Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield

Chapter 173: Chapter 109: Slaughter Unleashed, All Attributes Break Through Again!

"But for him, for his state of Wei, this is their last chance."

Upon hearing this, Yang Duanhe was somewhat puzzled and immediately bowed with clasped hands. "Please enlighten me, Shangjiangjun."

"Originally, the world had seven kingdoms, coexisting for many years."

"They all maintained a delicate balance."

"But since our Qin annihilated Han, everything has changed. This balance has been broken."

"The Zhao state’s attack on Yan was naturally stimulated by our actions, and likewise, Wei’s assault on our Yingchuan."

"Because Wei Wuji knows that if he does not take advantage of the Zhao state being dragged into conflict to attack Qin, there will be no more opportunities for Wei. Instead, they will be the ones passively attacked by us."

"For Wei, this battle is for the very fate of their nation."

"Wei Wuji will give it his all."

Wang Jian spoke as if he were Wei Wuji’s confidant, laying out the predicament that both the man and the entire state of Wei now faced.

"In that case," Yang Duanhe said, "Yingchuan is in danger."

"General Li Teng originally led his troops to conquer Han, and his Sharp Warriors suffered numerous losses. Even though he replenished his forces, the new recruits only arrived this year and are untested in battle. Faced with Wei Wuji personally leading an attack, can Yingchuan hold?"

"As far as I am aware, the Shangjiangjun has assigned a newly appointed Deputy General named Zhao Feng to defend Wei City. He has fifty thousand soldiers under his command, as well as a Penal Battalion formed from fifty thousand surrendered troops."

"Can he truly hold the city?" Yang Duanhe asked, his tone skeptical.

"Are there any requests for reinforcements from Zhao Feng in the military reports?" Wang Jian calmly asked.

Yang Duanhe took a careful look and shook his head. "No requests for reinforcements."

"That proves Zhao Feng is confident in defending Wei City."

"I believe in him," Wang Jian said with strong conviction.

"The Shangjiangjun may believe in him," Yang Duanhe countered with a grave expression, "but if Wei City is breached by Wei Wuji, all of Yingchuan will be in peril."

"Moreover, from a strategic perspective, facing Wei Wuji in person is a monumental task. For Zhao Feng, relying on fifty thousand Sharp Warriors and fifty thousand surrendered soldiers, the best outcome would be preventing the surrendered soldiers from turning traitor mid-battle. To expect them to defend the city to the death and resist the Wei Army is simply impossible."

Indeed, the situation was exactly so.

Throughout the entire royal court, the only one who truly believed Zhao Feng could hold Wei City was Wang Jian. Nobody else did. Even King Ying Zheng of Qin had only agreed to station Zhao Feng at Wei City and grant him full command because of Wang Jian’s adamant appeal.

"If he really cannot hold it, and if it comes to the last resort, Shangjiangjun Huan Yi will mobilize," Wang Jian said, glancing at Yang Duanhe.

Qin had dispatched two of its three main army groups. Only the Hangu Pass Camp remained, partly because the logistical strain of supplying two armies was already immense. The other reason was that the two hundred thousand Sharp Warriors of the Hangu Pass Camp stood ready for immediate deployment as reinforcements. If there were signs of defeat on any front, the Hangu Pass Camp would march there.

"I understand," Yang Duanhe immediately nodded.

"Go arrange for the soldiers to be left behind to guard the border city. The main army will march towards Quyang," Wang Jian commanded.

"As you command." Yang Duanhe accepted the order and withdrew.

Wang Jian stood alone in front of the map, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze focused on Wei City’s location.

Zhao Feng... I went to great lengths to secure this command for you. As long as you can hold the city, it will be a monumental achievement, and the Great King has already promised to promote you to Main General. But if you fail... I will be held culpable alongside you. Wang Jian sighed inwardly.

Although Wang Jian always projected complete faith in Zhao Feng to others, inwardly, he had his own doubts. Everyone knew it would be incredibly difficult for Zhao Feng, with only 50,000 Sharp Warriors and 50,000 surrendered soldiers, to stand against Wei Wuji, who was throwing the full military might of the Wei state into this invasion.

「The scene returns to Wei City!」

"KILL!"

"KILL!"

"Soldiers of Wei!"

"Breaching Wei City will be a great merit!"

"CHARGE!"

"Those who dare retreat will be killed without mercy!"

Standing amidst the central formation, Wei Bo roared, urging the Wei Army to attack.

At that moment, the ground below the walls of Wei City was already strewn with corpses. Hundreds of scaling ladders were pressed against the city walls, with countless Wei soldiers braving a hail of arrows to climb them.

"GET UP THERE, FASTER!"

"ARGH! The Qin army’s arrows... there are too many!"

"BREAK THE GATES!"

"ARGH..."

Wails of agony and cries of pain echoed from every corner outside the city. The Wei soldiers on the ladders were either shot down by the unending hail of arrows or fell to their deaths.

At the city gates, the Wei army’s Siege Hammers battered furiously. However, thanks to Zhao Feng’s extensive preparations, the gates had long been sealed shut, cast with molten iron. Without defenders, they might have stood a chance. But with an unending rain of arrows from the towers and flaming oil pouring down, a raging fire spread below. The gates were simply impossible for the Siege Hammers to breach.

"FIRE!"

"SUPPRESS THE QIN ARMY!"

"FIRE!"

Wei Bo waved his sword and bellowed as tens of thousands of Wei archers before the walls drew their bows, exchanging volleys with the archers inside Wei City. In this exchange, however, it was clear the exposed Wei soldiers outside the walls suffered far greater losses. Swathes of them fell, collapsing into pools of their own blood.

Under Zhao Feng’s personal supervision and the invisible power of the Fate Official Seal, every Qin soldier was enhanced—from the Sharp Warriors guarding the towers to the archers within the city. They had endured the ferocious Wei assault for days, yet their morale never waned. Whenever a Qin soldier was struck down by Wei catapults or arrows, another would immediately take his place on the line. Everything was flawlessly organized.

Today marked the seventh day of the Wei siege.

In stark contrast to the defenders’ unfaltering morale under Zhao Feng’s command, the besieging army’s spirit was flagging. Even with the veteran Wei Wuji personally leading them, the small city of Wei City seemed like an impenetrable fortress. In seven days, the Wei Army had already suffered tens of thousands of casualties.