Defeat the Enemy and Capture the General

Speaking of this, Wang Yong's face turned even paler. "As for reinforcements, this subordinate saw none; only the enemy's reinforcements arrived."

"Our army had already lost its fighting spirit after being slaughtered by that Sha, and after failing to take the position for so long, we were at the end of our tether. When the Qin State elites arrived to support them, we barely held for a moment before scattering in a rout..."

At this, Han Ming's face turned livid, his gaze fixed on Wang Yong as if he wanted to devour him alive.

"Nonsense! Dereliction of duty! What crime do you deserve for this?!"

Wang Yong dared not meet his eyes; he drew his sword and held it across his throat. "This subordinate has no face to see the General again, but such military intelligence could not go unreported. The South Foothill has fallen; the General must make plans early!"

"As for that Sha, I have not spoken a single false word. The General must be extremely careful. This subordinate will take his leave first!"

With those words, Wang Yong drew the blade across his own throat and collapsed into a pool of blood!

Staring at the glaring crimson, Han Ming's fury surged. His eyes were bloodshot, and he hammered his fists against the blue stone bricks of Fang City until they bled!

"How could it be like this! How could it be like this!?"

"What Sha!? What 'immense strength' and 'invulnerable to blades'! These are all excuses!"

"Two thousand men in an ambush defending a city, taken down by two hundred? A joke! It is a goddamn joke!!"

He paced back and forth, roaring and cursing in hysteria!

The arrangement at the South Foothill was his escape route, and the most critical masterstroke that would have allowed him to hold off the Qin Army for days, perhaps even half a month!

Yet it had fallen just like that, and in such a bizarre fashion. How could he accept it?

The deputy general beside him hurriedly advised, "General, please calm your anger. The South Foothill is lost, and four thousand of Fang City's ten thousand defenders are gone. The North Foothill likely cannot hold much longer either. This pass cannot be held; we should make plans early!"

"Make plans early! What plans are there to make!?" Han Ming had almost lost his sanity. "With the South Foothill lost, Fang City has no defensive advantage left. The North Foothill won't last long either. The fall of the pass is a foregone conclusion!"

"Hahaha, pity my lifelong reputation! Defending this strategic point with ten thousand elites, only to be utterly defeated without consuming a single soldier of the Qin Army, losing the pass—how laughable!" He laughed miserably, like a madman. "How laughable!!"

The deputy general urged, "General, if we retreat now, there is still a glimmer of hope! With your ability, if we can mobilize more troops, it is not impossible to turn the tide."

Han Ming shook his head, utterly despondent. "Turn the tide? Our military strength is already far weaker than Qin's. We were crushed even while holding the geographical advantage; what tide is there to turn?"

"And what face do I have to retreat?"

"What face do I have to see my colleagues, or the King?"

The wind ruffled his straw-like hair. His gaze drifted past the city walls into the distance, where he could already see the main force of the Qin Army charging toward the pass.

The massive army pressed down upon them like dark clouds looming over the city.

Han Ming knew that the Qin troops from the South Foothill would arrive soon. Once they coordinated with the main force to attack from within and without, the pass would be indefensible.

He stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with resolve. "Move out!"

"Raise the army and march to the South Foothill! I want to see what kind of young Sha can take a city defended by two thousand with only two hundred men!"

"If such a person truly exists, I will kill him. It won't be a total loss; at the very least, I will have snuffed out a future fierce general for the Qin State!"

He left behind a portion of his troops to hold the pass and delay the main Qin force.

He himself led three thousand men to charge toward the South Foothill.

Meng Wu watched the movements at Fang City from afar. Although Han Ming tried his best to conceal them, the subtle changes at the pass could not escape Meng Wu's eyes.

In just a few moments, Meng Wu had discerned Han Ming's intentions.

He glanced toward the South Foothill. "It seems Han Ming has received the news. Now, he is likely driven to madness, wanting to fight to the death with Meng Tian's unit."

"With such a temperament, he dares to call himself a famous general?"

He waved his command flag. "Advance at full speed! Take the pass as quickly as possible and pursue the enemy!"

"How is the north side?"

"The north side has begun the assault, but they have encountered fierce resistance. I fear it will take another hour or more to take the North Foothill."

Meng Wu smiled easily. "Another hour... the banners at the pass will have been changed by then."

He shook his head slightly. Who could have imagined that someone would be able to take a city wall defended by two thousand men with only two hundred?

If not for that, Han Ming would not have been driven to madness.

Just thinking about Han Ming's current reaction made Meng Wu want to laugh.

"Report! The Han Army's main general is leading nearly three thousand troops and charging toward us!"

Meng Tian raised an eyebrow. "Has this fellow lost his mind?"

"After his two thousand ambushers were wiped out by Father, and his two thousand defenders were wiped out by us brothers, he still leads three thousand to attack? Does he not want the pass anymore??"

Meng Tian's eyes darted around, and he immediately ordered the army to halt.

"Form a defensive formation! The main army will break through the pass before long. The enemy is already a turtle in a jar. If they attack now, they will only fight with the desperation of the doomed. As long as we break their 'burn the boats' momentum and then strike from front and rear, we can easily defeat them!"

As Zhao Cheng listened, he inwardly praised the brilliance of the response.

The enemy's defeat was already sealed. By leading his troops to attack now, the soldiers knew they were facing certain death with no way to retreat, which would cause them to erupt with great fighting spirit. Even if they could win, the losses would not be small.

But as long as they held their formation, the enemy would only grow more anxious, and their momentum would wane. Once the main army arrived, they would be easily wiped out.

Another lesson learned!

Meng Wu commanded with calm precision, keeping the formation tight and waiting for the enemy to exhaust themselves.

Before long, a massive force of the Han Army could be seen charging toward them along the distant wall path!

Han Ming, the commander of the Han Army, caught sight of that disciplined formation from afar and nearly vomited blood in frustration.

He wanted to engage them in a desperate struggle, but the enemy simply wouldn't give him the chance!

Their formation was as tight as a tortoise shell, and they had even repurposed the spears and shields of the South Foothill garrison, just waiting for his troops to charge up and be slaughtered!

Consumed by rage and knowing he had little time left, Han Ming threw caution to the wind and issued the order.

"Kill!"

A vast wave of the Han Army surged forward.

Meng Tian remained completely unhurried, waiting until the enemy entered range before ordering a volley!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Arrows fell like rain, and the Han Army collapsed in swathes!

Among them, several arrows flew with the force of thunderbolts, heavy and swift; they easily pierced the throats of the front-line Han soldiers, continuing through to strike down three or four more before losing momentum!

With just a few shots, a whole section of the enemy line fell!

These were the arrows shot by Zhao Cheng!

Within such a standard range, the full power of his heavy bow and immense strength was on complete display.

Each shot skewered the Han soldiers in front like candied haws on a stick!

His draw speed was incredibly fast, flowing like clouds and water; while others managed one shot, he had already loosed four or five.

The Han Army suffered heavy casualties in an instant.

Zhao Cheng's bow roared like continuous thunder, and soon, Han Ming's gaze locked onto him!

Seeing him bathed in blood with countless wounds, yet still drawing a heavy bow and unleashing arrows like falling mountains, Han Ming couldn't help but feel a tremor of fear.

Could what Wang Yong said be true? Was there really such a heaven-sent general in this world?

But why was he born in Qin instead of Han? Could it be that destiny favored Qin?

A thick murderous intent surged in Han Ming's eyes as he stared fixedly at Zhao Cheng's figure.

By now, the two armies had clashed upon the wall path!

Although the Han Army had lost many men during the charge, they were now fighting with their backs to the river, casting aside all fear of death to carve into the Qin formation, surprisingly holding their own!

The Qin Army was fewer in number, but under Meng Tian's command, they remained methodical; the vanguard used spears to defend and counter-attack, creating gaps, while the rear forces coordinated to cut through the enemy lines like a blade!

Among them, Zhao Cheng led the charge, plunging into the Han ranks like a fierce tiger into a flock of sheep; his sword moved like the wind, unstoppable, and wherever he passed, the heads of Han soldiers flew into the air!

This time was far more satisfying and easier than the previous battle; with the forces relatively matched, Zhao Cheng didn't have to bear too much pressure alone, allowing him to move through the formation with ease.

He even had the spare mind to monitor the life-stealing count of the system.

[You have killed an enemy, stolen nine years of life!]

[You have killed an enemy, stolen thirty years of life!]

[You have killed an enemy, stolen eleven years of life!]

"Is he a demon!?"

"Why can't he be killed!"

"How did he get all the way here?"

Zhao Cheng faced the surging tide of soldiers, cutting deep into the enemy ranks; wherever he went, the Han soldiers fell in rows like harvested grain.

The Han soldiers, who had initially been fearless, saw Zhao Cheng—a Sha-filled Yama—trampling over countless corpses to reach the center of the formation, nearly upon them, and their morale wavered; some began to retreat.

In the distance, Han Ming grew increasingly terrified, his heart pounding with shock; Wang Yong had not lied, there truly was such a baleful star among the Qin forces!

His murderous intent grew even more intense as he watched the invincible Zhao Cheng push deep into the formation, and he ordered his men to shoot him down!

Several elite archers beside him immediately drew their bows, attempting to strike Zhao Cheng down!

But their accuracy was truly lamentable.

Positioned in the rear, at such a distance and amidst the chaotic melee, they had no way to accurately target Zhao Cheng, instead wounding several of their own men.

Even when an occasional arrow landed near Zhao Cheng, it had already lost its force, and he swatted it away with a single hand, posing no threat at all.

Han Ming flew into a rage, "Useless, all of you are useless! Bring me my bow!"

He grabbed his heavy bow, intending to shoot Zhao Cheng himself, but realized that from his position in the rear, it was difficult to lock onto Zhao Cheng amidst the chaos, so he began to move forward, only to be held back by his deputy.

"General, you must not!"

"You are the commander; how can you risk your life?"

Han Ming shoved him aside, "If I do not kill this man, I will not be able to close my eyes even in death!"

"Move aside, I will do it myself!"

Taking cover behind the military formation with his deputy commander shielding him, he intended to step forward and fire a cold arrow to kill Zhao Cheng!

The battlefield was chaotic, and he was extremely confident in his archery; as long as he was given enough distance, he was highly certain he could take Zhao Cheng down!

Closer, even closer.

If he could just get a little nearer, his success rate would be ninety percent!

Han Ming stared fixedly at Zhao Cheng, moving quietly forward through the ranks under the protection of his personal guards and deputy commander.

The veins on the deputy commander's forehead were throbbing; he could clearly see the ferocity of that Sha-like star, and this distance was far too dangerous!

But Han Ming paid no heed, having already drawn his bow and nocked an arrow, locking his sights firmly onto the Young Asura who was rampaging through the military formation!

His eyes were bloodshot, and holding his breath, he stared intensely at Zhao Cheng, pulling his heavy bow until it was like a full moon. Under the intensity of his killing intent, his arm was surprisingly steady, as if he had tapped into some hidden potential.

But suddenly, the blood-covered youth abruptly looked up and grinned at Han Ming.

That smile was like a crouching tiger baring its fangs, and a surging wave of killing intent rushed toward him!

Han Ming's heart leaped into his throat, cold sweat instantly breaking out on his back. His hand trembled, and the arrow shot out like a bolt of lightning!

However, Zhao Cheng shot out at the same time!

The moment Han Ming's arrow left the string, the Young Asura also exploded with boundless force, as if he too were an arrow released from a bow, crashing into several men like a tiger descending from the mountains.

Breaking through the defenses and slicing open the formation, he lunged straight for Han Ming!