Chapter 51: The Hammer Giant (Please add to favorites and keep reading)

A quarter of an hour later.

The forced march, clad in armor, descended the mountain ridge under the leadership of County Lieutenant Xu. After passing through the earthen walls of Siyang Town, they reached the residential area near the Liu Family Fort and took cover nearby.

"Are there any divine archers?"

"Shoot those two martial instructors on the watchtower dead."

County Lieutenant Xu turned to glance at the dozen or so military officers behind him.

At this moment, they were approximately six or seven hundred paces from the Liu Family Fort.

At this distance, only a divine archer from the army, pulling a five-stone heavy bow, could kill those two martial instructors stationed on the watchtower.

Even if an ordinary person had sufficient accuracy, they would struggle to possess such immense strength.

The dozen military officers looked at one another in silence.

Though their martial arts were proficient, their archery skills and physical strength were not enough to take lives at a distance of six hundred paces.

A five-stone heavy bow was a level typically only attainable by those who had passed the military imperial examinations.

"This general is willing to go." Seeing this, Wei Tu wasted no words. He bowed to County Lieutenant Xu and accepted the task.

After their parting at Xuanhe Tower years ago, Fu Zhizhou had instructed the three of them to refine their martial arts and secretly train soldiers for this very day—to go forth and establish great merit.

Wei Tu took the five-stone heavy bow from his green stallion, drew the bow, notched an arrow, and aimed at the two martial instructors on the Liu Family Fort's watchtower.

He fired the first arrow.

In the midst of the string's vibration, he performed a great somersault to change his position, switched the bow to his right hand, pulled the string with his left, and fired a second arrow.

Two arrows, one after the other.

Released in an instant.

Both struck the chests of the two patrolling martial instructors on the watchtower dead center.

"Drawing both ways! Military Envoy Wei's archery is peerless! Once we take the Liu Family Fort, I shall record a great merit for you!"

Seeing Wei Tu's archery, County Lieutenant Xu's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but offer praise.

He had also been a martial artist by background, specifically a military graduate, but having served as an official for so long, he had neglected his practice. His muscles had grown soft, and he could no longer draw a heavy bow.

The watchtower instructors were dead.

Seeing this, the dozen military officers did not hesitate. Following County Lieutenant Xu's previous deployment, they immediately ordered their respective soldiers to charge toward the Liu Family Fort.

This included Wei Fei.

As a "Chief Instructor," Wei Fei held some influence before County Lieutenant Xu, and he also led a squad of soldiers this time.

As for Wei Tu, who had just finished his two shots, his eyes flickered slightly upon seeing this scene. He utilized his internal strength to force beads of sweat onto his forehead, then began to pant heavily, pretending to be exhausted as he fell to the rear of the group.

Drawing a five-stone heavy bow was inherently strenuous; such a performance would not arouse suspicion.

It was not until the dozen officers had charged into the Liu Family Fort for several dozen breaths that Wei Tu finally raised his golden-backed saber and followed the trailing soldiers inside.

By killing the two instructors on the watchtower, he had earned a great merit, one no less significant than the merit of being the first to scale the walls during a siege.

Therefore, if he were to charge into the Liu Family Fort alongside the other officers now to snatch credit, it would not be wise.

It would invite resentment!

Secondly, the provincial examinations were approaching next year.

Passing the provincial exam to become a military graduate would allow him to be commissioned as a seventh or eighth-rank military official.

The merits these officers earned today would, at most, result in a promotion of two or three ranks, and they would still remain among the minor officials.

How could that compare to the prestige of becoming a military graduate and receiving an official commission?

The final point: blades and spears have no eyes, and the state of the battle in the Liu Family Fort was still unknown...

Staying behind the crowd allowed him to adapt to circumstances. If he encountered a powerful enemy, he could retreat immediately to ensure his own life.

Wei Tu knew in his heart that he became a military officer to elevate his status, not to die for the Zheng Dynasty.

"Since Military Envoy Wei is exhausted, then accompany this official to guard the rear..."

After entering the Liu Family Fort, County Lieutenant Xu saw Wei Tu panting and said with a smile.

"My thanks to the County Lieutenant." Hearing this, Wei Tu no longer insisted on pushing forward; he immediately stepped back and stood behind County Lieutenant Xu, acting as a bodyguard.

Only then did Wei Tu have the leisure to observe the battlefield within the Liu Family Fort.

Though the forced march troops were a ragtag bunch, under the leadership of the dozen military officers, they advanced methodically, using round shields to press step-by-step into the interior of the fort.

From within the houses of the Liu Family Fort, burly men would occasionally emerge, wielding weapons and charging into the battle formation.

However, even if these burly men possessed the strength to tear apart tigers and leopards or strike down galloping horses, they would gradually lose strength after fighting several soldiers under the siege of the shield wall.

The Xiang Army's advance was like a hot knife through butter.

They encountered almost no formidable opponents.

However.

Just as the government forces thought the matter was settled.

A giant man with knotted muscles, clad in black armor and carrying a massive iron hammer on his back, walked out from the main hall. He swept a glance over the formed ranks of the government troops and cursed, "The Imperial Court is truly becoming more and more incompetent; attacking under the cover of night violates the righteous path!"

Having finished speaking, he gave no one time to argue. He unslung the iron hammer from his back and smashed it into the center of the shield formation of the government soldiers standing a dozen paces away.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

The round shields were instantly shattered by the terrifying force. The soldier at the very front had his head crushed directly by the hammer, spilling red and white matter across the ground.

Any other soldier who even slightly brushed against this hammer would be instantly sent flying over ten feet into the air.

In just a few exchanges.

Thirty to forty elite Xiang Army soldiers died gruesome deaths instantly.

This loss was even greater than the casualties sustained during the initial breach of the fort.

Beyond the physical losses, there was also the collapse of morale caused by the hammer-wielding giant.

The hundreds of Xiang Army soldiers from Qingshan County were essentially a temporary assembly; had they won a decisive victory, the difference between them and true elites would not have been apparent.

But now, having had their momentum broken and suffering such heavy losses, the army's morale instantly wavered.

Many soldiers fled in terror.

"Reform the formation! Anyone who dares to flee shall be executed without mercy!" County Lieutenant Xu roared, drawing the long saber from his waist and casually executing a soldier who was attempting to desert.

Soon.

The dozen fleeing soldiers were executed one by one by the督战队 (supervising combat squad).

The military discipline was restored.

They turned once more to face the hammer-wielding giant.

"If I do not kill the commanding officers, I will be worn down to death by them sooner or later." The hammer giant stood holding his weapon, breathing slightly, feeling that the government troops before him were quite troublesome.

Just now, killing thirty to forty armored shield-bearing soldiers had consumed nearly half of his strength. He had intended to intimidate the troops, but unexpectedly, the commanding officer was no fool and had instead stabilized the morale.

"Military Envoy Wei, have you recovered your strength? In a moment, find the right opportunity," County Lieutenant Xu leaned close to Wei Tu and whispered.

To deal with a heavily armored infantryman like this hammer giant, there were only two ways.

One was to use human lives to fill the gap and wear him down to death.

The other was to find an opening to fire a cold arrow, striking him dead at a weak point.

"I... will try..." Hearing this, Wei Tu felt a sense of helplessness but could only grit his teeth and agree.

Though his archery was decent, to kill the hammer giant, he would have to aim for his exposed eyes.

The battlefield changed in an instant.

This was far more difficult than shooting those two watchtower instructors from five hundred paces away.

Focusing on the hammer giant's movements, Wei Tu cleared his mind, drew his bow, aimed at the giant's eyes, and fired three consecutive arrows.

*Twang! Twang! Twang!*

Three explosions of the bowstring rang out.

But—

The result was unexpected.

Of the three arrows Wei Tu fired, the first two missed the giant's eye sockets by an inch.

As for the final arrow, just as it was about to strike, it was blocked by the hammer giant's palm, snapping his hands.

"What a divine archer! Taste my hammer!" The hammer giant roared angrily, swinging his iron hammer with great force toward Wei Tu's position.

The giant's roar was so loud it felt as if the eardrums of everyone present would burst, leaving their ears ringing.

Everyone was momentarily stunned.

At that moment, Wei Tu, who had just finished his three shots and was preparing to catch his breath, heard the whistling sound of a heavy object tearing through the air near his ear. Terrified, without even looking to see what the object was, he immediately threw himself into a forceful roll to the left to evade the strike.

In the next instant.

A thunderous explosion erupted beside his ear.

Wei Tu turned his head to the side and saw the massive, hundred-weight iron hammer thrown by the giant smash into the ground with a heavy *clang*.

At the same time, Wei Tu felt a faint, throbbing pain in his right abdomen.

He looked down and thought to himself, "That was close."

It turned out he had not completely evaded the giant's heavy strike, but fortunately, he had reinforced his armor before the battle.

This time, the fine armor and padded clothing he wore helped him absorb the blow.

"From now on, I must never show off like this again."

"I must be cautious..."

Seeing how he had nearly lost his life, Wei Tu silently admonished himself once he regained his composure.

If he had not reacted in time and made sufficient preparations before the battle, that strike from the hammer giant might not have taken his life, but it would have left him paralyzed for the rest of his life, a broken man.