175 Siege

"Just what are they doing?" General Wei wondered as they overlooked the giant battle map. Instead of attacking immediately and taking advantage of the element of surprise, the opposing army had stopped and pulled up a large wagon.

"It must be a siege engine of some kind," Marshal Yong said. "Though I've never heard of a siege engine with a ten-mile range before. Is it a new technology?"

"Even if it's a new technology, how could it ever eclipse the might of Southhaven Wall?" General Wei scoffed. They looked on as the opposing army joined several dozen pieces into what resembled a finger. Seven other such fingers were attached to a fifty-foot-by-ten-foot platform. Then they mounted an assembly that was just as large as the platform but contained several pistons and strange gems covered in runic designs.

Finally, they unveiled the last compartment of the massive wagon. Ten core-formation cultivators flew together with thick cables and lifted a large bronze barrel. They placed it gently on the mount that had just been installed. It clicked into place and was connected to a small secondary platform covered in runic designs and connected by a thick cable. They then loaded a large black sphere covered in runic designs into the bronze barrel and dumped tens of thousands of high-grade spirit stones on the platform.

"First through fifth formations, activate," Marshal Yong commanded through the fortress's voice transmission system. Five thousand cultivators poured their qi into multiple focus points along the wall. Five shields came together in formation and reinforced each other just in time to meet the cannon's first blast. The black ball exploded in a rain of shrapnel that was effortlessly repelled by the Southhaven Wall's intrinsic defenses.

"If that's all they have, we can defend against them indefinitely," General Wei remarked.

They carefully observed the aftermath of the blow and watched on in rapt attention as the opposing forces struggled to reload what Southhaven's forces now called a spider cannon.

"That's because you're blind, Old Wei," another general said. "I'm sure you noticed the nine other similar carts and the eleven munition carts carrying those large spheres. It won't be long before our forces are completely tied up by their cannon fire. Who will defend the wall then?"

"Just how were they made?" another man said. "It seems like they are magic weapons from the outside, but the explosion they create is far too potent."

"That's because the inside of the spheres contain an alchemical compound," said a general who wore cultivation robes instead of armor. "Those are alchemical flames. I'd bet my life on it." As the chief military alchemist, no one was qualified to overrule him on this assessment.

Marshal Yong, who had been listening all this time, finally spoke. "Call another five thousand men from the adjacent fortresses via transport formation while we think of a solution. With these men, we can still defend against their cannon power and stall out for reinforcements from the east. Deputy Marshal Feng?"

"Yes, sir?" Feng Ming said, standing at attention.

"You're the idlest here," the marshal said. "Go to the reception hall and receive our men."

Feng Ming bowed and scampered off, dragging General Qin along with him. "Where's the reception hall and what does it do?" he whispered.

General Qin's eyes widened. "You don't even know about the reception hall? It was in our orientation manual, and its location is common knowledge."

"I may have ignored the manual," Feng Ming muttered. "Regardless, lead me there so I don't lose face."

General Qin went out of his way to explain many of the wall's advanced features as they walked. They crossed many troops on their way who saluted them reverently. After all, these two men were the pinnacle of martial power in the empire, their idols. The stares grew less and less frequent, however. They soon approached the location of the five active combat formations, where tired men and women were rushing in and out of focus chambers. Those rushing in were fully rested individuals while those who came out were completely drained from having powered the formation for an extended period.

"Why did the marshal assign you as a deputy anyway?" General Qin said. "It's not like you're much stronger than me. Besides, we're both goons. All we can do is fight on the battlefield like they tell us to."

Feng Ming shrugged. "Not everyone who gets a promotion deserves it. I just got lucky, that's all. Regardless of my title, I'll be trading blows in the battlefield alongside you."

They soon passed the active formations and entered a pathway that ran through a "buffer" courtyard that surrounded the reception hall. A wave of brilliance assaulted their eyes as they approached one of the most mystical buildings in the fortress. Mysterious white glyphs rapidly faded as thousands of men appeared one after another inside it.

So we can teleport people anywhere on this wall? Feng Ming asked General Qin mentally.

Not exactly, General Qin answered. We can technically send them anywhere within ten miles, but the wall itself counts as a single entity. As such, we can teleport people safely within the three fortresses. Some time ago, the marshals experimented with teleporting troops outside the walls, but they got extremely mixed results. I'm not sure about the actual details, but a single man could be teleported with 100% success, while ten could be sent with fifty-percent success.

Feng Ming breathed in sharply. What happened to those who failed?

General Qin remained silent about the obvious answer: They'd died a terrible death. Still, Feng Ming felt a familiar itchy feeling in his fingers. Oh no you don't, Feng Ming thought, supressing the tingling. Teleporting was far too risky.

"Greetings, generals," Feng Ming said as he received the ten thousand men in the abnormally large hall. "Thank you for making it here so quickly. The situation is dire, and we need all the help we can get."

The general frowned. "And who might you be? Why are you a deputy marshal when I've never heard of you?" The middle-aged man was a foundation-establishment cultivator. Judging by his appearance, he was over a hundred years old.

Feng Ming was a bit embarrassed about his sudden rise through the ranks. "I guess I got lucky and broke through to core formation. The marshal took a liking to me, so here I am."

The man snorted. "Just a young buck. Make sure you don't trip on that cape of yours." The man swished his own cape and walked away. In the process, however, it flew back and tangled between his legs. The grumbling general tumbled a few dozen feet before planting himself face-first into the ground.

A younger general ran up beside the older man and helped him up. He bowed to Feng Ming apologetically. "General Liang has not returned to the capital for some time. As such, he hasn't heard of the illustrious Lucky General."

Feng Ming coughed awkwardly because at that moment, another young general, along with a few other colonels and captains, pelted him with voice transmissions requesting an autograph.

"No offense taken," Feng Ming said. "Please make sure you report to Relief Barracks 11 through 20 for duty. I'll have to see you all later—we're currently taking heavy enemy fire, so you'll likely be needed to provide immediate relief to those manning our defensive formations."

Like this, the ten thousand reinforcements trickled out of the reception hall and proceeded to their appointed stations. General Qin left after an hour, while Feng Ming decided to ponder the ten spatial transmission formations in the reception hall.

***

Five days passed. In that time, one cannon after another rose up and joined the offensive. Defending against the spider cannons proved to be more exhausting than they'd anticipated. It wasn't long before a steady rotation of fifteen thousand men was established to maintain the barriers. These men could only tirelessly cultivate day and night to replenish the energy stolen from them with each successful defense.

On the surface, it seemed that the 40,000 troops they possessed would be enough to support against the salvo. However, this was not accounting for any other cards the enemy had yet to play. Marshal Yong refused to believe that the enemy was so stupid as to play all their cards from the get-go.

"Marshal Yong, I have some disappointing news to report," Deputy Marshal Mo said as he approached the grizzled man.

"Speak," Marshal Yong said.

"It's about the reinforcements," Deputy Marshal Mo said hesitantly. "I'm afraid that Marshal Tian has refused our request for reinforcements. Apparently a beast tide has just begun near the eastern wall, and they are already stretched thin as it is. Meanwhile, the rest of our forces are tied up in the capital."

Marshal Yong briefly sent his resplendent force into a black-and-gold medallion on his chest, confirming this information. While he noticed that Marshal Feng had not been notified, both Marshal Feng and Marshal Tian were in the capital and in constant communication.

"That damnable fool," Marshal Yong cursed. "What's more important to him, the throne or his country? If the southern wall falls, we're all doomed. You know full well how savage those southerners are."

"In their defense, it's not like we need any immediate reinforcements," Deputy Marshal Mo said. "Even with all ten cannons fully activated, we can still hold out. Besides, I've inspected some residual shrapnel. Do you know what those spheres are made of?"

Marshal Yong shook his head.

"They're made of star steel, and their runes are traced with immortal jade! That means that the cannons must be built from even more impressive materials. I refuse to believe they can take more than a few of them out at a time."

Marshal Yong sighed. "Fair enough. I just hope I'm not overthinking things." As he said this, the furniture in their small room shook. Marshal Yong immediately summoned a report from the control room and confirmed that the last volley had breached their defenses. He paled as he tallied the casualties caused by the backlash to his troops. "We've just lost ten thousand men in one fell swoop."

"Impossible," Deputy Mo cried. Then he looked at the other generals. "Tell me exactly what happened!"

A few nervous generals approached. "It seems that they suddenly changed up their munitions, substituting their previous black spheres for clear ones with different runes. We don't know how many they have, but their striking power is much higher than before. A bit less than double!"

Marshal Yong's expression turned grim. "Send out an emergency distress signal to the capital. All generals prepare to subsidize the formation where required. Bring out all our energy reserves and activate the remaining defensive formations. Meanwhile, the deputy and I will stand by and assist where required."

Various figures hurried off to relay their orders; no mistakes could be tolerated. The sudden changeup meant that the entire fortress's forces would be mobilized.

"What about Deputy Marshal Feng?" Deputy Marshal Mo asked. "He's been in the receiving hall all this time. Isn't this a waste?"

"Leave him," Marshal Yong said. "Pretend he doesn't exist. Just a single Deputy Feng is not enough to turn the tide. Not by supplementing the shields, at least."

***

Feng Ming was in a daze. He wasn't experiencing sudden enlightenment, nor had he reached a crucial point in his cultivation, but he was paralyzed with indecision.

"To suggest or not to suggest," Feng Ming mumbled. Fifty-percent odds of death for a group of ten was ridiculously high. "We'd need at least a hundred men to jump out at once to make a difference, including me. How low would the odds get with that many men?"

Still, his fingers itched, and he couldn't shake the feeling. It was like he was at a high-stakes table where a single roll stood between him and a massive fortune. But he knew this was fundamentally different. At a high-stakes table, he would only be gambling money. Here, he would be gambling lives.

"To suggest or not to suggest," he mumbled once more. Suddenly the fortress shook. He immediately ceased his contemplation and rushed out to the focus points, where troops were rapidly rushing to their stations. Corpses littered the floor, and large bags of spirit stones had been split open and poured into the channeling formations.

"What happened?" he asked a passing soldier.

"Reporting to Deputy Feng, the enemy's attacks have grown much stronger," the soldier said. "I can't stay and talk. The whole fortress, including the generals and the marshal, must man their posts." The man immediately ran off to a nearby focus point and began channeling his energy.

"Damn it all," Feng Ming yelled. He flew toward the war room. In the process, he crossed General Qin, who was running off to a nearby focus point. "And where are you going?" he asked the burly general.

"My qi may be weak," General Qin said, "but I can take backlash better than anyone else here. I'll do what I can to help everyone through this assault."

"No, you won't," Feng Ming said. "As a deputy marshal, I'm commandeering you." Then he threw out a red token with black lines. "I need you to find the hundred strongest fighters you know within a quarter hour. I also need you to go to the quartermaster and take all their inferno flasks, fire-based talismans, and as many frost shield or similar talismans as you can find."

"But—" General Qin started.

"No buts!" Feng Ming said. "The marshal gave me this cape for a reason, and I'm going to use it."

General Qin saluted and ran off while Feng Ming continued to the war room. When he entered, he saw that several focus points were hovering before each of the generals, who sat in meditation and channeled their qi to defend the fortress. Only Marshal Yong and Deputy Marshal Mo were still pensively looking at the map while trying to find a way out. Occasionally they would use their qi to send out probing shots at the cannons with some of the fortress's offensive formations. Unfortunately, each of the cannons was protected by a hemispherical shield that deflected any blows from their direction.

"Deputy Feng," Marshal Yong said. "Have you thought of something?" An eager glint had appeared in his eyes.

"Marshal Yong, this deputy requests your permission to mobilize one hundred troops through the teleportation array," Feng Ming said. "Our target is the spider cannons!"

"That's madness," Deputy Mo interjected. "Marshal, we've only conducted testing up to groups of ten because it was inhumane to send so many good men to their deaths. A group of ten only had fifty-percent odds of success, and it was speculated that a group of a hundred would reduce the odds to one tenth. Failure would mean the death of a hundred of our best combatants!"

Several generals who were busy funneling their qi in the formations mumbled in agreement.

Marshal Yong, on the other hand, looked at Feng Ming thoughtfully. "How confident are you in this gamble? And what's your plan when you get there?"

"I'd gamble my own life away in a heartbeat," Feng Ming said. "While I'm hesitant to gamble away the lives of our men, I don't see any better options for us. The reason I stayed at the reception hall was because it gave me a special feeling. I think this is a turning point for the battle. I've already sent General Qin to recruit the men and procure as many explosives and defensive items as he can lay his hands on. When we get there, we'll destroy those cannons and try our hardest to survive."

Marshal Yong took a deep breath before nodding. "This is why I assigned you as deputy marshal. I approve of this mission."

"Marshal, please reconsider!" Deputy Marshal Mo said.

"It's decided," Marshal Yong said decisively.

At this moment, General Qin returned with a hundred scar-covered soldiers who had fought in many battles. Many of them weren't high ranking, but Feng Ming could tell that their levels of qi and physical strength far exceeded even many of the generals here.

"Captain Tong?" one of the generals in the war room said. "When did you break through?"

"Just this morning." The man called Captain Tong grinned. "I had a lucky breakthrough. Funny enough, Sergeant Shen broke through as well."

"Wait, you just broke through this morning as well?" another man in the group of men said. They looked at each other with wide eyes.

"Can everyone who broke through this morning raise their hand?" All hundred men, and even a surprised General Qin raised his hand.

"Do you still have any objections, Deputy Mo?" Marshal Yong said dryly. Seeing Deputy Mo's confused expression, he chuckled. "You don't need to understand, you just need to obey orders. Please bring Deputy Feng and these men to the departure hall for teleportation. Follow Deputy Feng's instructions to the letter."