Siege, Farce?

Fortunately, after Kojiro sent guards to take inventory of the ordnance and confirmed that the scaling ladders and other equipment were indeed present, he finally let out a slow sigh of relief.

He couldn't be bothered to continue bickering with a man who was his equal in incompetence, so he immediately issued the order: attack the city at dawn tomorrow.

At daybreak, with the morning light still dim, the soldiers in the Rice Field Army camp had finished their breakfast, donned their armor, and lined up several rows of scaling ladders in front of the camp.

Though, it must be said, this equipment looked rather ancient.

As the Rice Field Army's siege became imminent, the New Martial Army on the southern wall of Tsukimiura was also tensely preparing for battle.

Defensive tools were being transported to the top of the wall in a steady stream.

Half an hour later, the sound of drums erupted from the Rice Field Army camp. The troops began to assemble, and the auxiliary soldiers, shouldering the scaling ladders, split into ten groups to begin their charge.

The main body of the Rice Field Army followed closely behind, holding their shields aloft.

Once they entered the range of the city's artillery, the cannons on the ramparts opened fire first. Like a thunderclap, the volley struck, and the area below was instantly filled with cries of agony.

"What is this? Are there ninjas on the city wall?!"

Looking at the dozens of Rice Field Army soldiers who had been blasted into bloody pulps, the soldiers in the rear were struck with terror, their footsteps faltering.

"Bastards! Charge! Anyone who hesitates will be executed without mercy!"

Fortunately, after a brief moment of shock, the inspector for the Land of Rice Fields reacted immediately. He drew his blade, decapitated two soldiers who had begun to retreat, and roared while brandishing his heavy sword.

Seeing this, the soldiers felt helpless; gritting their teeth, they raised their shields and charged rapidly toward the city wall.

But they were met with another round of artillery fire. Against these cannonballs, their shields were as flimsy as paper, offering no resistance at all.

This round of shelling tore through the ranks of the Rice Field Army. Severed limbs and gore flew through the air, and the stench of gunpowder and blood mingled, making one feel like retching.

If not for the ferocity of the inspectors in the rear, these soldiers would have long since dropped their weapons and fled.

Fortunately, after paying a heavy price, several groups of the Rice Field Army finally managed to cross the artillery kill zone and reach the blind spots at the base of the wall.

But this also brought them into the range of the archers.

Without hesitation, Dongfang Mao roared, "Archers!"

A dense rain of arrows immediately poured down from the city walls.

After several volleys, the auxiliary soldiers and armored troops below suffered heavy casualties. Yet, despite the terror in their hearts, they had no path of retreat and could only grit their teeth, propping the remaining eight scaling ladders against the wall.

Seeing this, the defenders on the wall rushed to bring up rolling logs and molten gold, preparing to meet the enemy.

However, before they could pour them down, a dramatic scene unfolded.

No sooner had the soldiers begun to climb the ladders than five of them suddenly snapped due to years of neglect.

The soldiers climbing them plummeted from mid-air, their screams cut short as they hit the ground, never to move again.

The remaining three ladders were now teetering, emitting creaking sounds of unbearable strain, as if they were about to fall apart at any moment.

This farcical scene not only made the defenders on the wall burst into laughter, but even Dongfang Mao was left dumbfounded.

He began to wonder if this army from the Land of Rice Fields hadn't come to suppress a rebellion, but rather to entertain him.

This farce completely shattered the morale of the Rice Field Army, and the area beneath the city gate fell into total chaos.

Back in the Rice Field Army camp, Kojiro's face turned a sickly shade of green. Unable to bear it any longer, he roared at his deputy general.

"Why are these ladders like this? Such vital siege equipment, and you dared not to inspect it beforehand?!"

The deputy general looked on in confusion. These ladders had been gathering dust in the warehouse for who knows how many years—they were likely older than his great-grandmother. Was it not perfectly normal for them to fail when suddenly dragged out for use?

As for inspecting them? When had he ever ordered an inspection?

The deputy general cursed inwardly, but dared not show it on his face, instead cautiously advising, "General, since things have come to this, perhaps we should withdraw for now! The things those people in Tsukimiura have concocted have power no different from ninjutsu. If we let them keep shelling us, our troops will be wiped out. If we fail to suppress the rebellion and lose our men instead, how will we answer to the Daimyo?"

Kojiro's heart trembled violently at these words. He looked toward the battlefield, where the Rice Field Army was already in a state of total disarray, filled with wails.

Cold sweat instantly soaked his back. He waved his hand violently and shrieked, "Quick! Retreat! Now!!"

Upon receiving the order to withdraw, the soldiers on the front lines erupted into the frantic joy of those who had narrowly escaped death, scrambling to flee toward the rear.

The scene became even more chaotic, and though the inspectors tried to restore order, they were powerless to do so.

In this chaotic retreat, the Rice Field Army even suffered further casualties from being trampled.

Inside the command tent, the generals gathered, looking disheveled and grim. Kojiro, sitting at the head of the table, had a face as dark as the bottom of a pot.

"Well? Why aren't you all thinking of a way to take Tsukimiura? If this suppression fails, I will bear the primary responsibility, but none of you will fare any better!"

Hearing Kojiro's roar, the tent fell into silence once more.

This time, however, it wasn't because they were playing dead, but because everyone was furrowing their brows, deep in thought.

Kojiro was right; if something went wrong this time, the Daimyo would never let them off the hook.

After a long while, someone finally stood up.

"General, our army is truly helpless against the device the rebels have created that fires like a ninjutsu launcher. Trying to take Tsukimiura by force is, I fear, not realistic..."

"No kidding."

Kojiro was in a fit of rage, snatching up his wine cup as if to hurl it.

Seeing this, the man's expression shifted, and he added, "However, aren't there ten retainers from the Daimyo's mansion accompanying the army this time? We could have them infiltrate Tsukimiura to assassinate the rebel leader, Dongfang Mao."

"Once the rebel leader is dead and chaos erupts within the city, we can seize the opportunity to go straight to the gates and demand their surrender."

Upon hearing this, Kojiro's eyes lit up; he slowly set down the raised wine cup, pondered for a moment, and said, "Very well, let it be done. Convey this matter to those ten house-ninjas immediately."

While the Rice Field Army camp was deliberating on a countermeasure, inside Tsukimiura, a group of generals had gathered in the main hall of the Governor's Mansion.

"Everyone has seen the performance of the Rice Field Army today. Their morale was already rotting, and after that crushing defeat just now, I fear their hearts are scattered. I intend to raid the Rice Field camp tonight; what are your thoughts?"

After hearing Dongfang Mao's words, the men in the hall exchanged glances, and then Yasuke stood up abruptly.

"Governor, this humble general is willing to go!"

Seeing this, Kyuzo was not to be outdone and stepped forward as well.

"Me too!"