siege towers were fully prepared.

Poised for action.

Zhu Zheng stood upon the battlements, watching quietly.

"These fellows are truly insane. The sky has only just brightened, and they are already here."

Tan Yuan, standing to the side, said with a trace of envy.

"They suffered a disastrous defeat yesterday, so naturally they want to boost troop morale today and capture the city in one go," Zhu Zheng said calmly.

"With the General here,"

"No matter how strong their offensive is, they won't be able to stir up any waves," Tan Yuan said to Zhu Zheng with profound admiration.

Such miraculous archery skills had completely subdued all the officers and men on the battlements.

It could be said.

Zhu Zheng's arrows specifically targeted enemy officers, and the results achieved were definitely comparable to the strength of an army of thousands.

"The enemy suffered a heavy blow yesterday."

"Today."

"The enemy will have a different countermeasure."

"All troops, prepare for battle," Zhu Zheng said in a deep voice.

"By your command,"

Cried the soldiers and officers atop the battlements in unison.

Before the enemy formation!

Li Jian sat on horseback, accompanied by two commanding generals.

"General,"

"This subordinate is unwilling to accept yesterday's defeat and wishes to serve as the vanguard to charge the formation," Xu Kai requested loudly.

However.

Regarding this plea for battle, Li Jian shook his head and said in a solemn voice, "General Xu! In yesterday's battle, the soldiers of your first garrison battalion suffered heavy losses, especially the officers; these all need to be reorganized. In today's battle, this general will surely break this city and slaughter the rebels within."

"The second garrison battalion has suffered no losses."

"This battle will be commanded by General Gu Cheng."

Hearing this!

Xu Kai wore a look of reluctance, but knowing the situation, he had no choice but to step back.

"General Gu."

"Today's battle."

"Is a battle to wash away our shame."

"As long as you can command the main force to break the city, this general guarantees you a great contribution," Li Jian said in a deep voice, looking at Gu Cheng beside him with high expectations.

"Please rest assured, General."

"For this battle,"

"This subordinate has made all preparations."

"In yesterday's battle, the reason the rebel divine archer was able to accurately target our officers must have been due to the distinction of our armor. After all, the rebels were once soldiers of our Great Ming and are familiar with our military system. Therefore, for this battle, this subordinate has already given orders: all officers above the rank of deputy centurion shall wear the armor of ordinary soldiers to direct the assault."

"This subordinate does not believe that the rebel divine archer has such sharp eyes that he can still target our officers amidst the chaotic ranks," Gu Cheng said with a confident expression, clearly feeling his arrangements were watertight.

"With General Gu so confident, this general also believes you will certainly take Zhuozhou City."

"Go."

"Today, break the city in a single battle."

"Suppress the rebels."

"Once successful, this general will personally celebrate your success."

Li Jian immediately issued the order.

"This subordinate obeys," Gu Cheng accepted the command with a confident expression.

Immediately.

He spurred his horse toward the front of the formation.

"Soldiers of the second garrison battalion."

"The Yan rebel has revolted, committing unpardonable crimes."

"We obey the Emperor's decree to suppress the rebels, and are the Heavenly Army of Suppression."

"Soldiers."

"Whoever is first to breach the city gates will be promoted three ranks and rewarded with a thousand taels of gold!"

"Furthermore."

"Anyone who dies in battle fighting the enemy for the country will receive double the compensation, benefiting their families."

"This is the boundless grace of the Emperor."

"Soldiers."

"As soldiers of Great Ming, you ought to sacrifice your lives for the country."

"Break open this city for this general, and suppress the rebels."

"Charge!"

Gu Cheng roared loudly, drawing his sword and pointing straight at the city.

"Kill, kill, kill!"

"Open fire."

"Attack."

In an instant!

The fifty thousand troops under Gu Cheng's command all moved into action.

Still preceded by artillery suppression.

Boom, boom, boom!

The roaring was ceaseless.

Cannonballs carrying terrifying murderous intent poured down toward Zhuozhou City.

Looking at this artillery array.

Zhu Zheng could not help but feel a pang of emotion in his heart: "Fortunately, the firearms of this era are just like this. If it were artillery from later generations, even Second World War artillery, just a few hundred of these pieces could flatten the entire gate tower."

"Technology!"

"This is the path of the future."

However.

Emotion was emotion.

Zhu Zheng had not forgotten his duty as a commander.

"Listen to my command, raise shields for defense,"

Zhu Zheng shouted deeply.

"Understood."

The soldiers on the battlements followed suit, squatting down, backing against the city wall, and raising their shields in front of them.

Zhu Zheng's personal guards did the same.

Most of them were veterans who had seen battle, which was why they were selected as guards, but there was one exception. At this moment, facing the bombardment of hundreds of artillery pieces, his whole body seemed to be trembling, showing extreme fear.

"Kid."

"Since you've come up, don't be afraid."

"Otherwise, get down."

Looking at Zhu Gaosui not far beside him, Zhu Zheng rebuked him in a low voice without any politeness.

"Sub… subordinate is not afraid."

Hearing the mockery in Zhu Zheng's words, Zhu Gaosui braced himself and replied.

To him.

He carried the expectations of his Prince Father, and his third elder brother had already gone to the battlefield and killed enemies.

As another son of the Prince of Yan, he could not let his Prince Father down, nor could he bring shame upon him.

Thinking of this.

Zhu Gaosui gradually calmed his mood, suppressed his inner fear, looked straight at Zhu Zheng, and said loudly, "This subordinate will certainly not disappoint the General, nor will he disappoint His Highness the Prince of Yan."

Seeing this performance from Zhu Gaosui.

Zhu Zheng nodded calmly: "Let us hope so!"

"Watch carefully and learn well."

"The battlefield costs lives."

With that.

Zhu Zheng picked up the newly acquired Divine Arm Bow, an arrow already nocked on the string.

Artillery bombardment continued.

Cannonballs smashed against the city wall, landing within the city and upon the battlements.

Cries of agony rose one after another.

Facing the might of these firearms, while defense was possible, casualties were unavoidable.

And under the suppression of the artillery.

The enemy's vanguard siege forces were also rapidly advancing.

"Attack, attack!"

"督战军 (Supervising troops) hold the line!"

"Anyone fleeing the battlefield will be executed immediately."

"Do not withdraw until the city is breached," Gu Cheng waved the sword in his hand and roared loudly.

The fifty thousand troops dispersed, advancing toward the city in an orderly fashion, forming various assault ladder formations.

Zhu Zheng still visually estimated the distance of the enemy forces.

When they entered within a hundred paces.

"Charge!"

Zhu Zheng gave a low shout.

He suddenly stood up.

The nocked arrow instantly loosed from the string.

Transforming into a streak of light.

It instantly pierced through the enemy soldier holding the battle flag.

"Killed one enemy soldier, harvested 5 points of internal energy, harvested 5 taels of silver, harvested 10 days of lifespan," the system panel prompted.

Following this command.

"Charge!"

"Charge..."

The soldiers on the battlements raised their bows and arrows, frantically shooting at the advancing enemy forces below.

At the same time.

Dozens of artillery pieces all opened fire in bombardment.

The battle!

Was joined once again.

Zhu Zheng's gaze swept across the front of the city, a cold smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Making the officers not wear distinctive armor."

"Is this your countermeasure against me?"

"However, do you take me for blind?"

Seeing that the enemy's attacking force lacked officers above the rank of deputy chiliarch—no, rather, that no one was wearing the armor of a deputy chiliarch and above—Zhu Zheng smiled.

Was this ringing a bell while covering one's own ears?