Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 132: Confrontation
On the city wall, Zhao Guoshan, the inspector of Lüliang County, and Beichen Yuqing faced each other from a distance. With a cold smile, Zhao mocked, “What’s this? Have the fake imperial edicts been exposed, and now you’re furious and ready to attack?”
Beichen Yuqing couldn’t be bothered to explain anything this time. “Zhao Guoshan, a wise man doesn’t speak foolishly. I’ve given you a night, and the Nanliang prefecture a night as well; it seems you’ve made your choice.”
With a command from Beichen Yuqing, ten thousand elite troops and ten thousand new recruits from Anyang lined up to the north of Nanliang, launching an assault on the northern city wall. In particular, ten cannons had their directions adjusted, their dark muzzles aimed at the wall.
Seeing this, Guo Guibang on the city wall shouted anxiously, “Get out of the way!”
Having already heard about the power of the cannons from Guo Guibang, the people of Lüliang County quickly took cover; however, the cannons did not move and targeted this section of the wall for an attack.
Boom… The ground shook! The cannons had a caliber of 150 millimeters, and a single shell weighed over 50 kilograms. One shot created a hole; with ten cannons firing simultaneously, a section of the battlement began to shake.
Although the walls of Nanliang were decent, they couldn’t compare to the frontier Great Wall—at least the frontier Great Wall was regularly maintained, while this one had suffered from years of neglect—who would have thought that war would suddenly erupt? Moreover, this war was different; it began with cannon fire—much more powerful than flying swords. At least when fighting with flying swords, there was some consideration, such as the risk of damaging one’s spiritual consciousness; but with cannonballs, there was no such consideration.
Most importantly, no one had ever seen such a battle! The enemy attacked from two miles away, leaving them to passively take the hits, unable to retaliate. Even if they wanted to counterattack with crossbows, two miles away was ineffective. All they could do was stare blankly or roll their eyes in frustration.
However, they couldn’t underestimate the enemy. After the initial panic, Guo Guibang finally came up with a plan. “My lord, as we previously suggested, we can use the experts above the Foundation Establishment stage for a surprise attack, using flying swords and talismans to counter Anyang’s assault!”
Zhao Guoshan was also shaken by the cannon fire. Seeing the soldiers reluctant to go up on the walls and that the walls were swaying, he finally nodded. “You lead 200 Foundation Establishment experts to attack from the left, while Major General Zhao Youdan leads 200 Foundation Establishment experts from the right. Make sure to destroy the enemy’s cannons.”
Zhao Youdan, Zhao Guoshan’s son, also had Golden Core level cultivation. Together with Guo Guibang, they led four hundred experts down from the walls, rushing towards the Anyang army a kilometer away.
On the Anyang side, as soon as Liu Lei saw the situation, he immediately shouted orders. Besides the artillery, everyone with firearms was to counterattack.
But at that moment, the experts from Lüliang County collectively used a spell—Wind Escape Technique! All the small experts at the Foundation Establishment stage transformed into gusts of wind, rushing forward. The 400 experts were like indistinct shadows, akin to arrows, reaching the front of the Anyang troops in the blink of an eye.
Yan Zhengqing, experienced in battle, remained calm. “Use the Fire Talisman!”
At the forefront, the elite soldiers took out the Fire Talisman and activated it directly; in an instant, a sea of crimson flames surged into the sky, blocking the way in front of the troops.
As the saying goes, “Wind and fire nurture each other.” When the Wind Escape Technique met the Fire Spell, they combined to intensify each other, causing the flames to burn even more fiercely, turning a purplish-blue. However, the experts from Lüliang County caught in the Wind Escape Technique let out a scream.
The wind fanned the flames, but unfortunately, the elite of Lüliang County were fused with the wind! The fire was burning directly on them!
At least a hundred people, either lacking combat experience or feeling nervous on the battlefield for the first time, forgot the fundamental principles of mutual generation and restraint in cultivation. As the flames blazed, the Wind Escape Technique was naturally broken, and immediately the fire gunners began to unleash their power, resulting in a series of popping sounds like exploding beans; however, the sound seemed rather loud and dense. On three experimental armored vehicles, rapid-fire machine guns were also deployed.
The four hundred elites from Lüliang County charged in, and in an instant, over a hundred fell; after all, there were prepared experts at the Foundation Establishment stage. Losing over a hundred men, nearly three hundred others surged to the front of the Anyang soldiers, engaging in close combat!
At this moment, neither cannons nor firearms could be of use; the only effective resources were cultivation level, magical artifacts, and spells—there wasn’t even time to use talismans!
This meant that the only thing they could rely on was their cultivation level, perhaps with the addition of magical artifacts.
At this moment, Yan Zhengqing’s command skills were evident, as he directed the captains, elites, and experts above the Foundation Establishment stage to engage in close combat. Then, Yan Zhengqing issued a brutal command—soldiers surrounding the combatants were to throw talismans like “Cold Ice,” “Freezing,” “Chilling,” and “Slowing,” and not just a couple, but hundreds!
As a flurry of talismans descended, both sides embroiled in combat became like clumsy puppets.
Yan Zhengqing shouted, “Liu Leigang, quickly! Injure but don’t kill!”
Liu Leigang, also a veteran, raised his firearm and began shooting; at this moment, both sides moved very slowly, barely able to move. The experts from Lüliang County were like live targets. The gunfire erupted, and in the blink of an eye, over two hundred fell!
“Ah…” Zhao Youdan and Guo Guibang, a few who could still move, roared, caring no longer for the remaining lives, immediately using the escape technique to flee.
The victory in battle came quickly, showcasing Yan Zhengqing’s talents. Soon, a chorus of sneezes broke out; spells weren’t so easy to endure. Although the enemies were taken down, they also suffered serious injuries; this was magic, not mere cold weather. The cold from the weather only targeted the body, while magic attacked the true essence, soul, and more.
Some newly promoted Foundation Establishment experts were now huddled, shivering and looking resentfully at Yan Zhengqing.
Of course, their grievances were minimal; as elite soldiers, they understood that Yan Zhengqing’s methods were indeed the most correct and resulted in the least casualties on their side.
The ordinary soldiers nearby gathered the experts from Luliang County, trying their best to rescue them—actually, not many had truly died; the Foundation Establishment experts were indeed quite formidable.
These experts, whether it was Beichen Yuqing or Yan Zhengqing, all wanted to subdue them! Capturing one would be a gain.
In fact, during this military action, Xu Ren had analyzed it clearly: they could not occupy Luliang County yet, otherwise, Li Xian’s current political advantage would be completely lost. While they could not occupy the territory, the experts here needed to be swept away, to the very last one.
On the Anyang side, they were collecting the “spoils,” while the two generals from Luliang County had fled back to the city wall with only about twenty men in a sorry state; at this moment, a section of the city wall had already begun to crack!
Zhao Guoshan on the city wall was dumbfounded, furious, and exasperated! Four hundred Foundation Establishment elites! This was the trump card in the hand of Lord Zhao, and just like that, it was lost! Everyone could see clearly that the responsibility for this defeat truly did not lie with Guo Guibang and Zhao Youdan—their command had been quite appropriate; unfortunately, the enemy was too cunning!
With their trump card diminished, what should they do next? Zhao Guoshan was suddenly anxious and restless! How could the situation have turned out this way, how could it have evolved to this point!