Chapter 197: Time Flows Like Water (4)
Hamgok Pavilion, located in a gap between a high and rough canyon, has the reputation of being the best pavilion in the world.
It was an impregnable gateway with rough terrain and difficult to conquer, but now it was extremely dangerous.
Jang Yang, watching the battle unfold from the gate tower, let out an inexplicable sigh.
“after””.”
The total defense force of the gateway was 8,000, and 3 of Jangan’s troops were deployed here. However, the enemy force was much more than ten times that size.
At that time, General Yang Kang approached and spoke in a dark voice.
“Mingong, the enemies are coming again.”
Jang Yang only nodded his head once, as if he was feeling frustrated.
Most of the enemy troops that were now coming in like waves were forcibly conscripted civilians. They were not given armor or weapons. All that was left was a shield made of woven straw.
The trained regular army was in the rear, and only innocent civilians were approaching as arrows.
That tormented Jang Yang”s heart.
Everyone was in awe of the Hui Dynasty, which used petty methods despite its overwhelming military power.
“How”how can they have to die like this”?”
The number of their bodies already strewn beneath the gate was countless.
Weren’t we innocent people until not long ago? The archers firing arrows from above the gate also felt uneasy.
If the offensive slackened even slightly, the regular army would immediately follow, making it impossible to stop.
“Please give the order. If the enemy soldiers come up the gate again, we won”t be able to stop them.”
The Red Tiger Corps wearing red armor with the character “Jeokho ” engraved on it. They were the biggest problem.
Their level of martial arts was amazing, and above all, they were soldiers who were not afraid of death, so it was very difficult to deal with them.
A few days ago, when some of them climbed over the gate, it was a dangerous situation. Although Wolf Fang Squad’s performance barely prevented it, it was difficult to expect such luck again.
Jang Yang forced a voice that wouldn’t come out.
“Shoot” Do””
Yang Kang bowed his head once, then turned around and gave an ordered.
“firing!!!”
With a single command, the archers opened fire.
Papat-! Papapapot-!
The soldiers who were charging fell like reeds as the rain of arrows fell, turning the sky black.
Although it was natural to hesitate, there was no hesitation in the advance of the conscripts. Since their families were held hostage, it was a choice they had no choice but to make.
Soldiers who had reached the bottom of the gate were setting up ladders and climbing up. Since most of them had no weapons, they were not a threat, but the regular soldiers who used them as shields were a problem. I had no choice but to keep them in check with arrows.
About half an hour into the fierce battle, General Jin Lip approached and stood up.
“Please get some rest, Mingong. Haven”t you been able to sleep for three days?”
It wasn’t that I didn’t sleep, it was that I couldn’t sleep.
His mind continued to deteriorate, and her eyes were red and bloodshot. When I closed my eyes, I could not bear the images of civilians who had died innocently.
“I”m fine, don”t worry.”
Jin-rip, who was looking at him worriedly, sighed and got to the point.
“The archers will soon run out of arrows… I will hold out today, but I am worried that from tomorrow we will have to fight in hand-to-hand combat.”
This was something I had already expected. This was the reason why conscripts were constantly being sent out from the main camp of the Hui Dynasty. Even though we had stockpiled enough arrows in advance, there were not enough.
“Although our enemies are numerous, our terrain is favorable, so there is no reason to be afraid.”
The worry still did not go away on Jin-rip”s face. It was clear that from tomorrow onwards, the generals of the State of Hui would lead their elites and enter the war in person.
Although there was Rang-a-dae led by Il-gwang, the difference in numbers was not something that could be done.
“How about calling the general right now? Taigongsan Mountain is not far from here.”
“He said that if he doesn”t grow, he won”t be able to win the coming war. How can he waste half a year of training just to avoid an immediate crisis?”
“But if it continues like this, I don”t know how long I can hold on.”
It was not that he did not know Jin-rip”s feelings. It was a being with a fighting power equivalent to that of an entire army in its short stature. Just hearing that he was coming would lift the morale of the soldiers.
However, Jang Yang shook his head at once.
“Even if the gate falls, we have to trust and wait. All we can do is recapture Hamgokwan, but we may not be given half a year again.”
“If you come””
Jang Yang changed the subject and asked again.
“How many arrows for river rob are left?”
“We haven”t deployed the trigger crossbow unit yet, so we have room to spare.”
“As soon as the sun rises tomorrow, deploy the Wolf Fang and trigger crossbow units above the gate.”
“All right.”
Jang Yang nodded and silently stared at the battlefield again.
Several days had passed since the battle took place, but there were still no problems with the defense. Starting tomorrow, when the archers’ arrows fell, it was a battle between swords and swords.
As expected, as the day grew dark, the enemies retreated. Leaving only thousands of corpses beneath the gate.
Jin-rip approached and spoke, leaving behind the shouted of our soldiers.
“Mingong, we have prepared a meal for you.”
Jang Yang didn’t think he would be able to finish his meal. As I looked at the corpses of the dead civilians, I almost lost my mind.
He shook his head once and looked at the camp spread out inside the gate and spoke.
“I don”t have any thoughts yet, so you go first.”
Jang Yang went down the gate and headed to the command center. Because it was meal time, there was no one in the barracks.
Sitting at the table, he directly inspected the results of today’s battle and looked at the deployment of troops.
After a while. Suddenly, a familiar figure came in here, grabbing someone by the collar.
A general with a fierce appearance and a rugged, stocky physique. It was Il-gwang.
“As you ordered, I have captured one person. He is a white leader.”
Jang Yang”s face brightened somewhat. Although he was only a low-ranking officer, he must have some information.
“Thank you for your hard work. You have worked hard on behalf of General So-mu.”
“There is no commander, so the unit commander must do it. Just leave everything to me.
Il-gwang felt good about the praise and felt strength in his shoulders. At the same time, he viciously grabbed an officer from the State of Hui and beat him up in front of Jang Yang.
Kwaang-!
“Ugh!”
His face was swollen from being hit so hard by Il-gwang. However, her eyes were fiercely alive.
“What is your name?”
“””.”
There was no answer. It was the same even though Il-gwang grabbed her hair from behind.
Jang Yang said with a kind smile to Il Gwang.
“Stay out for a while.”
“Yes, I will be at the door. Call me if you need anything.”
“That”s right.”
Jang Yang looked at Baek In-jang, who was kneeling with his clasped hands.
“I am Miss Zhang. I am the person who has the authority to decide your disposition.”
When Jang Yang revealed his identity, Baek In-jang looked up in shock. Her eyes were secretly examining his surroundings.
“The person protecting me is not an easy person. So please don”t do anything unnecessary.”
Baek In-jang felt an unknown chill penetrate his body for an instant. Above all, I couldn’t even tell where it was coming from.
“What do you want from me?”
Baek In-jang”s mouth opened for the first time. Jang Yang nodded and said with a satisfied expression.
“Negotiations with the enemy are always necessary during war. I would like to propose a deal to you.”
“I am just a low-ranking officer.”
“But wouldn”t you be able to give us some useful information? If you do that, we will grant your request as long as it does not violate moral principles.”
“How can I trust you?”
As if Jang Yang knew this would happen, he called all the guarded outside the barracks inside.
After a while, about twenty soldiers surrounded the barracks and stood guard.
“What if there are witnesses like this? If I don”t keep my promises, I will be known as a leader who always lies.”
Baek In-jang thought for a moment and nodded once.
“Can you release me?”
“How difficult would that be? But that will be after the battle here is over.”
It had to be confirmed that the information was true, and if released immediately, the reported information could be passed on to Hui Nara and cause problems in the operation.
Chief Baek also seemed to know the reason.
“…I wouldn”t have believed you if you said you would be released right away. I will accept the offer.”
“Good idea. Then, tell me.”
After hesitating for a moment, Baek In-jang began to confess what he knew one by one.
“The commander currently leading our military is General Dark Blood.”
There was already a lot of information collected about him. Dark Blood was famous as a highly resourceful tactician of the State of Hui, and had an undefeated record.
“Then that means Wan Anhui is not here.”
“I don”t know anything about the Great General”s whereabouts. What is certain is that he is not here with us.”
“I understand. If you have any other information, please tell me more. If you do, I will provide you with a warm meal.”
The mouth had already been opened once. The second time wasn’t difficult.
“A few days ago, the Red Guards moved somewhere.”
Even so, Jang Yang was also a questionable part. This was because the troublesome red soldiers have not been seen for some time.
Does this mean that the camp’s core elite troops retreated first ahead of a full-scale battle? It made absolutely no sense.
“I don”t understand.”
“I don”t know the details.”
It was surprising that the Red Tiger Corps had disappeared. I felt uncomfortable for some reason, but I couldn’t find the reason.
As Jang Yang was lost in thought, a strategic map suddenly caught his eye.
‘no way?’
He slowly drew a half-moon, tracing the terrain with his index finger.
“To enter Gwanjung, you must pass through this Hamgok Pavilion. Otherwise, we would have to cross the Yellow River twice and take a long detour. Although it was an impossible task, it would not be impossible at all for a small number of elites who have mastered light movement technique to the extreme.”
If, by chance, an enemy corps attacked from the rear while you were engaged in battle, you will not have the wherewithal to withstand it. Although the probability was low, it was something that could not be ignored.
However, in a situation where you were outnumbered, isn’t it impossible to disperse your troops based on feeling alone?
I needed time to think. Jang Yang, who felt a severe headache, bit the soldiers and said,
“Although he is an enemy, he has provided valuable information, so he deserves compensation. Please imprison him until the battle is over, but provide him with a warm meal and allow him to rest comfortably.”
“Yes, Mingong. I understand.”
The guarded raised the centurions from left and right. Then he turned his head and spoke urgently.
“There is still one more piece of information left.”
Jang Yang raised his right hand and signaled the soldiers to stop.
“I”d like to hear it, but I don”t know if there”s more I can give you. What do you want?”
“It”s just a reward for showing me trust.”
There was no reason to refuse. Jang Yang nodded and waited for an answer.
“Then I won”t decline.”
Baek In-jang hesitated for a moment and spoke in a whisper.
“Soldiers have been collecting graphite wood under the commander”s instructions for a few days now.”
“Graphite wood…?”
It was one of the trees growing on Humsan Mountain. It has the characteristic of emitting thick smoke when ignited, and was a material used in smoke bombs by assassins.
What were you planning with this? Hamgokgwan was so high that most castle walls cannot be compared. It was impossible to even attempt to use fireworks on the top of the gate.
While I was lost in thought for a while, one possibility suddenly crossed my mind.
“If it”s acting” ” . If?’
Jang Yang jumped out of his seat and stood up.