Chapter 332: Building a Human Mountain

Chapter 332: Building a Human Mountain

Chapter 332: Building a Human Mountain

The crossing of the river in Chuxiong Prefecture did not cause much commotion.
But the movements of Luchuan on the west side of Lujiang River caused an uproar!

The news that the Luchuan people had arrived spread everywhere, filling the entire Ming army camp in an instant.

The camp was built on the ruins of the Youyu tribe.
After clearing the burned ruins, the Ming army did not build any houses.
Instead, they laid out tents and started building walls around the camp!

This is due to the eastern wall built by the Youyu tribe. After estimation and calculation,

This proves that such city walls can indeed enhance the protection of the camp.

The Dusi took quick action.

At this time, the western and northern walls had been built.

The east side uses the old city wall of Youyu tribe, while the southern city wall is still under construction.

At this moment, the Youyu tribe has 10,000 soldiers and civilians stationed there, including 5,000 soldiers and 5,000 civilians.

Among them were the two thousand Guizhou soldiers that Feng Cheng had borrowed from Fu Youde, the Duke of Ying.

The rest were soldiers drawn from many garrisons including Dingyuan Garrison, totaling 5,000 combat troops.

The army in the camp had sufficient food and grass.
However, because the Guizhou soldiers led by Zuo Shitai were good at fighting in the mountains and forests but not good at cavalry,
Therefore, there were not many cavalrymen, only a few hundred drawn from the garrisons of various departments.

At this moment, the Luchuan people crossed the river so openly under their noses, which caused many reactions in the military camp.

Even in the darkness, the desolate horn still sounds, and the drums of assembly still beat.
The originally quiet military camp became noisy and chaotic.
The soldier woke up from his sleep and realized what had happened.

He quickly began to dress, put on his armor, picked up his sword, rushed out of the military tent, and looked for the troops.

Zuo Shitai was stationed in the military camp.
Standing on the west wall,
He looked around with a telescope and gave military orders with a calm expression.

The soldiers gave orders, and the messengers left. At this moment, the entire military camp became well-organized.
Teams of soldiers appeared at the designated defensive positions, preparing a lot of military supplies.

The city wall where Zuo Shitai stood,

It is wide at the bottom and narrow at the top, and is three feet high, but it is not as thick or solid as a city wall.

It would be more appropriate to say that it was a defensive line built with bricks and stones.

Even so, it is still much more solid than the previous wooden fences and crude fortifications.

At least there were enough arrow towers and beacon towers built on it.

Not only can it cause casualties before engaging the enemy, but it can also transmit information at the fastest speed.

At this moment, the four arrow towers on the west wall were ready to go.
The soldiers stood on it, carefully holding their bows and arrows, their eyes sharp.
On one side, there was gunpowder and arrows prepared in advance, which were enough for them to cause casualties here.

The beacon tower not far away had already been lit, and thick smoke was rising into the sky.

Inform all directions of the messenger soldiers who have been hiding in the mountains and forests and have been prepared in advance.

This is a common tactic, often used at night to prevent a sudden siege.
They would order many soldiers to garrison or hide outside the city.
Once a war or rebellion occurs, the news will be passed on immediately.

At this moment, the dazzling light from the beacon tower almost dyed the night into golden red.
Many hidden soldiers mounted their horses and quickly left to deliver the message to Jinchiwei and Yunlongzhou.

As time passed, more and more Luchuan troops gathered on the east bank of Lujiang River.

At a glance, it looked like a dark mass, with the number of people exceeding five thousand.

On the turbulent Lujiang River, there are countless bamboo rafts and wooden rafts.

Zuo Shitai's face was extremely solemn.
He suddenly felt that he might have underestimated these Luchuan soldiers.

Because the army lacked war horses, the soldiers used to explore the west bank of the Lu River were all infantry.
Previous intelligence reported that the number of Luchuan soldiers was large, nearly 50,000.

But because I didn't get close enough, I couldn't see it clearly.

All we could see was that the Luchuan Army's armor was in disarray, their swords were not in alignment, and even the battle formation and camp were in a state of disarray.

So Zuo Shitai didn't care.
They thought this was Luchuan's way of making a feint to the east and attacking in the west.
Among them, there may be only a few thousand soldiers who can actually be used in combat, and the rest are just for show.

现在
The Luchuan soldiers were actually preparing to attack the camp?
This made Zuo Shitai's expression change back and forth, and he kept thinking about countermeasures and possible things in his mind.

Soon, Zuo Shitai's face turned cold and he gave the order in a deep voice:
"Cavalry leave the city, go around the river bank to scout out the enemy's numbers, and be careful!"

"Yes!" A messenger ran away quickly!

In less than a quarter of an hour, the gate of the southern camp of the Youyu tribe burst open.

There was a loud sound of horse hooves, and more than a hundred cavalrymen wearing black armor and holding long swords rushed out quickly.

Their leading general He Chenye was holding a telescope in his hand.

At this moment, he looked tense and serious as he led a group of brothers towards the darkness!

After the cavalry left, Zuo Shitai quietly watched the Luchuan soldiers gathering by the Lujiang River.

The number of people there is still rising steadily.

There should be nearly 6,000 people at this moment.
Although the battle array is not uniform, and the armor is not good,
But the advantage in numbers has been reflected at this moment!

Attacking a city is different from defending a city. Attacking a city requires real soldiers.
The civilians could not play a big role in this, at most they could transport one or two siege weapons.

But defending a city is different. Civilians are indispensable in defending a city.
Whether transporting equipment to block the enemy or serving as soldiers, they can all be involved in the battle.

At present, although the military camp maintained an overall numerical advantage, it had fallen behind in the number of combat soldiers.

And as more and more Luchuan troops landed, the gap continued to widen.

In Zuo Shitai's sight, the Luchuan soldiers had begun to spread outward and were surrounding the brightly lit military camp.

"Sir, it looks like they are going to start attacking the village tonight."

A middle-aged man came up to him. He was from Dingyuanwei.
The captain who led the soldiers to guard here was named Wang Qiang.
Although he was in his thirties, he looked older than his age and his face showed worry.

Zuo Shitai turned his head to look over and sighed silently in his heart.

He was not afraid of the enemy, but the bad thing was that the camp defense was a mixed bag.

Except for the two thousand elite soldiers under his command, the rest were cobbled together, including many foreigners.

The people under Wang Qiang in front of him were even more outrageous. Almost 80% of them were chieftains and Indians.
He is lazy and gluttonous on weekdays, and won't move unless he is whipped.

He even got the news.

These people had rebelled before and were captured deserters.

Putting away his thoughts, Zuo Shitai spoke in a deep voice:
"Master Wang, you have seen the scene before us.

Your unit is now responsible for the construction of the southern city wall and is stationed there. Can you hold it?"

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Wang Qiang's face. Half of his face was hidden in the darkness, and he looked a little gloomy.

But the war was approaching, and he had little hope for those foreigners.

Taking a deep breath, Wang Qiang spoke in a deep voice:
"Lord Zuo, please transfer our troops to another place. Our soldiers are not capable of defending the place."

Hearing this, the solemn look in Zuo Shitai's eyes eased a little.

It doesn't matter if a person is bad, but he can't be stupid. Wang Qiang in front of him is obviously not stupid.

Zuo Shitai nodded and spoke quickly:
"Switch your troops with mine. You and the soldiers of the Santai tribe will guard the western wall together."

Zuo Shitai considered everything very carefully.

Now, of the three walls of the military camp, only the southern wall has not been fully built.
If the enemy attacks the city, they will certainly start from here.
And the two thousand elite soldiers under his command need to plug this gap.

The western defense line was vacant because of the city wall.

The foreign troops of Dingyuan Guard and the soldiers of Santai Guard, totaling 2,000, were sufficient for defense.

Wang Qiang bowed to Zuo Shitai, his face showing determination:

"Thank you, Master Zuo."

Zuo Shitai's expression eased a little and he nodded gently:

"Now you and I are both on the same rope.

Go quickly, change defense quickly, the enemy will attack soon!"

"Yes!" Wang Qiang left quickly.

Seeing him leave, Wei Feng, a captain of the Santai Guard who was standing not far away, stepped forward.
He is in his forties, with a long beard.

The armor on top of his huge belly is bulging, and his body is particularly strong.

"Sir, the Dingyuan Guards have 1,000 men, and they are not fit for duty.

Our department can take care of the southern defense alone. If we have more people, it will only cause more trouble."

Zuo Shitai looked at the Luchuan Army gradually disappearing into the mountains and forests, and slowly shook his head:
"We still have to be careful. Although Zuo is an outsider, it is helpless for Lord Feng to arrange me here."

“But I still hope.”

As he spoke, Zuo Shitai glanced at everyone present and said in a deep voice:
"I hope you all can strictly follow the military orders and repel the invading Luchuan Army.

Although the defenses were not yet complete, the people of Luchuan came to attack without considering their own capabilities.
Then we don't need to be polite, we can just use all our strength to kill the enemy and gain merit."

Zuo Shitai looked at Wei Feng and forced a smile on his face:
"Master Wei, it is true that the foreigners in Dingyuan Guard are restless.

But that was because we, the Ming Dynasty, did not give him the opportunity to make meritorious contributions. Now he is forced to serve on the unimportant front line.
It is to let him kill the enemy and gain merit. With the reward money for military merit, he will naturally do his best.

Therefore, please bear with me, Lord Wei, and give some respect to Lord Kong in the rear."

Wei Feng is a typical soldier, he can't say nice words at this moment,

But if someone tells him, he can't refuse.
After thinking for a moment, he nodded gently:

"Master Zuo, you are too polite. I will go and arrange the defense right away."

Zuo Shitai heaved a sigh of relief and waved his hand gently:
"Go ahead, Lord Wei, please be careful!"

"Yes!"

Seeing him leave, Zuo Shitai secretly felt relieved.

Fortunately, the commander of the troops in the city was easy to talk to, so this outsider didn't get embarrassed!

Then, Zuo Shitai arranged many defenses.

The purpose of everything is to defend the military camp and then launch a counterattack to achieve maximum damage.

It is impossible to say that he had no selfish motives. Placing his soldiers at the southern fence was selfish. Directly confronting the enemy would certainly result in casualties, but it would also produce military merits.

The soldiers followed him here from Guizhou Dusi in order to kill the enemy and gain merit.

Several previous opportunities to make contributions were taken by others first.

Finally, no one robbed it today.

Thinking of this, Zuo Shitai felt a little happy.
Looking far ahead,

Looking at the Luchuan soldiers who came out of the forest in a panic,

Listening to the faint screams, a slight smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

There was a dense forest about thirty meters long between the military camp and the Lujiang River.

Originally, when building defenses, the dense forests should have been completely flattened.

The trees are used to rebuild the military camp and provide a wide view of the camp.

But Zuo Shitai was good at fighting in the mountains and forests.
Instead of razing the dense forest to the ground, many traps were set up in it.

It will not cause too much casualties, but it can effectively hinder the enemy's morale and slow down their offensive.

This is what I saw, from entering the forest to leaving it.

It took the people of Luchuan nearly two quarters of an hour to walk a short distance of thirty feet!

This method can only be used when there are not enough cavalry in the military camp.
If there were enough cavalry, Zuo Shitai would raze it to the ground immediately.

Leave space for the cavalry to charge so that they can attack first when the enemy lands.

When the time comes, we will kill as many as we can.

Unfortunately, there were too few cavalry in the military camp, so they could only passively defend.

At this time, a group of more than a hundred cavalrymen appeared in sight.
The cavalry was divided into two teams of fifty men, and they charged from the south and north sides.

During this time, bows, crossbows and longbows were fired from time to time.

While exploring, it causes casualties and obstructions to the enemy.

Although it is weak, it is better than nothing.

As more and more enemy troops emerged from the jungle,

The cavalry had less and less space to maneuver, so they retreated.

The sound of horse hooves was getting closer and closer. The cavalry rushed past the western wall and rushed in from the southern entrance.

After the cavalry rushed in, the gates of the city were closed tightly and the soldiers were on high alert.

After returning to the military camp, the cavalry general He Chenfeng quickly ran up the west city wall with rapid steps.

He swung the telescope back and forth in his hand, his face solemn to the extreme.

Zuo Shitai had been waiting there for a long time and asked quickly:
"How is the enemy?"

He Chenfeng answered quickly:
"Reporting to the Lord, the enemy should be the elite troops of Luchuan!"

"Elite?"

There was a moment of confusion in Zuo Shitai's eyes, and a hint of doubt. Aren't the elite troops all at the border of Chuxiong?
He Chenfeng spoke quickly:
"Sir, the first batch of soldiers rushing over should be 6,000.
Half of them were in iron armor, holding Luchuan’s standard long swords!

The other half are Indians who are just making up the numbers.”

Zuo Shitai's face suddenly became solemn, and he seemed to be shrouded in a dark cloud.
The military commander had estimated that the number of Luchuan soldiers who could go abroad to fight was no more than 30,000.

The rest were half armor or captured cloth and leather armor.

Now three thousand armored soldiers suddenly appeared here, what was Luchuan going to do?
A thought suddenly occurred to Zuo Shitai.
Could it be that Chuxiong is the place that is attracting attention, and the real place of attack is in Dali?

But soon, Zuo Shitai shook his head.

Such an abrupt change in the direction of attack would keep even the elite troops of the Ming Dynasty busy for a while.
With Luchuan's crude military system, it is impossible to complete the transformation quickly!
The elite troops of Luchuan must be on the front lines of Jingdong and Chuxiong!
Those in front of us can only be soldiers transferred from Luchuan.

Zuo Shitai figured out the clues and his face became more serious.

Continuing to transfer troops from the country during the war has already demonstrated Luchuan’s resolute attitude!

Taking a deep breath, Zuo Shitai stepped forward, patted He Chenye on the shoulder, and said loudly:

"Brothers, please leave the camp from the east and inform Jinchiwei and Yunlongzhou of the news that the elite troops of Luchuan have appeared here!"

He Chenye first looked at the Luchuan soldiers outside the camp who were slowly surrounding them like ants.
Seeing that they were getting closer and closer to the military camp, he turned around and nodded vigorously:

"Yes, sir, please rest assured that my men will definitely deliver it."

Zuo Shitai nodded with satisfaction, and then said:

"Master He, please take away half of the cavalry in the fortress and hide them in the eastern mountains and forests, waiting for military orders."

He Chenye nodded vigorously: "Yes!"

Seeing that he understood his intention so quickly, Zuo Shitai breathed a sigh of relief.

"Go!"

When He Chenye left, a solemn and murderous look suddenly appeared on the city wall.

The sound of a crossbow being strung was heard, and the sound of a longbow being pulled also appeared!
Some soldiers opened their fire starters, ready to throw out the stone mines and thunder bombs in their hands!
Zuo Shitai looked at the Luchuan soldiers who were only a hundred steps away from the military camp.
There was a ruthless look in his eyes, and he gave the order in a deep voice:

"Fifty steps to attack!"

"Yes!"

Military orders were issued, flags were waved,
The messengers ran around in the camp, and the originally solemn camp suddenly became active.

"Boom boom boom——"

The dull sound of drums rang out from all directions.
Slowly gathering in the sky, it seemed to disperse the clouds in the sky.

In the surrounding forests, many mosquitoes and animals that were originally sleeping were awakened by the noise.
The crystal green eyes lit up one by one, with vigilance and fear in them, and disappeared in a flash.

On the city wall, Zuo Shitai looked at the Luchuan soldiers approaching him.
The solemnity in his eyes gradually turned into astonishment.
He took out the telescope and scanned the front, and also looked to the north and south.

The vast number of Luchuan soldiers approached like locusts.
But why are there no siege engines?
How do they plan to attack when they don’t even have a ladder, which is the easiest to build?

Eighty steps, seventy steps, sixty steps,
The Luchuan soldiers were getting closer and closer, and the tense atmosphere was becoming more and more pervasive.
Zuo Shitai felt increasingly uneasy!
What do these Luchuan people want to do?
Finally, after fifty steps,

Almost simultaneously, roars rang out from both walls and the fence.
"put!!!"

Whoosh whoosh—

The sound of bows and crossbows breaking through the air pierced the darkness and rushed towards the Luchuan people!

The sharp cold light slid down quickly like a meteor under the moonlight.

The puffing sound and screaming sounded almost at the same time.
The people from Luchuan who were at the front fell down like wheat being cut, and screamed in agony.

The next moment, the Luchuan people who were originally walking leisurely in front suddenly started running.
The deafening shouts of killing rang out.
"kill!!"

Looking down from above, the dark locusts that were originally moving slowly seemed to riot at this moment.

Rushing towards the only light in the darkness!

"put!!"

Boom boom boom boom——

This time, the sound was the explosion of stone mines and thunder bombs.
Although some Luchuan soldiers wore iron armor,

But under the violent explosion, he was also shocked and was shot to death by the subsequent crossbow arrows.

Those Luchuan people who were not wearing armor,
It was blown to pieces, leaving only broken limbs and blood!
Even so, the speed of the Luchuan people's charge did not slow down.

Instead, it was getting faster and faster, as if everything happening around it had nothing to do with it.

Once the battle started, Zuo Shitai quickly regained his composure.
Since the enemy has come to our doorstep, we will definitely not let them go.

As military orders were issued one after another,

The prepared defensive measures began to be deployed without sparing!

For a time, the damage to the Luchuan soldiers was still increasing.

In the forest behind, Aruta stood on a thick tree branch.

Still topless, with his arms folded across his chest,

His slightly messy hair fluttered in the breeze, like a savage.

He stared at the southern fence without a city wall, sneered, and said lightly:
"In the mountains and forests, prey hiding in caves dare not resist,
One day, people will tear open their caves, eat their flesh, and gnaw their bones."

"Send orders to all ministries!"

"Gather to the south, build a human mountain, and charge in for me!"

Below, the messenger waved the flag.

The originally soothing horn suddenly became rapid.

After hearing this sound, the Luchuan Army also began to separate themselves!
More and more Luchuan soldiers wearing armor slowed down their pace, dodging arrows, gunpowder and mines attacking from the air.

Some Indians in ragged clothes and without a piece of armor began to run wildly towards the southern fence with their heads lowered.

In their hands they held stones, sticks, broken long knives, and scabbards,
Weapons are varied.

Smelling the blood in the air,

Their faces were serious and fearful, but they still did not stop!

Far away, under the tree,
Seeing this scene, Naxi, who was weak in breath, showed a bit of sarcasm on his skinny face and said:

"Ultimately, the deadlock will be broken only by the lives of our people."

Aruta, who was standing above, watched his tribesmen fall one by one with a calm expression:
"They sold their souls for a full meal,

Dying now is the time to rest in peace. I hope they will have enough food and clothing in their next life!"

(End of this chapter)