After half a day of fierce fighting, both sides ceased fire simultaneously, as they were running low on ammunition.
The combatants shared the same roots, yet the weapons of slaughter were imported from abroad, particularly short on cannonballs.
Li Shoucheng returned to the military camp in disgrace, only to find that he was the sole survivor; his entire army had perished, which infuriated him to the point that he cursed loudly, "Damned loyalists! I swear I'll skin you alive!"
Removing his steel armor, he discovered a hole the size of a bowl on his back, about 10 centimeters in diameter, with bone faintly visible!
He was terrified, "Thank God the steel armor absorbed some of the impact, or I would have been a goner!"
He called over an attendant to treat the wound, and then, by flexing his tendons and twisting, he managed to close the wound to a small seam.
In the Blood-Exchange Realm, one has abundant vital energy, and a robust physique. A wound that would land an ordinary person in the ICU was only considered moderate on Li Shoucheng.
By evening, amidst the lingering sunlight, countless members of the Sect Army were sitting cross-legged on the ground, holding their hands in a triangular symbol over their chests, silently praying for their deceased brothers.
Some, missing arms or legs and wrapped in blood-soaked bandages, also joined in the silent recitation.
In times of turmoil, the army is the greatest capital. Li Shoucheng was considering the idea of withdrawal in his mind. Although Yunzhou was affluent, it might not be worth the prolonged struggle.
Just then, a guard informed him, "Commander, a foreigner requests an audience with you."
"Let him in," said Li Shoucheng, as he put the steel armor back on and ordered his personal guards to load their firearms, taking no chances.
Before long, Baron William from the Opium Company arrived. He sniffed the air a few times, detecting the blood of the Blood-Exchange Realm experts, and his expression became intoxicated, "What a rich aroma..."
"What brings you here, Mr. William!"
Unaffected by Li Shoucheng's disgust, Baron William smiled and said, "Oh, nothing much. Just here to bring a gift."
With a wave of his hand, he summoned a group of about ten people who, alongside a pair of mules, shouted cadences as they pushed along a massive cannon.
"This is the '6-inch siege howitzer.' My dear commander, I believe you will achieve a splendid victory."
Recalling the wealth within Yunzhou City and that detestable youth from yesterday, Li Shoucheng ordered his subordinates, "Bring out the thickest armor!"
~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, the Sect Army's new cannons demonstrated their might.
The siege howitzers, using 60-kilogram shells, were tremendously powerful, capable of creating craters one meter deep and five meters in diameter.
The blast radius was 20 meters; anyone within it would be pulverized by the shockwave, dying a gruesome death.
Even if one were hiding in trenches, they wouldn't escape internal injuries from the impact.
The morale of the Yunzhou defending forces plummeted. Coupled with the previous day's casualties, they had nearly halved in number. If it wasn't for their families behind them and the timely support from the artillery trainees, they would have already disbanded;
Lu Yao called the sisters over for a test. Liao Ya looked at the bullet-riddled, blood-stained armor with some distaste, and easily picked it up with one hand, saying,
"I now have a strength of 4,000 jin, so this thing is as light as a feather to me."
Liao Qe also gave it a try and said with a delicate voice, "I have a strength of 3,000 jin; it has some impact on my agility."
Lu Yao had a good sense of the weight and laughed, "I will get you both a set of armor, which will be much better than this."
The sisters had long guessed as much and nodded their heads, looking forward to it eagerly.
At this time, General Xu suddenly popped up, running onto the city wall and incessantly scolding the state soldiers to do this and that, hustling and bustling as if deeply concerned about the battle situation.
Seeing this scene, Liao Ya said with cold disdain, "This man is as timid as a mouse; his steel armor is still shiny and new after a day's battle."
Liao Qe nodded in agreement, "When Li Shoucheng launched his surprise attack, he didn't dare to step forward at all, completely wasting such fine armor."
"That's why I say equipment is inert; it's key to see who is using it."
The three of them scoffed for a while, then suddenly heard the sound of a car approaching.
The car braked and stopped quickly upon seeing them, and a short-haired beauty dressed in a female suit alighted from the vehicle—it was Li Pei.
"So you're here; I've had quite the search for you."
"The Commandery Princess is back~"
They came forward and greeted her, and Li Pei remarked in admiration, "You have not been seen for many days, but have made quite a name for yourselves. Governor Wen has almost sung you to the heavens. Did you defeat Li Shoucheng?"
Lu Yao shook his head, "We only wounded him, and he got away."
Li Pei laughed, "Li Shoucheng has reached Blood-Exchange Mastery, just one step away from advancing to the Innate Realm and becoming a Grandmaster. You are many levels below him; it's incredible that you even managed to wound him."
At that moment, Liao Ya asked, "Commandery Princess, have you brought reinforcements with you?"
Li Pei first shook her head, "I came alone by car; the Imperial Court can no longer dispatch a single soldier. Einheit and Frandi have perfidious intentions while our nation is mired in internal strife; we need to guard against them first."
"..."
Then, Li Pei looked towards Lu Yao, her lips parting lightly, "Although I have not brought an army, I already have a plan and need your assistance. In gratitude, I am willing to offer the Mystical Refinement Method!"
Lu Yao's eyes lit up! The Mystical Refinement Method, besides being profoundly mysterious, had already been discovered to greatly enhance firearms. .net
For a long time, the knowledge of Spirit Refinement has been subject to a combined blockade by the Imperial Court, major sects, and families, difficult to buy even with money; its value hardly needed any further mention.
He quickly responded, "Please speak, Commandery Princess!"
Li Pei took out a piece of paper inscribed with "Subtle Sense of the Heart," and said,
"Young Master Lu, please join me in operating the cannon, to shoot Li Shoucheng dead!"