Chapter 234: Frontier Beacon Smoke

As Bianliangcheng conducted a tight internal investigation, and Chen Wen had set out from the Northern Frontier and was returning.

On the western frontier of the Great Chen dynasty, bordering Northern Han in the Lu and Jin prefecture areas, war flames flared up again.

After obtaining arms and grain secretly supplied by the Iron Crow Army, as well as some 'special' support.

Northern Han Emperor Liu Jun believed he had seized the perfect opportunity, with the new dynasty just founded and its main forces tied down by the Khitan in the Northern Frontier.

He was no longer satisfied with small-scale skirmishes and launched a medium-scale offensive.

Thousands of Northern Han troops split into several columns, like wolves scenting blood, they fiercely charged toward several important military garrisons and passes along the frontier line.

The greatest pressure fell on the Jin Prefecture front, jointly defended by the Duke of Xing, Han Tong, and the Duke of Wei, Zhang Yongde.

On the walls of Jin Prefecture, the wind was bitterly cold and war clouds gathered thickly.

Han Tong wore heavy armor, his hand on his sword hilt, standing firm behind the battlements, his brows furrowed as he gazed toward the direction where dust rose in the distance.

His face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.

"How many have come?"

His voice hoarse, he asked the deputy general beside him.

"Your Grace, the enemy forces facing us number about five thousand, flying the banner of Northern Han's valiant general Zhang Yuanhui!"

The deputy general spoke extremely quickly.

"Moreover, each flank has over a thousand troops in support; judging by their equipment and march, they are all Northern Han elite!"

"What's worse, the scouts report that the enemy army appears to be carrying siege equipment—not merely looting!"

"Hmph! Liu Jun this scoundrel is dead set on taking advantage of the fire to loot!"

Han Tong let out a cold snort, his eyes blazing with anger.

"Do you think that because our Great Chen is newly founded, we can be pushed around at will?"

He suddenly turned around and roared at the messenger.

"Pass the order! The whole army on alert! Archers and crossbowmen to the walls! Rolling logs, stones, molten metal and fire oil—prepare them all for me!"

"Tell the brothers, His Majesty has crushed the Khitan in the Northern Frontier till they lost bladder and bowel control; here we cannot lose face for His Majesty!"

"Whoever dares to retreat a single step, I will first chop off his head!"

"Understood!"

The messenger clasped his fists and sprinted away.

At that moment, Zhang Yongde, also in military attire, hurried up to the tower, his expression equally solemn.

"Brother Han, the situation is dire."

He walked up to Han Tong's side and spoke in a low voice.

"The enemy comes with great force, and… have you noticed their formation is somewhat strange?"

Zhang Yongde pointed at the distant Northern Han formation gradually drawing near.

"Look at their vanguard: the shield bearers are unusually dense, and their shield style seems different from before, emitting a kind of… abnormal dark sheen."

"Also, the soldiers in the middle pushing the siege wagons move stiffly, their eyes dull, unlike the Northern Han troops we have fought before."

Han Tong, reminded by him, narrowed his eyes and looked closely.

Surely, the Northern Han army's front shield wall, under the thin winter sunlight, did not reflect the expected cold gleam of metal, but instead showed a light‑absorbing, near‑black darkness.

And those pushing the crude siege wagons indeed lacked the vitality of living men in their movements, like puppets pulled by invisible strings.

"It's the Iron Crow Army's doing!"

Han Tong gritted his teeth, his fists clenched so tightly they crackled.

"Besides them, nobody would resort to such heretical ways!"

"Qian Gui's intel was spot on—Northern Han really has teamed up with those ghostly things!"

Zhang Yongde nodded, his brow furrowed with worry.

"It seems they provided more than just ordinary arms."

"These shields may well block ordinary arrows and bolts;"

"those abnormal soldiers might be the "death warriors" they have concocted with drugs or other means, used for storming fortifications."

"This battle will likely be a tough fight."

"But a tough fight we must fight!"

Han Tong's beard and hair bristled, his heroic spirit undiminished.

"Haven't I fought enough tough battles already?"

"Never mind demons and monsters—under the walls of Jin Prefecture, dragons must coil and tigers must crouch!"

He looked at Zhang Yongde.

"Younger Brother Zhang, your mind is meticulous—you'll be in charge of defending and allocating the city!"

"I will personally lead a unit to wait in the barbican; if the chance arises, I will sally forth to blunt their spirit!"

"We cannot let them take the city easily!"

Zhang Yongde knew Han Tong's temperament was headstrong; at this point dissuasion was useless, and what was needed was his valor to boost morale.

"All right! Brother Han, be careful!"

"I'll take charge of the city defenses!"

He said in a deep voice.

"I have already ordered the stored fire oil to be brought up, specifically to counter their shield wall and siege wagons!"

"The archers and crossbowmen will also concentrate their fire to suppress the enemy's following echelons!"

"As long as we hold off the first few waves, blunt their edge, and wait for His Majesty's return or for General Shi Dun of the Northern Frontier to send reinforcements, the crisis will resolve itself!"

The two men had settled their plan, and each went to act.

Soon, the vanguard units of the Northern Han army entered the range of the defenders' bows and crossbows.

Fire arrows!

At Zhang Yongde's command, arrows poured down like rain on the city walls!

However, the effect fell short of expectations.

Most arrows struck the Northern Han vanguard's eerie dark shields, emitting a muffled duk-duk sound, easily bounced off and hard to penetrate.

Only a few exceptionally powerful bed crossbows could barely pierce the shields, inflicting limited casualties.

Indeed, something is strange!

Zhang Yongde furrowed his brows.

Stop firing ordinary arrows! Switch to fire arrows! Prepare the flammable oil!

Seeing this, the Northern Han army's morale surged and their advance quickened.

Especially those 'death warriors' pushing the siege wagons hardly dodged the arrows falling from above, simply lowering their heads and pressing forward; they soon pushed the siege wagons to the moat and began erecting makeshift bridges.

Pour oil! Launch fire arrows!

Zhang Yongde seized the moment and gave the order again!

Scorching, viscous flammable oil poured down from the city walls, drenching the shields, siege wagons, and the Northern Han soldiers below!

Immediately after, ignited fire arrows fell like meteors!

Boom!

Flames instantly rose, engulfing the forefront of the Northern Han ranks!

Piercing screams rang out; many Northern Han soldiers instantly became burning men, wailing as they rolled about.

Yet horrifyingly, the death warriors pushing the siege wagons, even as flames engulfed them, only slowed slightly, still hoarsely shouting and desperately shoving the vehicles forward!

As if they felt no pain!

These guys... are truly not normal people!

Seeing this eerie sight, the defenders on the walls couldn't help but feel their scalps go numb.

Don't panic! Concentrate fire and shoot those pushing the wagons!

Zhang Yongde forced himself to stay calm and shouted commands.

Spearmen, ready! Prevent the enemy from scaling the walls!

Just then, the gates of Jinzhou flung open!

Han Tong led the charge, heading over five hundred carefully selected sturdy soldiers who surged out of the city like a bursting flood!

Follow me, kill!

He roared, brandishing his long blade like a whirlwind as he plunged into the chaotic enemy ranks!

His target was precisely those Northern Han death warriors who, despite being aflame, continued to push the siege wagons!

Before Han Tong's fearless charge and his extraordinary martial prowess, those abnormal death warriors were finally checked!

Blade light flashed, flesh and blood flew!

Wherever Han Tong passed, he tore a gaping hole in the Northern Han vanguard!

On the walls, seeing this, Zhang Yongde immediately ordered the archers and crossbowmen to give full cover, suppressing the Northern Han troops trying to encircle Han Tong.

This battle of attack and defense lasted from morning until afternoon.

The Northern Han army relied on special equipment provided by the Iron Crow Army and fearless death warriors, making their offensive fierce.

Meanwhile, the Jinzhou defenders, under the command of Han Tong and Zhang Yongde, relied on the advantage of the walls and their desperate courage to repel the enemy's assaults time and again.

Above and below the city, corpses lay strewn about, the air thick with the stench of blood and burnt flesh.

Finally, after leaving behind nearly a thousand corpses and several burning siege wagons, the Northern Han army sounded the retreat, withdrew temporarily ten li to set up camp.

Jinzhou held, for now.

Yet Han Tong and Zhang Yongde, standing on the battered city walls, showed no joy.

They gazed at the chaotic battlefield outside the city and the rising cooking smoke from the distant Northern Han camp, their hearts heavy.

This was only the first assault.

The Northern Han army had not been seriously weakened, and the Iron Crow Army's tactics likely went far beyond this.

Yet their manpower and resources were not limitless.

We must seek aid from Bian Liang as soon as possible.

Zhang Yongde wiped the blood and soot from his face and spoke in a low voice.

At the same time, warn the other border garrisons to beware of the Northern Han's similar tactics.

Han Tong panted heavily, leaning on his rolled-blade long sword, gazing toward the direction where Chen Wen was returning his troops northward.

Hope Your Majesty... can return soon.

These days of fire on all sides are truly damned hard to endure!

He spat out a mouthful of bloody spittle, yet his eyes burned with unyielding fire.

But as long as His Majesty has not returned, as long as they still draw breath, this Jinzhou city must never be lost!