Chapter 42: Before the Final Battle

  Months have passed and at this time the streets of Hebei are filled with a tense atmosphere, with patrolling soldiers everywhere.

  Ye Xuan and others arrived at the city wall, in the plan of all people in the city, if the Jin army attacked the city, it must be the main attack on this Luoyunbao land! Because Luoyunbao is closest to the Yangtze River.

  According to calculations, the old castle of Luoyunbao is more than two miles in circumference, with over 900 watchtowers, more than ten barracks, four gate faces, especially the city wall outside the south gate. It is also a powerful shield for defending the south gate.

  There are several well pavilions on each side of the city wall in Luoyunbao, with a length of about 2 meters and a width of more than 2 meters. The part that protrudes from the city wall is about 1 meter or so. Each of the three sides of the well pavilion has a small window for observation, similar to a miniature horse face.

  As for the horse face, along the south gate's wall on both sides, at a distance of 50 steps from each other, there are two horse faces. The part of the horse that protrudes from the city wall is about two meters high and three meters wide. On the parapet wall of the horse face, there are also loopholes, and below or beside the loopholes, there are arrow slits.

  The city wall is semi-circular, with a gate slightly ajar on the left side of the city wall. On the city wall dozens of steps away from the left side, there is a horse face, which is just within the shooting range of Zhuge's crossbow. From this horse face on the left, you can heavily attack the enemy army attacking the door.

  In the calculation, there are more than a dozen embrasures on the city wall of Wengcheng. There are also more than 100 along the city walls on both sides of the city gate. The embrasure will be the main attack area of the Golden Army, so this place has also become the main deployment area of the Ye Family Army.

  Now there are more than 2,000 strong soldiers guarding a small thousand-house city, and the military strength is sufficient. It's unlikely that other places have Ye Xuan's military strength. Calculated based on the enemy's five-fold force to attack the city, at least 5,000 people or more troops are needed to capture this city with over 1,000 soldiers defending it.

  Ye Xuan estimated that the number of Jin soldiers appearing under his own Lu Yun Fortress was unlikely to be so many, so he temporarily only let Sun Yu and Chen Fei go up to the city to guard against war. The two battalions of the remaining troops were only used as reserve teams, and also patrolled other parts of the fortress walls to maintain order within the fortress.

  Before defending, Ye Xuan had already ordered his subordinates to calculate the number of people needed for each fortification at Lu Yunbao's stronghold, including how many crossbowmen and spearmen were required.

  At this time, the city walls on both sides of the south gate were already lined with defending soldiers, and various defensive equipment was also deployed. Every few embrasures were guarded by two teams of soldiers, each team responsible for several embrasures, and which equipment they were in charge of was clearly divided.

  In each gate of this city, a defensive device called Xuan Hu or Ruan Bi was erected. Made of wood, with two legs standing inside the city and the axis standing outside the city. On top, there is a cover frame, covered with old wet mats, used to prevent arrows from coming in from outside the city. This Xuan Hu soft wall is always the most important thing for defending the gate of the city, without this device, the arrows shot from below the city would make it impossible for soldiers on the city wall to stand.

  The hanging household faces one side outside the city and digs several holes for peeping at the movement outside.

  To make these soft walls, Ye Jiajun's military dependents were swept away. Fortunately, it is now summer, and even if the military dependents did not have quilts, they would not freeze to death.

  More than 50 soldiers were responsible for each gate. On the city wall, a grass shed was built with thatched roof to shelter from wind, rain and sunlight. Outside the shed stood a tall bamboo pole used to hang flags and lanterns. Inside the shed were large bamboo tubes used to hold weapons.

  In addition, each of the six teams had a pile of logs and stones next to the wall. Next to it stood a device similar to a small catapult. With this, the logs could be thrown down to the city below, killing the enemy soldiers who were climbing up. People on the side could observe the enemy situation from the loopholes in the wall, directing the stone-throwing hands.

  At some of the battlements, there were also caltrops placed on top. The caltrops were covered with sharp iron spikes. Even if the Jin soldiers managed to climb up onto the city walls, they would probably burst into tears in front of these caltrops.

  Not only that, but also the Ye family army officers discussed it. At the gate of the city, there were several groups of anti-cavalry spikes, even if the enemy's cavalry and infantry rushed in, facing these anti-cavalry spikes, plus the attack of several teams of crossbowmen. That situation, to describe it as heavy casualties would be an understatement. Similarly, on both sides of the south gate city wall, at the bottom of the moat, in some important locations, there were also anti-cavalry spikes, wooden caltrops, iron thorns and other objects.

  After such an arrangement, the arsenal of the Ye family was swept clean.

  Sun Yu's army was mainly deployed on the left side of the city wall outside the south gate, in addition to defending the earthen jar city.

  When Ye Xuan arrived at this place, the soldiers of each team on the left were chatting idly in the grass factory. At this time, it was almost noon, and the sun was shining fiercely. Except for some sentry soldiers, most of the soldiers from various teams were gathered inside the grass factory.

  In Ye Xuan's garrison order, except for some officers on duty, other soldiers were not allowed to stand under the city wall for a long time, lest they would be in low spirits when the enemy arrived and unable to defend the city. At night, each team also took turns sending people to keep watch and patrol. The rest slept.

  However, no soldier from each team is allowed to leave the city wall without permission. Those who return home privately, including the team leader, will be punished by military law and made an example of.

  These soldiers sit in the grass factory every day, naturally feeling bored.

  Sun Yu accompanied Ye Xuan as he walked over, looking at everyone's listless appearance. He shouted loudly: "All of you, lift your spirits! Don't even think about sleeping, or else when Qingzi sneaks up on us, you'll all be sleeping for good!"

  Several soldiers said: "Sir, are the barbarians coming or not? We've been waiting for many days."

  "Are you eager for the barbarians to come?"

  Ye Xuan Dao: "Second brother, what is the morale of our troops like?"

  "Don't worry, big brother. The brothers are itching for a fight and waiting for the barbarians to arrive. I'm afraid they won't come, haha."

  The soldiers on the city wall also burst out laughing after hearing his words.

  Just then, three loud whistles were heard from the east, followed by the sight of three fire arrows shooting up into the sky.

  Everyone's face changed, and they all looked out of the city. Soon, they saw Yang Xiang waving a yellow flag at the eastern road junction, leading a small team of soldiers rushing back to the southern gate.

  He entered the fort and came before Ye Xuan, panting to report: "The barbarians have arrived, with over a thousand men."

  Ye Xuan's face sank, and he shouted: "Chuan Ling, let the soldiers prepare for defense!"

  The soldiers of the two sentry teams gathered, took out their own weapons from the bamboo tubes in the grass factory, and lined up in small groups in front of the rampart, ready for battle.

  They were all solemn, after waiting for so many days, the barbarian finally arrived.

  Will everyone survive this battle?

  The alarm sounded, and the people of Luoyun Fortress also got up. Ye Xuan stood on the city wall and looked far into the direction of the Yangtze River, only to see a team of golden soldiers coming towards Luoyun Fortress from that side. They were marching in unison, with their armor and horses in perfect order. Ye Xuan roughly estimated that there were over 1,500 people.

  In front of the mighty army of Jin soldiers, there were teams of cavalry scouts who galloped forward, constantly circling around Lu Yun Fortress and shouting strange cries in the Jin language, but Lu Yun Fortress remained completely still.

  These scouts ran for a while, after seeing the situation around Luoyun Fortress clearly, some of them rushed back. The rest gathered at the southern position of Luoyun Fortress.

  They must have also seen it, in Luoyunbao's land, attacking and camping are more suitable for the south of the city.

  Soon, a large number of Jin soldiers came rolling in, with white and red banners fluttering, slowly gathering one mile south of the city.

  Seeing the golden army with thousands of people, some soldiers and officers around Ye Xuan let out heavy breathing sounds. Although everyone had been preparing for a long time and was united in their determination to defeat the enemy, the golden army's massive arrival and prolonged oppression still put immense psychological pressure on each person.

  Ye Xuan's expression was calm, but this was just on the surface.

  Because this was his first time seeing a large number of Golden Soldiers. Ye Xuan's heart was boiling with hot blood, and he said fiercely: "Come on, I've been waiting for you!"