The sun was blazing.
The strong sunshine made people dare not raise their eyes to look at the sky, but also filled the cold body with warmth.
The dark mass of Wei troops outside the pass continued to rush towards Pengcheng Fortress, just like the sand in a funnel sloping downward.
The city wall was full of corpses but no one was cleaning them up, including those from the Chu army and those from the Wei army. The Wei army climbed over the corpses and climbed up the fortress wall to fight with the Chu army. They were repulsed by the Chu army again and again, and then launched another charge again and again. The soldiers of both armies either fell under the arrows, or fell together from the city wall and became part of the sea of corpses.
The fire arrows fired by both sides sometimes set the mountains of corpses piled high on fire. There is always a fire here and there on the battlefield that will never stop.
The flowing blood gradually merged into shallow pools of blood, splashing with blood at the feet of the soldiers, turning into blood mist under the burning of the fire, and flashing with blood under the sunlight.
The air was filled with the smell of burning and blood. A group of vultures were hovering in the sky, not daring to land and unwilling to leave.
In his ears, he could hear the scream of arrows piercing the air and the sound of hitting the shield. Xuantie's tower shield had scratches on it, while the ordinary shield was already full of pits.
It had been more than a day, and Zhou Tai's eyes were bloodshot. Standing at the top of the city and looking at the enemy formation, even though six or seven thousand enemy troops have been killed, the black mass still cannot be seen to have melted much, which makes people feel helpless and desperate.
Zhou Tai touched the long steel spear in his hand. Even though the sun was shining brightly in the sky, even though the fire and smoke continued outside the city, and even though the war was in full swing, it was still so cold. It was always so cold, just like this cold world, but it was the only thing that made him feel at ease in this cold world. The warmth from his hand spread to the spear, and he felt it was part of his body.
"How many brothers do we have left?"
"Less than two thousand people."
A commander next to him didn't hesitate and answered Zhou Tai immediately. He was obviously very familiar with the casualties. he continued.
"One thousand, four hundred of them were more or less slightly injured, but it did not affect their actions. The remaining more than five hundred people were seriously injured, or had wounds on their hands and feet, and their combat effectiveness was greatly reduced."
Zhou Tai stared at the Wei army in front who was switching siege troops and fell silent. Xiahou Dun had changed his strategy since the failed sneak attack last night, focusing on long-range attacks. However, he would launch a fierce offensive as soon as he found out that Zhou Tai had withdrawn a group of soldiers to rest.
As the casualties increased, the pressure on the city head also increased. If the troops are further divided to rest, the risk of the city falling will also increase; but if the soldiers are not allowed to rest, how long can such high-intensity fighting brothers persist?
It seems that two days is the limit of Tiger Roar Camp.
Zhou Tai sighed softly. He didn't know if holding off the Wei army for two days would be enough for Ji Shu to complete his plan, but all he could do was fight to the last soldier.
"General, five hundred brothers and I are staying here. You and the other brothers can take a step back and rest for the time being. If I set fire to this fortress, it will take me another half a day!"
The person who spoke was still the former commander. His name was Tang Chi. He was the oldest person in the Tiger Roar Camp, much older than Zhou Tai. He knew that Zhou Tai had the least amount of rest, having only rested for less than two hours since yesterday. He also knew that the Wei army was using the strategy of weakening the army. Even though Huxiao camp still had most of its troops, if this went on, the combat effectiveness of the brothers would become lower and lower. At a certain point in time, Huxiao camp would soon become weak. They will be suddenly overwhelmed by a steady stream of Wei troops.
Burnt the fortress?
Zhou Tai's brain, filled with murderous intent, gradually began to spin again.
It does work. He originally planned to burn the fortress at the last moment, drag more Wei troops with him, and hold off Xiahou Dun for a while longer. But Tang Chi's words reminded Zhou Tai that under the current circumstances, executing this plan first would allow the brothers to get enough rest and restore their fighting strength. Perhaps this would delay Xiahou Dun for another half day.
"This plan is feasible, but if we want to leave, we must leave together."
Seeing Zhou Tai nod, Tang Chi laughed, cupped his fists and bowed.
"General, what are you being pretentious about? I'm just waiting to die today! My brother, I'm just taking the first step, why bother being coy."
There was no hesitation in Tang Chi's words. Every soldier in Huxiao Camp only had the will to die in his heart.
Some seriously injured soldiers behind him who had their hands and feet broken off also heard Tang Chi's words. Upon seeing this, they all stared at Zhou Tai and shouted.
"Yes, yes! General, just take the other brothers to retreat to the next line of defense to rest. Could it be that you don't trust me and are afraid that I won't be able to hold on for even half a day and lose the fortress in vain?"
Where is the next line of defense? But the soldiers all believed that as long as Zhou Tai was still alive, he could build another line of defense against the Wei army.
It was like a stove burning firewood in his chest. Only the spear in his hand felt cool. Zhou Tai tightened his grip on the gun and bowed.
"This way, brothers, please go ahead. Zhou Tai and the other brothers will come later."
······
After attacking for a day and a half, seeing that it was getting dark again, the Tiger Roar Camp finally couldn't hold on any longer.
After Du Ji's troops withdrew, it was Lu Kuang's turn to attack Pengcheng Fortress. The Xiandeng camp originally had a strength of 10,000 people. In addition to the 3,000 dead soldiers lost last night, it has lost another 2,000 people so far. But these are not important. What is important is that the first camp to charge and stand firm on the city.
Fight in!
The city was lost, and the gate of the fortress was suddenly opened by the soldiers who first entered the camp.
Lu Kuang did not dare to be careless and quickly asked his soldiers to report the military situation to Xiahou Dun. Then he led 5,000 warriors who had first climbed into the camp and rushed into the fortress.
The army was defeated like a mountain.
After the city gate was lost, the Tiger Roar Camp had no intention of recapturing it. Instead, they relied on the towers, horse-rejecting stakes, rolling logs, etc. in the fortress to delay their retreat while retreating to the rear.
Lu Kuang understood that Zhou Tai had accomplished his purpose of delaying and was ready to run away! He suddenly thought that he still had 5,000 soldiers and horses, and Zhou Tai's remnant army only had more than 1,000 people left. If he lost the advantage of the city wall, what would he have to fear in a decisive battle? What's more, the enemy's only intention is to escape!
"Don't let the enemy go!"
Lu Kuang ordered to strengthen the offensive and bite the Chu army to death.
Although the Chu army's counterattack was still tenacious, it mainly retreated, and a bunch of wounded soldiers could be seen behind. Lu Kuang was so excited that Xu Sheng, the enemy who killed Lu Xiang, was nowhere to be found, so he took action on Zhou Taixian, who was also a general of Chu State.
"If Zhou Taixiu leaves, do you dare to fight to the death with me, Lu Kuang?"
"Hmph! Ignorant idiot, you should catch up with grandpa first!"
Lu Kuang didn't know Zhou Tai. Although he had looked at him from a distance under the city, he couldn't see very clearly. Following the sound, he saw a general with three white feathers on his helmet. Lu Kuang recognized this helmet. It was the symbol of the leading general of the Tiger Roar Camp.
Lu Kuang was somewhat impressed, but he didn't expect that Zhou Tai would personally stay behind to cover the evacuation of the wounded soldiers. No wonder that after the defeat, the Tiger Roar Battalion not only did not flee, but also fought back so tenaciously.
Seeing Zhou Tai and others retreat into a military camp, pull up their horses again, and use the tower to fight back, Lu Kuang grinned.
Since you want to break up, then don’t leave!
He pulled a commander beside him and ordered.
"You, immediately lead people around and surround the back door of this military camp. You must not let the Chu army escape!"
The generals responded and left.
Lu Kuang drew his sword, took a large shield from the soldiers beside him, struck the shield with his sword and shouted.
"Brothers, follow me in and kill Zhou Tai. You will be rewarded!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
After entering the camp first and breaking the city, their morale was already high, but after hearing the words, their ferocious spirit became even stronger.
"kill!"
Lu Kuang didn't show any pretense, he raised his big shield and charged out first. All the soldiers immediately followed him, shouting to kill him.
The camp gate was quickly captured. Although many Chu troops took advantage of the night to hide in the dark and shoot cold arrows to cover their retreat, Lu Kuang still caught up with Zhou Tai.
"Give the signal!"
Zhou Tai said this, and the soldiers beside him shot a loud arrow into the sky.
"No, there's an ambush!"
Lu Kuang was shocked, and the Wei troops around him quickly formed a defensive circle around him.
However, after waiting for a long time, the surroundings of the military camp were quiet and there was no movement at all. Lu Kuang poked his head out from behind the shield and saw that Zhou Tai had already led his men away.
"Zhou Tai, you shameless villain, you actually defrauded me!"
Lu Kuang was so angry that his whole face became distorted. He threw away his shield and chased after him angrily.
"Chase me!"
The back door of the military camp had been blocked by people arranged by Lu Kuang, but the Chu army did not leave after all.
Therefore, they simply stopped running and pounced on them like wild beasts trapped in a cage.
Lu Kuang saw that some Chu soldiers had lost their right hands, so he raised his sword with his left hand to fight. Some Chu soldiers were hit by several swords and did not fall down. They grabbed the sword on their chest with one hand to prevent the Wei soldiers from pulling it out, and threw their own sword away into the enemy's chest.
So fierce!
They seem to be a group of monsters that know no pain, no fatigue, and no fear of death, which makes people shudder. Even when faced with the elites of the Wei State, who were known for their fierceness and bravery, Xiandeng camp, they showed contempt and fearlessness, and pushed forward hard, killing the enemy until they were frightened, as if they were born kings.
Even though they knew that the Chu army in front of them was certain to die and there was no possibility of a comeback, the soldiers who first entered the camp still cowered. Seeing such a scene, Lu Kuang felt mixed feelings in his heart and took the lead in killing Zhou Tai. The soldiers who followed him also joined the battlefield.
Zhou Tai did not evade this time and faced Lu Kuang head-on. The two fought for fifteen rounds, and Lu Kuang pierced Zhou Tai's chest with his sword.
Lu Kuang was happy and surprised at the same time, so he asked deceitfully.
"Aren't you Zhou Tai?"
"If the general is here, how can you still be alive?"
That "Zhou Tai" grabbed Lu Kuang's sword and laughed. The knife in his hand stabbed Lu Kuang unceremoniously. However, Lu Kuang grabbed his wrist with his left hand and snatched the knife away.
Lu Kuang kicked the fake Zhou Tai away and was furious.
"Asshole, you are actually playing tricks on me! Come here, kill them all, and let's go."
"Hahahaha~ Let's go? Where are you going? Stay here and die with me, Tang Chi! Hahaha!"
Tang Chi, who fell to the ground, covered his bleeding wound and laughed.
"General, look behind you, look behind you!"
The soldiers who arrived at the camp first screamed.
Lu Kuang turned around and looked around, only to see groups of fires igniting in the dark night, as if they suddenly erupted, extremely violent, from far to near.
Lu Kuang was stunned when he smelled a strange smell in the air.
It's kerosene!
In a far corner, a Chu soldier raised a jar and threw it to the ground as if to demonstrate deliberately, causing kerosene to splash everywhere on the ground.
Chu Bing smiled at this and knocked over the brazier next to him. The flames immediately spread around, burning the fence and the tents on the side. Then they suddenly jumped up like an explosion and became more fierce.
It was gunpowder, and there was gunpowder hidden in the tent.
From here and beyond, the back door of the barracks was on fire, and further forward it was also on fire.
The entire Pengcheng Fortress was in flames.
They first climbed into the camp and ran away desperately, and the city was full of curses and screams. The Huxiao camp laughed happily but chased and killed the Wei army in this sea of fire.
Lu Kuang tremblingly pointed at Tang Chi and cursed.
"Crazy, crazy! You are all crazy!"
After saying that, he ran towards the Wei army's camp without looking back.
Tang Chi vomited blood and continued to laugh as he watched Lu Kuang escape in embarrassment. I'm obviously going to die, but I'm so happy, so happy!
"Hahaha! Lu Kuang, right? You can't run away, you can't run away! Come and die with my brothers."
······
"Quick! Put out the fire! Put out the fire!"
Xiahou Dun stood in front of Pengcheng Fortress, anxious, and the sky-high fire burned the night sky red.
In the end, the fire burned until the next day before it was extinguished. The Pengcheng Fortress was destroyed, Lu Kuang died in the fire, and the Xiandeng camp also lost more than 3,000 soldiers, and less than 2,000 soldiers were rescued.
