Emperor Han Xian looked at the two people in front of him who were arguing incessantly and was also unable to make up his mind for a while.
Gu Dao Xiao is a respected and powerful veteran, but Fang Zhong is not simple either. He is not only the eldest son of the Fang family, one of the four major families, but also the son-in-law of Tang familys master. If it werent for the Fang familys ancestral teachings, he might have become a great general long ago. Therefore, although his official position is only that of a deputy commander of a battalion, when facing Gu Dao Xiao, he argues with reason and force, not showing any weakness at all.
"Your Majesty, since General Fang is confident, why not let him try? Even if he fails, its just a loss of three thousand slave soldiers."
At this time, a minister came forward and spoke to Emperor Xian of Han. This remark immediately triggered a chorus of approval.
The old general sighed and retreated, acknowledging that the Fang familys power in the military department was indeed formidable. Although he held a high-ranking position and commanded the Western Front, his influence in the imperial court was still far inferior to the Fang familys deep roots. His opposition wasnt out of good intentions, but rather due to concerns about Xu Haifengs leadership abilities, fearing that if he achieved another great victory, it would ruin his own plans. However, seeing that most officials were in favor, he knew it was pointless to continue opposing and retreated.
Since Gu Dao Yan no longer opposed it, the matter was settled. After obtaining permission from Emperor Han Xian, Fang Xiang Ling took the token and headed to the front lines.
As the deputy commander of this army of over 200,000 soldiers, even if he held a token of authority, other generals would not dare to openly defy him, but they would still drag their feet. However, as the eldest son and grandson of the Fang family, who had previously achieved great military success, most of the high-ranking generals in the army had some connection with the Fang family, so naturally no one dared to be negligent or slow.
Under the command of Zhen Dong, the most bizarre scene appeared on the battlefield.
Tens of thousands of people lined up in front retreated neatly, and there was no one within a kilometer in front of the main gate of Linan City. Such an action immediately attracted the attention of everyone on both sides, and as long as they could see, their eyes were involuntarily focused on this place.
A high tower pushcart slowly approached the city gate under the guard of thousands of soldiers. The commander of the Roman gate frowned, puzzled and unable to figure out what the Han people were up to. Such a high tower pushcart was made of solid wood, over ten zhang high, with stairs and slides on one side, and soldiers climbed from the stairs to the top platform of the cart. Standing on the top platform could directly climb onto the city wall, or archers on the top platform of the high tower could shoot arrows down at opponents, suppressing their archers, indeed a good tool for attacking cities and strongholds. But it had two fatal weaknesses: one was slow movement, and the other was not solid enough.
Because it was made too high, although its lower mount had wheels, it still couldnt move quickly, and for the same reason, its solidity was inferior. Precisely because of these two fatal weaknesses, it played a minor role in large-scale battles.
The catapult is its greatest nemesis, because its slow, so it becomes the catapults target, and because its not sturdy, it cant withstand a hit.
In the previous few days attack, the Great Han people also used this thing, but the effect was not good. Several were smashed by the catapults on the city wall and had to retreat.
Only to see these thousands of infantrymen arrive at the city gate, eight hundred meters away, and stop in their tracks, divided into three teams, each with about a thousand people. The team in the middle was particularly strange, with a man who was exceptionally tall, at least a head taller than the others. He had disheveled hair and looked like a demon god. Behind him, twenty men from the team of a thousand were carrying two large trays, on which sat two bronze lions. The Roman soldiers were discussing this among themselves, unable to figure out why they would bring bronze lions onto the battlefield. One of the Roman soldiers jeered: "Does he want to use those two lions as weapons?" This remark immediately triggered a burst of laughter from the crowd.
These three thousand infantrymen formed a battle array, and behind them came out another three thousand cavalrymen. These cavalrymen were not unfamiliar to the Caesarians; they were the renowned Red Ocean Gun Cavalry.
Behind them came several hundred men carrying bundles of arrows, each one holding two bundles. They ran swiftly to the top of the cart platform and arranged the arrow shafts in order. From this situation, it seemed that they were going to have the archers carry out suppressive fire.
"Prepare the catapult, once their cart enters six hundred meters, give it a good throw." Caesars officer gave a cold laugh and issued the command, but no one had thought that this command would be his last in this life.
When all the carts left, there were only a few empty spaces on the top platform of over ten square meters, which was piled up with arrow branches.
Then, a group of five people walked out from the cavalry team, along the stairs, slowly climbed to the top platform. One of them unfastened an extra-large bow from his back, took an arrow, slowly drew the bow and made a gesture as if to shoot.
"Has he gone mad? This is over 800 meters away from the city gate!"
Whether it was Emperor Han on the mountain slope and his ministers, the Caesarians on the city wall, or the Great Han army on the ground, they all raised such a question at the same time.
The entire battlefield fell eerily silent at this moment, with everyone holding their breath and watching his every move. Under the gaze of tens of thousands of pairs of eyes filled with astonishment, disbelief, and ridicule, he finally shot out this earth-shattering arrow.
Like a thunderclap, like a flash of lightning, no one could see the trajectory of this arrow. They only saw that persons right hand loosen, and almost simultaneously, the stone pillar on which the flag of the Kingdom of Kaisa was hung on the main gate tower of Linan City was struck by a giant boulder, emitting a loud "boom" sound, with stones shattering everywhere, the stone pillar breaking in half, and crashing down amidst countless pairs of disbelieving eyes.
The commander of the Caesarian troops standing beside the stone pillar stupidly turned his head around, and saw that the man on the pushcart platform had loosened his bowstring again. Then he only felt something flying into his open mouth, a huge force lifted him up entirely. What was this thing? Was it a devil? This was his last thought before his death.
Standing on the platform was none other than Zhebie, the divine archer, whose unparalleled archery skills were now being utilized to their fullest extent.
With the first arrow, he shot down the proud national flag of the Kaisa people, giving them a blow to their heads. With the second arrow, his arrow shaft passed through the mouth of the enemys frontline commander, and even more astonishingly, it lifted up the opponents stout body and deeply nailed it into the wooden board behind, with a streak of fresh blood winding down his back, unspeakably terrifying and mournful.
Then, Chebi shot arrow after arrow, and the arrows in front of him were soon used up. The two soldiers behind him constantly placed the arrows around them on his right side, making it convenient for him to pick them up.
The sky was left with a residual shadow of the arrows trajectory, and the sound of "whooshing" continued to echo through the air. Yes, because the arrows speed was too fast, it had almost reached its destination the moment it left the bowstring, so only a residual shadow could be seen in the air, and such a swift and deadly arrow had exceeded the speed of sound transmission, so people could only hear the previous sound.
Such terrifying archery has exceeded the range of human cognition. Since it cant even be seen, how can it be resisted? Every arrow from Jebel takes away more than one life, and the Roman officers are his main targets. All the officers who appear within his shooting range are doomed. Soon, when Jebel shot out his 500th arrow, there was not a single living person left on a 100-meter section of the city wall at the north gate. He actually controlled an entire 100-meter line with his own strength, and such momentum and achievements make it hard for people to believe even if they saw it with their own eyes.
A normal person can hit a target over 100 meters away is already a rare good archer, being able to hit most targets within 150 meters can be called a divine archer, but no one has ever heard of anyone who can hit something outside 200 meters. However, Zhebie in this battle actually showed a level far beyond human limits, and was able to achieve an arrow without empty shots at 800 meters away, and all the arrows were three inches into the stone, apparently still with spare power.
Human strength is sometimes exhausted, and even the range of a catapult is only within 600 meters. Whats more, there is no bow in the world that has a range of 800 meters. Moreover, even if such a bow and arrow existed, how could human eyes see clearly beyond 800 meters and achieve an arrow without a miss?
"Monster......" The Caesars wailed in despair.
"Oh God......" The great Han people cheered loudly.
On the hillside, Emperor Xian of Han and others were also stunned. After a long while, Emperor Xian of Han only felt a chill on his throat, and involuntarily touched his own throat. He looked up to see that most of the people around him had made the same gesture. He swallowed hard and asked in a hoarse voice, "Who is this person? Does my great Han army really have such a brave warrior?"
No one could answer this question naturally. Emperor Han Xian thought of Xu Haifeng from the Western Camp and asked, "Gu Ai...?"
"I am here." The old man emerged from the ancient path and bowed his body.
"This man must have come from the Western Expeditionary Army, who is he?"
The old man was taken aback, and he didnt know how this person, who had suddenly burst forth with divine authority, knew him. For a moment, he was speechless.
"What? You dont even know such a brave warrior? How did you lead your troops?" Emperor Han Xian angrily said.
The old man was really dumb and bitter, having a hard time speaking out. He cursed the ancestors of Xu Haifeng and Fangxiang Ming for eighteen generations in his heart, finally squeezing out a few words: "I only know that this person is a brave warrior under General Xu Haifengs command. After this battle, I will definitely conduct a thorough investigation."
"Hmph..." Emperor Han Xian turned his head back in dissatisfaction and continued watching.
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and at this moment he had already guessed that the person on top was holding the Heavenly Bow he gave to Qin Yong. At the time of giving the bow, he never thought that the power of the bow would be so great, and even more unthinkable that there was someone in the world who could draw the bow besides Qin Yong. And this bow in that persons hand is like a fish in water, exerting an unimaginable effect. He regretted it in his heart, if he had known earlier, this Heavenly Bow should not have been given away. With this man and Qin Yong working together, which army in the world could stop them?