Great Victory

The next day, perhaps sensing victory was within reach, the Qin Army launched an even fiercer attack. The number of siege ladders alone was more than twenty greater than the previous day.

Wang Hong used the same method as yesterday, first smashing the siege ladders. The defensive pressure on his section of the city wall greatly reduced, drawing envious glances from the other units who were still fighting desperately.

Wang Hong also took the opportunity to smash the siege ladders on his left and right flanks, helping out where he could. As for other areas, he could only offer his regrets.

The Qin Army attacked relentlessly all day, only retreating at nightfall.

In a valley behind the Qin Army, a continuous stretch of tents stood, surrounded by a ring of abatis. Behind the abatis, large carts were joined end-to-end, forming a circular wall. The area was brightly lit, with patrols of soldiers moving around the perimeter. This was the Qin Army's supply depot, guarded by four thousand elite soldiers.

On the mountainside adjacent to the tents, figures flickered, thousands of them lying in ambush, watching the encampment below. They were like a tiger ready to pounce at any moment. The men in the mountains lay hidden quietly until deep into the night, when the lights in the tents gradually went out.

"Coo coo!"

With the sound of a bird's call, all the soldiers quietly crept towards the encampment below.

A moment later, the encampment erupted in flames, and the sounds of slaughter filled the air. Many Qin soldiers were decapitated in their sleep. Some soldiers who woke in a panic were killed on the spot before they could even organize a resistance.

The next day, Wang Hong and his men were ready early, anticipating the Qin Army's fierce assault.

However, before the Qin Army could attack the city, they received orders from their superiors to each carry three days' worth of rations and be prepared to sortie at any time.

Everyone was confused. Yesterday they were at a disadvantage and almost had their city walls breached. Where did the strength to sally forth and counterattack come from today?

Soon, more news arrived: just last night, the Chu Army had raided the Qin Army's supply depot and burned all their provisions. The Qin Army now had at most one day's worth of supplies left. If they could just hold out for one more day, the Qin Army would surely retreat.

Upon hearing the news, the Chu Army's morale soared. They had been suppressed by the Qin Army for days and had pent-up frustration. Everyone was eager to strike a blow against the Qin Army.

On that day, the Qin Army launched its most frenzied attack since the start of the war. Arrows rained down on the city walls without a moment's pause.

In addition to the siege ladders, the Qin Army carried simple wooden ladders, directly placing them against the city walls and climbing up. The Qin soldiers swarmed the entire city wall like ants.

The defending Chu soldiers hurled rolling logs and stones downwards. Each projectile would flatten a large area, splattering blood and gore everywhere.

Large iron cauldrons were set up on the city walls, heating oil to a rolling boil, which was then poured down. The Qin soldiers below were scalded, their skin peeling off to reveal raw, red flesh. Their clothes were fused to their flesh, and every movement brought forth tears of pain.

After the hot oil was used up, a few torches were thrown down. A massive blaze erupted below, quickly merging into a sea of fire, filled with heart-wrenching screams.

The screams gradually weakened, and thick black smoke billowed from the inferno, making it impossible for the Chu soldiers on the wall to open their eyes, their throats burning as if on fire.

Wang Hong wet the corner of his robe, tightly covering his nose and mouth, leaning against the other side of the city wall. The black smoke was accompanied by a burning smell and the aroma of cooked meat, a mixture that drilled into his nose and mouth, making Wang Hong feel nauseous.

It seemed this great fire would not be extinguished anytime soon. Before the fire subsided, they received orders to sally forth and pursue the Qin Army!

Upon exiting the city, they saw the Qin Army had already broken camp and was slowly retreating. It seemed the Qin Army, seeing no hope of taking the city, was withdrawing.

Although the Qin Army retreated, their formation was orderly and unbroken, forming a large square formation. The shield-bearers were on the outside, while the spearmen inside had their spearheads pointing outwards, ready to engage the enemy at any time. The archers in the innermost layer continued to fire arrows outwards.

The Chu Army pursued in a wedge formation, with the main general and the central army positioned in the middle, and the two wings on the flanks like the wings of a great goose, ready to advance and envelop from the sides at any time.

Wang Hong was on the left flank. This was a prime opportunity to slay generals and capture banners, to achieve merit. It was a pity that his Sixth Brigade, apart from the wounded, had only a little over fifty men who could sortie.

The Qin Army advanced at an unhurried pace, and the Chu Army followed closely behind. After an hour, the Qin Army's supply of arrows was depleted, and no more arrows flew from their formation.

From this point on, the Chu Army would pounce at any opportunity, tearing off a piece of flesh from the Qin soldiers. Furthermore, two elite small units frequently charged the Qin Army from the flanks in a wedge formation, like two sharp blades piercing the Qin formation, dividing off a small section of Qin soldiers, which was then quickly swallowed by the main army behind.

Thus, they fought and marched, achieving considerable results by the end of the day, especially in inflicting great psychological pressure on the Qin Army.

At night, due to the inconvenience of marching, both sides stopped and set up camp.

The Chu Army gnawed on their dry rations, while the Qin Army, their stomachs growling with hunger, could only desperately gulp down water to alleviate their hunger.

Of course, the night was not easy for the Qin Army either. The Chu Army sent out small units to launch several harassing attacks. Before dawn the next day, the Chu Army launched another attack on the Qin Army, who continued to fight and retreat.

After more than half a day, the Qin Army was exhausted and hungry, their spirits flagging, and their hearts filled with dread.

Suddenly, an elite Chu force burst out from the thorny bushes on the small hills on both sides. It was the same Chu force that had been sent to burn the Qin Army's supplies. They had been lying in ambush on the Qin Army's inevitable route. Their appearance now was the last straw that broke the camel's back.

The Chu Army in the rear also launched a fierce attack simultaneously, with the two wings rapidly enveloping the flanks. However, they left the front open for escape, employing the tactic of surrounding three sides and leaving one open. This was to further disintegrate the enemy's morale and prevent them from fighting to the death like cornered beasts.

The Chu Army's fierce assault lasted less than two quarters of an hour before the Qin Army finally broke. They began to flee forward in disarray, no longer concerned with their formation. At this point, they only wished their parents had given them faster legs. The military law officer roared loudly and chopped off a few more heads with his saber, but he was quickly swallowed by the fleeing crowd. This is what is meant by an army collapsing like a mountain.

Seeing this, the Chu Army, in units, pursued the scattered Qin soldiers.

Wang Hong, leading fifty men from the Sixth Brigade, pursued for a while. Along the way, killing Qin soldiers was as easy as slicing vegetables.

The strongest opponents they encountered were only at the peak of the Houtian realm, and Wang Hong pierced their throats with his spear in two or three thrusts. He also managed to capture a camp banner.

The spoils of this pursuit were considerable. Each of his fifty men had one or two enemy heads as merit. Wang Hong killed two captains and captured two camp banners, enough to receive commendation upon his return.

In this battle, the Chu Army achieved a great victory, killing over fifty thousand Qin soldiers in total, including the city defense battle. The news quickly spread across the battlefield. This was the first time the Chu Army had defeated the Qin Army since the Qin Army had reinforced their troops, greatly boosting the Chu Army's morale.

In the following months, the Chu Army launched counterattacks against the Qin Army. Coupled with the arrival of reinforcements from various conscriptions, the Chu Army gradually began to recover lost territory.