Chapter 48: There is also social maneuvering in the military!

Time continues!

More than two hours passed.

The battle was a complete stalemate, presenting a grueling war of attrition.

Many elite Qin soldiers managed to storm the battlements, but they were repelled by the fierce defense of the Han army and were ultimately slaughtered by the Han forces within the city.

The rain of arrows exchanged between the two sides continued incessantly.

Inside the city.

Outside the city.

Everything was stained a deep crimson with blood. Corpses lay scattered everywhere, turning the area outside the city into a blood-soaked marsh.

The number of fallen elite soldiers at the city gates was even more countless.

Dozens of soldiers pushed the battering ram, striking with violent force countless times.

Yet, the city gates remained steadfast.

"Strong liquor!"

"Fire oil!"

"Kill!"

Upon the battlements.

Strong liquor was poured, and flames were ignited.

Countless elite Qin soldiers were instantly turned into human torches.

This tragic state of warfare seemed to have no solution.

"Charge!"

"Break the city with everything you have!"

"Follow me and kill!"

Wu Hua roared loudly, leading his elite soldiers to advance toward the city gates.

But even with a general like him leading the charge, the outcome remained unchanged.

The Han army's defense was tight.

The city gates failed to break, and he was powerless.

At that moment!

A volley of chaotic arrows descended.

Wu Hua was pierced through by the arrows and collapsed into a pool of blood.

Yet, the Qin army below the city continued to attack wave after wave.

With no order to retreat, those who turned back were executed on the spot by the supervisory troops.

In the Qin rear.

Watching the vanguard fail to breach the city, Li Teng frowned deeply.

For a siege so well-prepared to last nearly half a day without success was unexpected.

"Report!"

"Reporting to General Li!"

"The vanguard camp has suffered heavy casualties; General Wu Hua has fallen in battle."

"The morale of the vanguard camp has collapsed."

"May I ask, General, should we withdraw the vanguard camp?"

As the messenger reported, Li Teng's brow furrowed even tighter.

"It seems I underestimated Zhang Ping, and I underestimated the Han army within the city," Li Teng said in a heavy voice.

Then.

"In war, one must strike with momentum."

"Once we retreat, it will affect the morale of the entire army and give the Han army a chance to breathe."

"If the morale of the vanguard camp is lost, then we shall simply replace them with another vanguard camp."

"Pass my command!"

"Order the vanguard camp to retreat."

"Let Chen Tao lead his Ten Thousand Generals Camp to attack."

"After Chen Tao, all subsequent Ten Thousand Generals Camps shall advance in order."

"I vow to break the Han capital in a single battle!"

Li Teng shouted loudly.

Having served as a general in the army for many years, he naturally understood the impact of military morale.

If they were to retreat directly now, it would undoubtedly damage the spirit of the troops.

"Understood, sir!"

His personal guards responded immediately.

Not long after.

*Wooo!!!*

The sound of a horn echoed through the void in all directions.

This was the horn signal for the withdrawal of the vanguard camp.

Following this, the vanguard camp beneath the walls of Handu began an orderly retreat.

"Soldiers of Great Han!"

"We have won!"

"The Qin army is retreating!"

"We can surely hold the capital and save our nation!"

Watching the retreating Qin army, the Han general Cao Yi shouted with excitement, looking as if he had already achieved victory.

The Han soldiers on the battlements also showed expressions of joy.

"General!"

"Something is wrong!"

"One Qin unit has retreated, but another is moving forward, and their archers have not withdrawn!" a Han general shouted, pointing toward the front of the city.

Cao Yi's expression changed.

At that moment.

Chen Tao gripped his sword and stood at the front of the formation.

"Where are Zhao Feng and Liu Wu?"

Chen Tao roared.

"I am here!"

Zhao Feng and another deputy of the Ten Thousand Generals Camp responded immediately.

"General Li has ordered the vanguard to withdraw and our Ten Thousand Generals Camp to attack!"

"Whoever breaks Handu shall receive the primary merit; whoever captures the King of Han shall achieve immortal glory!"

"Until the city is breached, our army remains the vanguard. Lower your bows, raise your shields, and kill for me!"

"Anyone who dares to retreat shall be executed without mercy!"

"I shall personally oversee the battle!"

"Zhao Feng, Liu Wu—which of you dares to lead the vanguard?" Chen Tao bellowed, looking at his two deputies.

With different military structures, the methods of siege warfare also differed.

"I am willing!" Zhao Feng and Liu Wu replied simultaneously.

"Zhao Feng, you have only recently entered the main combat camp; your experience in leading troops still needs improvement."

"In this battle..."

"Liu Wu, you shall lead the vanguard attack."

"Zhao Feng, if Liu Wu's strength proves insufficient, you are to take over the attack immediately." After a quick glance, Chen Tao spoke words that suppressed Zhao Feng, ultimately settling the decision on Liu Wu.

Liu Wu was filled with wild joy: "I obey your command!"

He then looked at Zhao Feng and said with a smile, "Deputy Zhao, I won't let you have this merit. Once the gates are broken, follow immediately."

It was clear he believed this glory was already his.

Zhao Feng merely gave him a calm look, seeing through Liu Wu's conceit in an instant.

*Though the Qin elite soldiers act as a whole, there is still a hierarchy among them.*

*It seems my rapid promotion has made some people envious,* Zhao Feng thought with a cold smile.

Zhao Feng had been in the main combat camp for less than half a month. Aside from being familiar with the officers under his own command, he wasn't well-acquainted with the others. As for Liu Wu, they had only met a few times.

From the way Li Teng appointed the vanguard, it was clear he prioritized his own trusted Ten Thousand Generals, then Chen Tao, and Chen Tao chose Liu Wu—undoubtedly because of his good relationship with him.

The Qin military merit system was there for all to see; everyone wanted to strive for merit and promotions. However, deciding who would lead the vanguard also depended on one's relationship with superiors.

Otherwise, there wouldn't have been so many disputes over merit throughout history.

Since ancient times, it has always been about navigating social connections and human relationships!

This was Zhao Feng's first real experience with the politics of the military.

However, he didn't care.

"Brothers!"

"Did you hear that?"

"The General said: until the city is breached, we are still the vanguard!"

"Follow me and kill! If we break Handu, the primary merit belongs to the Deputy Zhao Company!"

Liu Wu roared, leading with the confidence of a certain victory, commanding his five thousand elite soldiers to charge out first.

*Too much pride,* Zhao Feng thought, smiling faintly at Liu Wu's performance.

The city gates were sealed, and the battlements were guarded by Han troops.

Zhao Feng wanted to see exactly how Liu Wu intended to break the city.

"Deputy Liu leads the vanguard; the Deputy Zhao Company will serve as the reserve."

"All of you, be careful."

"The Han archers' rain is constant; spread out as much as possible."

Zhao Feng turned to instruct the officers like Zhang Han, specifically looking at Wei Quan.

"Understood!"

Zhang Han, Wei Quan, and the other five officers responded immediately.

As Liu Wu led his troops out and created distance from Zhao Feng's unit.

"Kill!"

Without wasting words, Zhao Feng's eyes turned solemn. He charged forward with his sword, and the elite soldiers behind him followed under the command of their respective officers.

However, they did not move as fast.

If the gates were not yet broken, charging too quickly would mean facing a rain of enemy arrows like lambs to the slaughter.

Shifting his gaze, he saw the retreating Qin army replaced by a new wave sweeping in.

Cao Yi immediately shouted: "Once the city is breached, the Qin will never let us go!"

"Archers, aim at the Qin below! Catapults, aim at the Qin archers! Kill!"

Facing a matter of life and death, the Han army defended with everything they had.

Liu Wu held his shield high, leading the Ten Thousand Generals Camp forward. Facing the torrential rain of arrows, soldiers were occasionally struck down and killed.

But soon, Liu Wu had led his men to the foot of the city.

With fresh troops joining, the siege engines and scaling ladders were once again brought close.

Liu Wu commanded his five thousand elite soldiers in a continuous, fierce assault.

They stormed the battlements.

They climbed the ladders and pushed the siege engines.

But despite their fierce momentum, they still could not take the battlements, and their casualties continued to mount.

...

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(End of Chapter)