The war in the western territories continued, with sand storms filling the sky and gradually fading the colors of congealed blood.
Kong Li personally led his guards onto the ramparts where intense fighting was taking place. From a position not too far from the battlements, yet close enough to feel the intensity of the battlefield, Kong Li experienced a peculiar sensation.
It was as if he could feel the spirits of countless soldiers dying on the front lines. Kong Li's state of mind was no longer what it had been at the start; he was now remarkably calm, almost numb.
Below the city, the Roman legions, though seemingly making an effort to spread out their ranks, were still fighting in their original formations, like a vast, boundless ocean!
Towering siege ladders, like monstrous ants, swarmed towards the city.
The clamor was like waves of sound, causing the soldiers' ears to ring continuously. Many soldiers, after a single engagement, felt as though they had lost their hearing.
The Wei soldiers on the city walls relentlessly launched stones from catapults and bolts from ballistae, while flaming arrows soared through the air. The display was grand, yet it was like small pebbles dropped into the East Sea, stirring barely any ripples.
The soldiers had no time to grieve for their fallen comrades; they fought on, striving to add glory to their own destinies.
Wei Bao, standing on the city wall, watched the Roman soldiers charge towards the city as if they had no regard for their lives. He gritted his teeth, waving his hand to command his soldiers to hold the line.
Wei Bao, a general who had risen from the ranks, was highly experienced. He knew that under normal circumstances, even with an army of a hundred thousand, most soldiers would merely follow the commander's orders on the march and in formation.
The soldiers who were truly willing to face death and fight desperately were the elites of the army. They were, in essence, the core of the army. These elites typically constituted only one-tenth, or even less, of the total army, yet they accounted for half or more of the army's combat power.
The reason the Shuofang Army was so formidable, arguably the strongest, was its exceptionally large number of elite soldiers, far exceeding those in other armies.
Therefore, any army that maintained strict discipline, with soldiers who obeyed orders and fought under the commander's direction, was considered a formidable force.
Most armies would break and rout after losing thirty percent of their strength. Thus, those who truly had the courage to charge into the fray were not easily produced; it truly tested the individual capabilities of the soldiers.
Of course, siege warfare and general field battles differed significantly, but this also demonstrated the formidable combat strength of the Roman army.
Arrows flew wildly on the city walls, and shouts of battle echoed from below. Wei Bao's personal guards were constantly by his side, protecting him from stray arrows.
Just then, dark shapes came flying from a distance with a "thump-thump" sound. Wei Bao looked towards a nearby spot and saw several Roman soldiers placing heavy projectiles onto siege engines.
The Romans had risked bringing their siege engines closer to the city.
"General, be careful!" Wei Bao's guards exclaimed.
A massive projectile was launched onto the city wall. Wei Bao quickly dodged, narrowly avoiding being hit. The section of the wall where Wei Bao and his men had been standing was now destroyed by the giant projectile. A siege ladder was then positioned precisely within the breach.
After a struggle, a Roman soldier climbed up the ladder. He let out a fierce war cry, though the Wei soldiers could not understand the Roman's shouts. Nevertheless, they fiercely engaged the Romans.
The Wei army, naturally, would not allow the Romans to remain on the city wall. A group of Wei soldiers armed with spears surged towards the siege ladder, thrusting their weapons at the Roman soldiers. The clang of metal striking metal echoed.
However, the armor worn by the Romans was also excellent, negating the advantage in weaponry that the Wei army had always prided itself upon. Several spears, when thrust into Roman soldiers, failed to pierce their armor!
Yet, being on the city wall, many Wei soldiers pressed forward. With fierce thrusts, they pushed the Roman soldiers back. The Roman stumbled and fell backward, letting out a terrified cry, followed by a muffled thud.
Soon, another Roman soldier leaped up, brandishing a sword and shield, and charged forward as if his life were forfeit. Moments later, he was stabbed and felled by the chaotic melee. The Wei soldiers shouted and furiously stabbed at the Roman soldier with their swords and spears.
The Roman soldiers who had scaled the wall were at a numerical disadvantage and were quickly driven back down.
Two more Roman soldiers advanced one after another. Both Wei and Roman soldiers fought desperately, their blades and spears clanging against armor.
As the situation reached a stalemate, the Wei soldiers produced "fierce fire oil" and poured it onto the siege ladder and the Roman soldiers below. The Roman soldiers, having already witnessed the power of this oil, quickly dodged.
However, with the toss of a torch, flames and black smoke erupted, accompanied by screams of agony from below.
The fierce fire oil was highly effective against the siege ladders because of its viscous nature, adhering to the wood and flowing down its surface. Once it came into contact with the Roman soldiers, they had little opportunity to escape.
Rolling logs and bricks were hurled from the top and bottom of the wall. Many siege ladders were engulfed in flames, and the smell of blood and scorched flesh mingled with the cries.
It was a scene akin to hell on earth!
Wei Bao's brow remained furrowed as he witnessed this spectacle. It wasn't due to a sudden surge of emotion or melancholy; rather, Wei Bao, having witnessed the ferocity of the Roman soldiers, felt a slight tremor of apprehension.
Ultimately, the Romans made no significant progress. As the sun began to set, they retreated once more, like a receding tide.
Many Wei soldiers let out a collective sigh of relief, having finally endured the day.
That night, the Wei army maintained vigilant patrols on the city walls, guarding against any surprise attack by the Romans.
After inspecting the city, Wei Bao hurried towards the prefect's mansion.
"Is the prefect inside?" Wei Bao asked the guards at the mansion.
"My lord is inside handling official matters," the guard replied. "My lord instructed that if the general came looking, there was no need to announce him; he could enter directly."
Wei Bao nodded and did not decline, stepping directly into the mansion.
Under normal circumstances, Wei Bao would have adhered to protocol, but in this perilous situation, he paid no heed to worldly etiquette.
Entering the main hall, Wei Bao saw Kong Li seated at the head of the hall, looking at what appeared to be official documents.
"Your subordinate Wei Bao pays his respects to the Grand Protector."