Volume One, Chapter 11: The Left Flank Attacks, Stone Projectiles Roar!

“Quick, fetch some butter!” Qin Feng ordered.

Soon after, a soldier hurriedly ran up the city wall, carrying a bowl of solidified butter.

Without hesitation, Qin Feng hurriedly took the butter and carefully applied it to the contact points between the ropes and the pulleys.

The butter quickly melted under the intense heat, seeping into the gaps and effectively reducing friction, preventing the ropes from overheating.

Suddenly, a soldier beside him slipped, causing the rope in his hands to loosen instantly. The Cloud-Breaker Crossbow, which was nearly on the wall, wobbled precariously.

Fortunately, Qin Feng’s quick reflexes saved the day. He rushed forward, gripped the rope tightly, and pulled with all his might.

“Everyone, put in more effort!” he encouraged.

Motivated by Qin Feng’s words, the men worked together, inching the Cloud-Breaker Crossbow onto the wall bit by bit.

Under the blazing sun, after more than an hour of effort, they finally secured the crossbow atop the wall.

“Phew!” Qin Feng exhaled deeply and collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.

At that moment, all he craved was a cold bottle of cola to quench his thirst — that would be pure bliss!

Then, his peripheral vision caught sight of another Cloud-Breaker Crossbow below the wall, and his heart tightened with frustration. He silently wished, “Commander, can I exchange for a crane?”

If only they had a modern crane, transporting the massive crossbow up the wall would be effortless.

But the system paid him no heed.

Meng Jun, shirtless and drenched in sweat, climbed the wall and looked at the crossbow before him with great admiration. “Your Highness, you truly are a genius! This method is remarkable!”

Qin Feng waved his hand weakly, offering no reply.

After a brief rest, he slowly rose and said, “Gather more ironwood and ropes. At dusk, we’ll move the other Cloud-Breaker Crossbow to the opposite end of the wall.”

With one crossbow on each side, combined with ten catapults, they had effectively fashioned a formidable fortress.

If the Xiongnu dared to attack, the Northern Border Army would send them back with a lesson learned.

Meng Jun nodded in understanding. “Understood!”

...

Two days later, under the scorching sun, Qin Feng stood atop the wall, biting fiercely into a roasted lamb leg, his brow slightly furrowed as he sighed, “Ah, a sprinkle of chili and cumin would make this perfect.”

Though coarse salt had been sprinkled on the lamb, the flavor was still somewhat off.

Glancing around, the Cloud-Breaker Crossbows and catapults stood ready, and storerooms for stone projectiles and arrows had been built at the center and both ends of the wall.

This arrangement meant that, in the event of war, the crossbows and catapults could be reloaded swiftly to deal devastating blows to the enemy.

“Report!” A scout hurried onto the wall, dropping to one knee. “Your Highness, Xiongnu forces have been spotted ten miles north of the city.”

Qin Feng’s sword-like brows rose slightly.

He devoured the lamb leg in a few bites, then sneered, “Heh, the Xiongnu are bold, daring to attack the city head-on in broad daylight.”

Meng Jun, clad in armor, stepped forward, staring at the distant grasslands thoughtfully. “This must be the left wing led by Prince Zuo, whose forces are far stronger than the right.”

Qin Feng nodded calmly. Though the Northern Border Army numbered fewer than twenty thousand, with the city walls, catapults, and Cloud-Breaker Crossbows, the Xiongnu would find breaching the city no easy task.

“Your Highness,” Zhao Qiming approached, his robust frame moving steadily, and saluted respectfully. “All captured weapons have been melted down. Over a thousand shields have been forged!”

Qin Feng’s face brightened. “Oh? Just in time. Bring them here.”

Following orders, Zhao Qiming signaled, and two soldiers carried a massive shield forward.

Qin Feng examined it closely.

The shield was built exactly as he had instructed — about six feet long and three feet wide. Positioned diagonally, it could shelter four men behind it.

“Not bad,” Qin Feng said, nodding with approval. “Captain Zhao, distribute the shields and form a shield battalion. Bring all the shields up to the wall. Two men per shield. Stand ready for orders!”

Zhao Qiming saluted. “Yes, sir!”

Qin Feng continued, “Notify Li Xiuyuan to lead the archer battalion onto the wall and prepare for battle.”

Meng Jun acknowledged. “Understood!”

Soon, the entire garrison of Suiye City sprang into action.

Under Li Xiuyuan’s command, four thousand archers climbed the walls, gripping their composite bows tightly, their quivers filled to the brim.

Two thousand stood at the front, the other two thousand behind, all nocking arrows and bracing for combat.

Next, Zhao Qiming led two thousand shield bearers into position. The enormous, sturdy shields at their sides instilled a palpable sense of security.

Xu Qian coordinated a thousand soldiers, dividing them into groups stationed beside the catapults. Their hands rested on the winches, ready to load stone projectiles and unleash thunderous attacks.

Qin Feng and Meng Jun stood at the wall’s center, gazing at the faint silhouettes approaching in the distance.

Meng Jun’s rough features grew grave. “Your Highness, the Xiongnu left wing is famed for their cavalry and high mobility. Be cautious.”

Qin Feng nodded slightly, remaining silent.

Moments later, just as Meng Jun had warned, tens of thousands of Xiongnu cavalry charged straight forward, clearly aiming to reach the wall swiftly, scale it with ladders, and engage in fierce combat.

Meng Jun clenched his fists, eyes fixed on the rapidly approaching riders, now less than a kilometer from Suiye City.

Their furious battle cries echoed thunderously, as if the city was already theirs.

“Catapults, ready!” Qin Feng commanded, raising his hand.

Soldiers wasted no time, loading massive stone projectiles into the slings, turning the winches to pull the throwing arms back to their limits.

Squinting, Qin Feng dropped his arm. “Fire!”

Whistling sounds pierced the air as a hundred stone shots streaked like meteors across the blazing sky, heading straight for the Xiongnu cavalry.

Under the blazing sun, the riders advanced from north to south, the fierce light blinding them, preventing early detection of the incoming massive stones.

All that could be heard was a deep, muffled roar, like thunder cracking in their ears.

“Danger! Scatter!” Suddenly, some riders raised their hands to shield their eyes, barely spotting the descending stones. Their faces changed drastically as they shouted warnings.

But it was too late.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The stones smashed the ground with deafening crashes, shaking the earth. Dust billowed like an apocalypse descending.

The Xiongnu cavalry formation was instantly torn apart by huge gaps.

Limbs and horse parts flew everywhere, blood mist rising under the sun, emitting a nauseating stench of carnage.

Horses that were lucky enough to avoid a direct hit panicked wildly, neighing frantically and bucking uncontrollably. Riders were thrown from their mounts, deepening the chaos.

At the rear, the Xiongnu Left Wing King, Tuoba Liesun, turned pale, exclaiming in disbelief, “How is this possible?!”