Chapter 163: Night Raid

After two volleys of rockets, the remaining rockets on the city wall were already scarce.

Lei Gong was frantically manufacturing in a small hut behind the city wall, but could hardly keep up with the consumption speed.

The barbarians' siege equipment slowly approached the city wall in the gaps between rocket fire.

Ordinary arrows falling on the heavy siege wagons had almost no effect.

"Bring the 'surprise' up!"

Jiang Xiaomu gave the order in a low voice.

Several soldiers strained to lift a few heavy wooden boxes over and carefully placed them on the city wall.

The wooden boxes opened, revealing lump after lump of dark iron.

Beside them, several small catapults were also ready, which Jiang Xiaomu had exchanged for at great cost from the system.

Although small in size, their range was not to be underestimated.

"Watch closely, after lighting the fuse, fire immediately!"

Jiang Xiaomu personally demonstrated the operation procedure once.

"Understood!"

The soldiers replied in unison.

As the barbarians' siege equipment drew nearer, Jiang Xiaomu gave a single command.

"Fire!"

The soldiers placed the explosive packs into the catapults' pouches, lit the fuses, then pulled hard on the catapults' release levers.

"Whoosh!"

One after another, the explosive packs traced arcs and landed precisely on the barbarians' siege wagons and ladders.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The violent explosion's roar pierced the clouds, flames shot into the sky.

The shockwave from the explosion hurled nearby barbarian soldiers into the air, limbs flying everywhere, and the siege wagons and ladders were instantly smashed to pieces.

Beneath the city wall, it once again became a hell on earth.

Tu Huai watched this horrific scene before him, his eyelids twitching wildly.

He had never seen such a terrifying weapon, and fear rose unbidden in his heart.

"What... what on earth is this thing?!"

Wu Chu was even more stunned, pointing at the catapult on the city wall and stammering.

Gunpowder smoke filled the air, which was thick with the smell of blood and powder.

At the foot of the wall, barbarian soldiers' corpses piled up like mountains, severed limbs scattered across the ground.

After several rounds of explosive throws, the tens of thousands of barbarians besieging the city were almost completely wiped out.

Tu Huai's face turned ashen as he watched his army vanish in smoke and ashes, his heart full of resentment.

"Retreat! Sound the recall!"

On the city wall, Jiang Xiaomu and company did not cheer in celebration.

This was merely the first wave of the barbarians' army; what awaited them next would be even more fierce and cruel attacks.

"Lei Gong, how many rockets and explosives are left?"

Jiang Xiaomu asked in a low voice.

Lei Gong wiped a handful of grime from his face, his tone heavy.

"Leader, there are fewer than two hundred rockets left, and only about thirty explosives."

"Moreover, the materials for making explosives have been exhausted; now only some high‑concentration fire oil remains."

Jiang Xiaomu immediately entered the system, but at this moment his Heavenly Fate Points were insufficient, making it impossible to exchange for anything!

These weapons are now far from enough to withstand the next wave of attack.

"Distribute the remaining rockets and explosives evenly among each soldier and catapult."

"Tell the brothers to use them sparingly, and not to employ them lightly unless absolutely necessary."

"Yes, sir!"

Lei Gong received the order and departed.

Xiong Kuohai walked up to Jiang Xiaomu and said in a deep, muffled voice:

"Boss, these barbarians are really tough; although we suffered no losses this time, what are we to do next?"

Jiang Xiaomu patted Xiong Kuohai on the shoulder and comforted him:

"Don't worry, I already have a new plan."

"Tonight, I'm going to give these barbarians a big gift!"

Night fell; outside Hope Prefecture City, the barbarian army set up camp to rest.

Tu Huai sat in the great tent, his expression grim, saying nothing.

Today's crushing defeat made him lose all face, and also gave him a new understanding of Hope Prefecture City's defensive capabilities.

"What's going on?"

"According to the intelligence, Hope Prefecture City is just an ordinary small town—how could it possess such strange weapons?"

"Wu Chu, what sorcery are these dry‑people using? It actually has such tremendous power!"

Tu Huai gritted his teeth and asked.

Wu Chu pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

"Reporting, General, I too have never seen such a terrifying weapon."

"However, I suspect the manufacturing cost of such a weapon must be extremely high."

Moreover, the quantity is limited; otherwise, the Dry People would have already used it on a large scale.

Tu Huai nodded; Wuchu's analysis was not without reason.

Pass the order: tomorrow at dawn, the entire army will attack the city again!

This time, I will personally lead the troops; I must capture Hope Prefecture City!

"Yes, sir!" Wuchu received the order and left.

In the dead of night, Jiang Xiaomu led a small detachment silently out of Lookout Prefecture City, feeling their way toward the barbarian grand camp.

Each of them wore night-clothes and held a specially made weapon—a clay pot filled with fire oil, its mouth

Stopped up with oil-soaked cloth strips.

Remember, after lighting the clay pot, throw it out immediately and then withdraw quickly!

Jiang Xiaomu whispered his instructions.

Understood!

All responded in unison.

Under the cover of night, Jiang Xiaomu and his companions silently infiltrated the barbarian grand camp.

They scattered, hurling the ignited clay pots at the barbarian soldiers' tents.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

One deafening roar after another shattered the night's silence; flames shot into the sky, and the barbarian grand camp instantly became a sea of fire.

The barbarian soldiers asleep were startled awake by the sudden explosions, fleeing from their tents, only to find themselves already surrounded by fire.

Enemy attack! Enemy attack!

Terrified cries echoed through the night sky, and the barbarian grand camp descended into chaos.

Tu Huai woke from his sleep, saw the distant flames shooting into the sky, and his face changed dramatically.

Damn it! What the hell is going on?!

He hadn't even had time to react when he heard hurried footsteps outside the tent.

Report! General, the enemy launched a night raid on our camp; now the camp has become a sea of fire!

Tu Huai let out an angry roar.

Pass the order: immediately organize a counterattack!

However, it was already too late.

The raging flames devoured everything; the barbarian soldiers fled in all directions, utterly unable to organize any effective resistance.

Wuchu brandished his saber, directing the panicked barbarian soldiers to fight the fire, the thick smoke making him cough incessantly.

Jiang Xiaomu and his companions moved like ghosts through the sea of fire; wherever they went, there were explosions and flames.

The barbarian soldiers' discipline was already lax; now they were in utter disarray, powerless to resist, and were slaughtered by Jiang Xiaomu and his men like melons and vegetables.

Kill! Leave none alive!

Jiang Xiaomu's eyes flashed with cold light; his long blade harvested one living life after another.

In the smoke, Tu Huai's blood-red eyes stared fixedly at Jiang Xiaomu.

He brandished his guandao, roaring as he charged at Jiang Xiaomu, knocking the barbarian soldiers aside left and right along the way.

You little thief, give me your life!

However, a figure stepped in front of Tu Huai—it was the Overlord Blade.

The Overlord Blade grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

Your opponent is me!

Having said that, he raised his great decapitating blade, imbued with thunderous force, and brought it down hard on Tu Huai.

Clang!

A deafening boom rang out as the two great blades collided, sending up a shower of sparks.

Tu Huai felt his hand go numb; his guandao nearly slipped from his grip.

He was shocked inside; this guy has tremendous strength!