vstars Chapter 276 Jin Army Warrior Hu Bi'er
Chapter 276 Jin Army Warrior Hu Bi'er
In the latest developments of the Jin army, the muskets had begun to resemble Western flintlock muskets, but their range and power were still immature, like a fledgling eagle unable to take flight. To give these firearms greater destructive power, the Jin craftsmen painstakingly experimented with increasing the amount of gunpowder and widening the caliber of the projectiles, attempting to awaken its dormant, beastly spirit.
Seeing that the city walls of Dongping Prefecture could not be breached for a long time, Wanyan Ping said to his personal guard captain, "Hu Bier, take your men and charge! We must take Dongping Prefecture today, otherwise we will be in great danger of being attacked from both sides."
Although the Jurchen army had firmly established its foothold on the banks of the Yellow River, controlling the lifeline of this ancient waterway, the elite troops of the Li family army on the north bank were like lurking tigers, their eyes sharp, constantly watching for any movement on the opposite bank. The Jurchen army knew that in this turbulent situation, any lapse in vigilance could lead to unpredictable changes. Therefore, swiftly capturing Dongping Prefecture became a crucial step for them to solidify their defenses and guard against unforeseen circumstances.
Hu Bi'er, the captain of the guard who had the honor of serving by the side of the eldest prince of the Jin Kingdom, was not only synonymous with unparalleled bravery but was also bestowed the honorary title of "Jin Kingdom's Baturu." His name, like a fierce wind, inspired awe in the army. He wore a set of meticulously crafted armor, each piece gleaming with a cold luster, as if capable of withstanding any sharp edge in the world. In his hand, he gripped a broad-backed sword, heavy yet agile, a deadly weapon for cutting through the wind and waves on the battlefield.
Surrounded by a group of loyal subordinates, Hubier, like a moving war god, marched menacingly towards the city walls of Dongping Prefecture. Each step he took was resolute and determined, as if he intended to flatten all obstacles in his path and pave a smooth road to victory for the Jin Kingdom. In this impending siege, his figure was destined to be the most dazzling highlight.
Soon, Hubier's tall stature and dazzling equipment attracted the attention of the rebels, and the rebel archers and crossbowmen all used their weapons to attack Hubier.
Countless arrows rained down like a storm, but the soldiers beside Hubier quickly formed a wall of heavy shields to block them. Seeing this, the Jin army's artillery battalion immediately unleashed a fierce barrage of fire on the rebels shooting from the city walls. After a series of crackling sounds, the rain of arrows on the walls subsided slightly.
With a swift movement, Hubier leaped onto the city wall like a cheetah hunting its prey. A flash of his blade cleanly felled a charging rebel soldier. Without pausing, he picked up a spear lying on the ground, his eyes fixed intently on the rebel leader not far away, who was waving his arms and trying to stabilize the battle.
In an instant, the spear shot through the air with an extremely sharp momentum, its tip piercing the leader's chest with unerring accuracy. A look of disbelief flashed in his eyes, and he turned his gaze with difficulty to Hu Bier, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he could only kneel down slowly in the dust with a heart full of resentment.
Hu Bier roared, "Kill!"
He charged forward like a raging brown bear, unstoppable. Any rebel soldiers who tried to stop him were knocked off their feet by his mountain-like body. Despite the desperate resistance of countless rebels who thrust their weapons at Hubier, his heavy armor was like an impenetrable wall, neutralizing every deadly attack.
Seeing this, Wanyan Ping, who was overseeing the battle from the city wall, couldn't help but show a look of great joy. Without hesitation, he waved the command flag in his hand and shouted loudly for the Jin army following behind to speed up their pace and seize the opportunity to launch a more fierce attack.
Countless Jin soldiers successfully scaled the western city wall of Dongping Prefecture. They launched attacks in other directions through this breach, while Hu Bi'er led her men in a full-scale charge towards the city gate. If they could open the gate, Dongping Prefecture would be finished.
Just then, a series of rapid and clear hoofbeats suddenly rang out from the end of the city street, like the first beat of war drums, foreshadowing the storm. A rebel leader, tall and imposing, wielding a gleaming spear, galloped forward like a war god, blocking the path of Hu Bier and his party. This man was none other than Ma Yongsheng, the renowned top general under Li Gang.
The two armies clashed, and without a word, a fierce battle erupted instantly. This time, the rebel army, with its superior cavalry, gained the upper hand, like a cheetah hunting its prey, naturally suppressing the infantry. Hooves flew, dust billowed, and each clash was accompanied by the sharp sound of clashing metal and incessant cries of agony.
After the battle, the Jin soldiers surrounding Hubier either fell, becoming another tragic sight on the battlefield, or struggled to stand, each wounded, their faces covered in dust and blood, their former might completely gone. This contest was undoubtedly a thunderous victory for the righteous army, leaving an indelible mark on the enemy.
Seeing the critical situation, Hubier suddenly shouted, "Load the crossbows!"
He originally intended to use these crossbows to deal with the rebel soldiers guarding the city gate, but now the situation was urgent, and he had to deal with the immediate trouble first.
The Jin soldiers under his command were all carefully selected elites of the Jin army. As Wanyan Ping's personal guards, they were equipped with the best weapons and equipment in the army. At Hu Bi'er's command, the Jin soldiers quickly raised their crossbows and aimed at the surging rebel cavalry. Arrows pierced the air, bringing with them a series of deathly whistles.
In an instant, the rebel army's battle formation was in chaos, with men and horses falling to the ground in agony, and knights also plummeting to the ground, their fates unknown.
Ma Yongsheng's warhorse was also tragically struck in the neck by an arrow, letting out a mournful wail. In this life-or-death moment, Ma Yongsheng, with his agile movements, leaped off his horse, gripped his spear tightly, and like an angry dragon emerging from the sea, aimed straight for Hu Bier's heart.
Between the two, a flash of a blade, a whistle of a spear, and a clash of swords instantly escalated into a life-or-death struggle. The soldiers on both sides abandoned their ranged bows and arrows, drawing their melee weapons and throwing themselves into the blood-and-flesh-and-blood close combat. The atmosphere of the battle was intense and frenzied.
Upon hearing the news that the western city wall defenses had been breached by the Jin army, Li Gang, who was in the city, was extremely anxious. He immediately led his reserve troops towards the western city wall like a whirlwind. Before even reaching the edge of the battlefield, he could already see Ma Yongsheng locked in fierce combat with a Jin general, their swords flashing and the fight seemingly evenly matched. Li Gang knew Ma Yongsheng's fighting prowess; to be able to hold his own against him on the battlefield, this man must be a formidable general in the Jin army.
"Bring me my bow and arrows!"
Li Gang gave a deep, resolute order to the guards beside him, his eyes sharp and unwavering.
Soon, a soldier hurried forward and respectfully handed Li Gang a giant bow wrapped with glittering gold thread. Without hesitation, Li Gang drew an extremely sharp wolf-tooth arrow from the bag beside his saddle. With a light flick of his finger, the bowstring instantly tightened to its limit, like a full moon. His gaze was like a torch, locking onto Hu Bier, who was engaged in a fierce battle with Ma Yongsheng.
As Hubier was fully focused on the battle before him, he suddenly heard a sharp and rapid whooshing sound behind him. Alarm bells rang in his mind, and in the nick of time, he abruptly turned to the side, trying to avoid this sudden threat of death.
However, the wolf-tooth arrow, carrying deadly intent, though not striking his heart, mercilessly pierced his shoulder blade, leaving a gruesome bloodstain. Despite the pain, Hubier remained steadfast, using the momentum to deflect Ma Yongsheng's thrusting spear. Then, with a command, he led his Jin soldiers in a surging retreat towards the city walls, attempting to find a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.