Chapter 32: Conquering Yanshan Prefecture (11)

  The weather was somewhat gloomy, weighing heavily on people's minds. The cries of killing filled the entire battlefield, with occasional mournful wails. The Jin army's offensive remained fierce, focusing its main attack on the East City Gate. This area had a wider terrain and a larger surface to withstand attacks, allowing the attacking side to deploy its siege troops effectively. In contrast, the West City Gate was narrow, making it difficult for large armies to pass through, and any strong assault would result in heavy casualties. The remaining two gates were built against the mountains, with treacherous mountain roads that made it impossible for large armies to pass through, making Yan Mountain Prefecture relatively easy to defend but hard to attack.

  Not long after, the Jin army attacked again, this time with more dense and numerous cloud ladders and other siege engines. The Jin soldiers were crazily shouting and waving their swords and guns, charging forward without regard for life or death. As soon as they entered the range of the thunderbolt cannon, dozens of burning shells flew into the Jin army's formation, instantly killing dozens of Jin soldiers. Others who were injured by the cannonballs fell to the ground, groaning in agony. The Jin army suffered heavy casualties, with blood flowing and pooling into numerous blood pits.

  As the Golden Army trampled over the corpses and leaped over the ruined chariots, the archers of both armies began to exchange fire, countless arrows flew out, arrowheads pierced into each other's bodies, reaping one life after another.

  A Song army soldier was struck by a flying stone fragment and lost an eye, with the eyeball shattered and blood flowing profusely. However, he ignored his bleeding eye, sat on the wall head, leaned against the wall, picked up thunderbolt bombs from the ground, lit them, and threw them at the densely packed attacking troops of the Jin army, until he fainted due to excessive blood loss. Such scenes occurred repeatedly, with both Song and Jin armies having become frenzied, their faces twisted in ferocity as they hurled anything that could take an opponent's life at each other.

  A Song army soldier had a cold and handsome face, his eyes were bright and sharp, only to see that the tiger's mouth was already cracked, constantly seeping out fresh blood, the stone in his hand fell heavily to the ground. It turned out that after a long time of throwing rolling stones and logs, his arm had been dislocated and hung weakly on one side. At this moment, a Jin soldier jumped onto the city wall, swinging his horse knife to kill two nearby Song soldiers, wanting to continue charging forward. The cold-faced Song army soldier suddenly rushed up, using his body's pushing force to collide with that Jin soldier, and both of them fell to the ground at the same time, dying together.

  On the city wall, an old Song army soldier slowly crawled forward, picking up his severed leg that had been smashed by a catapult stone thrown by the Jin people and flew to a nearby location. Fresh blood gushed out, dyeing the surrounding ground red, but the old soldier only groaned and panted heavily without making a sound. The dizzy feeling gradually made the old Song army soldier feel more and more powerless. He hugged his leg for a short while before bleeding to death due to excessive blood loss. The cries of killing echoed continuously in everyone's ears, and all the soldiers present fought for survival, trying their best to kill each other.

  Occasionally, the bodies of dead warriors were carried down, Zhao Jiong looked at all this with indifference, looking up at the gloomy sky and sighing secretly: 'Perhaps this is the fate of a soldier, to die on the battlefield, to be recognized and passed down by history, but only victory has the qualification to be written, and those who write are only rulers, at most accompanied by generals, who will remember the soldiers who died in a certain battle? This may be the sorrow of being a frontline soldier.

  Zhao Yan originally wanted to lead the troops himself, but at the beginning of the Jin army's attack on the city, he was forcibly pulled down by the soldiers of the Imperial Guard. This was also a kind intention of the Imperial Guard, and Zhao Yan couldn't say anything, so he could only run to the temporary medical tent to help treat the wounded soldiers. At first, those doctors said that they wouldn't let Zhao Yan participate, saying that his identity was too noble and would leave others with a laughingstock. It wasn't until Zhao Yan got angry that he persuaded the doctors and joined the team treating the wounded soldiers.

  Zhao Kan's first aid methods were very practical, greatly reducing the pressure on the medical officers. The medical officers saw Zhao Kan's remarkable achievements and immediately began to study seriously beside him, greatly speeding up the treatment of the wounded soldiers and saving many lives. However, for some heavily injured soldiers, Zhao Kan could only watch helplessly as their lives slipped away.

  Zhao Song was pressing the artery of a young Song soldier's thigh at this time. The man was seriously injured, looking 18 or 19 years old, his hands and feet were dancing wildly, struggling to get up, several doctors beside him pressed him down hard, not letting him move. He could only stare blankly and tensely at the people around him.

  "Your Highness! Your Highness, am I going to die?"

  Zhao Yan's face was calm and he didn't say a word, he could only press down on the artery with force. At this time, Zhao Yan's entire body was covered in blood, looking particularly terrifying.

  "I want to go... home." The young warrior's arm fell limply down, his eyes closed forever.

  Zhao Kang loosened his hand, and a stream of fresh blood gushed out, once again splashing Zhao Kang's entire body. He walked listlessly to the side and sat down on the ground, the fresh blood slowly flowing down his body. Zhao Kang had already lost count of how many soldiers had died today. The whole medical tent was filled with the smell of blood, the floor was slippery and sticky, making one feel nauseous.

  At this time, a medical officer in his thirties came forward and handed over a towel, saying softly: "Your Highness doesn't have to blame yourself. Some things are more precious because they can't be retained. Your Highness saved many people today, that's the key."

  "Thank you, sir." Zhao Song stood up and bowed with his fists.

  "I dare not be called 'sir', what I just said is the truth." After finishing speaking, he bowed to Zhao Bian and prepared to go prepare some cloth and other things.

  Zhao Yan saw that this person had an extraordinary air, and his elegant demeanor made people feel good at first sight. He didn't seem like a simple character, so he couldn't help but ask: "Sir, please stay for a moment, may I know your honorable surname?"

  The doctor turned around and bowed to Zhao Yi, saying: "I am Xu Shuwei."

  "But is it really Master Xu from Zhenzhou?" Zhao Yan excitedly stepped forward and grasped Master Xu's hands.

  Xu Shu didn't mind Zhao Yan's blood-stained hands and asked in puzzlement, "I don't know how Your Highness knew about me."

  Xu Shu-wei was very famous in later generations, a native of Baisha, Zhenjiang, and a renowned physician of the Southern Song Dynasty. After growing up, he devoted himself to studying medicine and saved many lives. He wrote "Lei Zheng Pu Ji Ben Shi Fang", which collected more than 300 prescriptions, divided into 25 categories according to disease types. This book is the crystallization of Xu's decades of medical experience, with concise formulas, clear theories, and high practical value. He also wrote "Shang Han Bai Zheng Ge", "Shang Han Fa Wei Lun", "Shang Han Jiu Shi Lun", "Lei Zheng Pu Ji Ben Shi Fang" and "Zhong Jing Mai Fa San Shi Liu Tu". Unfortunately, few of his books have survived to the present day.

  Zhao Yun excitedly grabbed Xu Shu's hand and said, "Sir, you have great talent. Our army is in urgent need of someone like you. I am planning to establish a specialized medical system to better treat the people of the world. Would you be willing to assist?"

  Xu Shuwei was also slightly moved, but still hesitantly asked: "Your Highness has lofty aspirations and I admire that. However, for now, I am still a medical officer in the Imperial Guard, so I'm afraid I cannot be transferred at will. Moreover, is Your Highness truly seeking to heal the people of the world, rather than just accumulating wealth for the imperial family's own medical institutions?" Xu Shuwei's previous words were just an excuse; it would be easy for the prince to transfer a doctor. The latter part was what he really wanted to ask.

  "I know that you, sir, are considerate and aware of the people's hardships, and would not do such an unjust thing. If you are willing, even if the medical hall does not charge a fee, it is acceptable."

  "If so, I am willing to listen to your orders in the lower hall." Xǔ Shū bowed and said.

  Zhao Yan was overjoyed in his heart, this time he had picked up a treasure, a good doctor can save thousands of soldiers and horses.

  At noon, Wanyan Zongwang sent Mr. Fang to the front line to shout at Zhao Kuang, hoping that Zhao Kuang would let the Jin army take away the wounded soldiers and the dead bodies with a benevolent heart. Zhao Kuang walked onto the city wall but did not respond. Wanyan Zongwang thought Zhao Kuang had agreed, so he immediately sent people to move the corpses under the city of Yanshan Prefecture. As soon as they entered the range of the Song army's attack, Zhao Kuang would order the use of thunderbolt cannons and bows and arrows on standby. As a result, the Jin people wanted to take away one wounded soldier, but three soldiers had to fall in front of the formation. In the end, Wanyan Zongwang stopped this action that made his soldiers die in vain.

  For Jin Ren Zhao Kun, there was not a single thought of speaking with the enemy about benevolence and righteousness. When friends came, there was good wine; when enemies came, there were knives and guns. For these enemies who wanted to destroy the Han people, Zhao Kun would not show mercy. The war continued, from fierce battles during the day to nightfall, sunrise, and sunset, alternating in a cycle.

  There are too many people who can't see the sun of the next day, familiar comrades and superiors around them will suddenly disappear on a certain day, every day they can only numbly swing their weapons to kill the enemy.

  Li Fangxu had already broken free from the constraints of the bandages, directing on the city wall. In the battles over the next few days, the Jin army climbed up to the city wall several times, but were all driven back by Li Fangxu. In the subsequent battles, the Song army's firearms were consumed in large quantities and could not guarantee a dense offensive, only providing support to the defending generals at critical moments. Moreover, the Jin army transported a large number of captured siege engines to the front line, making the situation very unfavorable for the Song army.

  What was most troublesome for the Song army were the large wooden tower shields, as the Jin army's archery skills were superb and their bows and arrows became even more powerful when standing on top of these shields. For a time, this made the Song army suffer greatly, and Zhao Yun could only order all the thunderbolt cannons to attack the tower shields before they were able to repel the Jin army's fierce offensive.

  The casualties of the Invincible Army were heavy, and Zhao Jie could only disrupt the order of the native troops of Yanshan Prefecture and distribute them to the garrisoned Invincible Army. Zhao Jie ordered Hou Yi to form a supervisory team, and if there were any deserters, they would be killed without mercy.

  ZHAO KANG disregarded the obstruction of the crowd, led the JINLIN army to guard the city head, wherever there was a vacancy, he killed wherever he went, and another day's bloody battle. When the sun set in the west, after the JIN army retreated, the surviving soldiers on the city head carried their wounded comrades and corpses down from the city wall, while the corpses of the JIN army were thrown directly down. Soon, soldiers would fill the vacancies of the defenders who had just guarded the city.

  Li Fangxu picked up a golden helmet and sat down on it. Zhao Jiong leaned against the wall, panting heavily. Fresh blood flowed down the stairs, gurgling, and the city head, where the two armies had been fighting back and forth, had already swallowed countless lives.

  "Your Highness, these golden dogs have been acting like they're crazy for the past few days, and are not easy to deal with." Liang Fangxu complained.

  "These past few days of fierce attacks show that their supplies are running low, the food they've scavenged from the surroundings is no longer enough for them and us to keep consuming, this is a good thing." Zhao Xiao said calmly.

  "General Liang, starting tonight, distribute cotton to the soldiers for them to stuff into their ears. At midnight, start blowing horns and beating drums to disturb the enemy."

  Li Fangxu couldn't help but brighten up and say: "Your Highness's plan is truly brilliant."