Chapter 669

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Deng Yuan looked at Juyong Pass with a complex expression.

Half a month ago, he was still in Bashu leading his army in battle against the King of Shu, and in the blink of an eye, he was under the walls of Juyong Pass.

However, after understanding the current situation, he knew that Prince Zhao could no longer afford to continue attacking the King of Shu, because if Prince Qi’s army was not stopped now, Zhao might also be annihilated in the blink of an eye.

“Dong dong dong…”

War drums pounded. Soldiers, having received the order, continuously charged towards Juyong Pass with scaling ladders.

To rashly engage in battle before subsequent troops and supplies arrived was a major taboo in warfare. Deng Yuan knew this well. However, when the sound of cannons came from north of Juyong Pass, he still chose to attack the city, because at this moment, the barbarians must have launched an attack.

He had heard of Prince Qi’s army’s reputation even when he was in Bashu. In his opinion, neither he nor the limited troops provided by the barbarians at this time could defeat Xiao Ming alone.

Only a pincer attack from north and south could offer some chance of victory. So, his choice to attack the city was not to breach it, but to pin down some of Juyong Pass’s forces, preventing them from timely responding to the barbarian attack. Of course, if they could breach the city in one fell swoop as a result, that would be even better.

“I never thought that one day this general would have to attack Prince Qi’s forces with the barbarians. It’s truly laughable and pathetic.” Deng Yuan’s eyes held a hint of sorrow and indignation.

Beside Deng Fei stood his deputy, Cao Kun. Hearing his words, Cao Kun said, “The barbarians are ambitious and ruthless. Assisting them in taking Juyong Pass this time is akin to helping a tyrant do evil. However, imperial orders are hard to defy, so we can only obey Prince Zhao’s command.”

Deng Fei sighed. He had always supported Prince Zhao and was extremely loyal to him. This grumbling was merely his dissatisfaction with Prince Zhao’s alliance with the barbarians.

After all, he had fought the barbarians several times, and his generals and soldiers had suffered many casualties in battles against them.

“Boom, boom, boom…”

Amidst the pounding of war drums, a roar suddenly erupted from the city wall of Juyong Pass. In flashes of fire and smoke, black cannonballs flew towards the soldiers charging Juyong Pass.

The cannonballs landed and rolled like lightning. Where they bounced, Prince Zhao’s soldiers screamed. Dozens of soldiers were killed or wounded in a straight line.

Seeing this scene, Deng Yuan’s face turned ashen. Just this one volley caused hundreds of soldiers to be killed or wounded.

“Boom, boom, boom…”

The cannons fired again, and the ground was once again a bloody storm.

Cao Kun then said, “General, Prince Qi’s army has always excelled in firearms. If this continues, more soldiers will only die.”

Deng Yuan’s expression was cold. He said, “Which war doesn’t require filling it with lives? This is the only way to deal with Prince Qi’s army. This siege, while pinning down the city’s forces, is also to consume their gunpowder and cannonballs. Prince Qi’s army has fought all the way from Yunzhou to Qingzhou, so their ammunition and provisions will certainly not be plentiful. Coupled with the massive consumption of ammunition in Qingzhou, there must not be much ammunition stored in Juyong Pass now. Once their cannons run out of shells, and their muskets run out of gunpowder and bullets, taking Juyong Pass will be as easy as turning over one’s hand.”

“General’s foresight is indeed remarkable. This subordinate had not thought of this point,” Cao Kun laughed heartily.

Deng Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly. Soldiers were charging towards Juyong Pass one after another. One wave was repelled, the second wave continued to charge forward, followed by the third wave…

North City, more and more barbarian slave soldiers ascended the city wall. Niu Ben and Lu Fei grew increasingly anxious. If this continued, it was only a matter of time before the North City was taken.

Just as he was growing anxious, a large group of cavalry soldiers in silver cuirasses suddenly charged towards the city wall.

Qi Guangyi appeared in everyone’s sight at this moment. He said to Niu Ben, “General, the Qingzhou cavalry are here to reinforce!”

“Why are your cavalry joining in the fun? This is a battlefield,” Niu Ben said, frowning.

Qi Guangyi said displeasedly, “General, our cavalry are also soldiers. We are cavalry on horseback, and we are no less than musketeers when dismounted.”

“How dare you act so foolishly? How long does it take to train a cavalryman? If you all get wiped out, will His Imperial Majesty spare us?” Lu Fei also said.

Qi Guangyi said, “What time is it now? If Juyong Pass falls, no one will escape the blade over their head. This subordinate is not a coward, nor are this subordinate’s soldiers cowards. If His Imperial Majesty assigns blame later, this subordinate will bear it alone.”

“If anyone is to bear it, it will naturally be this general.” Niu Ben looked at Qi Guangyi with satisfaction. The generals of the Qingzhou Army were all courageous men. “Charge!”

Qi Guangyi was immediately overjoyed. He said to his soldiers, “Kill them! Let the musketeers see the prowess of our Qingzhou cavalry!”

“Kill!” With Qi Guangyi’s angry roar, 20,000 Qingzhou cuirassiers surged onto the city wall, and the situation on the city wall immediately began to reverse.

The barbarian slave soldiers who had ascended the city wall continuously fell under the sabers.

Facing the increasing number of soldiers in silver cuirasses, the barbarians temporarily halted their assault after leaving three to four thousand corpses in another round of attack.

And at this time, the sun was already setting. From morning till evening, both sides had been fighting fiercely for almost an entire day.

Wiping the blood from his face, Lu Fei said, “General, the Zhao army in the South City has also stopped its attack.”

Niu Ben finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. He said to Lu Fei, “Strengthen the defenses to prevent the barbarians from playing dirty tricks.”

“Yes, General,” Lu Fei responded.

After a pause, Niu Ben continued, “Immediately have the soldiers and artillerymen check the ammunition.”

After giving these instructions, Niu Ben went to the Juyong Pass Grand Camp. After a while, all the generals returned.

“Fortunately, the General brought ammunition supplies this time, otherwise, the ammunition carried would have been exhausted today alone.”

Luo Xin said as he entered the tent.

Ye Qingyun said, “But if this continues, the ammunition the General brought this time probably won’t last for more than a few days either.”

Niu Ben nodded, “Most of the ammunition produced by the military machinery department this time has been brought here. Originally, this batch of ammunition was meant to take down Prince Zhao in one fell swoop, but unexpectedly, such a complication arose.”

“Most of the ammunition is only this much?” Luo Xin was dumbfounded.

Niu Ben sighed, “You don’t know the cost of living if you haven’t managed a household. Now, the supply of saltpeter, iron, and lead cannot keep up, and ammunition is consumed too quickly. You all need to be more frugal now.”

Lu Fei and the other generals were only responsible for fighting; they had never considered the issue of ammunition shortages.

With a bitter smile, Luo Hong said, “I’ve said it before: fighting with muskets and cannons is expensive. The silver His Imperial Majesty spent on establishing the firearms division back then almost emptied the treasury. No matter how wealthy Qingzhou is, it has also become poor after these two years of war.”

Niu Ben looked at Luo Hong with appreciation. This Luo Hong had once been the commander of the firearms division, so he naturally knew about the cost of buying ammunition.

“No wonder His Imperial Majesty is eager to end the war in the north. So that’s the reason,” Lu Fei said. “If we continue fighting like this, the muskets in the soldiers’ hands will all turn into burnt sticks.”