The terrain of Dingjun Mountain was long and narrow, with towering peaks to the north… The Shu army, led by Zhang Fei and Fa Zheng, was stationed at a position on a mountain cliff known as "Yuanshanzi."
On this particular day, the Wei army, stationed at "Yangtianwa," launched an offensive.
Xiahou Yuan suddenly gave the order for the army to assemble swiftly, intending to attack the Shu forces.
Upon hearing the news, the Shu army also arrayed its formations. Fortunately, their location at "Yuanshanzi" was at a higher elevation, with continuous mountain ranges serving as a barrier. An uphill assault by the Wei army might not succeed.
Zhang Fei grumbled, "This Cao Yu kid harmed my second brother with his despicable methods. I haven't even gone to find him yet, and he comes here. Good… Hahaha… Today, if one Wei soldier comes, I'll pierce him through like a transparent hole! Today, I'm determined to pierce ten thousand transparent holes!"
With that, Zhang Fei lifted his Serpent Spear and prepared to engage the enemy.
They had called out for so many days, and the Wei army had been like a shrinking turtle. Now that his second brother was dead, they dared to show themselves?
Zhang Fei was already burning with anger and had nowhere to vent it.
"Yide…"
Fa Zheng grabbed Zhang Fei's arm. "Since they are attacking, it is not now!"
"Didn't you, Fa Xiaozhi, order me to issue challenges back then? Now that the Wei army has finally come out, you're stopping me from fighting? What logic is this?"
"Yide!" Fa Zheng quickly explained, "Cao Gui's 'Discourse on War' states that the first drum inspires enthusiasm, the second exhausts it, and the third makes it weary… Today, the enemy's momentum is at its peak, precisely like the first drum. Their morale is highest. Our army should use the terrain to defend and counter-attack. When… the enemy's prolonged assault fails and their morale wanes, then… their strength depleted and ours abundant, it will be General Yide's Serpent Spear that takes the enemy commander's head amidst the chaos, to appease the spirit of General Guan in heaven!"
This…
It was only Fa Zheng who could persuade Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei respected Fa Zheng…
Not for any other reason than Fa Zheng's genuine character. In all of Bashu, no one like him had ever been seen. A single glare would be met with ten times the retaliation.
Receiving a bowl of porridge from someone would be repaid tenfold…
Vengeful for the slightest offense, clear about grudges and favors—this temperament suited Zhang Fei perfectly.
This was also why Zhuge Liang insisted on placing Zhang Fei and Fa Zheng together during the formation of the army. "Xiaozhi is right!" Zhang Fei patted his forehead. "Then we'll defend for now. By sunset today, I'll lead the army out, and with one surge, we'll flatten this Dingjun Mountain… seize Hanzhong, and lop off Cao Yu's head to offer to my second brother!"
"Yide, the chance for revenge will come eventually!" Fa Zheng patted Zhang Fei's shoulder. "Those who harm us will be accounted for, every bit! What Cao Yu did to General Guan, our Shu Han will repay tenfold!"
The great battle was imminent.
But for now, it was the calm before the storm, on this beautiful, clear morning.
More and more Wei soldiers arrived at the foot of "Yuanshanzi."
"Don't be agitated, don't be agitated!"
Xiahou Yuan quickly urged his soldiers, who were sharpening their weapons and poised for battle.
It had been five years since the Great Wei had fought a war…
These soldiers had been trained for five years and were eager for action.
Furthermore, in the Great Wei, military merits were determined by achievements and the number of enemy heads severed on the battlefield. Five years of peace meant five years without promotion.
"Any who dare to attack without orders will be court-martialed!"
Xiahou Yuan roared again…
After roaring, Xiahou Yuan looked at Gou You…
He asked meaningfully, "Liu Ye and Zhuge Jun over there? Are they reliable?"
Xun You smiled, not replying…
However, his confident expression seemed to have already answered Xiahou Yuan's question.
At the same time, the Shu army soldiers clearly witnessed the enemy army at the foot of the mountain. Each soldier was tall and robust… the clearly visible abdominal muscles around their waists and abdomen were intimidating.
Someone in the Shu army whispered, "I heard from merchants from the north that the soldiers of the Great Wei eat three catties of grain a day, including one catty of meat…"
"If they want to eat yellow croaker, they can have as much as they want!"
"No wonder they are all so tall and strong."
The upbringing of ancient soldiers was often unhealthy because, under extensive training and campaigning, the soldiers' rations could not keep up, and with insufficient rations came insufficient nutrition.
Because they could not obtain adequate nutritional intake, most of them were sallow and thin!
But the Wei army of today was an exception. One of the most important aspects of the military reforms was ensuring the soldiers' rations.
Thanks to the great success of "Tanding Rumu" and "Battlefield Grain Storage," the Wei army soldiers ate their fill three meals a day. With rigorous training on this basis… they naturally had strong wills and were exceptionally formidable!
"Damn it, can we win this?"
A Shu soldier posed this soul-searching question….
But… the entire Shu army on the mountain range fell silent…
No one answered…
Yet, this question struck the soul of every soldier in the Shu army.
…
…
"Steward Zhuge, you guard here first. Allow me to relieve myself!"
With the battle imminent, Liu Ye, the steward of the Ministry of Works, seemed somewhat nervous…
On the other hand, Zhuge Jun, the deputy steward of the Ministry of Works, appeared very calm. "At a time like this, Uncle Liu still has the mood for this."
Liu Ye looked at the artillery formation set up beside him. "His Majesty once said this thing… that we would test it on the Xianbei first. But… after it was improved, it took a full five years… This is the first time it's being used on the battlefield!"
Zhuge Jun smiled, "Everything has a first time… Besides, we've tested it many times. At least… it won't explode on our side!"
"I hope so!" Liu Ye sighed…
Seeing how nervous he was, Zhuge Jun patted Liu Ye's shoulder. "Do you know that I'm going to be a father?"
Liu Ye was stunned. "What?"
He quickly reacted, "Is it… is it Miss Cao's?"
"If it weren't hers, I'd probably be sleeping on the streets…" Zhuge Jun sighed.
This statement made Liu Ye burst into laughter. "Haha…" Liu Ye laughed heartily. "I've long heard that Lady Cao Mu doesn't allow any other women in her manor. It seems… being a son-in-law of the Cao family isn't easy! But speaking of which, from now on, you'll be His Majesty's brother-in-law, right? Congratulations, congratulations!" "Heh heh…" Zhuge Jun gave an awkward laugh. He knew the taste of it himself. He smiled, "Alright, are you calmer now?"
Liu Ye also smiled, "Much calmer!"
"Then get ready!" Zhuge Jun surveyed the artillery camp soldiers around him…
These were soldiers he had personally selected from the Wei army's elite warriors… Due to the special nature of artillery, the selection process was even stricter than for the flying ball soldiers.
"Uncle Liu…"
Suddenly, Zhuge Jun called out to Liu Ye.
"What?" Liu Ye replied.
"His Majesty said," Zhuge Jun smiled, "If we win this battle, when my son is born, His Majesty will allow me to set off firecrackers to celebrate…"
Uh… Liu Ye was astonished.
This thing? Could it be used for celebration?
After a brief hesitation, Liu Ye raised the signal flag and shouted at the top of his lungs, "All positions, prepare to fire!"
—Boom…
—Boom…
—Boom…
Instantly, the deafening roar shook the heavens and the earth!
The entire Dingjun Mountain reverberated with the thunderous sound!
…
…
"Boom!"
"Rumble!"
A hundred Hongyi Cannons continuously let out fierce roars.
The explosions were deafening, thick smoke billowed into the sky, and the air was filled with suffocating, pungent odors. The entire Shu army's formation was thrown into chaos… Every surviving Shu soldier fled in all directions. Those hit by the cannonballs were blown away by the surging blast, then fell with dull thuds… shattered into pieces.
There were also those with severed arms… and legs. They whimpered and cried out in the blast, accompanied by intermittent explosions…
Masses of thick
black smoke swept across the mountain range, debris and fragments flew everywhere like sharp blades.
"Enemy attack… Enemy attack…"
The positions Zhang Fei and Fa Zheng had spoken of were the rear guard, and they had not yet been hit by the cannonballs…
However, with the announcement of the soldiers, Fa Zheng's discourse on "one surge to inspire, the second to exhaust, the third to make weary"… came to an abrupt halt.
The enemy was clearly still at the foot of the mountain!
Even if it were an enemy attack, it shouldn't be this fast!
And what was that roaring sound outside the tent?
Fa Zheng's face turned pale, and he remained silent for a long time.
"What's happening? What's happening?" Zhang Fei roared. "Could it be… those flying balls? Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on the sky?"
Because of the formidable reputation of the Long Xiao Battalion's flying ball soldiers…
Therefore, Zhang Fei and Fa Zheng had specifically guarded against flying ball soldiers…
Furthermore, the terrain here was mountainous, making it extremely difficult to operate flying balls. With deliberate precautions, it was impossible to encounter an attack by flying ball soldiers…
So then…
"What is that roaring sound outside the tent? What is it?"
Zhang Fei quickly asked…
The scout stammered his reply, "It's… it's an unidentified object being hurled from below the mountain, and upon landing… it… it…"
Zhang Fei and Fa Zheng looked bewildered…
Seeing the scout's choked voice, Zhang Fei grabbed his clothes. "It what? Speak!"
Just then…
"Rumble…"
Through the window, Zhang Fei personally witnessed something falling down, followed by a fierce "rumble…" and a massive explosion at the spot where it landed. It was the tent closest to the main command tent.
Zhang Fei saw with his own eyes that the tent was shattered… and the soldiers within were also mangled!
—Rumble…
—Rumble…
The huge artillery fire began to resound continuously on this side.
More and more soldiers were blown away, more and more tents turned into debris…
When Zhang Fei finally woke up, he cried out, "Ah…" He had been hit in the face by fragments of shattered weapons… Blood immediately gushed out, covering his entire cheek.
And the relentless bombardment of the artillery continued…
Amidst the successive muffled thuds mixed with the sharp whistle of air being cut, the ground continued to shake, and the intense flames caused by the artillery blazed everywhere. The ground-hugging tongues of flame licked at the nearest objects, the strange smell was pungent… thick smoke filled the air, causing people's eyes to water and making breathing difficult. Cries of anguish and coughing erupted continuously from the chaotic Shu army. Panicked soldiers ran about like headless flies, shouting and crying to the heavens.
In the pervasive clouds of black smoke, figures ran by, covering their noses and wiping away tears. Coughs erupted from all sides. Dark figures, enveloped in flames, ran anxiously with desperate cries, their feet treading on crumbling embers. Behind them, tongues of fire pursued relentlessly. Flames were everywhere, scorching the Shu soldiers' hair and eyebrows, making them feel parched. The searing blast wave seemed to surge towards them like a tidal wave.
At this moment, the mountain was no longer a mountain, but more like a boundless, terrifying hell, sending chills down one's spine and instilling despair!
"We can't hold… We can't hold!"
Fa Zheng desperately dug out Zhang Fei, who was buried under earth and wood. Zhang Fei's face was covered in blood at this moment… his blackened cheeks had turned a dark red.
"Fight… we'll fight them to the death!"
Zhang Fei still spoke defiantly.
Fa Zheng shouted, "We can't hold! This position can't be held… Retreat… Retreat to Jianmen Pass… Retreat to Jianmen Pass!"
As he spoke, a group of personal guards quickly carried Zhang Fei away. They retreated frantically amidst the artillery fire… They didn't know if they would be hit by artillery fire…
But they knew that if they remained in this position, death awaited them!
The rumbling sound… continued to shriek!
The wind swayed the flames, constantly spewing fire. The Shu army's encampment on "Yuanshanzi" had been completely reduced to ruins.
All positions seemed so small and fragile under the immense power of the artillery. The ashes after the flames burned… rained down, a thin layer covering the mountains of Dingjun, on the peak named "Yuanshanzi."
Here… there was not a single ray of sunlight.
The thick smoke obscured everything!
…
…
"Is it over?"
On the artillery camp's position, Liu Ye, who had been nervous moments ago, now felt somewhat unsatisfied. The continuous rumbling sound was truly stress-relieving…
He let out a long sigh. Without saying anything, he went to find a tree and relieved himself. He was a descendant of the former imperial family, a refined gentleman, but this time… he had truly held it in for too long.
He was overwhelmed, not even having time to urinate!
Zhuge Jun also came to his side and unbuckled his trousers to relieve himself. Many artillerymen also joined them.
Everyone swayed their waists… feeling a sense of relief.
Moments ago… it felt too good, the sound was too loud, and he almost lost control.
"Steward Zhuge…" Liu Ye asked, "Do you think Zhang Fei and Fa Zheng were blown to smithereens?" "Probably not!" Zhuge Jun sighed. "Such a large mountain, such a large position. Even if we bombard for three days and three nights, we can't possibly cover every inch. Zhang Fei and Fa Zheng, as the commanders, would naturally be escorted to retreat first."
"Then… what a shame!" Liu Ye smacked his lips…
"What's a shame?" Zhuge Jun asked.
Liu Ye stroked his beard. "His Majesty decreed that if the enemy retreats to Jianmen Pass, we are not allowed to bombard wildly…"
Upon hearing this, Zhuge Jun nodded slightly. "His Majesty does not wish for the flames of war to involve the people of Jianmen Pass! After all, His Majesty is much more benevolent than the former Emperor."
"Indeed…" Liu Ye continued sighing. "If it were the former Emperor, this southern expedition would surely be a siege with no quarter given! But with His Majesty like this…"
Clearly, Liu Ye wanted to ask, if Cao Yu did not use artillery to attack Jianmen Pass…
Then how would Jianmen Pass be broken?
Zhuge Jun understood Liu Ye's meaning and immediately smiled. "Uncle Liu might as well wait. His Majesty's greatest skill is not artillery, but the human heart!"
Speaking of which…
Zhuge Jun asked Liu Ye, "Uncle Liu, if you were a Shu soldier at this moment, would you not hate His Majesty and the Great Wei to death, and therefore fight us to the bitter end?"
This…
Liu Ye fell silent for a long time. He was contemplating this question. "If it were you, what would you do?" Zhuge Jun paused and replied, "If someone bombarded my comrades with artillery and blew up my position, I would hate them. However… if I didn't even know what caused our army to suffer such losses, to the point that I didn't even know how my comrades died? I think… I would be more fearful than hateful!"
…
…