The Second Act: The Child Steals the City

  Cheng Pu turned around and arrived among the troops of this department. Under the illumination of the rising sun, his majestic "Xuan Tie Yu Lin Armor" reflected a dazzling brilliance, making him appear even more heroic and brave.

  These northerners, they're really freaking rich...

  Zurong stood behind Sun Jian, thinking sourly in his heart.

  "Rise!"

  "Forward!"

  "Shield!"

  "Surf's up!"

  Cheng Pu commanded over 400 elite soldiers, moving with ease, like operating a precise machine.

  According to the normal organization of the Han army, a military marquis could command one "department" of troops. According to regulations, there should be 500 people. However, Cheng Pu's "department" was actually a temporary organization set up by the Northern Army to meet the war situation.

  Among them, the old soldiers who originally belonged to the Northern Army were only more than 70 people. The rest of the personnel were selected from the "good family sons" and county soldiers who were urgently recruited. The shortage of troops was normal.

  As the "false" Marquis of the Northern Army, Cheng Pu had a natural hidden prejudice against local provincial soldiers like other Northern Army officers. Although he was just temporarily promoted to "False Marquis" for his bravery in battle, even when Zhu Jia appointed him to assist Sun Jian, he still maintained this arrogant attitude.

  This move was to show Sun Jian, the southern-born leopard, the combat art of the northern army, and also to intimidate the yellow turban soldiers on the city wall.

  Cheng Pu's idea was largely realized. The soldiers of the Tianping Army had been fighting against the private armies and local troops until now, how could they have seen the most elite Beifang Army in the Han army? Looking at the hundreds of people moving in unison below the city, many Tianping Army soldiers couldn't help but grasp their weapons tightly to prevent them from falling to the ground.

  The northern army has arrived at a position just fifty paces from the city wall, and yet the soldiers of the Heavenly Balance Army have not fired a single arrow or bolt!

  "Fire!"

  Along with the Northern Army's over 100 scorpion crossbows, a sky-covering and earth-shaking volley began. The Tianping Army on the city wall was suddenly awakened from their dream. Shen Fu, who had been stunned earlier, shouted hoarsely:

  "Raise shields! Raise shields! Release arrows! Release arrows! Counterattack..."

  Although the Tianping Army was not fully equipped, they had already placed many tables and door boards on the city wall as defensive fortifications against arrows. However, in their shock and dismay at the Han army's attack, they were caught off guard, and a hail of arrows resulted in 16 or 17 men being hit and losing their combat effectiveness.

  "Help! Hurry up and save him!"

  Shen Fu, due to his poor command, was filled with self-reproach and was frantically shouting orders. However, under the bloody lesson, the Tianping Army soldiers quickly came to their senses, sending the dead and wounded to the foot of the city wall while bowing their bodies and hiding behind arrow shields. Even when moving, they usually raised a small shield or pot lid...

  "Han army..."

  Cheng Pu heard a loud cry and commotion from the top of the wall, his heart was certain, he took a deep breath and shouted loudly. The Northern army officers around him responded very cooperatively to their superior's shout:

  "Hurray!"

  Accompanied by the battle cry of "Han Army...!", "Mighty!", Cheng Pu's troops fired three rounds in a row without encountering any counterattack. However, when the Tianping Army soldiers on the city wall adapted to the Han army's volley fire, sporadic counterattacks began.

  A long arrow flew swiftly and pierced the face of a northern army crossbowman. The crossbowman let out a miserable cry, then fell backwards. His comrade, Zhang Ze, went to check on him and found that the arrow had pierced his brain, leaving no chance for rescue.

  But this is just the beginning.

  Compared to the arrows flying down from under the city wall, the counterattack force on the city head is obviously much weaker. However, with the help of the battlements and arrow sheds, it's also a give-and-take situation, not just passively taking a beating.

  The northern army was well-equipped, with shields and armor in good condition, and had an advantage in the number of crossbows. The Tianping army's crossbowmen hid in various places, using hidden arrows to injure people. Although the accuracy was not good, and the opponent's armor was solid, the effective casualties were not many, but relying on the obvious target, the ratio of the two sides' crossbowmen's results was roughly maintained at four to three.

  Although the Northern Army had an advantage in terms of casualties, the enemy's crossbowmen were constantly replenished. According to Cheng Pu's estimate, even if all of their elite Northern soldiers died, the enemy would still have many left.

  This proportion is obviously unfavorable to the Northern Army.

  Of course, Sun Jian wouldn't just stand there watching the Northern Army and the Heavenly Army exchange fire. In fact, Sun Jian had always believed that his own Buqi army was the main force in this battle.

  Five rough cloud ladders were pushed over from the rear by Sun Jian's armored troops. Due to Cheng Pu's unit holding them back, the Tianping Army's attack on the cloud ladder was extremely weak. A young general commanded his auxiliary soldiers to clear a path for the cloud ladder to advance. When the top of the cloud ladder successfully landed on the walls of Danfu City, Sun Jian, who was directing the battle from behind, called out in satisfaction:

  "Good job, young man!"

  This "young Tai" brother is naturally Sun Jian's fourth brother, Sun Jing Sun Youngtai.

  Sun Jian habitually adjusted the "red scarf" on his head, his broad palms automatically grasped the hilt of the sword at his waist, and he shouted loudly:

  "What's going on here?!"

  A group of robust men closely followed behind Sun Jian, shouting in unison:

  "First come, first served!"

  This group of men, about forty or fifty in number. Some were tall and some short; some fat and some thin; some nearly forty years old, while others still looked like young boys... At first glance, they seemed to be a motley crew.

  However, a strong aura of death emanating from them starkly informs every onlooker:

  This is not a motley crew, but rather an elite group of the strongest warriors. Beneath their slightly disorganized appearance lies a terrifying killing machine!

  They started from Wu County, following their leader Sun Jian all the way, cutting through thorns and brambles, paving the road with blood, and killing out a reputation as the "Fierce Tigers of Jiangdong". Although their numbers have dwindled from over a hundred to just forty-six now, their overall combat strength has not decreased but increased!

  They are called:

  Tigers follow righteousness!

  "Follow me!"

  Sun Jian was never a general who hid behind the army and directed from there. On the contrary, what he liked to do most in battle was to charge into the front line of the battlefield.

  It was because of the commander's personal example that every single soldier under Sun Jian had the courage to fight bravely and shed blood. Sun Jian's unshakeable prestige among his soldiers was also established in these battles where he led by example and fought personally!

  However, Sun Jian's attack did not materialize this time.

  Because someone got there first.

  Cheng Pu is not an arrogant person. However, he is absolutely not a humble person either.

  For those who have yet to gain his recognition, Cheng Pu would never consider their ideas.

  When setting up the cloud ladder, Cheng Pu gathered his most daring soldiers and said to them:

  "The cloud ladder is ready, ascend immediately!"

  An elderly squad leader, with a hint of doubt in his voice, asked:

  "It seems Sima didn't say it, but we were the first to board?"

  Cheng Pu burst out laughing and said:

  "Isn't the vanguard the first unit? Then, shouldn't the first unit to scale the city walls be us as well?"

  These northern soldiers were all arrogant and fierce. They didn't take Sun Jian, this local bandit, very seriously either. Since their superiors had come up with a reasonable excuse, grabbing this small bit of merit was just routine for them.

  As soon as the three cloud ladders were set up, the northern soldiers wearing light armor and carrying short weapons and small shields pushed aside the auxiliary troops beside them and rushed to the city head in a swarm!

  In the Han Dynasty, a good family son was a specific class. They had certain assets, followed moral norms and were engaged in legitimate occupations.

  Especially the "six counties of good families", namely Tianshui, Longxi, Anding, Beidi, Shangjun and Xihai six counties' good family children, due to geographical location and personal quality reasons, are an important source for the country's selection of soldiers and generals. The government gives them special preferential treatment.

  Except for the six counties, other good families also have policies such as serving as officials in government offices and exempting taxes. Although they have the responsibility of wearing labor services, many people hire others with money to replace themselves to serve. Even if they serve themselves, their status is higher than that of ordinary soldiers.