Volume One, Chapter 14: Furious Shouts Beneath the Walls, Riding Out to Meet the Enemy!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A hundred stone projectiles rained down from the sky, erupting with deafening blasts.
The shattered boulders flew like a horizontal barrage of bullets, piercing through horse bellies and armor alike, leaving heavy casualties in mere moments.
Chaoketu clenched his teeth in fury.
He was caught in a dilemma.
If he retreated recklessly, by the time he returned to the camp, the army of fewer than thirty thousand would likely be reduced to less than ten thousand.
Moreover, waiting for him would be the endless wrath of Crown Prince Tuoba Liesun of the Imperial Empire.
Rather than that—
He might as well lead his troops in a desperate countercharge!
He would rather die beneath the walls of Suiye City than flee back to camp, living a coward’s life!
With this resolve, Chaoketu raised his long blade high and shouted, “Warriors of the Xiongnu! The Imperial Army has gone too far—let us fight them to the death!”
At his command,
The disorganized Xiongnu cavalry decisively turned their horses around and charged back toward Suiye City.
They thought, “We might not survive anyway—killing one is not a loss, killing two is profit!”
On the city walls,
Qin Feng naturally understood Chaoketu’s plan and a hint of respect flickered across his brow. “He’s a true man,” he murmured.
At the same time, he slowly raised his arm and coldly ordered, “Archers, release!”
Though he respected Chaoketu, it did not prevent him from relentlessly slaughtering the Xiongnu cavalry. Different camps, dare to invade—then it’s fight to the death!
A volley of arrows filled the sky.
Combined with the stone projectiles from the catapults, when the Xiongnu cavalry reached the chevaux-de-frise, fewer than twenty thousand remained.
Most were wounded, and nearly half had lost their horses.
Suppressed with difficulty the urge to spit blood, Chaoketu shouted, “Where are the Imperial generals? Dare any of you come down and fight me?”
Hearing this,
Qin Feng looked down upon the shouting Chaoketu with a sneer curling his lips, muttering disdainfully, “Fool!”
“I hold every advantage now, and you’re a cornered dog with nowhere to run. You actually have the nerve to demand a duel? What madness!”
“Release the arrows!”
Without hesitation, Qin Feng ordered another volley.
The dense arrows swarmed forth.
Chaoketu had not expected the Imperial Army to launch such an unscrupulous assault without warning.
If Qin Feng knew, he would surely insult them again.
This is war!
Do you think this is a love story? And that we should fight fair? Have you lost your mind?
“Bastards!”
Chaoketu swung his long blade furiously, cutting through incoming arrows and cursing, “Are the generals of the Imperial Empire all cowards? Not even daring to face me in battle?”
Qin Feng remained indifferent.
Calmly, he scratched his ear and nodded at Li Xiuyuan.
The archers unleashed another deadly volley, continuously butchering the Xiongnu cavalry outside the city.
Chaoketu, mounted on a fierce steed, darted beneath the walls, cutting down arrows and loudly commanding, “Destroy the obstacles! Storm the walls by force!”
The Xiongnu troops dismounted recklessly to tear down the antlered logs and chevaux-de-frise outside the city.
Unfortunately,
These barriers were set by Meng Jun himself, built from captured Xiongnu weapons and parts of supply wagons.
Deeply embedded in the earth, they were not easily uprooted by sheer manpower.
“The Imperial Empire seizes the fertile lands of the Central Plains but only dares to hide behind city walls. Where’s the courage to fight?”
“Are the Imperial soldiers of Suiye City so cowardly that you’re worthy of our loyalty?”
“Despicable and shameless Imperial troops! You’re not even worthy of being born!”
...
Chaoketu’s insults continued unabated.
Though Meng Jun’s rage blazed fiercely, yearning to leap down and duel Chaoketu for three hundred rounds,
He was no fool.
Even if the Xiongnu dismantled some chevaux-de-frise and reached the city walls, the situation still favored the Northern Frontier Army.
There was no need to risk himself.
Besides, Chaoketu’s imposing figure was truly formidable.
Even after being worn down by catapults and archers, Meng Jun wasn’t confident he could defeat him outright.
“All the men of the Imperial Empire are cowards!”
“They can only hold out for three breaths—I pity the women of the Empire!”
“Cowardly turtles, always hiding their heads—no honor at all!”
After a while,
Chaoketu’s mouth was parched, lips pale, and his curses grew ever more vulgar.
The Northern Frontier soldiers burned with rage.
If looks could kill, Chaoketu would have been reduced to nothing by now.
“Your Highness, I can’t stand it anymore!” Meng Jun slammed his fist against the battlement in fury. “This big oaf is cursing far too foully!”
Even a clay figure would have some fire left in it.
As a Northern Frontier general, a man of iron will, how could he be cowardly?
Would that not earn the contempt of the Xiongnu scum?
Qin Feng’s expression remained cold as he shook his head slightly, offering no reply.
Chaoketu still had the strength to curse, which meant he still had plenty of fight left.
Let him swear all he wants—he’s still worth more than a few pieces of meat!
In the battle between life and death,
The process is unimportant; only the outcome matters.
Only the victor has the right to write history.
Later,
With just over ten thousand Xiongnu cavalry remaining, Qin Feng ordered the archers to cease fire.
All stood atop the walls, looking down at Chaoketu as if watching a performance.
It was like watching a monkey show.
Chaoketu was strong; even Li Xiuyuan himself could not shoot him off his horse.
“Warriors of the Xiongnu!”
Chaoketu glared at the partially dismantled chevaux-de-frise and swung his long blade, shouting, “The Imperial troops are all cowardly wretches! Follow me in a charge—flatten Suiye City!”
As he spoke,
Just as over ten thousand Xiongnu prepared to charge,
Qin Feng’s expression remained cold as he said quietly, “What did you just say?”
Chaoketu looked up and cursed, “I said you’re all cowards—not even daring to leave the city and fight me one-on-one!”
Qin Feng crossed his arms, mocking, “Want a duel? Why didn’t you say so sooner? I thought you Xiongnu actually enjoyed being toyed with like rats!”
Hearing this,
Chaoketu’s anger soared, nearly suffocating him.
“If you want to fight one of my generals, that’s not impossible!”
Pausing briefly, Qin Feng continued, “Here’s the deal: have your men step back three hundred paces. If you win, I will let them go. If you lose, these men will die with you. Do you dare?”
“Dare!” Chaoketu answered without hesitation.
Three hundred paces was exactly the minimum range for the catapults’ stones.
If he lost, the remaining ten thousand Xiongnu would become souls lost beneath the hail of stones.
But he had absolute confidence in his own strength.
Qin Feng turned to the eager Meng Jun and asked, “General Meng, confident?”
Meng Jun grinned, stood tall, and saluted firmly, “Your Highness, rest assured. I will bring back his head for you!”
Watching Meng Jun stride away with his blade,
Qin Feng sighed inwardly, muttering, “What the hell am I supposed to do with that big oaf’s head?”
At that moment,
Qin Feng seemed to recall something and beckoned Li Xiuyuan, saying, “Captain Li, accompany General Meng out of the city. You know what to do!”
Li Xiuyuan understood perfectly.
He loved shooting cold arrows the most!
As for fairness?
He never bothered to consider it.
The Xiongnu dared to invade Imperial territory—what fairness was there?
By any means, killing the enemy was victory!
Clenching his composite bow tightly, Li Xiuyuan quickly moved toward the city walls, mounted his horse, and quietly followed Meng Jun’s lead.
Meanwhile,
Qin Feng glanced over the ten thousand Xiongnu troops several hundred meters away and asked, “Where is Xu Qian?”