Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 113 Counterattack Against the Night Raid

The setting sun, like blood, stained the ravaged battlefield outside Starfire Fortress with a poignant dark red. The Black Mountain Army's second wave of attack, like ice shattered by a giant hammer, completely collapsed under the death shrieks of the Divine Arm Crossbows and the subsequent flank assault by Murong Mingyue's cavalry.

The rout of the heavy infantry triggered a chain reaction. The ordinary infantry behind, already intimidated by the power of the crossbows, were thrown into chaos by the charge of their own routed troops. Murong Mingyue led five hundred elite cavalry, like red blades, surging out from the opened flank gates and, taking advantage of the enemy's confusion, viciously piercing the flanks of the Black Mountain army's attacking force. Blades flashed, hooves pounded, and the already demoralized Black Mountain infantry fell in droves, crying and screaming as they fled back to their own lines.

If it weren't for the Black Mountain commander's arrogant and decisive action in sending his personal guard cavalry to provide support and cover the rear, and his strict order for archers to fire a barrage of fire, which barely managed to curb the Starfire cavalry's pursuit, this defeat could very well have turned into a massive collapse that engulfed the entire army.

Even so, when the remnants of the defeated army fled back to their lines like stray dogs, a pall of gloom hung over the Black Mountain army. A rough count revealed that the second wave of attacks alone had resulted in the loss of over two thousand men, nearly half of whom were valuable heavy armor elites and artillery operators. More importantly, the fear instilled by those seemingly invincible "divine weapons" spread like a plague through the hearts of every Black Mountain soldier. They were not afraid of swords or bloodshed, but this unknown weapon, capable of taking lives from a hundred paces away and rendering armor useless, completely shattered the fighting spirit of many.

Inside the central command tent, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was almost frozen.

"Useless! All of you are useless!" His arrogant roar finally erupted, and he kicked over the low table in front of him, scattering cups and plates everywhere. "Five hundred heavy armors! How long have I been saving up five hundred heavy armors! Gone in a single encounter?! And those artillery pieces! What are those crossbows? Can someone tell me what those things are?!"

The generals inside the tent fell silent, none daring to utter a word. The strategist, Goat-Beard, stroked his beard, his brow furrowed; he too was deeply shaken by the terrifying power of the crossbow bolts from earlier that day. The range, the penetrating force—it completely exceeded his understanding of crossbows.

"General, please calm down," a general in charge of frontline command said, forcing a smile. "Those crossbows are truly bizarre, with a range far exceeding that of ordinary crossbows, and their power is terrifying. Our heavy armor... is not our fault."

"Not a fault of war?" Zhang Kuang's eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at him. "So, all those ten thousand of us were just sitting around here in some small fortress? Nearly four thousand dead or wounded, and we haven't even touched a few bricks from the city wall! If word gets out, how am I supposed to face anyone in the North?!"

"General," the goatee-bearded strategist finally spoke, his voice low and deep, "Starfire Fortress possesses such a powerful weapon; a direct assault would inevitably result in heavy casualties and be unlikely to be effective. Judging from what we've seen today, its defensive equipment is plentiful, its organization is tight, and its morale is high; it cannot be taken overnight."

"Then what do you suggest? Withdraw the troops? I can't afford to lose face like that!" Zhang Kuang panted heavily.

"Of course, it's not a withdrawal." A glint of ruthlessness flashed in the strategist's eyes. "A daytime assault would be unsuccessful; why not switch to a night attack?"

"A night raid?" Zhang Kuang and the other generals were all taken aback.

"Not bad." The goatee walked to the simple sand table and pointed to the north wall of Starfire Fortress. "During the day, although our artillery vehicles were hit, we did manage to blast open several breaches. Although the defenders subsequently filled in the gaps, the walls were inevitably not as strong as they were originally. Moreover, after the fierce fighting during the day, the defenders are exhausted both physically and mentally. Our army is different; we still have nearly ten thousand fresh troops that have not yet been mobilized."

He paused, then continued, "Tonight at midnight, select five hundred brave men, gagged and with their horses' hooves wrapped, to quietly infiltrate the breach in the north wall. Simultaneously, send small teams carrying tinder to the vicinity of the east and west gates. Once the fire starts on the north side, set fires everywhere to create chaos and attract the defenders' attention. The main force will lie in ambush three miles outside the north gate. Once the daredevils breach the wall or create sufficient chaos, the entire army will advance and breach the city in one fell swoop!"

As Zhang Kuang listened, the initial rage in his eyes gradually gave way to a desperate, reckless glint. The shame and fury of the day's crushing defeat burned within him; he desperately needed a victory to salvage his reputation and bolster morale. A night raid, though risky, was indeed the most likely way to break the deadlock at the moment.

"Good! We'll follow the strategist's plan!" Zhang Kuang slammed his hand on the table. "Select the bravest and most fearless brothers, and promise them a hefty reward! Once we storm the city, they can take whatever wealth and women they want! I refuse to believe they can use that strange crossbow so skillfully at night!"

The order was swiftly relayed. The Black Mountain Army began preparing for the night raid, selecting suicide squads, gathering tools, suppressing their daytime fears, and rekindling their desire for wealth and plunder. They believed that the night would provide them with the best cover, and that the exhausted defenders could not maintain the same vigilance and terrifying accuracy of their crossbows under the cover of darkness.

……

Xinghuo Fortress, main watchtower on the north wall.

Despite the bright lights, Chen Xing did not rest. Instead, he listened to battle reports and loss statistics from various locations with Chen Wei, Zhao Tiezhu, and Murong Mingyue, who had rushed back.

"Our army suffered 127 dead, 203 seriously wounded, and countless minor wounded. We lost about 40% of our arrows and about 30% of our logs and stones. We also consumed a significant amount of oil," Chen Wei reported. "The three crenellations on the north wall that were severely damaged by the cannon fire have been urgently reinforced with wood and stone, but their strength is not as good as the original wall. The crossbows were undamaged, and we used 90 crossbow bolts, which have now been replenished."

"What about civilian casualties?" Chen Xing was more concerned about this.

Zhao Tiezhu hurriedly replied, "The city is in good order, and the casualties among the civilians and militia are minimal, mainly injuries from stray arrows while transporting supplies. Women and children have all been properly accommodated. Food and military equipment are plentiful."

Murong Mingyue chimed in, her voice brimming with excitement: "The cavalry attacked, beheading about four hundred and capturing dozens, while suffering only minor injuries to a dozen men and their horses were unharmed. This has greatly demoralized the enemy."

Chen Xing nodded, his gaze fixed on the sand table, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the surface. While the daytime victory was certainly gratifying, there was little relief on his face.

"My lord, are you worried about a night attack by the enemy?" Chen Wei keenly sensed Chen Xing's thoughts.

"Not bad." Chen Xing raised his head, his eyes sharp. "Zhang Kuang is a fierce and arrogant man. He will not be willing to accept this heavy defeat. If a direct attack fails, he will surely resort to trickery. A night attack is his most likely option. Firstly, it can avoid the daytime visibility advantage of our crossbows, and secondly, it can take advantage of our troops being exhausted after a day of fierce fighting."

"I have increased the number of double guards and set up alarm bells and braziers in various parts of the city wall, especially in areas damaged during the day," Chen Wei said.

"Not enough." Chen Xing shook his head. "Passive defense always leaves loopholes. If he wants to launch a night attack, I'll turn the tables and give him a ruthless counterattack."

He looked at Murong Mingyue: "Mingyue, are the cavalry tired after today's attack?"

Murong Mingyue straightened her back, her fighting spirit undiminished: "The soldiers' morale is high, and the warhorses have been fed and rested. We are ready to fight again!"

"Alright." Chen Xing's lips curled into a cold smile. "I want you to lead the main force of the cavalry out of the city ahead of time and ambush them in the grove of low trees five miles outside the north gate. Prepare plenty of torches, oil, and whistling arrows."

He then looked at Chen Wei: "Chen Wei, select two hundred of your most elite veterans, and have them leave the city ahead of time to lie in ambush outside the north wall, behind the damaged shield carts and piles of corpses that our army abandoned during the day. Bring powerful crossbows and short weapons, do not wear heavy armor, and move lightly."

Finally, he said to Zhao Tiezhu, "Uncle Zhao, the lights in the city should remain on after nightfall, but the guards on the walls should appear tired and relaxed. Especially at those repaired gaps, the sentries in the open can be a little lax, but the sentries in the shadows must be extra vigilant. Also, prepare some dry firewood and kerosene inside the east and west gates, but don't actually light them; just make it look like you're preparing for an enemy fire attack."

The three men's eyes gleamed as they listened, and they understood Chen Xing's intention.

"Does the lord intend to... lure the enemy out of their hole, then launch a pincer attack from both inside and outside, and turn the tables on their camp?" Chen Wei took a deep breath.

"Not only that." Chen Xing's finger landed heavily on the sand table, representing the location of the Black Mountain Army's main camp. "If Zhang Kuang sends troops for a night raid, the camp will inevitably be relatively empty, and their attention will be mostly focused on the city walls. Mingyue, your cavalry, when the enemy's night raiding force engages our army and the signal sounds, ignore the battle below the city walls and rush straight to the Black Mountain Army's main camp! Your primary objectives are to burn the grain supplies and stables, and create maximum chaos! Chen Wei, your ambush troops, in coordination with the city wall defenders, must relentlessly pursue the attacking enemy. Ideally, let some in, then trap them!"

"The garrison troops of that camp and the arrogant personal guards..." Murong Mingyue was somewhat worried.

"After the daytime battle, the morale of the Black Mountain Army has already collapsed. A nighttime attack, especially with cavalry, will surely throw their camp into chaos. Your task isn't to kill generals and seize flags, but to set fires! Make as much noise as possible! Once the fire is lit, you can withdraw and patrol outside the city, hunting down the fleeing soldiers." Chen Xing's eyes gleamed with calculation. "If Zhang Kuang's supplies are burned after this night, his morale will completely collapse. Tomorrow, he'll have no choice but to retreat."

"Brilliant plan!" Zhao Tiezhu clapped his hands. "This will change the balance of power in both offense and defense!"

With the plan finalized, everyone immediately split up to prepare. After achieving a brilliant defensive victory, Starfire Fortress, this war machine, did not relax its efforts but instead operated even more efficiently, quietly setting up a counterattack against the night.

……

Midnight is approaching; the moon is dark and the wind is high.

At the Black Mountain Army camp, the gates quietly opened, and five hundred selected daredevils, dressed in dark clothing, their faces smeared with soot, and wooden pegs in their mouths, slipped out of the camp like ghosts, led by several fierce leaders. They split into several groups and infiltrated towards the north wall of Xinghuo Fortress. At the same time, several other small teams of several dozen men, carrying flint and steel, oil canisters, and other supplies, used the terrain as cover to sneak towards the east and west sides of Xinghuo Fortress.

On the north wall of Xinghuo Fortress, the lights seemed dimmer than in the first half of the night. The soldiers patrolling the wall were sparse, and their movements were somewhat slow, with faint yawns audible. The gaps that had been repaired during the day were only lit by scattered torches, and the guards, clutching their weapons, leaned against the battlements, seemingly asleep.

All of this was observed by the leader of the Black Mountain Army's elite assassins, who had stealthily moved closer. He secretly rejoiced, thinking, "They're exhausted! Heaven is on my side!"

He gestured, and the assassins began to slowly make their way down to the largest gap, using the ditches and embankments as cover. They carried grappling hooks and short ladders, ready to climb up in one fell swoop.

Just as the first few men were about to reach the base of the wall, one of the Black Mountain assassins accidentally kicked a loose stone, making a slight "click" sound—

"Whoosh—smack!"

A rocket with a sharp whistle suddenly shot into the night sky from an inconspicuous sentry post on the top of the Starfire Fortress wall, exploding into a bright red light!

"Enemy attack!!!"

The once "sleeping" wall instantly erupted into chaos! Torches were lit one after another, illuminating the top of the wall. Logs and stones rained down on the base of the wall like a storm! Furthermore, numerous light crossbows, long prepared, emerged from behind the crenellations and unleashed a barrage of fire at the blurry figures in the darkness!

"We've fallen into a trap! Retreat!" The leader of the Black Mountain Army's suicide squad shouted, his soul leaving his body.

But it was too late!

"kill--!"

Inside the largest breach in the north wall of Xinghuo Fortress, what appeared to be a pile of miscellaneous items was suddenly pushed aside. Chen Wei, leading two hundred elite veterans who had been lying in ambush, charged out! Like tigers descending a mountain, they pounced on the stunned Black Mountain assassins. At the same time, the fortress gate did not open wide, but a small side door burst open, and another squad of defenders rushed out to cooperate with Chen Wei's troops in encircling and annihilating these night raiders.

Almost simultaneously, shouts of battle and brief clashes of weapons rang out from the east and west sides of Starfire Fortress. The squads that intended to set fires and create chaos had clearly run into the well-prepared defenders.

The real killer move, however, is further away!

Just as the sounds of battle and the bright lights of fire rose from beneath the north wall, drawing the attention of all the Black Mountain troops from the direction of the main camp—

"Rumble..."

The dull, thunderous sound of horses' hooves suddenly rang out from the flank and rear of the Black Mountain Army camp! And they were rapidly approaching!

"Cavalry! It's Starfire Fortress cavalry!" The sentries outside the camp sounded a piercing alarm, but it was too late.

Dressed in red, Murong Mingyue resembled a flame of vengeance in the torchlight. She raised her long sword high, her clear shout echoing through the night: "Target, enemy camp's supply depot and stables—Charge! Set them on fire!"

Five hundred elite cavalrymen pushed their speed to the limit, like an unstoppable torrent of steel, easily breaking through the hastily organized outer barricades and fences of the camp, and crashing into the heart of the Black Mountain Army camp!

Rockets shot towards the camps and stacks of grain like meteors. The cavalrymen hurled their oil canisters with all their might. The canisters shattered upon impact, splattering oil everywhere. The rockets then fell and ignited instantly!

"The grain warehouse is on fire!"

"Station! The horses are startled!"

"Cavalry! Their cavalry has broken in!"

The Black Mountain Army camp was in complete chaos! Countless soldiers were awakened from their sleep and rushed out of their tents. What they saw was flames spreading everywhere, warhorses running around in terror, and red cavalry galloping across the battlefield, cutting down anyone they saw and burning any tents they encountered!

Chaos, utter chaos! Officers couldn't find their soldiers, soldiers couldn't find their weapons, and those fighting the fire, fleeing for their lives, and resisting were all in complete disarray. Zhang Kuang was frantically woken up by his personal guards in the central command tent. He rushed out of the tent and saw a camp engulfed in flames and deafening shouts and cries of battle.

"Hold on! Hold on for me! Imperial Guard, assemble! Follow me and kill..." Zhang Kuang roared, his eyes bloodshot, as he drew his sword.

However, his orders seemed so powerless amidst the boundless chaos. Murong Mingyue didn't engage with the large enemy forces at all; under her command, the cavalry moved nimbly, targeting weak and vital points to launch attacks and set fires, continuously expanding the chaos.

Just as Zhang Kuang had finally managed to gather several hundred personal guard cavalrymen to attempt a counterattack, Murong Mingyue had already led her troops out of the camp like a whirlwind from the other side and disappeared into the night, leaving behind only an increasingly blazing sea of ​​fire and a completely collapsed camp.

The battle beneath the north wall was also nearing its end. Of the five hundred Black Mountain warriors, most had been killed or wounded in the pincer attack by Chen Wei's troops and the city wall defenders, and the rest surrendered.

Standing on the watchtower on the north wall, Chen Xing gazed at the firelight that illuminated half the sky in the direction of the Black Mountain Army camp in the distance, listened to the faint sounds of despair and clamor, and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

The night raid was a successful counterattack, burning of grain and disruption of the camp.

After this night, the backbone of the Black Mountain Army was completely broken.