Chapter 45: The First to Enter the City Records the Meritorious Deed

  "Alas—"

  Zhou Jian let out a long sigh and slowly came back to his senses from the huge shock.

  The large-scale wars of the Cold War era, if not experienced in person, are hard to imagine how grand the scenes were. Especially wars with a scale of over 10,000 people brought extreme visual impact, far beyond what information technology warfare of later generations can match.

  Future wars will be invisible, a competition of technology and national strength.

  The war of the Ice Age, however, was a naked and bloody slaughter. Tens of thousands of people were mixed together, using the most primitive methods, with knives going in white and coming out red. The spark of life burst forth here, and the scene was so gruesome that it's hard to imagine.

  At this moment, whether it is the government army or the Yellow Turban bandits, there are only enemies in their eyes. Emotions and wills are completely controlled by the scene, and there are no other thoughts. Personal aspirations are so small on the chaotic battlefield.

  No matter how much you hear about something, it's nothing compared to the shock of seeing it with your own eyes.

  Although Zhou Jian was not afraid of blood and death, experiencing such a grand and spectacular war scene for the first time still left him deeply shocked. However, soon, the blood in his bones began to boil inexplicably.

  "Ah..."

  In the midst of a blood-curdling scream, a new recruit who failed to dodge in time was struck by a boulder falling from the city wall and immediately let out a blood-curdling cry as he tumbled down from the cloud ladder, one leg unfortunately broken and unable to climb back up, could only lie on the ground screaming in agony.

  Such scenes can be seen almost everywhere.

  The Han army attacked the city wall several times, but was met with fierce resistance from the Yellow Turbans and was driven back down, in just a short while, over a thousand were killed or wounded, the battle was extremely brutal.

  In front of the Han army formation, Huangfu Song looked around and saw that all the generals had a disappointed look in their eyes, but no one took the initiative to ask for battle.

  I thought the Yellow Turbans were just a mob, and Changsha City would fall with one battle, but unexpectedly the attack was repelled. The generals deeply realized that military achievements are not easily established, their enthusiasm had been extinguished, and they wouldn't take the initiative to ask for more.

  "General, I request permission for our troops to go into battle."

  Among the loud and clear shouts of killing, Cao Cao rode out on horseback, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.

  Almost at the same time, Zhou Jian also urged his horse to rush to the front of the formation and said loudly: "The end will lead the troops under his command to take down Changsha for the general."

  Huangfu Song's expression finally looked a bit better, and he thought to himself that if it weren't for the fact that more than half of the 20,000-strong army were new recruits who couldn't form a strong fighting force in such a short time, the small Changshe Castle would have been breached long ago. He said, "Cao Cao, Zhou Jian, listen to my orders."

  Cao Cao and Zhou Jian hastily replied in unison: "Your subordinate is here."

  Huangfu Song said: "Cao Cao led his troops to attack the west gate, Zhou Jian led his troops to attack the north gate, and whoever entered the city first would be credited with the achievement."

  "I will obey orders."

  The two of them were suddenly invigorated, hastily responding loudly, exchanging a glance, and busily going to assemble their troops.

  The Great Wall is just a small county town, with low and short city walls. The Yellow Turban rebels also lacked experience in war, and after capturing the city, they did not repair the city's defenses. The few rolling stones and wooden logs that were available had already been used up.

  If it were not for this, I'm afraid the city would have been breached already.

  Zhou Jianzheng saw this point and took the initiative to ask for it. Otherwise, why would he be the first bird to suffer losses?

  Under the low earth wall, a mournful howl shook the sky, and the sound of killing filled the fields.

  The Han army's offensive was frustrated, and morale was no longer as high as it had been before. Many of the new soldiers were on the battlefield for the first time, and they had never seen a bloody scene with limbs flying everywhere. If not for the guards standing behind them with swords drawn, they would have fled in disarray long ago.

  Zhou Chenghui returned to his camp, where two thousand soldiers were already waiting in formation, their military appearance was neat and tidy, with a strong murderous aura.

  However, apart from the two hundred water bandits, whether it was his own soldiers or the five hundred new recruits who were reorganized after arriving in Luoyang, there was a hint of fear deep in their eyes. Although they had already undergone actual combat training, small-scale banditry was fundamentally incomparable to real war. For these soldiers, this was all their first time on the battlefield.

  Only Jiang Qin and two hundred ninety river bandits are truly desperate fugitives, still somewhat calm.

  Zhou Jian's heart was cold and calm, no matter how many small groups of bandits were eliminated, it was far from being as effective as a real war.

  After going through this real-life war, I believe these two thousand new recruits will truly become seasoned veterans.

  Twenty thousand troops were divided into two divisions, each led by a military commander named Sima.

  Apart from Xu Chu and Jiang Qin, there were three military administrators who were old veterans of the Northern Army's Five Schools, drafted by Huangfu Song.

  As for the ten attendants, they all served as Zhou Jian's personal soldiers, led by Dian Wei.

  Zhou Jian gave a single order, and two thousand soldiers immediately rolled forward, rapidly advancing towards the North Gate.

  The war drums shook the sky, and the cries of killing filled the fields.

  Zhou Jian dismounted early and walked quickly, striding at the forefront of the infantry phalanx. Dian Wei followed closely behind with ten attendants, holding up shields, their iron armor glinting, an aura of killing intent emanating from them. In the blink of an eye, they were less than ten paces away from the city wall.

  "Build a cloud ladder."

  Zhou Jian's figure suddenly stopped, and he let out a loud roar.

  Soon, the front row of halberdiers parted to both sides, and dozens of shield-bearing infantrymen carrying cloud ladders rushed over. Under the leadership of Shi Chang and his team, five cloud ladders had already been placed on top of the city wall.

  Dian Wei, Xu Chu.

  Zhou Jian looked up at the city head and shouted loudly.

  "In."

  Dianwei and Xu Chu rushed forward two steps, standing in front of Zhou Jian.

  Zhou Jian suddenly said: "Each lead a hundred soldiers, rush to seize the pass and capture the city."

  "Roger."

  Xu Chu let out a loud roar and rushed off in large strides.

  Dian Wei hesitated: "This... if I go to seize the city, who will guard the general?"

  "Enough of this nonsense," Zhou Jian said in a deep voice, "Do you think that I, a general, still need someone to protect me?"

  "Roger that."

  Dian Wei hesitated for a moment, then immediately shouted and led the troops to climb up the cloud ladder.

  In the midst of the earth-shaking battle cries, the rolling stones and battering rams on the city wall continuously pounded down, and the government troops who had climbed up to the top of the city wall several times were all repelled by the desperate counterattacks of the Yellow Turbans, while the wounded but not yet dead soldiers let out despairing wails.

  Dianwei and Xu Chu held up their shields, swiftly climbing the cloud ladder to the top of the city wall. The rolling stones and pounding wooden beams that fell from above were easily deflected by the two men, who suddenly found themselves leaping onto the city wall.

  "Kill!"

  "Kill!"

  The two men let out a loud shout at the same time, as if two thunderclaps had suddenly sounded in mid-air. The Nine-Ringed Knife and the Twin Iron Spears had already appeared in their hands, like two fierce tigers charging into a flock of sheep, with knives and spears flashing about, limbs flying everywhere, and a large number of Yellow Turbans quickly fell to the ground around them.

  Soon, the two hundred soldiers also climbed up to the top of the city wall along the cloud ladder. Under the leadership of Dianwei and Xu Chu, they firmly occupied a section of the city wall and engaged in a fierce battle with the Yellow Turbans on the city head.

  "Jiang Qin."

  Zhou Jian let out a loud shout.

  "In."

  Jiang Qin hastily stepped forward, his eyes revealing a scorching gaze.

  "Take the city."

  "Roger."

  Jiang Qin let out a loud roar and immediately passed down the military order.

  Zhou Jian swept a glance over the city head, drew out his treasured sword with a clang, raised a shield, and quickly climbed up along the cloud ladder.

  Jiang Qinzhen led two hundred water bandits in close pursuit, climbing up along the cloud ladder.

  "Kill."

  Zhou Jing had just jumped onto the city wall, and amidst the loud shouting, a dozen or so Yellow Turbans immediately charged over, wielding hoes, shovels, sickles and other farm tools. There were old men, women, and children among them, who rained down blows on Zhou Jing's head and face.

  Can such a mob still be called an army?

  A flash of reluctance flickered in Zhou Jian's eyes, but was immediately replaced by ruthlessness.

  At this moment, it's either you die or I perish, no room for even a hint of mercy.

  "Kill."

  Zhou Jian let out a loud shout, his voice like thunder, as if he had suddenly struck a bolt of lightning. The two old men stiffened all over and fell backwards, actually being shocked to death. The remaining Yellow Turbans were also terrified, their momentum suddenly slowing down.

  Pfft!

  Pfft!

  Pfft!

  Zhou's body was as agile as a leopard, and he pounced forward fiercely. His battle knife flashed at the same time, bringing up pieces of blood light, and severed limbs flew everywhere.

  Within three breaths, more than a dozen Yellow Turbans within five meters were beheaded.

  Jiang Qin quickly led two hundred bandits to jump onto the city wall, and began a fierce battle with the Yellow Turbans on the wall.

  Zhou Jian hastily swept his eyes around and immediately let out a loud shout, "Follow me!"

  Summoning divine strength, a fierce slash was swung out, and the three Yellow Turban bandits blocking his path were instantly cut into six pieces. Warm blood splattered all over his head and face, almost blinding his eyes. The black iron armor had long been stained red, but he didn't have time to wipe it clean.

  Zhou Jian burst out like a tiger from its cage, with no one in front of him who could unite the troops, and swiftly rushed towards the city gate tower.

  Jiang Qin led a hundred bandits in hot pursuit, charging towards the city gate tower.

  "Kill him."

  Dianwei and Xu Chu had already converged on the city wall, seeing Zhou Jian personally killing his way onto the city gate tower, they immediately let out a loud roar, swiftly killing their way towards the gate tower from another side, preparing to converge with Zhou Jian.

  Zhou Jian was like a sharp arrow, piercing through the yellow turban bandits in front of him, unstoppable.

  A cut for every drop of blood, one life per knife, never wasting any extra energy or time.

  Although dozens of yards are not long, they are absolutely short on the crowded city wall.

  Zhou Jian led two hundred water bandits and soon arrived at the front of the city gate tower.

  As far as the eye can see, the city gate tower has been packed with countless Yellow Turban bandits. If you want to get through, you can only kill your way out of a bloody path.

  "Cut off the suspension bridge."

  Zhou Jian let out a loud roar and summoned his strength, beheading over a dozen Yellow Turbans near the drawbridge winch.

  Jiang Qin loudly responded and rushed over, cutting down several knives, severing the ropes tied to the suspension bridge.

  "Crack crack crack!"

  In the midst of the deafening machine gun fire, the suspension bridge came crashing down, smashing into meat patties the dozen or so government soldiers near the city gate.

  In front of the official army formation, Huangfu Song heavily struck his fist and loudly praised: "I didn't expect this son to be so brave and powerful! Quickly pass on the general's order, deploy the assault vehicles, and break open the city gate."

  "Understood."

  The orderly loudly responded and quickly passed down the military order.

  "Han army is mighty."

  The mountain-shaking and sea-roaring roar shook the sky, the suspension bridge was cut off, the morale of the government army, which had been frustrated, suddenly surged to its peak, and the soldiers on the city wall quickly stabilized their footing.

  On the city gate tower.

  The sound of killing shocks the wilderness, blood stains the city walls, everywhere is strewn with severed limbs and bodies, blood flows like a stream.

  In the narrow city walls and battlements, it has thoroughly become a slaughterhouse of Asura, with dozens to hundreds of people dying every moment.

  Zhou Jian shouted loudly after hearing the loud crash of the suspension bridge: "Dian Wei, Xu Chu."

  "In."

  Dian Wei and Xu Zhu led two hundred soldiers to the front, like two evil spirits, with a fierce killing aura.

  Zhou sternly ordered: "Two hundred soldiers rush to occupy the city gate and welcome the main force into the city."

  "Roger."

  The two men let out a loud roar and immediately led 200 soldiers down the city wall, rushing towards the gate.

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